Mets Yearbook Covers 1962-2008

[Mario Mendoza...HOF Lock]

Mets Yearbooks 1962-2008. Which is your favorite (or your least favorite)? There may be some variations of revised/original covers not listed here, but these are the ones I could find.

For me 1965 is probably my favorite. 2003 is my least favorite.
You can vote for your least favorite cover HERE

1962


1963


1964


1965


1966


1967


1968


1969


1970


1971

[Mario Mendoza...HOF Lock]

1972


1973


1974


1975


1976


1977


1977 Revised


1978


1979


1980

[Mario Mendoza...HOF Lock]

1981




1982


1983


1984


1985


1986


1987


1988


1989


1990

[Mario Mendoza...HOF Lock]

1990 Revised


1991


1992


1993


1994


1995


1996


1997 (w/hologram)


1998


1999

[Mario Mendoza...HOF Lock]

2000


2001


2002


2003


2004


2005


2006


2007


2008

[Gary Dunaier]

I voted for 1963. It's a nice, clean typographic design featuring our pal Mr. Met.

I also like the 1997 cover with the lenticular motion image affixed.

Incidentally, for those who may not know, the 1982 edition has a feature showing covers of all the earlier yearbooks... and if memory serves me right they gave away copies at the end of the '82 season, either on Fan Appreciation Day or on the last home game of the year.

[hairmetalfreek]

I voted for 1982...George Foster rules all!!!

[milladrive]

Nice job at displaying the essential cover designs, Mario. Nice to see people showing some interest in Mets yearbooks. Indeed, there are a few designs that were overlooked, but you've definitely covered (pun intended) the bulk of them. Kudos.

Just for the record, here are the remaining designs of official Mets yearbook covers...

1987 Revised


1988 Revised


1989 Hispanic


1989 Revised


1990 Hispanic


1991 Revised


1992 Bilingual


(Please forgive the scans; These are all in protective plastic sleeves.)




Anyway, I've always had a difficult time picking my favorite cover design. There are some really good ones, some relatively bad ones, and some that are genuinely mediocre.

1969, for example, showed little inspiration, especially when compared to the great Willard Mullin's imaginative designs of the Sixties. Some folks, however, consider it their all-time favorite.

I've a soft spot for '81, if only because it was devised and drawn by the legendary Bill Gallo (as was the advert on the reverse of the original '69 edition).

I think '95 is an underrated design, while I think '97 (and its 3-D pastie) is overrated.

1986, imho, like "the White Album," made a bold yet classy statement that was louder than the design would have us believe at the time, especially when considering the season that was to come. I think of it as one of the best.

By the same subway token, 1970's cover is often overlooked for its tasteful modesty, quietly depicting the three unimaginable miracles that took place the previous season (first divisional title, league pennant, and WS championship).

On the collectible side of the coin (beyond the 1960's of course), I'm partial to any cover that features a colored border, for colors (especially darker colors) make it that much more difficult to maintain a high grade of value and presentability.

I'm unable to choose a particular favorite. Perhaps if these were multiple choice polls, I'd place some votes, but for me, picking just one, either best or worst, is virtually impossible.

Gun to my head, though, if I had to choose a favorite, it'd probably be an issue from 1974. Not so much for the familiar design as displayed by Mario, but more for a glaring error that was actually released to the public. It still amazes me to this day how such a typo was overlooked before release. The New York Mets "1974 Offical Year Book."





Anyone who desires any info whatsoever about Mets yearbooks, feel free to ask. Believe it or not, to date, there have been 128 official (or is that "offical") editions and/or variations.

EDIT: Please forgive me for my deleted yearbook scans. Sometime between 2008 and 2011 I inadvertantly deleted the pix from Photobucket. Re-scanning them will be a little time consuming, but I do have the task on my bucket list. This gallery thread is too good for it to remain incomplete.