centerfield maz

Tuesday June 10th, 1980: A small Shea crowd of 14,759 came out to see the Joe Torre's fourth place Mets (23-27) host Tommy Lasorda's first place Los Angeles Dodgers (32-22). The Dodgers were holding a half game lead over the Houston Astros who would eventually win their first divisional title that season. Joe Torre's Mets were in fourth place Mets, under .500 at 24-27. They would remain around the .500-mark until mid-August then a seven-game losing streak, in a stretch where they lost 14 of 17 games killed any chances of a .500 finish. The Mets sent pitcher Pat Zachry (1-2) who had come over in the Tom Seaver trade three years earlier (1977) to the mound going up against L.A.'s Bob Welch (6-1).  The young Bob Welch, who had been in the league three years at that point, was having his bests season to date, winning six straight games entering this contest. He finished the year at 14-9. In the top of the 1st, Zachry retired the side in order. In the bottom of the...

Friday June 9th, 2000: This highly anticipated regular season subway series game was a prelude to the World Series Subway Series, the first in New York City since 1956, forty years earlier.  Bobby Valentines Mets (34-26) were in second place, 4.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves but the Mets were leading the wild card race.  Tonight, they were across town in the Bronx, facing Joe Torre's A.L. New York club (32-24) a half game ahead of the Boston Red Sox in the AL East. The starting pitchers for this matchup were the Mets Al Leiter (6-1) against Roger Clemens (4-5). In the top of the 1st, short time Mets player Jason Tyner led off with a double, but the Mets left him stranded. In the top of the 3rd inning, Tyner reached on a Jorge Posada throwing error to first base. Derek Bell drew a walk & both runners advanced on a passed ball that went by Posada. Roger Clemens then walked Edgardo Alfonzo to load the bases for Mike Piazza. Piazza launched a rocket of his own, a grand...

Sunday June 9th, 2024: Game Two of the 2024 London Series. The series marked the third time a two-game set of MLB teams played at London Stadium in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in the Stratford district of London, England. Usually a home to Soccer, special adjustments had to be made in order to have the stadium be suitable for MLB baseball play. Even a larger clubhouse was bult to accommodate the players since pro soccer clubhouses are smaller. A big crowd of 55,074 came out for the second game of the Mets Phillies matchup with Philadelphia being the home team. Pre Game Festivities: Both Countries Nation Anthems were sung before the game.  Instead of a ceremonial first pitch, Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney & his wife actress Kaitlin Olsen did a ceremonial double play as she rolled a ball to former Phillie & Mets nemesis Chase Utley who then threw to Bryce Harper at first. Also, the Phillie Phanatic dressed as a Beefeater serving tea to the ESPN crew. Former Mets Hall of F...

Saturday June 9th, 1973- Old Timers Day: A big Saturday afternoon crowd of 47,800 filled up Shea Stadium to first witness an Old Timers Day classic between former Brooklyn Dodgers & AL New York Players vs former New York Mets from the sixties. #14 Retired: It was on this day, the Mets officially retired Gil Hodges #14, as Mets GM Bob Scheffing presented Gil's widow, Joan Hodges with his Mets uniform. This was the just the second Mets uniform number to be retired. In 1965 Casey Stengel's #37 was the first to be retired. Both men were Mets managers & remain the only two managers numbers to be retired by the organization. Former Brooklyn Dodgers:  Carl Furillo, Pee Wee Reese, Ralph Branca, Carl Erskine, Sandy Amoros & Cal Abrams were all in attendance. A full cast of original 1962 Mets were on hand; Richie Ashburn, Ken MacKenzie, Jim Marshall, Rod Kanehl, Frank Thomas & Roger Craig. Other Mets on board included 1969 Mets Reliever Ron Taylor & pitcher Lar...

Tuesday June 7th, 2005: The 2005 Mets were playing well, it was their best baseball since the Pennant year of 2000.  In the off season the Mets brought in the top two free agents on the market in Carlos Beltran & Pedro Martinez. The two players brought excitement back to Shea Stadium. Tonight, Willie Randolph's second place Mets (31-27) were hosting Phil Garner's last place, Houston Astros (21-35).  Two big pitchers went at it tonight, Pedro Martinez (6-1) for the Mets, taking on a struggling Roy Oswalt (6-6) for Houston. Oswalt was in in his second straight twenty-win season & his second straight season of leading the league in starts. In 2006 he was the NL's ERA leader as well. But tonight, Pedro wowed the 39,953 fans at Shea Stadium, giving them a night full of thrills on the mound. I n the top of the 1st inning, Pedro retired the side in order.  In the home 1st, Mike Cameron hit a one out double & scored on Cliff Floyd's double to center field. I...