Off-Topic: Nine Years Ago on June 1: A New York Met Memory
It is June 1st so its time to relive this unforgettable Met Memory.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Roz and I had two tickets for the Met game on that cool drizzly June 1, 2012 night. However, due to the weather, we decided to watch the game in the comfort of our home. As the game went on and not a single Cardinal got a hit, I had a sinking feeling that I was going to have tickets for the first Mets' no-hitter and failed to attend the game due to a drizzle! Worse yet, I was at Tom Seaver's near-perfect game in 1969 and swore that I would not miss the Mets' first no-hitter.
In the top of the seventh inning, Mike Baxter made a sensational catch banging into the left field wall (he never recovered from the injury). I then decided to make a mad dash to CitiField to see the end of the game. Roz respectfully declined to join me, thinking that I was crazy. I drove like a madman and the Mets had a long rally in the seventh inning. I arrived at CitiField's front entrance (the only gate open) with fans still yelling. I made it...I was the very last attendee to enter the CitiField.
I reached my seat behind home plate on the broadcast level with one out in the bottom of the eighth. My fellow season tickets holders were shocked to see me and then accused me of being the jinx if Johan gave up a hit in the ninth. I felt extra pressure on me during the top of the ninth. Would I be the jinx for the two near Mets' no-hitters- 43 years apart? Alas, Johan took out the Cardinals 1-2-3!
As seen in these photos (my hands are on top of my head) and the below YouTube, I was officially among the 27,069 fans that evening... having seen only 1 2/3 innings of the game. It is 1 2/3 innings of a game that I will never forget!
That's me in the circle!
My hands are on top of my head "not believing what I had just seen."
1 and 2/3rd innings that I will never forget! I make a very brief appearance at the 3:00 mark.
Memorable Met Games that I attended:
-The first game (1964) and last game (2008) played at Shea Stadium and first game at CitiField (2009)
-The Memorial Day doubleheader loss against the Giants that went 10 hours and 20 minutes including Ed Kranepool’s debut and a triple-play. I still remember Joe Christopher’s 3-run homer bouncing off Willie Mays’ glove and Mays playing shortstop (1964)
-Tom Seaver’s near-perfect game (1969)
-Mets clinching the National League East Division (1969)
-World Series game in which Ron Swoboda made that incredible catch and the 10th inning win (1969)
-The playoff game versus the Reds when Buddy Harrelson fought Pete Rose (1973)
-Darryl Strawberry’s first game (1983)
-Bennie Agbayanis’ game-winning playoff homer (2000)
-Robin Ventura’s grand-slam single (2000)
-Mets beat Yankees in Game three of the World Series (2000)
-NLCS game 7’s Endy Chavez’ catch (2006)
-The 20 inning Met win in St. Louis 6 hours and 53 minutes (2010)- I maybe the only Met fan to go to the two 20 innings + Met games (1964 and 2010)
-Mike Piazza’s post 9-11 homer (2011)
-Santana pitches Mets’ first no-hitter (2012)
-RA Dickey wins his 20th game (2012)
-Tom Seaver throws out the first pitch at the 2013 All-Star Game
-Francouer lines into an unassisted triple play to end the Met loss (2013)
-Cespedes’ monster 463-foot three-run playoff homer versus the Dodgers. Listen to the "Natural" music as he rounded the bases (2015)
Comments
Johan’s last pitch looked a bit low, but could’ve been called a strike if the batter didn’t go for it. Gave me a smile, too! You were the good luck charm, Howard!
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Howard Kroplick
Brian, it was actually ball four. Santana’s change-up was amazing and virtually unhittable when it was near the strike zone.
I was at the game that ended when Jeff Francoeur hit into an unassisted triple play. Unfortunately, by that time, we were in the car on the way home. Oliver Perez didn’t make it out of the first inning (while I was on the Shake Shack line), and Angel Pagan hit two home runs, one inside-the-park and one out.
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Howard Kroplick
I was at that game too! It was the craziest ending to a Met loss ever!
Great story Howard. I remember waking up Sam to see that. My wife almost killed me.
I have you beat though. I was at game 6 of the 1986 WS. I still have the ticket! I have to meet Mookie one day and have him sign it. Might be worth something.
I so glad A Rod didn’t buy / partner w someone to buy the Mets. He might be the only thing worse then the Wilpons! Dolan might be worse.
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Howard Kroplick
The most amazing Met game ever!