By David G. Firestone
Last year, when I started this project last year, I know I would have to end it at some point. Tragically, this post is that point. This will be the last regular installment of Vintage Item Spotlight. I’ve had fun with it, but it’s gotten overwhelming, writing this, The Driver Suit Blog, and producing Introduction to Sports Memorabilia. I’ve had fun, and I’ve saved my favorite item for last.
Mike Garman was a journeyman pitcher who was signed by the Boston Red Sox to their farm system in 1967 at age 17. He spent 1967, 1968, and the majority of 1969 with the Greenville Red Sox, and was a September call up in 1969, 1971, and 1972. He was a member of the full-time roster in 1973, but was traded to the Cardinals at the end of the season. He also pitched for the Cubs, Dodgers and Expos, until he failed to make the roster in 1979. After on season in the minors, he retired in 1980.
When he was a September call up in 1972, he was issued this road jersey. His first pitching appearance came on September 4 in the second game of a double-heard against the Milwaukee Brewers in Milwaukee. The appearance was for the bottom halves of the 7th and 8th innings, and he gave up one hit, one home run and an error. During that appearance, he wore this pullover jersey.
What fascinates me about this jersey is the fact that the BOSTON lettering across the front has been removed, and was replaced with RED SOX, and then was restored. The reason it was removed was because from Major League Baseball’s inception up until the 1980’s, many teams would remove their lettering and logos from the uniforms, and then send them down to their minor league affiliates. The minors would, in turn, add their own lettering as a way of saving money. It looks a little sloppy, but the lettering looks good, and it’s the correct size.
The front of the collar has some repair work done to it. It was cut and repaired.
The back numbers show some wear, and have been replaced at some point. and I love the red-on-blue setup the Red Sox use.
The tagging is correct, and it just adds to the vintage feel of the uniform. Tim McAuliffe Inc was founded in 1896 in Boston, and supplied caps and uniforms for baseball up until the 1970’s, when the competition became too great, and they were run out of the market. While they were a supplier, they often had other companies make parts of the uniform and slapped their own tags on it.
This is a truly unique jersey, and is my favorite items. This was also one of my favorite projects. I’m sad it has to end, but stay tuned, I might have something else in the near future.
DGF2099-Main Page 