The Mets will honor the NY Jets as part of their ongoing salute to Shea getting exploded at years end.  The NY Jets, prior to being forced to play at Giants stadium, were once forced to play at Shea Stadium. For 20 years.  The salute will occur on April 28th (Pirates @ Mets), and all fans wearing Jets jerseys will get a sympathy hug from Giants fans.

No word on if Chad Pennington will suffer a season ending shoulder injury to celebrate the occasion.

This Cubs on-deck circle from Shea Stadium is going for $500 at Steiner Sports.

I just want to know if a black cat comes with it?

via Big League Stew

Erin Calabrese and Perry Chiaramonte of the New York Post are reporting that a 36-year old Mets fan named Antonio Narainasami was leaving Shea Stadium last night and lost his balance while descending an escalator and fell two stories to his death, as his two daughters watched it happen.

His cousin, Kevin Prashad, who was there, said Narainasami had been walking down the escalator, which was turned off.

The Mets have released a statement on the tragedy…

“We have been advised of a tragic accident that resulted in the death of a fan attending tonight’s game. The Mets, the City Parks Department and the New York Police Department are investigating the incident. Our deepest and heartfelt condolences go out to the fan’s family.”

This is just great. My favorite spaces are “Keith Miller Night” 45 minute ceremony, lose a turn.

Phillies sign Amando Benitez to replace an injured Brad Lidge move up two spaces.

Bigger pic click here. via -Metstradamus

Forget those two days in Atlanta.

Forget 07.

The season begins today, and new memories are to be made.

I know we don’t get to start the season over, but in my mind, the season doesn’t officially begin until the Mets open at home. Its more of the feeling you get returning to Shea for the first time (and the last time) on Opening Day. It is a sort of nostalgic, out of body experience when you first step out of the tunnel and the green grass envelops your eyesight, and you realize your long lost love has returned. Baseball is (un)officially back in your life again.

Mets fans will savor this a bit more than past Opening Days because that moment you walk out of the tunnel for the first time at Shea will never happen again. There will be the wall of CitiField beckoning in the shadows of the left field wall, reminding us of what is to end and what is to soon begin. I’ll soak in the moment a little longer this time, trying to store it away to remember at a later date, when Shea is reduced to rubble and I will be fighting tooth and nail to get a seat at the much smaller new home of the Mets.

This will be an Opening Day like no other. Our much maligned home deserves a fond farewell. It isn’t the prettiest, it isn’t the most comfortable, but neither was my childhood home, but I still have fond memories of it and I will carry them with me wherever I go.

They can take away the stadium but they can’t take away 86.

They can’t take away 2000 and the epic Game Five of the 99 NLCS.

They can’t take away Marlon’s inside the park home run on a rain delayed game some years ago that led to Cliffy’s walk off.

They can’t take away Mike’s goosebump enducing homer after 9/11 that gave a heartbroken city a moment to rejoice.

The stadium will go, but the memories will linger on.

…including the memory today when I walk out of tunnel on Opening Day for the very last time.

Adam Rubin reports that the Mets will honor William Shea in a pregame ceremony at the home opener. His name will be added to the outfield wall amongst the retired numbers, and his son Bill will throw out the first pitch.

William Shea was a lawyer who was instrumental in bringing national league baseaball back to NY after the Dodger and Giants left town. In the late 50s, Shea attempted to start a separate league, which pressured the MLB to expand, the Mets being one of those expansion teams (L.A, Houston and Washington being the other 3 teams). Shea was also a key figure in the NHL expansion into Long Island, bringing about the Islanders.

Its always good to see the team actually doing something to honor its history, since the Mets have always seemed a little hesitant to do so. I can understand not wanting to go too crazy with stuff like retiring numbers (I’m looking at you Yankees) but the Mets tend to go in the opposite direction, and often seem to ignore the past. Hopefully this is a step towards finding the middle ground.  

Tonight at 7:30pm, NBC (Channel 4 for those in NY) will show a documentary on the history of Shea Stadium.

Sorry for the short notice, shout out to MetsMom (my momma), for reminding me it was on!

The Mets are letting the fans vote on MLB.com what will replace Sweet Caroline as the eight inning sing along song, since apparently its a big deal and all. Voting can be done at the team website, and the choices include Bon Jovi’s Livin on a Prayer, Joan Jett’s I Love Rock n Roll, Van Morrisons Brown Eyed Girl, and other stuff, some of which….not so good. While we here at the Foot cannot tell you who to vote for due to pending electioneering and ballot tampering charges, we do remind you that our boss is fond of Billy Joel staple, Movin Out.

Glenn Collins of the NY Times speaks with former Shea organist Jane Jarvis, who is amongst those who lost their apartments in the NY crane collapse. Now 92, Jarvis spent the bulk of the 60s and 70s providing the music at Shea. Catch up with Jarvis, and her experiences with last weeks crane accident at the Times.

An interesting account from one of the many who helped make Shea what it is. In todays hi tech world, its unfortunate that people like Jarvis who bring a personal touch to stadiums aren’t relied upon any more, as stadium music is now provided by an audio tech with some mp3’s and a computer.

Thanks to Peter for the link.

WNBC New York will be showing a tribute to Shea Stadium Called “The Amazin Shea” on Saturday, March 29th.

The program will look back at the great moments that took place at Shea over the years, including the Mets, Jets, and historic rock concerts like the Beatles. The Beatles performance was the first concert to be held at a major outdoor stadium and set records for attendance and revenue generation.

Set your DVR so you don’t miss this program celebrating Shea in its final season.

Online registration is now open on Mets.com for the opportunity to buy tickets to the Mets’ 2008 home opener (Tuesday, April 8 vs. Philadelphia), the Subway Series at Shea (June 27-29) and the Final Regular Season Game at Shea Stadium (Sunday, September 28 vs. Florida).

Individuals selected through the online random drawing on mets.com or losmets.com will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to these selected games. This drawing will be held on or about Tuesday, February 19, 2008.

The online random drawing will be the sole means of purchasing single game tickets for these games.

According to the AP, the cost for the new Yankee Stadium has rose to $1.3 billion, more than the $1 billion originally projected.

Meanwhile, CitiField remains on budget at approximately $800 million. Both stadiums are scheduled to open in 2009.

I’m excited for a new stadium, and even though its acknowledged as if not the worst, one of the worst stadiums in baseball, its our dump and frankly I’m proud of it.

I’m also upset about the fact that its going from about 55,000 seats to around 42,500. Even though financially it might make more sense for them, I think its almost disrespectful to take away that many seats, and make it that much tougher to get a ticket.

The folks over at Loge13.com are celebrating the last days of Shea Stadium in grand fashion.  With today being Shea's 43rd birthday, the crew will be posting tributes to William Shea and to some of the greatest moments in the stadium's history.

The blog, which is run by poster Kingman, launched about a month ago.

Celebrate with fellow Mets' fans by checking out Loge13.com!

Hard to believe that when Shea turns 45, it will be taken apart.  Shea may be considered a dump to some, but to me it's a great stadium.  I'll look forward to Citi Field, but will always remember Shea for the memories it brought me.

Dr. Blogstein has a great suggestion. Rather than get stuck with some lame corporate name for the Mets new stadium, every fan could donate a dollar to a fund that would be used to buy the naming rights to name the stadium “Jackie Robinson Field“.

Jackie's tie to the Mets come from his Brooklyn Dodger roots, and as you all know, the Mets rose from the ashes of the Dodgers and Giants leaving New York. I think it would be a fitting tribute and just has a fantastic ring to it. I would even consider other names, but anything other than Con Ed Park would be an improvement.

UPDATE: Per my suggestion, Dr. Blogstein has added a petition for fans to sign to show their support for this cause. Sign it now!!!