This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/24/2016
This amazing Kansas City Royals jersey was worn by George Brett during the 1983 season. This white home knit has Wilson tagging. “ROYALS” appears on the front and "BRETT" on the back in blue tackle twill. The sleeves and neck opening are blue/white/blue ribbed elastic. Brett’s number “5” appears on the front and reverse in matching tackle twill. Seven 4-hole pearl buttons are present on the jersey’s front and the garment sports an appropriate round tail. The Royals patch appears on the left sleeve. This jersey shows tremendous use with evident wash wear and lose threads. The jersey is accompanied by a Letter of Authenticity from MEARS with a perfect game-used grade (MEARS A10) and is photo matched to Brett wearing the jersey in a photo shoot during the 1983 season. This is the only known photomatched George Brett game worn jersey in the hobby to date.
Brett spent 21 seasons with the Royals and amassed 3,154 hits — the most by any third baseman. He is one of only big leaguers to have at least 3,000 hits, 300 home runs, and a career .300 batting average, all of which helped earn him induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999 on the first ballot. This jersey was worn by Brett during the very season that brought fans the infamous “pine tar incident” in which an enraged Brett charged out of the dugout toward home plate umpire Tim McClelland after McClelland overturned a home run. The reason … pine tar had been applied to Brett’s bat past the 18-inch limit permitted by Major League Baseball rules. It became one of baseball’s most memorable moments!
NO RESERVE ESTIMATE: $15,000+