Author: Shannon Shark @metspolice

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Mets Museum Details

Here’s some official information about the new Mets Museum.  Note that plannies can get in on Sunday.  I mayhave to take a drive now that I have my cool new seats for Saturday+. Someone tell Mrs. Mets Police I’m at mass.

METS HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM OPENS THIS MONDAY, APRIL 5, OPENING DAY AT CITI FIELD

Highlights Include Mets Hall of Fame Plaques,

1969 and 1986 World Series Championship Trophies,

Memorabilia On Loan From Former Mets, National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

FLUSHING, N.Y., March 31, 2010 – The New York Mets today announced the Mets Hall of Fame & Museum will open this Monday, April 5 – Opening Day – at Citi Field.  Fans with tickets to the 1:10 p.m. game against the Florida Marlins will be able to access the museum when gates open at 10:40 a.m.

The Mets Hall of Fame & Museum recognizes the greatest moments in club history and honors those who have left an indelible mark on the organization.  The museum features significant artifacts, interactive exhibits, videos and photographic imagery, recognizing the unforgettable plays and players that have defined the Mets’ 48-year history.

Highlights include plaques honoring the 21 members of the Mets Hall of Fame (with the Class of 2010 to be installed Sunday, August 1), the 1969 and 1986 World Series Championship trophies, and memorabilia on loan from Mets greats including: Tom Seaver’s 1969 Cy Young Award and Keith Hernandez’s 1987 Gold Glove Award.  The ball Mookie Wilson hit in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series that brought Ray Knight home with the winning run – voted by fans as the most memorable moment in Shea Stadium history – will also be on display courtesy of the Seth Swirsky Collection.

The Mets Hall of Fame & Museum features more than a dozen artifacts from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y. including the ball used in the first play at Shea Stadium, Tommie Agee’s glove from the 1969 World Series and the ball Tom Seaver threw to Mike Piazza for the ceremonial first pitch to open Citi Field.  Numerous private collectors have also loaned memorabilia for display at the Mets Hall of Fame & Museum.

Exhibits chronicle all facets of Mets history including the creation of the franchise, the work of broadcasting legends Ralph Kiner, Bob Murphy and Lindsey Nelson, and the championship seasons of 1969 and 1986.  Major League Baseball Productions created custom videos of those memorable seasons for display at the museum.

“The Mets Hall of Fame & Museum honors the greatest players and greatest events in our history,” said Dave Howard, Executive Vice President, Business Operations, New York Mets.  “The museum connects generations of fans to the moments they cherish and reflects our ongoing commitment to celebrate our heritage and history at Citi Field.”

Season Ticket and Plan Holders will have an exclusive first-look at the Mets Hall of Fame & Museum during the team’s workout day Sunday, April 4, starting at 9:30 a.m.  The Mets will announce access to the museum on non-game days along with tour information in the coming weeks.

The Mets collaborated on the 3,700 square-foot museum with curators at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, internationally acclaimed designers at Populous, and exhibit producers at 1220 Exhibits Inc.  The Mets Hall of Fame & Museum, adjacent to the Jackie Robinson Rotunda on the first base side of Citi Field, will be accessible through the Rotunda on game days to all fans holding tickets.

A limited number of Opening Day tickets are available through the purchase of Season Tickets and Plans by phone at (718) 507-TIXX and by visiting Mets.com and LosMets.com.

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25 years since Sidd Finch was a Met!

If you’re of a certain age, you will fondly recall Sidd Finch who could have been the best prospect the Mets ever had.

If you haven’t heard of Sidd, treat yourself to this article from the April 1st, 1985  issue of Sports Illustrated.  My favorite Mets article of all time, and I have the actual issue down in the basement.

The Curious Case Of Sidd Finch

He’s a pitcher, part yogi and part recluse. Impressively liberated from our opulent life-style, Sidd’s deciding about yoga—and his future in baseball

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Blue Cap Army: 10am Monday at Shea’s Apple

Scott writes:

Really enjoying the site. I think it would be really cool if you had a key link to a page describing what the Blue Cap Army is and why you started it would be really cool.

Thanks a lot for creating a very enjoyable, unique site

Scott, thanks!   I’m writing this on Wednesday night and the site is finishing March with the most-read month yet, with several of the highest reading days ever happening in March.

As I mention from time to time, when I started out I had no idea what Mets Police would become, and the Blue Cap Army is the same way.

If I remember correctly, during the winter I suggested the Mets bring back 7 packs (they would wind up offering 6 packs).  In that article I suggested a Saturday 7 pack, one game a month, in the Promenade Left Field – which some feel are the least desirable seats in the stadium.   I thought a way to turn a negative into a positive would be to have that section be a section for some sort of fan collection – a Mets army of sorts.

As for the blue caps – people keep telling me I am nuts, but look at any random photo of a crowd shot at Shea or citi Field.  1969, 1986, 2009 – you don’t see that many blue Mets caps.  Look at a shot of a Cardinals game and you see a see of red.  The Yankees fans know what to wear because it hasn’t had any significant changes since before World War 2.

Mets fans wear all sorts of things – and I wish to encourage the team and the fans to wear blue…hence Blue Cap Army.  I am not a fan of the use of black in the Mets color scheme and take every opportunity to say so.

Somewhere along the way I think a reader suggested a meetup for Opening Day – so that’s what we’re doing.

Here’s the details and the rules:

– we will meet at Shea’s Apple (the original one) which can now be found in front of the Promenade on what I hear is referred to as Mets Plaza. (I think that’s new for 2010, I don’t remember hearing of Mets Plaza last year.)

–  the meet is at 10.

– At 10:40 I’m making a bee-line for the gate to be one of the first people to see the museum.  I hope you join me.  After that I may visit McFadden’s (I’m not clear if you can enter McFadden’s and then re-enter the park).

– we are not an actual army.  We will not be doing anything aggressive.  This is about FUN.

– be cool.  We’re all there to enjoy the game.  I will happily debate you on the merits of Lee Mazzilli, Alex Cora or black uniforms on a different day.  This is not the setting.

– this is not a meeting of the negative nitpickers or some sort of mass Mets Policing.  The idea is to share our love of the Mets, not walk around looking for typos.

– wear a blue cap.   It’s in the name.

– we will not goof on each other’s attire.  If you own a Juan Samuel jersey and want to wear it, that’s fine by me.  I will be wearing a pinstriped Mets Police #86 jersey, and yes it has black dropshadow on it because I don’t own the team and am not spending $250 on a Mitchell & Ness just so you guys don’t bust my chops.

– I take no responsibility for your safety or behavior.  If the Marlins Militia shows up and beats you up that’s not on me. If you eat too many hot dogs and get sick, that’s not on me.

Thanks to all who have registered, and thanks to the other blogs who have spread the word.   This is lots of fun and I appreciate that so many of you are like me and get where I’m coming from with all this.  Let’s Go Mets!

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10 pictures from Citi Field today – and a rumored Mets museum item

Wow, the site had another huge today.  I really appreciate everyone’s support both new readers and the old faithful.   (Once again I will self-promote that you can get Mets Police via a free daily email so you never miss me daydreaming about Lee Mazzilli or complaining about the black uniforms.)

Many of the best posts come from you.   Ben who writes his own blog Metsies and other Musings was kind enough to send over these pictures from Citi Field taken earlier today (Wednesday).   Let’s all do the right thing and give Ben some hits on his site, and if doing the right thing isn’t enticing enough – he has some pictures not posted here.

Ben says:  The structure at the back of CF area, next to the whiffle ball field is an elevator that will go directly down into the McFaddens as per a construction worker.

I believe (from context clues) that the construction area is McFadden’s.  Ben had an opinion on when he thought McFadden’s would be ready, which is what makes me think he was referring to these pictures.  I have no knowledge other than McFadden’s plans to be open Monday and invited the Blue Cap Army to be there.

Since the pictures are kind of big I want to keep off the main page (big pictures can slow down the site) so you will find the rest of the shots and a nugget about the Hall of Fame after the jump…(click where it says continue reading if you’re on the main page, if you’re not you’ll just see the pics).

Continue reading “10 pictures from Citi Field today – and a rumored Mets museum item”

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Rubin: Mets Museum open Monday at 10:40

Adam Rubin, who now tweets at @adamrubinespn tweets that the Mets  Hall of Fame and museum will be open Monday at 1040.

I am going to pull the Blue Cap Army meetup back to 10am from the previously announced 10:30.   If you didn’t get the notice it’s because you didn’t register;)