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The New York Times reports that the original Shea Stadium sign man, Karl Ehrhardt, died Tuesday at his home in Glen Oaks, Queens. He was 83.
Dennis Hevesi writes:
“In an interview with The New York Times in 2006, Mr. Ehrhardt said, “I just called them the way I saw them.”
“Ehrhardt served in the Army during World War II, as a translator in a prisoner-of-war camp holding German soldiers. After the war, he graduated from Pratt Institute with a degree in design art.”
…the original sign man was a little before my time, but i am aware of the contributions he made to the team and to the fans in the early years…several have followed in his footsteps, and although i appreciate all of them, no one can come close to the man who started it all…with shea being in its last year, this season will be bittersweet for many reasons…
…all the best to karl’s family…
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May Mr. Ehrhardt rest in peace. I grew up watching Mets games starting in 1967 when regular people, like Mr. Ehrhardt, were sitting in the field level seats. He was a part of Mets games like Bob Murphy, Ralph Kiner and Lindsey Nelson.
Indeed. I remember that A-G sign for Tommie Agee and the way he would get chants going. Say hi to Tommie, Clink Cardy & Tug for us Karl.
Karl the Sign Man…I never met you but as a Met fan since 1962 I got tremendous joy from your signs over the years. You had an incredible knack for having just the right sign for the situation. What a gift you were to the Met Nation and may you rest in peace. Thanks for all the enjoyment you gave us.
I agree. I started going to games in ‘73 (old-timers game. Matlack threw a one-hitter in regular game!). I don’t know that I ever knew the sign man’s last name, but he was a pleasure to see at the games. I remember looking for him and his signs. Like looking for that Lindsey Nelson sports coat! RIP Mr. Ehrhardt.
Hey Hammer!! No kidding! That Old Timer’s Day game was my first Mets game, too — I’ll never forget it! Matlack was brilliant: a one-hit gem busted up by, of all people, John Curtis, the St. Louis starting pitcher. Rusty and Cleon Jones hit homers in that game and, if memory serves, the Mets won 4-0.
My condolences to Mr. Ehrhardt’s family! Thank you for being a NY Met fan and more importantly thank you for your service!
Sail on Karl . . .
I’m currently living in Texas, but I can’t tell you how excited I am for Citi Field to open. At the same time, I’m sad that Shea won’t be no more. Regardless of what others were saying about Shea being old or broken down, I thought it was a beautiful place to watch a baseball game.
There wasn’t too much glam or glitz taking away from the game. Once the game started though it was business as usual. No swimming pool to get a sun tan, a restaurant you’d find in the downtown of most cities, a hotel, or heck even a nice view. We didn’t need one. We had just the right amount with the subway cars racing on the big screen and the T-Shirt launches to keep people content while during the breaks. But once the game started, and I mean the moment it started, 56,000 + were focused on how many Ks Doc or Coney will have, how far Strawberry’s HR will be, how the new rookie was going to cope w/ NY, if Bonilla will do something, what out-of-this-world play Ordonez will make, if Piazza will hit a walk off HR or how good Reyes will be. (sorry my memories start with Doc & Darryl)
I’m happy to get a new stadium for our team, but I will surely miss our Shea Stadium. Anyone else have a nice story about the stadium?
All my early childhood Mets fan memories of Seaver, Koosman, Matlack,McGraw,Kiner’s Korner etc, Sign Man is a part of that. His wit & sarcasm was entertaining & fun…
Rest in peace Sign Man
To quote the Signman from the 1969 World Series
“Words Cannot Express…”
The Mets family is full of wonderful characters, including players, announcers, and especially fans. I think the posters on Metsblog are the heirs to what Karl started. I hope we can do him proud. God bless Karl’s family, and all of you, too.
Its sad that things like signs are taken for granted at todays games. There was always a pioneer in the beginning that started something. I keep getting thoughts of the little kid holding the sign at Tom Glavine’s 300th win. “Ya Gotta Believe,” and I now think of such an iconic figure holding signs in the early days when it wasn’t a regular sight to see fans holding up something up during a game.
I remember footage of Casey Stengal talking about the fans bringing their Placards & how wonderful it was…. also they used to have Sign Day at Shea & between games of a double header the fans would come in from the centerfield fence and the signs would be judged for prizes.
Ah yes, it was called “Banner Day Doubleheader.” What a great and sorely missed event! I remember as a 12 year old creating a banner with my sister and getting to walk on the field between games. Exciting feeling for a young kid! I know the Mets have kid’s programs, but Banner Day was different - anyone with a sign could participate. If I recall correctly, the winning prize the day I went was a trip to Hawaii!
My brother and sisters and I carried signs in more than one Banner Day Doubleheader. My favorite was “Bring back Lindsey, Or Just His Jackets”. I think the winning entry taht year was “The Mets Are A Rugged Team” which was emblazoned on a floor rug. Alas, those were the lean years, when John Stearns ws our best player.
I remember Karl fondly. I also remember going to a banner day double header and you were asked to line up outside the stadium with your banner in the 4th inning of the first game. I think the first game went 17 or 18 innings. It was sad to see all of the fans with their banners lined up for three hours waiting for their chance to parade on the field. I also think the 2nd game went into extra innings. Does anyone remeber the details of those games?
I’m an old timer and I remember Carl very well. He was incredible. Not only was he the original sign man at Shea, he could have (I don’t know) been the original in MLB or maybe all of sports. Of course, folks had banners before, but he might have originated having signs for different moments in a game. As I wrote, I’m not sure, but it’s possible. As someone who does remember him, I’ve missed him all of these years, even though others luckily have filled the void. So yes, I will miss him, now that he’s really gone. The guy had a nice long life though. I miss Agee too - too bad he didn’t live longer and have a longer Met career.
Karl was the best. He always summed up the situation with 2 or three words….miss AGEE too.
To Sign Man!
:::raises a glass of 13 year old Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye:::
He was called. He served. He is counted.
It’s terrible that he won’t live to see Citi Field open because I put a message of one of his most famous signs from the 1969 World Series on my brick.
“Believe In
Miracles?”
I remember one of the things I used to love about watching a home on TV, or being at Shea, was seeing the many banners that use to hang from over the railings and being walked around the stadium. I guess the white background bothered the players from seeing the ball.
Those were the days my friends . . .
. . . oh, and back then there was, of course, the Banner Day double header. : ,,,, (
I broke out of the line, carrying a banner with my brother’s and ran and slid into second. One of my greatest moments! I was not arrested for being a terrorist, the cops just kinda shock their heads and smiled.
Karl, you brought so many smiles over the years. How you got those signs out of the box so fast and with just the right “remark” I will never know! RIP, my friend. You are remembered fondly…
My brother and his friends won banner day during the really bad days - I think it was 1979. It was “The Mets are like a fine wine, they need time to get out of the cellar.” I marched in banner day a few times in the early ’80’s. They should bring it back, even if it’s before a game instead of between games of a doubleheader.
RIP Karl. He was an ebullient character who will be missed. He, the woman behind home with her crazy hat with all the Mets pins waving her arms to “distract” opposing pitchers, and Cowbell man are all a part of Shea and always will be…..if only in our memories.
I hope there is room at the new joint for characters like these.
Another piece of that wonderful year of 1969 slides into history. Karl would sit in the lower field boxes near third base and had a box full of pre-made signs that he indexed — somehow — to fit plays by a particular player or in a particular situation. No sooner did some situation occur on the field, than he found the right sign, stood up and unfolded it and just added to the magic of that year at Shea. The TV cameras invariably found him right away and the fans at the stadium and at TV just loved him!!!
I know there was some kerfluffle in later years between Karl and the Mets over Karl wanting certain seats or something, so unfortunately the relationship ended somewhat shakily, but we who remember 1969 will always remember The Sign Man and how he somehow just Fit right into the Magic that was going on.
RIP Karl, you were A-MAYS-ING!!!
Does anyone know what really happened in ‘81? Was this some kind of Frank Cashen brush-off? Karl was such a fixture, it was a shame he never came back.
Condolences to the family. Sign Man, you will always be a part of Mets’ Lore. You were missed long before you passed on to the Shea Stadium in the sky.
If ever there was a Hall of Fame for Mets Fans he would be in it.
I would like to see him be considered for the Mets Hall of Fame. He was a part of that team in the early days and helped shape the love that the fans have for this team.
Amen. He should be added to the Mets HOF. Everybody from that time including myself remembers him fondly. He was famous to us. At the very least a memorial to him in the HOF room, as well as the pin lady.
Matt, I think you s