A really terrific honor for Mets' 'Franchise'

The date was Sept. 30, 1971. My father had secured two tickets to the Mets’ final baseball game of the season at Shea Stadium. I was 12. My brother Bill, nine years my senior, drove us from Melville to the game. I was elated. And, to top it off, the Mets’ ace, Tom Seaver, was pitching.

Last year marked the 50th anniversary of that game, and it was refreshing to see fans back in the stands. The team honored Seaver by wearing a patch showing “41,” his uniform number, on their sleeves. He died in August 2020 at age 75 from complications of Lewy body dementia and COVID-19.

This year, after being postponed a year, a statue in Seaver’s honor will be unveiled at the season’s home opener on April 15 at Citi Field, 41 Seaver Way, as a tribute to the player still referred to as “The Franchise.” Seaver helped transform the Mets from lovable losers to world champions in 1969. He brought them respect.

Recalling that historic evening, I remember that my brother drove us to Flushing, and we took the 7 train one stop to Shea. Once inside, we hopped onto an escalator and proceeded up the long ramp leading to our field-level seats. I was filled with euphoria as I caught my first-ever glimpse of the meticulously manicured baseball diamond, surrounded by the most beautiful green grass I had ever laid my eyes on. If I wasn’t a baseball fan before, now I was hooked.

Consistent with the way he had pitched all season, “Tom Terrific” was masterful! He struck out 13 batters en route to his 20th victory, capping off a spectacular season that included 289 strikeouts in 286 innings and a microscopic 1.76 earned run average.

That game was a Mets fan’s dream. It was also Fan Appreciation Night. Everyone in the crowd of 42,344 went home with a knit hat featuring the Mets’ logo embroidered on the front. Amazingly enough, 51 years later, that same hat has lasted as long as the memories I’m sharing now. It has become my hat of choice each winter when shoveling snow off the driveway and, at the same time, serving as a reminder that it wouldn’t be long before the boys of summer would be playing once again.

Allow me to put a bookend on this essay, noting that we drove from Northport to the final game at the old ballpark, dubbed “Shea Goodbye,” on Sept. 28, 2008. This time, I was accompanied by my brother, Marty, five years my junior, and my nephew Ryan, 13. Former Mets players throughout the decades were introduced during a ceremony following the game. The emotions were raw as my childhood flashed before me with the public address introduction of each player: “shortstop Bud Harrelson . . . outfielder Rusty Staub . . .  pitcher Doc Gooden . . .  catcher Gary Carter . . . ” One by one, each player stepped up to home plate and acknowledged the fans’ cheers one last time.

The biggest moment of the Shea finale occurred when Seaver threw the “final pitch” to batterymate Mike Piazza. Then, with all eyes focused on the two hometown heroes, Hall of Famer Seaver and future member Piazza walked toward centerfield, gave their final waves, and left through the exit gate.

So, as we again acknowledge Seaver, my brothers and I and, I’m sure, all Mets fans say, “Thanks, Tom, for the terrific memories!” 

Reader Jim Lauter lives in Huntington.