Gil Hodges made his return to New York to manage the New York Mets in 1968. The Mets, of course, had been suffering through season after season of losing since their inception in 1962. While the Mets still finished under .500 in 1968 in Hodges’ first year at the helm, the team under his tutiledge began to turn the corner. By 1969, Hodges’ Mets shocked the baseball world by winning the World Series over the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles.

Offered here is the jersey Hodges wore while managing the New York Mets in 1968. This size 44 Spalding button-down flannel home pinstriped jersey features “Mets” sewn on in front in blue felt on orange tackle twill. The Spalding tag and size 44 tag are sewn on the bottom front left tail, along with the wash instructions tag. The back of the jersey has Hodges’ number “14’ sewn on in blue felt on orange tackle twill and the Mets skyline logo patch is sewn on the left sleeve. The jersey has ventilated under-arms and displays light game use with some stains present. There is evidence that the original number on this jersey was number "44" worn by Al Schmelz, a pitcher on the 1967 Mets' squad, who only appeared in two games in September of 1967. Since Schmelz and Hodges wore the same size and the jersey was lightly used, it is reasonable to conclude that the jersey number was changed for Hodges. This jersey has been photo matched by Sports Investors and comes with a corresponding LOA.

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