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Written by Denise I Smithson
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Thursday, 07 May 2009 03:29 |
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By the time the old Shea Stadium said goodbye, it had been in existence for 44 years. Thinking back, it is hard to imagine that at one point in the history of baseball, the Mets were an expansion team some sixty years after their cross-town American League rivals first took the field. Oh, and for all you informational buffs out there the stadium was originally called the Flushing Meadow Park Municipal Stadium.
by DeniseISmithson
By the time the old Shea Stadium said goodbye, it had been in existence for 44 years. Thinking back, it is hard to imagine that at one point in the history of baseball, the Mets were an expansion team some sixty years after their cross-town American League rivals first took the field. Oh, and for all you informational buffs out there the stadium was originally called the Flushing Meadow Park Municipal Stadium.
Through the years Shea Stadium has been the home to some of the greatest baseball players ever to pick up a bat. Players like Duke Snider, Nolan Ryan, Warren Spahn, Tom Seaver, Willie Mays, Eddie Murray, Yogi Berra, Casey Stengel, Richie Ashburn, and Gary Carter who all became heroes in the baseball Hall of Fame. And who can forget the entertaining players like Lenny "Nails" Dykstra and Gil Hodges who just toughed it out on a daily basis?
There's been good times and bad, ugly and outrageous, but at the end of the day, they are all great memories intertwined with the stadium's history. We watched Dwight Gooden and Daryl Strawberry take the Mets to a World Series win over the Boston Red Sox in 1986. Unfortunately, the fame took its toll as both players spent the rest of their careers dealing with drug issues and other problems.
In 1969 we saw the Amazin' Mets win their first Championship when no one really knew of the young Nolan Ryan who would spend the next 27 years earning the record of the player who struck out 5,714 batters. Remarkable moments like these abound throughout the history of Shea Stadium; in fact, one could literally write a book about the colorful and extraordinary events. And although a new chapter in the stadium's history begins, those special memories of the past will live in the hearts of Mets' fans around the world for eternity.
When the world was stunned by the news of the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, Shea Stadium became a relief center for supplies, food, and a place for the victims to stay. Who can forget the first game after that fateful day when the Mets helped to heal the city? For New Yorkers, it was one of the most inspiring nights ever in baseball history. Thousands of fans packed the stadium to watch as the Mets took on the Atlanta Braves. Before the game started the rescue workers were honored and Diana Ross sang God Bless America. It was a very moving experience as the two teams shook hands, united in the face of the tragedy that shook the world. Yes, our Shea Stadium is like no other. May we always remember and look with anticipation to 50 more years of baseball history.
About the Author:
Did the Mets win the world series in 1986? For questions like this and lots more sports trivia visit http://nothingbutsports.info/ today! |
