Today's offering showcases this elegant Daniel Mink ladies watch with dual celebrity provenance. It was owned by baseball legend and Yankee Hall of Fame great Lefty Gomez and owned and worn by his wife, Broadway actress June O'Dea. June O'Dea's career placed her at the heart of American theater during the mid-20th century.

It was gifted to them by Henry Kay Jewelers for Mr. Gomez's and Ms. O'Dea's participation in the 50th anniversary of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

The watch itself is understated and elegant, featuring a matte black dial with applied gold dot hour markers, slim gold baton hands, and a Roman numeral chapter ring. Its restrained design suggests it was chosen not as a trophy object, but as a personal keepsake - something meaningful enough to wear, not simply store.

The caseback engraving reveals why. It reads: “50TH ALL STAR GAME / CHICAGO WHITE SOX / HENRY KAY JEWELERS”

This engraving places the watch squarely at an emotionally resonant moment in baseball history. The 1983 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, held at Comiskey Park in Chicago, marked the 50th anniversary of the All-Star Game itself.

Lefty Gomez attended not merely as a guest, but as the last living link to the game’s origins. He stood as the last surviving player from the inaugural 1933 All-Star Game, and he was honored by being asked to throw out the ceremonial first pitch - a symbolic passing of history from baseball’s earliest stars to the modern era.

This was not just another All-Star Game; it was a moment of reflection and continuity, celebrating half a century of baseball while honoring one of the men who helped define its earliest mythology.

A watch given in connection with the occasion becomes more than just a commemorative object - it almost becomes a physical artifact of baseball memory itself.

After the event, the watch became part of the private life shared by Gomez and his wife. O’Dea was a respected Broadway actress who moved within creative and theatrical circles far removed from the ballpark, yet deeply connected to the cultural life of mid-century America.

That this watch was worn by her adds a special human dimension: a piece that traveled in a sense from the diamond to the stage, from public honor to private life.

It has all of its original parts. We have not polished the watch or done anything to the outside of it - we left it just as Ms. O'Dea last used it which includes light wear and light dirt, etc.

On the inside, one of our Master Watchmakers has installed a new battery making 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 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 and his wife June O'Dea-

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.

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.

Beyond her own accomplishments on stage, June O’Dea occupied a unique position at the intersection of American theater and sports history through her marriage to Baseball Hall of Famer Lefty Gomez. As the spouse of one of the most famous pitchers of baseball’s Golden Age, she moved effortlessly between two worlds: the refined, creative sphere of Broadway and the public, celebratory world of Major League Baseball.

This dual exposure gave her a rare vantage point on American celebrity at a time when fame was built more on achievement and character rather than media saturation.

What makes June O’Dea especially compelling is not just her theatrical résumé, but the way her life reflects a broader cultural story. She represents an era when stage actresses carried genuine prestige, when Broadway was a pillar of national culture, and when personal objects - like a watch - became quiet witnesses to relationships, milestones, and shared history.

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 99 watches and clocks owned or worn by 51 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. (Just sold)

Hollywood icons Steve Martin, Red Skelton, Martin Sheen, Burt Reynolds, Laurence Olivier, James Arness, Steve McQueen, Betty White, Olivia Newton-John, Bob Hope, Greta Garbo, Raquel Welch, Mickey Rooney, Jane Fonda.

Legendary musicians Johnny Cash, Frank and Nancy Sinatra, Janet Jackson, Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, Kenny Rogers, ZZ Top's Dusty Hill, Fleetwood Mac's Christine McVie, 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: Switzerland
Maker: Daniel Mink
Reference/serial no.: 420 111
Year sold: 1983
Functions: Hours, Minutes
Case material: PVD coated base metal with uncoated back
Case markings (outer): Caseback engraved “50TH ALL STAR GAME / CHICAGO WHITE SOX / HENRY KAY JEWELERS / BASE METAL / SWISS MADE / 420 111"
Case condition: Excellent condition with light wear and light dirt
Dimensions: 25mm diameter (without the crown) by 28mm long lug tip to tip
Dial: Matte black with applied gold dot markers and Roman numeral chapter ring
Movement type: Swiss quartz
Band: Original black leather strap with signs of previous wear
Crystal: Glass
Serviced: On the inside, one of our Master Watchmakers has installed a new battery making it ready for immediate enjoyment. We have not polished the watch or done anything to the outside of it - we left it just as Ms. O'dea last used it.
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; New timing certificate
Returns: 7 days full refund. 100% satisfaction guarantee

We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee for all of our watches. If you are in any way unsatisfied with the watch we will fully refund the purchase price anytime within 7 days after the watch has been received. Our goal is to exceed our client's expectations throughout the buying experience.

All watches are packaged carefully and mailed double boxed in specially constructed, reinforced shipping boxes designed for high value items. All watches are sent fully insured with signature required. Most of our domestic shipping is done through FedEx. At times we will also use USPS Express Mail, and we can accommodate most requests for your preferred carrier. International shipments are sent USPS International Express Mail or FedEx.

The purchase price will be the declared value of the merchandise on any required customs forms. The payment of all customs duties, tariffs, and taxes are the responsibility of the buyer.

Also note that water resistance of vintage watches can no longer be guaranteed and is not covered under the watch's warranty. We do not recommend getting a vintage watch wet, even one that was originally designed to be waterproof.

To get an idea of how this watch will look on the wrist, please use the Watch Sizing Guide

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