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Yesterday, I took a trip to Shea Stadium, and was allowed inside to take a few photographs.
Enjoy, if that’s even possible, since it’s quite sad to see Shea Stadium looking like a war zone…
There are no seats. They’ve all been removed.
The skyline has been removed from the top of
the scoreboard. Each number has been
taken down, as well.
The Apple is gone, as are the letters, but the
Top Hat remains in tact…for now.
The dugout is pretty much hollowed out.
I finally got a chance to pitch in Shea. Unfortunately
it was with a Wiffle Ball, and off a dismantled
mound, but, hey, whatever, I’ll take it.
To view all of my photos from my visit to Shea Stadium, in high resolution, click here.
I think I just threw up a little in my mouth
and the Phillies are one game away from going to the World Series.
I’m fine with it…as long as they lose the WS in dramatic fashion again!
Here’s the thing, I really want the NL team to win because I’m sick and tired of hearing about “AL Dominance” from AL fans in general and Yankee fans in particular.
But, if it ends up being the Rays vs. Phillies (or even the Red Sox vs. Phillies), I’ll be forced to root for the AL.
So would I. I would love for it to end in game 7, with Brad Lidge blowing his first save of the year on a walkoff grand slam.
I’m rooting for the phillies. I want the WS winner
to be from the NL east. They deserve it.
I hate Philadelphia and their sports teams. Go Rays!
I agree… the phillies are playing awesome… they have been playing together for a while now… any baseball fan should appreciate that.
Tampa has Cliffie Floyd, Brad Chadford, and (take a deep breath…) Scott Kazmir. This is the closest that The Mets will be getting to the World Series this year! Go Rays!
I hope Manny strangles The Flyin Hawaiian with his dreads. I never used to hate him, but after these last two games… hes such a little punk. Doesn’t help that I’m extremely bitter and living in Philadelphia.
Matt, have they started to put the sod down at Citi, they said they were doing it about now.
You’d think Dunkin Donuts would have wanted to reclaim theur installation…
That jumbo cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee would look great in the landscaping in my backyard!
Even though I’m very excited about the new stadium, these photos are just so sad, this is a place I went to a couple of times a year since I was 13.
My thoughts exactly.
Makes you wish they could just blow it up in one shot…the piecemeal deconstruction is very depressing.
It’s a stadium people. If you’re like this at Shea, I’d hate to see what you are like if your parents moved.
THAT’S THE TREE I THREW UP ON WHEN I WAS DRUNK IN HIGH SCHOOL! WAAAAAAAH WAAAAAAAAAH!
Seaver to Piazza was so lame.. I always wanted Cerrone throwing the last pitch at Shea.
I guess Cerrone will go down in history as the one who threw the last pitch at Shea Stadium.
But who caught the pitch…that is the question?
they would be playing games there still if our current gm wasn’t such a clown
‘ve lived in Philly since birth but have been a Mets fan just as long…now I’m in an extremely difficult situation. Do I root for the NL East, and hope the Mets crush the Phils next year? Or do I root for a team with which I am completely unfamiliar? I’m kind of leaning towards the Phils route…I’m so tired of AL dominance. And think about how much more legit it would be if the Phillies won the world series this year and then the Mets won like 75% of the series next year. It would feel so good to rub it in all of my friends’ (Phillies bandwagon jumpers) faces.
I really don’t understand why Dodger Stadium, which is older than Shea, is a gem — while Shea Stadium is a dilapidated dump that needs to be torn down. Why couldn’t Shea have been maintained and restored as has Dodger Stadium? Is is really all about the money? And in 20 years, will Citi Field be considered a dump?
Good point about Dodger Stadium. Inside, it looks older than Shea in some parts. Shea isn’t a dump. It’s a ballpark with a field and seats. It’s all about money and the Wilpons ego. We lose because we now have to pay more, we might get shut out of games because there are many less seats and wait until you “can’t wait for the new stadium” folk sit in fair terratory, you’ll be screaming then.
We are all sheep and will bleet merrily to the tune that we are being told to by the ballclub and the media. Guess we have no choice, because nothing will bring my ballpark back now. Baaah Baaah …
Big reason for Dodger stadium being nicer? The weather. It didn’t have to suffer through 45 winters, which is nasty for concrete (water and freezing). Plus they probably did a better job of maintaining it in general.
I think your latter comment is more accurate. Fenway Park has suffered through way more than 45 winters. And if they didn’t do a good job of maintaining Shea, why would they do a better job of maintaining Citi?
To Fudbutter: I am transplanted to Seattle, and I can tell you that compared to the fans out here, New York Mets fans are most definitely NOT sheep. :-) I could never root for the Mariners; btw how does that silly DH thing work anyway?
The weather is a huge factor. Plus, Dodger stadium is privately owned and thus easier to maintain. I was there last year and was shocked to see the difference between Shea and Dodger stadium first hand. From what I learned, it is repainted every year and the landscaping around the ballpark helps to hide the imperfections that make it obvious that it is just as old as Shea.
As for Fenway, the owners wanted a new stadium but of couorse were denied. So they have done everything they can to maintain it and add improvements. When you walk around the ballpark outside and inside it does not look like a 90 year old ballpark.
If the Wilpons took care of Shea and the spent the money on renovations (like in Anaheim and Kansas City) Shea would have held up so much better.
Ah, just take the X off of your cap and quit moaning! The new ballpark is going to be great. Just ask Gary, Keith and Ron. The luxury boxes are real nice.
R
Wagner did do something this year against the Phils. Wasn’t he responsible (or partly) for the NL not winning the ASG? Meaning the series will finish in the AL park, and only 3 home games for the phils!
Thanks Matt for sharing these pics with us!!!!!!! its very hard to see Shea like this!!!! Very sad!!!!!
Interesting but sad photos. I was at Shea yesterday but I wasn’t allowed in. The entire Stadium was fenced-in. How did you get in? They said that it was too dangerous to enter as they would be liable if I had an accident. From outside, I could see them dismantling the “Homerun Apple” and all the seats were gone. The “SHEA” white lettering was already gone but “STADIUM” was intact. The large “Mets” script was gone, too. Sad!
those are great photos — how come when you save them to your pc they’re so tiny ?