Master Index of Archived Threads


Scoreboard Shots

Frayed Knot Sep 09 2008 06:46 PM

Delgado banking 'em off the scoreboard over the past few days caused Ronnie to call today's shot as one of the 4 or 5 longest he's seen at Shea. So, sticking strictly to scoreboard shots, any particular ones come to mind before we close down the old girl? I got two: - Strawberry off Valenzuela in a game I was at. Hit on the side where the Met lineup is listed right next to the 22-LF for McReynolds batting in the 5th slot. - Mo Vaughn in a game where we were getting blown out to the point where I turned it off. Saw it later on the highlights hitting about 1/3 way up the big Bud ad.

OlerudOwned Sep 09 2008 06:51 PM

McGwire to the opposite field, knocking out lights on one of the lineup boards. I don't remember when, just that I was young and at the game. Might've been during a double header, I'm not positive. Time to nose around UMDB.

Elster88 Sep 09 2008 06:52 PM

I was at the Mo Vaughn game, it was against the Braves. I know it's not possible but that ball looked like it was still rising when it hit the Bud sign.

Frayed Knot Sep 09 2008 06:55 PM

Gary just mentioned that McGwire one on TV. I don't remember seeing that one or know specifically when it was. At one point in his record season (he set that record 10 years ago this week) the Cards had two DHs at Shea in a row due to rainouts but I don't think it was one of those. I know it wasn't in the first one because I was there that day.

OlerudOwned Sep 09 2008 07:00 PM

August 20, 1998 would seem to fit. Doubleheader, and McGwire homered in each game. I looked up the Times article on it, thought, and it says both homers went to left field. One in the picnic area and one off the foul-pole screen. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9904E0D8103DF932A1575BC0A96E958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all Also, some very amusing word choice, in retrospect. ]It is hard enough to hit a round ball 400 feet with a round bat, and it should be even harder when everyone is expecting it. But McGwire kept defying that theory and made it a night to remember for his newfound fans by injecting his 51st for those among the crowd of 45,308 who were tardy. Like I said, I was young. I may be blending two different trips to the park together. I'll keep looking.

AG/DC Sep 09 2008 07:10 PM

My grandmother swore she remembered Felix Millan hitting one halfway up the scoreboard. Not altogether reliable, but possible.

cooby Sep 09 2008 07:24 PM

Amen

seawolf17 Sep 09 2008 07:24 PM

I was at that McGwire 2-home-run game. Don't remember either one going off the scoreboard. I remember Vaughn's.

cooby Sep 09 2008 07:29 PM

Amen, brother

OlerudOwned Sep 09 2008 07:32 PM

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B07EED61038F930A1575BC0A96F958260 Turns out just googling "McGwire Shea Scoreboard" was the easier way to go about this. http://www.ultimatemets.com/gamedetail.php?gameno=6027 August 22, 1999. Game one of a doubleheader, and his first of 2 homers that game. Olerud also had a grand slam in that one, which you would think I would've remembered over the McGwire shot. Some fanboy I was.

Frayed Knot Sep 09 2008 07:38 PM

Was [url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN200304300.shtml]THIS[/url] the Mo Vaughn game? I remember it was in the last inning of a blow out but I can't remember the opponent. If so it was his last ML HR ever!!

OlerudOwned Sep 09 2008 07:44 PM

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C00E5D61F3DF932A35756C0A9659C8B63 ]The Mets went on to lose by 13-3 after another embarrassing chapter in what was to be Vaughn's comeback season. Tonight, they were trounced by 13-4, with Vaughn hitting a home run into the upper deck in right field in the ninth inning, when it didn't matter. I'm guessing you're right, and our reporter is wrong in his account. We'd certainly know about it if Mo, or anyone else, popped one into the red seats.

Frayed Knot Sep 09 2008 07:46 PM

No it isn't. I'm an idiot since that game was in St Louis.

AG/DC Sep 09 2008 07:49 PM

We had an argument here whether Vaughn had any business swinging with the tying run behind him in the ninth. I think he swung 3-0. KC, in particular, was of the mind that, if the ball is still bouncing the next morning, the point is moot.

Fman99 Sep 09 2008 07:51 PM

OlerudOwned wrote: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B07EED61038F930A1575BC0A96F958260 Turns out just googling "McGwire Shea Scoreboard" was the easier way to go about this. http://www.ultimatemets.com/gamedetail.php?gameno=6027 August 22, 1999. Game one of a doubleheader, and his first of 2 homers that game. Olerud also had a grand slam in that one, which you would think I would've remembered over the McGwire shot. Some fanboy I was. I was at the park the next day for a Mets-Astros tilt. You could see the lights that had busted from Mac's shot the day prior (we were sitting on the right field side).

Fman99 Sep 09 2008 07:54 PM

Elster88 wrote: I was at the Mo Vaughn game, it was against the Braves. I know it's not possible but that ball looked like it was still rising when it hit the Bud sign. Hmm. Why did I think that was a HR off of Boomer Wells in a Mets-MFYs game? Maybe that was another long one that he hit...

Frayed Knot Sep 09 2008 07:56 PM

The HR off Wells was an 8th inning game-winner but that one was down the line up in the 2nd or 3rd deck (IIRC). A monster shot, but not the scoreboard one.

batmagadanleadoff Sep 09 2008 08:06 PM

I was at the game where Mo hit one near the top of the Shea Scoreboard. It was against the Braves in 2002, during Mo's first season. Mo had slumped terribly for the first few months of his Met stint, but caught fire near the middle of the season, very close to the All-Star break, though I forget which side of the break. For about two weeks during this streak, Mo was hitting some of the hardest balls I'd ever seen. Mo's HR was unforgettable. I also remember a monster Strawberry shot off the Scoreboard against an Astro pitcher, Xavier Hernandez. And I was there when Piazza hit a homer to left-center field at Shea that is considered the longest ball Piazza ever hit in a Met uniform. It went far and fast.

Elster88 Sep 09 2008 08:17 PM

AG/DC wrote: We had an argument here whether Vaughn had any business swinging with the tying run behind him in the ninth. I think he swung 3-0. KC, in particular, was of the mind that, if the ball is still bouncing the next morning, the point is moot. Remember the Cliff Floyd game not too long ago? Same argument that day. Bases loaded, down 5, and he hit a grand slam in the ninth on a 3-0 count.

batmagadanleadoff Sep 09 2008 08:17 PM

Mo's 505 foot Home Run was hit on June 26, 2002. [url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06E3DF1E3EF93AA15755C0A9649C8B63]Link to NYT article on Vaughn hot streak[/url]

DocTee Sep 09 2008 08:17 PM

George Foster dented the auxiliary scoreboard in left-- that was a laser.

Elster88 Sep 09 2008 08:18 PM

What are they doing with the circle in the left field upper deck? They should stick it on a flag pole or light or something.

Fman99 Sep 09 2008 08:19 PM

Elster88 wrote: What are they doing with the circle in the left field upper deck? They should stick it on a flag pole or light or something. The Agee marker? I suspect it gets blown up with the rest of the park. Which is fine -- that is a Shea-specific marker to me. Man, though, I wish there was video of it.

AG/DC Sep 09 2008 08:27 PM

="DocTee"]George Foster dented the auxiliary scoreboard in left-- that was a laser. I don't remember that. I do remember him bursting a seam in the padding under that auxiliary board. That one (in my memory anyhow) was never more than 15 feet off the ground.

Rockin' Doc Sep 09 2008 09:05 PM

AG/DC - "My grandmother swore she remembered Felix Millan hitting one halfway up the scoreboard." They must have let him hit from his fileding position.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Sep 09 2008 09:07 PM

Elster88 wrote: I was at the Mo Vaughn game, it was against the Braves. I know it's not possible but that ball looked like it was still rising when it hit the Bud sign. I wuz at that game too. The night was super humid and overcast and the bat-on-ball barely made a sound. High as a ball could be hit, I thought.

Frayed Knot Sep 09 2008 09:19 PM

So [url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN200206260.shtml]this must be[/url] the Vaughn game. He only hit 3 as a Met against the Braves and two were in this game while the other was in late Sept and probably not a hot, humid night. I thought it came in more of a blow-out but down by 4 kinda seemed like too tall a hill to climb against the Braves in those days.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Sep 09 2008 09:36 PM

Yeah, we had no shot that night and everyone knew it. IIRC, it was a Wednesday night -- a weeknight for sure. I was supposed to play softball that night but the other team was scared it would rain and didn't show and somehow I wound up with a ticket from one of my teammates.

Gwreck Sep 09 2008 09:59 PM

I will admit to having left that game early, after Strickland gave up the grand slam to Sheffield. Heard the call while driving on the Cross Island Parkway.

Frayed Knot Sep 10 2008 06:40 AM

As if on cue, [url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2008/09/06/2008-09-06_shea_stadiums_been_raining_long_balls_fo.html?page=0]The NY Daily News[/url] proves themselves to be CPF readers and prints a piece on long Shea HRs. The Mo & McGwire HRs are mentioned.

soupcan Sep 10 2008 07:03 AM

In 1988 I had season tix on the mezz on the third base side. Section 18 I think. The best thing about those seats was when Straw cranked one into the rightfield bullpen. You saw the entire trajectory of the ball - it was a thing of beauty. Not sure if this was the longest one I ever saw but it was a bottom of the 10th 2 run shot off Franco to win the game 4-3. It's one of the most memorable homeruns I've witnessed. [url=http://www.ultimatemets.com/gamedetail.php?gameno=4210]May 6, 1988[/url]

John Cougar Lunchbucket Sep 10 2008 07:25 AM

I have vague recollections of John Milner hitting the scoreboard.

metsguyinmichigan Sep 10 2008 07:32 AM

Wasn't Mo's blast against the Yankees? I seem to remember a Sunday night game on ESPN with a win that prevented us from getting swept.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Sep 10 2008 07:40 AM

That was a long HR off Wells, but not as massive as the Braves HR

batmagadanleadoff Sep 10 2008 07:54 AM

Here's the NYT article reporting Strawberry's HR off Houston pitcher Xavier Hernandez. Summer of 1990. Red Hot Mets. Strawberry's best Met stretch ever. [url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE3D91039F937A35754C0A966958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all] Strawberry Hits 2 as Mets' 4 Homers Back Viola's 12th Victory[/url] By JOSEPH DURSO Published: July 4, 1990 After blitzing their way through June with 21 victories in 28 games, the Mets made it two straight in July last night when they hammered the Houston Astros, 12-0. And they did it with a barrage of epic hitting that included four home runs, two of which banked against the scoreboard in remote right field. The Mets now have won 13 of their last 14 games and 22 of their last 26 in one month of memorable marching through the National League's East, and they have zoomed from fourth place to the very edge of first. The Pittsburgh Pirates are still in front, but they are hearing heavy footsteps in the dark. Two of the evening's four rockets were launched by Darryl Strawberry, and both were memorable. One carried 450 feet from home plate and struck halfway up the scoreboard against the lighted word ''Ball,'' where the count on the batter is recorded but where baseballs rarely carry. The other merely soared into the back rows of the bleachers in left-center field, probably 425 feet away. Another distance shot was launched by Daryl Boston, who crashed his home run off a billboard on the lower part of the scoreboard. And the fourth was delivered by Kevin McReynolds, less majestic in trajectory but more valuable in runs, since it was hit with two men on base. All this pounding was sweet music to Frank Viola, who pitched serenely and absolutely to his 12th victory against three losses, and the cheery left-hander from St. John's University now has won more games than any other pitcher in the National League and he has the best earnedrun average (2.26). He also has thrown three shutouts and five complete games, and nobody on the Mets comes close to him in mastery at midseason. ''He is a beautiful thing to watch,'' said Bud Harrelson, who became manager of the Mets on May 29 just before they began to streak. ''He's like a well-oiled machine out there.'' ''All cyclinders are working on this club right now,'' Viola said. The Mets are so hot these days that you wonder if the worst fate that can befall them is a three-day break, the kind they will get next week for baseball's All-Star Game. But Strawberry thinks they'll survive three days off. ''We're not just hot physically,'' the main man of the Mets said. ''We're hot mentally. So, three days off won't break our momentum. It'll give us the chance to collect our thoughts for the second half.'' Collect their thoughts? ''Yes,'' Strawberry reflected. ''I know I'm making more of a mental approach than ever before. For the first time in my career, I'm analyzing myself. What I do. Why I do it. I even study myself in batting practice.'' The Mets barreled into the Astros after taking three of four games from the Cincinnati Reds, who hold a commanding lead in the league's West. The Astros, by contrast, have been struggling without success to stay out of last place. On the road, they have won 10 games and lost 29. And they arrived in New York without Glenn Davis, their one true power hitter, who has been disabled with a torn rib-cage muscle. But the Mets have been fit and fierce, and Viola even found to his surprise that his curveball was making a return appearance after an unauthorized absence. ''When I was warming up,'' he said, ''I realized it was there. The first time in a long while. So, I threw a bunch of curves in the game, and had good snap on them.'' He didn't have to wait long for the troops to arrive, either. In the first inning, swinging against Mark Portugal, the Mets teed off with four hits in a row and treated Viola to a four-run lead. Dave Magadan started it with a one-out single, Gregg Jefferies followed with a single, Strawberry rammed a single through the right side, and Viola had the lead. Not long after, he had a large lead. Portugal went to 2 balls and 1 strike on McReynolds, who whacked the next pitch into the bleachers for three more runs. Two innings later, Strawberry went to bat with two down and hit the one-strike pitch farther into the bleachers. And two innings after that, with Xavier Hernandez pitching, he drove the ball high into the night sky and 39,938 persons in Shea Stadium watched it re-enter the atmosphere and crash against the scoreboard's electric lights. It was his 19th home run of the season, and his 11th in three weeks. And it was followed and almost matched a few moments later when Boston lashed his home run high into the night beyond right field, where it also targeted against the scoreboard for the Mets' fourth and final shot of the night.

AG/DC Sep 10 2008 08:09 AM

Eleven homers in three weeks? Delgado-esque.

HahnSolo Sep 10 2008 08:12 AM

soupcan wrote: In 1988 I had season tix on the mezz on the third base side. Section 18 I think. The best thing about those seats was when Straw cranked one into the rightfield bullpen. You saw the entire trajectory of the ball - it was a thing of beauty. Not sure if this was the longest one I ever saw but it was a bottom of the 10th 2 run shot off Franco to win the game 4-3. It's one of the most memorable homeruns I've witnessed. [url=http://www.ultimatemets.com/gamedetail.php?gameno=4210]May 6, 1988[/url] I remember a story from after that game that Franco, who still had a home in Brooklyn at the time and stayed there when the Reds were in NYC, woke up the next morning to a large basket of strawberries, which were delivered by his "friends".