9 Weeks Until Opening Day!
This week’s flashback: 2004
Monday April 12th vs. Atlanta (Home Opener – Game 7 of the regular season)
Mets 10, Atlanta 6
Opening Day Starter: Steve Trachsel
In 2004 the Mets slogan was Catch The Energy!, or at least it was according to this magnetic schedule given out on Opening Day. The Mets have had a lot of slogans over the years – “Catch the Energy!” is one I would have forgotten completely if I didn’t have this schedule as proof. As awful as the slogan was, the design of this calendar was even worse. Thankfully the season only covers parts of seven months–at least we weren’t being asked to display this calendar for a full year.
2004 was the second year of the Mets charging different amounts for tickets, depending on the matchup. In 2004 there were four price tiers – Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Value. Opening Day and the series against the Yankees were obvious “Gold” games, as well as fireworks night in July. Series against the Braves, Marlins and the Cubs qualified as well, for reasons that have escaped me over the past nine years.
Ultimate Mets Database
In 2004 this magnetic schedule was only given out on Opening Day, and was sponsored by Delta. Other notable giveaways listed on the calendar were: Mr. Met Bobblehead, Mets Ice Cube Tray, Mets Paddleball Set, Jose Reyes Bobblehead (Reyes had made his debut the previous June and his stardom already earned him bobblehead honors), and a Shea Stadium replica (this was Shea Stadium’s 40th year and a commemorative patch was worn for the entire season).
Mike Piazza and Cliff Floyd missed the home opener after getting hurt the day before inMontreal, and rising star Jose Reyes was on the DL as well, with hamstring issues. But 53,666 Mets fans “caught the energy” of the Shea Stadium debuts of new Mets Kaz Matsui and Mike Cameron, who lead the Mets to a 10-6 victory over transplanted ex-Mets pitcher Mike Hampton and the Braves. The Mets actually staked Steve Trachsel to a 10-0 lead after five innings before Trachsel gave up a run in the 6th.
If you’re feeling down about the Mets 2013 outfield, remember the 2004 Opening Day outfield featured Cameron in center, flanked by Joe McEwing and Shane Spencer. Art “Light Up A Room” Howe’s Mets went 71-91 in 2004 and finished 4th in the NL East.
My ticket in Section 25 of the Loge level of Shea Stadium cost me $33. I had a “7 Pack” in 2004 but these seats were separate.
Ticket stub images after the jump
