Debate: lack of sell out for Mets Hall of Fame game

It’s another steaming day here on the deck at Mets Police HQ – thought I’d see what was happening in the comments section, and it’s a good day to catch up on the inbox [email protected]

MattFitz writes:

As a HUGE Mets fan of the 80′s and a vendor for 10 years I can see the pain of deciding to pay for a day of reminiscing of good times versus feeling that you paid the devil to do it. I painfully think you have to pass. The owner has put up a below par staff (GM and coaches) and an average performing team. Remind yourself they need you you do not need them. 3 years no effort and to their credit this year they wont break our hearts in September, they are doing it in July. Stay home and play catch with your kids.

There are 80 other games to blow off.  If we (you and I) don’t sell this out then Dave Howard gets a free pass on never having Old Timers Day or Banner Day or even hanging a picture of the 1986 champions anywhere because clearly fewer than 45,000 people can be bothered with Mets history.

I’m going to rail about this all week, but I’m just a dopey fat guy on a deck with a reasonably popular blog…need you other bloggers to help move the needle on this (especially YOU, cough) and from there hopefully an actual newspaper and maybe some chatter on the sports talk stations.

45,000 people out of the entire tri-state area.   Show up.

Brian:

Let me be clear: I’m the farthest thing from a Wilpon apologist. However, I respectfully, but very strongly, disagree with any argument that these Mets HOF inductions are meant as a pure money-grab.

Will the ceremony possibly increase attendance? Sure. But, this is a summer Sunday afternoon, involving a team that only visits once a year–already a desirable game. If they just wanted to cynically sell a few thousand extra tickets, why not a September Tuesday? Or a cold April Sunday?

I think these inductions are unquestionably a response to the criticisms of Citi Field from last year (i.e. no celebration of Mets history, etc.). They actually listened to fans and constituted a committee this past winter (including Howie Rose and Gary Cohen) to evaluate who should be inducted:http://mets.lohudblogs.com/2010/01/19/gooden-strawberry-among-mets-hall-of-fame-inductees/ (last paragraph).

The fact is, these inductions are overdue no matter what (and I’m not being a Strawberry or Gooden apologist by saying that, either–both have been far from perfect). Actually, the Mets are overdue for ANY inductions; these are the first since Agee in 2002.

I mean, if they’d done these inductions in 2006, for the 20th anniversary of the championship, or next year for the 25th anniversary, would it make a difference? Of course not. It would still cost plenty to attend, and it would still boost attendance for that 1 game–and the most cynical of Mets fans would still suggest impure motives by the Wilpons. So, why wait any longer?

In the end, we can debate the particular date chosen this year, or ticket/food/parking prices in general, or whatever else. But, I think the last thing this event can be called is a pure money-grab. (If you want a prime example of a money-grabbing, slapped-together event, how about Gary Carter Night in the dark days of 2003, right after his HOF selection?) And even if this event were a money-grab, I don’t think complaints about a happy event should be used as the springboard into every saved-up Mets-related complaint fans have. That’s not fair to anybody.

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The 1968 New York Mets Yearbook cover

More evidence that there was a secret message from God on the covers of the 1960’s Mets yearbooks.

A departure from previous covers…now the young boy has declared Gil Hodges to be the key to success. Very amazin’

Our young Mets kid is due to get his first kiss any day now.

(Thanks to Angel for sharing his collection and taking these pictures)

Mets Police audio chat tonight at 6:30

A quick reminder that once again we will bore America tonight for half an hour starting at 6:30 (6:30 usually being a great time, except when the Mets are on the West Coast and likely playing then as we learned last week) with another audio chat.

In the unlikely event you want to call the # is (917) 889-2723

So far the topics list includes this whole Show Up On Sunday (for the Hall of Fame Game) debate and your Top 10 Mets.  I’m sure we’ll get into this road-trip, Gooden’s disappearance, and whatever I find in the newspapers after I go enjoy my bagel.

And now it’s bagel time.

Here’s the show page if you need it – or you can listen to the handy widget found in the new orange center column.  If you’d like to pop on to promote your blog one of these weeks let me know – [email protected]