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How often does a game worn jersey surface that you definitively trace a jersey to player's back? This, by far, is the finest and most well-documented Albert Pujols game worn jersey to be offered in the hobby to date. This jersey was obtained directly from Dan Sullivan on "Jerseys Off Their Backs Day" at Busch Stadium on August 23, 2003 – immediately following a Phillies/Cardinals game (a game the Cardinals won). Here is Dan's account of what happened that day:
"On August 23, 2003, I attended the Cardinals vs Phillies game. They were having a charity fund raiser that day called "Jersey off our backs". For $1 you could buy a scratch off ticket for a chance to win a jersey off the back of a Cardinals' player at the end of the game.
I bought a ticket during the first inning of the game. It just so happened to be a winner. Anyone with a winning ticket was to report to a certain area of Busch Stadium during the 8th inning. We were led to a large conference room inside Busch Stadium where, one at a time, we walked up to a table that had several sealed, unmarked envelopes. Inside the envelopes was a player's number. When I randomly picked an envelope from the table and opened it, the number on the piece of paper was 5. It was definitely an exciting moment. The rest of the winners were excited for me but disappointed at the same time. That's the player everyone was looking for.
Immediately after the 3rd out in the 9th inning, we were led on to the field of Busch Stadium and lined up in numerical order on the 1st base line between home plate and first base. We had to hold up the piece of paper from the envelope so each Cardinals player knew which person to walk to. From the dugout comes Albert Pujols and he makes his way over to me. He pulls off his jersey, flips it over and signs his name on the 5 on the back of his jersey. He also gave me his batting gloves and wrist band that he wore during the game. There happened to be a team photographer standing next to us taking our picture as Albert signed his jersey. Surprisingly, that picture made it into the St. Louis Cardinals Gameday magazine the following year. It's issue 2004, No. 4. The picture appears on page 19 of the magazine. I also saved the ticket stub from the game. This collection includes the signed, game worn jersey, two batting gloves and wrist band worn during the game, the ticket stub from the game and the St. Louis Cardinal's Gameday magazine in which Albert Pujols and I appear in as he is signing his jersey."
This lot includes the jersey, batting gloves, wrist band, ticket stub and GameDay program that Dan Williams collected. The jersey is tagged on the tail with a Majestic tag and a size 48 flag tag. The tail of this jersey is custom hand-cut by Pujols, a common characteristic of jerseys worn by Pujols. Inside, this jersey is tagged with a pro-coded "0062" wash tag. This jersey is also signed by Pujols in black on the back #5 (signed Pujols game worn jerseys are very scarce). The jersey is in unlaundered condition, and has infield dirt and sweat stains throughout the jersey (especially in the collar area). The batting gloves exhibit moderate evidence of use, as does the wristband. The wristband is embroidered with Pujols' #5, but the Nike Dri-Fit batting gloves are not customized at all. This collection is accompanied by a letter from the individual who won this jersey, Mr. Dan Williams. It was consigned to the auction by Rob Steinmetz. Need we say more?View Lot Detail page