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"Camera Day" question

iramets Jun 03 2007 08:12 AM

When did this stop? Was there a time Before Cell-Phone Cameras (BC-PC) when cameras were forbidden in Shea other than on Camera Day? The latter is my memory--I thought that you'd get your camera confiscated if you were caught taking a snapshot--but that may just have been my misunderstanding of the rules. I remember thinking that it was incredibly, self-defeatingly un-fan-friendly, to severely discourage people from taking photographs at a public event, so maybe there was something to this fear of mine at some early point? (Kinda like the current rules being enforced about team logos on fan sites, etc. Why doesn't MLB just take a fucking gun and shoot themselves in the foot already and get it over with?) I ask because of the obvious PR value in SJR's having a handy camera so he could snap the impromptu photo in the NBF right now, of his handsome face next to Kiner's, and I can't quite believe the Mets at some point didn't encourage fans to think of every day as Camera Day. The fact that they HAD a Camera Day suggests that I'm not completely mistaken. Or am I?

Kid Carsey Jun 03 2007 09:16 AM

I think Camera Day was when you were corralled around on the field and the players were available for photos. As far as I know, personal cameras were never banned. I was with Witham once when they wouldn't let him bring in a more professional looking camera with a huge lens though (I think, my memory is bad).

Rockin' Doc Jun 03 2007 01:03 PM

When we made a CPF road trip to see the Mets kick the Nationals butt on July 4th a few years ago they refused to allow me to take my camera into the stadium. They told me it had a professional lens and was too big to be permitted. I had to walk back to the car and trade out the telephoto lens for a much less powerful one in order to get in. I don't believe it was a MLB rule or even one from JFK or the Nationals. I think it was simply a case of an overly zealous stadium employee using his position to hassle me because I was with a large group of Mets fans that were all decked out in Mets gear.

Kid Carsey Jun 03 2007 01:07 PM

Maybe I'm mixing memories again now that you say that.

Batty31 Jun 03 2007 01:11 PM

KC is correct...I remember camera day as being allowed to take pics on the field with players. I've bought my personal camera to both Shea and the Vet with no problems. Rockin' Doc, when there was a mini CPF meet up at the Vet a few years ago I got hassled by Vet security. This was before 9/11, so backpacks were still allowed. Several Phillies fans were allowed in with backpacks without a hassle. I tried walking in, and security grabbed me by the backpack. He grabbed me so hard it threw me backwards and I almost fell. He inspected my entire backpack. I just chalked it up to Vet security hassling me for being a Met fan. My camera was in my backpack and suprisingly, he did let me bring that in. BTW, I think at that same game KC had some vandilism done to his license plate??? We also witnessed an Ordonez HR!!

Kid Carsey Jun 03 2007 01:43 PM

Phwam, that was mofo days not mini CPF days fer sher. First time I met Edgemeister face to face. Mofo Matt and his nice grandfather hung out with us in the parking lot. Shinjomania was running wild at the tailgate with photographers from Japan. I have pictures to post later after we win this damn thing.

Batty31 Jun 03 2007 03:38 PM

Wait...wasn't the MOFO picnic before the Vet outing? If so, then the Vet was the second time you met the Edgemeister. But is my memory correct about something happened to your license plate at the Vet? Well at least I don't have to worry about any pics of me because I know I avoided the camera. :)

Iubitul Jun 03 2007 05:36 PM

ok - Kase is mixing a couple of memories, but not completely. I've never had a problem bringing my gear into Shea. The time that Kase remembers was at Giants stadium for a Jets game - a Monday Nighter, IIRC. I just went into a different gate, and they let me through. The first time most of us met face to face was the mofo picnic on the hottest day of the year in 2001 - Shinjo mania was running wild, and we jokingly thought that Shinjo was switched from left to right because we scared him....

Iubitul Jun 03 2007 05:37 PM

Batty31 wrote: Wait...wasn't the MOFO picnic before the Vet outing? If so, then the Vet was the second time you met the Edgemeister. But is my memory correct about something happened to your license plate at the Vet? Well at least I don't have to worry about any pics of me because I know I avoided the camera. :) The mofo picnic was before the Vet outing. I didn't go, but I do remember hearing stories about Mets plates being vandalized in the Vet parking lot.

Batty31 Jun 03 2007 05:46 PM

Iubitul wrote: ok - Kase is mixing a couple of memories, but not completely. I've never had a problem bringing my gear into Shea. The time that Kase remembers was at Giants stadium for a Jets game - a Monday Nighter, IIRC. I just went into a different gate, and they let me through. The first time most of us met face to face was the mofo picnic on the hottest day of the year in 2001 - Shinjo mania was running wild, and we jokingly thought that Shinjo was switched from left to right because we scared him.... I think we did scare him by screaming Mr Sparkle at him. :)

Iubitul Jun 03 2007 05:58 PM

oh yeah - Diamond Dad's banner was great, too....

Kid Carsey Jun 03 2007 06:10 PM

Edgy DC Jun 03 2007 07:34 PM

The Vet outing was before the MOFo picnic. The telephoto lens scandal that Kase is thinking of is likely Rockin' Doc at the Bobby.

Frayed Knot Jun 03 2007 07:46 PM

I was a tone of the early Shea 'Camera Days'. The only thing unique about it was that the players would parade around the rim of the field for 30 minutes or so prior to the game so that early-arriving fans could snap some up-close and personal shots even with your 'Insta-matics'. There was never a restriction on bringing camers into the stadium on other days, just no pre-game set-up. My memory from the one I attended was Mickey Lolich making the rounds on his motorcycle.