" Tis better to give !"
Yesterday I attended the the Mets annual coat drive that helps provide warm winter jackets to homeless and less fortunate New Yorkers who need warm clothing to survive the brutally cold northeastern winters.
This was my wife and I’s first return to Citi Field since late August Jonathan Niese was beaten down by the Arizona Diamondbacks. It was the Mets Hall of Fame induction game where the likenesses of Doc, Straw, Davey and the Bow-tie would forever grace the halls of the Mets museum, Immortalized.
My wife and I donated a warm winter-coat each to a volunteer who gave us a recipt for tax purposes and a 15% off coupon for the team store. We were told that we missed David Wright, Jason Bay Ike Davis and newly coronated manager, Terry Collins by a few hours.We were then directed to go to the room where the Jerry Manuel had given many a sad – yet funny post game interviews, and we were asked to fill out a form which gave us five games in April for us to choose from. When my wife and I were finished, we handed in our form, when we saw a older man who seemed depressed venting to a few Mets employees about the lack of big ticket moves thus far thi season.I interrupted the conversation by saying to the man “ But you know aside from Lee there isn’t any great pitcher out there for us to obtain via free agency” The man sheepishly replied “ I know, but I want them to do something”I talked to this man at length and he has been a fan since before I was a mass of cells within my mothers womb. He had seen it all, the good times as well as the bad , but when I asked him didn’t he have faith in the new regime – he politely nodded his head and said “ Yes – I have just been waiting so long”
That reverberated inside my head. Us Mets fans have been waiting a long time for the glory of watching our team raising the World Series Trophy.
So we parted with some warm words and my wife and I ambled through the frigid weather to the team store , she bought herself a Mets ski hat with her discount – I was bolder and bought myself a 1983 Tom Seaver throwback jersey and for fifteen bucks I picked up a Jeff Francoeur jersey – Sorry but they were all fresh out of Mo Vaughns !
But in closing I had a good feeling once my wife and I got back into our blue Kia Soul and left the cold yet soothing confines of Citi Field. Yes it’s been a long cold off season. But I felt a little warmer knowing that I made a slight impact in another persons life with the gift of a winter coat.
And with that said ….HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!
Born on this date:
Mets alumni celebrating birthdays today are :
Fork-balling middle reliever from ’82-’85, Tom Gorman is 53 (1957) .
Reserve outfielder from the ’90 seaon,Chris Jelic is 47 (1963) .
Reserve outfielder/first baseman from ’95-’96, Chris Jones is 45 (1965) .
New York Mets signed free agent pinch hitter/outfielder, Rusty Staub of the Texas Rangers on December 16, 1980. I know at least one red headed Mets fan who was happy that day.
In what was a way to end a terrible wrong, The New York Mets traded pitcher, Charlie Puleo and ” The Franchise” minor league infielders, Lloyd McClendon and Jason Felice to the Cincinnati Reds for Tom Seaver on December 16, 1982. This was a very happy day for Mets fans. It was the return of the favorite son who was wrongfully run out of town by a clueless regime. His stay would only last a year, but he helped revitalize a dying organization.
New York Mets signed free agent outfielder, Jim Lindeman on December 16, 1993.
New York Mets signed free agent outfielder, Rick Parker on December 16, 1993.
New York Mets signed free agent middle reliever, Doug Linton on December 16, 1993.
New York Mets signed free agent pitcher, Jonathan Hurst on December 16, 1993.
New York Mets signed free agent Rickey Henderson on December 16, 1998. And so “ Rickey Ball ” and in game poker sessions would become the norm.
New York Mets traded outfielder, Tsuyoshi Shinjo and utility infielder, Desi Relaford to the San Francisco Giants for young starter, Shawn Estes on December 16, 2001.
New York Mets signed free agent reliever, Mike Stanton of the New York Yankees on December 16, 2002.
New York Mets signed free agent pitcher, Pedro Martinez of the Boston Red Sox on December 16, 2004. We Mets fans new this was a risky deal. But it was a deal that did in the short term make the Mets a relevant , desirable organization that free agents would want to come to. I can’t fault Omar Minaya that the luster would wear off within three seasons .
Florida Marlins signed utility infielder, Wilson Delgado of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 16, 2004.
Kansas City Royals signed first baseman,Doug Mientkiewicz of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 16, 2005. Doug ( If you think I will attempt to spell his name again you are sadly mistaken !) was a good defensive first baseman in his only season with the Mets, but his offense stunk to high heaven.
Toronto Blue Jays signed relief pitcher and post game brawler, Lance Broadway of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 16, 2009.
And while you are fighting the bitter chill of “Old Man Winter”, just remember, there are just 106 days until the Mets open the 2011 season against the Florida Marlins in Miami and 113 days until the Mets 2011 home opener against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field.
If you ever vacation down in the Miami Florida area and you see a emperor penguin with a thyroid problem – do not panic !!! It’s just Mo Vaughn wearing a white speedo !
15 comments
metsfan4decades
12/16/2010-12:23pm at 12:23 pm (UTC -4)
No…you really bought a Franceour jersey? LOL.
Sounds like that fan you had a conversation with is around my age. And yeah…it’s been a long time since we saw a new WS flag flying at our field. For those of us lucky to experience ’86, no matter when we make it back there (and we will), that season will be hard to top – at least for me.
I’m not getting any younger – and neither is my Dad who is the reason I am a Met fan. I’d really like to experience at least one more magical season with him before it’s too late.
Get on it, Sandy!
Mr North Jersey
12/16/2010-12:32pm at 12:32 pm (UTC -4)
2 points on using ambled in a sentence.
-10 on owning a Kia Soul.
Total = -8
rustyjr
12/16/2010-12:48pm at 12:48 pm (UTC -4)
If you dont remember my jeep liberty was totaled
Mr North Jersey
12/16/2010-12:50pm at 12:50 pm (UTC -4)
No excuse.
metsfan4decades
12/16/2010-12:57pm at 12:57 pm (UTC -4)
LOL…
rustyjr
12/16/2010-12:57pm at 12:57 pm (UTC -4)
Ok so it’s not my old ’71 Plymouth satellite lol
metsfan4decades
12/16/2010-1:04pm at 1:04 pm (UTC -4)
On another note, very interesting read over on metsblog as Cerrone writes:
Mets, Blogs, Media and Access
He goes on to explain how he’s the same Met fan he was back when he first started that blog, even though it’s now his livelihood. Says he does it by limiting exposure to ‘behind the curtain’ even though he’s got that access now – b/c it would change things on his fan experience. Gives some words of wisdom for his fellow ‘blogs’ that are now being included in Met telecons or events.
I don’t know…..how could you resist access to the locker room as a fan? I guess he’s concerned on how that would change his perception and his style of blogging?
rustyjr
12/16/2010-1:14pm at 1:14 pm (UTC -4)
all I know is that I was giddy when I got to be on field for batting practice – I understand his views becauseyou have to act professional when you are at one of these events and sometimes you see the players in a different light – it breaks down a wall of sorts
metsfan4decades
12/16/2010-1:37pm at 1:37 pm (UTC -4)
Think I commented on this last night sometime but anyone out there think it’s worth taking a flyer on Philip Humber? I see he’s been DAF’d.
He was a first round draft pick – back in the day. I know that doesn’t always translate but since we need pitching depth – badly – wouldn’t hurt to offer a minor league contract to him, IMO.
Ceetar
12/16/2010-1:42pm at 1:42 pm (UTC -4)
perhaps. probably couldn’t hurt.
wannybackstra
12/16/2010-1:44pm at 1:44 pm (UTC -4)
His K and BB rates in the minors were pretty good. Definitely worth it.
njstuckintx
12/16/2010-1:45pm at 1:45 pm (UTC -4)
Feliciano looking to be very close with Yanks. Go go gadget draft pick!
Ceetar
12/16/2010-1:52pm at 1:52 pm (UTC -4)
rather it wasn’t with them.
rustyjr
12/16/2010-1:52pm at 1:52 pm (UTC -4)
I know – but better them than philly
kingman 26
12/16/2010-5:15pm at 5:15 pm (UTC -4)
LOL! I think I DID see that penguin outside a McDonald’s with six bags of food!
Nice work on the coat drive Rusty.