In a post to Mets Police, Shannon asks five questions in an unofficial survey fans.
Here are my answers:
I started following the Mets in 1985.
I have three favorite memories:
- 1) Refusing to go to bed, at my mom’s request, with the Mets down two runs in the bottom of the 10th in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series.
- 2) In the stands, the moment after Shawon Dunston singled, following a zillion foul balls, in the 15th inning of Game 5 in the 1999 NLCS, after which my friend, Johnny, and I simultaneously said, ‘They’re gonna win this game.’
- 3) Being able to go on field, and throw a mock pitch from the mound in Shea Stadium, following the ballparks final game, and know what it might have felt like to pitch there.
Unfortunately, my worst experience as a Mets fan is also on the final day of Shea Stadium. The season ended, falling short of the playoffs, again, and then having to say goodbye. It still doesn’t feel like it ended right. I am not sure it ever will.
If I could change one thing about the Mets, it would be to have them dedicate themselves to valuing Hustle, Dedication, Intelligence and Teamwork, and providing a true choice for New York baseball fans, Power and Privilege in the Bronx, Hustle and Teamwork in Queens.
If I magically owned the Mets, without having paid a dime for it, tomorrow I would start exploring how to make it a non-profit, community-owned organization.
{ 19 comments }
my last game at shea was one of the best I have ever attended. It was the santana’s gem against the phillies where delgado hit 2 HR off Hamels. and after the game we are chanting PHILLIES SUCK!!LOL if was a great game.
My games at Shea were amazing. I probably only went to a total about 10 but still… My favorite game was when I sat in the Inner lodge row A. The Mets kiled the Nationals that day like 11-2. Sorry, I forgot the exact score.
Forgot that. That was NOT my favorite game at Shea. I went to Shea in July 27th(pretty sure of that) and Santana threw the 1st complete game in 2008. That was also the game when Beltran made that crazy catch to rob Ludwick of a homer. Man, the crowd erupted when Beltran did that and I never thought I would be able to watch an incredible catch like that in person. And the Mets won that game I think 9-1 and Wright, Castro and another guy hit homers. Another game that I went to was on 8/24/08 when Beltran hit 2 homers in the game. The MEts lost that game in 10innings though of a score 7-5
I’m a youngin’ around here (23) but here it goes:
1)Started following the Mets circa 1993…went to Mets opening day that year in the first ever game the Colorado Rockies played. (I like to think I started in 1986, as I was 6 months old when they won it all)
2) Favorite Memory would be 1a) 2006 NLCS Game 6. Best game I have ever been to. Feeling Shea literally shake was a moment I’ll never forget. 1b) Would be 10-run 8th inning during the season against the Braves (down 8 I think?) capped off by a Piazza line-drive HR…unreal game.
3) September 2007… final game of the season. Heartbreaking loss. (Runner up- Benitez blowing the lead against the Braves Game 6 NLCS 1999 capped off by Kenny Rogers walk-off-walk.
4) Ownership…I want someone who cares more about winning than profit. (not gonna happen)
5) I’d go all Little Big League on the team and dabble all over day-to-day operations. I could screw it up, but who cares, I’m the owner.
I do not know who you are but I read your first two posts and was like, “who is this guy?”
I am the same age, and my top 2 answers are eerily similar.
1) 1993, I went to the Marlins first series at Shea Stadium in franchise history, and can recall routing for them from around that age on.
2) Game 6 of the 2006 NLCS. The building was shaking yes, and leaving the park that night was the best moment. Fans did not want to leave Shea’s parking lot and were on each others shoulders chanting and laughing. There was no doubt in anyones mind that evening that we would win game 7 and be playing in the World Series… hm.
awwwwww… Hustle Dedication and teamwork. That’s cute Cerrone. Yay team!!!
Funny, but I’d be perfectly happy if the players were all lazy slobs who hated each other, as long as they win.
agreed. I’d rather the team value winning, then heart hustle, dedication etc.
Best game I went to was one Cerrone mentions, 1999 NLCS game 5. 15th inning, raining, running around the stadium after the grandslam single.
Worst feeling I ever had watching live at Shea… Game 7, 2006 NLCS… shortly after The Catch, watching Aaron %#!^ing Heilman give up a 2 run homerun to Yadier friggin’ Molina.
I haven’t been to many Mets games at Shea, but my last memory is the (I think) 1973 old-timers game. It must have been ‘73, because Willie Mays’ Caddy, with the “Say Hey” license plate, was in the parking lot. I don’t remember the old-timers game, but Jon Matlack pitched a one-hitter that day. The haze of memory is thick, but I believe the Mets won 1-0.
“Power and Privilege in the Bronx, Hustle and Teamwork in Queens” I dont know I read that and I see “October baseball in the Bronx, and October golf in Queens”. Funny thats what we have now.
Agreed. Lets cut all this crap and just get to basics; building a winning team. Blah blah blah hustle blah blah blah teamwork. WIN.
Timo Perez was a pretty good example of a little guy, supposedly with “heart” and “hustle” who came out of nowhere to help the Mets. Ya know what happened? He dogged it, cost us a World Series game, and the Mets didn’t make it to the post-season for another 7 seasons.
Enough with the intangibles BS, lets just build a winning team.
I’ve been a fan since the early 80’s. My first game was in the summer of ‘80 or ‘81 against the Dodgers. There couldn’t have been more than 4,000 people in the whole building.
Best game – 2008 2nd to last game at Shea. Santana threw a gem and the place was rocking.
Worst Game – ‘ 06 NLCS Game 7 when Heilman blew our WS tickets. That said I’ve never heard the place louder than when Endy made his famous catch. I also never heard it as quiet when Beltran struck out. Still worst game I ever witnessed live.
Best Game Runner up – ‘86 NLCS Game 3 – The Lenny Homer. I can still close my eyes and see ‘Nails” jumping around as he ran the bases.
The best game was my first – summer of 1968. My friend’s dad got 3 box seats. His dad didn’t drive so my dad took the three of us to the game. The plan was for my dad to get a ticket somewhere near us and my friend’s dad and mine would take turs sitting near us. When we got to Shea my dad was able to get the ticket right next to mine so the 4 of us were able to sit together. Jimmy Wynn hit a HR for the Astros and the Mets lost 1 – 0 (remember it was 1968). My dad and I still talk about that game.
Another was the Bob Moose no-hitter in 1969,. It was on 9/20. The Cubs were 4 games back so it was inevitable and every last one of us knew that so the results really didn’t matter. I was 10 and went with my mom and dad. The feeling was unreal.
worst game: Gooden raely in 1986. A friend of mine ane me sat near the K Corner. Doc had 2 K’s and was harshly boo’d. You knew something was wrong.
On the bright side we almost made it into the press box. We were about 25 feet away from the open door and carrying 2 beers each. The guard let us past (we said they were for Ralph and Tim). At about T – 10 feet another guard stopped us and didn’t believe us as they had just got a recent beer delivery.
Runner up – a DH in April of 1983 against the Pirates. We weree in the upper decks. There was a freezing rain drenching us and the other 400 or so fans. Security would not let us decend to a lower level.
LOL, to second paragraph. For when you couldn’t move from the upper deck, I’d just get up to use the bathroom or something and sit in better seats like the Mezz or Lodge.
1) 1993, I went to the Marlins first series at Shea Stadium in franchise history, and can recall routing for them from around that age on.
2) Game 6 of the 2006 NLCS. The building was shaking yes, and leaving the park that night was the best moment. Fans did not want to leave Shea’s parking lot and were on each others shoulders chanting and laughing. There was no doubt in anyones mind that evening that we would win game 7 and be playing in the World Series… hm sigh.
3) 2008 (Final game against Marlins) – I got together with 4 of my good friends, and all Mets fans to watch the game. We were optimistic (atleast on the outside) but as it went on, you could gradually feel the game slipping away. After it ended, we couldn’t believe it and decided to do the only logical thing we could think of… collectively drink the pain away.
4) Hm, maybe the owners not focusing on public opinion, the Yankees or even the Ghosts as Flatbush (Bklyn Dodgers) and instead the Mets being the best they can be.
5) I would have some serious say in the personel moves and spend like a drunken sailor this year on FA’s
I’d like to see intelligence and creativity to be cornerstones of the Mets organization. It ain’t gonna happen with this ownership.
What is that, a John Cena promo?
benitez balks reyes to second…then balks him home to tie the game…delgado hits walk off homer to right to win the game….there we maybe 15k fans left at the park but is sounded like 55…PRICELESS…armando let go by giants the next day——-
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