1982 Seiko Credor Vintage 18K Gold Mens Watch - OWNED & WORN BY YANKEE BASEBALL GREAT LEFTY GOMEZ
Today's offering showcases this elegant late vintage 18K gold Seiko Credor watch that was owned and worn by baseball legend and Yankee Hall of Fame great Lefty Gomez.
It was gifted to him by Toru Shoriki, the prominent Japanese businessman who was also the late owner of the Tokyo (Yomiuri) Giants baseball team, the oldest and one of the most prominent professional sports franchises in Japan.
It has a classic vintage style with thin case and is inscribed on the back, "To Vernon Lefty Gomez - From Toru Shoriki - Owner of Tokyo Giants - Oct. 24, 1982"
Lefty Gomez and the Shoriki family have a rich baseball history together dating back to at least 1934 when Lefty Gomez, as part of the famous 1934 Japan barnstorming tour played against the Japanese all-star team led by Matsutaro Shoriki, Toru Shoriki's father.
The 1934 Japan Tour has a fascinating history. For those who aren't familiar, an all-star team of American league baseball players played in 12 Japanese cities against the Japanese all-star team that would become the famous Tokyo (Yomiuri) Giants baseball team. Nearly a half-million Japanese had lined the streets of Tokyo to welcome the ballplayers to Japan. Besides Lefty Gomez, the team included Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig among others. Mr. Gomez won the Japan Tour Pitching Prize.
It has been said that the 1934 tour was “a big factor in making professional baseball possible in Japan.” The tour was covered in the book Banzai Babe Ruth: Baseball, Espionage, & Assassination During the 1934 Tour of Japan
. Items from the tour, including posters, baseballs, jerseys and caps are held both in the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame and in Cooperstown.
A cap Ruth wore during the tour sold for over $300,000 in 2014.
The occasion of the gift of this watch from Mr. Shoriki to Mr. Gomez was the 50th anniversary of the 1934 Japan Tour. It was presented to Mr. Gomez in 1982 upon his return to Japan to celebrate the 50th anniversary. It was a very fine gift at the time, as Credor's were Seiko's top offering.
Today Seiko says about the watches: "The name Credor comes from the French Créte d'Or, meaning ‘’the ultimate of the gold,’’ and has been the name for our collection of high-end watches crafted in precious metals since 1974. Even now, our dedicated master craftsmen use only premium materials and express Japanese beauty and delicate aesthetics. Credor timepieces combine Seiko’s traditional craftsmanship with contemporary, high-end technology, and depend on our over 100 years of watchmaking."
One of the coolest things about this watch is its level of wear. This wasn't a "safe queen" - it looks to have been enjoyed by Mr. Gomez. While it is still in very serviceable condition, it was clearly worn many, many times. Think of the events this watch has seen!
We have not polished the watch or done anything to the outside of it - all we have done is install a new battery...otherwise, we left it just as Mr. Gomez last used it which includes scratches and wear, dirt, etc. It has all of its original parts.
One of our Master Watchmakers has installed a new battery. That is all that we have done with the watch to leave it in as close to its original state as possible.
Accompanying the watch is the strap that was on the watch when we acquired it. In case you would like to preserve that strap and because that strap needs a spot of super glue to hold firmly, we have a new leather strap to make it ready for immediate enjoyment.
Included with the purchase is a one-year C.O.T. international warranty on the movement and its function and a custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity. Also accompanying it is a Certificate of Authenticity and Provenance from a well-known auction house.
Included with the watch is a copy of his biography, Lefty: An American Odyssey
. An except from the book about the 1934 Japan tour can be found here .
An adaptation from Murder, Espionage, and Baseball: The 1934 All-American Tour of Japan,” NINE: A Journal of Baseball History and Culture Volume 21, No. 1 can be found here .
Lefty Gomez -
Vernon Louis "Lefty" Gomez, born on November 26, 1908, is celebrated as one of the greatest pitchers in Major League Baseball history. Lefty Gomez played his entire 14-year career in the major leagues with the New York Yankees (1930–1942) and the Washington Senators (1943). Renowned for his lively personality and humor, Gomez's prowess on the mound played a crucial role in the Yankees' dominance during the 1930s.
Gomez's career boasts numerous achievements and awards. As a six-time All-Star, he started for the American League in the first-ever All-Star Game in 1933, earning this honor four times. During his tenure, Gomez helped the Yankees secure five World Series championships (1932, 1936–1939). His World Series record remains particularly remarkable, with a 6-0 record and a 2.86 ERA in seven appearances, underscoring his ability to perform under pressure.
In addition to his World Series success, Gomez led the American League in wins twice (1934 and 1937), strikeouts three times (1933, 1934, and 1937), and ERA twice (1934 and 1937). His 1934 season stands out as he led the league in wins (26), strikeouts (158), and ERA (2.33), achieving the pitching Triple Crown. Gomez's exceptional performance continued in 1937, posting a 21-11 record with a league-best 2.33 ERA and 194 strikeouts, further solidifying his status as one of the premier pitchers of his era.
Lefty Gomez's career statistics reflect his dominance on the mound. He concluded his career with a 189-102 win-loss record, a 3.34 ERA, and 1,468 strikeouts over 2,503 innings pitched. These impressive numbers earned him induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972, where he was unanimously voted in.
The 1983 Major League Baseball All-Star Game honored Lefty Gomez as he stood as the last surviving player from the 1933 All-Star Game. He had the privilege of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. On August 2, 1987, Gomez, along with Whitey Ford, received plaques to be placed in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium. Gomez's plaque commemorates him as "Noted for his wit and his fastball, as he was fast with a quip and a pitch." Despite his advancing age, Gomez attended the ceremony. Although he received this honor, his uniform #11 has not been retired and has since been worn by several Yankees, including Joe Page, Johnny Sain, Héctor López, Fred Stanley, Dwight Gooden, Chuck Knoblauch, Gary Sheffield, Doug Mientkiewicz, Brett Gardner, and currently, Anthony Volpe.
A decade after his passing in 1989, The Sporting News ranked him #73 on list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players and he was a nominee for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.
He stands out not only for his impressive statistics and accolades but also for his enduring influence on the sport. His contributions to the Yankees' success in the 1930s and his memorable presence both on and off the field make him a quintessential figure in the annals of baseball history.
Lefty Gomez was more than a pitcher; he was a symbol of excellence, perseverance, and the sheer joy of baseball.
Connoisseur of Time's Renowned Celebrity Collection:
This Lefty Gomez watch is part of our Celebrity Collection of watches that has been featured in GQ, Revolution Watch, Europa Star, JCK, Hampton's Magazine, Gotham Magazine, Vegas Magazine, Silicon Valley magazine and many others. eBay just recently partnered with us for an exclusive, special sale for seven of the watches.
The collection has been composed of 88 watches and clocks owned or worn by 45 iconic celebrities and public figures. It may be the largest current collection of celebrity-owned watches in the world. It us constantly changing and is currently headlined by timepieces owned by some of the most legendary Hollywood actors and actresses, musicians, comedians, and entertainers:
The King, Elvis Presley. (Just sold)
The King of Pop, Michael Jackson. (Just sold)
The King of Comedy, Jerry Lewis.
The Artist Formerly Known as Prince
Hollywood icons Steve Martin, Red Skelton, Martin Sheen, Burt Reynolds, Betty White, Olivia Newton-John, Bob Hope, Greta Garbo, and Mickey Rooney.
Legendary musicians Johnny Cash, Frank and Nancy Sinatra, Janet Jackson, Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, Kenny Rogers, ZZ Top's Dusty Hill, Don Mclean, Mountain's Leslie West, and Hank Williams, Jr.
Sports great and soccer legend Pelé, heavyweight boxing champion Jack Dempsey, Yankee Hall of Fame great Lefty Gomez, World Cup winning captain and soccer defensive legend Daniel Passarella, and Green Bay Packer Mike Bucchianeri along with the game ball, signed photo and watch from the college football "all star" Blue Gray Game in 1940.
Further filling the current collection are watches from King Edward VIII and the Duchess of Windsor, beloved Hollywood host Ed Sullivan, renowned illusionists Siegfried & Roy, Academy award-winning actresses Loretta Young and Doris Day, Emmy award-winning actress Valerie Harper, Golden Globe winning actor Richard Chamberlain, Phyllis McGuire of the chart-topping McGuire sisters, Ian McDonald multi-instrumentalist English rocker for King Crimson and Foreigner, Elvira Mistress of the Dark (Cassandra Peterson), fashion designer to the stars Nolan Miller, and a watch worn by multiple characters in the television series "For All Mankind."
It also includes rare watches given by heads of state: A prototype 18K gold Buren Microrotor gifted by His Royal Majesty Ibn Saud, former King of Saudi Arabia; a Felsa given by former Libyan Colonel and Head of State Muammar Al Qathafi; a Longines given by Highness Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa former Prime Minister of the State of Bahrain; a Baume & Mercier gifted by the King of Jordan. All three watches are new-old-stock in presentation shadow box frames with photos.
Recently sold was a watch given a handful of years after the Civil War concluded by the Vice President Elect to honor an Army commander who went on to receive the Medal of Honor.
This is a significant, exciting, and constantly changing new collection you won't want to miss! Stay tuned over the coming weeks for photos of other special pieces from the collection!
To view the first few already up for sale follow this link: https://shop.connoisseuroftime.com/collections/our-celebrity-owned-historical-event-watches?page=1&sort_by=created-descending
Country of origin: U.S.A.
Maker: Seiko Credor
Model: Ref. 9300-70-0
Case no.: 120,007
Year sold: 1982
Functions: Hours, Minutes
Case material: 18K gold
Case markings (outer): "To Vernon Lefty Gomez - From Toru Shoriki - Owner of Tokyo Giants - Oct. 24, 1982" and then it has Seiko and 18K gold markings and the watch's model and case numbers
Case condition: Very good condition with fairly light to moderate wear and scratches from use, and dirt
Dimensions: 32mm x 38 mm
Dial: Black with textured center, signed Credor Seiko, gold applied baton indices, original and untouched
Movement type: Seiko quartz
Bands (2) : 1. The one that was on the watch when we acquired it. It needs a spot super glued to hold securely. 2. A new leather strap
Crystal: Acrylic, original
Serviced: One of our Master Watchmakers has installed a new battery. We have not polished the watch or done anything to the outside of it - all we have done is install a new battery ...otherwise we left it just as Lefty Gomez last used it which includes light scratches, a bit of dirt, etc. It has all of its original parts.
Warranty: 1-year international C.O.T. warranty. Please email concierge@cotwatches.com for details. Your watch is important to us, and we will take care of it for its lifetime. We provide the best after sale care in the business with an extremely experienced team of four Master Watchmakers all of whom each have over thirty-five years of experience and a large number of parts. One used to be the watchmaker for an authorized Rolex dealership and was given special training by Rolex at their Beverly Hills Service Center.
Box/Papers: BOX - Connoisseur of Time watch presentation box; PAPERS - Custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity; Certificate of Authenticity and Provenance from a well-known auction house; Copy of Lefty: An American Odyssey
Returns: 7 days full refund. 100% satisfaction guarantee
