Lots of folks are
paying tribute to Shea Stadium in our might ball park's last month of life.
Here is a good one from a blog called
"Notes From a Dead Avenger".The author, a 38-year-old writer from NY, wrote his Farewell to Shea Stadium Wednesday.
I encourage you to go and read the entire post here.
he Dead Avenger provides a couple of great memories, including Opening Day 1983 when the starting pitcher was...I'm sure many Loge13 readers know the answer (no not Jerry Morales).
The DA also tells a great tale about an Old-Timer's day when his dad worked some connections:
"
When we arrived at the stadium we were met by a friend of the
family, who was a transit cop. Again nothing occurred to me and I
thought it was mere coincidence. We spoke briefly and he called for
someone on his radio. Another officer arrived and our friend told us to
go with him. Now I knew something was going on.
The officer led
us through areas of the stadium I had never been before and it seemed
as though we were walking forever. When we finally arrived at our
destination (wherever that was) the cop pushed open a door and I found
myself standing in the Mets bullpen, mouth agape.
I was
completely and utterly overwhelmed. My senses were bombarded by views
and sounds I had seen only from a distance, or on television. Met
relievers Bob Apodaca and Skip Lockwood were warming up. I can’t
remember what they said to me, if anything, but both signed my 1980
Mets Yearbook.
I was allowed on to the field briefly and there
I encountered Jerry Morales, so-so hitting outfielder who also signed
my yearbook. I remember thinking how tall and sweaty he was. Last, but
certainly not least, the officer prevailed on manager Joe Torre and
coach Joe Pignatano to also sign for me. Again I have no memory of what
they said to me. I remember Torre looking somewhat amused.
As
soon as that little visit began it was over. I took one last fleeting
look at the stadium from a vantage point I would never have again and
locked it away. To see Shea from that angle (and with my ten-year old
sensibilities) was like seeing a cathedral, but from the altar. Very
few memories have eclipsed that one, baseball or otherwise."Please pay
the Avenger a visit and thank him for sharing. As we find more Shea tributes, we'll be posting them Loge13.com
