centerfield maz

Monday June 16th, 1997: This was a historic day for New York baseball as for the first time the two New York baseball clubs would meet in regular season play. In 1997 MLB began interleague play where teams from the National League would play teams from the American League in the regular season. Before that season, the respective leagues teams only met in the World Series, All Star & exhibition games. Since the Dodgers & Giants left New York, there had not been a Subway World Series game since 1956. In 1962 the Mets began play& would only meet their AL New York opponents in Spring Training games as well as the annual Mayor Trophy's exhibition game held each season thru 1983. There was lots of excitement in the air for this first June subway series. The fans on both sides love it, as the whole City got wrapped up in the thrill of it all.  It was something everyone had an opinion about & something everyone could debate. On this night 56,188 came to the Bronx to ...

Saturday June 15th, 2002: In this second game of the 2002 regular season subway series the Mets hosted their cross-town rivals on an overcast day at Shea Stadium.  It was a huge game, not because of what it meant in the standings or for what the score outcome was to be. This was all about drama & New York media hype. This would be the first time Roger Clemens would have to come to bat against the New York Mets after all the dramas of his battles with Mets Hall of Famer Mike Piazza. Background: The dramas began on June 6th, 1999, when the Mets roughed up Clemens for seven runs on eight hits. Piazza doubled then hit a two run HR off Clemens in the 7-2 win. When the series moved to Queens in July, Piazza hit a three run HR off Clemens breaking a 2-2 tie in the 6th inning leading to a 5-3 Mets win & another loss for Clemens. On June 9th, 2000, in the regular season Subway Series match up in the Bronx, Piazza hit a 3rd inning grand slam HR off Clemens giv...

Background: At the time of the Tom Seaver trade, the New York Mets were at a bad point in team history. By 1975, the clubs beloved owner Mrs. Joan Payson had passed away. Mrs. Payson was on the forefront of women in sports; she loved the game was involved in the team & made the players feel they were part of a family. Times were good. Her widower husband, the very wealthy Charles Shipman had no interest in baseball. To keep it in the family, their daughter Lorinda deRoulet took charge of the team. Ms.de Roulet was her mother; she didn't know the first thing about running a baseball team. Instead, she and let the teams long time president & Chairman- M. Donald Grant make all the decisions. Times got bad. Grant had been a longtime friend of Mrs. Payson, together they served on the board of directors of the New York Giants baseball club in the 1950's. Grant had been with the Mets since the beginning in 1962, but his baseball knowledge was questionable & he...

Thursday June 10th, 2010:   The Mets had come into the day winning four straight games, five of their last six. Following a rain out in the second game of the Citi Field series with the Padres, today would be a doubleheader. The Mets dropped the first game 4-2. In the nightcap, Jerry Manuel's second place Mets (32-28) hosted Bud Black's second place San Diego Padres (35-25). 28, 072 fans were on hand as Jonathon Niese (2-2) went up against San Diego veteran Jon Garland (6-3).  In the top of the 1st inning, Jon Niese got three easy ground ball outs. In the top of the 2nd, he retired Scott Hairston on a foul pop up behind the plate then got two ground ball outs retiring the first six batters. In the bottom of the 2nd inning, Chris Carter doubled & catcher Rod Barajas dropped a single into right center field. "Frenchy" Jeff Francoeur singled to right field bringing in Chris Carter with the Mets first run.  Triple Play: Next Ruben Tejada grounded to third baseman...

Wednesday June 13th, 2012: Terry Collins' Mets (34-29) were in second place five games behind the Nationals as they visited Joe Maddon's third place Tampa Rays (35-27). The Rays had made the playoffs the past two seasons. A crowd of 18,496 came to the dome covered Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, in Western Florida off the Gulf of America. In a top pitching matchup Collins sent the Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey (9-1) to the mound against David Price (8-3).  R.A. Dickey came into the game on a personal; seven game win streak having not taken a loss since April 18th. Quotes- Terry Collins: "When you look at what he's done & what he's accomplished & the way he's pitching right now, you've got to think this guy is one of the top three or four pitchers in baseball". In the bottom of the 1st, Dickey struck out the first two batters. B.J. Upton the Rays third batter hit a weak grounder to David Wright at third base, who did not handle the ball cleanly...