It was a homecoming to New York, pure and simple. An aging Willie Mays was not expected to revive his greatness when he wore these pants for the Mets in the 1972 season. But he contributed. Gray road bottoms verify Mays was the original owner with the 72 for the year and 24 for his number embroidered into the waistband. Later relegated to a minor-league hand-me-down, the road-gray bottoms have multiple stains and holes, and patches on the left shin and buttocks. Randy Sterling, whose last name is written below the waistband, inherited the pants from Mays but the legend didn't rub off. Sterling made the majors in 1974 and pitched just two games.