Wayne Nordhagen 1976-77 Game-Worn & Signed Chicago White Sox Road Jersey

Bidding

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/19/2020

Here’s a striking bit of baseball nostalgia all wrapped up in an attractive all-original pullover jersey: Wayne Nordhagen’s collared polyester shirt complete with a strong blue Sharpie signature on the back. The rare jersey spotlights a time when legendary owner Bill Veeck turned his creative talents to – among other things – the sartorial splendor of his charges on the diamond. Along with clam-digger pants and even shorts, Veeck’s tinkering in the 1970s included this navy blue pullover jersey, resplendent in the manner of the late 19th century, with “Chicago” in the Old English style on the front and in Nordhagen’s name and number on the back. Shirt shows moderate game use and remains in superb condition, with Rawlings Size 42 label at the collar; there is minimal fraying of the delicate white stitching of his NOB and almost nothing with “Chicago” or his number on the back. As noted above, Nordhagen signed in blue Sharpie along the No. 1 on back, adding his middle initial to the signature. He was a solid journeyman outfielder and designated hitter for five different clubs between 1976 and 1983, hitting .282 lifetime, with 39 home runs and 205 runs batted in. This is a rare and important artifact from a gauzy time when one of the most eccentric and beloved owners in MLB history was using every trick in his vast arsenal to remain competitive as the ominous dawn of free agency descended across the land.