Author: Shannon Shark @metspolice

Some leftover news that got kncoked out of the news cycle

February, 16, 2012 – (Bisons) The Buffalo Bisons today announced that New York Mets’ Hall of Fame pitcher TOM SEAVER will be the keynote speaker at the Triple-A All-Star Luncheon on Wednesday, July 11 at the Adam’s Mark Hotel.

Along with his address at the luncheon, Seaver will throw the ceremonial first pitch prior to the 25th Annual Triple-A All-Star Game that night at Coca-Cola Field. Seaver will also visit the MLB Network announcing crew during their nationally-televised broadcast of the game.

via Bisons announce HOF Pitcher Seaver as speaker | WKBW News 7: News, Sports, Weather | Buffalo, NY | WKBW Sports.

Just two paragraphs from a must read by The Great One:

We’re ready to start our tour here on December 10, 1984. Now I know what some of you are thinking, that technically this isn’t 1985. Well, not just yet, but the journey begins here by necessity, because we can’t take you where we’re going without stopping first at this spot. This is where Gary Carter gets traded to the Mets. It’s a stunner, all right. Carter’s an All-Star, a slugger, a Gold Glove catcher, but until now, he’s been an Expo.

Not anymore. We give up four promising young players to get him, including one of our favorites, Hubie Brooks, but it’s a bargain. You want promise? The promise of 1985 begins with Carter’s acquisition. The promise is literally spoken by the Kid himself. He stands in front of a room full of New York reporters and tells them about his right ring finger. Why that one? Because that’s the one he’s reserving for his World Series ring, the one he plans to earn as a New York Met.

via Faith and Fear in Flushing.

A friend writes a religion-themed blog you may dig:

Carter was also a devoutly religious man, and a big member of the Christian organization Baseball Chapel. When I was a producer at WFAN, I got to speak to him directly on the phone once. He was extremely friendly and I asked him about his experience with Baseball Chapel and he reported that it was a great experience and something that he often encouraged young players to participate in. “It helped remind me to have a heart for others and for my teammates.” I remembered early in the 86 season, Mookie Wilson was hit in the eye with a baseball, shattering his sunglasses. Carter rushed to him and calmed him down. “Did the glass break, Mook? Oh God it did! OK just stay put, we got you!” Carter admitted thinking that Mookie might lose his sight right then and offered a few prayers and hoped that he’d return soon. As we now know, he certainly did and played a big role in the 86 championship.

via Rest in Peace, Kid » Googling God.

Hardball Times has a thorough list of Carter’s career highlights.  Here are three I will never forget:

April 28, 1985: It’s the first of several marathon Mets games Carter plays in that feel like they are lost episodes of the Twilight Zone. In this one, the Mets top the Pirates 5-4 in 18 innings. The Mets run low on position players and are forced to using veteran pinch-hitter Rusty Staub in the outfield for the last seven innings of the game. Carter is hitless, but he draws a walk in the bottom of the 18th and the pinch runner who replaces him scores the winning run.

July 4, 1985: For those who thought the Rusty Staub game was too normal, we present the Rick Camp game. This contest, discussed at length here, is the stuff of legend. It’s a 19-inning contest featuring multiple rain delays and won’tt end under 3:55 a.m. Most memorably, Atlanta reliever Camp comes to the plate in the bottom of the 18th with two out and none on and the Mets winning 11-10. After two quick strikes, he improbably belts a 3:30 a.m. pitch into the bullpen for a game-tying home run. He then allows five runs in the 19th, and the Mets hold on to win, 16-13.

Carter is 5-for-9 with a career-best six times on base. Teammate Keith Hernandez hits for the cycle, but that’s overshadowed in the game’s overall weirdness.

Oh, one last detail can’t be left out. After it finally ended, this Fourth of July game had the required fireworks display go off—at 4 a.m. Many residents near the ballpark called the cops thinking they were being bombed.

…

July 22, 1986: It’s the last of the great Twilight Zone Mets games featuring Gary Carter. In this 14-inning contest, (depicted in detail here) due to a series of mid-game replacements and late-game ejections, the Mets run out of position players. For the last four innings they have only seven position players, two of whom are catchers. Mets manager Davey Johnson improvises by using relievers Roger McDowell and Jesse Orosco in an odd platoon arrangement. They go to the mound when it gives the Mets a corner-outfield advantage, and go back to the corner outfield slot the batter is less likely to hit to when the other side bats.

As for Carter, he plays third base—a place he manned for one inning back in 1975—while his backup calls pitches behind the plate. Somehow, the Mets win, 6-3 in 14 frames.

via Gary Carter career highlights.

After reading on twitter and facebook that some fans would like to stop by Citi Field to pay their respects, I decided to take the initiative to contact the Mets to try and coordinate something. I told them we are planning to show up at 7pm and it would be nice of them to open one of the gates to allow fans who are driving to park. I haven’t gotten a confirmed YES yet but we are showing up either way. If you are taking the 7 train you can walk right in near the apple.

If you’d like to meet up at the site of his first game as a Met we’ll be there at 7pm. If you are driving and the gates aren’t open you can park for free under the highway on the north side of the stadium.

via TONIGHT: Remembering Gary Carter | The 7 Line | For the Fans. By the Fans..