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Lot # 575: Wamby Triple Play Game Used Glove 2 LOA's

Category: Baseball Equipment

Starting Bid: $25,000.00

Bids: 1 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed

Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Winter 2006 Catalog",
which ran from 11/11/2006 12:00 AM to
12/15/2006 9:00 PM



One of the most famous events in World Series history took place in 1920 during game 5. In this game Cleveland's Bill Wambsganss completed the only unassisted triple play ever in the Fall Classic. Wambsganss, playing second base, caught a line drive off the bat of Clarence Mitchell stepped on second base to put out Pete Kilduff, and tagged Otto Miller coming from first base. The Indians went on to win the game, and eventually the series in seven games. Worth Professional model glove shows the type of use you expect to see back in the day when a glove would have been worn for an entire season or longer. The 3'' web between the thumb and forefinger is partially separated along the stitches to the forefinger. There is a hole in the palm between the forefinger and middle finger. The Worth label has major fraying and the glove has a vertical tear through the wrist band. There is also some oxidation to the metal grommets that hold the original string laces. The glove, however, is still soft and supple. The provenance is supported by two original letters and an 8 x 10'' photo that accompany the glove. The photo was taken just after the game and pictures Wamby wearing this very glove most evident by the placement of the patch on the wrist band and button on band. One letter, dated 1945, on Minneapolis Star Journal and Tribune letterhead, tells the owner that he should write to J Taylor Spink if he would like to place the glove in the Hall of Fame. The second letter, dated 1948, is more specific about the how the original owner, George McDonald, acquired the piece. It seems that following the 1920s World Series, Wamby sent the glove to Lannom Mfg Co (Worth Sporting Goods) in Iowa requesting that a duplicate of the glove me made. While they did make a new glove for him, they neglected to return this original. Mr. Lannom and Mr. McDonald were friends and the glove was a gift from Mr. Lannon to Mr MacDonald. As both of these letters show, Mr. McDonald had every intention of giving the glove to the Hall of Fame, but never did, giving today’s collecting community the opportunity to acquire this historically significant piece.

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