Dodgers Blue Heaven: Rare Dodger Memorabilia at REA - Jackie's Ring, a 1955 WS Ring and a Really Old Dodger Uniform

Thursday, October 09, 2014

Rare Dodger Memorabilia at REA - Jackie's Ring, a 1955 WS Ring and a Really Old Dodger Uniform

Here is my third post featuring Dodger memorabilia available at REA's current auction. The other day I featured original Topps artwork of Duke Snider and yesterday I shared a couple of oddball items. Below are some Dodger rarities.

(Auction Link)

I don't quite know what to think about this first item. The description states that it is a 1946 Montreal Royals International League Championship Ring and that it is attributed to Jackie Robinson. On the other hand, it also says that they can't guarantee that it was actually issued by the Montreal Royals. It does say, though, that the ring was a part of the famed Barry Halper Collection and that the chain of provenance leads directly to the Robinson family.

Regardless of the uncertainty surrounding the ring I still find it very cool. It may represent a relic from Jackie's first year as a MLB pro.

(Auction Link)

This next ring is most certainly real. Below is a 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers World Series Ring that had been issued to Dodger PR Director Red Patterson. Per the auction description:

(Auction Link)

1955, of course, was the only season in which the familiar refrain of "Wait till Next Year," was never heard on the streets of Brooklyn following the World Series. In 1955 "next year' finally came, and the fact that the club's only World Championship while in Brooklyn came at the expense of their hated crosstown rivals, the New York Yankees, must have made the victory all the sweeter for the Flatbush faithful. Ironically, "Red" Patterson had close ties to both clubs. Patterson was the New York Yankees first public-relations director and the Brooklyn Dodgers last public-relations director. During his tenure with both clubs he was recognized as one of the game's most innovative marketing specialists and is credited with introducing many novel concepts which are now considered standard for all clubs, including Old Timers' Day games, team yearbooks, and concession stands. Patterson also invented the term "tape-measure home run" when he decided to measure the distance of Mantle's prodigious home run at Washington's Griffith Stadium on April 17, 1953, arriving at the figure of 565 feet. Unfortunately, it was Patterson, in his capacity as public-relations director, who had to make the official announcement in 1957 that the Dodgers were leaving Brooklyn, thereby breaking the collective heart of all of the Flatbush faithful.

(Auction Link)

Check out these old duds. Here is a 1934 Brooklyn Dodgers Road Uniform; complete with a jersey attributed to utility infielder Jake Flowers, pants once belonging to Hall of Fame catcher Al Lopez and a pair of amazing vintage stirrup socks. According to the auction it belonged to a former Dodger bullpen catcher who was given hand-me-downs to wear.