Lots 556 & 557 are consigned to this auction by a personal friend and business associate of Willie Mays who received the items directly from him in the early 1970's. While visiting Mays at his home he asked Willie if he had anything he could borrow to display at a forthcoming business function that Mays himself had agreed to make an appearance at. Mays produced this jacket and jersey and gave them directly to our consignor. After the conclusion of the event our client attempted to return the items to Mays. Mays graciously insisted that he keep the items as a token of their friendship even autographing them for him. An accompanying photograph shows Willie Mays at the aforementioned appearance with the jersey and jacket hanging beside him. The jacket and jersey have remained in the sole custody of our consignor since that time and are offered here for the first time publicly.

On July 18 1970 At Candlestick Park Willie Mays lined a single off Montreals Mike Wegener to become the 10th member of the 3000 hit club. He also became the 2nd player to get 3000 hits and 500 home runs following Hank Aaron who had accomplished the feat just two months prior. Dating from that historic season is this San Francisco Giants home flannel jersey worn by Hall of Fame outfielder Willie Mays. The white jersey is lettered "Giants" across the front and features the number "24" on the reverse. All letters and numbers are appliqu’d in black felt on orange twill. The name "Mays" is chain-stitched in orange upon a white strip tag located in the collar. On the left front tail are a "70" year tag a "McAuliffe" label and a "42" size tag. The thread securing the McAuliffe label has loosened at the top and right edge. Mays signed the jersey in bold blue Sharpie on the left breast with his Best Wishes salutation. Original and unaltered the jersey displays light wear throughout retaining superb display quality. Mays' accomplishments over the course of his twenty-two-year career were nothing less than spectacular. He ranks among the top ten in virtually every significant offensive category though his statistics can never fully express his greatness on the diamond. He was arguably the greatest all-around player in history displaying a rare combination of speed power and athleticism seldom seen before or since. Mays spent twenty full seasons in a Giants uniform and during that time he was selected to nineteen All-Star games. Includes a LOA from our consignor who obtained this jersey directly from Willie Mays in the 1970s.

Pre-certified by PSA/DNA (auto.)