Branch Rickey Award (1996)
Awarded to Tony Gwynn on January 24, 1996, this Branch Rickey Award honors his embodiment of Major League Baseball’s values and Rotary International’s motto, “Service Above Self.”
Description
This bronze statue with wooden base was presented to Tony Gwynn as the 1996 recipient of the Branch Rickey Award, created by the Rotary Club of Denver. Established in 1992, the award recognizes one Major League Baseball figure each year who exemplifies extraordinary service to their community, echoing the principles of Branch Rickey himself—best known as the executive who signed Jackie Robinson. Gwynn, admired as much for his humility and generosity as his unmatched consistency at the plate, was selected for his ongoing community impact both in San Diego and beyond. The statue features a ballplayer in full uniform with a bat slung over his shoulder, standing atop a baseplate inscribed with Gwynn’s name, the award details, and the presentation date.
Disclaimer:
Condition may vary slightly from photos, with unique marks that highlight this item’s authenticity as a career artifact.
This item features a silver OVD, verifying its authenticity through the Tony Gwynn Estate. A TRuEST™ authenticator was not on-site to witness its awarding, which is why this item does not carry our gold-level witness-based authentication OVD.
Part of Eternal All-Star, a collection honoring Tony Gwynn’s 15 All-Star appearances with awards, milestone baseballs, game-used gear, and personal keepsakes. This event is the latest chapter in The Realest’s official Tony Gwynn Auction Series following First Inning and Silver Bats, with every piece coming directly from the Gwynn family ensuring true provenance and a direct link to “Mr. Padre” himself.
TRuEST™ Authentication
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Our multi-layered, witness-based authentication process (TRuEST™) sets a new industry standard and comes backed by a money-back guarantee. TRuEST™ replaces old-school certificates of authenticity with immutable provenance stored on the blockchain, clearly showing population data, creation dates, and key item details. This information cannot be altered, backdated, or hacked and remains accessible at all times. Each item is uniquely fingerprinted using our patent-pending covert markings and tamper-resistant OVD holograms.
These security measures ensure The Realest™ can verify authenticity with absolute certainty, now and in the future, while detecting any attempts to alter or counterfeit items using undisclosed, cutting-edge security methods.
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