Jim Gilliam 1970s Los Angeles Dodgers Warm-Up Jacket from Tommy John’s Collection.
Lot 19. Jim Gilliam 1970s Los Angeles Dodgers Warm-Up Jacket from Tommy John’s Collection. Gilliam’s lifetime statistics belie his contributions to the Dodgers in Brooklyn and Los Angeles. The 1953 N.L. Rookie of the Year, he was a fixture with the Dodgers for more than 20 seasons. After he was done playing, he became one of the first black coaches in the major leagues. He might have become the first black manager if a brain hemorrhage had not claimed his life in 1978. Davey Lopes described him as “father, friend, and locker room inspiration that will never be forgotten.” Walter Also paid tribute to him as a player who “did the little things to win ballgames…. He was one of the most unselfish ballplayers I know.” Gilliam gave his lighter-weight warm-up jacket to Tommy John during one of their seasons together in Los Angeles in the 1970s. The size 44 Goodman & Sons jacket has Gilliam’s uniform number, 19, on a label sewn inside. A Letter of Authenticity from John accompanies the ex-m jacket. Winning Bid $198.
