Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby was considered one of the greatest hitters of all-time as evidence by his career .358 batting average. His playing career began in 1915 with the St. Louis Cardinals and ended in 1937 with the St. Louis Browns, although at that time he was a player/manager. Hornsby’s managerial career took him to six different organizations, which included the Cardinals, New York Giants, Boston Braves, Chicago Cubs and the Browns. After his managerial stints, Hornsby joined the newly formed New York Mets in 1960 as a scout and eventually became the third base coach under manager Casey Stengel when the Mets played their first season in 1962.

      Hornsby wore this size 48 Wilson button-down flannel jersey during that New York Mets inaugural season of 1962 while serving as third base coach and was issued the number 53. “NEW YORK” is sewn on and arched across the chest in blue and orange felt and is the original lettering. The team patch has been sewn on the inside collar reads “53-1962” and blue piping surrounds the collar and runs down both sides of the buttons. The sleeves are set-in at three inches, while the back of this jersey has the number “58” that has been sewn on in blue and orange felt. As Hornsby wore the number 53, the “3” was later removed from this jersey and replaced with an “8” for use by another player or coach, a common practice for teams in that era to recycle jerseys. The Mets had their cityscape logo patch on only their road jerseys that season, but that logo patch has been removed from the right sleeve, which is visible by the stitching outline of that patch. The Wilson size 48 tag is sewn on the bottom of the front left tail and the jersey displays moderate wear with several stains present, most likely from its re-use. This jersey comes with a full LOA from Mears, who have graded this jersey an “A7”.

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