Here we have an amazing piece of Olympic and American sports history: the USA Track & Field jersey by 2-time Olympic champion William Patrick "Parry" O'Brien during Olympic competition. Parry O'Brien is considered the greatest shot putter of all time. He competed in four consecutive Summer Olympics (1952-1964) where he won two gold medals (1952 Helsinki 1956) and one silver medal (1960 Rome). He placed fourth at the 1964 Tokyo Games. In the early 1950s while competing for the University of Southern California O'Brien invented the method used today of facing the opposite direction and spinning 180 degrees to throw the shot. Known as "O'Brien Style" or the "O'Brien Glide" this revolutionary technique helped him win 116 consecutive meets and set the world record a total of 17 times (indoors & outdoors combined). He held the world record from 1953 to 1959 and was the first to launch the 16-pound shot more than 60 feet. For all of his athletic feats and everlasting contributions to the sport of track and field O'Brien was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1984. A lifelong athlete O'Brien died of a heart attack in 2007 at the age of 75 while competing in a Southern California masters swimming event.

The blue jersey has "USA" sewn in red lettering and white trim. The Wilson tag at the left shirttail has a flag tag with "50" written in black pen most likely for the size. The verso of the flag tag has "P.O.B." in black pen to mark its owner. There is nothing sewn on the back of the jersey. The jersey shows significant wear: pilling in the cotton fabric where he pinned his athlete number below the "USA" on the front; multiple areas of dethreading on the back and one near the right armpit; and three holes - the largest being at the back right shoulder. It comes essentially as-issued and problem-free. Photos show O'Brien wearing this same style jersey during the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo where he took 4th place.

Includes a Letter of Provenance from the Newport Sports Museum.