Tom Seaver 1990 "coaches" Jersey

[hblakewolf]

Forum Readers-
I have a customer who asked my opinion on a "1990 Tom Seaver Coaches jersey" currently on Ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Tom-Seaver-1990-New-York-NY-Mets-Game-Used-Worn-Jersey_W0QQitemZ150112018890QQihZ005QQcategoryZ60597QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The sellers description reads "Tom Seaver wore this terrific New York Mets home pinstripe jersey sometime during the 1990 campaign in the capacity of special pitching instructor. The near-mint jersey exhibits minimal wear as would be expected for a coach. "

My concerns are:
1. If it was used at spring training, 1990, it's my understanding that the Mets wore BP jerseys, not game jerseys

2. Was Seaver a "special pitching instructor" for the Mets at spring training? Possibly later in the season, as such, he would have a jersey?

I searched Getty Images for the 1990 season, however, there is no trace of Seaver ever working with the Mets in 1990 in a jersey, or for that matter, at all. Likewise, I can't locate any information on him being an instructor in 1990, either.

Any insight from Andy Fogel or other experienced Mets collector would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Howard Wolf
hblakewolf@patmedia.net

ALWAYS BUYING PHILLIES, PORTLAND BEAVERS AND PORTLAND MAVERICKS JERSEYS

[suave1477]

Re: Tom Seaver 1990 "coaches" Jersey

Howard I cant speak for this specific piece but I can give you some insight to the Mets Instructors and such.


First to be honest with you I would doubt this would be from Spring Training because its a regular season Jersey. But strabgers things have happend.

Could be from a Fantasy Camp!! Could be from an Off Season Instructing team.

The Mets have during off season baseball camps for player and Prospects coming up and have worn Regular season type of Jerseys, so Seaver could have been a special Instructor for this.

If it is from Spring Training it could be possible Seaver was asked to come by for a week or 2 where they would have provided him with his own Jersey. (Its really more for public relation purposes to have him come)

Example - Darryl Strawberry in 2005 and 2006 was the Roving Batting Instructor for there Spring Trainging and Minor League Teams and for each team they had a Jersey for him.
He would spend a week at each site and it was merely just for PR purposes

[hblakewolf]

Re: Tom Seaver 1990 "coaches" Jersey

Suave-
I appreciate the response, however, it's really seesm odd that there would not be a single photo in Getty or some type of information available about Seaver's participation with the Mets in 1990.

I'm hopeful Andy Fogel or another Mets "expert" may have some type of additional info.

Thanks.

Howard Wolf
hblakewolf@patmedia.net

[suave1477]

Re: Tom Seaver 1990 "coaches" Jersey

Howard I disagree with you first of all remember if its from 1990 are you really gonna find much information out there about an old school player who stopped by to say hello?????

Getty Images???? You really think your going to find 1 image of a Special Instructor for a week who stopped by to say hello.

As far as finding an article on it highly doubtable its not exactly ground breaking news that Tom Seaver stopped by for a week.

I am not trying to sound sarcastic towards you Howard I am just making a point - if you check the early 90's for Yankees pictures during regular season you wont find Pics for almost half the team and if you do you might find a very small amount of pics.

So what are the chances of finding a Getty Picture of a special Instructor during off season???

Actually the best way to find out is to ask Seaver himself the only problem is I won't be seeing him for a month or 2.

[hblakewolf]

Re: Tom Seaver 1990 "coaches" Jersey

Suave-
I understand completely.

Likewise, that's why I've asked for any other info that Forum readers may have (i.e, did the Mets media guide include anything about this in 1990, a local newspaper story, or possibly a first hand account from another reader who saw Seaver during Spring Training 1990 in this jersey or at some type of instructional camp).

In summary: Is there any evidence of Seaver wearing this in 1990?

Andy Fogel......are you out there??????

Howard Wolf
hblakewolf@patmedia.net

[TNTtoys]

Re: Tom Seaver 1990 "coaches" Jersey

Hmmmm... Tom Seaver will be at the ROY show at the end of this month in north Jersey -- I should be there myself... but this doesn't exactly help this issue, as the ebay auction will be long gone by then.

I agree that this wouldn't exactly be "headline" news -- I tried searching news archives for information about other former Mets in these special roles (HoJo, Dykstra, Strawberry, etc.). The only ones I managed to locate are from the last year or so, but the main thing is that the articles were all recent. 17-yr old news articles, especially 'non-events' to the media, aren't readily available out there.

I have ruled out any possibility of him being a member of the coaching staff, so this has to be a "special pitching instructor" type of role... He is not listed on any coaching roster in the history of the team.

But in response to the "Mets wore BP" argument, they have also been known to wear game jerseys as well during Spring Training -- I own a "game used Mets spring training jersey" as part of my own collection.

The idea of this being legit is plausible, but I cannot seem to find any evidence out there.

[suave1477]

Re: Tom Seaver 1990 "coaches" Jersey

TnT you are actually correct about them wearin regular season Jerseys in Sring Training.

I jumped the gun too soon on that resposne as I do remember someone wanting to sell me with direct providence from the player a Mets Jim Leyritz Spring Traing Jersey and it was a regular season Jersey.

[suave1477]

Re: Tom Seaver 1990 "coaches" Jersey

I would still like to ask Tom about the Jersey anyway, usually at the shows me and him have lunch together when he takes a break from the singing if he has the time. So if he has the time ill ask him.

[TNTtoys]

Re: Tom Seaver 1990 "coaches" Jersey

I would still like to ask Tom about the Jersey anyway, usually at the shows me and him have lunch together when he takes a break from the singing if he has the time. So if he has the time ill ask him.

Will you be at the ROY show on the 28th? If so, I would like to invite myself to lunch with you & your guest of honor

[suave1477]

Re: Tom Seaver 1990 "coaches" Jersey

TNT and the guest of honor???? I thought that was me lol lol

Well honestly its no biggie you can join, he always sees me at the show so from being a familiar face to him he always asks me if im hungry and want to grab a bite to eat. Since they have that bar/ resteruant there.

[cbb5]

Re: Tom Seaver 1990 "coaches" Jersey

Some things that I noticed...
First off - Tom Seaver was a Yankee broadcaster during 1990, so I'm not sure he would be at Mets camp early in the year. Second of all, the Mets did not wear game jerseys in Spring Training (at least not until this year).
Third, every legit game used jersey that I've seen from the 1990 season has the strip tagging underneath the Rawlings tag (I have some pictures of examples that I can post when I get home). These appear on common players (like Darren Reed, Phil Lombardi, Chuck Hiller), which further reinforces this point. Fourth, the name looks a little spaced out and "flat" to me. It doesn't look right for some reason when compared with other jerseys from that year. However, the embroidery and tag style does look correct. Strange. Just my 2 cents!
Chris

[suave1477]

Re: Tom Seaver 1990 "coaches" Jersey

Second of all, the Mets did not wear game jerseys in Spring Training (at least not until this year).
Chris

Chris again I have to disagree. I myself was offered a 2001 Jim Leyritz Mets Spring Training Jersey which was actually a Regular season Jersey.

[cbb5]

Re: Tom Seaver 1990 "coaches" Jersey

Here are those pictures...

[cbb5]

Re: Tom Seaver 1990 "coaches" Jersey

Show me a picture with the Mets wearing a regular season style jersey in Spring Training before this year and I will believe you. I have been watching the Mets for my entire life and have never seen it until this year. If you do a search on Getty you'll see plenty of Spring Training photos with them wearing their bp jerseys. Any other Mets experts care to chime in?

[suave1477]

Re: Tom Seaver 1990 "coaches" Jersey

Cris unfortunaltey i cant post the pics here as im not good with downloading the over sized pictures here but i can email the pictures to you of the jersey