Dec
26
2012

Amazin’ Gifts I Wish I Could Have Given You…

An article by John Delcos

casey stengel

Good afternoon. I hope you all enjoyed your Christmas and you got what you wanted or needed. If I had the power, I would have given you these things:

* One more summer like 1969, when the expectations weren’t high and your team captured the imagination of the City and the nation.

* An ownership group solvent and desirous of giving you the talent you deserve to cheer for.

* One more night of Tom Seaver going into that classic windup and stride, brushing his right knee to the mound and throwing a darting fastball on the corner, with Willie Mays swinging and missing with a mighty grunt.

* Shea Stadium rocking one more time, with the stands actually moving as the K’s mount up for Dwight Gooden.

* Darryl Strawberry uncoiling that mighty swing of his and ripping a majestic blast deep into the bullpen area. That is, if it misses the scoreboard.

* Another summer against the classic rivalries, the Cubs, the Cardinals, the Braves … and beating them.

* Mike Piazza whiplash swing, rifling a line drive deep into the night.

* The gritty play of Len Dykstra and Wally Backman, diving for balls and into bases, letting us know hustle is still in vogue.

* Keith Hernandez, creeping in from first to pounce on the bunt and nail the runner going to third.

* Johan Santana, healthy from April through October.

* Jerry Koosman dropping a slow curve in on the hands of Willie McCovey.

* Those hundreds of creative signs on Banner Day.

* Seeing the stars come in one more time: Mays, Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Hank Aaron, Bob Gibson, Juan Marichal, Roberto Clemente, Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Gaylord Perry, Ron Santo, Billy Williams, Ernie Banks, Richie Allen, Mike Schmidt, Willie Stargell, Fergie Jenkins, Dale Murphy and yes, Chipper Jones.

* Jose Reyes drilling a liner into the gap, striding around the bases and diving head first into third with a triple.

* Ed Kranepool holding on speedster Maury Wills at first.

* A Dave Kingman moonshot, without the complementary strikeout.

* Shea Stadium on a sunny, Sunday afternoon.

* Citi Field, full for once on a date other than Opening Day and against somebody other than the Yankees.

* Speaking of the Yankees, sweeping them during interleague play.

* Carlos Beltran running into the gap to chase down a line drive.

* A solid rotation of Ron Darling and Sid Fernandez.

* Randy Myers throwing smoke in the ninth.

* Billy Wagner doing the same.

* Jerry Grote blocking the plate.

* An October of magic, with J.C. Martin getting the call when he was struck running down the line … with Tommie Agee chasing down uncatchable fly balls and Donn Clendenon ripping home runs.

* A summer when the non-descript come through in the clutch: Ken Boswell and Al Weis; Ron Taylor and Don Cardwell.

* Another spring training with Casey Stengel telling his tales.

* Another summer with Gil Hodges in the dugout.

* David Wright with supporting hitters all around him.

* John Olerud’s sweet swing.

* Robin Ventura with the bases loaded.

* R.A. Dickey’s knuckleball floating towards home.

* And, one more dribbler down the first base line from Mookie Wilson ….

About the Author: John Delcos

I am an active member of the BBWAA and have covered Major League Baseball in several capacities for over 20 years, including ten in New York working the Mets' and Yankees' beat. I covered the Baltimore Orioles for eight years and the Cleveland Indians before that. I currently serve as an editor and senior staff writer for Mets Merized Online. Follow me on Twitter @jdelcos.

11 Comments + Add Comment

pal88 December 26, 2012 at 1:03 pm

Great memories..tks
Mr North Jersey December 26, 2012 at 1:07 pm

These are nice but 2 things not mentioned that I would of like was watching Cone walk off the mound after ending an inning having struck someone out with his Laredo and watching Alfonzo go in the hole and rob someone of a base hit.
Metstheory22 December 26, 2012 at 1:08 pm

Can picture them as I read them.
calimetsfan December 26, 2012 at 1:15 pm

What about Endy Chavez robbing Scott Rolen.
Hank December 26, 2012 at 2:06 pm

A winning team. That is the gift I most wish I’d be able to gift to all Mets fans this year. Not playoffs. Not championships. Just an 83 win season.
Adam December 26, 2012 at 2:58 pm

One more Gary Carter smile, fists in the air, after a game winning hit…..
GameGeezer December 26, 2012 at 5:51 pm

Tug McGraw, Roger (hotfoot) McDowell and Jesse Orosco shutting the door in the 9th on the opposition.
ray sadecki December 26, 2012 at 6:55 pm

Thanks for that, John. A nice reminder that this club has given us many great memories and great players to follow over the years. Here is one – A forgotten met who thrilled us all with his magical glovework – How about a webgem from Rey Ordonez? who can ever forget the throwing out the runner at home from his knees in leftfield?
- Mr North Jersey December 26, 2012 at 7:01 pm
  
  You’ll enjoy this.
  http://youtu.be/Kzt9_cmHWVY
ray sadecki December 26, 2012 at 8:05 pm

Thanks for that north jersey, Rey was better than ozzie smith with the glove !!
Joe December 27, 2012 at 5:01 am

Ive seen worse teams on paper than the 2013 Mets do well & even win world series’.
IE: The 2010-2012 Giants, and the Rays since 2008. Neither one of those teams can hit their way out of a paper bag, but have been consistently contending because of their pitching.

The 2013 Mets will have a good starting rotation, IF they stay healthy. And, a better offensive line-up than either one of those teams. Remember that we were shockingly good in the first half of 2012 until Gee went down. Santana, Harvey, Niese, Gee, & Hefner is not a bad SR.
Of course it would have been better with Dickey & I hated to see him go, but if D’Arnoud pans out to be the next Pudge Rdgz. we will be better off than 90% of MLB teams who have horrible catchers. After all, a 5-tool catcher is absolutely the hardest asset to find in baseball, just ABOVE a starting rotation ACE.
I Loved Dickey, and I wouldnt have pulled the plug on that trade but its done so we can only hope those prospects pan out.
Obviously we have holes, but my point is that plenty of franchises over the years have been successful with similar holes.
I think we should re-sign Rauch and pull off a trade w/an american league team, Duda for a MLB ready right fielder.

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