Richie Ashburn 1961-1962 Game-Used Baseball Glove

• Sold For: $7,050
• Year: 1961
• Auction: 2011 January
• Lot #: 3
• Auction Category: Post-1900 Baseball Memorabilia

Richie Ashburn is considered one of the best defensive outfielders of the 1950s as well as one of the best leadoff hitters of all-time. Offered is a genuine rarity for collectors, a 1962 Richie Ashburn game-used Rawlings baseball glove. To describe this magnificent piece as museum quality is an understatement because it has already been on display at the highest level – this glove was in the 1995 Hall of Fame Induction display for over a year between 1995 and 1996. It is hard to imagine how Ashburn used such a small glove to shag so many fly balls, but this Rawlings TG15 model glove is the real deal. Heavy use is present, as is a vintage replacement of the leather straps from Ashburn's playing days. Most game-used gloves are often re-threaded by the players or equipment managers to tighten the pocket after years of wear. The artifact comes with solid provenance including a letter from the Baseball Hall of Fame (returning the glove to the man who loaned it for display), (2) photographs of Ashburn wearing the glove during his playing days (one with the Cubs and one with the Mets), (2) 4x6 photographs of the glove on display at the Hall of Fame, a notarized letter from an auction house that first sold the piece and a letter from renowned collector Paul Hill describing how he first obtained the relic (see our website for further details from this letter). Unlike game-used bats, dozens of which are used within a single-season, gloves are treasured by the men who wear them and usually used for many years. This is an incredible opportunity to obtain a rarity in the collector’s world, a Hall of Famer’s game-used glove with clear provenance. The letter from Paul Hill discusses how he met Richie Ashburn in late 1963. Ashburn was throwing batting practice for the Phillies (he was working for the club as an announcer) after he had retired in 1962. A young Paul Hill asked Ashburn for something for his collection and Ashburn handed him the glove. The full letter is scanned below and you can read it in its entirety.Richie Ashburn owns six of the top ten seasons with the most putouts by an outfielder in Major League history and most likely used this glove during some of these seasons.