Author: Clare Lafferty
July 27th was a good day. Yes, it was my birthday (no, my age will not be revealed!). But most of all, I was going to the Mets game, my first one in about 28 years.
I started thinking about what the games were like for me 28 years ago. The stadium was never crowded - you could get up in the morning and buy tickets that day and still get a good seat. The Mets back in the late seventies were really bad. But that never stopped me from going. Shea to me was the largest place on the planet. Maybe it seemed so big because it was usually so empty. But, even as empty as it was, it was always loud.
You had Jane Jarvis playing the organ and there was no sweeter sound. I recently read an article about Jane - she is still alive and kicking at 90+ years old!
The food was good but expensive. Imagine $2 for a hot dog!
As we approached Shea, it began to sink in. This was the last time I was going to be at a Mets game at Shea. I was excited but reminiscent.
As I came up the tunnel and into the light, the picture before me was just as I remembered it. Big Shea with its old fences, the big scoreboard and the beautiful green grass field. But, I had never seen in person the Home Run Apple, the Pepsi Picnic Area or the sight of Citi Field literally in Shea's backyard.
The place was not empty- it was filled to capacity. People were excited about the first place Mets. There was an air of electricity in the old place. Even my oldest son, the Phillies fan, admitted that Shea was a cool place and that the Mets did a lot more in between innings to get the fans involved than in Philly.
My sons ordered chicken fingers, fries and sodas and spent $30 - yep, still expensive.
Jane Jarvis was not playing, but each player had a song to stroll up to the plate with. And we had “Everybody, clap your hands!” to get the fans going.
Shea did not seem as big probably because Citi Field seems to be in the bullpen. But it was still loud. There is nothing like a Mets game when the team is successful. The fan support is amazing.
We saw a wonderful game - Johan Santana was brilliant, Wright, Tatis and Castro homered and Carlos Beltran made that incredible catch. Even when it started raining and lightning was in the air, the fans stayed. The place was rocking and it was a great feeling.
As the game came to an end, I looked at the ballpark for one last time. I blew Shea a kiss and thanked it for all the great memories I have had over 40 years of following the Mets. I will truly miss this old place but I look forward to what is to come.
Goodbye, Shea Stadium. Thanks for all the happiness you have given me over these past 40 years. I can't wait for the next 40 at Citi Field.
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