Acquiring my Holy Grail

[z28jd]

I admit that I thought the 1887 Kalamazoo Bats Pittsburgh team card WAS my holy grail until I knew this following item existed. Even when I found out about it, I didn't think I'd be able to purchase it because it's been in the family since day one. I'm from Kearny, NJ, birthplace of Dots Miller, who shares six of the same relatives with me, though we are not related. I'm a huge Pirates fan since I was five and now get to cover the Pirates for a living. So what you see here is the 1909 Dots Miller Pirates jersey and pants, which I believe were World Series worn because I have an old article saying he saved everything from the Series. I was able to purchase them today.

[irv]

Originally Posted by z28jd

I admit that I thought the 1887 Kalamazoo Bats Pittsburgh team card WAS my holy grail until I knew this following item existed. Even when I found out about it, I didn't think I'd be able to purchase it because it's been in the family since day one. I'm from Kearny, NJ, birthplace of Dots Miller, who shares six of the same relatives with me, though we are not related. I'm a huge Pirates fan since I was five and now get to cover the Pirates for a living. So what you see here is the 1909 Dots Miller Pirates jersey and pants, which I believe were World Series worn because I have an old article saying he saved everything from the Series. I was able to purchase them today.

Incredible!

[orly57]

Congratulations man!!! This is what it's all about. I'm really happy for you. That is amazing. It belongs in a museum.

[GrayGhost]

OMG . That is AMAZING!!!

[z28jd]

Originally Posted by orly57

Congratulations man!!! This is what it's all about. I'm really happy for you. That is amazing. It belongs in a museum.

I plan on taking good care of it for a long time, then leaving it to one of his relatives, putting it back into the family. I have three cousins related to him in their early 30's, so we will see if they have a kid who is big into baseball. If not, it will probably end up in a museum

[jerseygary]

Wow! That's a heck of a find! I hope you can post some other detail pictures when you get a chance. Glad it went to someone who really appreciates it.

[Luke]

That's unreal!!! Very happy for you John!

[EYECOLLECTVINTAGE]

Sickest item i saw in a long time!

[z28jd]

I should add one of thing and that was that the person I bought it from had another jersey he thought belonged to Dots Miller, so I said I'd look at it. It was from a local team from Kearny and I was able to tell him it was his grandfather's jersey, so that made it extra special to him.

He never thought to check inside for the name and he didn't know his grandfather played baseball, but I had an old newspaper article with him mentioned.

[Sean]

That is a fantastic item.

[ruth-gehrig]

Congratulations to you!
And Thanks for sharing with us

[HOF Auto Rookies]

Unbelievable, what an historical piece.

[Jobu]

Nice John - I am happy to see that you finally got it!

How do you plan to display/store it?

[ullmandds]

WOW!!!! Awesome Acquisition!!!!! I love your dots collection! I'm putting you in my will...you should have my run someday!!!!!!

[bobbvc]

Great post!

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

That qualifies as awesome!!

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[z28jd]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

WOW!!!! Awesome Acquisition!!!!! I love your dots collection! I'm putting you in my will...you should have my run someday!!!!!!

It's cool seeing the jersey on the cards, especially this one. BTW, they believe someone in the family has the famous "big glove"

[Northviewcats]

Congratulations on the great pickup. I appreciate your intention of returning it to the family in the future. Very cool.

Best regards,

Joe

[WillowGrove]

I'm really excited for you, that uniform is amazing. Congratulations!

[the-illini]

Congrats John - that is an amazing piece!

I have to confess I thought it was going to be an N172 Madden/leaning on rock card though!

[mrvster]

congrats my great friend!

you are the one that hooked me on pre war..... I will come out and see you soon.... I'm hanging in there..... again, stoked for you!

[ksfarmboy]

Holy smokes that is amazing!! So glad that stuff like this still exists! Congratulations!

[oldjudge]

Congratulations John! It is good that the jersey has found its' way into the hands of a knowledgeable, passionate collector such as yourself. As a member of the Miller clan I approve.
BTW, I have seen that a copy of the extremely rare Pittsburgh K-Bat team card is coming up in a Huggins and Scott auction later this year. Hopefully, that will also find its' way to you.

[z28jd]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

Congratulations John! It is good that the jersey has found its' way into the hands of a knowledgeable, passionate collector such as yourself. As a member of the Miller clan I approve.
BTW, I have seen that a copy of the extremely rare Pittsburgh K-Bat team card is coming up in a Huggins and Scott auction later this year. Hopefully, that will also find its' way to you.

For the owner of the card's sake, I hope it doesn't but I'd begrudgingly accept it. I'm tapped out now. About to eat pop tarts for lunch and possibly dinner

[EvilKing00]

Congrats! Amazing piece

[btcarfagno]

I remember when you first posted that a while back. It was stunning then and remains so. Many many congratulations. Not just because of the value which is insane. Moreso the personal connection you have to it. Simply amazing.

Tom C

[z28jd]

Originally Posted by btcarfagno

I remember when you first posted that a while back. It was stunning then and remains so. Many many congratulations. Not just because of the value which is insane. Moreso the personal connection you have to it. Simply amazing.

Tom C

I had no idea of purchasing it when I posted those pictures last year. I knew of it's existence for years and just wanted to see it, didn't even ask to purchase it since it was in the family for 107 years at that point. I should say that I knew a jersey existed, didn't know it was a 1909 one though.

When the offer came up shortly after to buy it, I jumped on it and luckily they were willing to wait on full payment.

[T206Collector]

Crazy sick find

[vintagesportscollector]

Absolutely incredible. As a uniform collector myself, I consider that one of the greatest pieces and finds that I have ever seen. Given your connection I can only imagine the exhilaration you are feeling. Priceless and historic. Congratulations and thanks for sharing.

[Al C.risafulli]

Holy cow, John, that's amazing.

Congrats. That's one of the coolest things I've seen in a while. Glad it wound up in the right hands.

-Al

[baseballfan]

Fantastic piece.

I was just going through my T206 cards today and Miller always stands out because of the name Dots

congrats on the purchase

[nebboy]

Wow nice!!!

[ramram]

Simply awesome.

Rob M

[Jay Wolt]

John incredible pickup, Congrats!

[Yoda]

John, you and Dot's uniform have restored my faith that there is still great 'stuff out there to be uncovered, which is something that drives us collectors ever onward IMO. I bet that fine museum in upstate NY would love to have a sniff. Congratulations.

[Sterling Sports Auctions]

Congratulations, a Wonderful piece to add to anyone's collect but to be in the hands of someone that also appreciates for exactly what ii is, a Great piece of baseball/Pirates history!

Lee

[PowderedH2O]

Any uniform is cool. Having one with that sort of story is amazing. If you owned nothing else, you'd have a great collection just owning that one uniform. Congrats!

[Joe_G.]

Congrats John . . .

I too was really curious what the holy grail might be. Could have been any of the following:

• Dots Miller jersey
• Pittsburgh K-Bat team card

Or any of the following OJs:

• Deacon White w/ Pittsburgh
• Madden - leaning on rock
• New 3rd pose of Larry Corcoran

Great item John, neat to have something so historic, from your favorite team, and with a family connection. Congratulations!

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by z28jd

It's cool seeing the jersey on the cards, especially this one. BTW, they believe someone in the family has the famous "big glove"

Omg...to see that glove...with the uni...thats be something special. I might be disappointed if it is not in fact..."big!"

[rhettyeakley]

Incredible!

[z28jd]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

Omg...to see that glove...with the uni...thats be something special. I might be disappointed if it is not in fact..."big!"

Sorry...

[Sean]

Wow, that glove really got exaggerated on the cards.

[iowadoc77]

This is why this hobby is so cool. Stories like this. Congrats to you! What an amazing find. Glad to see it it in the right hands.

[GKreindler]

Holy balls, that's absolutely incredible. It's so amazing to see the ballclub initials on the sleeve in real life, too.

Bravo!!

[tiger8mush]

Great pick up, congrats!

Was the peppermint candy cane undershirt available for purchase as well?

[cardsfan73]

Truly a once in a life time find & what makes it even better is the item found it's proper home. Congratulations on this epic pick up!


Scott

[z28jd]

Originally Posted by tiger8mush

Great pick up, congrats!

Was the peppermint candy cane undershirt available for purchase as well?

Miller's stuff got split up among many family members, so that undershirt could be out there somewhere.

I read an article that said when he got home to Kearny, he said hi to his family, then went out and played baseball with neighborhood kids in the field right behind the house and he used a baseball from the World Series. D'oh!

Thanks for the kind words everyone! BTW, this is his house from back then, where the jersey was until around 2009.

[Leon]

Congrats John. I couldn't be happier for you. It is where it should be.

ps..can't help but be just a little disappointed in his glove size. The ladies said he had big hands, guess they were wrong DOH....

[Rich Falvo]

What a pickup! Congrats!

[ramram]

There's your jersey and look who it's rubbing against.

Rob M

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