Foley’s NY Pub & Restaurant Hosts Retirement Party for Longtime Mets Groundskeeper
Pete Flynn on Oct. 1st, 2011
Flynn was one of the “Starting Nine” of the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame
New York, NY (Sept. 28, 2011) – Foley’s NY Pub & Restaurant (18 W. 33rd St.) will bid the New York Mets’ Irish-born groundskeeper Pete Flynn a bon voyage on Saturday, October 1st as he retires after a half-century of service with the team. The retirement party will feature an Irish toast and well wishes from friends and family.
Born in Ballinamore, County Leitrim, Ireland, Pete Flynn has been a New York Mets employee since the team’s inception and was the groundskeeper at Shea Stadium for its entire existence (1964-2008). He holds the distinction of chauffeuring The Beatles to the first concert in Shea’s history and Paul McCartney to the last music show when the former Beatle joined Billy Joel on stage. Flynn’s 50-year tenure with the Mets is one of the longest team-employee relationships in Major League history.
Pete Flynn was a one of the “Starting Nine” inducted into the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame along with legendary manager Connie Mack, former players Sean Casey, Mark McGwire, Tug McGraw, John Flaherty (now a Yankees broadcaster), baseball writer Jeff Horrigan, writer/official scorer Red Foley, and actor Kevin Costner (star of Bull Durham and Field of Dreams) in 2008. Honorees are chosen based on a combination of factors, including impact on the game, popularity on and off the field, contributions to society, connections to the Irish community, and, of course, ancestry.
“As an immigrant myself, I followed in Pete’s footsteps coming to American and falling in love with its national past time,” said Shaun Clancy, owner of Foley’s, which features 2,500 autographed balls, bats and other baseball memorabilia. “We are proud to host Pete Flynn’s at Foley’s on October 1st, when we will raise our glasses and bid him farewell and good health in his retirement.”
With the blessing of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, Foley’s, a popular destination among baseball players, executives, umpires and fans, created the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame to recognize the contributions of Irish Americans to the game. Baseball has long welcomed immigrants from its earliest days, when an estimated 30 percent of players claimed Irish heritage, up to today as major league teams regularly sign star players born in Japan, Latin America, Canada, and elsewhere. Honorees include players, managers, team executives and employees, umpires, journalists, broadcasters and entertainers.
“Pete is a legend in New York’s baseball lore,” said Art Shamsky, a key member of the 1969 World Series championship team. “I wish him a long and happy retirement.”
About Foley’s NY Pub & Restaurant
Foley’s NY Pub & Restaurant (18 W. 33rd St.) is home of the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame. A popular destination among baseball players, executives, umpires, media, and fans, Foley’s is located across from the Empire State Building. The “Irish Bar with a Baseball Attitude” features walls adorned with 2,500 autographed balls, hundreds of bobbleheads, game-worn jerseys, stadium seats and other artifacts that make it the premier baseball bar in New York and one of the best sports bars in America. For more information, call (212) 290-0080 or visit www.foleysny.com or www.facebook.com/FoleysNYPub.
