Not a lot of great Mets born on December 3rd. Some of the notables are Mets third baseman from the 1969 World Series winning team, Wayne Garrett. Darryl Hamilton had his birthday today. Current Met Matt Reynolds' birthday is today as is a player with one of the greatest names' in team history---Tobi Stoner.
Since today is my birthday, I will give it an opportunity to talk about my lifetime passion for the Mets. Growing up in Long Island, it was either the Mets for the Yankees. My father and older brother had an allegiance to the Brooklyn Dodgers so my fate was sealed at a young age.
Shea Stadium was not that far from my house so I spent many a day of my youth at the ballpark. People deride it now, but I found Shea to be beautiful but I think it reflects my love of the Mets more than the Stadium. Still got a chill every time I saw that diamond, but I get the same chill with any baseball diamond.
Best Met game I ever attended in person---that's easy. First the story. I was eleven years old and my brother went to Stony Brook. My mom and I picked him up at the train station before Game 1 of the 1969 World Series. Because my Mom loved my brother and I more than anything in the world, she decided to drive us to Shea Stadium to see if there were any tickets left for World Series games.
As luck would have it, the Series was not sold out (can you imagine that possibly happening today) and there were a few tickets left for Game 5. Well, the rest is history. My brother and I went to the game and were there to watch it all. We even joined the thousands of fans who ran on the field. I still have my ticket and grass hanging in my wall today.
Best Mets game, I ever saw, not in person, easy answer for any Mets fans who was around in 1986--Game 6. My wife and I were newly married and she was well aware of my fanaticism. We sat there watching the game with my brother and my closest friend. There is no doubt in my mind that the collective screams of the four of us were louder in decibels than any you would see at a Guns N' Roses concert.
I voiced the same enthusiasm in the 2015 World Series. Even got my son to become a Mets fan for that run. I'm sorry, I don't buy the narrative that the Royals were the better team--we were. The whole series amounted to one player--Wade Davis. If we had him, we would have won, but they had him so they won.
So today I turn 59, I'm not a kid anymore, though I still think like one. My thoughts are already on 2017. Love hot stove league but love the magic words of spring training even more. Signing Cespedes was a great move as was signing Neal Walker. We are loaded to bear this year with that pitching staff. We also come back with a healthy Duda and hopefully a healthy Wright. Love Cabrera and Curtis and hopefully a consistent Bruce.
I am doing what I love most about baseball and the Mets. I am always looking forward and dreaming of the day of our next World Series. Sure, I take shots at Mets karma and have dealt with Mets jokes all my life, but you know as long as they still play this magnificent game, the Mets will have a chance to win it all. Bring on 2017.
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