The first pitch that will carry the most weight in Game Three of the National League Championship Series will be thrown by Luis Severino. Our emotions will ride on that pitch and however many more Luis throws, each guaranteed our overwhelming support — despite Luis’s fondness for the black jerseys that will infiltrate our heretofore purely orange and blue postseason at Sevy’s behest (“I like black,” the starter shrugged.) But should FS1 deign to treat home viewers to the full gamut of pregame ceremonies, the first pitches certain to hit with their own kind of emotional power will be delivered by players who haven’t worn a jersey of any Met shade in competition for quite a while.
Minutes before Severino adjusts his cap to confirm he’s on the same PitchCom wavelength as Francisco Alvarez, Darryl Strawberry will set and fire to Dwight Gooden. Thursday night, in advance of Game Four, it will be Robin Ventura doing the honors, with Edgardo Alfonzo on the receiving end. And before Game Five Friday, Matt Harvey will look in at the target set by Yoenis Cespedes. You live long enough, even Matt Harvey and Yoenis Cespedes are old guys you bring back for special occasions.
Also, you live long enough, and you can’t help but notice that you begin to run out of older guys.
Is it really a Mets postseason extravaganza without the 1969 Mets and the 1973 Mets represented at Citi Field except on the flags they earned? It is, apparently. Time inevitably nibbles away at the front end of what you consider ages ago. The 1986 guys Straw and Doc, they’re the ones from way back now. Robin and Fonzie have matured into fellas from a past that doesn’t carry a patina of present anymore; the turn of the century, when they thrilled us most, is suddenly about a quarter-century gone. Harvey and Yo? They played in the majors as recently as 2021 and 2020, respectively, which is barely a blink. Yet they’re representing 2015, a fabulous Met year that occurred nearly a decade ago.
Perhaps a Met or two from an October more than fifty years ago will make the Citi scene if there’s more autumnal scenery to adorn beyond the NLCS. 1969 Mets and 1973 Mets were always first-pitch staples when later Met clubs attempted to live up to their accomplishments. Perhaps a family member of some player or manager since departed and still missed will be announced to the crowd and accept in Dad’s absence the warm embrace of a chilly 44,000. I don’t doubt outreach has been made. I also don’t doubt it’s not as easy as it used to be to get a 1969 Met or a 1973 Met to the mound or for those gentlemen to toss a ball to their liking. Too many we cheered for, not only when they were winning pennants but when we were trying to win more, simply aren’t around in as great numbers as they once were. For those who are, maybe the trip to Flushing is not one easily traversed.
Fifty-five years ago today, the 1969 Mets became world champions. No living 1969 Met is younger than 76. As we’ve been reminded repeatedly in 2024, too many 1969 Mets are no longer with us. That’s just the way it goes across 55 years. The distance from 1969 to 2024 is the same as the distance from 1969 in the other direction to 1914. I couldn’t tell you how many world champion Boston Braves from that year (“Miracle Braves,” no less) were showing up at ballparks and delivering ceremonial first pitches in 1969. On the other hand, what happened on October 16, 1969, is forever young. The Mets were in their eighth season. Winning at Shea Stadium was a wholly new phenomenon. You can’t look at photos or film clips or video footage from then and not feel as if something eternal had just been born. In my case, it was lifetime fandom for this franchise. That, I’ve learned anew of late, is also forever young.
Reaching October, succeeding in October, the possibility of once again winning it all in October transcends the wear and tear of chronology. It’s 1969 forever. It’s 1986 forever. It could be 2024 forever.
It’s definitely time for another first pitch.
The latest episode of National League Town adores Mark Vientos and feels pretty good about his teammates. You can listen in here.
as i bore everyone who makes the mistake of coming within the sound of my voice today, i was at game 5, now a mere 55 years ago. and yes, life-changing, in a very positive everything-is-possible way.
gotta believe outreach has been made for, say, cleon and kooz from 1969, maybe wayne garrett and jon matlack from 1973. as you suggest, perhaps the oldest guns are being saved for the next level, should the team get there.
I’ve spent a good part of today on mlbtv going through the Mets greatest hits. Last 2 innings of game 161. 9th inning of Milwaukee game 3. Last 4 innings of Philly game 4 and, just because it’s recent, the first 1.5 innings of LA game 2.
Whatever happens going forward for me this team is special. So many chances to fold. So many losses that seemed the final nail in the coffin only for the team to rise from the dead. When I think of sports team resilience this team will always come to mind.
That said, a loss tonight would be completely unsurprising to me. The Dodgers have very substantial R-L splits. But I expect to go back to LA up 3-2. And I hope Peterson starts game 5.
Let’s go Darryl & Dwight (pitcher/catcher seems backwards) and Let’s Go Mets.
Even though I read your book, I have a hard time remembering 2015 as “fabulous.” For me, the letdown at the end had too much velocity, like falling off a 10-story building. Maybe this year will be different.
I gotta believe that no effort was made to get anyone from 1969 or 1973. If Wayne Garrett and Cleon Jones could not make it, I demand to know that they were at least asked.
No recent celebrations for 1969 and 1973 and no Oldtimers Days recently.
That to me says it all.
As with using closers, you do NOT save your best for last, or you’ll wind up not needing them at all.
Darryl is throwing to Doc? Calling Professor Backwards!
If this were not the actual 55th anniversary of the Miracle Mets World Series victory, I have no real problem with the choices for these three first pitches, each representing a prior World Series team. But the moment demands 1969 representation; if not actually on site, some other way – recorded or virtual messages, “1969” patches on the uniforms, etc. Every successful Mets team stands on the shoulders of those who did it first, and even though those of us who witnessed it are probably into our 7th decade, we still remember them and their impact on us.
If we are fortunate enough to get to the World Series, I suspect that Jerry Koosman will be enlisted to throw out the first ball for one of the games. I would also suggest Tommie Agee’s charming daughter, who I had the pleasure to meet at Citi Field in September, could throw one to Cleon Jones. The Seaver girls could also make an appearance. In an emergency, Jesse Orosco can also get ready fast.
As for last night, a lot of misplays and poorly placed line-outs for the Metsies. The crowd was similar to the Padres Playoff games in ’22, not a lot of energy there. Hoping for better mojo (and maybe HoJo) tonight.
I was at Game 5 in ’69 as well, and it is humbling (and frightening) to think that 55 years before then was 1914, when Archduke Ferdinand was being assassinated, WW I was starting, and the Miracle Braves came from last place on July 4th to take a Championship. Hey, You Gotta Believe!
on a similar note i saw heart open for the eagles at giants stadium in (the relatively more recent) 1980 when their current hit was EVEN IT UP.
go back 44.5 years from there and it’s 1935, and thr brewing of yet another world war.
LGM!
EVEN IT UP.