Thanks to our good pal Sean T.
McMann of the Poughkeepsie Journal, we were able to provide my youngest son
James with an early birthday gift (the little guy turns 8 next weekend) by
going to Mike Piazza Day at Citi Field. It was his first time at Citi Field and
first time on a NYC Subway (we took Metro North to Grand Central and then the 7
train to Citi Field). It was a picture perfect day and great to see future Hall
of Famer Piazza get honored. I was always a big Piazza guy. What’s not to like?
An underdog Italian-American story? Are you kiddin’ me! James, being a very
active second grader, was equally interested in the myriad planes flying
overhead as he was the somewhat dreary and meaningless game on the field
between the Mets and the Brewers. I have to say that Citi Field is quite an
excellent place to bring a kid and watch a game.
Going to the final regular season
game harkens me back to a mini-tradition I had with my older brothers in the
1970s. For several years, we made it a point to go to the final game of the
season at Yankee Stadium. One year, 1978, that last game of the year was
extremely meaningful. The Yankees lost to Rick Waits and the lowly Cleveland Indians,
as we sat in the upper deck behind home plate on a warm Sunday like yesterday, in
a curiously half-empty stadium (these days, a game like this would be a packed,
rockin’ affair). Meanwhile, the hated Red Sox won up at Fenway. This, of
course, forced the one-game playoff the next day – the “Bucky Dent” game – and the
rest, as they say, is history.
For those keeping score at home,
I went to three MLB games this year – two at Citi Field and one at Yankee
Stadium. All courtesy of great and loyal friends. Yeah, I know: More Mets’
games than Yankee games. What the heck, right?
3 comments:
I'm tellin' you. Citizens Bank Park is worlds better than citi field, simply because there are no Mets on the field - most of the time. Glad your son had a good time though, sounds like a good tradition, guess you have to buy tix for next year's last game.
Lurch! I hate to point this out to you. When asked which visiting ballpark he least liked and which fans were the nastiest, the Great Mariano Rivera said ... Citizens Bank Park. Philly. Ouch. But, I'll gladly go to a Phils' game with you!
I'm glad that you and "The Youngest" (remember that?!) had a great time with my tickets! I hope you wear your complimentary black Mike Piazza T-shirt in good health!
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