One of only two known surviving jerseys tied to use by Hall of Fame pitcher Walter Johnson more than 100 years ago is about to go up for sale.
The grey flannel Washington Senators jersey will be the lead item in Heritage Auctions’ upcoming Spring catalog.
It first entered the hobby 18 years ago after being consigned to an SCP Auctions/Sotheby’s sale by the granddaughter of Eric “Swat” Erickson, a Swedish-born right handed pitcher.
Erickson was Johnson’s teammate on the Senators from 1919-1922.
Johnson struck out 3,508 batters over a brilliant 21-year career with the Washington Senators, and his 110 shutouts are more than any pitcher. Despite playing for losing teams most of his career, “The Big Train” won 417 games – second only to Cy Young on the all-time list.
As the story goes, after his retirement, Erickson came to Jamestown, NY and built a farmhouse. His baseball collection came with him, including photos, programs, newspaper articles and the Senators jersey with his teammate’s name sewn into the collar.
Did Johnson give it to him as a parting gift or did Erickson wind up wearing it because he liked the fit? The specific reason has apparently been lost to time, but the connection seems clear.
The only other Johnson jersey is on display at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY and dates to 1927.
Rated A10 by MEARS with a letter from authenticator Dave Grob, the jersey at Heritage has some rust—likely from a hangar—in the collar and shoulders. It remains in its original condition, never having undergone any kind of restoration. A Spalding manufacturer’s label is present on the interior of the jersey, which is gray with light blue pinstripes.
The jersey was last sold in June of 2006 when an east coast collector bidding by phone outlasted his competitors in the SCP Auctions/Sotheby’s sale, paying what was then a jaw dropping sum of $352,000.
It’s now been photomatched by Resolution Photomatching–the oldest jersey ever matched by the company.
Heritage estimates it could sell for $3 million or more when the auction ends next month.
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