Ernest Natali Lombardi enjoyed a decorated MLB career that spanned 17 seasons (1931-47) with four teams. The son of hard-working Italian immigrants, he grew up in Oakland, CA, and attended McClymonds High School where future legends Frank Robinson and Bill Russell would also matriculate. The hard-nosed catcher had many nicknames including “Lom", “Lumbago” and the “Cyrano with the Iron Mask” – Bill James called him "the slowest man to ever play Major League Baseball well” – and his many accomplishments earned him induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Ernie began his pro career in the Pacific Coast League with his hometown Oakland Oaks in 1926 at the age of 18. With Lombardi behind the dish, the Oaks won their second ever PCL title. From 1928 to ‘30 he batted .377, .366 and .370 in consecutive seasons before the National League’s Brooklyn Robins snatched him up in 1931. An 8-time All-Star, he won two batting titles, the NL MVP in 1938 and a World Series title with the Cincinnati Reds in 1940. It was with the Reds that he played the longest (1932-41), but his final stint with the New York Giants (1943-47) was very productive for a backstop in his late 30s.

Presented here is an interesting piece of history that once belonged to Ernie Lombardi and dates to his PCL days. Based on our in-house expertise on vintage jewelry, we have concluded that this is a customized ring with the top portion attached to a separate ring body. The face appears to be either a pendant/charm or a different ring altogether. It has been professionally adjoined to a separate ring base at the crown with a resizable band. The face reads “1928 Pacific Coast League Champions” in raised relief with a genuine diamond (approximately .15 carats) at center. The two shanks [from a separate ring] are nondescript. On the underside of the face is “Ernest Lombardi” engraved with “18K” and the maker (looks like “N&T”). Inside the right shank is “14K”.

The fact that there are two different material hallmarks is another indication that this ring was made from two separate pieces of jewelry. In any case, it clearly dates to the period and was on Lombardi’s finger quite a bit based on the heavy wear on all sides. Adjustable from size 11.5 to 12, the ring weighs 16 grams. It comes from a longtime PCL collector based in the Bay Area who acquired it at auction many years ago.