Author: Shannon

Four Weeks Until Mets Opening Day!

This week’s flashback – 1998

Tuesday, March 31st vs. Philadelphia Phillies – Game 1 of regular season (Win).

I went to a lot of games in 1998. I had a Saturday plan, and digging through my old “boxes of junk” I found no less than 11 ticket stubs from the ’98 season, but I couldn’t find my Opening Day stub to prove I “Showed Up At Shea” on Opening Day 1998.

I did find this magnetic schedule though – one of the last versions to be die-cut. It featured a representation of the NYC skyline, was sponsored by Kahn’s hot dogs, and implored fans to “Show Up At Shea,” a directive I followed with great number in 1998. This magnet was given away the first six games of the season, so possession of this artifact doesn’t serve as proof of my attendance on Game 1.

This was a rather exciting time to be a Mets fan. 1997 had been a truly fun season – we’d had little expectations going into it and came out of it with 88 wins and lots of memories, including a pennant race and beating the Yankees in the first regular season Subway Series game. 1998 would be the year the Mets would shock their fans by trading for borderline Hall Of Fame candidate Mike Piazza, but that wouldn’t happen until May, so on Opening Day Piazza wasn’t here yet. Incumbent All-Star catcher Todd Hundley wasn’t here either. He had reconstructive elbow surgery, so future trivia question answer Tim Spehr completed the battery with Bobby Jones on the mound. Bobby Valentine’s Mets also featured newly acquired John Olerud at first base.

The buzz around Shea was that its days were numbered, as a proposed replacement was planned for the 2002 season, replete with an “Ebbets Field style facade” as well as “modern features like a retractable roof and a removable grass playing field“.

Although predictions of Shea’s demise were seven years premature, this Opening Day would be notable. The Mets played in the longest scoreless Opening Day in National League history. Pinch-hitter Alberto Castillo’s single in the 14th inning with two outs and the bases loaded gave the Mets a 1-0 victory.

Six Weeks Until Mets Opening Day!

This year’s flashback: 2005!

Monday, April 11, 2005 (Home Opener – Game 7 of Regular Season)

Win, by score of 8-4 vs. Houston Astros to go 2-5 on the season

Starting Pitcher: Tom Glavine

This week we head back to 2005 – The New Mets as Carlos Beltran dubbed them.  This was Omar Minaya’s first season as GM, ushering in a new era: Willie Randolph as manager, with Beltran and Pedro Martinez the new faces of the franchise.  This would be the last season in a Mets uniform for the fan-favorite, with borderline-hall-of-fame credentials, Mike Piazza, and even the magnetic schedule handed out on Opening Day was branded with “The New Mets,” lest anyone be confused with the old Mets.

The Magnetic schedule did not show promotion dates, but it did let you know there were five price tiers – Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Value, and let you know that some games could be seen on the MSG Network, while others could be viewed on Fox Sports Net… in addition to those on WPIX, and not to mention the national games on Fox or ESPN.  This was one year where the magnetic schedule was really useful throughout the season because without it you were very likely to miss a first pitch or so if you were on the wrong channel. The Mets also would have caused my company’s trademark attorney to shake his head in displeasure, as the Mets have their logo cut off in the bottom right corner.  Poor trademarking, Mets!

In a cross-promotion effort, my ticket stub also bears the logos for the Brooklyn Cyclones.  However, this was in actuality a Shea Stadium seat in the Upper Reserves Section 45, Row Q.  It cost me $18.00 for the honors of such a birds eye view!  Obviously the New Mets were a hot ticket, as there were 53,663 of us in attendance this sunny April Monday of 2005.

Outside the stadium, in the very parking lot from  where Citi Field would someday grow, we were treated to some live music by these fellows.  I have an extra 2005 Magnetic Schedule for the reader who can post the most information about this band.  Anyone?

These new Mets started the season 0-5, but came into the home opener looking to extend a one game winning streak with Old Mets Tom Glavine on the mound  against Andy Pettite, John Franco and the rest of the Houston Astros.  Indeed the Mets were victorious, thanks to a big hit in the eighth inning from Kaz Matsui and a pair of RBIs from Cliff Floyd.

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Shannon here…I went to my favorite Inflation Calculator which sadly doesn’t yet let me calculate for 2013 prices. however..  Remember, Opening Day tickets start at just $63!

Seven Weeks Until Opening Day!

This Week’s Flashback: 2001

Monday, April 9, 2001 vs. Atlanta Braves. Game 7 of regular season.  Win by score of 9-4 to go 4-3 on the season.

Welcome newcomers to the Opening Day Flashback.  I haven’t missed a Mets Home Opener in as long as I can remember, and each Monday I’m counting down to Opening Day 2013 by posting ticket stubs and other memorabilia from Opening Days gone past.

Last week I posted photos from Opening Day 2007, as the Mets hoisted, er, posted, their 2006 NL East Championship banner.  This week we remember 2001, the last Opening Day the Mets celebrated a pennant.  Hard to believe this was 13 years ago.

I had pretty sweet seats for this game – right behind home plate in the Loge section 6.  I don’t remember how I managed to score these, and as you can imagine after the Mets made it all the way to the World Series they would gouge their fans for Opening Day – I paid $29 whole dollars for this seat!  This ticket isn’t marked “Six Pack, or Eight Pack” so you can see I didn’t get in as part of a plan.  Instead I remember tickets going on sale while I was on Christmas vacation in Utah the winter prior, and calling in to the Mets ticket line to try and get seats to the home opener.  You can make out 2000 NATIONAL  LEAGUE CHAMPS on the watermark of the ticket stub.

The same mark is also on the Kahn’s magnetic schedule handed out on this date – Mike Piazza and Edgardo Alfonzo adorn this giveaway in their black and blue unis.  We also got a mini-pennant, which I recall was pretty cool.  It was a miniature version of the Championship banner that hung from the Shea Stadium center field flagpole. I don’t know where mine is, if I find it I will post it…   The promotional schedule is printed on the magnet, and we see a video of the 2000 season would be handed out on May 5, an NL Champs Cup on May 19, a Hot Wheels car on September 2 and some sort of bobblehead doll on June 23rd, among other dates.  Also called out is June 15-17, the New York Mercantile Exchange Subway Series, and Photo Fest on May 5th – I have pictures from that as well, which I will post another day.  Photo Fest is the next tradition we should try to resurrect.

Here are some pictures from my seats.  Check out The Wiz sign on the right field outfield wall.  Anyone remember that slogan – Get Right?  You can also see the skyline up above the right field scoreboard.  This was pre- 9/11 and thus no ribbon over the Twin Towers.

This game marked the Shea Stadium debut of Tsuyoshi Shinjo, who homered, as well as Kevin Appier, the man we got to replace Mike Hampton (sigh).  Kevin Appier was indeed the winning pitcher on this date, as 53,640 fans saw the Mets beat the Braves 9-4. Mike Piazza went 3 for 5 with two home runs and five RBIs.  This would be a disappointing season, and a memorable one, for unfortunate reasons, but this sunny day in April was a fun one.

I figured I was next in line to show off some jerseys from my closet. Don’t worry, I won’t bore you with those you may have already seen.

I picked this one up on eBay just before Christmas. Looking forward to organizing a “Mercury Mets” game one night at Citi this year and having everyone meet out on the bridge.

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Shannon here – Mercury Mets Night is an awesome idea. Hey Leigh, there’s a goofy T-Shirt Tuesday to be done, don’t ya think?