By Howard Koplowitz
The former clubhouse manager for the New York Mets was charged in Queens Criminal Court last week with stealing nearly $2.3 million worth of Mets memorabilia, including autographed jerseys, bats and baseballs belonging to the Flushing team, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.
Charlie Samuels, 57, of Arverne, began his career with the Mets in 1976 and was made equipment manager in 1983 before being named clubhouse manager and traveling secretary, Brown said.
“He had probably one of the best jobs that a sports enthusiast could have and he threw it all away,” Brown said during a news conference at his office May 11, where two jerseys Samuels allegedly stole — a 1986 jersey signed by members of the Mets’ championship team and a special 2001 jersey signed by Mets players to commemorate Sept. 11, 2001 — were on display. “His alleged greed got the better of him.”
The jerseys had an appraised value of $7,500 apiece, Brown said.
Brown said Samuels had 1,673 Mets items worth an estimated $2.4 million stored in a friend’s Connecticut home, including 507 jerseys, 304 hats, 828 balls, 22 helmets, 10 bags of equipment and two storage boxes.
The DA said there was no evidence that Samuels sold any of the property and that prosecutors surmised he was saving the memorabilia to fund his retirement.
“He was holding it as his own private collection,” Brown said.
Charges were filed against Samuels, who was fired by the Mets in November, after the team became suspicious of his reimbursement requests.
Major League Baseball was investigating Samuels before turning the case over to the Queens district attorney’s office.
The former clubhouse manager was also charged with embezzling $24,955 from the Mets by submitting inflated expense claims above the total cost of meals provided to umpires during the season and failing to report or pay taxes on $203,789 that Samuels received as tips from Mets players and others in 2008 and 2009, Brown said.
The DA said Samuels faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the top charge against him: criminal possession of stolen property.
A 21-count indictment against Samuels was unsealed May 11.
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at hkoplowitz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573.
