Photo Phun 2020

[Edgy MD]

[FIMG=800]https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/the-feeling-of-desertion-seems-to-pervade-shea-stadium-here-as-only-picture-id515125868?s=2048x2048[/FIMG]



https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN198004160.shtmlApril 16, 1980. The Mets squeeze out a 3-2 win over the Expos before a raucous crowd of 2,052. Ray Burris went six strong innings for the win, and after Jeff Reardon stumbled in the seventh, Neil Allen came on with the tying run on third, the go-ahead on first, and one out. He induced a 6-4-3 double play and then went the rest of the way for the eight-out save — the sort of save you used to see when men were men.



At least, you would have seen it if you were among the 2,052 through the gates that day.



If that isn't enough to get a reliever to be the PotG, even in a win, then I don't know what is. But Steve Henderson, unaccustomed though he may have been to batting out of the leadoff slot, also made a case for the trophy with three hits.



Amazingly, this was only the team's fifth-lowest attendance that season, with two September road games at Wrigley and two exciting home stretch wins at Shea against the Pirates (#s 157 and 158 on the season) all drawing under 2,000.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I think I was at one of those two games against the Pirates.

[G-Fafif]

That photo or one very much like it ran on the back page of the Post under the headline MAGIC GARDEN, mocking the new ad campaign that declared the backness of magic at Shea.

[Centerfield]

Yet somehow there was still a 45 minute line at Shake Shack.

[Frayed Knot]

Edgy MD wrote: Amazingly, this [crowd of 2,052] was only the team's fifth-lowest attendance that season, with two September road games at Wrigley and two exciting home stretch wins at Shea against the Pirates (#s 157 and 158 on the season) all drawing under 2,000.

But, but but ... baseball was so much more popular in those days than it is now!

[Edgy MD]

I taint sure who's voice that is.

[Frayed Knot]

Edgy MD wrote: I taint sure who's voice that is.

Basically any one of a number of voices, sports media talkers mainly but others as well, who spout the 'fact' that baseball used to be popular but the only people who follow it these days

are Bob Costas, George Will, plus a few dozen residents of old age homes. This despite it once being a huge draw back when they were kids ... like say around 1980.