UPDATE: 8:00pm
Here is a response from Sandy Alderson courtesy of Adam Rubin. Click on link to read what Jeff Wilpon said.
Sandy Alderson: “Saturday night, my father, John Alderson, a retired Air Force pilot and a healthy and vibrant 87 years of age, was struck by a car and died in St. Petersburg, Fla. Our entire family is devastated by his loss. He was a beloved father and grandfather who will be deeply missed by all of us. He and I shared many baseball experiences over the years and he was excited about spring training and Opening Day at Citi Field. I am terribly saddened that we will not be able to share those new experiences together.”
UPDATE: 7:26pm
According to the David DeCamp of the St Petersburg Times just before midnight John L Anderson who was 87 yrs old was crossing Fourth Street near 36th Avenue N when he was hit by a vehicle.
The driver Jeffrey W. Lachance, 21, of St. Petersburg didn’t see Alderson and his Jeep struck him according to early reports by the St Petersburg Police who are still investigating. Alderson was taken to the Bayfront Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The article goes on to report his son David Alderson to say “the family has not learned why their father was out, but said he may have gone out with friends, perhaps to watch football games. He didn’t have his car with him.”
David Alderson described his father as “extremely healthy” and “87 going on 40,” and “”He played softball three times a week with the Kids N’ Kubs” a softball club for senior citizens.
Original Post: 7:14pm
Adam Rubin just reported that Sandy Alderson’s dad John Alderson was pronounced dead 45 minuted after being struck by a vehicle.
We will report more as we get info. Our condolences to Sandy Alderson and his family. We are so sorry to hear about their loss.
27 comments
rustyjr
11/14/2010-7:16pm at 7:16 pm (UTC -4)
My condolences go out to the Alderson family
njstuckintx
11/14/2010-7:26pm at 7:26 pm (UTC -4)
That saddens me.. My condolences, as well.
And not to be as douche bag, but thinking how this affects the Mets, I had figured they’d have a manager in place by Monday of next week. i think that got pushed back 4+ days.
rustyjr
11/14/2010-7:31pm at 7:31 pm (UTC -4)
Im sure he will delegate that to riccardi or depo – sandy is a marine he probably be back asap
njstuckintx
11/14/2010-7:38pm at 7:38 pm (UTC -4)
I hope so, Met’s need a MGR in place ASAP (In my mind).
Stay strong, Sandy.
stickguy
11/14/2010-7:39pm at 7:39 pm (UTC -4)
Tx, why are you so worried about it? What is the manager going to do in the next couple of weeks anyway?
njstuckintx
11/14/2010-7:42pm at 7:42 pm (UTC -4)
The longer the focus is on getting the Management & coaches and crap in place, the less attention is put towards the lineup. I know, in the overall picture it won’t make too muck of a deal, but I’d like to see Sandy come in and get his plan into action.
kingman 26
11/14/2010-8:34pm at 8:34 pm (UTC -4)
It’s Nov 14.
njstuckintx
11/14/2010-8:40pm at 8:40 pm (UTC -4)
I’m not patient. My wife can confirm that.
kingman 26
11/14/2010-8:55pm at 8:55 pm (UTC -4)
You normally are one of the most even-handed, fair-minded people on here, even when I am at my worst.
Probably should keep the impatience in check when it comes to the death of someone’s father.
Spring training is over three months away. Alderson has two extremely competent assistants. The team has been a wreck for two years. Giving him a week to deal with this horrific loss seems reasonable to me.
stickguy
11/14/2010-10:49pm at 10:49 pm (UTC -4)
Yes. have faith that the new improved FO can successfully multi task. It also doesn’t take that much time to do the interviews, and it isn’t like they have to spend all day thinking about them in between.
njstuckintx
11/14/2010-11:13pm at 11:13 pm (UTC -4)
Would you guys stop making sense please.
metsfan4decades
11/14/2010-7:38pm at 7:38 pm (UTC -4)
That is just sad. I’m very sorry to hear that.
My father in law – 87 years old as well, lives just a few streets down from where this accident happened. That 4th street is like an Indy 500 track. I always hate driving down there in that area.
Thoughts and prayers go out to Sandy and his family.
stickguy
11/14/2010-7:38pm at 7:38 pm (UTC -4)
this is certainly a downer. Horrible thing for the family. Usually getting someone to 87 is a good thing, but still a hard to thing to have happen.
as to the mets, no big deal really if it only means pushing some manager interviews back a week or so. No need for the guy in the near future.
and with Hurdle gone, no other team is at all interested in any of the Met favorites. Not like melvin, Collins or backman is in any danger of getting hired to manage elsewhere.
And I don’t think there are any player moves that need to happen or be decided upon soon.
so take the time you need to deal with the family. Let the high powered FO handle things in the meantime.
GravediggerHebner
11/14/2010-7:59pm at 7:59 pm (UTC -4)
Condolences to the Alderson family.
Mr North Jersey
11/14/2010-8:11pm at 8:11 pm (UTC -4)
I was saying on MMO that at 87 you would think old age or sickness would be what gets you in the end not getting hit by a car crossing a street.
The son described his dad as 87 going on 40. Sounded like a man that had a lot to live for still. My condolences to his family & friends.
GravediggerHebner
11/14/2010-8:15pm at 8:15 pm (UTC -4)
Hopefully the driver of the Jeep wasn’t under the influence of anything.
Mostly for the peace of mind of the Alderson family, but also for the managerial hiring process. I mean from the perspective of we fans debating, I can’t even begin to imagine the perspective of Sandy Alderson.
Mr North Jersey
11/14/2010-8:19pm at 8:19 pm (UTC -4)
if you read the comments in the st petersburg times article it seems that street is bad for hitting pedestrians and 4d also seems to be aware of its reputation.
maybe Sandy Alderson’s Dad’s death will create change for the better on that street so those incidents can be reduced.
metsfan4decades
11/15/2010-12:18am at 12:18 am (UTC -4)
When my in-laws moved down there in the early 80s, I thought 4th street and the surrounding area was a zoo b/c it was mostly seniors in St. Pete, back in the day.
But over the past 25 years, it’s grown in size 10 fold with young families and it’s actually worse than ever. I’m sure if some engineers studied that it would be poor planning with too many side street exists and entrances, a zillion strip malls and not enough traffic lights and/or stop signs. People zip in and out of the main thoroughfares trying to blend in with what has just become too much traffic in an area that was never designed for it.
Ceetar
11/14/2010-10:03pm at 10:03 pm (UTC -4)
Sad news.
Not a dire need for a manager immediately, although we are the last team without one. Same with free agents, although I’m sure the guys can hold down the fort, and Sandy doesn’t strike me as the type to turn off his phone and be out of touch.
stickguy
11/14/2010-10:54pm at 10:54 pm (UTC -4)
look at it this way. Most managers are on extended vacation at this time of year, since there really isn’t much pressing for them to be doing.
And since we have the only opening, none of the candidates are getting other manager jobs. And I don’t think they have a line of people offering them 7 figure salaries to do other things.
so purely from a met standpoint, if you are going to have the GM out of commission for a week or so dealing with family tragedy , this is a pretty good time for it to happen.
stickguy
11/14/2010-10:55pm at 10:55 pm (UTC -4)
assuming of course that the GM meetings don’t start in the next few days.
stickguy
11/14/2010-10:56pm at 10:56 pm (UTC -4)
OK, so I was wrong. The meetings start Tuesday. I guess Depodestra can handle things.
kingman 26
11/14/2010-11:09pm at 11:09 pm (UTC -4)
“And since we have the only opening, none of the candidates are getting other manager jobs.”
Yes, and thank you.
Folks, it is November 14th.
His father was just killed.
Please have some perspective; I am trying to control my impulses here, but seriously—his father was just killed and this is baseball.
Mr North Jersey
11/14/2010-11:15pm at 11:15 pm (UTC -4)
No this guy over at MMO is a peach check his 1st comment upon hearing the news.
Matt says:
November 14, 2010 at 8:07 pm
That sucks. I guess this means hiring a manager is going to take even longer.
Then when he is called out for being insensitive he says
Matt says:
November 14, 2010 at 8:50 pm
I’m a die hard Mets fan…I don’t care about their personal lives. Just win baby!
These are the times I ask myself wtf?
[pulling my hair virtually]
stickguy
11/14/2010-11:06pm at 11:06 pm (UTC -4)
on actual BB business related to the mets, the phillies are still on a role trying to become the yankees of the NL. This time, as the oldest team.
they apparently are about to sign Contreras (age 39, or at least that is what he admits to) to a 2 year deal. Multi years to old guys, an Amaro special (like Omar with his option years).
and they are reported to be interested in takahishi too.
metsfan4decades
11/15/2010-12:30am at 12:30 am (UTC -4)
Well, sounds like they’re going to learn the hard way – just like the Mets did. Hope they keep right on signing them. Really…..that luck has to run out sooner or later, right?
metsfan4decades
11/15/2010-12:59am at 12:59 am (UTC -4)
On another note, Rubin tweets:
AdamRubinESPN Mets look like they’ll get through entire Fox Sunday lineup without being punchline. “The Cleveland Show” went after Danny Almonte instead.
You know……
I’m an avid reader and my favorite author is JD Robb (pseudonym for Nora Roberts). She writes as JD Robb specifically for her ‘In Death’ series. It’s a futuristic murder/mystery series, with the first book starting in 2059. Book #31 in the series just came out and I started reading it yesterday.
She’s a big baseball fan as well as black and white movies and she often incorporates either/or as a mention in her books or even part of the story line. I figure she’s a Yankee fan as she’s always referencing them.
I’m a little more than halfway through and a third murder by some serial killers just happened. The NYPD homicide detective shows up at the scene and is going to interview the gardener and his son who found the body. She walks in and first-on-scene officers have the two witness secured. The one officer is talking to the kid about baseball and arguing over a call at third base in last night’s game.
The witnesses look up and the LT says: “Officer, I’ll need the room”.
The cop responds: “Yes sir. A Mets fan”. The cop shook his head in mock pity as he rose. “You meet all kinds”.
“Ah, come on!” The kid laughed but darted nervous eyes to the LT.
************
Come on, Nora. That’s just wrong…..