METS FANS SHARE THEIR MEMORIES OF THE JUNE 9, 1973 GAME:
Feat Fan
July 13, 2004
After the old timer's game at Shea, Willie Mays puts on his own show with a homer and circus catch and the Mets top the Dodgers, 4–2. Willie, older than a half dozen of the old Mets, hits #655 of his career. Rusty Staub drives in two runs to back Jon Matlack. In the old timers game, the Brooklyn Dodgers/Yankees lose to the Mets, 1– 0, in two innings.
Tim Roche
December 3, 2005
I had turned 12 a couple weeks earlier and these tickets were a Birthday gift. We arrived very early to the game and watched the Old-timers arrive. Spotted DiMaggio, and walked up to Willie Mays' pink Cadillac, "Say Hey" on the plates and phone in the car, touched the door handle knowing this was as close as I would ever get. The Mets were in their early 70's heyday and the Old-timers crowd was charged. Roy Campanella wheeled to home plate, Mantle, DiMaggio etc, very emotional. Then to top it all off Willie Mays hits #655 and the crowd went berserk. An old-timer on old-timers day, Willie was long past his prime but we were urging him on like no one would believe. Today, at 44, it remains one of my all time emotional baseball memories. I saw the Great Mays hit one out!
Hank M
February 22, 2006
An interesting rundown play occurred in the 7th inning of this game. The Dodgers' Dave Lopes got caught between first and second on a pick off attempt. After a few throws, Rusty Staub, seeing that no one was covering second, ran in from right field to cover the base. Rusty tagged Lopes out, then threw home to Duffy Dyer to nail Tom Paciorek at the plate. It was a double play in which five or six Mets' players touched the ball. It also served a the game's most crucial play as it protected the lead for good. The alertness of "Le Grande Orange" made it happen.
Ed K
October 5, 2006
The Mets retired Gil Hodges' number at this Old Timer's day.
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