MMO 2012 Top 50 Mets Prospects: Reference Links

About the Author: Peter Shapiro

The first time I went to Shea was not for a Mets game, it was for the Beatles concert there in August of '66. My first Met game was '67, a guy named Salty Parker was the interim-manager then. My first pennant race was 1969. As a 12 year-old that summer and fall, I managed to get to the park for 3 games. The first was the beginning of the Miracle which actually started on Tuesday July 8, 1969 with a day game against the Cubs. I was there a lot in '73. I saw games 3 & 5 of the 1973 NL Playoffs against the "Big Red Machine", from the upper deck behind home plate. It was from there that I witnessed the fight between Bud Harrelson and Pete Rose, and the mayhem that ensued. And that sweet victory in game 5! I saw a couple of WS games at Shea that year against that legendary Oakland A's club. I was there in 1985 for every single game Dr. K pitched including his two 16 strikeout performances, and the day he one-hit the Cubs on an infield single and the Mets won 1-0. I was there the day the Mets made that miraculous comeback against the Braves in the ninth inning by scoring eight runs. I saw a Banner Day in the '70's against the Phillies. The parading fans had to leave their seats in the 4th inning of the first game to get in line outside the stadium. The first game went 18 innings, before they were allowed to do their sign parade across the field. I loved being a Met fan in those days. Hopefully we are once again preparing to emerge from the darkness.