Joe Kelly is the kind of guy who doesn't just show up to the White House; he makes a scene that people are still talking about years later. You probably remember the photo. It was July 2021, and the Los Angeles Dodgers were finally getting their 2020 World Series victory lap at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. While most of the team went with the standard "corporate lobbyist" look—boring blue suits and stiff ties—Kelly walked in looking like he was ready to front a band in Guadalajara.
He was wearing a black charro jacket, dripping with intricate white embroidery, paired with a white shirt and what some eagle-eyed fans claimed were Mookie Betts’ dress pants. It was bold. It was arguably the greatest fashion choice in the history of championship visits. But the weirdest part? He didn't buy it. He didn't have a stylist pick it out.
He basically swindled a musician for it on a whim.
The Trade: A Jersey for a Piece of History
The whole thing started just a few days before the D.C. trip. The Dodgers were hosting a "Viva Los Dodgers" event at the stadium, celebrating Mexican heritage. Kenley Jansen, the team's closer at the time, had invited Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar onto the field during warmups to serenade the players.
That's when Kelly saw it. Specifically, he saw the jacket worn by Grover Castro Tiburcio, a 24-year-old trumpeter and music education student at Cal State Northridge.
Kelly didn't do a formal greeting. He didn't ask for an autograph. He just walked up and said, "I'll trade you your jacket for my jersey."
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Grover actually said no at first. He had a job to do, and you can't really play the national anthem in a t-shirt when you're part of a professional mariachi ensemble. But the idea stuck. Grover went home, talked to his family, and his mom basically called him crazy for not taking the deal. The next day, Grover scrambled to find a backup jacket (since these are custom-made and hard to replace), bought a ticket to the game, and headed to the bullpen.
He waited. Kelly saw him, remembered the deal, and the trade was finalized: an authentic, game-worn Joe Kelly jersey for a custom-embroidered charro jacket. Honestly, it’s the most "Joe Kelly" transaction ever recorded.
Why the Joe Kelly Mariachi Jacket Became a Symbol
For some, it was just a funny "baseball player being weird" moment. But for the Mexican-American community in Los Angeles, seeing that jacket in the White House meant a lot more.
Kelly’s mother, Andrea Valencia, is of Mexican descent. When Kelly put that jacket on to meet the President, he wasn't just being a "cut-up." He was bringing a piece of East L.A. and Mexican culture into the most formal room in the country. It was a nod to his heritage and to the city that lives and breathes Dodgers baseball.
Grover Castro Tiburcio later mentioned in interviews that seeing his jacket—a piece of his professional life—standing in front of a portrait of Abraham Lincoln was surreal. He almost cried. It turned a funny dugout trade into a massive moment of representation.
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What happened to the jacket?
People often ask if it's in a museum. There were rumors it might head to the Smithsonian, but as of late 2023, Joe Kelly confirmed he still has it. During an interview with SportsNet LA, he joked that his house was being renovated, so the jacket was "in storage protected away" to keep it safe from would-be thieves.
He knows what it's worth now. Not just in dollars, but in "legend" status.
How to Get the Look (Without Trading a Jersey)
Unless you happen to be a Major League pitcher with a game-worn uniform to swap, you probably won't be getting Grover's original threads. However, the "Mariachi Joe" phenomenon sparked a massive wave of replicas.
If you're looking for a Joe Kelly mariachi jacket, you’ve basically got two paths:
- The Authentic Route: You can commission a real traje de charro from specialized tailors, often found in Los Angeles (like in Boyle Heights) or Mexico. These are made of high-quality wool or heavy cotton with genuine embroidery. They aren't cheap—expect to pay $300 to $600 for a quality jacket alone.
- The Fan Replica Route: Several online retailers have popped up selling "Joe Kelly inspired" jackets. These are usually made of lighter cotton or polyester and are meant for stadium wear or parties. They’re much cheaper (around $100-$155) but won't have the weight or "stiff" feel of a real performer's jacket.
Keep in mind that the original was a black jacket with white/silver "greca" (the ornate scrolling patterns). Many replicas get the pattern slightly wrong, so if you're a stickler for detail, look for the "shawl lapel" and the specific hook-and-eye closures rather than buttons.
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What Joe Kelly Taught Us About Style
The real takeaway here isn't just about the clothes. It's about the fact that Joe Kelly is the ultimate "chaos agent" of MLB. Whether he's making "pouty faces" at the Houston Astros or wearing a mariachi outfit to meet Joe Biden, he understands that baseball is supposed to be fun.
He took a random interaction with a fan/musician and turned it into a cultural touchstone. Most players would have taken that jersey home and hung it in a closet. Kelly wore it to the most important meeting of his year.
If you’re planning on rocking the look at Dodger Stadium, just be prepared to be stopped for photos every five minutes. It’s a uniform now. It represents a specific brand of L.A. grit and humor that you just can't manufacture.
To truly honor the look, make sure you've got the confidence to match. The jacket does 50% of the work, but the "Joe Kelly attitude"—that slight smirk and total lack of fear—is what really completes the ensemble. If you're heading to a game, check the weather first; those authentic jackets are surprisingly heavy and can get hot under the California sun.
Actionable Next Steps
If you want to dive deeper into this specific piece of Dodgers lore, here is how you can engage with it:
- Support the Source: Look up Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar. They are a world-class ensemble and the group Grover belonged to during the trade.
- Verify the Fit: If you’re buying a replica, size up. Real charro jackets are designed to be short (waist-length) and very tight. If you want a casual fit, the standard sizing might feel "shrunken" on you.
- Visit Olvera Street: If you’re in L.A., visit the historic shops at Olvera Street. You can see real trajes in person and understand the craftsmanship that went into the jacket Kelly snagged.