Eddie Kranepool Society: IT WAS THE WORST OF TIMES AND THE BEST OF TIMES

Bearnarth the Planet of the Appurtenance: Steve Keane meets Tom Seaver.

I didn’t want to leave as I said last night so before we got to the exit I stopped at the Lodge section and told my family “one more time please one more time” so they said fine and we went back in. I see a handful of people looking up to the press level and who is leaning out but Tom Seaver and he was having the time of his life. He was joking and smiling and not living up to his reputation as a hard ass. He was talking about Shea and I said to him “Tom I don’t want to leave in fact I’m thinking of becoming a squatter” Seaver laughed and said “I know how you feel it is hard leaving this place but I’ve seen the new park and you won’t be disappointed” Now I didn’t want to have a debate with the Franchise over cost of tickets and food and other stuff as this was not the time for that this was Tom Seaver talking to the flock. I then told Seaver how hard it is to leave here as I spent 44 summers here and it’s tough to let go. Seaver then asks me what my favorite memory was. I told him besides the World Series games I will never forget the Imperfect Game and how I’d love to ring Jimmy Qualls neck. Seaver gave a big hearty laugh and said “You want to ring his neck? How do you think I feel? With that I waved to Seaver and thanked him and said “Will we see you at $iti Field”? “You bet, replied Seaver so with that I turned and left Shea with the thought that the last moment I spent at Shea Stadium was saying so long to Tom Seaver.  On the ride home I thought of what he said and I pictured Seaver in his vineyard working the land and I picture him contemplating the night of July 9th 1969 and the single to LF that broke up the Perfect Game. 

Who the hell am I kidding, I’ll be at $iti Field by hook or by crook on opening day beacuase of my addiction to this team and what makes it worse is that they know it too. They know I can’t stay away even when they try to price me out they know I’ll find a way to get to the games. I’m a lost cause. No hope. How many days until pitchers and catchers?