New York Mets Game Used / Game Worn PILLBOX Cap Hat

MLB Major League Baseball

NL 1976 Centennial Celebration

New York Mets 

Game Used / Game Worn PILLBOX Cap Hat

Made By New Era

Worn by Joe Pignatano #52

The offered item is an ultra rare and extremely desirable 1976 NY Mets game worn "Pill Box" style baseball cap from MLB's 100th anniversary season celebration of the National League.  

This hat is ALL ORIGINAL and GUARANTEED AUTHENTIC in every aspect.

The shell of the hat has minimal wear, while the cloth headband shows obvious sweat.  A sewn on New Era manufacturer's label reads" Since 1920 New Era, DuPont Visor, Weatherized, Pre-Shrunk, 100% Wool Fabric, Pro Model".  There also is a sewn-on size flag-tag that reads 7-1/4.    On the green tackle-twill underside of the bill is a slightly faded vintage black marker notation "52" for the uniform number of the owner/wearer of the hat in 1976, Mets coach Joe Pignatano, who wore #52 for the Mets from 1968 thru 1981.  Joe was a former 15 year veteran ML catcher who also enjoyed a long career as coach.  Joe earned a World Series Ring for his contributions as coach of the 1969 Miracle Mets.  Not coincidentally, many years ago I bought this exact hat from Joe's Estate Collection Sale.

Please look at all of the pictures.  The photos you see are the EXACT item you are buying.    The brim liners in older hats can dry out and become brittle.  An unexperienced enthusiastic collector fan might bend or crack or damage a hat accidentally.  I will do my best to describe any obvious damage or flaws but as a rule I do not flex the brims.  For this reason this hat (and any other of my hats) is sold as vintage, used, as-is, with no returns for any reason.