St. Louis Cardinals road jersey dating from the 1943 season. The gray flannel zipper-front jersey features "Cardinals" embroidered across the front, above which is the club's familiar logo of two cardinals perched upon opposite ends of a baseball bat. The number 51 is displayed on the reverse in red on navy felt. Both a "Rawlings" label and "44" size tag appear in the collar. The year, "43" is chain-stitched in red on the left front tail. A patriotic "Shield" patch appears on the left sleeve (this patch was worn on the left sleeve of every Major League uniform between the years 1943 and 1945). This jersey was later sent down for use by a St. Louis Cardinals minor-league affiliate as evidenced by the fact that the original number was removed and later replaced by the current number 51, and the original player's stitched name on the left front tail has been cut away. (No St. Louis Cardinals player wore number 51 in 1943.) A name (illegible) is written in vintage blue ink in the collar (presumably the name of the player who wore it in the minor leagues). The jersey displays heavy wear, indicative of having been worn for several seasons, including two tears in the collar, light staining throughout, and a small hole on the reverse. The zipper remains fully functional.