I had the opportunity today to meet with Robbi Goldberg, a West Hampton Mets fan and artist who brought the boys of the 2000 Mets team to life. I had the privilege of interviewing Goldberg, who was showing her Mets collection at the Sachem Public Library in Holbrook, NY today. Goldberg has seen some of the most amazing games of the 2000 season, and while she says its hard to choose a favorite, it’s the memory of the concrete spirals at Shea shaking after Benny Agbayani’s 13th inning home run in Game 7 of the NLDS that sticks out in her mind. Goldberg attended all of the playoff and World Series games at Shea in 2000 and also recalls being at Tom Seaver’s 19 strike-out game.

While Goldberg has never been officially recognized by the Mets organization, her and her work have been written up in several newspapers. She has never met, or had the desire to meet, any of the players. She was very clear about respecting their personal lives, but she would love to be able to show them the paintings she has done. Goldberg spent 10 days in Port St. Lucie during the spring of 2000 and snapped photos of the players that would serve as her guide for the paintings. Most of the paintings are of the players relaxing, not in mid-throw or swing. Completing nearly 50 portraits during the 2000 season, Goldberg added one more painting to her collection for this month’s show. After visiting spring training this year, a portrait of David Wright now hangs next to those immortal players.

Goldberg revealed that it was total chance that she decided to do the paintings of the 2000 team. She had no idea, no gut feeling that they would be in the World Series later that year. Maybe this painting of Wright will serve as a good luck charm to help the Mets to another World Series chance. Goldberg told the story of how her parents were at Game 7 of the 1969 World Series and were given a piece of that was ripped up after the game, which they took home and planted in their back yard.

It is very evident that Goldberg is very passionate about the Mets. Looking at her work, you are transported back to that wonderful summer. Her works will be on display from now until April 30th at the Sachem Public Library in Holbrook, NY, at which point they will be moved to the Suffolk Y Jewish Community Center in Commack, NY. I strongly recommend taking the chance to view her works, you will be not be disappointed.

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Robbi Goldberg next to her favorite painting, Rey Ordonez. This painting is part of her series “Leaning on Their Bats”.