FOUR POINTS FLUSHING.

Four Points Flushing. The Official Hotel of the Queens Baseball Convention and The MediaGoon.com

Sunday, June 30, 2019

Mets 1969 Repro Ring giveaway

The 1969 World Series Ring giveaway. It’s really nice.







Mets Game Notes 6/30/19


62,000:1 - Three Teams, One City, One Year


62,000:1 - Three Teams, One City, One Year

Documentary Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of 
New York’s Against-The-Odds Championship Year to Premiere Wednesday, July 3rd

NEW YORK, NY, June 3, 2019 – SNY announced today a new documentary, presented by Verizon Fios, celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the New York Jets, Knicks and Mets championship year: 62,000:1 - Three Teams, One City, One Year. The 60-minute documentary, a portrait of New York’s improbable against-all-odds feat of three championships in one year, will premiere on SNY on Wednesday, July 3rd immediately following the Mets vs. Yankees post-game show. 

In partnership with Hollywood producer Basil Iwanyk (John Wick, Sicario, The Town) and his company Thunder Road Films and directed by Pete Sillen (I am Secretly an Important Man), 62,000:1 tells the story of New York in 1969, a city divided and unraveled by war, riots and strikes held together by an improbable championship sports year. The film, written by Iwanyk, will dive into the universal and timeless theme of fandom, never giving up, and the power of a city rallying behind its teams to overcome great odds and achieve the unthinkable. 

“Three teams from one city winning championships in one year is such a remarkable feat that it has only happened twice in the history of sports in our country,” said Steve Raab, President of SNY. “We felt compelled to not only commemorate the 50th Anniversary of New York’s Championship year – but also to share this remarkable piece of the city’s history in a contemporary way that is relevant to fans of all ages.” 

62,000:1 - Three Teams, One City, One Year is anchored by in-depth and candid interviews with New York’s stars from those teams including Joe Namath, Bill Bradley, Walt "Clyde" Frazier, Cleon Jones, Jerry Koosman, and Ed Kranepool. The film also includes narrative from dozens of additional athletes, journalists and celebrity fans.  

“As a life-long and obsessive fan of the Mets, Jets, and Knicks, it is one of the true highlights of my career to be entrusted to tell the story of these three teams and show the collective strength, devotion, and humor of the best fans in the best city in the world: New York,” added Basil Iwanyk.

The documentary will re-air on SNY several times following its initial airing (check local listings)

Mayor and Mets mess up.


From the NY Post
Boston Red Sox fan Bill de Blasio stuck his foot in his mouth during the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Mets’ first-ever World Series win in 1969, addressing the crowd at CitiField with the wrong-era slogan. “There’s something about that slogan, ‘Ya Gotta Believe,’ and it was true that year,” de Blasio told attendant “Miracle Mets” team members and their fans. “And ever since, that has been one of the ideas I associate most with that city. Ya Gotta Believe.”

Trouble is, “Ya gotta believe” is the slogan for the 1973 team, not the “Miracle Mets” of 1969 fame.In another cringe-worthy snafu that couldn’t be blamed on Hizzoner, an announcer read aloud from a short, memorial list of 1969 team members who have passed away.

Read more here

The dopey Mayor I get messing this up because he messes almost everything  up. But for the Mets to mess it up. Come on, you’ve been planning this for a while.

@QBConvention Flashback: Ed Kranepool Panel

Since it is 1969 weekend over in Flushing, I decided to repost the Ed Kranepool panel from QBC '19 hosted by Roger Clark.

The 1969 Mets meet the 2019 Mets

Mets 1969 On field Ceremony

Mets Employees that have worked for the team since 1969 speak about the team

Current @CitiField employees, who have worked for the team for over 50 years, describe the magical season of 1969. #1969Weekend



Saturday, June 29, 2019

The Mets game sucked the life out of me yesterday

The Mets did a decent job with the honoring of the 1969 team. Ed Kranepool ended the ceremony trying to give the current team words of encouragement and hope for the season. Sad thing is the Mets said some of the players that couldn't make it to the game "were no longer with us". That was wrong.


So as usual the Mets, Mets something that they shouldn't have. The heat/humidity sucked for a bit until the rain came. It came down hard. After the rain delay it just felt like the game was going on forever. And of course the Mets lost in Mets fashion.
The cool parts of this was thatThe7LineArmy's 100th outing was last night and MR Met had his own T7LA jersey along with a special T7LA MR Met Bobble head. A few of the members got to do some in game events also. The Mets of course blew the game again and it just is sucking the life out of me right now. I am going to the game tonight too,  I just can't quit going to the games. Hopefully the Mets will win tomorrow night. I need just some good baseball to be played. I just felt so drained from yesterday...

1969 Mets Retro Parade

i thought this was going to look silly. But the way the Mets have been live-streaming things lately have been making their videos look really good. This one looks especially good to me.












Game notes 6/29/19


Friday, June 28, 2019

Mets Game Notes 6/28/19

\

1969 NY Mets to get key to the City

THE 1969 WORLD SERIES CHAMPION METS TO RECEIVE 
THE KEY TO THE CITY

Players from the 1969 World Series Champion Mets will receive the key to the city from the Mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio. Following the presentation, members of the 1969 Mets will be available to the media for interviews.


 Saturday, June 29, 2019 at 1:45 p.m.


Mets COO Jeff Wilpon
Members of the 1969 World Series Championship team including Jerry Koosman, Bud Harrelson, Jerry Grote, Cleon Jones, Art Shamsky and many more.  

You would think this would either happen on the field or at the parade. Nope it’s going to be away from the public in the press room. 

Mets should get rid of folks in trades.



TRADE! TRADE! TRADE!
From the NY POST
So now Van Wagenen should take a cue from his predecessor, Sandy Alderson, and start letting teams know the Mets are open for business. Just over a month remains until July 31 and the trade deadline — remember, August waiver deals have been eliminated — and the Mets have a few assets that can garner returns. Start listening now and block out delusions about a hot stretch that will carry the team back into contention. The asset at the top of that list, Zack Wheeler, is rolling again after firing a two-hitter over six innings in which he allowed one run. The right-hander will be a free agent after this season, which will dampen the potential trade return, but keeping him shouldn’t be an option.“That would be unfortunate if we had to see some of our teammates go somewhere else because we’re not getting it done,” manager Mickey Callaway said.
Todd Frazier and Jason Vargas also are potential free agents (Vargas’ 2020 option can be bought out for $2 million) and are producing respectably enough to return something of value, especially if Van Wagenen can convince team COO Jeff Wilpon to swallow significant remainders of their respective contracts. Is Dominic Smith part of the Mets’ future as a left fielder or does it make sense to trade him now, with his stock at an all-time high? Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz have two and three years of club control remaining, respectively, after this season, but shouldn’t be exempt from trade consideration.
Read more here 

Trade VARGAS, FRAZIER, SYNDERGAARD,WHEELER, DIAZ, Familia, and figure out a way to buy out Cano or make a deal with a team where you can take another bad contract back. Eat some contract money to get better pieces in here and make it work. The Mets had  good draft and its time to get ready to look to the future.

Jerry Koosman on Mets’ 1969 World Series



From the NY POST
With the Mets set to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Miracle Mets this weekend, former pitcher Jerry Koosman tossed around some Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby. It’s the second of a five-part series honoring the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Miracle Mets: 
Q: You and Art Shamsky and Bud Harrelson and Ron Swoboda visited Tom Seaver in California in May 2017. 
A: We had a good time with Tom, and you could tell that he was starting to repeat himself a lot, I suppose some memory loss. I’m glad I was out there to see him and Nancy.
Q: What was your immediate reaction when his family released that he has dementia?
A: Well, I didn’t realize it was going that fast. It’s a sad, sad, terrible disease.
Q: You’ll be there on Thursday when Citi Field’s address is changed to 41 Seaver Way. 
A: He deserves something like that. Also, they’re gonna change Broadway to Koosman Drive (chuckle).
Q: Your memories when the Mets traded Seaver in 1977? 
A: That was a really down time for our organization. It was very sad. It was like we were going to a funeral, you know.
Read more here.

Thursday, June 27, 2019

Blog Rescue Starring Rich Coutinho: Metsmerized Edition

This year, sixty-five-hundred failing blogs nationwide will close their urls for good. If things don't change soon, Metsmerized inNYC will become just another statistic.  
So Joe D has agreed to pull back the pages, bust open the comments, and make a call for help—to Blog Rescue. Running a blog is not just a business; it's a science. No one knows more about bar science than Rich Coutinho. For more than twenty years, Rich has transformed hundreds of failing blogs worldwide. Rich turns money pits into money-makers.

Rich: You've done this for fourteen years? Steve: I've never seen anything like this before. This is ridiculous. Jon: THIS GUY SHOULD BE SHUT THE HELL DOWN!! Let's go in there. [Rich and Steve enter the coffee bar] Rich: (interview) I didn't take a half a step in this place and I could smell the filth. Rich: Joe D. Joe D.: How's it going Rich? Rich: Not well, man. Joe D: You killed my website. Rich: You almost killed my frickin'career! It is in the bathroom throwing up right now! Joe D: Off of my editorial decisions? Jon: YES! OFF of editorial decisions FOR CHRIST SAKES! This is Steve, he's a web security inspector with me. In 14 years have you ever seen somebody throw up so quickly from consuming something? Steve: Absolutely not. Rich: What just happened,Career? Career: I just puked my brains out 'cause I readthat right there. (to Joe D) Go ahead, take a gander of it man. Rich: Go ahead, you let your readers read it, Read it! Career: Read it! Joe D: It's supposed to be 1986'd. Jon: Supposed to be 1986'd?! Is it connected?! (Post #5) Does she know it's 1986'd, did you? Michelle a writer: No sir. Jon: YOU WON'T READ IT, BUT HE WILL?!!! (Shatters the laptop)

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Stay tuned to see what happens later on in this episode.

-Seriously. I was enthralled with this and I noticed that Coutinho looks like Jon Taffer if he was made in a knockoffs factory in China. Thanks for indulging me with this little fun story. Whatever their beef was or is made for some great twitter reading yesterday.

In case you missed the Live Feed of the Citi Field's new address

METS HONOR TOM SEAVER WITH ADDRESS CHANGE

METS HONOR TOM SEAVER WITH ADDRESS CHANGE





FLUSHING, N.Y., June 27, 2019 – Moments ago, the New York Mets and the City of New York honored Hall of Famer Tom Seaver by renaming the street between Northern Blvd. and Roosevelt Ave. (formerly 126th St.) to Seaver Way and changing the address of Citi Field to 41 Seaver Way. Mets COO Jeff Wilpon announced the change in a ceremony in front of the ballpark. 

In addition to the renaming of the street and address, Wilpon announced that the team has commissioned a statue of Seaver to be built in an area near the Home Run Apple in front of Citi Field. Additional details will be announced at a later date.

“Tom was a once-in-a-lifetime player and will always be remembered as one of the greatest players in Mets history.  Tom truly lived up to his nicknames of “Tom Terrific” and “The Franchise,”” said Mets COO Jeff Wilpon. “The address change to 41 Seaver Way has been in the works for a long time and is the first of our efforts to honor Tom. Today we are also officially announcing that we have commissioned a statue in honor of Tom that will be coming soon to Citi Field.”

“We were so happy to be part of this ceremony and our father is so honored and humbled to be memorialized in these ways,” Sarah Seaver Zaske and Anne Seaver said. “We thank the amazing fans for their outpouring of love and support.”

Seaver spent 12 years with the Mets and went 198-124 in 401 games with a 2.57 ERA (870 earned runs/3,045.2 innings) with 2,541 strikeouts. Nicknamed “The Franchise,” Seaver is the Mets all-time leader in wins, strikeouts, shutouts (44), ERA, complete games (171) and starts (395). He won three Cy Young Awards with the team in 1969, 1973 and 1975 as well as the Rookie of the Year in 1967. Seaver led the team to the 1969 World Series championship going 25-7 with a 2.21 ERA (67 earned runs/273.1 innings) in 1969 and led the Mets to the 1973 NL Championship after going 19-10 with a 2.08 ERA (67 earned runs/290.0 innings).

The Mets previously honored Seaver by retiring his uniform number, 41, and inducted him into the team’s Hall of Fame in 1988. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on his first ballot in 1992 with 425 of a possible 430 votes. Overall, he compiled a 311-205 record in 656 career games with a 2.86 ERA (1,521 earned runs/4,783.0 innings) with 3,640 strikeouts.

The Mets will continue to celebrate the 1969 World Series Championship team with a series of events this weekend.

Mets announce Seaver Statue was commissioned






Mets Game Notes 6/27/19

Citi Field address changes today.

$2500 for two tickets for Q&A and Autos from Syndergaard and Alonso!


Let me start with this. $2500 bucks for a limited number of pairs of tickets. I think they said 75 guests. If you have to pay $2500(plus $220 tax) per pair of tix how do you get just 75 folks then? That's for four autographs (2 autos-one from each player) per person with you bringing your own item to get signed. You get some hors d'oeuvres and open bar for the night. Darryl Strawberry will be mingling with the crowd too. AM I THE ONLY THAT THINKS THESE ARE INSANE PRICES? Am I finally out of touch? Have I become Metspolice?

Description


Join Fanatics in Manhattan, NYC on the evening of August 19th to meet and mingle with a couple of your favorite Mets, Noah Syndergaard & Pete Alonso! Everyone in attendance will be given the full MVP treatment — drinks, food, photos, autos and much more. Don't miss your chance to meet starting pitcher, Noah "Thor" Syndergaard & popular rookie face, Pete Alonso, to be a part of this exclusive, fan-centered event. This event is limited to a total of 75 guests, so hurry and get your tickets today! AGAIN HOW DO YOU GET 75 folks when you are selling pairs of tickets?
What is included in my ticket package?
Each ticket package permits TWO (2) people entry into the event. Throughout the evening there will be an open bar and passed hors d'oeuvres(How much does the food and drink package price break down to?) for all to enjoy. Special guest, Darryl Strawberry(I know how much his guarantee price is. Not Cheap but not $2500 per pair of tickets expensive), will also be in attendance to mingle and will be available for photos on personal phones or cameras. There will be no designated or assigned seats - all are encouraged to find an area and make themselves comfortable! Syndergaard and Alonso will work the room and make sure to visit every group.How much time do you think they spend "working the room"? At least with the QBC we give you an hour Q and A and at least an hour for signings.
Autographs
Each person is allowed ONE (1) autograph per player. You will get these autographs once the players approach your group to mingle. Clients will need to bring their own items to get signed by the players. Fanatics will supply a variety of pens and markers for the players to use.
This is $180 for the ball and autograph.

Okay so thats $150 for Alonso signed ball plus  $180 for Noah. That's $330 for the both. Subtract $60 for the balls that's $270 then...



Fan Q&A
After all autographs are completed, Syndergaard and Alonso will take the floor for a Q&A session. Questions will need to be pre-submitted by attendees up to a week before the event in order to be screened and selected by players. The players tend to like the more creative, humanizing questions; so get to thinking and send over what you want to know! Fans whose questions get answered will get a shout-out by the moderator and players.
Professional Photos
Per package, guests will receive ONE (1) photo opportunity with the players. This means two guests will be in one photo opportunity. This photo will be edited and sent digitally within 48 hours of the event. Hard copies of the photo will be mailed after the event in an 8x10 photo size.
Pro Photo op we'll call it $120 for one photo
Silent Auction
There will be a Silent Auction to bid on NY Mets memorabilia during the event. A portion of the proceeds will go to a charity of the players' choice. All items are Fanatics Authentic pieces that are made, customized & manufactured by Fanatics. Credit cards will be the only accepted form of payment. If a piece is too large to take home, we will offer FREE domestic shipping for those who win their bid and purchase.
What You’ll Take Home
Fanatics won’t be letting guests go home empty-handed from this event. Each guest will receive:
-TWO (2) autographed Event-Exclusive photos; ONE (1) of Syndergaard, ONE (1) of Alonso
Thor's Photo is $160 and Alonso's is $67
-ONE (1) Fanatics gift bag
Fanatics schwag? We'll again be generous at $50
I'll be generous with the Q&A and say its a $125 per person+$400 for autos+ $120 Photo Op+$160 Thor signed pic+$130 Alonso signed pic+$50 per person food/bev+$50 Fanatics swag bag+$75 per person for Strawberry photo op. That comes to about $1325 total. Divided by two is $623.50. Fanatics is asking $1250 per person for this event. Difference of $662.50 per ticket or $1325 for the pair. Fanatics even with paying a venue fee and taxes is still making a really nice sum of money.
I want to compare this what we try to with QBC events. We try our best to keep it affordable for fellow Mets Fans. We aren't some corporation looking to exploit folks fandom. We keep trying to keep the QBC affordable while bringing in a great product. The first few years we kept it super affordable trying to build trust and a brand with our fellow fans. We kept trying to grow slowly while not trying to price out folks. When I see what I feel is an outrageous price for something like this, it disheartens me. We try to be as transparent as possible with our fellow fans who support the QBC as we try to grow it. I have been kicking around pricing options for the next QBC to make it affordable while trying to bring in different levels of talent. The more we charge the bigger than names we can bring in. BUT the key words are still keep affordable. With the Keith Hernandez event, Dan and I were trying to jam as much in as possible to help with the ticket pricing. We wanted to make sure everyone got a good bang for the buck. The players we bring in while they love the fans, they also get paid to show up to our events(some of them aren't cheap and they even work with us on the pricing because of their fans) I kind of know what Thor and McNeil and Strawberry charge and I factored that in with venue fees/food, drink, etc, etc. And they are still making a really, really good profit on this.
This does something else to me. It fires me up. I, along with Dan want the QBC to blow these things away and be for Mets fans who cheer their asses off, cry their eyes out, have joy, have sadness, and have a hate/love relationship with the Mets. We want to bring you guys the best possible FANFEST we can. The best one offs we can come up with and not try to make you folks break the bank doing so. We kill ourselves putting the QBC on for our fellow fans. I physically and mentally end up being shot for a few days after it. But we at the QBC and when I see we I also mean our family of volunteers, WE ARE HERE FOR OUR FELLOW FANS. IF WE HAVE HIGHER PRICES FROM THE YEAR BEFORE, WE ARE DOING THIS FOR BETTER VENUES AND FOR BIG NAME TALENT. Do we want to make a few dollars? Yes we do. But if you saw all the work we put in for the QBC while working our real jobs, you guys might even say we are crazy and deserve more. Maybe we are, and maybe we do. But the thing is, we don't want to be greedy and we want the fan base to be happy.
This Fanatics event might be a good time, who knows. But one thing I do know is, not even I am crazy enough to spend money on this.

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Mets Game Notes 6/26/19


METS TO CELEBRATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1969 WORLD SERIES TEAM

METS TO CELEBRATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 
1969 WORLD SERIES TEAM

FLUSHING, N.Y., June 26, 2019 – The New York Mets today announced the full schedule of kevents surrounding the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 1969 World Series Championship team. Below is a complete guide of events scheduled to take place at Citi Field.

 

Tom Seaver Address Change Ceremony – The New York Mets will honor legendary pitcher and Hall of Famer Tom Seaver by renaming 126th Street, to Seaver Way. Mets COO Jeff Wilpon, Jerry Koosman, Cleon Jones, Ron Swoboda, Bud Harrelson, Jerry Grote as well as other dignitaries will be in attendance for a ceremony that will begin at 11 a.m. The event is open to the public. Fans are encouraged to head down to Citi Field to honor The Franchise.
 
Friday, June 28 – Mets vs. Braves – 7:10 p.m.

1969 Replica Jersey Giveaway – All fans in attendance will receive a 1969 replica jersey courtesy of McDonalds.

 
Saturday, June 29 – Mets vs. Braves – 4:10 p.m.

1969 50th Anniversary Ceremony – Prior to the game, the New York Mets will honor the 1969 team with a special ceremony, emceed by broadcaster Howie Rose. The team will welcome back Mets legends including Cleon Jones, Ron Swoboda, Jerry Koosman among others. Fans are asked to arrive early for the special event and to be in their seats by 3:00 p.m.

Classic Car World Series Parade – The Mets will reenact the 1969 World Series parade on the newly named Seaver Way between Northern Blvd and Roosevelt Ave. The parade will feature vintage Ford convertibles carrying members of the 1969 championship team.

1969 Pennant Giveaway – The first 15,000 fans in attendance will receive a blue and orange pennant to commemorate the 1969 weekend, courtesy of Citi.

 
Sunday, June 30 – Mets vs. Braves – 7:05 p.m.

1969 Replica Ring Giveaway – The first 15,000 fans who enter the Citi Field gates will receive a 1969 Replica Ring, courtesy of H.L. Gross Jewelers.

Art Shamsky Book Signing – 1969 World Champion outfielder Art Shamsky will be signing copies of his book After the Miracle: The Lasting Brotherhood of the '69 Mets in the Jackie Robinson Rotunda prior to the start of the game. Books will be available for purchase in the Mets Team Store.

Great seats are still available. Interested fans can purchase tickets online by going to Mets.com/tickets, via phone at 718-507-TIXX or by visiting the Citi Field box office.

Images of all the promotional items are available by clicking here

MiLB launches Hope at Bat


Mets 1969 Black Cat game



The NY Post is doing a 5 part series on the 1969 team.

Here is a part of that series. The Black Cat game.

Read more here.