After winning 100 regular-season games and the World Series title in 1969 – as the “Amazin’ Mets” – the team won 83 games in each of the next three seasons (1970-72). In 1973 the Mets won 82 games, however that was good enough for the NL East crown (the Cardinals came in second place with 81 wins). Now in the playoffs, the Mets suddenly became Amazin’ all over again. Facing a Cincinnati Reds team that won 99 games, the Mets entered the NLCS as heavy underdogs. The Reds – who won the National League pennant the season before – were loaded with talent that included Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez and Pete Rose. The NLCS would go the distance, with the Mets pulling off the upset, three games to two. Eventually the Mets’ magic would run out, but not before taking the Oakland Athletics – a team in the midst of three straight World Series titles – to a seventh game. That 1973 Mets team was led by starting pitcher Tom Seaver, who finished with 19 wins and a 2.08 ERA. Rusty Staub was the hitting star, batting .279 with 36 doubles, 76 RBIs and 74 walks.

     Presented here is a 1973 New York Mets National League Championship ring owned by Staub. This 10K Balfour ring is centered by a diamond-encrusted baseball that sits atop a large black stone. “N.L. CHAMPIONS 1973 N.Y. METS” appears around the bezel setting. The left shank shows the name “RUSTY STAUB” in a banner above the Mets team logo. Featured on the band’s other side is an image of Shea Stadium, a scoreboard listing the game scores of the NLCS, and a Mets hat. Staub’s name is engraved inside the band along with the BAL 10K stamp. This ring is an approximate size 10, weighing approximately 26.0 grams. This item comes with a LOA from Rusty Staub.

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