Cleveland Indians 1975-1978 Mahoney MLB Baseball Jersey

Size: 42 (Large)

Brand/Model: Wilson Authentic

Condition: 7/10. Minor wear including some color bleed from the red twill to the white twill on the numbers and wordmark. Otherwise in good gently worn condition.

The Indians added this blue alternate jersey for 1975. Over time, it became their primary home jersey, worn even more frequently than their “official” home white jersey. Today, these jerseys are some of the most difficult to find in the hobby, likely because most game worn jerseys were sent down to the minors for re-use, which I’m guessing is why this one features the Chief Wahoo patch on the left sleeve.

The 1970s Indians jerseys had some of the sloppiest execution of back lettering layout of any MLB team. Name arches are seldom symmetric and are inconsistent from jersey to jersey, and back number placement is frequently crooked and off center. None of this is up to Wilson’s standards, and indicates that the Indians’ jerseys were likely lettered locally rather than at the Wilson factory. This one is done up to “Mahoney” who is not listed on any of the Indians’ rosters during the era these jerseys were worn, so it may have been a coach, a minor league player, or perhaps a spring training jersey. Jim Mahoney was coaching in the big leagues when these jerseys were worn, and his official coaching stats don’t mention anything from 1976 through 1984, so it’s possible this was his, but that’s pure speculation on my part.

If you need this rare 70s gamer for your collection, snag it now before someone else does!

**Bat/ball not included**