Yesterday we saw a match-up of the 1969 Mets vs. The 2006 Mets. While the voting is currently a landslide in favor of 1969, there is still time to vote as voting will remain open through the first round.
Day 2 of our tribute to the NCAA tournament: Mets Greatest Regular Season Moments of All Time provides us with another intriguing match-up. Our 1 vs 8 match-up forces Piazza to battle himself in a match-up of pivotal Home runs.
To see the bracket, please return here.
It is forever a moment in Mike Piazza’s Mets career.
People still stop the former catcher on the street to talk about the home run.
Piazza hit 427 homers over 16seasons, but none resonates more than his shot off Braves reliever Steve Karsay on Sept. 21, 2001, during the first professional sports game played in New York after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Piazza’s two-run blast gave the Mets the lead in a game they would go on to win.
“In that particular moment, people just really wanted something to cheer about,” Piazza said Friday while visiting Ladder 3 firehouse on E. 13th St. “It was a blessing for me to be part of it. I’m so fortunate to have been in that situation and to have come through.” – Daily News
vs.
Mets fans were hoping for a dramatic victory. That was quickly stomped on by the bat of Brian Jordan when he hit a 3-run HR off Eric Cammack in the eighth inning to give the Braves what appeared to be an insurmountable 8-1 lead. It appeared as if Fireworks Night would fizzle out as it had in previous years. But then the sparklers made an appearance….
The score was now 8-8. Mike Piazza was the next batter. I knew this game was ours. There was no way Mulholland was going to get Piazza out. Shea Stadium was ready to explode even more than it already was. Then came the pitch to Piazza and with one mighty swing, Piazza yanked a screaming line drive down the left field line. From our seats in the right field corner, we couldn’t tell if the ball was going to hook foul. It seemed like the longest three seconds of our lives…
…and then…sheer euphoria!
The ball hit the padding above the left field wall, just barely fair. The crowd erupted! Strangers were hugging strangers. People were stepping on my dropped sandwich and didn’t care that their shoes were going to have a turkey and cheese smell.
The upper deck was shaking as if it was going to collapse and we didn’t care. I had completely lost my voice and it was the best feeling in the world! The Mets had just scored ten runs in the eighth inning against the hated Atlanta Braves, nine of which came after two men were out. The fireworks were out at Shea before the game had ended, courtesy of Mike Piazza’s bat.
vs.
Cast your votes below!!!
22 comments
TX
3/19/2013-12:41pm at 12:41 pm (UTC -4)
I can’t see how the post 9/11 game doesn’t get all the votes. It’s a great baseball story and an uplifting NYC story to boot.
TRS86
3/19/2013-12:49pm at 12:49 pm (UTC -4)
Well so far it is closer than yesterday’s vote, interesting.
Sylow59
3/19/2013-1:24pm at 1:24 pm (UTC -4)
OT: The It Drive-In is on E Main. From what I remember it was next to a car lot and a block away from that pizzeria. It was also in front of Tradewinds.
TRS86
3/19/2013-2:17pm at 2:17 pm (UTC -4)
I think it closed, I never got to eat there. There’s one by the movie theater that isn’t too bad.
Sylow59
3/19/2013-2:41pm at 2:41 pm (UTC -4)
You are probably better off. From what I remember it was a love / hate relationship between, well -
HobokenMetsFan
3/19/2013-3:17pm at 3:17 pm (UTC -4)
I agree, chokes me up every time I see it.
greggofboken
3/19/2013-1:31pm at 1:31 pm (UTC -4)
No mas. The 2000 moment was a tremendous comeback and the fireworks night added punch to it. The 2001 home run was transcendant and went beyond the parameters of sports. It was artistic in its purity. It was simply the right event, in the right venue, at exactly the right time. It needed to happen exactly as it did.
TX
3/19/2013-1:36pm at 1:36 pm (UTC -4)
+ a lot.
srt
3/19/2013-3:21pm at 3:21 pm (UTC -4)
Well said.
Bobby Cox said something like ‘We never want to lose but somehow tonight, it’s O.K.’
Sylow59
3/19/2013-1:36pm at 1:36 pm (UTC -4)
9/11 hands down. It was an iconic moment for freedom and the resolve of all Americans.
srt
3/19/2013-3:19pm at 3:19 pm (UTC -4)
Post 9/11 homerun – no question.
greggofboken
3/19/2013-3:58pm at 3:58 pm (UTC -4)
The Cardinals have just released Ronnie Cedeno. He may not be great, but given our current options, I would take him back (assuming ‘Spin ends up in the outfield mix).
Stick
3/19/2013-4:06pm at 4:06 pm (UTC -4)
yuck.
getting crappy fill in types is bad enough, but at least get different ones every year. Seems less insulting somehow.
srt
3/19/2013-6:18pm at 6:18 pm (UTC -4)
IDK…I’d take Cedeno over Hicks or Bixler for MI backup.
I like Q over either of them also.
I’m not even sure if Hicks or Bixler plays SS.
greggofboken
3/19/2013-6:25pm at 6:25 pm (UTC -4)
Hicks does. In a manner of speaking.
Stick
3/19/2013-7:32pm at 7:32 pm (UTC -4)
well, technically so does Terry’s cuddle buddy Turner.
greggofboken
3/19/2013-7:56pm at 7:56 pm (UTC -4)
Right. So given the options, why wouldn’t Cedeno be preferable? At least he can hit lefties (albeti w/no power) and when charged with being more selective than he’d been in the past, raised his OBP from a horrible .297 to .332. He seems to field the position passably (which Turner does not — at least not short).
Why would Hicks, Bixler, or Q be a better option here?
Stick
3/19/2013-10:08pm at 10:08 pm (UTC -4)
well, mostly it is about something new. Fresh blood, a blank canvas.
or just the optimistic fan fantasy dream of a young guy, just waiting for his chance to break out and become a star.
as opposed to a guy that is a confirmed mediocrity at best.
variety is the spice of life, right?
darknova306
3/19/2013-10:57pm at 10:57 pm (UTC -4)
Fringe backup guys are a dime a dozen. Hell, half the Mets’ roster this year will be a dime a dozen.
srt
3/19/2013-11:07pm at 11:07 pm (UTC -4)
As fringe players that probably won’t hit worth a damn – or at least any kind of consistency, might as well go with strong defense up the middle then.
And I believe Q/Cedeno’s defense is better than Hicks/Bixler.
Stick
3/19/2013-11:10pm at 11:10 pm (UTC -4)
when in doubt, if I have to pick from the crap pile, and the options are all about the same, I vote for whichever guy will piss off the “sandy is the anti-christ” crowd the most. Just because, well, I have a nasty streak!
so Hicks or Bixler it is!
SaltyGary
3/19/2013-5:48pm at 5:48 pm (UTC -4)
I had to vote for the rally because of personal reason’s (but please be noted I was the first to nominate both of these games). My new wife and I just finished a movie and turned on the game to see they were getting their ass kicked. After cursing and trying to find something else to watch she of all baseball disliking people told me to believe and keep watching. It was probably a inning before the rally occurred so to sit there in disgust and see that build up with the HR to cap it off was unreal. There are only two times we have both jumped up and down on the couch for sports, this game and the UVM vs. Syracuse in the NCAA tournament 5 years ago (she’s a UVM allum).
In historical terms the 9/11 HR will be one of the unforgotten moments of all baseball. Story line aside, there was nothing better than a CF Piazza HR. HE was always dialed in when he hit those.