Tag Archives: New York Mets

Day 280: Anonymous letter left in New York’s Penn Station

Posted on October 7, 2015 | Leave a comment
Don Pepi's Pizzeria at Penn Station.

Don Pepi’s Pizzeria at Penn Station.

Today’s letter was scrawled quickly as I rushed to write it on the back of my laptop before I hopped on my train back to Washington. My quick draft didn’t come out as elegantly as I had hoped. I left it on the counter at Don Pepi’s Pizzeria at Penn Station.

I grew up watching the New York Mets on WWOR, I was a huge fan in the early 80s and was rewarded with a miraculous World Series victory in the fall of 1986. I could tell you any statistic about Dwight Gooden, Darryl Strawberry, Mookie Wilson or Gary Carter (RIP my friend!).

Times have changed and so has my location. Living in our nation’s capital, I’ve become a strong fan of the Washington Nationals. In fact, I haven’t missed an opening day game since they moved the franchise to DC in 2005. This year didn’t end up the way we had hoped, but my old team, the New York Metropolitans are still in the race. So, here’s to them, LET’S GO METS!

Day 280

I tried to stamp the glove blue in honor of the Mets, but I may have used purple ink. I can’t tell. #BeingColorblind

Dear New Yorker,

I grew up a Mets fan – then moved to Washington, DC and became a Nationals fan. We lost this year to the Mets – their World Series Dreams are still alive. I wish them lots of luck in the playoffs!

Reed Sandridge
Washington, DC

P.S. LET’S GO METS!

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Day 139: Anonymous letter left at New York Mets Citi Field

Posted on May 19, 2015 | Leave a comment

Day 139-2I love going to baseball stadiums to watch America’s pastime. There’s something nostalgic for me, something that brings me back to my childhood when I hear the crack of the bat or catch a waft of hot dogs and spilled beer.

When I was 12 my Dad took me to see the New York Mets play the Houston Astros in Game 5 of the National League playoffs. Back then it was Shea Stadium, now they play at Citi Field. I’m no longer a die-hard Mets fan, in fact, I’m actually more of a Nationals fan today, but I have a soft spot for the Mets.

As I am in New York, I decided to head out to the ballpark and watch the Mets take on the St. Louis Cardinals. I thought it would be fun to leave a letter at the stadium for some unsuspecting fan. My ticket was up on the 400 level and I wanted to leave the letter up there, instead of down on the lower levels where people certainly didn’t need the money – oh, I almost forgot to mention, I left a ten-spot in the letter.

The game was fun, even though the Mets got crushed 10-2 by the Cardinals. Maybe we’ll hear from the lucky fan who found my letter.

 

I had to write this note on hotel stationery. I also tucked $10 in the envelope so that the finder could treat themselves to a beer or some snacks.

I had to write this note on hotel stationery. I also tucked $10 in the envelope so that the finder could treat themselves to a beer or some snacks.

“90% of my salary I’ll spend on good times, women and Irish whiskey. The other 10% I’ll probably waste.”
-Tug McGraw
Former New York Mets Pitcher

Ballgames can be tough on your wallet – here’s a few bucks to help you out. Get yourself a hotdog, beer or a pretzel. Or buy something for someone else.

Enjoy!

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Day 69: Mookie Wilson

Posted on March 10, 2015 | Leave a comment

Mookie_Wilson_courtesy_of_New_York_MetsOne of my all time favorite baseball players is Mookie Wilson. And while I was a big fan of the New York Mets outfielder, my mother was an even bigger fan. Most people probably didn’t know she was a baseball fan, but she was.

I started following the Mets around 1981 and soon thereafter my parents started following too. Then in 1984 the Mets had the first draft pick and chose Shawn Abner, a graduate from my hometown high school in Mechanicsburg, PA. I think that probably solidified our allegiance to the team.

Anyway, Mom loved Mookie. The speedster on the bases had incredible work ethic and seemed to avoid all the scandals that plagued the Mets during the Strawberry, Gooden, and Hernandez era. Mom would have loved this letter. If she were still alive, I would have asked Mookie to send her a letter.

Day 69

Dear Mookie,

I grew up a die-hard Mets fan – unusual for someone living in Central Pennsylvania. All of my friends were Philly and Pirate fans. I watched every game on WWOR, captivated by Kiner, Zabriskie, McCarver and Staub’s call of the game.

My parents also became fans – I guess they gave in when my memorabilia draped room started looking more like the dugout at Shea than it did a bedroom. My mother, Lenora Sandridge, was your biggest fan. When you would get on base, she would start talking about how “Mookie’s gonna steal second.” She loved to watch you run the bases and I agree with her, few players truly make an art out of base-running. You were the best.

The other thing that you have in common with my mother is truck driving. No, she never drove a truck, but she often said that that would be her dream job – just driving the country and being her own boss.

Screen Shot 2015-03-10 at 8.01.13 PMShe never realized that dream. She passed away in 2006 of heart disease at the age of 63. Shortly after that I learned that you had an 18 wheeler and drove short routes all over the southeast during the office season. She would have loved to have known that. Or maybe she did know that and it was just another reason she was so fond of you.

Anyway, as much as it would be nice to hear back from one of her (and my) heroes – learn more about your post baseball life, your recording work, etc. I don’t expect a response. I just wanted to share this little story with you.

Thanks for making baseball so fun to watch for my family and me during the 80s.

With admiration,
Reed Sandridge

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