This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/28/2013
To anyone who watched Rod Carew with any diligence through most of his career in the American League in the 1970’s, the single most compelling question was how did anybody actually ever get him out? In his prime he seemed to be unstoppable at the plate, protecting every square inch of it, fouling off that which wasn’t to his liking and typically turning that which was into line drives relegated to every corner of the diamond. From the legendary Rod Carew, the man who seemed to be from another era when he arrived in the American League in the late 1960’s as pitchers were dominating to a level not seen since the days of Christy Mathewson, Mordecai Brown, et al., comes this superlative 1969 game-worn full home uniform. It was the year he batted .300 for the first time, something he would repeat for the next 14 years in a row, a streak that netted him seven AL batting titles, including his first in that giddy 1969 campaign.
Presented here is what must be considered among the finest Rod Carew game worn ensembles in the hobby. This blazing 1969 Twins uniform shows excellent game use and every ideal trait needed to assure an A10 benediction from MEARS, which might typically say all that was needed about a uniform, but we’ll add a few more words anyway. Starting with the pinstriped jersey, there’s a Wilson Size 40 tag on the front tail, directly above the embroidered blue stitch “40 – 1969 Set 2” tagging. “Carew” is embroidered in blue stitching on a small collar tag and the Baseball Centennial patch appears on the right sleeve and the Twins team patch on the left. “Twins” and his No. 29 are handsomely done in blue on red tackle twill on the front and back; there is some light puckering of the letters and numbers and minimal fraying of either the red or blue stitching on either element. The pants are no less imposing, show good game use, a Wilson Size 32 tag on the waist and “Rod Carew 1969” penned along the waist by hand. There is some minor fraying of the white stitching along the Wilson tag and other sections along the waist, but still a superb example of his uniform from a season that set the tone and tenor for a Hall of Fame career. Full Letter of Authenticity from MEARS (A10).