1971 Pittsburgh Pirates World Series Ring - Salesman Sample
This is a genuine 10k gold Jostens salesman sample 1971 Pittsburgh Pirates World Series ring, made in the same style as the ring awarded to Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente.
What is a salesman sample?
Salesman samples were produced by the ring manufacturer — in this case Jostens — on the exact same machines and dies used to make the player-issued originals. The construction, engravings, and gold work are completely identical. The only difference between this ring and the player issue is that cubic zirconia (CZ) stones replace the diamonds. These rings were never sold to the public; they were used exclusively by sales representatives to present ring designs to teams and organizations. That makes them exceptionally rare on the collectors market today.
The 1971 Pirates were one of baseball's great championship teams, and this ring commemorates their dramatic seven-game World Series victory over the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles. The undisputed star of that series was Roberto Clemente — one of the most celebrated players in baseball history.
| Year | 1971 |
| Material | 10k Gold |
| Type | Salesman sample |
| Player style | Roberto Clemente |
| Stones | Cubic zirconia (CZ) |
| Series result | Pirates win, 4–3 |
Roberto Clemente — Quick Facts
- 1971 World Series MVP — batted .414 with 12 hits in 29 at-bats
- 12 consecutive Gold Glove Awards (1961–1972), a record he shares with Willie Mays
- Career .317 batting average · 3,000 hits · 4× NL batting title · 1966 NL MVP
- First Latin American player to win a World Series MVP, regular-season MVP, and Hall of Fame induction
- Died December 31, 1972, delivering earthquake relief to Nicaragua — MLB's Roberto Clemente Award bears his name annually
- Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1973 via special election — one of only two players to bypass the five-year waiting period