Hard to imagine a player whose actual trip to the Majors was met with more obstacles than Yasiel Puig’s. The Cuban import signed with the Dodgers in 2012 for $42 million after a treacherous journey [in his 13th attempt] from his homeland—a story involving Mexican drug cartels and secretive island safe houses with more plot twists than a Michael Mann thriller. Puig debuted with the big club on June 2 2013 and made an instant splash hitting four home runs and driving in ten runs to win National League Player of the Week in his very first week. He continued to impress as a rookie batting .319 with 19 homers over 104 games and helping the Dodgers win the N.L. West Division. “Wild Horse”—as Vin Scully so eloquently dubbed him—continues to showcase his five tools like hybrid between Bo Jackson and Roberto Clemente making plays in the outfield you have to see to believe.

Featured here is an important game-worn road jersey donned by the Cuban star during a pivotal series at Chase Field in late September of his rookie campaign. On September 19 2013 the Dodgers clinched the N.L. West title with a 7-6 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Puig was quiet at the plate that evening but he made a couple dazzling plays in right field and was a key catalyst in the Dodgers’ memorable post-game antics. After a shirtless “worm” in the visiting clubhouse (thousands of YouTube views) he and a crew of Champagne-buzzed teammates ran back onto the field where they jumped the right-field fence straight into the Chase Field pool. The famous [or infamous] pool celebration has been replayed countless times and it continues to strike a scornful chord in the hearts of D-Backs fans.

The jersey comes with seal proof documentation from MLB Authenticated and a conclusive photo-match from the experts at Resolution Photomatching. It remains unwashed since the celebration and is missing two buttons which were undoubtedly lost during the Chase Field melee. The size 50 gray mesh shirt is properly tagged by Majestic on the left front tail with an additional “66 Puig 50 2013” label on a strip tag behind the collar. The classic road “Los Angeles” cursive logo is sewn across the chest with “PUIG” and his No. “66” on the reverse all in blue tackle twill. His number comes in red tackle twill on the front. The shirt displays excellent evidence of game use as mentioned with an aroma of sweat and perhaps a hint of champagne to go with it.

This lot represents a great moment if you’re a Dodgers fan and certainly is fitting for a guy who plays the game with such youthful exuberance. No player seems to have as much fun out there as Puig. The 2017 regular season was a tremendous turnaround for the now26-year-old. He set career highs in home runs (28) RBI (74) and stolen bases(15) while playing outstanding defense in right field for the N.L. West Champions.He has had some big hits in the 2017 postseason as Big Blue seeks its first World Series title since 1988.

MLB Auth. #EK 022434. LOA from Resolution Photomatching with conclusive 9/19/13 photo-match.