centerfield maz

1999 Mets Wild Card Season:  As the season began John Franco was once again the Mets main closer. On April 10th, he notched his first save of 1999, in an extra inning win in Montreal. 400th Career Save: On April 14th, Franco struck out the side in the top of the 9th inning, as the Mets beat the Marlins.  Franco became just the second pitcher, to notch his 400th career save. In the month of April, he had eight saves in opportunities, allowing just one earned run in 9.1 innings of work, for an ERA of 0.96. He continued to pitch well through May as he converted his first 14 save opportunities. From May 21st to May 31st, he did not allow a run in five appearances as he started June with a 1.74 ERA. It wasn't until June 2nd, his 23rd appearance, when he gave up a two-run single to the Reds Mike Cameron that he blew his first save. On June 11th, he gave up an 11th inning RBI single to the Red Sox John Valentin & took his first loss. At the start of July, Franco had 19 sa...

Thursday September 22, 1988:  Davey Johnson's Mets (94-57) were on a roll counting down toward winning the 1988 NL Eastern title.  The Mets had been in first place all season, coming on strong down the stretch, winning seven in a row, with 12 wins in their last 13 games. Dating back to August 28th, Mets had won 17 of their last 22 games. 45,274 fans came out to Shea Stadium, to see the Mets clinch their second NL Eastern Title in three years. The Shea Faithful, cheered loudly from the first pitch onward through the night. Security levels Heightened: NYPD had 80 mounted policemen on horses with 800 plus Police officers in total, 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 & ripped up the field.  The public address announcer welcomed the Police presence in the 8th inning as the crowd greeted them with boos. The fans of course wanted to re...

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...