Ken Griffey Jr 1997 MVP Game Used HOME MARINERS Jersey! A RARE autod Museum piece from Jr.s ONLY MVP season!! Start Price USD 0.01 Current Price USD 2,125.00 Time Left - Bid Count 35 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Monday, November 24, 2008 End Time Thursday, December 04, 2008 Location Brentwood, CA See more about 'Ken Griffey Jr 1997 MVP Game Used HOME MARINERS Jersey!' Description I won this fine game used jersey in a major sports auction several years ago. I NEVER planned on parting with it, as it was worn by one of the most beloved baseball players in a generation filled with turmoil. This athlete wore this jersey during his ONLY MVP campaign. He has endured through the tough times MLB has just lived through with his head held high because he always played the game the RIGHT way, and will continue to do so until he decides to "hang 'em up". For those of you who are unfamiliar with me or my auctions, I am a major baseball collector who has amassed quite a collection of game used memorabilia, mainly of the 500 Home Run club, but with some other Hall of Famer items scattered in here and there. It has been a very rewarding hobby, one that has fulfilled many years of my passion for the greatest game on the face of the earth. Recently, however, life's twists and turns have put me in a position I hoped I would never be in. I find myself in need of raising money, and the only choice I have is to sell some of the items I have spent the better part of my life collecting. It's a painful process picking and choosing which ones to let go of, because at one time or another, each piece was "my favorite". In any case, in an effort to raise some cash for personal needs, I have no choice but to share some of my fine pieces of historic baseball memorabilia with the rest of the collecting public. Make no mistake about it, my need creates a historic opportunity for you as these pieces only become available once or twice in your collecting lifetimes. As a collector, this is your ONE AND ONLY opportunity to obtain this fine gem piece without having to pay a substantial BUYERS PREMIUM charged by the major sports houses. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Ken Griffey Jr., when his career is completed, will go down as one of the most talented and complete superstars that ever graced the ML baseball fields. He is arguably one of, if not THE, greatest all around players in history. When compared to other center fielders, he also could be placed at the top. He will finish his career as a FIRST BALLOT Hall of FAMER, and take his fabled place next to other center fielders like COBB, SPEAKER, MAYS, DiMAGGIO, MANTLE, and SNYDER. Stop and ponder what may have been? Junior never once has taken the field and given less than 100% on every play. He has sacrificed his body and health, and in doing so diminished his already breathtaking career numbers.......all for the sake of giving the paying fans "what they deserve" when coming to watch him play. When asked why he has sacrificed so much when he could have been much more reserved when chasing down fly balls destined to fall for base hits, or clear fences for homers, only to end up having a "close-encounter" with the pocket of juniors glove instead, he says he "wouldn't have it any other way", with "no regrets". His BRUTAL injuries have stolen approximately 4 years worth of his brilliant career. If not for the fact that his hustle and determination to always perform at his best has cost him dearly, there isn't a knowledgable fan alive that doubts Jr. would be knocking on the door of Aaron (and Bonds, if you feel he is worthy) for the ALL-TIME CAREER HOME RUN CROWN in MLB HISTORY!!! KEN GRIFFEY JR. HAS BECOME ONLY THE SIXTH PLAYER TO OBTAIN 600 HOME RUNS, JOINING BABE RUTH, WILLIE MAYS, HANK AARON, SAMMY SOSA, AND BARRY BONDS AS THE ONLY OTHER PLAYERS IN MLB HISTORY TO ACCOMPLISH THIS FEAT!!! :::::::::::::::::::::::::::: It is with deeply mixed feelings I part with this jersey, and offer it to one lucky bidder who will display it proudly and take care of it for many years to come. When considering to invest in a game used item by one of MLB's all-time greats, one could start or stop RIGHT HERE. Ken Griffey Jr. has wooed his fans for almost two decades with "THE SWEETEST SWING IN BASEBALL" while playing his entire career in Seattle, Cincinnati, and most recently in Chicago. BUT.....He has had the recognition of being voted MVP just once.....in 1997.......   WHILE HE WORE THIS GORGEOUS JERSEY!!! ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::   These were his 1997 "MVP" numbers While playing for the Seattle Mariners:   G       AB     R       H       2B    3B     HR    RBI     TB     BB      SO     SB     CS    OBP    SLG     AVG 157   608   125   185     34      3       56     147     393     76      121     15       4      .382     .646     .304   ANOTHER FACT to consider worth mentioning to seasoned collector's.....During a large portion of the 1997 Season, the Seattle Mariners wore "vest" style jerseys, breaking out these "standard style sleeved" jerseys in the second half of the season. So, not only is this from Junior's MVP season, but it's a rare jersey in the fact it was only worn in the second half of his greatest season as a professional......WHEN HE TABULATED THE HIGHER NUMBERS OF HIS 56 HOME RUNS THAT SEASON.....HIS CAREER HIGH!!! :::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Don't miss this opportunity to pick up a KEEPSAKE FOR THE AGES, worn by this beloved legend who gave so much to the fans in Seattle. It is one thing to own a GAMER from a superstar Hall of Famer in baseball.....but a WHOLE other level of collector goes after the pieces that were worn by the players during their MVP season.....making this possibly the most sought after jersey of Ken Griffey Jr's career!!! :::::::::::::::::::::::::::: I proudly offer Ken Griffey Jr.'s game worn 1997 Home Seattle Mariners jersey which was worn by this superstar during his ONLY MVP CAMPAIGN, making this a cherished collectors item which could serve as the centerpiece of any serious collection. PLEASE LOOK AT THE PICTURES!!! You can actually see the exact jersey tags on the tail of the jersey in Seattle's clubhouse as Ken Griffey Jr. celebrates with his teammates their 1997 AL West Title, attesting to the provenance of the jersey!!! REMEMBER, this jersey was in limited use by the team during the 1997 season.... Making this item extremely rare!!! FROM HIS 1997 MVP SEASON!!! Please see the tagging only found on true gamers The rarity and significance of this item cannot be underestimated The jersey was signed by Ken Griffey Jr. just above the number "24" on the back of the jersey, with Jr's own "24" inscription :::::::::::::::::::::::::::: HERE ARE THE PARTICULARS: PROVENANCE.... I won this item in a major sports auction from Grey Flannel Auctions, the experts in the field of game used jerseys. There is NO OTHER AUCTION COMPANY in the business more respected when it comes to knowledge in game-used jerseys. In fact, their COMPANY NAME is BASED on their experience. Their experts go through a extremely lengthy process to authenticate each item they sell in their auctions. Additionally, they use third-party authenticators to supply a professional third party Letter of Authenticity with each of their items they place up for auction. THIS FINE COLLECTORS GEM COMES WITH A LETTER OF AUTHENTICITY FROM JSA (James Spence Authentication) .....recognized as the leader in third-party public authentication There is absolutely NO question as to the authenticity of this jersey, so please feel free to ask any questions you may have if you desire to bid on this fine collectors item. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::: I paid over $6,000 (including buyer's premium) for this piece who's rightful place would be in the Hall of Fame....  Because I believe in the auction process, I am listing this incredible piece starting at..... $ .01 (ONE penny) with NO RESERVE!!!  So the last highest bidder will take this incomparable piece for their very own collection!!! :::::::::::::::::::::::::::: The Major Auction House that was attempting to have me consign it to their next major sports auction values it at   $8,500 - $12,500+   :::::::::::::::::::::::::::: PAYMENT:  Payment is due within 10 days of the close of this auction. I accept PAYPAL, cashier's checks, money orders, and personal checks. If paying with a personal check, I will pay for the shipping, AND the insurance!  You would only have to wait an additional 2-3 days for the check to clear through my bank before shipment. SHIPPING AND INSURANCE:  Shipping will be $15.00 to anywhere in the continental U.S. via USPS 2-3 Day Priority Mail. All other locations will pay exact shipping based on YOUR preference of shipping method. PLEASE NOTE: Insurance MUST BE INCLUDED as I simply cannot ship this piece any other way. The insurance on this item will be calculated based on the closing auction price. This auction is for serious collectors only... A FINE gamer from a superstar's ONLY MVP SEASON....offered to you collectors without the burden of having to pay the huge buyers premium charged if won through a major sports auction house???....Don't blow this opportunity!!! GOOD LUCK!!! PLEASE CHECK OUT MY OTHER AUCTIONS!!!   Place a Bid!