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I used to be into collecting jerseys when it was affordable – and it is far from affordable these days. But back in the late 1980s and early 1990s I'd find authentic versions on sale and scour ads in the back of Baseball America and Sports Collectors Digest for teams and dealers selling game-used jerseys.
There was a dealer who would be at the National Sports Collectors Conventions and would buy entire team sets. They'd make money on the stars and sell the others pretty reasonably. They had a catalog, too. I would look for coaches and cup-of-coffee kinds of players in my size because I liked to wear them.
I would also make a pilgrimage to Gerry Cosby's stores, or send my parents there for Christmas or birthday gifts. If I remember, you could get an authentic back then for about $50 or so.
When I saw the Mets in Miami this year, the Marlins were selling City Collection jerseys for more than $400. That's just insane. Who is paying that? It seems like the retail process started pumping up when Russell took over, and then jumped over the moon.
My first Mets jersey was a 1985 home, which I got for Christmas that year and added the anniversary patch the next year. It remains the Best Present Ever.
My parents later moved to a state with a uniform catalog's outlet store, I'd get bargain jerseys there, too.
The collection includes my pride and joy, a Mitchell and Ness 1969 Seaver home flannel. Again, this was before the prices on these things became ridiculous. I was wearing it at a late 1980s card show where members of the 1962 team were signing. Clem Labine said, "Hey, you're wearing my jersey."
A 2009 Freddy Garcia game-worn snow white. Well, sort of. He was at spring training that year. My dad spun the prize wheel at a St. Lucie Mets game and won the jersey as a grand prize! They wore blue spring jerseys, so this is probably “photo day worn.”
Black road jersey, a Russell, with Robin Ventura's name on the back. I got it on clearance because it had a small hole, which my wife mended for me!
A Mercury Mets Russell authentic.
A black home Santana Majestic authentic, which I found on sale somewhere. Might be the last one I've purchased.
A 1993 Majestic authentic home pinstripes with Eddie Murray's name on the back.
A 1992 Majestic authentic home pinstripes with Eddie Murray's name on the back.
A 1987 Rawlings authentic road with the New York script and no name or number.
A 1988 Rawlings authentic road with the racing stripes and block New York.
A 1983 Russell authentic road with the script New York with Bonilla on the back – an outlet store find! I wore this to a St. Lucie game and Shawn Abner gave me grief for it. He was sitting in the stands with some minor leaguers. After the grief he was friendly enough and we all chatted. When he went to get another beer, one of the minor leaguers said, “Can you believe they wasted a No. 1 pick on that guy?”
A Sand Knit blue batting practice jersey from the mid-1980s, which was my second jersey! A Cosby's purchase.
A game-worn Mel Rojas game-worn majestic blue road batting practice jersey with the traditional lettering, which I bought from the Mets when they first started selling them directly. As you can imagine, it was affordable.
A home Rick Trilicek game-worn Majestic blue batting practice jersey from either 1996 or 1997. (I know batting practice jerseys aren't technically “game worn.” Do you say “player-worn” instead?)
A Barry Lyons batting practice pull-over from the late 1980s or early 1990s. This is really cool. Made by Starter, it has his name embroidered into the back, No. 33 on the sleeve and the NY on the chest in beautiful chain-stitching. It's got pockets and everything. I bought this in the Mets Clubhouse Store.
Sorry for the too-large photo. I don't know how to shrink them.
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One of the orange majestic batting practice jerseys with the blue stripes under the arms. No name or number. Found it inexpensive somewhere.
An orange Majestic Pedro Martinez 2005 All-Star Game batting practice jersey. I think Pedro was hurt and never made it to the game. It was on a clearance rack at a local Champs with other All-Star jerseys.
My fave non-Mets jersey is a game-worn Duffy Dyer from when he was a Brewers coach.
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