The Bobster sent this along awhile ago. Excellent photo:
To those of us who remember 1964, Shea Stadium will always be linked to
the New York World's Fair. They opened in the same month, and many
people thought Shea was actually part of the Fair. Of course, the Fair
closed in October 1965 and Shea has lasted another 43 years until it
too, is about to meet the wrecking ball.
I really like this
photo because it shows the excitement of a time when Shea was brand new
and sharing the spotlight with the Fair. Besides Shea, the only
structures still standing from this picture are the Unisphere, and the
Singer Bowl, which has since morphed into Louis Armstrong Stadium, part
of the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament.
Loge13 luminary Ross Jones sent this fantastic clip: George Carlin on Kiner's Korner.
We've been told that there is no official archive of Kiner's Korner. But some good folks are finding clips on their old video tapes and sharing. According to the poster of this clip: "An August 1989 visit by the late George Carlin to a rain delay
edition of Kiner's Korner. Carlin was doing a gig in Boston that
weekend and flew down for the day to take in the Mets adn Cardinals at
Shea. He went back to Boston and did his shows that night. This is one
of the final episodes of Kiner's Korner as Mets GM Frank Cashen killed
the show at the end of the 1989 season."
At 36 yo i love seeing that clip now as when i was 17 back in the day in the late 80's as a yankee fan, Kiner's Korner was the best on both sides...Ch 9 NYC was great...
On September 18, 2006, the Mets beat the Florida Marlins 4–0 and became the National League Division Champs.
And we were there. My parents, Ron Hunt and I sat in Loge13 and celebrated together. Ron Hunt just uploaded his video of that night. This is what victory looks like from Loge13:
Full disclosure: I am the bozo screaming “Rock & roll” and behaving stupidly in the background, along with 50,000 other people.
That's fine. Yankee Stadium is older so there's more to talk about. But that does not diminish Shea's contributions to baseball, to New York and to human civilization.
April 17, 1964, Shea Stadium opened her doors for the first time.
Happy 44th - and final - birthday, Shea.
The Bobster sent along this vintage clip of April 17, 1964:
Sadly, there will be no more openers for our glorious 1st Wonder Of Flushing. She is doomed to go to the great ballpark graveyard. People can mock your concrete carriage, your outdated efficiencies, your challenging parking. Shea's shortcomings only made us heartier fans, not pampered, luxury box-dwelling ninnies (like you might find in the Bronx). We breathe Jamaica Bay breezes and eat overcooked Italian sausages and cheer on underperforming versions of the Mets year in, year out.
As Loge13 wise man Ron Hunt once said, Shea may be a dump...But it's OUR DUMP.
Long Live Shea Stadium! Happy Birthday From Loge13!
Happy Birthday, Big Shea! Let's celebrate the positive, we have time to dwell on her demise.
For those of you going, I'll be in Loge 13, or watching the game, the "real" Ron Hunt will be on hand to help change the games remaining number on the outfield wall. All hail our first starting All-Star, #33!
At 36 yo i love seeing that clip now as when i was 17 back in the day in the late 80's as a yankee fan, Kiner's Korner was the best on both sides...Ch 9 NYC was great...