A quickie post..gotta do some other stuff right now. But here’s some more info.
Hofstra Hosts Amazin’ Mets Conference
Commemorating the Team’s 50th Anniversary, April 26-28, 2012
Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY … “Meet the Mets, Meet the Mets, Step Right Up and Greet the Mets…”
Join beloved former players including Rusty Staub and Ed Kranepool, cultural and baseball historians, sportswriters, statisticians, bloggers, biographers and fans at an interdisciplinary conference commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the New York Mets at Hofstra University April 26-28, 2012.
The academic conference will feature panel discussions, a meet-and-greet, exhibitions, performances and a raffle of Amazin’ Mets merchandise. Visit “The Bullpen” and dish the latest Mets news with noted bloggers such as amazinavenue.com and faithandfearinflushing. Learn about Mets-inspired poetry, meet player/poet Edwin “The Glider” Charles – who is baseball’s poet laureate, and attend panels that examine the cultural significance of the Mets’ greatest rivalries and the Miracle Mets of 1969. Listen to sportswriters talk about their Amazin’ experiences covering the Mets, and meet players and their families.
The 50th Anniversary of the New York Mets conference is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Dana Brand, a beloved Hofstra professor who was former chair of the Department of English and a lifelong Mets fan. He had started planning the conference shortly before his passing in 2011. He was the author of the books Mets Fan (2007) and The Last Days of Shea (2009). His efforts in the blogosphere earned him the nickname “The Proust of Mets Bloggers” in The New York Times. Proceeds from a Mets Memorabilia Raffle and Auction will benefit a scholarship in Dr. Brand’s name.
Among the conference guests will be:
Former players
• Ed Charles (1967-1969)
• Bud Harrelson (1965-1977)
• Ed Kranepool (1962-1979)
• Skip Lockwood (1975-1979)
• Art Shamsky (1968-1971)
• Joe Pignatano (1962)
• Rusty Staub (1972-1975, 1981-1985)
And:
• Hal Block, former AP sportswriter
• Stanley Cohen, author of A Magic Summer: The Amazin’ Story of the 1969 New York Mets
• Marc Ernay, WINS sports anchor
• Katherine Foronjy, co-director of the documentary Mathematically Alive: A Story of Fandom (2007)
• Mrs. Gil Hodges and Gil Hodges, Jr.
• Stan Isaacs and Steve Jacobson, former Newsday sportswriters
• Sal Marchiano, former sports anchor, CW11
• Mr. Met
• Matthew Silverman, author of New York Mets: The Complete Illustrated History
• John Thorn, official historian, Major League Baseball
• George Vescey, The New York Times contributing sports columnist
The wide variety of panel topics include:
“Where were you in ’62?”
“Rivalries and ‘Revivalries”
“The Kings of Queens”
“’Metmoirs’ and Managers”
“By the Numbers: Statistics and Analytics”
“In a League of Their Own: Author Round-Table”
“Poetry in Motion: Questions and Answers with Ed Charles”
“Metsmerized” – The Mets, Media and Cultural Literacy”
“Met-Life: The ‘80s and Beyond”
“New Yorkers Recall the Dark Ages: Four Long Years Before the Birth of the ’69 Mets”
In addition to the panels, there will be:
The world premiere of Baseball Swings! Celebrating the Music of America’s Favorite Pastime. Presented by Hofstra Entertainment, this production will feature The Base Hits Quartet and special guest vocalists. Show times are Thursday and Friday, April 26 and 27, at 8 p.m. and a Saturday doubleheader at 2 and 8 p.m. at Hofstra’s Helene Fortunoff Theater.
Two exhibitions: Simply Amazin’: A Look Back at 50 Years of The New York Mets, a collection of photos, books and Mets baseball memorabilia, presented by the Joan and Donald E. Axinn Library, and Personal Mementos from Shea from the Andrew Parton Collection.
Mets Memorabilia Raffle and Auction, featuring a signed Tom Seaver baseball, a signed Mike Pelfrey jersey, a signed Mookie Wilson bat, a signed Ray Knight bat, three pairs of tickets to a Mets-Yankees Subway Series game, and a voucher for four field-level tickets for any regular season Mets home game (not applicable for opening day or Mets-Yankees Subway Series games). The raffle drawing will be held on April 27.
Friday, April 27, VIP Reception and Amazin’ Mets Gala Banquet, featuring a special address by Rusty Staub.
The conference co-directors are Hofstra University faculty members Richard J. Puerzer, associate professor and chair of the Department of Engineering, and Paula M. Uruburu, professor of English and vice dean, School for University Studies.
Conference registration for the three days is $100. There are daily rates available as well as discounts for Hofstra alumni, senior citizens, PEIR group members and matriculated non-Hofstra students. The Friday evening VIP reception and banquet are priced separately, as are tickets for the Hofstra Entertainment production of Baseball Swings.
A complete program, which includes all conference events, the entire lineup of guest speakers and registration and ticket fees is available at www.hofstra.edu/mets. Or call the Hofstra Cultural Center at 516-463-5669.
