Information about Mets Opening Day

The Mets are kind enough to send me game-day notes during the season, some excerpts are below.

Also keep in mind that the circus is taking up some of the parking area so you may find parking more challenging than usual.

METS ARE THE BEST ON OPENING DAY: In the history of Major League Baseball, the Mets (33-18, .647) have the best winning percentage on Opening Day…Below is a list of the top records on Opening Day, courtesy of the Elias Sports Bureau.

PRE-GAME: The Mets will honor heroes and volunteers who have played an integral role in the response to Hurricane Sandy in a pre-game, on-field ceremony that begins at 12:30 p.m…More than 500 first responders will be honored and the Mets have donated 1,000 Opening Day tickets to citizens who were heroic in their response to Sandy, and those who were affected by the devastation.

FIRST PITCH: Mets Hall of Famer Rusty Staub, who turns 69 today, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch as the club honors the 40th Anniversary of the 1973 NL championship team…Staub is considered one of the finest humanitarians to play the game…He established the New York Police and Fire Widows and Children’s Benefit Fund in 1986 and has raised over $150 million and his own Rusty Staub Foundation has raised money assisting many charities in the Tri-State area.

NATIONAL ANTHEM: Emmy Rossum – singer, actress and star of Showtime’s Shameless – will perform the National Anthem backed by 50 choir members from the Scholars’ Academy School Chorus from the Rockaways.

GOD BLESS AMERICA: Keith Carradine, Allison Case, Kathleen Monteleone and David Larsen – stars in the popular Broadway show “Hands on a Hardbody” – will perform God Bless America.