I am really enjoying the updated edition of 100 Things Mets Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die (available on Triumph books – you know where to buy books, and probably don’t care about the publisher, but everyone always mentions the publisher so I will too.)
The author Matthew Silverman was kind enough to answer my silly questions, and I think we may be kindred spirits. Â Enjoy…
1. I really love the book but why isn’t Lee Mazzilli #1? Â Bill Buckner isn’t even a Met…
Maz defies numerology. And a good friend who’s a Red Sox fan never forgave me for Bill Buckner’s name going in the top spot…but we’re Mets fans, we’re all about pessimism, even when it comes to our greatest moment it’s about someone else messing up. I’ll take it.
2. I love #79 “what’s with all the different uniforms?” Which is your favorite and least favorite?
I’m Mr. Old Fashioned when it comes to the Mets, so I’d say the flannel unis they wore in 1969 and for Frequency Night in 2000. Robin Ventura’s pants ripped twice in that game. I’ll also admit I also kind of like the white unis (with blue hat). I can live without pinstripes, but the only black on a Mets uni should be smudged eye black.
3. Â Any idea who is picking what the team wears on a day to day?
I always believed it was Charlie Samuels. I did a survey in the original version of 100 Things that I cut to put in the bit about the new uniforms for the paperback version. Here’s my 2007 survey on the randomness of Mets unis. Because you or a reader might care:
Day Opponent Uniform/color of hats and sleeves Result
Tuesday, June 19 Â Â Minnesota White/black and blue hat (black sleeves) W
Wednesday, June 20 Â Â Minnesota Black/black hat (white pants) L
Thursday, June 21 Â Â Minnesota Black/black hat (white pants) L
Friday, June 22 Â Â Oakland White/black and blue hat (black sleeves) W
Saturday, June 23 Â Â Oakland Pinstripe/blue hat and sleeves W
Sunday, June 24 Â Â Oakland Pinstripe/blue hat and sleeves W
Monday, June 25 St. Louis White/blue hat and sleeves W
Tuesday, June 26 St. Louis White/blue hat and sleeves L
Wednesday, June 27 St. Louis White/blue hat and sleeves W
So what will the Mets wear tonight?  Anything goes. Will you remember which outfit it was the next day? Magic 8-Ball says “doubtful.â€
4. Did you ever bring a banner to Banner Day (#98)?
I attended Banner Day several times as a spectator when it was a doubleheader. By the time someone convinced me to enter a banner myself it was a single game admission and you had to get there at 10:30 a.m. or something stupid. Sounded like work so I skipped it. That turned out to be the last Banner Day they had. Being the only team in the major league to schedule a doubleheader was the Mets’ chance to be cool and cheese off opponents.
5. Since this is a revised list, what got dropped from the original 100?
Because you’ll find out anyway–we know how thorough the police can be–most of the numbers killed were about how to get around Shea Stadium; info on each level, the Diamond Club, and the Picnic Area.
“The New Mets” at number 50 just sounded dumb two years later, so it morphed into a Beltran piece since he now had enough time as a Met to crack the top 50. Although every time he cracks something it’s two months on the DL.
6. Your all-time favorite Mets moment?
Historically: Capturing the 1969 World Series.
Personally: Watching Game 7 from my friend’s dorm room in college. He and I went to the Ike-Barajas Game just last week.
In Person: Lenny Dykstra’s ninth-inning HR in my first postseason game as a fan. I flew up the night before from the aforementioned dorm in Virginia. I’d buy that plane ticket again if it could conjure a moment like that, or any postseason game at this point.
7. Your favorite thing on the list?
I kind of jumped the gun on the previous question, but one piece that I often find myself reading when I look something up in the book is “#24 Mora Touches Down”–the Mets actually won a do-or-die season finale.
8. What should I tell my wife when she asks why I’m on the computer again?
That you’re trying to earn $10,000 per month working from home! It’s that easy!
