Who says there’s nothing to do on a Thursday in January? Three things you the Mets fan should know about:
1) Blood drive at Citi Field (I swear I was gonna say “at Shea”) between 10 and 5. Good cause, of course, and a bonus show of appreciation from your New York Metropolitans in the way of two tickets for a game in April when you roll up your sleeve and give; a discount at the team store is part of the bargain, too. The donations will be, shall we say, collected in Caesars Club — no fancy seats required, just a vein. Enter Hodges gate on the first base side. Park in Lot G if your mode of transportation involves parking.
2) As noted in the previously posted consideration of George Vecsey, the columnist who covered Casey Stengel and the ’62 Mets will be taking part in the Varsity Letters series of sports literature reading, 7:30, the Gallery at LPR on Bleecker between Sullivan and Thompson, an establishment accessible via multiple subway lines. Joining George (who recently published a biography of early Met-killer Stan Musial) will be Mark Ribowsky, author of a new bio of the first Mets radio pre- and postgame host, otherwise known as Howard Cosell. Dave Zirin, who has lately written about John Carlos and the 1968 Olympics, will round out a formidable trio of writers for your listening/q&a pleasure.
3) If you’re intent on sticking to your couch Thursday night, SNY has at 7:30 a…wait for it…new Mets Classic! The network delves deep into its vaults and fishes out from July 3, 2011, the Subway Series game that made Jason Bay seem like a bargain. (Gosh, I can remember it like it took place six months ago.) No, it’s not some incredible video find from 1973 or even the pre-SNY 2000s, but as we often say of our Bayloved left fielder, it’s better than nothing.
Top 10 games I’d like to see on SNY Mets Classics: Not in any order but Hendu ’80 would be first. 83 Opener,’75 Astros Kingman 2 Hr’s, Youngblood throws out Parker,85 opener, any ’84 Gooden game in September,Ball on the Wall,Imperfect game,Gooden beats and throws at Gullickson,7/4/85,my first mets game ever attended, a doubleheader sweep and shutout losses to the Cards in June ’75.And Straw off the clock,to get the ball next day to Doc.
I like dreamin’, sang Kenny Nolan in 1977, and I fear many of these are a fantasy. But from Hendu on — certainly Seaver’s return — it doesn’t seem that impossible. A few years ago I was told the tapes existed for everything starting in 1980. By the mid-’80s, the industry seemed to be realizing it was a mistake letting so much stuff go so they started saving. So yeah, games from 1984 or 1985 shouldn’t be a dream.
But in the meantime, Jason Bay. Someday some current kid turned adult will be thrilled to find SNY airing it because it was his first or at least formative memory.
Earlier tonight, the MLB Network aired “MLB’s 50 Most Incredible Collisions”. Charting at #28 was the 1973 NLCS game that saw the Harrelson-Rose skirmish. That game certainly merits SNY Mets Classic status….and, as a postseason game, one hopes that it exists in MLB’s vaults somewhere.
Hey Guy!
Took me a minute…