I wish this was my cake !!
Okay so the Mets lost a heart breaker last night. It was a game that would have upped their winning streak to seven games and completed a sweep of the Washington Nationals. But all good things must come to a end and it gives incentive to get another long term streak to begin.
Today marks a quasi turning point in my life. Today I turn 39. This is not a Jack Benny 39 mind you, but the real thing – clear as crystal and as real as the earth is round. I am both happy – yet I am kind of depressed. You see It is usually a given that my beloved team that I bleed orange and blue for generally forsakes me with a loss on my special day.
I have gone to many Mets games before I was the age of seven. But I could remember being present at the first time the Mets lost on my birthday. It was 1979, and the Mets were playing the Pittsburgh Pirates. My father surprised me early that day with tickets for the game and off to good old Shea I went with my family. I can still remember seeing Tim Foli . I believe that he was still a Met at that point before being traded to the eventual ” We are Family” winners of that years World Series. I also remember Doug Flynn making a great catch and Jose Cardenal pinch hitting.
The Mets ended up losing that game. The final score has been washed away from my memory from years of heavy metal music, alcohol and general useless information. But I still remember having a great time – just because I was there.
Flash forward 30 years and I am at Citi Field watching the Mets winning a game against the Washington Nationals. I believe the match up was Johan versus that Zimmerman kid who pitched the other day. The Mets were winning going into the eighth inning when Jerry Manuel brought in J.J Putz to hold the game until Frankie Rodriguez could come into save it for the ninth inning. This was the first game of what seemed to be many that J.J would blow a lead in. The Mets valiantly tried to come back to win it. Jerry in all his stupidity called for Omir Santos – the catalyst from the previous night’s win to pinch hit with the winning runs on base. Omir had to run all the way from the bullpen in his cleats before he ended the game by making a out. Needless to say – I still curse Jerry under my breath.
I have been on this Earth for nearly 40 years and I have seen many highs from this team – and alot more lows. It comes with being a typical sports fan – unless you root for the other team across town.
But today I just ask for a very small present from the proverbial baseball gods – please let the Mets take at the minimum two out of three against the Phillies – PLEASE ?!?
And with that said… HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!
Mets alumni that share my birthday today include :
One of the heroes of the ’69 season, – the ” Glider” himself, third baseman Ed Charles is 78 (1933).
Middle reliever from the ’88 season, Bob McClure is 59 (1952).
The best Mets announcer since Ralph, Bob and Lindsey, Mr. ” IT’S OUTTA HERE !!!” himself, Gary Cohen is 53 (1958) .
Middle reliever from ’84-’85, Wes Gardner is 50 (1961).
Middle reliever from the ’08 season, Tony Armas is 33 (1978) . He only appeared in three games that season with the Mets.
Feel good story from the dismal ’09 season, catcher Omir Santos is 30 (1981) .
The New York Mets signed free agent outfielder, Endy Chavez on April 29, 1996. Who would figure that ten years after his signing with the Mets that he would make one of the most memorable plays in Mets history !
Mo Vaughn baked me a cake for my birthday. It was a huge vanilla cake, filled with chocolate cream and coated in a dark chocolate ganache. At least that’s what he told me it was – he ate it before he could present it to me !!!!
23 comments
stickguy
4/29/2011-7:35am at 7:35 am (UTC -4)
no, it was not you. in 1979, they lost most games!
Hey, you just missed by 2 days being born along with another special person. well that, and a “few” years!
njstuckintx
4/29/2011-8:56am at 8:56 am (UTC -4)
Happy Birthday Rustman.
May the beer you drink be cold and free.
Ceetar
4/29/2011-9:12am at 9:12 am (UTC -4)
ditto.
Amberlee
2/14/2012-8:41am at 8:41 am (UTC -4)
Taking the ovriveew, this post hits the spot
kistics
4/29/2011-9:12am at 9:12 am (UTC -4)
Hey! One more from the big 4-0!
Sorry…
Happy Birthday Rusty! Hope all your wishes come true! LGM!
kingman 26
4/29/2011-9:17am at 9:17 am (UTC -4)
Happy birthday my friend!
May the Mets win, may the sun shine, may you and Mrs. Rusty have a most wonderful day together, and may the Mets smash the gritty, gutty Phillies until they cry all over their iron man selves!
kingman 26
4/29/2011-10:23am at 10:23 am (UTC -4)
Fun fact for us all:
OK, so we all know how Niese was born on October 27, 1986, the day the Mets won the WS.
So check this out—Pedro Beato was born on THE SAME DAY!!
So, the Mets now have two players who were actually born on the day the Mets were winning their last World Series.
I am sure that James Joyce and all of those folks into coincidences would find some serious meaning in that….
metsfan4decades
4/29/2011-10:24am at 10:24 am (UTC -4)
Happy Birthday to you Rusty! And many more.
I’ll raise my glass in a toast to you.
Ceetar
4/29/2011-1:38pm at 1:38 pm (UTC -4)
btw, in re: me saying in teh dugout yesterday’s game was at 1, that’s because that’s why my schedule printout here at works says. I must have printed it before they changed it to 7.
rustyjr
4/29/2011-10:30am at 10:30 am (UTC -4)
Thanks guys for the good wishes
njstuckintx
4/29/2011-10:48am at 10:48 am (UTC -4)
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/04/29/derek-lowe-arrested-for-dui/related
FYI… Stupid Lowe.
Mr North Jersey
4/29/2011-11:45am at 11:45 am (UTC -4)
Happy Birthday Rusty!
Prismo
4/29/2011-3:24pm at 3:24 pm (UTC -4)
Happy 29th birthday Rusty!!!
Prismo
4/29/2011-3:30pm at 3:30 pm (UTC -4)
For those of you who were in the dugout last night…
My first teaching experience was amazing. There were no big difficulties throughout the day, and I think the kids really liked me.
Here’s a picture:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/222108_10101021421519974_9301293_81116293_8040793_n.jpg
metsgirl31
4/29/2011-4:05pm at 4:05 pm (UTC -4)
Good job!!
kingman 26
4/29/2011-5:25pm at 5:25 pm (UTC -4)
GREAT pic!
Some questions:
What are you teaching? Is this intro to meteorology? Sabermetrics for kids?
And shouldn’t at least one or two of those kids have a Mets shirt on??
Prismo
4/29/2011-5:40pm at 5:40 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks kingman!
It was “Junior Achievement” – I volunteered to go teach 5th graders about entrepreneurship and business for the day.
Unfortunately, in OK not many kids are Mets fans. There was one who had a Diamondbacks shirt on though!
hazmet
4/29/2011-6:32pm at 6:32 pm (UTC -4)
Who’ the big kid in the back? ;p
Great job and well done contributing your time.
metsgirl31
4/29/2011-4:06pm at 4:06 pm (UTC -4)
Happy Birthday, Rusty!
Prismo
4/29/2011-4:50pm at 4:50 pm (UTC -4)
Derek Lowe arrested on a DUI charge.
Glad we don’t have to deal with that mess!
rustyjr
4/29/2011-6:14pm at 6:14 pm (UTC -4)
we just have Andy Martino calling us racist lol
hazmet
4/29/2011-6:29pm at 6:29 pm (UTC -4)
Happy b-day high exalted Rust-man. If I knew your birthday was coming I would have gotten you the leatherbound version of the KaMETsutra with Mr. & Mrs. Met depicting all your favorite positions. Alright, I just confirmed how demented I am, as if you didn’t know. Have a great day and enjoy the weekend.
gategem
4/29/2011-8:09pm at 8:09 pm (UTC -4)
Happy Birthday!