Addendum (7/30/9:49 am). Please note that the original title for this lot mistakenly listed the grade as A10. That is incorrect. The grade is A9.5, which was correctly noted in the lot description.
Displayed is a 1956 Rocky Bridges Cincinnati Redlegs home jersey vest with a MEARS Final Grade of 9.5. Rocky Bridges was a hustling, spirited player who was a utility infielder with seven Major League teams, starting with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1951. Backing up Hall of Famers Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese didn't get Bridges much playing time, and that pattern continued for much of his career. An exception was the 1958 Washington Senators, when Bridges made the AL All-Star Team. For his career, Bridges batted .243 with 16 home runs and 187 RBIs. In '56, when Rocky wore this jersey, he batted .211 in 71 games. Throughout his career, Bridges' great effort on the field and his sense of humor off the field made him popular with teammates, managers, and fans. For example, after Bridges went to the Washington Senators in 1957 after more than three full seasons with Cincinnati, he referenced his Cincinnati days by commenting: "It took me that long to learn how to spell it." After his playing career ended with the 1961 season, Bridges became a noted Major League coach and a well-known minor league manager.
Cincinnati was nicknamed the Redlegs in the middle 1950s because at that time, with the Senator Joseph McCarthy Red Scare in politics, the word Reds suggested "Communist," so the Queen City players were called "Redlegs" until the scare ended. The '56 sleeveless jersey is a very rare and desirable style. In fact, this style jersey is the most desired post-World War II Reds jersey of them all. Cincinnati's muscular slugger, Ted Kluszewski, used to cut the sleeves off his jerseys, and he stated that it was to give his bulging biceps more freedom of movement, but many suspected that it was at least partly to show off his famous "guns." In any event, the Redlegs decided that if Big Ted Kluszewski was going to wear a sleeveless jersey, the whole team would wear them.
The jersey is all original, with a "Mr. Red," with a mustache and 5&5/8" tall, on the left chest. A red number 14, in 3.5" numerals, is sewn onto the right chest. The back has a red number "14" in sewn-on 7" red numerals. Seven avocado-colored buttons go down the front of the Dureen jersey. The collar has a MacGregor manufacturer's tag which shows size "44." A SET 1 1956 tag is inside the front tail. The jersey vest has a chest measurement of 21" and a torso measurement of 30". The Cincinnati Number 14 jersey is the same number that the Cincinnati Reds' Pete Rose wore, starting in 1963. The jersey comes with a MEARS Letter of Opinion, with its MEARS Final Grade: A 9.5 (Cert. Number 322540), with a .5 subtraction from an A10 because of a stain on the right shoulder. The jersey vest exhibits fine use, and it is also in great condition.
Estimated domestic USA shipping cost only. Does not include handling or insurance: 21.09 Please feel free to contact us for a more accurate shipping cost.