One day after the Mets played their first ever game in St. Louis, the team returned to New York on this date in 1962 and were greeted with a ticker tape parade homecoming. An estimated 40,000 fans braved a steady drizzle to line Broadway in hopes of catching a glimpse of old Brooklyn Dodgers stars like Gil Hodges and Clem Labine dressed in the orange and blue of the city's new National League franchise.

At City Hall, the parade's terminus, the Mets were greeted by Mayor Robert Wagner, who introduced Casey Stengel to the crowd and referred to the infant franchise as "our very own team." Stengel handled player introductions, then lead his team back uptown for an off-day workout at the Polo Grounds. The practice session, like the season opener, had do be delayed due to rain, as well as for the very '62 Metsian reason that someone forgot to have the team's cleats delivered from the airport to the ball park.

This amazing styrofoam baseball was thrown out to parade viewers by Mets manager casey Stengel. It was sponsored by Rheingold Beer. It does show wear, but is still in excellent condition.It is super rare. The photo of Stengel throwing the ball in not included with this lot. 

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