HOFer Monte Irvin was NL RBI leader in 1951 which was also the year of Bobby Thompson’s ‘shot heard round the world’. Many had assumed that Irvin – a star in the Negro Leagues with the Newark Eagles – would be the Black player who would break baseball’s color barrier. That assignment went to Robinson, but Irvin quickly traveled the same path Jackie did. Irvin played with the Giants from 1949-1955 after finding immense success in both the Negro and Mexican Leagues. In that time he helped lead the team to a pair of National League titles and a World Series Championship in 1954. His number "20" has been retired by the Franchise. Inside the back of the neck of this grey flannel, is the MacGregor GoldSmith size 44 label. Below that is a white felt strip tag, with ‘Irvin 20’ stitched in red. NEW YORK is done across the chest and player number (0) on the back - both are done in black on orange tackle twill and the front is restored. The team name is a replacement (outline of Minor League affiliate "Minneapolis" is visible below) as is the National League Anniversary patch on the left sleeve (the patch is a period example, restored). Irvin has signed and inscribed the front left tail in black marker ‘My game worn 1951 jersey Monte Irvin’, in our opinion rating an 8. This jersey is properly tagged, presented to us as game-used and in our opinion shows excellent wear.