You can root for the Mets without being convinced of their doom
Congratulations to John Franco for being selected for the Mets Hall of Fame.
Did you know John Franco threw out the first ever ceremonial first pitch at Citi Field? It’s true! It took place at an exhibition game between St. Johns and Georgetown. Franco went to St. Johns, so was tagged to do the honors.
The Mets Hall of Fame game is Sunday. Before the game they’re having a ceremony and inducting Frank Cashen, Dwight Gooden, Davey Johnson, and Darryl Strawberry into the Mets Hall of Fame. There are still tickets available. There are still TOO MANY tickets available. Shannon over at Mets Police has been all over this, and rightfully so. It’s one thing if the mid-level seats that are priced above what’s affordable for many people don’t sell out. It’s quite another if the Promenade section doesn’t.
The lack of Mets history in Citi Field was one of the biggest complaints about the place last year. More so than even Pelfrey letting Jody Gerut hit the first home run in the place. Even if you only go to a few games this year, this should be near the top of the list of options. It’s honoring one of our greatest teams. Great players who we enjoyed rooting for for many years and the leaders who helped get them there. True Mets. It doesn’t matter what they did off the field or later in their careers in lesser leagues. They did something for Mets fans that can never be erased, and to miss out on that for petty reasons like inflation, personal feelings about current players or administrators, or the organization or park not being precisely how you like it is just sad. It’s one thing if it doesn’t fit into your schedule, your personal finances, or you’re flat out busy that day, but it’s quite another to make a specific effort NOT to go. If you’re going to stop celebrating the best parts of the Mets history, what are you going to celebrate?
As usual, I’ll be heading out to Citi Field more than a couple of times this season. I’ve currently committed to four games, as you can see in the ‘upcoming games’ box on the sidebar.
I try to get to Opening Day any chance I can. I wasn’t able to secure or afford second hand tickets to the Opener last year, but this year with demand a little down and it not being a new stadium, I was able to get tickets. I’ll be in the Promenade Box, and Opening Day can’t come soon enough. I always remember the early April games, and walking into Shea Stadium, and remembering how much I missed being there, and how much I felt I belonged. I suspect this season will be no different, and I already have a bunch of things planned. If you’re also going to be there, you should check out Mets Police’s Blue Cap Army. All you have to do is show up wearing a blue Mets cap. Easy!
Opening Day has a lot of hoopla to get out of the way, and it’s more about the return of baseball games that count, so I like to get to another game early on to devote solely to the Mets. Friday April 9th will be that game. I’m going alone, will probably spend most of the game on my feet wandering around to different parts of the stadium and enjoying the different vantage points. I’ll probably buy a scorecard and keep score, and have my camera and take a billion pictures.
Pyrotechnics night is July 5th. I was frequently at Shea for Fireworks night, and I was lamenting it’s disappearance once Citi Field’s construction starting taking up the parking lot, so I’m glad it’s back in some fashion. I have no idea how they’re going to do it, and what the difference between pyrotechnics and fireworks is, but I’m sure it’ll be fun.
The Hall of Fame ceremony game is August 1st. Something that has been somewhat lacking in the last couple of years is a true celebration of long time Mets greats, and properly honoring them. This day will rectify that, and it should be a game that sells out. After all, there has been tons of screaming and yelling about Citi Field not having enough Mets history in it. If you’re one of those people, you pretty much have to be there. It would look really bad if Mets fans were clamoring for Mets history but don’t sell out a game celebrating it. This isn’t about the team this year, this is about being a Mets fan. As of right now, not even the cheapest section is sold out.