Friday Flashback/Collectibles Corner



This is the rarest baseball-related item that I own. It's the front cover of a booklet of reprinted articles from a 1963 New York World Telegram and Sun series. 50 years ago, the Mets played their final summer at the Polo Grounds, with a past-his-prime Duke Snider, a before-his-prime Ed Kranepool and a more notable-than-prime Tracy Stallard.

Sporting baseball's worst roster and most media-friendly skipper, Casey Stengel proved master salesman. He got his 10th place Mets on equal footing with the two-time defending champion Yankees -- capped by a victory over his former club in the Mayor's Trophy exhibition game. On June 20th, 50,000 fans packed Yankee Stadium to watch Casey's protegees stun the Yankees 6 - 2.

Comments

Rick Marks said…
While I was hoping to see that you are possession of a Honus Wagner baseball card, still a nice touch from a long extinct NYC newspaper. Did you ever see the Mets play at the Polo Grounds? I think I went to one game during the summer of 1962 via the Eastchester Rec. Department. The Amazins lost to the Phillies 11-9. My only other memory of the day was how enormous the Phillies uniform numbers were.
December 27, 2013 at 9:14 AM
Mike McCann said…
@Rick, I recall being at several games at the Polo Grounds -- the most notable being the Tim Harkness walk-off grand slam on June 26th, 1963.
December 27, 2013 at 11:00 AM
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