Displayed is a very rare 1962 New York Mets inaugural season (White Pages) variant yearbook cover proof. CGC graded only two of these - both grading 7.0. The Mets in '62 were an expansion team that became the National League replacement for the abandonment of both the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers, who moved to California after the '57 season. The Mets played in the Polo Grounds, and in order to draw fans, the team drafted and obtained through other means many players who had big names, but were well past their prime. Former Brooklyn players like Gil Hodges, Don Zimmer, and Clem Labine fit this mold, as did former Phillies star Richie Ashburn, and former Cincinnati Reds outfielder Gus Bell. Under manager Casey Stengel, the Mets went 40-120-1 in their first season, setting a then modern MLB record for losses in a season. 

The offered '62 Mets' Yearbook proof cover in in black & white. On top, it reads, "NEW YORK NATIONAL LEEAGUE BASEBALL CLUB". A cover drawing by famed cartoonist Williard Mullin shows the Mets represented by a baby, wearing a Mets' hat, a diaper, and a pair of spikes, and hold a baseball. The back cover shows a color advertisement for the 1962 Miss Rheingold and Rheingold Beer. The yearbook cover measures approx. 8.25x11". Rumor has it that a few of these yearbook proofs were made to show the team for approval before it was printed in color, and that Casey Stengel gave this one to the last player who reviewed it for approval. 

The yearbook has been encapsulated and the inside pages of the yearbook are not able to be seen. The top of the encapsulation reads, "CGC UNIVERSAL GRADE/7.0 WHITE Pages/ NEW YORK METS 1962 YEARBOOK #nn/Mets Baseball Club, Inc., 1962/Variant Cover Proof/Willard Mullin cover illustration/Color Photo Advertisement on Back Cover/ 1962 Inaugural Season/New York Mets Roster, Schedule & photos". There is a CGC sticker on the top right of the cover. The inside pages are not accessible because of the encapsulation. The front and back covers  are in EXCELLENT condition.        

CGC graded only two of these - both grading 7.0

Rumor is a few of these were made to show the team for approval before it was printed in color, and that Casey Stengel gave this one to the last player who reviewed it for approval

very rare variant cover proof

Inaugural season