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3 Pairs of John’s Game-Used Shoes, One a Signed First-of-a-King Pair, and a Signed Poster.
Lot 275. 3 Pairs of John’s Game-Used Shoes, One a Signed First-of-a-King Pair, and a Signed Poster. In 1978, his final season with the Dodgers, Tommy John suffered an Achilles tendon injury. As he recovered from the injury, his doctors suggested that he wear cowboy boots to relieve pressure on his heel. The boots helped. As he thought about the upcoming season, John recognized that the baseball spikes available then were flat. It occurred to him that a raised heel in his baseball shoes would be beneficial. Soon he called upon his cousin Donald, an expert cobbler, to modify a pair of shoes for him. Donald placed a wedge in a pair of shoes to raise the heel. The fix worked, preventing pain in John’s heel as he opened his first season as a Yankee in 1979. Subsequently, John became as spokesman for PONY, and he had the shoe manufacturer produce shoes for him with raised heels. Offered here are the black shoes modified by John’s cousin. “Those shoes were heavy,” John recalls. “PONY came up with lighter technology.” The 288-game winner, the seventh winningest pitcher among lefties, signed the toes of both shoes modified by his cousin. The signatures are nm-m 8. They are accompanied by a pair each of game-used shoes from John’s years with the Dodgers and the Angels. Also, three signed “Property of Thomas Edward John” labels. Also included is 23” x 34” PONY poster that shows John pitching for the Yankees. He has signed a black area of the poster in silver sharpie. The signature is large, bold and mint 9. Autographs authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $125.
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