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Lot # 788: 1973 Bill Lee Boston Red Sox Game Used Spikes

Category: Baseball Equipment

Starting Bid: $200.00

Bids: 1 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "2024 Winter Classic",
which ran from 2/25/2024 10:00 AM to
3/16/2024 10:00 PM



Displayed is a pair of 1973 Boston Red Sox spikes that were game used by "The Spaceman," Bill Lee, the iconoclastic southpaw and counterculture advocate. Lee pitched 14 seasons in the Major Leagues: Boston Red Sox (1969-78) and Montreal Expos (1979-82). He grew up in Burbank, California, as a part of an extended baseball family. His grandfather was an infielder for the Hollywood Stars of the Pacific Coast League, and his aunt Annabel was a pitcher in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. In speaking of his aunt, Lee said, "She was the best athlete in the family. She taught me how to pitch." Lee played collegiately at the University of Southern California. In the Major Leagues, he had a 119-90 record, with an ERA of 3.62. Bill Lee was given his "Spaceman" nickname by Red Sox teammate John Kennedy, and the name stuck. When Lee wore these game used spikes, he was 26 years old and had a 17-11 record, with a 2.75 ERA. Later in his career, Lee would occasionally employ a "Leephus" pitch, his version of the famous "Eephus" pitch invented by Rip Sewell, a high, floating lob towards the plate. After his Major League career, Lee continued to pitch on occasion in minor league games or in special exhibitions. In 2010, Lee pitched 5.1 innings for the Brockton Rox in a regular season game, in the independent Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball. He was 63 years old and got the win, and now holds the record for the oldest player to ever appear in a professional game as well as being the oldest player to ever win a professional baseball game, The spikes are from the famous Louis Kendrick Collection. The black spikes are size 10, as there is a perforated "10" machine-stamped on the tongue of each shoe. The left shoe has a pitcher's toeplate. On the inside of the left tongue is "Lee," written in black marker by an unknown hand. On the inside of the right tongue is a "Spot Bilt" manufacturer's tag. On the middle section of the left shoe, the sole has partially separated from the top section of the shoe. The spikes exhibit great wear. The spikes themselves, on the underside of each sole, show wear and some rust spots. Overall, the spikes show abrasions, some loss, in spots, of surface material, and various nicks. Louis Kendrick has included his trademark 3x5" file card with the spikes. This typewritten, and unsigned card, reads, "1973 SPIKES/BILL LEE/These spikes were worn by Boston Red Sox pitcher Bill Lee. Recieved [sic] these spikes from Bill Lee 7 2 1973." These game worn spikes make a great remembrance of a unique baseball personality, the always memorable Bill Lee.

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