50th season of Mets baseball is the perfect excuse for Mets Old-Timers’ Day 2011

48,957 people paid to get into Fake New Yankee Stadium yesterday for something called “Old-Timers’ Day.”

Let’s go back to 2009, and our old friend Dave Howard and this article from the Times in 2009:

The Mets’ blogosphere recently lit up when Evan Roberts, a co-host for WFAN-AM sports-talk radio, reported that he had been told by a team official that Old-Timers’ Day was “too much work.”

“That’s silly, and that’s not the reason,” said Dave Howard, the Mets’ executive vice president for baseball operations. “It was particularly unpopular as a promotion. We didn’t see an increase in ticket sales or interest from sponsors or even from people who already had tickets. It died of its own unpopularity in the early ’90s.

“We felt we were better served by bringing our alumni back over several days instead of one day.”

For one reason or another 47,000 people paid to get in FNYS yesterday.   Perhaps it’s that whole World Series Champion and best record in baseball thing.   Maybe people like Old-Timers.  Maybe the stadium was half empty during the ceremony as suggested on twitter – the papers are sure full of OT Day stories today.

If people like Old Timers, it would make sense for the Mets to hold an Old Timers Day.

If it’s the best record in baseball thing, then to blame the early 90’s makes this more about crappy teams in the 90’s than anything relevant to today.  Is it possible that playing .364 ball in 1993 added to fan apathy?  Three Sixty Four.

An Old  Timers Day in the mid-90’s would be the 1969ers and the 1973 crew again, with a few Mazzilli and Youngbloods mixed in.   For 2011, the Mets can draw from the 86 crowd and the 2000 team.   I don’t think Mr. Howard’s argument holds water.

Next year will be the 50th season of Mets baseball.  What a great excuse to bring back the day.   Let’s assume that the Mets have lost everyone’s phone number and it’s up to you guys and me to set this up.

The Yankees were able to locate David Cone and Lee Mazzilli.  Let’s assume they will come and the Yankees will give us their numbers.

Does anyone know where to find Keith Hernandez, Ron Darling or Bob Ojeda?

The Mets seem to know where to find Doc, Darryl and Davey – if their numbers are lost maybe someone could invite them the next time they come by.

John Franco, is he still in hiding?

Mike Piazza – last spotted a week ago at a softball game.

Tom Seaver.  Gotta have Tom Seaver.  Call his winery.  Let Tom pick the day.  Gotta have Tom Seaver.

One of you guys can work the phones and get the 2000 Mets in here.  Heck, if the organization has cojones and truly gets it, they’d call Bristol and invite #2 down for the day.

I’m going to stop there.   Even if “Old Timers Day” was nothing more than Howie Rose at a podium introducing Lee Mazzilli, Bob Ojeda, David Cone, Davey Johnson, Bobby Valentine (also an ex-Mets player), Ron Darling, John Franco, Dwight Gooden, Darryl Strawberry, Keith Hernandez, Mike Piazza, and Tom Seaver (in that order – anyone wanna argue?).

Ten bucks to the first person who can get Kiner to suit up in a Pirates #4 and walk out.

They don’t have to play a game.  Just trot out there in uniforms, have Seaver say something cool, and move on.

It’s the 50th season.  Just have it.