Alright, let me tell you about tracking down this 2000 World Series Mets hat. It wasn’t exactly a planned mission, more like something that just crept into my head one afternoon. You know how memories hit you sometimes? I was thinking about that whole Subway Series buzz back then, Piazza, Clemens, the whole shebang. It felt like a big deal, living through that here in the city.
So, this idea lodged itself in my brain: I needed that hat. The specific one, the official one from 2000. Seemed simple enough at first. Hop online, search, buy, done. Right?
The Hunt Begins
Well, not quite. First off, you wouldn’t believe the amount of junk out there. Reproductions, knock-offs, stuff that just looked… wrong. I spent a good few evenings just scrolling through websites, auction sites, you name it. Saw a lot of hats claiming to be the real deal, but the pictures were terrible, or the descriptions were super vague. You get that feeling, you know? Like something’s not quite right.
- Checked the usual big online marketplaces.
- Looked through some vintage clothing sites.
- Even peeked at forums dedicated to baseball gear.
Found a couple that looked promising, but then you see the price tag. Wow. Some folks think because it’s old, it’s solid gold. I wasn’t looking to break the bank, just wanted a piece of nostalgia, something authentic.
Getting Closer
It got a bit frustrating, honestly. Felt like I was chasing a ghost. Then, kind of randomly, I stumbled onto this smaller forum, more for collectors talking shop than actually selling big time. Someone posted about clearing out some old boxes. Just a simple list, no fancy photos.
And there it was, sandwiched between some old jerseys and pins: “2000 WS Mets hat, worn but good condition.” Simple as that. My heart kind of jumped a bit. Sent the guy a message, trying to play it cool, asked for a couple of pictures.
He sent them over. Looked right. Had the right logos, the right stitching from what I could tell. You could see it wasn’t brand new, a little bit of fading maybe, but it looked honest. We went back and forth a bit on the price – gotta do the dance, you know. Came to a number that felt fair for both of us.
The Payoff
Paid the man, and then the waiting game started. Always a bit nervous sending money off to someone you just met online. But a few days later, a small package shows up. Opened it up, and there it was. Felt solid. Fit right. Smelled faintly of… well, an old hat.
It wasn’t perfect, but it was real. That’s what I wanted. Holding it, trying it on, it brought back that feeling from 2000. Didn’t change the world, but finding it felt like a small victory, a successful little project. Sometimes it’s the little things, you know? Putting in the effort and actually finding what you were looking for. Good stuff.
