1943 Ernie Lombardi Giants Practice Jersey
GUEST:
In 1944, Meeker, Oklahoma, hometown of Carl Hubbell, decided to have a baseball team, and we didn't have any money, enough money to buy a uniform, so, uh, the doctor there, Dr., the only doctor in town, got in touch with Carl in New York, and he sent us a dozen uniforms, you know, the Giants' practice uniform. And we used those for three years.
APPRIASER: And Carl Hubbell, the great, uh, New York Giants pitcher, Hall of Fame pitcher...
GUEST:
The left-handed, best of all time, the screwball master.
APPRAISER:
The screwball man, right. And we have an actual picture of him here. That's Carl Hubbell.
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
So he's the gentleman who procured these for your team, his hometown.
GUEST:
Yes, sir.
APPRAISER:
Very cool. And you received this particular jersey with this nametag right here, "Lombardi." And that's Ernie Lombardi, the catcher, the Hall of Famer, as well.
GUEST:
"The Schnozz."
APPRAISER:
"The Schnozz," right.
GUEST:
The big catcher.
APPRAISER:
He was a big guy. He was kind of a lumbering line drive hitter, a great hitter. He didn't run very fast, but, but boy, he could hit and hit hard.
GUEST:
That's right.
APPRAISER:
And, uh, he made a great career for himself, and, uh, eventually made it all the way to Cooperstown.
GUEST:
Yeah, he was slower than cold molasses. He had to...
APPRAISER:
(laughing)
GUEST:
(laughing) He had to hit it, hit the fence to get to first base, yeah.
APPRIASER: That's right. He actually joined the Giants in 1943, and Carl Hubbell's last year...
GUEST:
Was '43.
APPRAISER:
...was '43. So we can guesstimate that this jersey is 1943, Ernie Lombardi's first season with the Giants. Here we have a, a baseball card with Ernie wearing a very similar uniform. Heck, it might be the same one.
GUEST:
It could be.
APPRAISER:
Possibly.
GUEST:
It, it shows the zipper.
APPRAISER:
Very similar. Yeah, yup, it's, it's very similar. And here you are wearing the jersey right here.
GUEST:
(laughing) That's it.
APPRAISER:
This jersey, considering its age, is in pretty remarkable condition. And the colors really pop and the stitching is amazing. I mean, we're really impressed by the way this has survived all these years. There's some condition issues, but all in all, I mean, for a flannel jersey from this time period, it's really nice. It's a rare jersey. It's certainly a desirable jersey, 'cause it's the New York Giants, very collectible. It's a Hall of Famer, Ernie Lombardi. At auction, I'd be very comfortable estimating this jersey at $10,000 to $15,000. So... (laughing) It's a, it's a heck of a piece.
GUEST:
(laughing) You're kidding me.
APPRAISER:
Yeah, it's a great uniform just to get.
GUEST:
Good gosh.
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