So for my daughter born in 2010, what exactly does the future have in store for her? Hard as it is to believe, Jose Reyes and David Wright will still be in their early-to-mid 30s if she comes of age as a fan when I did. In other words, they’ll be roughly the same age as Gary Carter and Keith Hernandez, or well within range for her to appreciate them, and to make the retiring of Nos. 5 and 7. I can see it now, can see holding her hand as we watch the numbers go up—meaningful for both of us.
Of course, I missed Tom Seaver, and chances are she will miss Carlos Beltran. My stories of the catch up Tal’s Hill in Houston and of all the routine chances that were only routine due to Beltran’s excellence—and the stolen-base success—will be ephemeral for her, the way it seems to be, mysteriously, for lots of current Mets fans.
That’s the big fear, of course. The 1969 Mets were a storied lot for me, but they were just that. They existed as figures in baseball history, the expansion corollary to the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers, a team that shocked instead of a team that broke through.
The 1986 Mets were always the team that I felt. I felt that ball go through Buckner’s legs in a way I never felt that ball drop into Cleon Jones’ glove as he dropped to one knee. Davey Johnson was the Manager, not the final out.
And so I wonder just what my little girl will feel. Will she experience a championship with Wright and Reyes? If even some of the current group stay healthy and develop, perhaps she will wear a Fernando Martinez or Ike Davis jersey home from the hospital—those two, along with Jenrry Mejia, will be entering their primes when she first notices the action on the field.
Repoz
Posted: March 29, 2010 at 06:00 PM |
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1. Fancy Pants is braggadocious about his Handle Posted: March 29, 2010 at 06:47 PM (#3488098)They have "schools" for these situations.
I would have thought a couple of years earlier would be the ideal time to be born a Mets fan, but maybe you matured into baseball fanhood earlier than I did. I was eight when the White Sox had a really good year in 1983, and 30 when they won the World Series, after life and the White Sox had nearly broken me. As far as being a Chicago baseball fan goes though, I was born at the most ideal time in the last century.
Worse yet, there is likely no Cub fan extant who celebrated their last world championship. You don't know suffering, just a few bouts of excrutiating pain. :)
I think that some fans of the Mets rivals have actually started to feel sorry for us/the Mets. It's kind of pathetic to be honest.
Wait, you think I'm a met?! Could been worse I suppose, you could have pegged me as a Yankee...
FWIW My team won 5 WS in its first 25 years of existance, though I dispute that this did me much good. I will cop to have been spoilt these last 6 years though.
I was born in September 1961. I was eight years old when the miracle happened -- seven through most of the 1969 season. Forget the difference of being born in 1978 or 1980. There was no better time to be growing into awareness as a Mets' fan than 1969. You just have to see my sponsorship of this B-Ref page to get it. At least I hope so. I can put up with all the Yankees' championships and all their collective arrogance, because I had Cleon Jones and Gil Hodges and Tom Seaver, especially Tom Seaver. And then I was lucky enough to be in my 20s, in New York in the mid-80s and at some of the great post-season games of 1986, too, and the great pennant race games in 1985 through 1988.
So to be nearing 50 now means I got to grow up when the Miracle Mets shocked everyone and hooked me for life, and I got to experience Doc & Darryl and Mookie. Howard's angel should be so blessed.
No way. The Mets have to cycle through one or two horror stories before they get to their semi-competent replacement. It's just the way they roll.
On another note, the anticipation for the regular season is killing me.
That's fine. But at some point, go with 41, too. Retro, classic, and when she's old enough you can point at the wall and tell her why.
Maybe you're right, or maybe somewhere there's a friend of yours with a ten-year-old and an infant-sized Alex Escobar jersey.
(This came off as more mean-spirited than I intended)
Well, sure, but this is the quadruple amputee telling the triple amputee how lucky he is ;).
The Mets are a beautiful girl with domineering, fatheaded parents who give her money, but for too many of the wrong things. She has a bad haircult, and dowdy clothes, and regularly fails to show for important dates. You find yourself staring at walls muttering. "If only. If only..."
Get her a Mejia jersy, Howard. That kid is going to be something else.
Presumably Howard's already got her fully decked out in Ollie Perez gear. :-)
That way she'll learn to walk early (and often).
Yeah, no kidding. A Mets fan would shrivel up and die like a neglected houseplant if he tried to root for the Pirates.
I was born in '81. I have vague recollections of Mike Schmidt. At this point, I've seen the '80 Phillies coach and scout more often than play. But I got to see Utley, Howard, Victorino, Hamels, Ruiz play in the minor leagues. There's always a new generation of great players waiting.
The Oliver Perez stuff was fantastic. Alas, they don't make Perez jerseys that small.
Congratulations Howard, and please don't start filling your columns with tales of baby poop.
As to the jerseys, you might be surprised - a while ago, a friend of mine was able to find a baby-sized Leaf jersey for his new nephew.
Who am I, Wallace Matthews?
As to the jerseys, you might be surprised - a while ago, a friend of mine was able to find a baby-sized Leaf jersey for his new nephew.
It's hit or miss, which really surprised me. I figured personalized baby jerseys would be standard by now. I did find a Mo Vaughn bib, which I plan to save for baby's cluster feedings.
Maybe a nice game-used Joe McEwing, then?
Oh, and congratulations.
Congrats, Howard, for your incredibly small part so far. In 20 years, the congratulations will be much more well-deserved.
Dick jokes are inappropriate at a time like this.
Santana
Pelfrey
Niese
Maine
Perez
That means Ollie will get all of 2 starts in April if the Mets keep their other pitchers going on four days rest.
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