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Extremely rare and enormously significant World Series medallion issued to pitcher Charley Hall of the Boston Red Sox in commemoration of the club's 1912 World Championship season. This was the official award given to players on the 1912 Boston Red Sox following their four games to three (with one tie game) victory over the New York Giants, and in 1912 was the ultimate symbol of triumph. This award declared recipients as honored members of the World"™s Champions. This award played the same role as the World Series rings of today. In fact, the very same style award was manufactured by the same company (F. H. & Co.) and presented to the World Champions each year from at least 1909 though 1919. (Examples from different years illustrating this can be seen by searching auction results. Jake Daubert's 1919 award, for example, consigned directly from the Daubert family, was auctioned by REA in 2011, selling for $82,250). Before 1922, World Series champions normally received pendants, pins, or some other type of special jewelry item (in some cases, more than one) to commemorate their triumph. In modern times, of course, the tradition is the presentation of a ring. But in 1912, this finely crafted 14k gold pendant served this purpose.

The 14K gold circular medallion (.75 inches in diameter), features a baseball-diamond motif in the center, upon which sits a single, small diamond. Lettered, in raised relief, around the baseball-diamond motif is "World Champions 1912." A floral pattern adorns the outer perimeter. Engraved on the reverse is the name of the recipient, "Chas. Hall," as well as "14K" and the hallmark of the jeweler, "F. H. Co." A small ring is attached to the top so that the piece can be worn as a pendant.

This is the first example of this championship award from 1912 we have ever seen and, as is usually (if not always) the case with World Championship awards, it comes with impeccable provenance: Charley Hall was our consignor's great-grandfather and this piece has been passed down as a keepsake in her family since 1912. Ideally, she has provided an accompanying LOA in which she details the medallion's history, including the fact that her grandmother wore it on her charm bracelet for more than fifty years. The only other 1912 Boston Red Sox World Championship presentation piece we have seen is a slightly larger, and equally rare, fob (approximately three surviving examples are known), an example of which was offered as Lot 999 in REA's May 2012 sale, where it realized a final sale price of $38,513.

Charley Hall was an integral member of the Boston Red Sox in 1912. As one of the club's five starting pitchers he posted a record 15-8 with a 3.02 ERA. He also made relief appearances in Game 2 and Game 7 of the World Series, allowing four earned runs over 10.2 innings, with no decisions. As stated earlier, this is the only example of this exceedingly rare 1912 World Series Championship medallion we have ever seen. This is an extremely important and rare award piece dating to the first of Boston's four World Championships from the decade. The fact that it comes with ironclad provenance and is entirely new to the hobby makes it all the more noteworthy. Reserve $5,000. Estimate (open). SOLD FOR $10,665