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Post by rgs318 on Feb 1, 2023 21:11:14 GMT -5
I am glad he is still Sayin' Hey!
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hc1998
Crusader Century Club
Posts: 214
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Post by hc1998 on Feb 2, 2023 7:54:25 GMT -5
Fact check: Willie Mays is still alive and well. They named the WS MVP trophy after him a couple years back. Somehow remembering that made me think he'd passed away for some reason. And the Mets formally retired his number this year at their renewed old timers game. Willie was not in attendance, but his son was |
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Post by alum on Feb 2, 2023 8:06:01 GMT -5
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Post by lou on Feb 2, 2023 9:47:59 GMT -5
Great story, thanks for posting |
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Post by Tom on Feb 2, 2023 10:21:49 GMT -5
Fact check: Willie Mays is still alive and well. They named the WS MVP trophy after him a couple years back. Somehow remembering that made me think he'd passed away for some reason. And the Mets formally retired his number this year at their renewed old timers game. Willie was not in attendance, but his son was Mays is arguably the best all around baseball player ever. That being said I wouldn't be retiring the number of a .240 hitter with 14 home runs. Kind of like Hank Aaron, they brought a legend to the town he started his career in as a gimmick even if the player was a shadow of his former self. Mays had a fine career as a New York Giant, not so much as a New York Met. And yes, I have the same opinion about the Brewers retiring Aaron's number. At Fenway #42 is retired for Jackie Robinson. Unlike the Red Sox numbers, it's done in Dodger Blue. Maybe the Mets (and Brewers) could do something like that |
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Post by clmetsfan on Feb 2, 2023 10:36:41 GMT -5
And the Mets formally retired his number this year at their renewed old timers game. Willie was not in attendance, but his son was Mays is arguably the best all around baseball player ever. That being said I wouldn't be retiring the number of a .240 hitter with 14 home runs. Kind of like Hank Aaron, they brought a legend to the town he started his career in as a gimmick even if the player was a shadow of his former self. Mays had a fine career as a New York Giant, not so much as a New York Met. And yes, I have the same opinion about the Brewers retiring Aaron's number. At Fenway #42 is retired for Jackie Robinson. Unlike the Red Sox numbers, it's done in Dodger Blue. Maybe the Mets (and Brewers) could do something like that Ordinarily I'd agree, but in Mays's case, the number retirement was the fulfillment of a promise that had been made to him back in '72 when he was acquired by the Mets. I'd rather have a somewhat questionable number retirement than a needless lie to the greatest player who ever lived. |
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Post by WCHC Sports on Feb 2, 2023 10:50:51 GMT -5
The Mets are also the spiritual successor to the Giants in New York, so I feel like you could take some liberties there for the Giants legend.
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Post by Tom on Feb 2, 2023 10:54:04 GMT -5
Mays is arguably the best all around baseball player ever. That being said I wouldn't be retiring the number of a .240 hitter with 14 home runs. Kind of like Hank Aaron, they brought a legend to the town he started his career in as a gimmick even if the player was a shadow of his former self. Mays had a fine career as a New York Giant, not so much as a New York Met. And yes, I have the same opinion about the Brewers retiring Aaron's number. At Fenway #42 is retired for Jackie Robinson. Unlike the Red Sox numbers, it's done in Dodger Blue. Maybe the Mets (and Brewers) could do something like that Ordinarily I'd agree, but in Mays's case, the number retirement was the fulfillment of a promise that had been made to him back in '72 when he was acquired by the Mets. I'd rather have a somewhat questionable number retirement than a needless lie to the greatest player who ever lived. I was not aware of the promise - or if I was once aware, I don't recall. Was the promise to retire his number 50 years after they acquired him? or is the team really serious about procrastination? News of this promise makes me wonder if the Brewers had a similar promise with Aaron |
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hc1998
Crusader Century Club
Posts: 214
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Post by hc1998 on Feb 2, 2023 12:23:30 GMT -5
Ordinarily I'd agree, but in Mays's case, the number retirement was the fulfillment of a promise that had been made to him back in '72 when he was acquired by the Mets. I'd rather have a somewhat questionable number retirement than a needless lie to the greatest player who ever lived. I was not aware of the promise - or if I was once aware, I don't recall. Was the promise to retire his number 50 years after they acquired him? or is the team really serious about procrastination? News of this promise makes me wonder if the Brewers had a similar promise with Aaron Promise was made by Joan Payson, owner at the time, I believe, in part, it was what convinced him to sign. I haven't looked at the story in awhile, but I think she died before getting a chance to honor it. Since then, it had always been unofficially retired other than a handful of times when I new equipment guy may have given it out in spring training and Rickey Henderson who may or may not have gotten Willie's blessing to wear it (there are conflicting reports as to that) |
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Post by Tom on Feb 2, 2023 14:02:01 GMT -5
I was not aware of the promise - or if I was once aware, I don't recall. Was the promise to retire his number 50 years after they acquired him? or is the team really serious about procrastination? News of this promise makes me wonder if the Brewers had a similar promise with Aaron Promise was made by Joan Payson, owner at the time, I believe, in part, it was what convinced him to sign. I haven't looked at the story in awhile, but I think she died before getting a chance to honor it. Since then, it had always been unofficially retired other than a handful of times when I new equipment guy may have given it out in spring training and Rickey Henderson who may or may not have gotten Willie's blessing to wear it (there are conflicting reports as to that) Not sure if I'd trust Ricky's word on that one. Legend has it that when Henderson went to the Mets he went up to John Olerud and said something to the effect of "Hey - it's wild to see you wearing a batting helmet while playing first base. We had a guy in Toronto who did the same thing" To which Olerud replied something like "Ya, that was me" |
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hc1998
Crusader Century Club
Posts: 214
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Post by hc1998 on Feb 2, 2023 14:48:22 GMT -5
Promise was made by Joan Payson, owner at the time, I believe, in part, it was what convinced him to sign. I haven't looked at the story in awhile, but I think she died before getting a chance to honor it. Since then, it had always been unofficially retired other than a handful of times when I new equipment guy may have given it out in spring training and Rickey Henderson who may or may not have gotten Willie's blessing to wear it (there are conflicting reports as to that) Not sure if I'd trust Ricky's word on that one. Legend has it that when Henderson went to the Mets he went up to John Olerud and said something to the effect of "Hey - it's wild to see you wearing a batting helmet while playing first base. We had a guy in Toronto who did the same thing" To which Olerud replied something like "Ya, that was me" Olerud has since debunked that myth, it was started by a Seattle clubhouse guy who thought it was funny and plausibly true...the media overheard somebody re-telling the hoax story and ran with it. www.mlb.com/cut4/john-olerud-told-the-origin-of-the-rickey-henderson-story-c265505404 |
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Post by Tom on Feb 2, 2023 15:07:22 GMT -5
Not sure if I'd trust Ricky's word on that one. Legend has it that when Henderson went to the Mets he went up to John Olerud and said something to the effect of "Hey - it's wild to see you wearing a batting helmet while playing first base. We had a guy in Toronto who did the same thing" To which Olerud replied something like "Ya, that was me" Olerud has since debunked that myth, it was started by a Seattle clubhouse guy who thought it was funny and plausibly true...the media overheard somebody re-telling the hoax story and ran with it. www.mlb.com/cut4/john-olerud-told-the-origin-of-the-rickey-henderson-story-c265505404 |
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Post by hchoops on Feb 2, 2023 20:31:12 GMT -5
As a tangent, HUGE news!!!! Tom Brady is retiring from the NFL. Only THIS time, he MEANS it!!!  I hope he can now reconcile with his ex-wife. (you know, for the kids' sake) Man, Brady really should've gone out after the NFC title game loss last year. Despite the way the game ended in OT, that would've been a legendary final game coming back from down 27-3. And he'd still be married to Michele Bundgden. Gisele Bundchen |
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Feb 3, 2023 0:05:15 GMT -5
I was not aware of the promise - or if I was once aware, I don't recall. Was the promise to retire his number 50 years after they acquired him? or is the team really serious about procrastination? News of this promise makes me wonder if the Brewers had a similar promise with Aaron Promise was made by Joan Payson, owner at the time, I believe, in part, it was what convinced him to sign. I haven't looked at the story in awhile, but I think she died before getting a chance to honor it. Since then, it had always been unofficially retired other than a handful of times when I new equipment guy may have given it out in spring training and Rickey Henderson who may or may not have gotten Willie's blessing to wear it (there are conflicting reports as to that) Joan Shipman Payson was from my home town of Portland, Maine. When she owned the Mets she paid a local radio station to carry the game broadcasts. She may have been the only listener…. |
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hc1998
Crusader Century Club
Posts: 214
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Post by hc1998 on Feb 3, 2023 8:05:54 GMT -5
Promise was made by Joan Payson, owner at the time, I believe, in part, it was what convinced him to sign. I haven't looked at the story in awhile, but I think she died before getting a chance to honor it. Since then, it had always been unofficially retired other than a handful of times when I new equipment guy may have given it out in spring training and Rickey Henderson who may or may not have gotten Willie's blessing to wear it (there are conflicting reports as to that) Joan Shipman Payson was from my home town of Portland, Maine. When she owned the Mets she paid a local radio station to carry the game broadcasts. She may have been the only listener…. I've never heard that, that is pretty cool...it kind of makes her the anti Mark Cuban, she paid to broadcast her own team, whereas Cuban made billions trying to find a way to listen to his college team |
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I hope he can now reconcile with his ex-wife. (you know, for the kids' sake)