On September 6th, 1981 I attended my first Mets game at Shea Stadium. As you can see, I saved my tickets for 27 years. I don't actually remember the game but the Braves beat the Mets five to two that day. I went to Shea Stadium several times a year from 1981-1990, including Game 3 of the 1986 National League Championship Series in which Lenny Dykstra hit a game winning 2-run homer to beat the Astros with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th (rated the #17 best moment in Shea history and the #1 most dramatic homerun).

Today I went to my final game ever at Shea Stadium, and Maegan and Darah went to their first game ever at Shea Stadium. We planned this pilgramage last year, choosing a Thursday daytime game to avoid the crowds since CitiField eliminated most of the available parking. For me the trip was obviously a final goodbye. For Maegan this was her only opportunity to experience the stadium I've been telling her about her whole life. And for Darah, only 15 months old, this was her once in a lifetime opportunity to have photos taken in front of her namesake. Yes, you read that right. Her middle name is Shea! We went to the game with my mom, my sister, and my aunt.

What an amazing game to be both a final and first game at Shea! Johan Santana pitched well. There were two ejections. The Mets were winning most of the game but the Padres tied it up in the top of the 9th. Then with the score tied with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th inning, David Wright smacked a game-winning walk-off homerun to left field for the Mets win!!!

P.S. After the game we headed to The Lemon Ice King of Corona (the one seen in the opening to The King of Queens television show). Best italian ices on earth!

Labels: baseball