Auction Item Details
Lot 15
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Lot Number: 15
Description: Important 1923 New York Yankees World's Championship gold pocket watch presented to Joe Kelley. Five sided watch by Gruen is beautifully engraved on back of the casing with a batter, pitcher, and catcher scene. "Yankees" is lettered across the top and a caption below reads "World's Champions 1923." Engraved on the interior, "Presented by Yankee Baseball Club To J.J. Kelley" and marked "Gruen Verithin" along with "14K.G., Cincinnati 1057320" The original face (under replaced glass cover) has a few very small age toning spots and the watch displays some mild general handling/age wear. Winding knob has been replaced and watch is in working order. Includes vintage gold chain as it was found within the Kelley collection. After losing the World Series to their cross town rival New York Giants in both 1921 and 1922, the Yankees opened the 1923 season to great fanfare. The team introduced a newly built Stadium, summarily dubbed "The House That Ruth Built", and the crowd was not disappointed when Babe christened it with a homerun. Finishing atop the American League they once again met the Giants in Championship play and this time emerged the victor; it was the foundation of Yankee dominance of baseball throughout the 20th Century and the first of a remarkable (27) World Series Championships to follow. An historically significant piece as presented to the Yankees coach and one of six Hall of Fame members on the team. With the exception of Babe Ruth's example of this coveted watch the offered Kelley specimen is the most significant to have been offered to the collecting public. Includes letter of provenance from the Kelley family and glass covered display case as used by the Kelley family: EX-MTEstimated Price Range: ($25,000-$50,000)
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