There has been a lot of talk about the now-removed incorrect 1986 Game 7 fanbrick and I am hoping that it hasn’t been destroyed.
Part of being a Mets fan is enjoying the history. Â We’re a blue (and orange) collar mentality even if we’ve put on a tie and make the big bucks. Â Not everything breaks our way, but sometimes it does (a little roller up along first).
If the incorrect brick still exists I say KEEP IT.
Let it become a quirky piece of Mets history. Â Here’s what I would do:
Friday July 9th, Atlanta is in town and there are presently no giveaways scheduled.
The pitching coach of the Braves is a fellow named Roger McDowell, the winning pitcher of Game 7 of the 1986 World Series.
Invite Sid Fernandez to the game.
Bring a mule to the game.
Have a fun ceremony before the game. Â Have Howie Rose emcee. Â Talk about Mets history and show some fun clips. Â There’s a way to do it without piling on or being negative. Â Silly stuff happens to all of us. Â You can “make fun of” the grand slam single for example. Â Bring out a new version of Mettle the Mule (is original Mettle still alive?).
Bring the fanbrick out, introduce McDowell and Fernandez, talk about the mistake and let us cheer for Sid and Roger! Â It’s not like we’re going to boo the guy who kept us in the game or the winning pitcher.
Then put the brick in the museum in an “oops” section along with photos of Mettle and the grand slam single and whatever else we all come up with.
As the years go by the incorrect fanbrick will become a curiosity and something to go see, and something to show your kids….and that will start a conversation about the 1986 Mets, team history, who really won the game…and suddenly a mistake (again quickly corrected) becomes COOL.