Established as an American League expansion team in 1969, the Seattle Pilots were a disaster, both on and off the field. Marvin Milkes, the team's GM, and Manager Joe Schultz optimistically predicted the fledgling team could finish as high as 3rd in the AL West division, and the Pilots actually toiled around the .500 mark through June. But from July through September, they bungled their way to a 29-59 record, closing the season at 64-98 and in last place. An even bigger problem was their home, Sick's Stadium. Considered obsolete for major league baseball, only 17,000 of the proposed 30,000 seats were ready on opening day. While it was expanded to 25,000 by June, the added seats had obstructed views. Attendance was so poor (678,000) that the Pilots were almost out of money by the end of the season. After several attempts, as well as court battles, at selling the team to local investors, car salesman Bud Selig was approved to purchase the cash-strapped team and relocated them to Milwaukee only 5 days before the start of the 1970 season, making the Seattle Pilots a one-year wonder in the annuls of major league baseball history. With little time to prepare for opening day, the Brewers used the same jerseys, removing the Pilots markings and adding Brewers identifiers, with shadows of the Pilots logo clearly visible. Presented is a completely original and unaltered game-used jersey, worn by pitcher Dick Bates during that lone season in The Emerald City. The powder blue jersey is in immaculate condition, no surprise given that Bates' major league career was as fleeting and unsuccessful as the team's, comprising of one appearance with 1 2/3 innings pitched, giving up three hits, three walks, and five runs. On the front right tail is the appropriate Spalding label and size 42 tag, with laundering instructions and a "Set 1 1969" flag attached. Inside the collar is a team sewn "Click 42" patch, attributed to minor leaguer Paul Click, who did not make the final roster. All numbers, letters and "100th Anniversary" patch are white tackle twill stitched. Since most Pilots jerseys were converted to Brewers jerseys at the start of the 1970 season and have been restored by collectors to their original state, it is truly rare to find one that has survived in its original, unaltered state. Simply put, this is likely the absolute finest example of a Seattle Pilots gamer in existence! LOA from Mile High Card Company.
***** ADDENDUM: Paul Click, to whom the jersey was originally issued, is mentioned briefly in Jim Bouton's bestselling book "Ball Four." Click is referenced as a pitcher who gets hit on the back of the head by a line drive while pitching batting practice during the 1969 Pilots' spring training and never returned to the major-leagues.