» JAckie Robinson

 

Well, it’s a day or so late, but I want to share with all of the sites loyal visitors this Mets Authors’ first Citi Field experience…

Going to a game is great, but going to a game with great people is an even more incredible experience…I had the pleasure of attending my first game at Citi Field thanks to an incredible mid-day invitation from a colleague (to be shown later), and two of his (now mine as well) friends. What was even more incredible…we sat 1’st base side…row 6! Not bad for the first Citi field experience eh?

So after a quick train/subway ride, a sandwich, and a few beers the majestic exterior or Citi Field came into focus..I was floored by the appearance of the stadium, I absolutely loved it. It has an incredible likeness to the historic Ebbets Field and it totally, 10000% blew away Shea…Let’s face it…Shea was not much of a looker thats for sure…

 

Shortly after I snapped this photo….

 

 

 

So enough about the exterior…when entering Citi Field, one can’t help but to look all around at the incredible tribute to the great Jackie Robinson # 42… the Rotunda is really a wonderful site to see. I was really impressed with the quotes, images, videos, and the overall ambiance of the Citi Field entrance. Take a look…

 

 

 

 

 Moving on…past the rotunda….up the escalator… 

 

 

 

So we took a look at our tickets…and we see this enticing caption “Admit One To Acela Club” … so we figured…well we absolutely have to check out this prestigious, top notch, exclusive lounge/club…more on this later… So we head up the stairs, and track down the sign that tells us where to go….

 

 

Before we get to the Acela club…we pass through 3-4 ticket security checks to make sure we weren’t freeloading…they certainly tightened up their security..(At least near the Acela/Caesars areas..) – Was a bit lacking in the 100’s seating section though  

Anyways, we pass through the Caesars Palace Club thing…

 

 

So we marched onward towards the esteemed Acela club, passing through Caesars without hesitation…And we arrive after another solid security point…So worth it…

 

 

So we arrive at the Acela club, and we promptly determined that it sucked ass, and left…Yeah it wasn’t all that great…$40 hamburger meals..and a decent view…We’ll pass…Elliot gives his review below…

 

 

 

So we promptly headed back to the Caesars lounge, grabbed some beers…and hung out until around game time…

 

 

 

Oh yeah, I almost forgot…as an extra measure of security Citi Field has decided to ID evvvvveryone when buying some beers…and I do mean everyone…really I do…  I was on line waiting for a beer, and a couple behind me (Must have been about 70….)  were asked for ID…it was a great dialogue…it went as follows:

Vendor: “ID please”

70 Year Old Man: “Hahahahahah”

Vendor: “I’m Serious…” 

70 Year Old Man: <—- Shocked beyond belief… “Honey…do we even have our Id’s?”

Me: <—Internally laughing my ass off… 

So yeah they finally gave them the beers, crazy right?

Ok so onto the game….

I couldn’t have asked for better seats, a better opponent, or a better experience in general…it was truly that game that featured everything a fan could want…

1. Jamie Moyer Getting Shelled in the 1’st and 2′nd

2. 3 Mets Bombs in the first few innings…

3. Fan fights in right field nose bleeds…Phillies Vs. Mets…what do you expect?

4. A manager ejection…JERRY, JERRY!

5. A Mets Win…

6. A Phillies Loss…

Have a gander at some of these images…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well that does it everyone, I hope you all enjoyed this Bloggers view of the new Citi field…I must admit I really had a blast…and a big thank you to the crew that invited me to the game…what an awesome experience!

Til’ Next time…Let’s Go Mets!

You're a MLB Pro..Thanks For Coming Back!

Hello All,

I received an awesome email from a loyal site visitor yesterday. I feel it fits into the current mood perfectly, so I wanted to post it right here for you all to see!

It is my understanding that as a supposed tribute to Jackie Robinson,
Bud Selig is permitting the use of Jackie Robinson\’s number by major
league players.  But on a memorable occasion in 1997, he pledged to
tens of thousands of listeners at Shea Stadium with Mrs. Robinson and
President Clinton standing right there that no major league player
would ever wear that number.  That pledge is a greater and well
deserved honor for Robinson.  It is an honor bestowed on no other
player.  I believe that that honor should be reinstated now at the
opening of the 2009 season.

Read below and let major league baseball know what you think.

The year 1997 marked the 50th anniversary of that great moment when
Robinson first walked out on a major league field.  I was sitting in
my club, George\’s, the luncheonette across the street from my office
on Cutter Mill Road in Great Neck, reading that on that very evening,
during the game at Shea Stadium, the home of the Mets (a pale
imitation of the Dodgers), the anniversary would be marked by
President Bill Clinton, Mrs. Robinson and the President of Major
League Baseball, Bud Selig.  Robinson had retired in 1957 and had died
in 1972.  I tried to interest about half a dozen people into going to
the game and ceremony but the notice was too short for them to change
their plans.

I felt that I had to be there.  It was a fulfillment of my theory
that that there are times when one more warm-blooded person makes a
difference.  Just being there is important.  Even though there may be
no other role to play, adding one more person sends a message.
Especially since the newspaper had predicted less than a sell out
event.

I drove alone to Shea Stadium that evening, bought a good seat, and
participated in history.  It was night. The field was brilliantly lit.
The stadium looked full to me.  Police officers were stationed at
every aisle between the steeply pitched seats, their backs to the
field, scanning the crowd.  Even with that protection, I thought it
courageous for the president to walk out, only with Mrs. Robinson and
Selig, to the pitcher\’s mound, to speak to the assembled tens of
thousands, his body more clearly delineated than it would have been
even in bright sunlight.

What made history that night were not the words of Bill Clinton or
Mrs. Robinson.  They performed well and said what would have been
expected.  What came next was what was probably the most emotional
moment in baseball history since Lou Gherig called himself the
luckiest man on the face of the earth in his Yankee Stadium farewell
to baseball and to life.

The president of the major leagues called the attention of the over
50,000 present to the left field wall at the end of the foul line
extending from home plate to third base and beyond.  There were listed
the names of the outstanding Brooklyn Dodger ballplayers whose numbers
were retired, the numbers they wore on their baseball uniforms would
never again be worn by a Dodger.  The likes of Pee Wee Reese and Duke
Snider and Roy Campanella and Sandy Koufax.

Then he asked that Jackie Robinson’s number be unveiled.  In fact,
Robinson’s number had been retired since 1972 so that his number,
too, could not be worn by any Dodger.  Then Selig intoned words that
had never been spoken before.  Number 42, Jackie Robinson’s number,
he said, would never be worn again by any player on any team in the
major leagues.  That honor was never given to any ballplayer before
nor has it been since Jackie Robinson was honored in that way on that
night.

Let’s keep that pledge.