Shea Stadium farewell was low key but worked well
I thought the closing ceremonies for Shea were simple but warmly effective, especially that pitch from Tom Seaver to Mike Piazza, and the two of them closing the outfield doors for good.
I wish I could gloat about being there, and the symmetry of seeing Seaver throw the first pitch I witnessed at Shea in 1970 and the last Sunday, but I had a previous non-sports social engagement, so I watched on TV like everyone else.
Unfortunately I got home too late for the game itself. How did the Mets do?
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Comments (9)
I was there. The 45 minutes or so after the Mets blew it and before the ceremonies started, the crowd was very hostile and booed when they were saying "the ceremoney will start in ___ minutes". The walk of shame down the ramp fromt the upper deck, felt the same as last year, sigh.
As well as the Ferrari pit crew did refueling Felipe Massa at Singapore F1 Grand Prix.
For a franchise that has bungled its share of events, big and small, I thought they did a very nice job with the ceremony yesterday.
Neil, my question to you - can you find out if SNY plans on showing the ceremony again? I recorded it but I've been contacted by Mets fans all over the country who missed it because they were either listening on XM, watching on TBS or watching via MLB Extra Innings - none of which who carried the ceremony (or the pre-game interviews either with many of the returning players).
I would think it's a no-brainer to edit the interviews and the ceremony together to show again, but I'm not sure they're considering it.
It started off slow, and SNY wasn't up to snuff on the camera angles as people walked out from behind home plate. But as it progressed, Bill Webb did a spectacular job of directing his camera crew.
I'll admit I was in tears for most of it. I'm only 20 years old, but I pour my blood, sweat, and tears into following and blogging this team as much as possible. I wasn't alive for most of those historic plays and players, but I felt like I knew them through the franchise.
So long, Shea. I miss you already.
It was imbecilic to hold the ceremony after the game; the only way it could have been enjoyable is if they had somehow clinched the wild card, then it would have been a true celebration.
Always hung over the decision was the chance they would have been eliminated, as they were, or their mind would be on a play in game the next evening.
To hold this ceremony trying to cheer for this losing organization, and trust me I'm a big Met fan, was ludicrous.
Was it really raining that hard? I really thought the whole purpose of the delay was to make sure we were toe to toe with the Brewers game.
Neil, from the sounds of both Howie and Wayne yesterday it seemed both will be back and it will be on WFAN. Any new news on that?
Does anyone have a list or a link to a site with the list of players there yesterday? Thanks.
CMG: I wrote last week that a new deal with WFAN and Mets is likely.
I thought having Mr. Met pull off the last number was pretty lame. That deserved to get booed.
The rest of the ceremony was quite nice. I liked the end, with Piazza & Seaver walking off into the field and disappearing behind the closing gates.