Fall, 2019 Premier Auction - Closes November 30
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/1/2019
Pitcher Steve stone broke into the majors with the 1971 San Francisco Giants, an intellectual control pitcher who played college ball at Kent State University, pitching to his batterymate Thurman Munson. Used as both a starter and a reliever, Stone was a journeyman early in his career who refused surgery for a torn rotator cuff, rehabilitated with cryotherapy, and posted a 15-12 record in his comeback season with the 1977 White Sox. He signed as a free agent with Baltimore in 1979, and after slumping the first half of the year, speeded up his delivery and worked on his self-confidence. A Jewish player, Stone adopted the uniform number of his boyhood idol Sandy Koufax, and finished the season strong.
His 1980 season, however, was phenomenal. Including a 14-game winning streak, Stone finished the year 25-7, with a 3.23 earned run average, winning the Cy Young award. He pitched 250 innings that season, throwing primarily curveballs, in the process causing tendonitis that ended his career the following season. He subsequently became a broadcaster, where he worked for some time.
Presented here is a 1980 Baltimore Orioles home jersey from that magical Cy Young season, a perfect Rawlings size 42 jersey with signs of heavy use, Stone's signature and inscription on the tail, applied for fellow broadcaster and collector Ted Patterson. Stone's number 32 - borrowed from Koufax - graces the front and back of the uniform, which has attained a perfect grade of A10 by MEARS. An incredible jersey from one of the finest pitching performances in all of Baltimore Orioles history. LOA from MEARS.
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