I’m always amazed when people write about their childhood memories at Shea because of the details remembered. While most of my memories are just a blur of good times at a baseball game, others can remember what they wore, specific dates, pitching match ups and probably the starting lineup. I have one very specific memory of being at (or near) Shea. It was July 11, 1986. (I know this because I looked it up!) My uncle took my sister and I to the game. El Sid was pitching and the Mets were destroying the Braves when we left the stadium. I know this because I looked at the box score and when we went to games with my uncle we left after the 7th inning stretch to beat the traffic getting out of the parking lot. I was never happy about this but at 11 years old I wasn’t one to protest. While walking toward my uncle’s car in the parking lot where CitiField now stands we heard a huge roar from the stadium.
Omigod...what am I missing???
I ran to his car and jumped up and down for what seemed like an eternity until he got there to open the doors and turn the radio on. There was a bawl happening on the field. On the field. A BRAWL. And there I was sitting in a car in the parking lot listening to Bob Murphy (I assume) describing a fight happening 100 feet away from me that I could have been witnessing myself. Gaaaaaahhhhhh!
*pout*
Now because of this day (and probably game 7 of the 86 World Series) I will never ever leave a game early again. I’m also dying to see a real live on field brawl in person. Maybe… one of these days.
That is why I never leave early. I’m going to miss that place.