Ray Knight's Team Signed 1988 Tigers Game Used Batting Helmet
Outstanding use exhibited over entire Detroit Tiger team issued game used size 7 3/8 American Baseball Cap batting helmet both on outside and inside of item that bears Knight's familiar #22 with attached sticker on back of protective headgear. The 1988 season was Knight's final year in the Major Leagues, and he appeared in 105 games for the Tigers with 327 plate appearances. This helmet has been signed in gold paint pen by over 25 players and coaches from that Tiger team. They include manager and Hall of Famer Sparky Anderson. Hall of Famers Jack Morris and Alan Trammell. Other keys that have autographed this piece include its owner Ray Knight along with Fred Lynn, Matt Nokes, Chet Lemon, Frank Tanana, Doyle Alexander, Lou Whitaker and coach Vada Pinson. James Spence Authentication (JSA) has reviewed this signed lot, and their auction house letter of authenticity comes with this piece. Includes certificate of provenance from Ray Knight collection.
The Personal Collection of Ray Knight
The Golf Auction is honored to offer the personal collection on behalf of 1986 World Series Most Valuable Player, Ray Knight. This opportunity comes to us through a satisfied previous client of our auction house in LPGA Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez. We had the pleasure of presenting some of the items from her personal collection in our August 2024 offering. Nancy and Ray were the power couple in the 1980s with both rising to the top of professional sports careers in LPGA golf and Major League Baseball. At the height of these careers, they married in 1982. They each supported the others career with Ray often in the gallery at LPGA tournaments and joining together in charity events. Nancy would alter her golf schedule around baseball season to make nearly all of Ray's home games. In the 1986 World Series, Ray would hit .391 and star in the hero's role in game 6 and 7 comeback wins of the World Champion New York Mets leading to his being named that series Most Valuable Player. Nancy was a fan in the stands for all of those games. The '86 season was only part of an outstanding baseball career for Knight that saw him make his Big-League debut in 1974 with the Cincinnati Reds before replacing Reds legend Pete Rose at third base in 1979. A season that saw Knight hit .318 third in the National League as he finished fifth in League MVP balloting. NL all-star team selections followed in 1980 and 1982 before he moved on to the Mets and the heroics of the 1986 season. Ray rounded out his MLB playing career with the Detroit Tigers in 1988 before returning to manage the Cincinnati Reds 1996-97, 2003. Not just a baseball player, Ray excelled at golf, with it reported in 1988 that even won once in the hundreds of matches he played golf with Nancy holing an 18th green putt to post a 72 to 73 triumph.
Welcome to our 2026 May Golf Auction, it will end on Sunday, May 17th at 10pm ET with extended bidding to follow! Please utilize the categories column and search bar to help you navigate towards your preferred collectibles. All initial bids must be placed before 10pm ET Sunday in order to participate in extended bidding. Bid Now!
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