This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/10/2022
Beautiful individual championship trophy commemorating the Los Angeles Dodgers 1981 World Series victory over the New York Yankees. The trophy, manufactured by Balfour, measures almost 12" tall and features brass pennants with team names around the perimeter of a large brass circle with a crown finial. Dodgers and Yankees enameled World Series press pin facades adorn the center area with "LOS ANGELES DODGERS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY PRESENTED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF BASEBALL OCTOBER 28, 1981 FRED CLAIRE" in black lettering on the front of a brass band around the base. Lead by the bats of Steve Garvey, Ron Cey, and Pedro Guerrero, the Dodgers outplayed the favored Yankees taking the Series 4 games to 2. Rookie sensation Fernando Valenzuela won his only start, a 5-4 complete game victory in Game 3. Fred Claire was the general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers at one time, and this trophy is part of the Claire Collection in this auction.
Fred Claire was a longtime member of the Dodgers front office. He was the general manager of the team from 1987 to 1998. After a dismal 1987 season, Claire built the team into a contender overnight. After acquiring players like Kirk Gibson, the Dodgers won the 1988 World Series over the heavily favored Oakland A's in just five games. A portion of the proceeds from each of Claire's items in this auction will go to the City of Hope.