4/7/09

2009: An Anniversary To Remember - Jaap Stijl




"Most modern calendars mar the sweet simplicity of our lives by reminding us that each day that passes is the anniversary of some perfectly uninteresting event."

-- Oscar Wilde



To some ways of thinking, this is the 50th anniversary of the Birth of the Mets.
Yes, we all know about 1962.

But it's worth considering that it was back in the dark days of 1959, July 27th to be precise, that the old Shea namesake, William Shea, first announced the formation of a third professional baseball league, primarily because MLB was being so obstinate about replacing the two New York teams that fled for California.

This in turn led to MLB granting a franchise to New York which in turn became the Mets and the Continental League was disbanded.

Ten years later, October 14, 1969 the Miracle Mets win their first World Championship. So we will be hitting the 40 year anniversary this season.

Ten years after that, 1979 for those of you keeping score, led by Joe Torre the Mets finished in last place with a 63-99 record. Ironically, until he went to the hated Braves, Torre's success as a manager was shall we say, rather stunted. The minute he left the Mets after finishes in 6th three years on the trot, 5th the following year and then two half seasons in 1981 when they finished 5th and 4th, he led the Braves to first place. Later of course, unfathomable success with the Yankees

http://www.flushinguniversity.com/moxie/columns/2009-an-anniversary-to-re.shtml

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