Recreation: 1982 Mets Dave Kingman Alternate Jersey

Sometimes it is impossible to find an original of something you dearly want. That was the case for collector Paul Kuris. He had long been looking for the elusive 1982 Mets road blue alternate jersey without any success. So when this game worn minor-league version showed up on eBay, he jumped on it.

He sent it to me and asked me to convert it to a Dave Kingman for him to wear. There were some challenges along the way, but watch as we make the magic happen.

As it arrived at my shop. Knowledgeable collectors will recognize the non-standard Russell tagging, from a full decade before that maker was awarded the MLB contract. Non-standard Varsity-style variant numbers adorn both the back and front, and there was evidence of a nameplate having been rudely removed from the back. Hundreds of washings have left this jersey rather thin, but the colors remain vibrant. All lettering is dark orange outlined with gray, not white, a hallmark of Mets alternate road jerseys of the era.
Referring to my Game Worn Guide, we see that the MLB Mets' jerseys of 1982 were made by Rawlings, and can see how the name and numbers are supposed to look. They are the Mets-standard athletic block font.
We ALWAYS begin with a proof. The photo on top is a computer-generated mockup featuring Paul's jersey with the exact lettering superimposed on top. Though this may seem like an unnecessary step to some, it is vitally important to ensuring that the end result is exactly as my clients envision. The proofs become my cutting and placement pattern so that the end result will be just what you see here. When significant, I note the measurement of name and number placement. Normally, names go 3" from the collar and numbers 8"... but in this case the Mets had their own rules, so we follow them when we can.
The numbers have been inconveniently sewn through the fabric with both layers. This makes them twice as hard to remove. The old thread was as tough as fishing line after so many exposures to harsh detergents.

Finding fabric to make a matching blue nameplate was not easy. This required a trip to the Goodwill store, and a donor Adidas polo shirt gave its life to become Paul's nameplate. All the edges of the nameplate are professionally surged as the team would have done it, all fabric colors match the front Mets script as closely as possible. I have four shades of orange and three of gray. It's funny-- you simply don't notice when things match... but when they are "off" it is easy to see!
The final result! I sew my "Dream Shop" tagging inside every jersey I do, and when we are making alterations to a team issued jersey, I take multiple additional steps to mark and record the process to protect both the collector and myself from any suspicion of fraud. No knowledgeable authenticator would ever certify this as a game worn Mets MLB jersey, but as we all know, many items trade hands without any form of certification. By sewing my tagging inside the jersey, we erase the possibility of innocent misrepresentation.