Collect the Mets

This is one that had me baffled for a long time. As one of the rarest pinstripes, logic would dictate that it should have been used for the shortest period of time. With samples showing up for the Mets, Yankees, Phillies, and Cubs, it likely dates back to the 1970s, when stripes were somewhat standardized. A quick look at the players though brings up a list from the 1970s to just about present day. What gives?

I’m embarrassed to admit that it took me the better part of a decade to realize that fabric has two sides. Unlike printed stripes, sewn-in stripes would be visible on both sides. Due to the mechanics of generating a zigzag pattern, the stitching pattern on the back is likely to be considerably different. A quick search for Yankees pinstripes in the 2002 Topps Gold Label MLB Awards Ceremony insert set (which shows both sides of the jersey swatch) confirmed what I suspected – that this is just the other side of the JSDSZWBW stripe. I’m guessing that several of the other unusual stripe styles out there have a similar mundane explanation.

Gary Carter	Eddie Murray	Mike Piazza	Tom Seaver
Dwight Gooden