Today In Mets History: 1973 Mets Clinch Eastern Title

October 1, 1973: The 1973 Mets had a truly Amazing run in the month of September. They began the month of September in fifth place, 5 ½ games out of first place. The East was a very tough, even division that season.

The Mets went 20-8 in the month of September. Taking over first place on September 21st, then clinching the East on the very last day of the season at Wrigley Field. They had to wait three days for the rain to stop before splitting a double header the previous day, guaranteeing them of at least a tie.

On October 1st, Tom Seaver, who had four victories in the month of September, took the ball and went to the hill in yet another big game. The Cubs were already out of it, so there was only a tiny crowd just under 2000 at a rainy wet Wrigley Field. Seaver’s opponent was Burt Hooton.

Cleon Jones got the Mets on the board first with his 11th HR of the year. After missing a lot of time due to injury, Cleon returned on a tear in September, hitting six HRs with 17 RBIs in the last two weeks. In the Mets 4th, Rusty Staub led off with a single, then Hooton walked John Milner & Jones. Then Catcher Jerry Grote, who also had a hot September, delivered with a single to center making it 3-0.

In the 5th the Mets knocked out Hooton, Wayne Garrett led off with a double and Felix Millan singled. The Cubs brought in Mike Paul to pitch; he was welcomed with an RBI single from Rusty Staub, followed by an RBI sac fly from John Milner, putting the Mets ahead 5-0.

Seaver gave up two runs on four hits in the bottom of the 5th making it 5-2. In the top of the 7th, Staub singled & Jones walked. Don Hahn then reached on an error by third baseman Ron Santo, allowing Staub to score. 6-2 New York.

Seaver tired in the 7th giving up a two run HR to Rick Monday, making it 6-4. Tug McGraw who had a spectacular September (three wins & nine saves) came on to close the door. He pitched three shutout innings, striking out four only allowing one hit. It was Tuggers 25th save of the year. Seaver earned his 19th victory and his second Cy Young Award, leading the league in ERA (2.08) strikeouts (251) and complete games (18).

The second game of the doubleheader didn’t even have to be played, so it was off to the Wrigley Field clubhouse to celebrate. The Mets won their second divisional title in four years, making it to as many World Series.

40th Anniversary of the Beatles Abbey Road Album

In the summer of 1969 the Beatles were pretty much all doing their own thing and the days of the group were numbered. After the miserable recording sessions for GET BACK which later became Let It Be, they decided they wanted to record in a way like they use to. No one actually said it, but there was a feeling this could be the last project as The Beatles. With this in mind everyone made nice and put their differences aside for the time being.

ABBEY ROAD was the last recording the Beatles made together. Although LET IT BE was released afterwards, it was recorded in January of 1969, prior to ABBEY ROAD.

Paul McCartney called up their producer George Martin and told him the plan. He agreed only if he could have full control as a producer and do things his way. The band came in to the studio beginning in July 1969. Rarely were all four Beatles actually in the studio at the same time, usually recording separately or in pairs.

ABBEY ROAD was released in America on October 1st, 1969 and by its third week it reached number one. It stayed at number one for eleven straight weeks, spending a total of 129 weeks on the charts. It was the first Beatles album to sell over 10 million copies and is now 12x platinum.

The album cover has become a classic in itself. It was the first & only Beatles album that didn’t have the word Beatles or the album name over its picture. It features the four Beatles walking across the street directly outside of Abbey Road studios. It was a warm day so Paul took off his shoes and is walking barefoot. During the whole PAUL IS DEAD craze, this was supposed to be one of the clues. On the topic of PAUL IS DEAD clues, each Beatle in the photo was symbolic. John all in white was the spiritual symbol, Ringo in a black suit, the undertaker & George in denim was the grave digger. Great fun stuff, don’t forget the license plate on the Volkswagen reading 28IF, representing Paul would have been 28 if alive. More true to form I think the photo represents where each Beatle was individually at that time. John & George were sporting beards & very long hair, in the late sixties hippie style. Paul was clean shaven from the GET BACK sessions, and dressed more businesslike, but yet the barefoot hippie part of him still intact. Notice the cigarette in Paul’s right hand. Ringo looking more like the Hollywood movie star, he had become since appearing in various film projects over the past year.

Notice the guy on the right side of the street looking over at the Beatles. Years later he found out it was him on the cover. According to him, he said he was on vacation in London and was waiting for his wife to come out of a boutique. He saw the traffic get stopped and these four strange looking guys get photographed walking across the street. He will live forever on the cover. Every day people are still dodging traffic to get themselves photographed walking across that street.

The album is famous for its Abbey Road, side two 16 minute medley. The medley begins with YOU NEVER GIVE ME YOUR MONEY, which is Paul’s version of the money & legal problems at Apple. Next is John’s SUN KING, which features beautiful harmonies by John & George and some lyrics in Italian and some completely made up words in no language. That tune if followed by two of Lennon’s unfinished works, a song about an old miser stashing all his money- MEAN MR. MUSTARD & his sister POLYTHENE PAM. Pam was inspired by an old Liverpool friend who use to eat polythene. John uses a very heavy Liverpool accent singing this song. After John says “Look Out….I did” the medley rolls on with Pauls, SHE CAME IN THROUGH THE BATHROOM WINDOW, inspired by a chick (one of the Apple Scruffs groupies) who actually came through his bathroom window. The lullaby GOLDEN SLUMBERS, is actually an 18th century song of its own, leading into CARRY THAT WEIGHT with Ringo’s voice leading the harmonies. THE END features the only Ringo Starr drum solo on a Beatles record. It leads the way for a triple dueling guitar lead from John, George & Paul. Each one of their individual styles comes out in this fantastic piece of music that shows how good of a jam band the Beatles were.

Then comes the last words of wisdom the Beatles ever recorded on record, when Paul sings “In the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make”. If you keep the album playing, you get an unfinished Paul tune called HER MAJESTY thrown in there for a surprise.
COME TOGETHER / SOMETHING was released as double A Side and both reached number one in America. COME TOGETHER opens the album with John’s beautiful melodic voice, the song has since become another spiritual Beatles anthem for humanity. But it was originally written for Timothy Leary’s campaign for Governor that never actually got off the ground. John premieres the song at one of the Bed Ins. SOMETHING is one of the greatest Love songs ever recorded, and one of George’s as well as the Beatles bests works. It was written for George’s wife Patti Boyd Harrison. The same woman who later inspired Eric Clapton to wrote LAYLA & WONDERFUL TONIGHT. Quite the inspiration she is.

MAXWELLS SILVER HAMMER is Paul’s first song on the album. It’s a fun little tune, where Ringo sings the lead “Bang Bang” parts & longtime Beatles friend & roadie Mal Evan bangs the anvil. The song made it’s debut in the LET IT BE movie during the GET BACK sessions in early 1969. John called it one of Paul’s granny songs.

OH DARLING is like a 1950’S blues love song taken to the next level. It features one of Paul’s best screaming lyrics since LONG TALL SALLY & I’VE GOT A FEELING. Great backing harmonies as well.

OCTOPUS’S GARDEN is Ringo’s second song writing credit on the album, written on a trip to Sardinia in 1968. He was served squid for lunch one day, and was told how Octopus gather shiny stones & build little gardens under the sea. As seen in the movie LET IT BE, George helps Ringo write the songs musical structure.

I WANT YOU is one of the most popular songs on the album and considered another great Beatle jam session rocker. The song is actually two Lennon songs combined to a very progressive style of rock. Sounds like Johns answer to Paul’s Oh Darling, and the screaming Lennon vocal would be what’s to come on his PLASTIC ONO BAND solo album a year later. It is the second longest Beatles song in running time, and was the last song the four Beatles ever recorded together in the studio at the same time. (a moment of silence, please)

HERE COMES THE SUN is another great Harrison song on the album and again one of his finest works. George had really come into his own as a songwriter and this beauty was written in Eric Clapton’s back yard. George’s acoustic guitar work is beautiful and the background features a Moog synthesizer which was a new instrument at the time. It’s one of the first songs to feature a synthesizer.
Last but certainly not least is Johns beautiful BECAUSE which features some of the best Beatles three part harmonizing ever. The music is inspired by Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata played backwards. This beautiful song sounds even better without any music, like on the Anthology three CD.

Ace Frehley & His New Solo Album: Anomaly

It's the first new Ace Frehley solo album in twenty years, since the days of Freehley's Comet. First lets set the Ace/ KISS record straight. According to Ace after the reunion Tours of the late nineties, he was asked by Gene Simmons & Paul Stanley to do a Farewell Tour. He agreed believing it was the end, next he claims he got a call from Simmons saying we're going on Tour again, if you don't come we'll get another guitarist. That was that.

I love KISS since the early days, I was there for concerts without the make up & the reunions. Although the KISS concert spectacle is one of the greatest shows on earth, I just cant get excited about Gene, Paul & two fill ins wearing Ace & Peter's make up. All due respect to the others, especially Eric Singer whom I've met & is a hell of a drummer & nice guy. But there is only one Space Ace, one Catman Peter Criss, and there is only one ORIGINAL KISS!!!!!

As for the new Ace Frehley album Anomaly: Plain & simple I love it, just straight forward rock & roll. It picks up right where the first great classic Ace Frehley solo album from 1978 left off, and that's exactly what Ace set out to do. Ace's guitar work is incredible, with his classic riff style and wailing leads. You have to love the instrumentals "Space Bear" & "Fractured Quantum". The I-Tunes bonus track "Return of the Space Bear" features Ace talking over some of the guitar parts with funny lines and his hysterical cackling laugh. "Fractured Quantum" is the fourth piece of his continuing "Fractured Mirror" instruments that began on the original Ace Frehely album.

Ace produced most of the album and wrote almost all the songs. The exceptions being an incredible version of Sweet's 1975 classic "Fox On the Run". This is destined to be a Frehley classic right up there with his "Back In the NY Groove" cover. The single being promoted is "Outer Space", keeping with Frehley's Space Ace image, co written with Jesse Mendez & David Askew. I love the guitar rhythm on this one & you almost feel the bass line was taken from the Gene Simmons song book.

Ace who has now been sober for over three years reflects on his past in songs like "It's A Great Life", "Too Many Faces" & "A Little Below the Angels" which features a daughter asking the father if he's ever seen an angel. He responds by saying, "yes, it was the most beautiful thing I ever saw". He also sings of feeling like he could change the world & wishing for peace as he woke up in "Change the World".

The opener "Foxy & Free" is one of my favs as well, a great hard rocking good time song with a catchy beat. The way music is suppose to be, just plain old fun. "Pain In the Neck" is about one of those chicks that Ace has had enough of, right where "Rip It Out" left off on the first Ace album. Again a great beat & heavy riff on this one. Then there is the six minute epic "Genghis Khan" which features some great layered guitar work, both acoustic & electric. It also features Meatloaf's daughter Pearl Aday on backing vocals. Pearl is married to another Bronx born rocker, Anthrax's Scott Ian. (Together they are part of the band Pearl)

The album is dedicated to the late former KISS drummer Eric Carr & Pantera's Dimebag Darrell. Long time Frehley drummer/friend Anton Fig has returned to play drums. Fig was on the original Ace solo album, & a member of Frehley's Comet. Since then he has played in the David Letterman house band & has sat in as band leader when Paul Schafer was away. Other musicians include: Anthony Esposito - bass /Derrek Hawkins - rhythm guitar /Scot Coogan - drums, percussion & Marti Frederiksen - keyboards. The label is his own Bronx Born Records. Frehley was born in the Bronx growing up in the Webster Avenue /Bedford Park / Pelham Parkway sections.

The album has done well in its first week of release. It debuted at #27 on the album charts. Ace is signing copies of the album this weekend; Saturday 9/26 at Vintage Vinyl in Fords New Jersey & Looney Tunes in West Babylon on Sunday 9/27. Ace is touring Australia in October with a US tour to follow in the late fall / winter. Cant Wait!

On Frehley's website the promo for the album, has a boy telling a girl that he has been waiting for the new Ace album for over a year. Their uncle, wearing a "Trouble Walkin" t-shirt, tells them he's been waiting 20 years. Frehley pulls up through a cloud of smoke, on a Chopper. He makes a hitchhiking thumb gesture and lets out an "Ack!" just like in the movie "KISS Meets the Phantom". The album appears in the hands of the trio and Ace rides off.

http://www.youtube.com/watchv=E2tWsNqnfpk&feature=player_embedded#t=20
The definition of Anomaly is any occurrence that is strange, unusual, or unique. A discrepancy or deviation from an established rule or trend.

Today In Mets History: 1969- Mets Clinch Eastern Title

At 9:06 PM on September 24, 1969 the Mets clinched their first Eastern divisional title. After seven years of being born, and finishing in last place five times, the Mets were champions of their division. The first champions ever to capture an Eastern title since divisional play was in its infancy in 1969.

Gary Gentry went out and pitched a four hit complete game shutout against last years NL Champs the St. Louis Cardinals. It was rookie Gentry's 12th win on the year (12-12), as he struck out five & only walked two. The Mets beat Steve Carlton who had seen enough of them already this season. (Two weeks prior he lost to them while striking out 19 batters). The Mets were reved up tonight in front of 55,000 crazy fans, as they knocked Lefty out in the first inning on HRs by Donn Clendenon (15th) & Ed Charles (3rd). Charles the oldest player on the team at 36, clapped his hands as he rounded third, just to let the fans know "this was it" he later said. Clendenon would add another later, his 16th, and his 34th RBI since joining the Mets in mid June, icing the 6-0 Mets victory.

In the 9th inning it was Joe Torre who hit into a double play (Harrelson to Weiss to Clendenon) to end the game. The Mets players jumped for joy to celebrate and then the Met fans swarmed the field, turning it into a chaotic frenzy. They ripped everything apart making the outfield look like the surface of the newly landed on moon. They chanted "We're #1"!!! and refused to leave the ballpark until the police rounded everyone up over an hour later, exiting through the center field gate.

In the clubhouse the Mets celebrated with champagne. Tom Seaver doused a smiling Gil Hodges "Here's to you skip", Jerry Koosman sprayed the press, Nolan Ryan poured some over M. Donald Grants head & Ed Kranepool (there from 1962) shouted "Here's to you Leo"- (in reference to Cubs manager Leo Durocher). Like Kranepool said "I've waited too long for this"!!!

Today In Mets History: 1988- Mets Clinch 2nd Eastern Title In Three Years

September 23, 1988: The Mets were on a roll to win this Eastern title coming on strong late to overtake the Pirates. Tonight's win was #8 in a row, 13 out of 14 and 18 out of their last 22. 45,000 plus packed Shea cheering loudly from the 1st pitch onward. 80 mounted police on horses & over 800 officers in total were on hand to make sure no one got onto the field. Shea was not about to repeat the 1986 clinching celebration, where the fans stormed the field. The public address announcer welcomed their presence in the 8th inning as the crowd greeted them with boos, wanting to repeat the '86 celebration.

Ron Darling got the call tonight and became the 4th Met pitcher to celebrate on the mound as the Mets won an Eastern title. Darling found a little extra that night and was going to finish the game no matter what. Darling went the distance allowing only one run, on six hits, one walk and struck out four. It was his 16th win of the year, he would end up third on the team with 17 and third with a 3.25 ERA. Quite a staff indeed.

The Mets only scored 3 runs off Philadelphia's Don Carmen, but it was all they needed. Mookie Wilson led the club with three hits on the night & a run scored. In the 5th inning Greg Jeffries grounded out scoring Kevin Elster tying the game 1-1. In the 6th Daryl Strawberry sigled & reached third on a Kevin McReynolds single. Straw scored when Carmen thre a wild pitch. In the 7th Mcreynolds had an infield single scoring Mookie for the final run.

The night before the Mets recieved the bad news that Bobby Ojeda almost severed his left index finger and underwent nearly five hours of surgery. He was lost for the post season. It may have been an omem, although with Gooden, Darling & Cone the Mets were still looking good heading to the playoffs.

Today In Mets History: 1973- Mets Take Over First Place

September 21, 1973: After last nights dramatic win, the Mets were only a half game behind the Pirates. Tonight in front of almost 52,000 at Shea, they completed the three game sweep and took over first place for the first time in the 1973 season. They would remain there and win the Eastern title on the last day of the season.

If you follow the old stories on this site, you see how many times Tom Seaver is mentioned, and how great he was. This game was no exception, with first place on the line, the 1973 Cy Young winner went out and pitched a complete game five hit victory for his 18th win of the season. He struck out eight, walked two while allowing only two runs, dropping his ERA to a 1.88.

The Pirates went through six pitchers allowing 10 runs on 13 hits, including HRs by Rusty Staub (15th), Wayne Garrett (14th) & John Milner (23rd). Jerry Grote had three hits and drove in two runs, Cleon Jones also drove in two runs, getting two hits. Garret had three hits, Staub two, a matter of fact everyone in the line up except the center field position players (Dave Schneck & Don Han) all had hits.

Today In Mets History: 1973- The Famous Ball Off The Wall Relay

September 20, 1973: The Mets were in second place chasing the Pirates and had just left Pittsburgh with a two game series split. They came back to Shea for a three game Series, with these same Pirates, 2 1/2 games back. They took the first game of the Series and were now only 1 1/2 game out.

Jerry Koosman went out and pitched 8 innings allowing only 2 runs on four hits, problem was his opponent Jim Rooker matched him. The Pirates scored a run on an infield error and one on a Ritchie Hebner HR. The Mets came back with a Cleon Jones RBI single in the 6th and a small ball 8th inning.

Yogi Berra called the right shots as he put in Jim Beachump to pinch hit, he delivered with a single. Berra put in Ted Martinez to run and signaled Wayne Garrett to bunt, he did moving Martinez to second. Felix Millan the Mets hits leader then singled, scoring Martinez to tie the game.

The drama continued in the 9th. The Mets Harry Parker surrendered a lead off walk to Dave Augustine, who came back to haunt him, as Dave Cash doubled scoring the go ahead run. But these were champion Mets, and they didn't roll over easily. In the bottom of the ninth, Berra made the right calls again. Pinch hitter Kenny Boswell singled, Don Hahn sacrificed him over to second. Pinch hitter George Theodore struck out, but pinch hitter Duffy Dyer doubled to right field scoring Boswell to tie the game.

Ray Sadecki came in to pitch for the Mets, throwing four scoreless innings & striking out six. In the 13th inning, long time Met fans like myself will remember this as one of the most famous plays in Mets history. Ritchie Zisk singled, then with two outs, that Dave Augustine guy blasted a shot to left field, the ball hit the top of the wall and bounced into Cleon Jones glove. Jones threw a bullet to cut off man Wayne Garrett who spun around and threw a perfect bullet to third string rookie catcher Ron Hodges who blocked the plate & tagged out Zisk for the third out. Amazing!

In the bottom of the inning, Luke Walker walked John Milner & Ken Boswell. Setting the stage for the same catcher Ron Hodges, to drive in the winning run with a base hit. The Mets were now only 1/2 game out & would never look back.

Today In Mets History: 1967- Wes Westrum Resigns & Gil Hodges Is On The Way

September 20, 1967: It was on this day that Met manager Wes Westrum, a former catcher for the 1950's NY Giants, resigned his position. Westrum was waiting for the Mets to announce he would be retained for 1968, with the writing on the wall that he probably wouldn't be, he walked into the Mets front office & announced his resignation. He left with a 57-94 record in 10th place. Westrum had managed the club since taking over for Casey Stengel in August 1965. Westrum went 15-48 for the remainder of the '65 season finishing 10th. 1966 was an improvement, finishing 9th with the most victories the franchise had ever had at that point going 66-95. In 1967 the team took a step back, and the fans were beginning to get restless as was the organization.

Mets coach Salty Parker took over for the remaining 11 games in 1967 going 4-7 as their interim manager. A turning point for the Mets came a few short days later when the front office announce they would be able to obtain Gil Hodges for the position of manager. At the time Hodges was managing the Washington Senators and it was tough convincing them to let him go. Mets GM Johnny Murphy met with his former team mate Washington's GM George Selkirk and worked out a deal. Hodges was eager to come back to New York and his old Brooklyn Dodger fans still loved him. The Mets sent a pitcher named Bill Denehy to Washington and a sum believed to be $150,000. Hodges signed a contact for the Mets at $60,000 annually. The rest is history by the end of his second season as Met manager he won the World Series.

*Westrum would reappear as manager of his old team, now in San Francisco in 1974 taking over mid season going 38-48. He was at the helm in 1975 going 80-81 finishing third.

Today In Mets History: 2006- Mets Clinch Eastern Division

September 18, 2006: 47,000 fans on hand at Shea Stadium to watch the Mets clinch their 1st Eastern Title since 1988. There had been two wild card births but this was special, finally another Divisional Title. The 2006 Mets were real good and ended the season one game shy of the World Series. In 2006 the Mets took over first place on April 6th, never letting go & finished up 12 games ahead of the Phillies.

Few remember it was Steve Trachsel who earned the win that night over Florida's Brad Moehler, in the Mets 4-0 shutout victory. Trachsel who at the time was the longest tenured Met, went into the 7th inning not giving up any runs, allowing only three hits, walking only one & striking out three. Mota & Heilman led the way to Billy Wagner who closed it out in the 9th inning. Josh Willingham flew out to Clifford Floyd for the final out & the Mets celebrated in victory.

Few also remember that it was Jose Valentin who homered twice on the night & drove in three of the four runs, who was the offensive hero that evening. In 2006 the 36 year old Valentin was the Mets primary second baseman hitting 18 HRs with 24 doubles, 62 RBIs & a .271 batting average.

In the clubhouse & on the field the Mets celebrated the way teams do in these times, a bit to premature for oldertimers like myself, but thats the way it is. Cigars were smoked, & champagne was flying as the players wore goggles to protect their eyes.

Another ritual centerfield maz don't get? Be a man get some bubbly in your eyes!!!!!

Today In Mets History: 1986- Mets Clinch Eastern Title

September 17, 1986: The 1986 Mets were so good that the night they clinched the division they had a 19 game lead over the 2nd place who ever they were. It was kind of funny that us fans were happy they had just got swept in Philadelphia & split a two game series in St. Louis, putting them on a streak of six losses in eight games. All it meant was that they would clinch the East at home in Shea.

How fitting Dwight Gooden was on the mound that night to clinch it for us. The doctor went the distance pitching his 12th complete game of the season earning his 15th win (15-6). Gooden allowed 2 runs on only 6 hits while striking out eight Cubs.

The Cubs loser that night? Dennis Ekersley, who was knocked out in the 5th inning. In the Mets 3rd, rookie Dave Magadan making his first MLB start (3rd game overall) singled home the 1st run of the night scoring Len Dykstra. Daryl Strawberry followed with an RBI single of his own making it 2-0 in a loud Shea Stadium. In the 5th the crowd roared again, as rookie Magadan singled home Dykstra again making it 3-0. In the 7th Magadan got his third hit of the night, then gave way to pinch runner Stanley Jefferson who would score on Straw's 2nd RBI of the night. That was it as the Mets won 4-2.

Keith Hernandez who was out of the line up due to injury begged Davey Johnson to put him on the field for the final outs of the 9th inning. After Jerry Mumphrey struck out looking, Chicago's Chico Walker grounded to Wally Backman & Backman threw to Hernandez and the Mets clinched their third NL Eastern title. The fans went crazy & stormed the field for the last time in Shea's history, as after this game, the NYPD got involved making sure no damage would ever occur on a baseball field in New York.

On a personal note, I purchased one of the last tickets that day at a Ticketron location in an A&S store. I went to the game solo that night, I just had to be there. It was the Mets 1st title since 1973 when I was a young die hard fan, 13 long years ago. I got my ticket & I was there. From the Upper deck I ran down in the 9th inning as the stadium shook above. There was this big cop at Field level who was stopping people attempting to run by him to get onto the field section. He was literally hurling people out of the way. I was quick back then & ran by him as he was trying to stop someone else. After the final out, I jumped onto the field for the first time in my life! I remember feeling like I had just landed on the moon, here I am, this is where THEY play!!. It was chaos but oh what a celebration. We were finally escorted out through the center field gates, I had some grass like everyone else but it wasn't enough. Grass dies. On my way out I noticed the center field wall was made of just wood in those days. Hmmmm, I ripped a nice piece of it off, put it under my arm & left. To my surprise no security stopped me just fans who offered me money to buy it. It meant to much to me to sell, still does. I still have it. Nothing proves its Shea's center field wall from 1986, but I know what it is! Priceless!

Today In Mets History: 1969- Ron Swoboda Spoils Carltons 19th K Performance

September 15, 1969: It was a history making night at Busch Stadium for the Cardinals Steve Carlton as he set a record by striking out 19 batters. Every body in the Mets line up struckout at least once, six batters went down twice and rookie Amos Otis wiffed four times on the evening. Carlton scattered six hits and went into the 8th inning with a 3-2 lead. But these were the Amazing Mets of 1969. Back in the 4th inning Donn Clendenon walked and Ron Swoboda hit his 8th HR of the year to put the Mets up 2-0. After Gary Gentry squandered the lead in the 5th inning Carlton was rolling along until the 8th.

Tommie Agee singled to center and with one out Swoboda connected again for his 9th HR and the game winner 4-3. Tug McGraw came in to pitch the bottom of the 9th. With one out, St. Louis threatened. Phil Gagliano reached on an Ed Charles error, and Lou Brock singled but McGraw got Curt Flood & Vad Pinson to win the game. Carlton went into the record books, but recorded the loss along with it, thanks to Ron Swoboda.

Ferragosto 2009 -Arthur Avenue: Little Italy In the Bronx

It was another great day for the annual Ferragosto celebration on Arthur Avenue in Little Italy in The Bronx. The annual event is in honor of the Feast of August which is celebrated every year on August 15th in Italy. The day is believed to be the day the Virgin Mary ascended into Heaven, a huge Holiday in Italia right behind Christmas & Easter. In ancient times the Romans also celebrated the Feast of Augusti and the tradition of the date was kept .

In the Bronx, its a celebration of food & music as the local merchants of Arthur Avenue set up shop on the street and present their specialties. I don't think there was a spot in the world today that offered as much great foods & desserts that were on display on Arthur Avenue. The event has grown through the years, now every restaurant sets up numerous tables outside for dinning. Other smaller stands serve sausage & peppers, zeppoles, Italian pannini's, pasta, pastries, pizza, espresso, bread, Italian Ices, cookies, & a roasted pig.

There were street performers, like jugglers, clowns, comedy actors, & face painters. There was a band stage set up with Italian/ American singers & oldies acts performing through out the day. But mostly it was about the food and a great celebration of Italian culture.

Arthur Avenue is one of my favorite places and I frequent it regularly. I grew up around here, as all my grandparents lived here and I spent much of my childhood here. Playing ball in the park, hanging out on the stoop, running thru the alleys. Chunks of ice from the ice man, doe from the bakeries, and coal from Lefty's cellar. LOL. Yes, there were big soft pretzels & egg creams at the old candy stores, where I got many of my old baseball cards. Then there were lots of cookies, pastries and Italian ices. I lived on raviloi's, Catania's & Ann & Tony's Pizza. Then there was the feast, twice during the summer; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel & St. Anthony. As I grew older I kept friends there and continued going to the feast as a teenager, chasing those hot Italian girls. As time passed I learned to appreciate the past, and love the food more & more.

If you have never been there, you must, you will not find better Italian food any where else outside of Italy. See my friends at Ann & Tony's, Pasquale Rigoletto's, Roberto's, Enzo's, Umberto's, Catania's Pizza & Mike's Deli in the Arthur Avenue Market. Tell them centerfield maz sent you & Lets Go Mets!!

Today I got to meet a hell of a nice guy who happens to be very talented & pretty famous. Dominick Chianese who happens to be cousins with my sister in law & her family. The connection helped as I got to chat with him & take photos as a crowd gathered around us. Dominick is a very popular guy in these parts. He performed & sang on the band stage during the afternoon. You know him as Uncle Junior on the Soprano's, unfortunately I am not a fan of the show. He did do a great job though, as he did in many parts through his long career. To me he will always be Johnny Ola from the Godfather. It was Johnny Ola who tricked Fredo into betraying Michael. I love the line- What are you drinking Johnny? "Anisette". saluti