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I didn't know him but I met him several times at Shea Stadium. I had a slight connection to one of the earliest radio voices that I remember mimicking. In those days, I listened to enough Mets games to be pretty good at copying the guy that has voiced more Amazin's games than anyone else.
On Saturday, 65 former New York Mets took the field at Citi Field in Queens. For some of them, like Steve Dillon, who pitched 3 games for the Amazin's in 1963-64, it was more than five decades since they put on their uniform for an official event. For others, like friend of The Drive with Charlie & Dan, Daniel Murphy, who retired in two seasons ago, they look like they could play later in the day against the Rockies and contribute. The event was as much fun for the players as it was for the fans to see their heroes of yesteryear.
Old Timer's Day began for the New York Mets in the magical year of 1969. Good things happened that year, including their Amazin World Championship, amongst a myriad of major world events. The scrooge-like former Mets owners, Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz killed the beloved event in 1994. They were probably tired of hearing former Mets players mock their ownership's lack of baseball knowledge...but that's a story for another day. Old Timer's Day is back and it's Saturday at Citi Field.
Your Wednesday morning dose of New York Mets and MLB news, notes, and links.
Former New York Mets reliever Jeff Innis died Sunday after a battle with cancer. He was 59.