The Mets Police

October 28, 1986
The Mets had just won the World Series the night before and the city was about to throw them a ticker tape parade.
I had a calculus exam scheduled that morning.
Of course I skipped the test and headed downtown, armed with my trusty Canon Sure Shot. (I wonder what happened to that camera)

Remember this banner? Here is something you will never see at New Shea.

Ah, the Mets ball girls. They wore the racing stripes well.

Hey look, it’s Fred Wilpon. Sadly the only thing that remains from the 86 team.

Mookie Wilson – all smiles.

Gary Carter, of course smiling waiting for his picture to be taken.
Last year at the All-Star Fan Fest I was able to get Gary to sign an 8×10 copy of this picture.

Tim Tuefel. If not for Buckner, Tuefel would have been remembered as the one who let the ball go through their legs.

Wow, it’s the World Series MVP Ray Knight. I’m sure looking forward to seeing him man the hot corner at Shea again next year.

Darryl sped by so fast, I barely had time to take this picture. But that’s ok, I’m sure Doc will be along soon enough…

This was my second ticker tape parade – and I have yet to attend another one.

(click here to see some vintage 1986 Mets pennants).

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I hope I can explain the feeling I’m having and I hope I’m conveying a different tone here than my usual “David Howard/hang banners” rants.  This one isn’t coming from anger, it’s coming from emptiness.

When I think of the Mets I think of Shea Stadium.   That’s where the memories are.   Even if I thought of the 2009 or think of the 2010 Mets, my mind’s tendency is to put them in Shea.

When I think of Citi Field I don’t think of the Mets, I think of shopping.   There’s a baseball game happening in the middle of the shopping mall.  I think of stores and tacos and shakes.   I can’t really focus in on any particular baseball moment.

It’s somewhat unfair, comparing all those years at Shea to one year at Citi Field…but I’m wondering if anyone else feels less connected to the team because of the new place.

I never expected to feel this way, and maybe it’s a product of the 135 losses I think we had this year.   However, visiting the mall is no longer enough to excite me, and I’m not looking to rush out to see anyone on the roster.

Could it somehow be the stadium that’s part of the problem?  I’m not saying that Shea should have lived forever, but I’m wondering if we have just another cookie cutter park.  I’m sure Riverfront and Three Rivers and Philly’s Veteran’s Stadium seemed nice when they were new.   Maybe we’re in an era where Citi, Citizens, Petco and the other similar stadiums will all be like whatever.  Today that’s how I feel, how about you?

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In 1986 Ray Knight – the oldest position player on the Mets – won the World Series MVP on the strength of two good performances in the final 2 games.

In 2009 Hideki Matsui – the oldest position player on the Yankees – won the World Series MVP on the strength of two good performances in the final 2 games.

Knight had a good year in 1986 – playing in 137 games he batted .298 and knocked in 76 runs (4th on the team). More than that though, Knight was a leader on and off the field. He gave them an edge, an arrogance, that unified the team (who can forget the punch he laid on Eric Davis).

Frank Cashen though, in his infinite wisdom, did not see Knight as a leader, but rather as an aging player. Following the 86 Series, Cashen did not resign Knight, who declared free agency and signed with the Orioles.

The Mets have not won a World Series since.

Hideki Matsui had a good year in 2009, finishing 3rd on the team in RBIs (90). He is an acknowledged clubhouse leader – Joe Torre mentions Matsui’s rallying “statement” before the team would take the field in important games. (I’m not going to repeat what he actually says).

Now Matsui is a free agent and it’s unclear whether the Yankees will bring him back next year.

Is Matsui the new Knight?

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You own this alternate Mets cap because….um…..you are a rodeo clown?   This is very colorful in a bad way.

Mets Police recommendation:  buy it for someone you don’t like to wear to the Running of the Bulls.

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