This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/23/2019
Yankee catcher Bill Dickey was the premier backstop of his generation, whose offensive prowess was only matched by his ability to handle a pitching staff. He came up in 1928 and ran the pitching rotation during the middle to latter half of the Gehrig/Ruth era. Dickey proved a consummate competitor, sparring with the opposition while calming the often brilliant but erratic Lefty Gomez, and anchoring the second generation of Murderer's Row, knocking in more than 100 RBI's a year from 1936-1939 as the Yankees won four straight world championships.
Identifiable to the early years of Dickey’s career, this navy-blue flannel cap features the Yankees iconic interlocking "NY" logo embroidered on the front. The Spalding manufacturer's label appears on the interior leather band, as does the embroidered, script style player designation "W. Dickey" preceded by the cap size “7 1/8”. While substantial usage wear is evident throughout, including perspiration induced soiling throughout the interior and underside of the bill, the cap remains quite structurally sound and remarkably well preserved. Apart from the desirable, but not excessive general wear, the cap shows no deterioration of fabric or damage to the body or softshell brim. Utilized in an era long before the advent of batting helmets, Dickey undoubtedly donned this cap both in the field and at the plate, likely for multiple seasons, making its present state all the more remarkable. This is the earliest, and arguably finest among few known Dickey caps in existence. Originates from the famed Barry Halper Collection with Sotheby’s tagging intact.