Tonight begins the last series between the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves at Shea Stadium in New York. Baseball fans know the story, and the countdown. Mets moving into Citi Field in 2009, X number of games left at Shea. For me, this weekend's games are the end to many memories at Shea, both good and bad.
May 9, 1984. A cold night. My first game at Shea with my father between the Mets and Braves. Mets win, 3-1, current Mets broadcaster Ron Darling defeats the late Rick Mahler on a Wednesday evening, in front of 8,100. The beginning of fourteen years of a rivalry. (At least for me).
May 7, 1985-Gary Carter hit a Grand Slam in the eighth inning off Hall of Fame reliever Bruce Sutter. Braves try to fight back, fall short, lose 5-3.
August 20, 1985- One of several games I went to when the Mets werent playing the Braves. A Tuesday night. Gooden, in his prime, strikes out sixteen Giants. He was awesome back then.
May 13, 1986- Braves beat the Mets for the first time when I am there. Journeyman pitcher Joe Johnson beats the Mets 6-3, with Sutter saving the game.
October 27, 1986-We all know this one. 7th game, World Series. Knight hits a homer, Mets win it all. I was a Met fan that night. It's awesome to say that I have been to a clinching game of a World Series.
April 1987-The famous "Bird" game. I dont know if anyone remembers this. Dion James of the Braves hit a fly ball that hit a bird, and would have ended the inning. Instead, the inning continues, and the Braves end up winning, 12-4.
July 24,1988-Tom Seaver Day-. Mets retire Seaver's number, then the Braves win, 4-2.
September 8 1991-Mets falling apart during an awful September. Glavine, in his prime, beats the Mets, to complete a three game sweep for the surging Braves.
September 1992-The "Shove" game, between Vince Coleman and Mets manager Jeff Torborg. Braves win that night, which is all I really cared about.
May 14,1994-Day before I graduate from college. Braves just "happen" to be in town. I go to the game. Smoltz loses to Mauro Gozzo, 11-4, complete with a fight, when he hits the Mets John Cangelosi.
June 11, 1996, another "fight" game. Steve Avery loses to the Mets, 8-3.
June 25, 1997, I take my aunt and cousin to see my beloved Braves on a 100 degree Wednesday afternoon. The Braves win, 14-7, but my aunt hated sitting there in that heat.
September 6, 1998, my final game at Shea. On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, John Smoltz dominates, striking out twelve Mets, as the Braves shut them out, 4-0. I moved to Lancaster the following May, and havent been back to Shea since.
Tonight is the beginning of the last dance for the Mets and Braves at Shea. For the Mets, important games all as they try to win the NL East for the second time in three years. For the Braves, playing out the string, waiting for winter, after a disasterous, injury plagued, 2008. I wont be at tonight's game, as I live far away now, but I will be there in spirit. I look forward to making visits to Citi Field, to maybe begin a whole new chapter of Mets and Braves history. I went to many games during those fourteen years, and will have many fond memories of the old yard.
Mitch
May 9, 1984. A cold night. My first game at Shea with my father between the Mets and Braves. Mets win, 3-1, current Mets broadcaster Ron Darling defeats the late Rick Mahler on a Wednesday evening, in front of 8,100. The beginning of fourteen years of a rivalry. (At least for me).
May 7, 1985-Gary Carter hit a Grand Slam in the eighth inning off Hall of Fame reliever Bruce Sutter. Braves try to fight back, fall short, lose 5-3.
August 20, 1985- One of several games I went to when the Mets werent playing the Braves. A Tuesday night. Gooden, in his prime, strikes out sixteen Giants. He was awesome back then.
May 13, 1986- Braves beat the Mets for the first time when I am there. Journeyman pitcher Joe Johnson beats the Mets 6-3, with Sutter saving the game.
October 27, 1986-We all know this one. 7th game, World Series. Knight hits a homer, Mets win it all. I was a Met fan that night. It's awesome to say that I have been to a clinching game of a World Series.
April 1987-The famous "Bird" game. I dont know if anyone remembers this. Dion James of the Braves hit a fly ball that hit a bird, and would have ended the inning. Instead, the inning continues, and the Braves end up winning, 12-4.
July 24,1988-Tom Seaver Day-. Mets retire Seaver's number, then the Braves win, 4-2.
September 8 1991-Mets falling apart during an awful September. Glavine, in his prime, beats the Mets, to complete a three game sweep for the surging Braves.
September 1992-The "Shove" game, between Vince Coleman and Mets manager Jeff Torborg. Braves win that night, which is all I really cared about.
May 14,1994-Day before I graduate from college. Braves just "happen" to be in town. I go to the game. Smoltz loses to Mauro Gozzo, 11-4, complete with a fight, when he hits the Mets John Cangelosi.
June 11, 1996, another "fight" game. Steve Avery loses to the Mets, 8-3.
June 25, 1997, I take my aunt and cousin to see my beloved Braves on a 100 degree Wednesday afternoon. The Braves win, 14-7, but my aunt hated sitting there in that heat.
September 6, 1998, my final game at Shea. On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, John Smoltz dominates, striking out twelve Mets, as the Braves shut them out, 4-0. I moved to Lancaster the following May, and havent been back to Shea since.
Tonight is the beginning of the last dance for the Mets and Braves at Shea. For the Mets, important games all as they try to win the NL East for the second time in three years. For the Braves, playing out the string, waiting for winter, after a disasterous, injury plagued, 2008. I wont be at tonight's game, as I live far away now, but I will be there in spirit. I look forward to making visits to Citi Field, to maybe begin a whole new chapter of Mets and Braves history. I went to many games during those fourteen years, and will have many fond memories of the old yard.
Mitch
