This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/29/2020
Joe Torre is known best for managing the Yankees to four World Series titles in five seasons from 1996 to 2000. However, the man worshipped in the Bronx was also a heck of a ballplayer in his day. Playing mostly catcher the first half of his career in the 1960's for the Braves, he made a seamless transition to a corner infielder when he arrived in St. Louis in '69. He capped three straight 100-RBI seasons with a dominant 1971 campaign for the Cards that ended with him taking home National League MVP honors. Joe led the NL in batting average (.363), hits (230), runs batted in (137) and total bases (352) during which he wore this offered jersey.
The cream-colored home pullover has the classic "Cardinals" and Birds on Bat team logo in red and yellow embroidery sewn across the front and a navy/white/red ribbed circular neckline. Torre's No. "9" in red-on-navy tackle twill appears front and back. The Redbirds transitioned to knit jerseys in 1971. The unique Rawlings size 44 tagging with a separate wash instructions label inside the left rear tail are key identifiers to this being a '71 Cards gamer; Rawlings updated its tagging in '72, adding "The Mark of a Pro" and putting the size and wash instructions all on the same red label. The shirt shows significant game wear with consistent puckering on both numbers and spot soiling throughout. While the letters of Torre's NOB are no longer present, the outline of "TORRE" is clearly visible. Everything else on the shirt is all-original with no alterations. The 2014 Hall of Fame inductee has signed the front in 9/10 blue marker. Includes LOA from Beckett for the auto.