This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 4/15/2010.
Despite a baseball career that spanned a number of teams and cities, Casey Stengel is primarily associated with the Big Apple. Between playing and managing, he is the only man to have worn all four of New York's Major League clubs' uniforms. His 12 years in the Bronx brought the city seven World Championships but after the Dodgers and Giants departed, the “Old Professor’s” move to Flushing helped to usher in the next chapter in New York’s National League history. This one of a kind item was worn by Stengel in 1962 when he managed the New York Mets in their inaugural season. It is a blue wool jacket emblazoned with an orange NY on the front and Mets skyline patch on the left sleeve. There is a tear on the right hand pocket and the blue paint on the buttons have virtually worn off. The sleeve cuffs exhibit some fraying and there appears to have once been an additional Mets patch on the right sleeve. This historic piece of outerwear displays beautifully in spite of these imperfections. The interior is manufactured in orange quilt and has the following three labels attached: from top to bottom Casey’s number “37”, the “KM Pro” manufacturer’s tag, and the size “42” on the bottom. It originates from Jack Lang, the former Executive Secretary of the BBWAA. It also comes with a letter and the original envelope from him, dated July 2, 1966.