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Lot # 725: 1998 Paul Molitor Minnesota Twins Final Career Home Run Game Worn Jersey (Molitor Letter)

Category: Baseball Equipment

Starting Bid: $2,000.00

Bids: 17 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Late Fall Classic 2021",
which ran from 11/14/2021 7:00 PM to
12/11/2021 10:00 PM



Historic Minnesota Twins road jersey worn by Hall of Famer Paul Molitor while hitting the last home run of his career on September 19, 1998. This is one of the most well-documented home-run jerseys we have seen, as Molitor has personally attested to its provenance by extensively inscribing the front and reverse, as well as  providing a signed LOA. Molitor has signed the jersey twice on the right breast. His first inscription, in black marker (10/10) reads "Paul Molitor HOF 04 - Last Year - 1998 'Game Used'." The second, in red marker (10/10), fully documents the jersey's history: "This is my 1998 game used road jersey used to hit my last career homerun #234 at Tiger Stadium off Frank Castillo on 9/19/1998 - Paul Molitor HOF 04." On the reverse, Molitor has inscribed the number "4" in black marker (9/10): "Game Used - Road 1998 Last Season - Paul Molitor HOF 04." Molitor has also provided a signed LOA in which he attests that the jersey originates directly from his personal collection. This is a significant Hall of Fame jersey with impeccable provenance, the likes of which are seldom seen in the hobby. 

The gray pinstriped polyester jersey is lettered "Minnesota" across the front and features the number 4 on the left breast and reverse. "Molitor" is lettered on the reverse upon a gray name plate. All numerals and the front lettering are applied in red on navy tackle twill. All reverse lettering is applied in navy tackle twill. The uniform number, year, and set number ("4-98-2") are stamped in black upon a white strip tag in the collar. Located on the left front tail are a "Rawlings Size 44" wash tag, and two adjacent flag tags that read, respectively, "1' Armhole Opening" and "1' Extra Sleeve Length." A Twins team patch appear on the left sleeve. The jersey is all original, displaying excellent wear. 

As noted by Molitor, his 234th and final home run took place at Tiger Stadium on September 19, 1998, and came at the expense of Tigers starter Frank Castillo. What Molitor did not mention is that in addition to his first-inning solo home run, he had two other hits in the game and drove in three runs. Those three hits represented his 3,311th through 3,313th career hits (he finished with 3,319 hits), and the three RBIs represented career numbers 1,303rd through 1,305th (he finished with 1,307 RBI). Molitor was one of the greatest hitters of his era. In 21 seasons (1978-1998) he batted over .300 on 12 occasions, including a career high .341 in both 1994 and 1996. A member of Baseball's elite 3,000 Hit Club, Molitor was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2004, his first year of eligibility.

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