Memories of the First Game Ever At Shea Stadium: April 17, 1964

Shea Stadium is now gone and we enjoy the new home of the Mets Citifield, but 45 years ago Met fans were enjoying their new home at Shea Stadium. It was the grand new ballpark behind the attractions of the 1964 Worlds Fair. Many a visitor to the Worlds Fair would visit the beautiful Shea Stadium at ite new home in Flushing Meadows, Queens.

The Opening ceromonies had Bill Shea christen the Mets' new home with two symbolic bottles of water: one from the Gowanus Canal, near Ebbets Field, and one from the Harlem River, near the Polo Grounds. The Mets played the Pirates that day to a huge crowd of 50,312.

Jack Fisher was the 1st Mets pitcher to take the mound, and threw out the 1st pitch at Shea. He was overwhelmed by the crowd noise and pre-game hype, and claims to have asked manager Casey Stengel if he could warm up in the bullpen instead of the mound on the field. He credits himself with starting the big league custom of starting pitchers warming in the bullpen before the game. Fisher he went into the 7th inning giving up 3 runs on 11 hits, getting no decision. Fisher gave up the 1st home run at Shea it was to Hall of Famer Willie Stargell. Bob Bailey got the 1st base hit & Roberto Clemente the 1st triple. Fisher was relieved by Ed Bauta, who was the first reliever to walk out of Sheas bullpen. Bauta gave up a 9th inning run and took the 4-3 loss.

Tim Harkness was the 1st Mets batter to step to the plate in Shea Stadium and he would also get the 1st Mets hit in his second at bat, a single in third inning. The 1st Mets extra base hit was a double by Ron Hunt who also was the 1st Met to cross the plate. He scored as clean up man Jesse Gonder drove him home. Gonder & Frank Thomas would be the next runs to cross the plate as Amado Samuel drove them in. Ed Kranepool was the 1st pinch hitter to step out of the dug out & swing a bat, while Larry Eliot was the 1st pinch runner. Oiginal Met Jim Hickman drew the 1st walk & was the 1st to get hit by a pitch at Shea.

Kranepool, Fisher, Hunt & Thomas would all be on hand 44 years later when Shea had its closing ceromonies last October. That was done well and it's good to see the Mets remember their history.

Starting Line up at Shea Stadium, April 17, 1964

1B- Tim Harkness

RF- George Altman

3b- Ron Hunt

C- Jesse Gonder

LF- Frank Thomas

CF- Jim Hickman

SS- Amado Samuel

2B- Larry Burright

P- Jack Fisher

Tim Harkness: Harkness was born in Quebec, Canada & also played pro hockey. He came over from the Dodgers and spent two seasons with the Mets. He hit 10 HRs in 1963 but only batted .211. At Shea in 1964 he played 34 games and hit .282 but lost his 1st base job to Ed Kranepool.

George Altman: Altman had 2 good seasons of hitting over .300 & bashing over 22 HRs with the Cubs. He spent 1 season with Mets and batted .230 with 9 HRs & 47 RBIs. After going back to Chicago for three more years he would play 8 years in Japan.

Ron Hunt- see centerfield maz -Ron Hunt Bio on February 21, 2009

Jesse Gonder: Gonder had played for the NY A.L. team & Reds before arriving with the 1963 Mets. He hit .302 in 42 games and earned an opening day spot in 1964. That season he batted .270 with 7 HRs & 35 RBIs. He would be traded by 1966 for Gary Kolb.

Frank Thomas: An original Met, who hit 34 HRs in 1962, a Met record until Dave Kingman hit 37 in 1975. Thomas was a journey man outfielder who hit 266 career HRs, including 12 straight years in double figures. He was 2nd in the NL with 35 HRs in 1958 & appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Thomas had studied to be a priest before baseball & was on the top 40 HR list when he retired.

Jim Hickman: Hickman was an original Met and was an everyday regular for their first five seasons. He played all outfield positions, 1st & 3rd base. His best seasons were 1963 when he led the team in HRs (17) & triples (6) & 1964 when he batted .257 with 11 HRs & 57 RBIs.

Amado Samuel: Samuel only played briefly for 3 seasons, with the Mets & Braves.He was from the Dominican and batted .232 in 53 games for the 1964 Mets.

Larry Burright: Burright had hit a low .220 in 1963 and after Opening Day at Shea would only play in 2 more Mets games going hitless.

Jack Fisher: Fisher won 11 games for the 1964 Mets, unfortunatley he lost 17, which wasn't as bad as the following year when he lost 24. In his 4 year Mets career he was 38-73 with a 4.12 ERA.