May 2003

Last month I wrote about the anticipation of Opening Day. Now that it has FINALLY arrived, it's time to talk about baseball's return to Shea Stadium.

My family looked forward to this game since February, when a friend of ours told us that he was able to obtain Opening Day tickets for us. The first logistical issue was for my husband to arrange to take the day off, which he did in short order. Next came letting my sons' teachers know that the boys would not be in school on March 31. After they were informed that Opening Day is a religious holiday in our household, the teachers laughingly accepted the fact that their classes would be a little bit smaller that day.

Once we knew that we would be going to Shea, the Opening Day tailgate party became the next priority. For those of you who have never partaken in one, a pre-game tailgate party is a uniquely enjoyable experience. The only major disadvantage of tailgating is that you need to leave your home several hours earlier than you otherwise would have to. But for the price of a couple of hours of sleep, the benefits are multifold. For starters, when you arrive at a game early enough to tailgate, you have your pick of parking locales. People who show up at 10:00 am for a 1:10 start are never diverted to the tennis center!

Then comes the simple pleasure of noshing and hanging out while anticipating the upcoming game. Some tailgate parties are big, while others are small, but they all involve camaraderie and a shared love of a favorite sport or team.

There is a certain charm in sitting on the trunk of your car with your kids, eating sandwiches and popping open a couple of cans of soda before a game. On the other hand, meeting up with friends adds to the fun and variety. Having a predesignated meeting place is ideal, but with cellular phones it becomes feasible to link up with others even if you are directionally impaired. Then for some people, tailgating at Shea is an elaborate ritual that goes on every weekend the Mets are in town from April through September (and, hopefully, October). For these diehards, peanut butter sandwiches just won't do. The accoutrements are impressive, with grills, tables, chairs and other portable means of converting a bare parking lot into a home away from home.

In our case, we are fortunate enough to know some wonderful people who fall into the latter category. While some, like me, only make it to Shea a couple of times a season, others, like Jim, are there before every Saturday and Sunday game, with grills and tables set up while most of us are still asleep in our beds. Everyone who is able does his or her best to be there Opening Day. Many hours are spent discussing who is going to bring what kind of food or supplies to the gathering. As we meander to the Shea parking lot, the variety of food grows, from delicious appetizers to homemade baked goods and everything in between. More important than the food, though, are the people, who travel from the West Side, from Westchester, and from well beyond. It is energizing and inspiring to spend time with fans like Gina and Jean Ann -- while there are a lot of Saturday season ticket plan holders, very few of them make the trip to Flushing from the Boston, Massachusetts area for every Mets homestand! Talking to friends, kvetching about the team that we love so much, and simply spending time at Shea help reaffirm our own fandom. Since most of us had not seen each other since last season, "Happy New Year" was the greeting du jour.

No matter how well you plan, the weather is something beyond your control. Opening Day was bright and sunny, but it was also windy and COLD. The wind was biting and temperatures barely reached 40 degrees, making it feel more like when the Jets used to play at Shea as opposed to baseball season. As Marty Feldman said in Young Frankenstein, "It could be worse. It could be raining." Or even snowing, based upon how this interminable winter has been going. But even if there had been a foot of snow on the ground, nothing could have dampened the spirits of the 53,586 stalwart fans who showed up to celebrate the start of the new season!

Entering Shea for the first time of the year always feels like a homecoming. In this case, though, it was like Mom and Pop went all out to spruce up the old homestead prior to the visit! Fresh, brightly colored paint made the ramps and causeways much cheerier. New directional signs were up to help fans find what they needed more efficiently. Most startlingly, with new tiles and better lighting, the ladies rooms were bright -- in my entire lifetime of coming to this stadium, I cannot recall a previous time that the restrooms were anything but dark and dingy. The nips and tucks were effective, providing fans with a much better first impression of Shea than in the past.

Shea also has added more food variety this season. Sushi, bratwurst and cheesesteaks are among the new choices available for those seeking something different from the usual ballpark fare. But for those craving the classics, hot dogs and beer in commemorative plastic souvenir cups are also still readily available.

Those entering Gate C early enough on Opening Day had the opportunity to sign a giant card wishing beloved former Met Tug McGraw a speedy recovery from his recent brain surgery. (Latecomers who missed out on the card, or anyone who wants to send a note to the man who coined the phrase, "Ya Gotta Believe," may do so via e-mail at info@tugmcgraw.com, or by writing to him at The Tug McGraw Company, 217 Parkside Lane, Glenside, PA 19038.)

Inside, it was time for the festivities to begin. Ted Robinson introduced Dusty Baker and the Chicago Cubs, and then Gary Cohen presented Art Howe and the 2003 New York Mets. The Greater New York City Joint Services Color Guard presented the colors, while Linda Eder, star of the Broadway show Jekyll & Hyde, sang the National Anthem. Then came the ceremonial first pitches. The plan had been for Met Hall of Famers Tom Seaver, Rusty Staub, Bud Harrelson and Tug McGraw to throw out the pitches in honor of the 30th anniversary of the 1973 pennant winning team. With Tug unavailable, his son Mark ably pitched in relief of his dad. Then, during the group shot of the four Hall of Famers posing with the current Mets who caught their pitches, Tug's photograph was displayed on the Diamondvision screen.

Finally, the moment had come that everyone had been anticipating since late September. Blue, white and orange balloons were released from the outfield. The Mets, in white uniforms, took the field. New Met Tom Glavine threw the first pitch of the day past Cubs leadoff hitter Mark Grudzielanek for a strike.

And the best half of the year was underway. Play Ball!

Ten Great Things About Opening Day at Shea

1. Tailgating with friends that you haven't seen since September;

2. Ballpark hot-dogs taste extra special on the first day back;

3. The possibility of a 162-0 season;

4. Seeing this year's lineup in action for the first time;

5. A sold out, optimistic Shea crowd;

6. No more orange uniforms during games!;

7. Skipping work or school to be at the game in person;

8. Seeing the Home Run Apple in action again;

9. Getting the new yearbook; and

10. That first pitch of the season, ESPECIALLY when it's a strike!