Lest it get a little lost in free-floating anxiety over the Mets’ recent woes (two consecutive losses and 46 of their last 125), let’s get excited over the return of Old Timers Day. Let’s use an exclamation point to express that excitement!
Old Timers Day! It’s back!
In the spirit of no longer having to campaign for Gil Hodges’s election to the Hall of Fame or Keith Hernandez’s 17 to be retired, those of us who have continually asked, “Why don’t the Mets resume Old Timers Day?” finally have our answer: it’s back, never mind that it was gone far too long.
[1]
The official count of former Mets who say they will tip a cap and maybe play a little on Saturday at Citi Field is 65, ranging from Mets who were Mets in 1962 to Mets who were Mets seemingly five minutes ago. If you’ve watched the Mets all your life, they were all Mets seemingly five minutes ago.
It’s a coming together of the generational tribes befitting a franchise celebrating its 60th birthday this season. It’s the best thing this ownership could have done besides build a World Series contender. They managed to walk and chew gum in sync. We are grateful for the demonstration of such core competencies.
Hope you’ll be there or watching from somewhere on Saturday. Gates open at 3:30, with Old Timers batting practice underway. Introductions begin at 4:30. A two-inning game during which one expects rules to be enforced only casually will follow. Then the 2022 Mets play the 2022 Rockies, with anxieties accompanying the action if that’s your jam.
Part of the fun of looking forward to this first Old Timers Day since 1994 has been talking about it on National League Town with my co-host Jeff Hysen. On the newest episode [2], we salute the three E’s we never minded penciling onto our scorecard: Endy Chavez, Edgardo Alfonzo and Eddie Kranepool. We’ve talked about a bunch of the Old Timers the last few weeks and found the time to dissect the current-day squad’s machinations as well. I’d appreciate your checking out the only podcast explicitly devoted to Mets Fandom, Mets History and Mets Life on the platform of your choice.