centerfield maz

Monday September 21st, 1987: Davey Johnson's New York Mets (86-64) were in second place 2.5 games back of the St. Louis Cardinals with twelve games left to play. They had lost three of their last four games missing a chance to gain ground on the Cardinals who had lost two of three. Today the Mets were in Chicago to play an afternoon matinee at Wrigley Field against Gene Michael's last place Chicago Cubs (71-78) in front of just 8,229 fans. At this point in time Wrigley Field still did not have lights. The Mets sent Dwight Gooden (14-6) to the mound against Les Lancaster (7-1). In the top of the 1st, Lenny Dykstra  doubled with his 31st double of the year. Keith Hernandez then drove a base hit to score Dykstra with his 86th RBI for a 1-0 lead. In the top of the 3rd inning, Darryl Strawberry hit a one out single to left field. After Kevin McReynolds flew out Strawberry stole his 229th base of the year. Dwight Gooden held down the Cubs for three innings. In the bottom of the 4...

Friday September 21st, 2001: On this historical night, baseball returned to New York City for the first time since the tragic attacks of 911. The city was trying to move forward & people were needing something to divert their attention from the sadness of the past ten days. Tonight 41, 235 fans came out to Shea Stadium on a very emotional night. There was a sense of unity, as Americans, as New Yorkers & as a people.  Baseball certainly took a back seat to the importance of things, but on this night, it also brought some kind of normalcy, if not for just a few hours. Before the game there was a very moving ceremony honoring the victims of 911.  There  were special honored guests on hand; as New York City firemen, policemen & other emergency workers were also recognized & honored.  The  evening's  events included Diana Ross singing "God Bless America" - Liza Minelli singing "New York, New...

September 20, 1967:   With just eleven games to go in the 1967 season, York  Mets manager Wes Westrum resigned from his position.    It was apparent that the Mets were going in a different managerial direction the following season & Westrum was not the guy. The organization felt it was time to move up in the standings & new leader on the field was needed to do that. The club president Bing Devin had a list of new candidates that included Mets coach Yogi Berra, as well as Bill Virdon, Sam Mele, Harry Walker & Westrum's former NY Giants teammate Alvin Dark. There were also rumors that the Mets were trying to bring in former Brooklyn Dodger Legend Gil Hodges who was managing the Washington Senators. Wes Westrum had been a former catcher for the NY Giants (1947-1957) known for his defense more than his hitting. He ranks second all time (to Buster Posey) in Giants history in games caught behind the plate (902). In 1964, Westrum joined the Mets coaching staff, ...

Thursday, September 20th, 1973:  Yogi Berra's Mets (75-77) had been in last place, 12 games under .500 & 6.5 games out of first place at the end of August.  But in that year's NL East, no team ever dominated play long enough to take control. The division was very competitive with five of the six teams still in contention, no more than three games back at this point late in September.  The Mets had suffered with injuries to most of their regular players but at this point had everyone back & healthy. Since that low point in late August, they got hot & were playing good baseball.  They became one of the league's best teams, going 17-6 in that time, finding themselves just 1.5 games out of first place, behind the Pirates. Tonight, they hosted Danny Murtaugh's Pittsburgh Pirates (75-74) in what was certainly one of the most important games of the 1973 season.  It would also become one of the most remembered games ...