Presented is a 1962 scorecard from the first game in New York Mets' history, on April 12th, against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium I. The Mets' first game in history was supposed to have been played on April 11th at St. Louis, but the contest was rained out. The '62 Mets were an expansion team that brought National League baseball back to New York City after the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants fled to California after the 1957 season. Although the '62 Mets had many players with famous names, most of the players were past their prime and were chosen for crowd appeal. The team finished with only a 40-120-1 record, the worst Major League record in modern times, a record being challenged late in the 2024 season by the woeful Chicago White Sox. Despite the team's losing ways, fans eagerly supported the Mets in that 1962 campaign. The Mets' aficionados were ecstatic to have National League ball, and they cheered on the Mets despite the squad's many foibles.

The offered 7.5x11" cardstock, 4-page scorecard features pre-printed starting line-ups for each team as well as complete rosters. The actual Mets line-up for the opening game, including alternate players at two lineup spots, was just as published on the scorecard. The Mets line-up favored former Brooklyn Dodgers, with four of them in the Mets' starting nine: Charlie Neal at second base, Gil Hodges at first base, Don Zimmer at third base, and Roger Craig on the mound. Neal and Hodges homered for the Mets, but the New Yorkers lost 11-4, with Mets' starter Craig taking the loss. Larry Jackson started and picked up the win for the Cards. Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn played center field for the Mets in this opener, and the team was managed by Hall of Famer Casey Stengel. The Cardinals' lineup included Hall of Famers Stan Musial and Minnie Minoso. The program, considering its age of over six decades, is in nice condition. There are staple holes in the top corners from where a ticket to the game may have once been attached. There are a few tiny stains and some very minor foxing. Please note that this scorecard is scored for a different Mets-Cardinals game, most likely in 1963, but written on the original 1962 scorecard, as printed, with machine-printed line-ups and the '62 Cardinals' schedule. The vintage scorecard has terrific nostalgia and is sure to spark interest.