This morning, I had a chance to talk to Jamie the present owner of the Mets Bullpen Car which is up for auction at Sotheby’s on April 1st.
One thing that is crystal clear when you speak to Jamie is that he is big-time Mets fan and that while his foremost wish is that this winds up in the Citi Field Rotunda, if that’s not what the future holds he hopes the car winds up in the hands of a Mets fan who will take good care of it.
Another takeaway from the call is how everyone who talks with him, myself included, gets all giddy about talking about the car since we haven’t seen it in thirty years.
Earlier in the week Jamie and I exchanged emails. I solicited questions from Paul Lukas, Greg Prince and Sean O’Shea which Jamie answered via email and posted below with minor edits.
I’m hoping I can catch a game with Jamie, or maybe invite him to speak at the 2016 Queens Baseball Convention!
Paul Lukas: How did you obtain it?
Jamie: Nelson Doubleday had it at this mechanic shop in Locust Valley, NY, (Eurostar, now out of biz). I always asked if I could buy it for years. 1 day I got a call and was told that they had ‘sold’ it to a collector, but if I got there within 30 minutes with cash, I could buy it instead.
Greg Prince: Why did you buy it? How did you know Doubleday?
Jamie: Yes, knew Doubleday as a kid. Parents were friends and we were long time ticket holders. I bought it – because WHO WOULDN’T? It’s been so much fun for my whole family.
Paul Lukas: How many bullpen cars have there been over the years, and how did this car fit into the sequence?
Jamie: Mets cars? Only 2. Mine and 1 that was damaged and salvaged. As far as all of baseball, no idea at all.
Shannon Shark: what steps took place in the restoration? Who does that sort of work?
Jamie: Sotheby’s. Believe me, not much restoration, just polish… Pics look great. Up close, not so much. It’s really really old! I’ll try to find you pictures of the paint chipping under the hat. In fact, do this: youtube – Paging Hiawatha by Chris Campion. He used it for a music video and after the 1 minute mark, you’ll see the inside of the car.
Greg Price: What’s it been up to since 1999? What does one do with a bullpen cart if not shuttle relievers?
Jamie: Sits in my garage! We bring it out for fundraisers, memorial day parades and upon the Mets request for TV commercials, promotions, etc.
Shannon Shark: is it street legal? Could I drive this down Northern Blvd?
Jamie: I do it all the time – not Northern but in my sleepy town of Bayville. Several things to keep in mind.
1). Runs like a rickety old really heavy golf cart. Good for short distances, (a few miles). The biggest thing is the road hazards, meaning other drivers. 8 out of 10 cars roll down the windows and have, most often, 1 of 4 things to say:
a). GO METS
B). F the Mets
c). Go Yankees
d). F the Yankees
What’s so wild is as they lean their heads out the window to scream, they move the steering wheel too, so I’ve seen literally hundreds of people hit the curb with their car. To funny!
One women stopped me and broke down into tears. She had such memories with her dad. She was physically shaking.
Shannon Shark: what’s the top speed on a bullpen cart?
Downhill with a good wind behind it, 3 to 5 miles per hour. Maybe less….
Greg Prince: Any clue what happened to the visiting cart?
Yes. The visiting cart was damaged in a construction accident at Shea. They eventually cut off the front part, (the part where the bats are bolted on), and made it a beer stein in the upper decks at Shea. Not sure if it made it to Citifield or not.
Sean O’Shea: What happened to the old hat?
Shannon Shark: or is that the same/old hat?
Same old hat. They re-painted to logo before I got it – so more than 15 years ago. You can see that up close.
Shannon Shark: why are you selling it?
We have had soooo soooo much fun with it, but my kids have grown and though it’s played its part in our lives, it’s time to get it to an owner who will love it as much as we did/do.. Now it just sits in my garage and it makes me feel guilty. It needs a good home, someone who will really care for it and love it. It’s just to big for our garage anymore… So sad really. SHOULD BE IN THE ROTUNDA FOR ALL TO ENJOY!!!
….
I agree, I hope this winds up in Citi Field one way or another!
