Consign Your Best Items with Lelands. We Also Pay Cash on the Spot! Learn More Here.
1920s George Kelly Signed Mitt (ex-George Kelly Collection, PSA)
He was known as "High Pockets" and "Long George," and Hall of Famer George Kelly was perhaps the best fielding first baseman of his time. Displayed is a signed 1920s George "High Pockets" Kelly first base mitt from the George Kelly Collection. Kelly's 6'4" height was extremely tall for his time, so his pockets really were high. He mostly played for John McGraw's New York Giants (1915-17 & 1919-26). In his 16-year Major League career, Kelly also played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, and Brooklyn Dodgers. Kelly was a 2-time World Series Champion with the Giants, in 1921-22. Kelly, who batted and threw righty, was a fine batter who had a Major League career average of .287, with 148 homers and 1,020 RBIs. As a fielder, he was outstanding. He set a Major League record for putouts by a first baseman in one season, 1,759 in 1920, a record that still stands. In 1973, Hall of Famer Frankie Frisch said of Kelly, "His arm was so tremendous that he was directed to be the relay man on throws from the outfield. His arm was better, in fact, than any of today's players that I can think of." Kelly's technique of footwork and placement on outfield relays was innovative and set the standard that other first basemen mimicked. The offered Kelly mitt is a Draper Maynard Co. product. A facsimile George Kelly signature is etched above the pocket and under that is "65.9" The Draper Maynard logo, featuring an image of a dog, is also above the pocket. Below the pocket is etched "ONE OF 'The Lucky Dog Kind.'" On back is another Draper Maynard tag. The glove exhibits great use, and yet, especially considering its approximate age of a century, it is in excellent condition. George Kelly has signed the back of the mitt in red ink. His signature is faint, but still legible. The offering comes with a PSA LOA for the Kelly autograph. The mitt is in such great condition that one could have a catch with it, but you'd have to use two hands, as unlike the gigantic first base mitts of today, Kelly's was only nine inches tall. A century old, signed mitt, from such a fine player, in such excellent condition, is a rare, and valuable, combination.
Past Sports Card, Memorabilia, Non-Sports Card and Collecitble Auction Items
Other past auction items that may be of interest to you.
Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Duke Snider, & Willie Mays Signed Photo (8x10”)
1982 All-Star Team Signed Poster (25x27”)
500 Homerun Hitters Signed Home Plate
MVP Signed Bat (34")
Hall of Fame Signed Bat with Mantle & Williams (35”)
Walter Johnson Signature
Joe Tinker Signed Photograph (4x4”)
