10 Years Later: New Traditions For Citi Field…from 2009

As the blog heads into its 11th Season I thought I’d start dipping into 10 Years Ago Posts….especially with it being the 10th Anniversary of Citi Field opening. My plan is to do one of these every Tuesday.

This one “New Traditions For Citi Field” originally published in March 28 of 2009 (some formatting got wonky as I switched templates over the years) and I re-present it below with comments.

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New digs, let’s start some new traditions (and bring back some old ones).

I offer the following to the Wilpons and invite you to add suggestions.

1. Bring Back Oldtimers Day. Our ’86 heroes are in their 50’s now. Have them play those 2000 Subway Series guys, and have the 69ers and 73ers come and wave. Sprinkle in some Youngblood and Stearns action and you have something. Think the Shea closing ceremony with a game and without a depressing loss beforehand. The Mets might also want to add 40 to 1969 and see what number they get.

Still waiting 🙁

2. Banner Day. An actual unique Mets tradition. Bring it back. If you don’t want to have a doubleheader just do it at noon some Sunday, maybe even on a Mr. Mets dash day. Just make sure ESPN keeps their hands off (no 8:05 starts).

I got my Banner Day and it was at noon on a Sunday! Thanks Mets!

3. Rusty’s Ribs. Enough with the designer Pop Frites stands. Rip off the Orioles and have Rusty cook up some ribs.

4. Meet Me At The Apple. There was never any cool place to meet at Shea. Meet me at the Apple. The real one not the phony shiny new one.

And remember in 2009 the Apple was hidden under the stairs out back. (see image above) They eventually moved the Apple and we do indeed meet there!

5. Seaver Always Throws Out Opening Day. Don’t mess around. Pay G.T.S. the money. Tom should be at every opening day until he dies, then Keith gets the tradition.

6. Hang a 17 on the fence.

7. Wear Pinstripes and blue hats six days a week. Wear whatever they want to sell on Sundays.

It took a while but….yay!

8. Bullpen cars with cap-tops. Even if they are never used, have the bullpen cars. They were cute and kids like them.

Live long enough and your blog posts will come through….

9. The new sign man. But not a shill-job. Pick one of the honest bloggers out there and let them have the job.

Hmmm well we kinda did…there was this one guy who would hold up signs that said Don’t Trade Reyes (and some other things I won’t remind the owners about) and he kinda became our new sign man via T-Shirts.

10. No wave. Let’s just collectively decide we don’t do the wave.

11. Organ music. Real organ music. Less techno-pop and loud rock songs. Live organ music.

12. The traditional Take Me Out To The Ballgame recording. The one from the guy that was the PA announcer in the 80’s.

13. The Curly Shuffle. This stopped because the curly folks wanted to be paid. Just pay them. It can’t cost any more than Enter Sandman did. Just play it.

14. Lady met returns.

Got this one too!

15. The traditional booing of Luis Castillo. We Met fans will boo him during his first at bat, all season long as he wins the MVP and the Mets win a ring. It will be our version of roll call. For years when Luis shows up at Old Timers Day we shall boo him.

I’m sure if the Mets want to trot out Luis we will boo him. And it won’t be for the reason Andy Martino may think.

Not bad 2009 me!!