Last week, someone asked me if I was excited about the Mets adding a Museum and Hall of Fame to Citi Field.
I think I am. I don’t know yet.
I mean, right now, I am more interested in who I will be watching on field next season, not what will be featured off field.
That said, I like knowing parents will soon be able to walk their kids through a specific area and show off images of Ed Kranepool, Tom Seaver, the Trophies, the ground ball through Bill Buckner’s legs, etc., and essentially pass on that history, visually, with tangible items from the team’s past.
By the way, speaking of Seaver, to see video from his first game in the big leagues, check out On the Black.
In the end, I have no idea what to expect, in terms of what the Hall of Fame and Museum will look like.
If you have any ideas for what it will be, what you’d like it to be, what it should include, and so on, feel free to write it in the comment section of this post… I’m curious to hear what people think.
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I agree that I am not yet sure if I am excited about this or not, but for a very different reason….
As far as being “more” interested in what happens with the roster than this museum, I would just say in no way should they be mutually exclusive. would I rather a title-contender and no museum to the opposite? Of course. But there is no reason we should have to choose. This organization has to be able to execute both.
My hesitation is over my concern that this is yet another thing the Mets will do wrong. It is clear they are doing it to appease fan outcry, and my concern there is that they still don’t “get” why this is important to Mets fans and therefore still won’t get what fans are looking for.
It’s hard to say what I’d want aside from a museum that honors every aspect of Mets history and every player who has mattered to this franchise, whether it be for one big moment or one big play of for a lifetime of acheivement. I shouldn’t be just Seaver and Piazza and Hernandez….if should be about the Pratts and Dunstons and Agbayanis and Dykstras and their moments…about the Lance Johnsons and one-year standouts like that…it should be about the John Stearns-types that shined when the franchise stunk. I don’t want to see a museum of 1969 and 1986 and of 5-10 greats…I want a living encyclopedia of Mets history.
Honestly, all they need to do is look again at the invite list from the Shea Goodbye Ceremony. They got it almost perfectly right that day in terms of who they brought back. Sprinkle in the big years and big moments and Mets All-Stars and you should be set. How they present it is up to someone’s imagination (btw – any word on who is being brought in to build this out?)
My fear though is they are just going to put up the busts and a few images of Casey Stengel and Gil Hodges and call it a museum.
The one initial thing I am happy about is that it will be built off the ritunda – I assume replacing the mega-store on the ground level? At least that makes your entrance more about the Mets than it has been.
Wow, getting to watch Seaver in 1967 is amazing! Look at the wall, and how empty the stands were. That was very cool to see.
Thanks for letting us know about it.
And this is exactly the kind of stuff that should fill a Mets museum.
PS – Notice Yogi as First Base coach?
Can’t imagine what a ticket stub frm that game is worth!
Off Topic, Looks like Alex Cora will once again be sporting a Mets Uniform in 2010. MLBTR is reporting they are close on a deal for Cora.
i’m VERY excited about a mets hall of fame. i think probably the most glaring weakness about the new stadium was the lack of a hall of fame. i think the phillies execute their hall of fame really, really well at citizen’s bank. one thing that’s really cool is they have star-shaped bricks in the walkway that denotes their all stars for each year. that’d be an awesome addition (except for 2003. armando benitez…GULP! haha) . i’d love cooperstown-esque plaques. break down the plaques by era (i.e. 60s, 70s, 80s and so on). i’d also like two spots specifically put aside for JUST tom seaver and mike piazza. they’re the two most important players in our history. their inclusion should kind of stand above all the rest.
one important thing to note: i fear the hall of fame COULD turn into a money-maker. i.e. inducting players as a way to boost attendance for a night (sort of like when the heat “retired” dan marino’s number or michael jordan’s of number 6 for the fans). the mets have been extremely selective in who they honor and, by far, have the most stringent retired number policy in baseball, which is a VERY VERY GOOD thing. i want the hall of fame to live up to that standard. if no one deserves to be inducted for a year, then don’t. only induct our true greats. i don’t want to see felix millan in the hall of fame simply because he won a championship.
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