Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Winter 2019
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/26/2019
Still highly lamented in Montreal despite exiting La Metropole for the nation’s capital of our southern neighbours almost 15 years ago, the Montreal Expos continue to be highly collected, with game-used items at the forefront of desirable memorabilia. We have a collection of items from the early-1970s totaling 5, with each seeing action under the banner of Canada’s first major league baseball club. Included, we have a catcher’s mitt used by John Bateman, a bat that was swung by Ron Fairly, a batting helmet donned by Ron Hunt and a pair of Expos caps including an example that was worn by John Strohmayer.
The bat is a 35” Hillerich & Bradsby Louisville Slugger 125 signature model, with “M44” stamped over the knob. Heavy use is indicated with wear to the finish and some dead wood on the back of the barrel. There is also pine tar over the full length of the handle along with a spiral tape pattern, with nails in the center brand to rectify a crack. Most likely seeing batting practice use and possibly used after Fairly, with the tape pattern something he never employed. The batting helmet is a KM Pro Cap by the American Baseball Cap company, with decals within the interior and handwritten “33”, with “33” again repeated over the reverse. The Expos decal over the front has mostly worn away, with a small bit of white residue over the very top center and reverse rim. The cap witnessed heavy use, with considerable wear including scratches and scuff marks throughout. Next, the Strohmayer cap is also a KM Pro model, with 7 1/8 sizing, with embroidered Expos logo and nice wear, with John signing the reverse bill in black marker, along with “Matthieu” handwritten (probably the recipient of the hat). The second Expos cap matches the Strohmayer in both size and style, with a tear and some cracking to the inner liner. Lastly, the catcher’s mitt used by John Bateman is a Joe Torre Spalding model, with “Bateman” and "2" handwritten in marker (faded), along with “Cloutier” (also handwritten – most likely the recipient of the glove). The glove shows heavy use but remains supple, with considerable wear and darkening to the palm. As an added bonus, we also have three low grade Topps Expos baseball cards included, with a 1970 example for Bateman, and 1971 cards for Hunt and Strohmayer.
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