This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 6/27/2002.
A seven-time Gold Glove winner in Japan, Tsuyoshi hit .278, with 28 homers, in 138 games for the Hanshin Tigers in 2000. The Mets were impressed with his performance in the annual exhibition series between the Japanese All-Stars and a group of Major League All-Stars. In the 2000 series he hit .409, with four doubles, one triple and five RBIs in seven games. This jersey was worn during the latter part of the 2001 season. On the inside left tail is the "Rawlings" label and adjacent is the flag tag reading "Set 2 2001." Below the Rawlings label is the size tag, "44" and next to this is the "Plus 2 Inch Body Length Minus 1 Inch Sleeve Length" label. Across the front of the jersey is the name "Mets" in script-style letters and on the back is the name "Shinjo." The player number "5" appears on both the left breast and on the back of the jersey. The letters and numbers are made of blue ribbed tackle twill on an orange/black tackle twill backing. On the left sleeve is the Mets "Skyline" patch and on the right sleeve is the date "9-11-01" which has been done in black embroidered stitch. There are two American flag embroidered patches on either side of the date. On the back of the jersey is an American flag. The date on the sleeve and the flag patches commemorate the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The jersey shows game-use and appears to have no alterations of any kind.