RIP Shea April 1964 - Feb 2009

As we noted on our main site, Shea is now a memory . The last part of shea was torn down this morning around 11:20am. There was no fan fare but across the internet people have commented on the place the Mets have called home since 1964.

My first game at Shea was back in the Summer of 1974 and I have enjoyed going to games there since. Yes it was not the nicest stadium . It was our Stadium . Growing up that Stadium was all I knew. I did not see another game anywhere else until a friend of mine was in College in Boston and we caught a game at Fenwayin the Mid 80's.

I was at the last 2 games at Shea this past September. We all know how it ended . There will never be another Shea . I will never get that feeling of just being so small as you walked through the tunnel and saw that manicured field for the first time. Looking over at the massive scoreboard to see how the rest of the league faired that day.

Never be able to order a stale pretzel or a flat soda. Never have to wait in line for the bathroom when the visiting team was up. Shea will always be first in my book.

Shea welcomes the NFL

On September 12 1964 the New York Jets played there first game at the new Shea stadium.

The Jets beat the Broncos 30-6 in that game.

Love how the box seats behind home plate were moved in these photos.

1964 Film of Shea dedication

Happy New Year. As Shea is becoming a memory I stumbled across this little film that was made back in 1964 when the Mets opened Shea Stadium Check out 1964 opening at Shea .

It has nice little quick shots of the scoreboard and you can see workers behing the outfield fence still working to get ready for opening day

1965 Shea Stadium Meets the Beatles

The Mets in 1965 in the 2nd season of Shea didnt do much on the field.

Shea though held a concert there during the summer . Just 4 guys from England that seem to make girls in American go crazy. My friends older brother was up in the upper deck and all he remember was the screaming the crowd made.

Well on this rainy sunday I have linked a couple of beatles videos off of youtube..

The first one is cool in the fact it shows Shea before the crowds settle in. Check it out here

The second is the song I feel fine which you can watch here

Shea opening day 1964 and All-Star game video

It is always nice when you find nuggets on the Web.

This is 1 min film of the opening game of Shea in 1964.

Also here is a film on 1964 All Star Game.

Click here for the opening game at Shea.

Click here for the 1964 All Star game at Shea. This is awesome it show all the scoring highlights including the 9th inning blast for the National League.

Mets final numbers first year at Shea 1964 record

The Mets finished 1964 losing 14 out of the last 17 games. They finished the year with a record of 53-109-1 , 40 games out of first place. In there 1 tie, which was against the Dodgers, earlier in the year in the 2 second game of a DH where they played 5 innnings and the score was 1-1. The game was never continued. It was not counted in there official team record.

The Mets in 1964 were 33-48-1 at home and 20-61 on the road. The only team they played .500 ball against were the Colt 45's . They won only 3 games against the Dodgers and won only 2 contests in the month of April.

The Mets attendance in 1964 the first year at Shea was 1,732,597. The Mets average 21,230 fans that first year

Charlie Smith led the team with 20 home runs and Al Jackson led the team with 11 wins.

Thanks to the baseball alamanac for some of the stats mentioned in this post.

Shea Stadium Hosts All-Star game July 7 1964

The Mets and Shea Stadium hosted the 1964 All Star which the National League won in the Bottom of the 9th inning in dramatic fashion.

The Mets lone representative was 2nd baseman Ron Hunt. Shea had over50,000 see the National League win the game with a walk off home run by the Phillies Johnny Callison with 2 on and 2 out and the final score was 7-4.

Ron Hunt did get 3 at bats and 1 hit. It was the only time Shea Stadium hosted the All Star Game in its 45 year history.

To read the play by play of the game click here