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Selling Shea Bit By Bit

metirish Oct 01 2008 12:54 PM

This from Marty Noble ] NEW YORK -- Few people had witnessed more games at Shea Stadium or watched them more closely than Bob Waterman of the Elias Sports Bureau. So it came as no surprise on Monday when Waterman divulged a secret he'd discovered over the weekend, Shea's final weekend before being dismantled. From his seat in the pressbox, Waterman noticed that the middle panel of the center-field wall -- the one with the No. 410 on it -- was a darker, richer, presumably less-faded blue than those on either side of it. His suspicion proved true -- the panel had been changed. And someone fessed up to it on Tuesday. Barry Meisel, the president of the MeiGray Group, had removed the more faded predecessor and brought it to his New Jersey home as a souvenir. The MeiGray Group paid for the right to remove and sell most of the removable pieces of Shea, and Meisel, who formerly worked as a sportswriter for the Morristown (N.J.) Record and The New York Daily News, has a place in his heart for Shea and a place on his basement wall for the panel. The entire outfield wall is gone now, removed on Tuesday, the second full day of the de-Mets-ing of Shea. One party made a point of asking for the panel of the wall in left field where Endy Chavez made his memorable catch during the 2006 National League Championship Series. Some of the sod is gone as well, including the area behind the plate where the Mets logo had been painted. That will be part of Meisel's lawn -- at least until it must be mowed. Meisel said that some of the seats already have been removed from field level and that cranes will be used, beginning on Wednesday, to move seats from the upper deck to the field. And, sadly, also gone is a sign of great importance, one that had been posted in the clubhouse. It warmly worded: "No media beyond this point." Who might have taken that? Vince Coleman? Mark Bomback? Manny Aybar? Then this from Greg ] Your Soul...$41,000 by Greg on Wed 01 Oct 2008 01:40 PM EDT A conversation with Laurie has raised between us a very good question: Why are the Mets selling Tom Seaver's locker? I know why: because they can. For $41,000. Why would the Mets sell it, though? Why wouldn't you preserve the locker of your only indisputable Hall of Famer and display it somewhere at Ebbets Faux? Why wouldn't you fix it up, recreate its 1969 persona, embellish it with era-specific equipment and a few Tom tchotchkes and place it somewhere where Mets fans could ooh and aah over it? And if it doesn't fit in with the Ebbets Faux motif, why wouldn't you make sure it meets the public eye? Why not donate it to the Queens Museum or the Museum of the City of New York or the Sports Museum of America? Why not Cooperstown? It is understood and accepted as common business practice that you close a stadium, you sell off as much of it as you can. Better than it winding up in a Dumpster. Fine. But everything must go? There is no space at Ebbets Faux for a few key Shea mementoes representing the history of the New York Mets? You can't keep Tom Seaver's locker on the premises? Or at least on the premises of somewhere where it might be appreciated? Is nothing — besides the cherished tradition of blowing a playoff spot on the final day of the season — sacred to this franchise? I find it rather sad that they would sell certain things like Seaver's locker. Will there be anything in the new place to remind us of Shea and it's history? Fonzie when asked Sunday if he would like anything from Shea.... ] "My locker," I'd take it home and put it in my trophy room. That way, every morning I'd come down and see my locker and remember." I guess he can bid on it.

batmagadanleadoff Oct 01 2008 01:27 PM Re: Selling Shea Bit By Bit

metirish wrote: This from Marty Noble ] So it came as no surprise on Monday when Waterman divulged a secret he'd discovered over the weekend, Shea's final weekend before being dismantled. From his seat in the pressbox, Waterman noticed that the middle panel of the center-field wall -- the one with the No. 410 on it -- was a darker, richer, presumably less-faded blue than those on either side of it. His suspicion proved true -- the panel had been changed. And someone fessed up to it on Tuesday. Barry Meisel, the president of the MeiGray Group, had removed the more faded predecessor and brought it to his New Jersey home as a souvenir. I also noticed the newer CF panel on Sunday but kept my observation to myself, thinking I couldn't possibly be right about what I thought I saw and its' implications.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 01 2008 01:32 PM

You never wanna wish a guy's garage would burn down but geez. All the folks out there plunking down Big $$ for this stuff should be like me and not be able to afford to. And that way this kinda crap wouldn't happen.

Iubitul Oct 01 2008 01:35 PM

I noticed the new 410 on Sunday, too, but I didn't think anything about it. The way they have done this has turned my stomach the more I think about it. At least they could wait until the body is cold before they started stripping things from her. They couldn't wait until after closing to remove the player banners that hung throughout the stadium? Selling Seaver's locker? Did they really need the $41,000 that badly? I want an owner that cares more about the team he owns than the team that left him 50 years ago.

HahnSolo Oct 01 2008 01:37 PM Re: Selling Shea Bit By Bit

batmagadanleadoff wrote: ="metirish"]This from Marty Noble ] So it came as no surprise on Monday when Waterman divulged a secret he'd discovered over the weekend, Shea's final weekend before being dismantled. From his seat in the pressbox, Waterman noticed that the middle panel of the center-field wall -- the one with the No. 410 on it -- was a darker, richer, presumably less-faded blue than those on either side of it. His suspicion proved true -- the panel had been changed. And someone fessed up to it on Tuesday. Barry Meisel, the president of the MeiGray Group, had removed the more faded predecessor and brought it to his New Jersey home as a souvenir. I also noticed the newer CF panel on Sunday but kept my observation to myself, thinking I couldn't possibly be right about what I thought I saw and its' implications. So the guy who is in charge of selling stuff basically pocketed something because he liked it. If I tried to take home a souvenir (hey, look, it's a Shea condiment dispenser) I'd wind up in central booking. I hope his kid doesn't like Tom Seaver's locker.

Gwreck Oct 01 2008 01:38 PM

Iubitul wrote: Selling Seaver's locker? Did they really need the $41,000 that badly? The City of New York is getting a lot of the money for stuff that's being sold, as they own the stadium (not the Mets).

Frayed Knot Oct 01 2008 01:42 PM

I heard that guy being interviewed on the radio a week or so back. He would slyly state that some items (I think the 410 sign was specifically brought up) were "off the market" or already spoken for but didn't let on that HE was one of the reasons for it.

metsguyinmichigan Oct 01 2008 02:01 PM

Horrible. Then again, is anyone surprised? Have there been stories about Yankee Stadium being stripped, too? I do, however, feel less guilty about taking one of the paper Final Subway Series inserts out of a napkin holder when I was there in June.

G-Fafif Oct 01 2008 02:19 PM

Gwreck wrote: ="Iubitul"]Selling Seaver's locker? Did they really need the $41,000 that badly? The City of New York is getting a lot of the money for stuff that's being sold, as they own the stadium (not the Mets). They're participating in the scavenger hunt together and I'm guessing arrangements could have been made for certain items. Also, the Mets say their portion is going to their charitable foundation, which is very nice, but somebody could also make a sizable donation from selling The David (the statue, not the third baseman). Doesn't mean you should. As a friend of mine said (and I hate to frame it like this), but do you think the Yankees are selling Thurman Munson's locker?

AG/DC Oct 01 2008 02:29 PM

There are a lot of people who think the Vat would do quite well selling Michelangelo's work for the charitable concerns of the church. When the Pieta ends up in the hands of Bahraining sheik, well, you roll with it.

SteveJRogers Oct 01 2008 03:17 PM

Frayed Knot wrote: I heard that guy being interviewed on the radio a week or so back. He would slyly state that some items (I think the 410 sign was specifically brought up) were "off the market" or already spoken for but didn't let on that HE was one of the reasons for it. Actually IIRC in the interview with Beningo and Roberts he actually DID say the 410 sign was to be owned by himself.

SteveJRogers Oct 01 2008 03:21 PM

metsguyinmichigan wrote: Have there been stories about Yankee Stadium being stripped, too? Not yet, but there is a big fight about the future of the land that OYS currently occupies.

seawolf17 Oct 01 2008 05:30 PM

SteveJRogers wrote: ="Frayed Knot"]I heard that guy being interviewed on the radio a week or so back. He would slyly state that some items (I think the 410 sign was specifically brought up) were "off the market" or already spoken for but didn't let on that HE was one of the reasons for it. Actually IIRC in the interview with Beningo and Roberts he actually DID say the 410 sign was to be owned by himself. Yes, he did. I heard the interview also, and the guy came off as a total ass. He mentioned a couple of times that his company is a "for-profit company... we plan to make money on this." A portion goes to the Mets, a portion to the city, and a big chunk to this dickhead and his company. He said he was taking the 410 and a few other things -- I don't remember what, but I do specifically remember him mentioning the 410, because that was what Beningo said he wanted.

SteveJRogers Oct 01 2008 05:47 PM

I do prefer his act to Brandon "The Yankees Rule" Steiner. Not saying much though! =;)

metirish Oct 02 2008 07:27 AM

HahnSolo Oct 02 2008 07:43 AM

seawolf17 wrote: ="SteveJRogers"] ="Frayed Knot"]I heard that guy being interviewed on the radio a week or so back. He would slyly state that some items (I think the 410 sign was specifically brought up) were "off the market" or already spoken for but didn't let on that HE was one of the reasons for it. Actually IIRC in the interview with Beningo and Roberts he actually DID say the 410 sign was to be owned by himself. Yes, he did. I heard the interview also, and the guy came off as a total ass. He mentioned a couple of times that his company is a "for-profit company... we plan to make money on this." A portion goes to the Mets, a portion to the city, and a big chunk to this dickhead and his company. He said he was taking the 410 and a few other things -- I don't remember what, but I do specifically remember him mentioning the 410, because that was what Beningo said he wanted. By "taking" the 410 sign, he just brought it home? Did he pay for it? And if he did pay for it, why was it not brought to auction first where he could bid for it like everybody else? I also just caught the bit about him taking the "Mets" sod from behind home plate. Just from what I am reading it seems like the Mets and city got themselves some winner when they went with this guy's group.

Centerfield Oct 02 2008 07:47 AM

Did the Mets feel like they need this guy? Isn't this the type of thing that, you know, we could have done?

AG/DC Oct 02 2008 07:53 AM

I've come to realize the way to get filthy rich in America is to be the middle man --- create nothing, import nothing, risk nothing when the product is shit. Just shuffle some papers, make important friends, claim to bring the buyer and seller together, lop off your percentage, and get fat. The Enron way. All I need is crooked lawyer, preferably someone with Yankees living in his in-laws' building.

bmfc1 Oct 02 2008 08:18 AM

Audio slide show from [u:ee78ce0078]The Daily News[/u:ee78ce0078]: http://multimedia.nydailynews.com/audioslideshow/sports/20081001_dismantlingshea

Rockin' Doc Oct 02 2008 05:03 PM

Damn, there goes my dream of purchasing an official Shea Stadium urinal for the game room.

G-Fafif Oct 02 2008 05:05 PM

Was watching the Channel 4 news whose helicopter coverage revealed Shea is very much being torn apart as we speak. I was coming to grips with it earlier, but this was a sock in the stomach.

Fman99 Oct 02 2008 08:17 PM

Rockin' Doc wrote: Damn, there goes my dream of purchasing an official Shea Stadium urinal for the game room. You should've jacked one the final weeked like I did. Fboy got tired of carrying that thing halfway down the ramp to the parking lot.

Willets Point Oct 03 2008 09:25 AM

Seeing Shea taken apart is more heartbreaking than I imagined. I even had a dream last night that there was a game being played at Shea after the seats were already taken out.

soupcan Oct 03 2008 09:53 AM

The one thing we took at the last game was the blue & white plaque that indicates the box holder's name. My brother-in-law's family has had the same seats since the place opened in '64. The name on the plaque is his family's company that his grandfather founded and according to him its the same plaque that was there the first day. That was the only thing he wanted. I smuggled in a screwdriver and we took it off during the game. Somebody saw me and asked if they could borrow it. Before I knew it, my screwdriver was being handed from box to box and everyone was ripping those blue and white things off and some folks were prying off the brass box indicators as well.

bmfc1 Oct 03 2008 10:45 AM

I'm wondering how the city employees doing the taking apart of Shea, or the contract company that the city hired, became available the day after the season ended. It's not like anybody was 100% sure, other than Hanley Ramirez, that the Mets season would be over on Sunday so how did all of these employees suddenly become available? And would it have been the worst thing for the Mets, and the city, to open up Shea for a few days to let us look around one last time? I know that they were scared of looters but you have cops there anyway. They could even have made a few bucks by selling the leftover stuff at the souvenir stands for a discount.

metirish Oct 03 2008 11:00 AM

Is this the skyline with the ribbon? ] Yesterday workers removed a facsimile of the city skyline from the top of the giant outfield scoreboard. The skyline will be moved to Citi Field, the Mets' new ballpark being constructed in a Shea parking lot.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 03 2008 11:14 AM

I'm glad that a part of Shea will be in the new ballpark, but I don't think that tacky skyline is the part I would have kept.

soupcan Oct 03 2008 11:22 AM

="metirish"]Is this the skyline with the ribbon? That's my understanding. ="Benjamin Grimm"]I'm glad that a part of Shea will be in the new ballpark, but I don't think that tacky skyline is the part I would have kept. I like the skyline alot. Don't think its tacky at all and its a helluva lot better than the stupid apple. If I had my druthers though I'd remove the twin towers and the ribbon. If that sounds callous I'm sorry but everytime I see it it brings back so many bad feelings in me.

Gwreck Oct 03 2008 11:30 AM

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I'm glad that a part of Shea will be in the new ballpark, but I don't think that tacky skyline is the part I would have kept. Serious question (to BG, and others): What would you have kept -- that was practical to do so? (Answers such as "a massive scoreboard in right field" or "12,000 upper deck seats" might be true but decidedly impractical).

AG/DC Oct 03 2008 11:31 AM

soupcan wrote: Though I'd remove the twin towers and the ribbon. If that sounds callous I'm sorry but everytime I see it it brings back so many bad feelings in me. If it does, then maybe that's good.

soupcan Oct 03 2008 11:33 AM

AG/DC wrote: If it does, then maybe that's good. Its not good. I remember. Believe me I'll never forget it. Put a memorial somewhere just not in the middle of my distraction, you know?

Benjamin Grimm Oct 03 2008 11:44 AM

Looking at it now, I think it's the spangly pink-outlined Mets script in the middle of the skyline that makes it tacky. I'm not a fan of neon. The thing from Shea I would most have wanted to keep would probably be the original tiles. With them irretrievably gone, I guess that leaves the apple and the hat. And I agree about the World Trade Center and the ribbon. We should never forget, but I don't think we need to constantly remember either.

AG/DC Oct 03 2008 11:58 AM

It's not in the middle. And I think we do a terrible job remembering national tragedy. Subsequent generations much much moreso --- making them increasingly vulnerable. A minor note in the corner of the stadium to keep the fire burning is not too much to ask --- particularly in age where the notion of naming public bulidings like stadia as monuments to the fallen is lookng pretty lost.

themetfairy Oct 03 2008 12:18 PM

I'd keep the organ. And reinstate organ music at games.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 03 2008 12:24 PM

Citifield needs a gigantic Rudy Giuliani popping out of a hat.

AG/DC Oct 03 2008 12:28 PM

I'm conflating your posts into one about a giant organ popping out of a hat.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 03 2008 12:31 PM

AG/DC wrote: It's not in the middle. Of course it is. Look at it; there are buildings to the left and buildings to the right. It's not on the end, so it's in the middle. AG/DC wrote: And I think we do a terrible job remembering national tragedy. Well, maybe. But eventually you need to put tragedy behind you. I was glad to see the Mets no longer wearing the NYPD and FDNY caps this year. It was a nice gesture, but I think it ran its course.

seawolf17 Oct 03 2008 12:38 PM

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Citifield needs a gigantic Rudy Giuliani popping out of a hat. Better that than a cake. The first game I attended that fall, I was sitting behind the third-base dugout in the loge reserved. During the national anthem, I looked up at the Towers on the scoreboard -- it was hard not to, really, as that was on everyone's minds -- and just at that moment, a plane, off in the distance, crossed through my field of view behind the scoreboard, right through the middle of the skyline and the Towers. Really eerie.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 03 2008 12:45 PM

Here's a suggestion about what to bring to Citi Field, from gothamist.com: ]Cat Lovers Want Shea Stadium Feral Cats Moved to Citi Field Since opening in '64, Shea Stadium has been a popular home for feral cats, who've been known to scamper onto the field during games. In the Mets' championship year of 1969, a black cat ran back and forth in front of the Cubs dugout, cursing Chicago's pennant hopes. Now a group called Neighborhood Cats is urging the Mets to relocate the feral felines to the new Citi Field. "They're part of Mets lore, so why not keep them around?," asks Bryan Kortis, the group's leader. He guesses there are 20-40 cats who call the stadium home, and if the Mets don't relocate them he predicts, "they're going to be overrun with rats." Pressure from other groups successfully saved the Home Run Apple, but Mets officials have yet to respond to this demand. And a Parks Department spokeswoman tells Newsday there are only a couple cats at Shea, and when they catch them, they're taken to a shelter.

AG/DC Oct 03 2008 12:49 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Oct 05 2008 09:21 PM

Benjamin Grimm wrote: ="AG/DC"]It's not in the middle. Of course it is. Look at it; there are buildings to the left and buildings to the right. It's not on the end, so it's in the middle. That's some simplistic logic, so I'll assume you're kidding. Neither is a small outline on top of the scoreboard in the middle of the "distraction," but on the periphery. It's about as intrusive as a photo of dead relative on top of your mother's piano or end table.

Iubitul Oct 03 2008 12:55 PM

The logo looks to be in the middle to me: That being said, I agree with AG - I'm glad they are bringing it over to Shea II, and that the towers and ribbon should remain.

Frayed Knot Oct 03 2008 01:13 PM

Leave the ribbon up until the new tower is complete and then replace the old with the new.

Iubitul Oct 03 2008 04:52 PM

Frayed Knot wrote: Leave the ribbon up until the new tower is complete and then replace the old with the new. Makes sense - I like that idea.

metsguyinmichigan Oct 03 2008 04:57 PM

Frayed Knot wrote: Leave the ribbon up until the new tower is complete and then replace the old with the new. Perfect!

Benjamin Grimm Oct 03 2008 05:48 PM

I think Citi Field will be razed and replaced before the Freedom Tower is completed.

AG/DC Oct 05 2008 09:26 PM

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Well, maybe. But eventually you need to put tragedy behind you. I was glad to see the Mets no longer wearing the NYPD and FDNY caps this year. It was a nice gesture, but I think it ran its course. How does such a thing run its course? Why shouldn't the sacrifices of emergency workers get acknowledged every year? In remembering the dead in a small way, it's not tragedy that's carried forward, but resolve, respect, and triumph over tragedy. It's nice any time a team can stand for something besides a different-colored uniform.

Vince Coleman Firecracker Oct 08 2008 07:41 AM

AG/DC wrote: How does such a thing run its course? Why shouldn't the sacrifices of emergency workers get acknowledged every year?... It's nice any time a team can stand for something besides a different-colored uniform. I'm with Edgy. The PAPD, FDNY, and NYPD hats were classy as hell, and now they've been replaced by some bullshit merchandising push. It's a fucking disgrace.

Farmer Ted Oct 08 2008 10:00 AM

A good peice by Marty Noble. NEW YORK -- The essence of the Mets clubhouse is no more. The people, equipment and furniture are gone, toilets and shower fixtures have been removed; so, too, a 1970 Rusty Staub card found amid the rubble created by deconstruction. And, of course, the locker stalls, the Shea Stadium homes of the 788 men who played as Mets in the now de-commissioned ballpark, have been taken away as well. Most of the stalls are nondescript now that their contents and nameplates have been removed and their locations have been changed. Mike Piazza's stall -- later assigned to Guillermo Mota -- bears great resemblance to those of Mike DiFelice and Mike Fitzgerald. And the stalls used by Doc Medich, Dock Ellis and Doc Gooden can barely be distinguished from the one used by Dr. Ron Taylor. The hooks where they hung their hats, painted over a dozen times in 45 years, have no distinction; nor do the shelves and the hinged compartments at the bottoms of all lockers. One locker had karma, though; karma, grandeur, distinction, dignity and -- who knows? -- maybe some Hall of Fame DNA mixed with that dreadful seafoam-green paint that was under all the other coats of white, blue and black. Maybe some traces of Tom Seaver survived. If not physical evidence of Seaver's presence, at least a sense of history. "That locker did have history," John Franco said on Tuesday. "More than any other in that place." Franco lived from that stall -- the one just to the right of the clock, the phone and the boom-box shelf -- for 11 years, plus a few weeks in the summer of 1992. And he made Mets history when he was the tenant. "But nobody made the kind of history here that Tom Seaver made," Franco said. Franco was the tenant of that stall for longer than another player, Seaver included. Indeed, only Ed Kranepool had lockers at Shea longer than Franco. But Franco still refers to the one that was his for so long as "Seaver's." So did anyone with a sense of the Mets franchise and the Mets' Franchise. "It doesn't matter how long anyone had it, it was always Seaver's," Franco said. But no longer. That stall and all the others belong to either the Meigray Group or the folks who have purchased them from the group dismantling Shea. Some have been sold, all have been moved to a different location. Seaver's has been moved, but it remains on the Shea shelf, available to anyone who wants to pay the terrific price of $41,000. Seaver wore No. 41, of course, so the stall is appropriately priced. "What would they be charging for it if it was being sold as mine?" Pat Zachry asked on Tuesday. Zachry, acquired in the trade that sent Seaver to the Reds in June 1977, was assigned the locker immediately upon his arrival at Shea. It was his through the 1982 season. (Seaver took it back when he returned in 1983 to his former clubhouse digs.) Zachry wore No. 40 throughout his Mets tenure. "Forty grand for mine, I guess," he said. "My locker would be a bargain." Steve Trachsel used the locker in 2005 and 2006, after Franco's departure. Trachsel wore No. 29. Such a discount! The locker was assigned to seven players, all pitchers, since the Seaver trade 21 years ago -- Zachry, Seaver again, Ron Darling (1984 to July 1991), David Cone (July 1991 to August 1992), Franco, Trachsel and, for the last two seasons of Shea, Aaron Heilman. Before Seaver -- who knows? Buddy Harrelson couldn't recall. Seaver himself didn't know. For that matter, he was unsure whether he had lived from that stall as a rookie in 1967. "It doesn't matter [who preceded Seaver]," Darling said. "It's his." Darling asked for that locker in 1984. "Unless they were going 'Thurman Munson' on it," he told the Mets. (The Yankees maintained Munson's locker in Yankee Stadium following his death in 1979.) "I'm not dead yet," Seaver said on Tuesday. Seaver had little interest in the stall, though his reaction when told of the asking price was a priceless -- and characteristic -- Spanky cackle and "What a steal!" He wondered what the three lockers to the right of the clock might fetch. At one time they were assigned to himself, Nolan Ryan and Jerry Koosman. "Not many hits in those lockers," he said. They called it Pitchers Row for a reason. Seaver hardly was sentimental. "Where you lockered really wasn't that important," he said. "It didn't make any difference. Just your own little space. But it could have been anywhere." But Darling thought, "There might be some karma," when he asked to move in. He already knew the perks of the location. There was no locker to the immediate left, just a three-foot-wide panel. A trash can was placed there. "There's good and bad to that," Heilman decided after his first week in 2007. The space allowed Franco to keep his black leather rocker there without infringing on a teammate's territory. The music and the phone could be controlled from either side of the panel. Except for when Bobby Jones lockered on the other side, Franco was in charge of the volume. There was an upside to that, he decided, particularly when Carlos Baerga blared his musical preferences. Franco would turn up Frank Sinatra or Andrea Bocelli. Darling played the Romantics full blast the first day of the first homestand in 1984. Cone kept the volume down, as did Trachsel. "We didn't have music when I was there," Seaver said. Trachsel often had a case of wine resting on the floor next to trash can, but it was fine wine. "It must have been my influence," said Seaver two years ago. The wine from Seaver's own Northern California vineyard, GTS, is highly regarded. "I just drank beer when I was there," Zachry said. "I don't remember ... too much about it," Seaver said. "So I'm not buying it. I just know it was a good clubhouse to be. Good people. Good memories. I know we drank champagne there. But it's all about the people, memories, energy, not the room or the building. It's not like it was great architecture. It's old now and pretty beat up. They're going to blow it up. I'd volunteer to light the fuse."

metirish Oct 08 2008 12:48 PM

I bet the people doing the selling are thrilled that Seaver cares so little about his old locker. It certainly I think would help them if the lockers most celebrated occupant was the sentimental type.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 08 2008 12:55 PM

Tom Seaver wrote: It's not like it was great architecture. It's old now and pretty beat up. They're going to blow it up. I'd volunteer to light the fuse.

AG/DC Oct 08 2008 12:57 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Oct 08 2008 01:17 PM

No need to remind me I've got a vineyard I'm thinking of blowing up myself.

Centerfield Oct 08 2008 01:10 PM

I like the NYPD and FDNY hats. I can live without the skyline.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 08 2008 01:19 PM

I dunno. I think I'm having Shea Nostalgia Backlash.

Willets Point Oct 09 2008 09:26 PM

I want to get this for ironic reasons.

AG/DC Oct 10 2008 07:16 AM

The gummint should get that.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 10 2008 07:33 AM

I didn't see the part of the fence that said "THE STRENGTH TO BE THERE" anywhere for sale. They may be holding that for a future auction. (I have the spreadsheet of the fixed price items that are being sold outside the auction process.) I bet whoever ends up with that segment will start each morning by leaping against that wall and pretending to be Endy Chavez.

soupcan Oct 10 2008 07:35 AM

I don't think that advertisement was there this year (or last?). Just replaced by the three letters.

Willets Point Oct 10 2008 07:55 AM

AG/DC wrote: The gummint should get that. "government of the people, by the people, for the people" - A. Lincoln I'll share it with you and the other 300 million people of the government.

G-Fafif Oct 10 2008 08:12 AM

soupcan wrote: I don't think that advertisement was there this year (or last?). Just replaced by the three letters. It had [url=http://faithandfear.blogharbor.com/blog/_archives/2008/9/23/3896772.html]the strength to be there[/url] until the final homestand, the day after AIG was bailed out. It was then replaced with a second AIG logo.

metirish Oct 10 2008 08:37 AM

Are we now underwriting AIG's $100 deal with Manchester United?

Iubitul Oct 10 2008 11:03 AM

At first, I really wanted one of [url=http://mets.auction.mlb.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=98653034&prmenbr=33339254&aunbr=98999744]these[/url], but I'm so sick of how they are handling it, I just don't want to bother...

Benjamin Grimm Oct 10 2008 11:07 AM

Buy it anyway. If you're like me (and I don't know if you are or not!) down the road you'll be glad you did.

Iubitul Oct 10 2008 11:08 AM

I just looked at it again, and there is no buy now! button like in the other fixed price lots. Maybe I'm still grumpy and hung over from the last two years. Maybe I'm really starting to get sick of ownership....

themetfairy Oct 10 2008 12:41 PM

Iubitul wrote: At first, I really wanted one of [url=http://mets.auction.mlb.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=98653034&prmenbr=33339254&aunbr=98999744]these[/url], but I'm so sick of how they are handling it, I just don't want to bother... Buy it. It's something you'll like and get use out of, and you'll kick yourself later if you don't. Don't let your frustration with The Powers That Be keep you from something that you'd enjoy.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 10 2008 01:09 PM

Scarlett speaks with wisdom beyond her years.

themetfairy Oct 10 2008 01:14 PM

LOL, considering that I have a good number of years....

metsmarathon Oct 17 2008 12:13 PM

say... what's happening to the tomatoes anyways? are they getting sold off too?

Benjamin Grimm Oct 17 2008 12:14 PM

I bought one of them for $75!

Fman99 Oct 17 2008 01:08 PM

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I bet whoever ends up with that segment will start each morning by leaping against that wall and pretending to be Endy Chavez. I already do this every morning, against every wall in my house. I'm annoying like that.

HahnSolo Oct 17 2008 01:44 PM

Fman99 wrote: ="Benjamin Grimm"]I bet whoever ends up with that segment will start each morning by leaping against that wall and pretending to be Endy Chavez. I already do this every morning, against every wall in my house. I'm annoying like that. Or more likely, it will end up gathering dust in teh basement of some "collector" who has no emotional attachment to it, and is making the purchase just for the sake of doing so.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 17 2008 01:51 PM

The Mets should just keep it and give it to Endy next season in lieu of pay.

Willets Point Oct 23 2008 12:25 PM

I've decided what collectible I really want, and it's not from Shea. When the train station is renamed Willets Point-Citifield next year the MTA is going to have to replace all the signs that say "Willets Point-Shea Stadium." I want one. Does anyone know if the MTA sells/auctions their surplus?

Benjamin Grimm Oct 23 2008 12:28 PM

That would be a cool memento! Contact them NOW before someone else does! (Personally, I'm hoping they don't rename the stop, but I'm sure they will.)

Gwreck Oct 23 2008 12:35 PM

They do. Main page is [url=http://www.mta.info/nyct/materiel/collectsales/index.html]here[/url]. They have a Willets Point-Shea Stadium sign currently going for [url=http://www.mta.info/nyct/materiel/collectsales/mc04045/mc04045_3.htm]$1180![/url]. You can also get a miniature replica for [url=http://tinyurl.com/654bh2]$20[/url].

Benjamin Grimm Oct 23 2008 01:06 PM

15% discount for orders over $1000. I like this, for $250: It's 7 feet wide by 14 inches high and made of aluminum.

Willets Point Oct 23 2008 01:22 PM

Gwreck wrote: They have a Willets Point-Shea Stadium sign currently going for [url=http://www.mta.info/nyct/materiel/collectsales/mc04045/mc04045_3.htm]$1180![/url]. Yikes! Maybe they'll have more stuff that's not so expensive when the renaming occurs (which is going to happen, sorry to say). Thanks Gwreck.

soupcan Oct 25 2008 10:16 AM

What is a 'scoreboard light 'pog'? On the [url=http://mets.auction.mlb.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=98510015&prmenbr=33339254&aunbr=98856725]auction[/url] at mets.com this is one of the things they are selling. The bidding is up to $450.00 but for the life of me I can't figure out what they are describing. Is it simply a light bulb from the scoreboard? SHEA STADIUM AUCTION: Scoreboard Light Pog "88 Item Description: This scoreboard light pog was located on the Mets' scoreboard at Shea Stadium during the 2008 season, the Mets' final season at Shea.

Gwreck Oct 25 2008 04:13 PM

They're the numbers from the out-of-town scoreboard, where the score, or number for the pitcher would be. It's called "88" because those are the shape of the lightbulbs. If every bulb was lit, it would show "88."

Willets Point Oct 25 2008 05:25 PM

When I went to Jets games as a kid I often sat in front of the scoreboard and could see those "88's" up close. I fascinated me that every other digit could fit in an "8".

batmagadanleadoff Oct 26 2008 05:14 PM

Willets Point wrote: When I went to Jets games as a kid I often sat in front of the scoreboard and could see those "88's" up close. I fascinated me that every other digit could fit in an "8". When I was in the 3rd grade, we had to buy a graph paper notebook for some school project that I no longer remember. Most of the paper in the notebook went unused. At about that time, I was going through some obsessive phase with the pog configuration of the Shea Stadium scoreboard, and used my unused graph paper to draw every single digit and letter of the alphabet in Shea Stadium scoreboard style.

batmagadanleadoff Oct 26 2008 05:16 PM

deleted dupe

soupcan Oct 26 2008 05:51 PM

Thanks guys. Any idea why they are called pogs?