The 2009 Fall Classic between the Yankees and Phillies was the first to stretch into the month of November. And just like in 1950 – the last time the two teams met in the World Series – New York prevailed. Unlike the first meeting that ended in a sweep, this one went the full seven games. In the inaugural season of their new stadium, the Yanks ran their title total to an unprecedented 27. Offseason free agent signings of CC Sabbathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira paid off in a 103-59 regular season. Jeter passed Gehrig as the team’s all-time hit leader and Rivera racked up another 44 saves. In the playoffs, Andy Pettitte ran his career postseason win total to 18 to set a new MLB record. Not lost was A-Rod earning his first and only World Series ring.
This extravagant 2009 World Series Championship pendant was issued to longtime Yankees pitching coach and team executive, Billy Connors. A comical character during his 17-year run as pitching coach for four teams, Connors got to be good friends with Hugh Heffner in Chicago during his Cubs tenure and at one point dated Seka, “The Platinum Princess of Porn”, who was prohibited from Wrigley Field because it was a “family ballpark.” Eventually, Connors settled into a front office position (VP, Player Personnel) from 1996-2012 during which time the Yanks won five titles. Connors became known as the “reclamation specialist” for several Yankees pitchers including Dwight Gooden, David Cone and El Duque. Perhaps his greatest contribution was helping Mariano Rivera perfect his deadly cutter.
Made of 14-karat white gold, the pendant is identical to the 2009 Yankees championship rings awarded to players, coaches and top executives. The classic Yankees “NY” is spelled out in 32 genuine diamonds mounted on a baseball diamond also outlined in real diamonds, all set atop a blue stone surrounded by a few dozen more diamonds. The reverse has an embedded “Yankee Stadium 2009 Inaugural Season” logo along with “World Champions” and a “Balfour 14K” hallmark. The pendant (NM-MT) hangs from a delicate 14K white gold chain comes in its original wooden presentation case (NM) stamped on top “WORLD CHAMPIONS 2009” with the NY logo. The case comes inside its original black box with a sticker labeled "Connors, William pend." Connors, who passed away last year at the age of 76, received this pendant after the 2009 World Series and later gifted it to a close friend. Includes letter of provenance.
Includes paperwork from our consignor’s local jeweler who counted a total of 81 round cut diamonds for a combined 1.65 carats. It should be noted that we sold one of these in 2018 for $9,116.