Baseball Stories
Aug 28th, 2006, 10:13 AM
#21
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My brother has been a faithful Mets fan since the early 1970s. For years he'd had a "Saturday Plan" season ticket, seats for all Saturday home games. He always gets at two seats in his plan so he can invite friends and family. I know about NY baseball because it's difficult to live in NY and avoid the spectacle, but I am not a devoted fan by any means.
In 1999, the Mets finally made it into the playoffs after years in the doldrums. As a season-ticket holder my brother was able to purchase tickets for the home games. For the game on his birthday, October 17, 1999, he couldn't find any friends to attend, so he asked me along. I had not been to a game in a ballpark in at least 20 years.
For those who are looking for justification, here's the travel part of the story:
I boarded the #6 train at Astor Place in the East Village. At Grand Central, I transfered to the #7 train to Shea Stadium, arriving well before the afternoon game start time and finding my brother easily at our gate.
The Mets were playing the Braves who were heavily favored to win yet another League Championship and World Series. More than usual tension was in the air that week following Atlanta-pitcher John Rocker's racist comments about the #7 train I had just ridden. Also of interest to New Yorkers, the Yankees were playing the Red Sox in Boston at 8PM later that day. The stadium and city was dreaming of a subway series.
The Mets scored two runs in the first inning; the Braves tied the score in the fourth. The next innings, though scoreless, were not uneventful. Players made it to base . . but didn't score. Individual moments of excellence added to the day--to quote the MLBaseball site, "Mets manager Bobby Valentine called on Orel Hershiser, who promptly showed flashes of his glory days with the Dodgers in '88. Hershiser entered with two on, no outs and promptly threw 3 1/3 innings of shutout baseball."
It started raining, but play continued. It was too important a game to continue another day. Our seats were under the overhang in right field, so we had no idea how much rain was really falling until we saw puddles forming in the outfield. Eventually there was a rain delay. The rain continued, then lessened, so play resumed. Still, each inning was exciting with people getting on base and close plays. Pitchers came and went. My brother mused that he thought the Mets had an outfielder who used to pitch that could be used if they used all their pitchers. Eventually it began to rain really hard again. You could see puddles in the base paths.
Here's the MLBaseball site again.
"Neither team would score again until the 15th inning.
In the top of the 15th, Keith Lockhart - who was thrown out at home two innings earlier - knocked in shortstop Walt Weiss for the go-ahead run, giving Atlanta a 3-2 lead heading into the bottom of the inning.
Though Atlanta's Kevin McGlinchy promptly loaded the bases, Manager Bobby Cox allowed him to face Robin Ventura rather than call on one of the two pitchers he had left: Game 6 starter Kevin Millwood, or Game 7 starter Tom Glavine. Ventura, who was hitless thus far in the series, parked a grand slam over the right-field wall … or did he?
After Roger Cedeno scored the winning run, Ventura was mobbed by teammates before he made it around the bases. The official scorer would credit Ventura with only a single. Still, Ventura's grand single was enough to force a sixth game.
Though the Mets went on to lose the series, it could not lessen the impact of Game 5 among history's greatest games. "It will be right up there," said Hershiser at the time, "with Kirk Gibson's home run, Carlton Fisk, Bucky Dent. This one will be on that tape with them."
At five hours and 46 minutes, it was the longest game in postseason history - but this Shea Stadium classic was well worth the wait. In all, it took 45 players, 15 innings, 482 pitches and a whole lot of rain for the Mets to force a Game 6 back in Atlanta."
I was there. I saw it. I watched the non-grand slam ball clear the fence in front of me. And I danced in the rain with my brother and 40,000 other New Yorkers.
In 1999, the Mets finally made it into the playoffs after years in the doldrums. As a season-ticket holder my brother was able to purchase tickets for the home games. For the game on his birthday, October 17, 1999, he couldn't find any friends to attend, so he asked me along. I had not been to a game in a ballpark in at least 20 years.
For those who are looking for justification, here's the travel part of the story:
I boarded the #6 train at Astor Place in the East Village. At Grand Central, I transfered to the #7 train to Shea Stadium, arriving well before the afternoon game start time and finding my brother easily at our gate.
The Mets were playing the Braves who were heavily favored to win yet another League Championship and World Series. More than usual tension was in the air that week following Atlanta-pitcher John Rocker's racist comments about the #7 train I had just ridden. Also of interest to New Yorkers, the Yankees were playing the Red Sox in Boston at 8PM later that day. The stadium and city was dreaming of a subway series.
The Mets scored two runs in the first inning; the Braves tied the score in the fourth. The next innings, though scoreless, were not uneventful. Players made it to base . . but didn't score. Individual moments of excellence added to the day--to quote the MLBaseball site, "Mets manager Bobby Valentine called on Orel Hershiser, who promptly showed flashes of his glory days with the Dodgers in '88. Hershiser entered with two on, no outs and promptly threw 3 1/3 innings of shutout baseball."
It started raining, but play continued. It was too important a game to continue another day. Our seats were under the overhang in right field, so we had no idea how much rain was really falling until we saw puddles forming in the outfield. Eventually there was a rain delay. The rain continued, then lessened, so play resumed. Still, each inning was exciting with people getting on base and close plays. Pitchers came and went. My brother mused that he thought the Mets had an outfielder who used to pitch that could be used if they used all their pitchers. Eventually it began to rain really hard again. You could see puddles in the base paths.
Here's the MLBaseball site again.
"Neither team would score again until the 15th inning.
In the top of the 15th, Keith Lockhart - who was thrown out at home two innings earlier - knocked in shortstop Walt Weiss for the go-ahead run, giving Atlanta a 3-2 lead heading into the bottom of the inning.
Though Atlanta's Kevin McGlinchy promptly loaded the bases, Manager Bobby Cox allowed him to face Robin Ventura rather than call on one of the two pitchers he had left: Game 6 starter Kevin Millwood, or Game 7 starter Tom Glavine. Ventura, who was hitless thus far in the series, parked a grand slam over the right-field wall … or did he?
After Roger Cedeno scored the winning run, Ventura was mobbed by teammates before he made it around the bases. The official scorer would credit Ventura with only a single. Still, Ventura's grand single was enough to force a sixth game.
Though the Mets went on to lose the series, it could not lessen the impact of Game 5 among history's greatest games. "It will be right up there," said Hershiser at the time, "with Kirk Gibson's home run, Carlton Fisk, Bucky Dent. This one will be on that tape with them."
At five hours and 46 minutes, it was the longest game in postseason history - but this Shea Stadium classic was well worth the wait. In all, it took 45 players, 15 innings, 482 pitches and a whole lot of rain for the Mets to force a Game 6 back in Atlanta."
I was there. I saw it. I watched the non-grand slam ball clear the fence in front of me. And I danced in the rain with my brother and 40,000 other New Yorkers.
Aug 28th, 2006, 10:27 AM
#22
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Wow, Chele60, that was a good game. Did you want to leave at any time?
The two Sox (Red/White)had an 18 inning game this year, and I didn't think it would ever end, it was 6 hours something, but it wasn't a post season game. I went to the hospital, did about twenty chores in Chicago and 4 suburbs, came home, and it was still on.
I have to admit that there were times during rain delays in the old park in the 1970's with a total of 5000 other people (empty) and two boys and their friends, that I just wanted to go home. Most of the time we were with the Park District buses and couldn't.
The boys used to play It and Kick the Can in the empty rows with the kids from the next section. I can remember when there were five people in 500 seats in the upper deck or outfield.
Well, those days are all gone.
One of my boys was at the "Bartman" Cubs playoff game. Another whole story, another whole world.
The two Sox (Red/White)had an 18 inning game this year, and I didn't think it would ever end, it was 6 hours something, but it wasn't a post season game. I went to the hospital, did about twenty chores in Chicago and 4 suburbs, came home, and it was still on.
I have to admit that there were times during rain delays in the old park in the 1970's with a total of 5000 other people (empty) and two boys and their friends, that I just wanted to go home. Most of the time we were with the Park District buses and couldn't.
The boys used to play It and Kick the Can in the empty rows with the kids from the next section. I can remember when there were five people in 500 seats in the upper deck or outfield.
Well, those days are all gone.
One of my boys was at the "Bartman" Cubs playoff game. Another whole story, another whole world.
Aug 28th, 2006, 10:55 AM
#23
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JJ5--was your response to me about the Met game? No, we never wanted to leave. Some people let but the majority seemed to stay. There was plenty of action in the NY crowd, even during the delays. Rocker pitched at one point in the game, and you can imagine the crowd reaction--ever heard 40,000 people chant "a**-h**e"?
The game went on so long, that eventually the Yankees-Sox game began in Boston. We were watching the out-of-town scoreboard for those results. According to reports I read the next day, at Fenway the fans were watching the out-of-town Mets scores as well, reacting to it just as much as to the game they were witnessing live.
The game went on so long, that eventually the Yankees-Sox game began in Boston. We were watching the out-of-town scoreboard for those results. According to reports I read the next day, at Fenway the fans were watching the out-of-town Mets scores as well, reacting to it just as much as to the game they were witnessing live.
Aug 28th, 2006, 11:12 AM
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Yes, ellenem, I'm sorry. I misread the thread post sequence.
That's really good for a someone who doesn't particularly like or follow baseball. It's a llllllooooonng game.
You wouldn't believe the 40,000 strong chants I've heard, especially against Albert Belle. Can't print them here.
Right now, circa Aug. '06 they actually keep telling you re scoreboard or audio what Detroit or MN is doing too.
One more, before I leave, he was SUCH a gentlemen. Bo Jackson. I met him right before, at a batting warm-up, and also the year after his hip replacement- when he was sitting and talking to the early arrivals. What an athlete! Too bad he didn't ditch football early for baseball. He would have had the body left for some career long time.
That's really good for a someone who doesn't particularly like or follow baseball. It's a llllllooooonng game.
You wouldn't believe the 40,000 strong chants I've heard, especially against Albert Belle. Can't print them here.
Right now, circa Aug. '06 they actually keep telling you re scoreboard or audio what Detroit or MN is doing too.
One more, before I leave, he was SUCH a gentlemen. Bo Jackson. I met him right before, at a batting warm-up, and also the year after his hip replacement- when he was sitting and talking to the early arrivals. What an athlete! Too bad he didn't ditch football early for baseball. He would have had the body left for some career long time.
Aug 28th, 2006, 11:24 AM
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for me, the most amazing baseball experience I have ever had, as a spectator, was watching the end of the 1st world series game in 1988. The Dodgers are the home team, down 2 runs, and I think there are 2 outs in the 9th, and Kurt Gibson hobbles out of the dugout, barely able to walk, and...hits a home run.
It as so apparently impossible, it seemed at the time ( and seems now) like a fairly tale. There seem to be so many wonderful life lessons one could glean from this.
I was home watching the game with my dad, who was sick at the time and he died a few months later. So it as a very poignant time and a great, if somewhat sad, memory.
It as so apparently impossible, it seemed at the time ( and seems now) like a fairly tale. There seem to be so many wonderful life lessons one could glean from this.
I was home watching the game with my dad, who was sick at the time and he died a few months later. So it as a very poignant time and a great, if somewhat sad, memory.
Aug 28th, 2006, 12:38 PM
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File it under what a coincidence - the husband of my wife's college roommate and I saw our first Yankee game the same night in 1975 when we were both 10 and living on opposite coasts. We both remembered the game because the Yankees fired their manager and hired Billy Martin the next day.
While not a Mets fan, I still remember the excitement of the 1986 playoffs. I had night class in college and every minute someone else would walk out and come back to update the class on the Mets-Astros game 6. (Won in the 16th by the Mets.)
My parent's friend has a great baseball story. In HS he was a decent pitcher and thought he was a shoe in to pitch on his HS team as a junior. But, when he got beat out by kid so much better, he didn't think he was any good and quit playing, not knowing at the time that Sandy Koufax was Sandy Koufax.
While not a Mets fan, I still remember the excitement of the 1986 playoffs. I had night class in college and every minute someone else would walk out and come back to update the class on the Mets-Astros game 6. (Won in the 16th by the Mets.)
My parent's friend has a great baseball story. In HS he was a decent pitcher and thought he was a shoe in to pitch on his HS team as a junior. But, when he got beat out by kid so much better, he didn't think he was any good and quit playing, not knowing at the time that Sandy Koufax was Sandy Koufax.
Aug 28th, 2006, 03:24 PM
#28
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Sorry that I haven't been around to thank everyone for such a great round of responses to the thread. They really are terrific.
on this VERY site, yes Fodor's, there is a place called Other Topics...why not post something like this there?
That's a great tip. I had no idea there is an area called Other Topics. I'll try to remember next time.
On the other hand, I can't really too bad about starting a thread clearly titled, "Baseball Stories." I doubt that anybody could possibly be misled. And I really was hoping that some of the posts would be more related to travel than mine was.
But what the heck, your posts are great to read for whatever reason!
on this VERY site, yes Fodor's, there is a place called Other Topics...why not post something like this there?
That's a great tip. I had no idea there is an area called Other Topics. I'll try to remember next time.
On the other hand, I can't really too bad about starting a thread clearly titled, "Baseball Stories." I doubt that anybody could possibly be misled. And I really was hoping that some of the posts would be more related to travel than mine was.
But what the heck, your posts are great to read for whatever reason!
Aug 28th, 2006, 07:53 PM
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I just had to add my own "non-personal" baseball story when I saw this thread. We were over an hour late to have cocktails and chatter with some old, dear friends this evening because my DH had to watch the entire game of the Little League Championship.
I have to admit....I almost got teary eyed when the US team won. What a good game, even though I only saw bits and parts of it.
What a great group of players...on both sides of the game.
I have to admit....I almost got teary eyed when the US team won. What a good game, even though I only saw bits and parts of it.
What a great group of players...on both sides of the game.
Aug 29th, 2006, 06:10 AM
#32
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Yes, it was good. I've watched it in spurts for the last couple of weeks. Lemont lost to Oregon which lost to the GA team which playted Japan.
It was a good game, the final one 2-1.
Pitchers were tremendous.
A real baseball story- with the Little League World Series: The Lemont,IL coach was so happy when they won the game before the Oregon game, that he jumped up with the last out and hit his head on the rafter of the dug out structure and knocked himself out. Everyone was running all over in glee and didn't realize that he was knocked out on the ground down there for about 4 minutes, they think. He is ok now. But talk about being happy!!!
I've talked to some of those boys and it is an experience they will never forget. They said they met people from all over the world this year, and that it was wonderful win or lose. We had a parade for them when they arrived home.
It was a good game, the final one 2-1.
Pitchers were tremendous.
A real baseball story- with the Little League World Series: The Lemont,IL coach was so happy when they won the game before the Oregon game, that he jumped up with the last out and hit his head on the rafter of the dug out structure and knocked himself out. Everyone was running all over in glee and didn't realize that he was knocked out on the ground down there for about 4 minutes, they think. He is ok now. But talk about being happy!!!
I've talked to some of those boys and it is an experience they will never forget. They said they met people from all over the world this year, and that it was wonderful win or lose. We had a parade for them when they arrived home.
Aug 29th, 2006, 07:00 AM
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JJ5--We too had followed the Little League World Series. I live next to Beaverton, when the OR boys were from. You have to get to Safeco Field. Not a bad seat in the house! A late afternoon/evening game is great as you can watch the sunset over the city. If the game is not going well, you can always just view the city/ferries/etc from your seat as well.
Aug 29th, 2006, 07:04 AM
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My DH wants to visit EVERY baseball park in the US and Canada.....that makes this a travel thread for me, I am thinking. My fave moment was in Turner Field...go Braves, when Cal Ripken played his last game there...what a guy...I LOVE him! He got a standing ovation from the crowd,,,what a moment!!!!
Aug 29th, 2006, 07:14 AM
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Meant to add Jr....Cal Ripken Junior..and my DH whenever we go to a stadium where we are visiting, people invariably ask us where we are from and why are we there,...he says he is baseball fan,,,doesn't really matter who wins, he just loves the game! Gotravel, that is quite a story!
Aug 29th, 2006, 08:10 AM
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Believe it or not I was at the 4th game of the playoffs between NY and Boston in 2004 when Boston started its comeback. It was a weird game - very gloom and doom at the beginning (Sox were down 0-3 to the bad guys and needed to win 4 in a row to get to the World Series). Still remember them playing the theme to the Exoricist before the game started. Exercising the Curse I suppose. Unfortunately we left before the rally started - it was late and we had to get home to the babysitter. We heard the most exciting parts of the game on the radio.
I'm another one who loves to travel to see the Red Sox play - been to Safeco, Camden Yards, Skydome. Love to get to Jacobs, Arlington and many other fields too.
I'm another one who loves to travel to see the Red Sox play - been to Safeco, Camden Yards, Skydome. Love to get to Jacobs, Arlington and many other fields too.
Aug 29th, 2006, 08:24 AM
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We have an "inside" family joke that started it in the '80's that is too lengthy to explain, but NO one leaves the game early in my family. Nor do they visit the rest rooms when our guys are up to bat. There have been a few exceptions. One time I went to a day game and found my son and his entire family with a 5 DAY OLD INFANT there. It was hot, and I made them leave early. It is sick.
In an emergency, my oldest son sidestepped the "rules". He will never live down the fact, from his brother, and his best friend that he missed the game winning run, hit within 15 yards of them last year at the White Sox post-season AL play offs.
In an emergency, my oldest son sidestepped the "rules". He will never live down the fact, from his brother, and his best friend that he missed the game winning run, hit within 15 yards of them last year at the White Sox post-season AL play offs.
Aug 29th, 2006, 02:47 PM
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LuccaBrazzi, we saw Tony Gwynn Jr. last night at the Isotopes/Nashville Sounds game. He pinch hit for Nashville in the top of the 9th inning.
My son played his first season of Little League this year, and was the most improved player on his team. The coolest thing he did was hit a grand slam at his final at-bat in his final game of the season. He was so excited!
He's playing fall ball (moving up to the majors next year and wanted more experience) despite having a cast on his left arm. He has come up with some creative ways to field the ball.
Lee Ann
My son played his first season of Little League this year, and was the most improved player on his team. The coolest thing he did was hit a grand slam at his final at-bat in his final game of the season. He was so excited!
He's playing fall ball (moving up to the majors next year and wanted more experience) despite having a cast on his left arm. He has come up with some creative ways to field the ball.
Lee Ann
