Braves Say Goodbye to Shea
So you think Red Sox vs Yankees is good? Or maybe you bore with indignity all the talk of the last Red Sox vs Yankees series in Yankee Stadium? Well perhaps our rivalry doesn’t have Bucky Dent, Aaron Boone, Curses and 3-0 comebacks but I think it’s just as good if not better. And for this Braves fan, September 14th 2008 will be remembered because it marks the last time my favorite rivalry will be played out in New York’s other expiring sports facility that has held its ground across town in Queens since 1962.
Braves visit Shea for one last time.
At the time this post is being written, the Braves are moments away from playing their last game in Shea Stadium. And I’ll be the first to admit… it makes me kind of sad.
I never got to see my beloved Braves play in Flushing and I wish I had. And maybe it doesn’t receive all the fanfare and lauding as Yankee Stadium nor did it get an All Star game to shamelessly celebrate itself in front of the nation, but that’s just as well. Shea will go into the night more gently but is every bit as important to the Braves and to baseball. Shea Stadium hosted fewer World Championships, but has hosted some very fine games in its’ own rite and we’ll take a look at those today. So, Shea, from a baseball fan who happens to be a (huge) Braves fan… I salute you.
Here the 5 best games (from a Braves/Mets perspective) played in Shea Stadium as selected by me in honor of the Braves last appearance there.
5) Braves vs Mets, Game Three NLCS, October 6th, 1969-Shea Stadium- Mets 7 Braves 4.
The Mets swept the Western division champs 3-0 that year. Game three was played in Shea and it gave the Mets a trip to their first World Series. It was Atlanta’s first pennant and a humiliating turn out on their part. Both teams were young to their respecitive cities with the Mets’ expansion awarded 4 years before the Braves arrived to Atlanta in 1966. But the Mets bested the Braves and the Amazin’s became the quickest expansion team to claim a World Series with a win over the Baltimore Orioles.
The aforementioned game three was played in early October and saw Hank Aaron hit a 2 run homer in the first inning to give the Braves a quick 2-0 lead. But it was a young rookie named Nolan Ryan who came in relief and pitched 7 innings to get the win. Agee, Boswell and Wayne Garret hit homers to get the Mets back in it and the win 7-4.
4) Braves vs Mets, Game 3 NLCS, October 15th, 1999- Shea Stadium
Braves 1 Mets 0
This game three saw the pitcher who would end up breaking the hearts of Mets and Braves fans alike get the win over Al Leiter. Glavine was masterful pitching 7 shutout innings and looking like his ‘95 World Series self. The Braves took their series lead 3 games to none after this contest and it featured lightining rod John Rocker making his first playoff appearance in Shea. You gotta love the bad blood Rocker provided because it was perhaps this series more than any other that took the Braves/Mets rivalry to the next level. The Mets took the next two home games sparked by new life and hatred for Rocker as well as the rest of the boys from down south but this game was definitely a classic in Braves/Mets lore and playoff history.
3) Braves vs Mets, Game 5 NLCS, October 17th, 1999- Shea Stadium Braves 3 Mets 4 (15 innings)
The Mets refused to be defeated at home any longer. After winning the night before they outlasted the Braves in this 15 inning marathon and forced a Game Six at Turner Field. It was Robin Ventura getting a bases loaded grand slam home run, that was officially ruled a single since he never reached home after being mobbed rounding second base. Maddux started this one sometime the day before against Yoshii but this game had it all. Rocker pitching in Shea and getting projectiles hurled at him, lead changes, and an unofficial grand slam to finally win it for the Mets.
2) Braves vs Mets, September 21, 2001- Shea Stadium- Braves 2, Mets 3
I’ll go with the sentimental one here for number three. The Braves/Metsrivalry was in full steam by this year. There had already been theRocker interview and all the bile spilled out on his behalf. And the Brave and Mets were locked in another pennant race with the Mets trailing by 5 1/2 games at the start of this one. They pulled to within 4 1/2 games with the win they got in the first game at Shea since the World Trade Center attacks. With the Mets trailing in the eighth inning, Pizza drilled a two run shot off Steve Karsay that gave them the win over the Braves and an inspiring victory for a city that had been reeling from loss and devastation that month.
1) Red Sox vs Mets, Game 7 World Series, October 27, 1986- Shea Stadium Red Sox 5, Mets 8
No this is not a Braves/Mets game but it wouldn’t be fair to list some of the best moments at Shea without sending this one up. Though you could say that the game two nights before was more dramatic with Buckner allowing that fated ground ball off of Mookie Wilson’s bat to dribble through his legs, this is the one that saw Shea Stadium grab a second World Series Championship. No one expected it, no believed it… well, except for maybe those who say “Ya Gotta Believe” did. Our very own pitching coach Roger McDowell got the win for the Mets in this one and the Mets just out hit and outscored over a Red Sox team that never really got into this one.
Well so long, Shea. We had some good times. Though of course I hope the Braves can make their last stand a victory, we’ll miss those trips to a field that never really got accolade as one of the great monuments in baseball. Bobby Cox himself says “It’s better than Yankee Stadium”. Even though the Braves have a losing record in Shea, maybe he just loves playing there. Campillo takes the mound for the Braves as we wrap up our love/hate affair with the Mets home park. Then again, the Braves and Mets rivalry will continue across the street and we’ll have Citi Field next year.
You know… “Citi” Jones has a nice ring to it don’t you think?
If you’re a Mets or Braves fan I’d love to hear what you’d add to this list. Please leave your favorite Shea Stadium memories in the comments. Thanks!
Keep Choppin’
Technorati Tags: Atlanta Braves, Jair Jurrjens, Chipper Jones, Braves vs Mets, Shea Stadium, Mets vs Red Sox, John Rocker, Robin Ventura, Hank Aaron, Mets vs Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Flushing, Braves blog, Atlanta Braves blog, Braves baseball, baseball blog,
About the Author: JB is an Atlanta native, avid scorekeeper, and of course a baseball enthusiast. He doesn't mind if you don't love the Braves. As long as you love baseball, you're welcome at The Launching Pad.
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