This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/3/2020
The "Bronx Zoo" era of Yankees baseball proved that team chemistry isn’t necessarily paramount if there's enough talent and passion in the dugout. With a clubhouse full of fiery personalities headlined by slugger Reggie Jackson and manager Billy Martin, the Pinstripers somehow overcome the Red Sox and – perhaps more impressively – themselves to claim a second straight World Series crown in 1978. In fact, New York downed the Dodgers by the same 4-games-to-2 margin in each Fall Classic. But it was the '78 squad who endeared themselves even higher amongst the Bronx faithful. In mid-July, they faced what seemed like an insurmountable 14-game deficit before storming back to take the AL East division crown.
Light-hitting Bucky "Friggin" Dent became an unlikely hero with his clutch home run at Fenway that decided the one-game playoff. Yet, a key catalyst during New York's epic comeback that summer was starter Ed Figueroa. After a mediocre first half (7-7, 3.91 ERA), the Puerto Rican hurled a complete-game shutout against the Twins on July 19th, finding the form that made him a Cy Young contender two years prior. The righty reeled off 13 wins from that day forth to help the Yanks chase down their dreaded rivals in Boston. He finished with a 20-9 record and an ERA under three to once again enter the Cy Young conversation and earn the call to start Game 1 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium.
The classic design of Figueroa’s ’78 World Series Championship ring features a large diamond set in a blue stone face surrounded by 21 smaller diamonds along the beveled edge spelling out “World Champions.” On one shank is a depiction of the famous Yankees Stadium Façade with the team name and bat logo atop a World Series trophy. The opposite side reads “Figueroa”, “1978” and “NY”, with “Pride” and “Tradition” called out vertically. The interior band is engraved “Greatest Come Back In History” and hallmarked “LGB 14K.” It comes in size 9.5 and weighs 28 grams, showing very light wear and outstanding presentation qualities. Includes a notarized letter or provenance from Ed Figueroa.