Banner Day

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

What do you say we all cause a ruckus until the Mets reinstate Banner Day?

With all the attention the 86ers are getting this year, and the unpleasantness related to Soupcan booing all the time, it'd be nice if the team could at oncely celebrate a bit of their past while rewarding the Ned Flanderseses out there who get on their knees and blow the team every day just like they do in St. Louis.

Actually, it'd just be nice. And now that there's a second game on July 8, a perfect opportunity.

I don't think they would plan a "classic" doubleheader, but rather a day-night. But that works: The Mets ought to invite all fans who wish to participate in banner day to the evening game, for say, a walkaround at 6pm. That'll draw more fans to an unscheduled game, keep those beers and hot dogs selling, etc etc. (The promo scheduled for the Day Game is "take her out to the ballgame" Day where all chixx get free cocoa butter or something).

Make it an event. Have celebrity judges. Give away a cool prize. Televise it on MTV. Make a pile of money.

Who's with me?

[Guest Bret Sabermetric]

Write to Fred.

[seawolf17]

I always wanted to do Banner Day as a kid, but they got rid of it before I got old enough to do it.

(I have to say... that shea butter stuff they give away is outstanding. We went on Mother's Day a few years ago, and got a great tote bag -- which we still use as Peanut's travel bag -- and some of the Palmer's Shea Butter, which we swear by. It doesn't leave your hands all greasy like most lotions; I even have a bottle in my desk at work.)

[Guest Edgy DC]

Pitch it as a charity day. Make everybody carrying a banner give $15 (minimum) to the Keith Hernandez Alzheimer's Fund or something. Or better yet, a breast cancer fund, since it's Take Her Out Day.

But get Keith (or some similarly-statured player/org-guy) in your corner and you're gold.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

David Wright has a new foundation in need of pub and donations. That's a great idea.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I read that the July 8th double-header is going to be a classic, two games for the price of one, double-header.

Perfect for Banner Day. It's a great idea.

When was the last scheduled Banner Day? Someone wrote to me to ask this a few months ago, and I leafed through a couple of yearbooks and I seem to remember seeing one scheduled as late as 1988.

[Guest Bret Sabermetric]

seawolf17 wrote: It doesn't leave your hands all greasy like most lotions; I even have a bottle in my desk at work.)

What are you doing at your desk that you need a bottle of lotion handy?

[Guest Iubitul]

Here's to hoping that this is one of the message boards that Gary was referring to the other night.... This is a great idea.

[Guest cooby]

Johnny Dickshot wrote: . (The promo scheduled for the Day Game is "take her out to the ballgame" Day where all chixx get free cocoa butter or something). Who's with me?

Free cocoa butter, I'd be up for that.

Johnny ought to be in charge of Mets marketing

[Guest KC]

Great idea, how would we go about creating a ruckus - there isn't much time.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

I'll start ruckusing today.

[Frayed Knot]

Why do I get the idea that Wilpon & co will be too deathly afraid that Banner Day 2006 wouldn't exactly re-create the wholesome family fun that it evoked back in the 1970s.

[Guest KC]

They probably have some kind of insurance related excuse at the ready,
but good luck.

[soupcan]

My banner



(Thanks to CF)

[Guest Edgy DC]

Does Beltran typically drive through that section of Mount Vernon at dawn in January?

[Guest cooby]

He might if he had a chance to see soupcan in a black toupee

[MFS62]

Frayed Knot wrote: Why do I get the idea that Wilpon & co will be too deathly afraid that Banner Day 2006 wouldn't exactly re-create the wholesome family fun that it evoked back in the 1970s.

It couldn't get any worse than a pre-banner day banner than hung from the upper deck of the Polo Grounds in 1962. It said:

FUCK O'MALLEY.

The camera was panning the banners, with one of the Met announcers commenting on how clever they were. When the camera got to that one, the director quickly cut to a commercial.

Later

[soupcan]

Edgy DC wrote: Does Beltran typically drive through that section of Mount Vernon at dawn in January?

Yes.

[Guest cooby]

BTW, I thought you said in your spring training thread that you thought it was gone?


(that picture's very funny)

[soupcan]

I did think it was gone. I was standing about 30 feet from him and didn't see it.

Sadly, I was mistaken.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Mets PR intern sez:

* Games scheduled as old-skool DH July 8.

* Promotion schedule set ahead of time.

* Banner Day was discussed but decided against this year.

* Will note my call when discussing next year's promo skedule.

* Please fax Jay Horwitz with further suggestions.

At this point I suppose we go talk to DWright or Cliff or Tom Glavine or Keith Hernandez' favorite charity. Then fax JH.

No?

[Guest Edgy DC]

Keef supports

Jacqueline Hernandez Adult Day Health Center

Address: 380 Henry Street

(Cobble Hill, near Long Island College Hospital)

Brooklyn, NY 11201

Model: Medical

Telephone: (718) 855-2050

Contact: Barbara Williams or Program Director.

A little over a dickshot's distance from Dickshot's house, I guess.

David Wright Foundation.

Among other things, Tom Glavine supports the Rally Foundation.

Big League Chew is committed to wiping out childhood cancer? OK.

[Elster88]

Might be better to go with an active player. Does Keef still have a lot of pull with the team?


LENNY DYKSTRA, BABY!!!!

[Guest KC]

We should probably set our sights on 2007 since they got their plans in
place for 2006. This will require them actually scheduling an old fashioned
double header day - something that seems to be a very unpopular thing these
days with baseball teams - and that's a big monetary hurdle to get a team to
accept for some reason (I mean I know the reasons) before they even con-
sider to slide banner day in that slot.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Well, I don't see where they can't do a Banner Day immediately following a Day game, or whatever... But yer right, '07 is a more likely goal.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Well, they've scheduled in things like Pakastani Day after the promotional calendar was printed.* Maybe setting sights on this year is the best way to get it for next year. Sort of like shooting for the stars being the best way to reach the moon.

We can also start a parallel internet viral campaign --- promoting that date as a de facto Banner Day, telling everybody to show up with banners whether the Mets like it or not.
_________
*They might have just plugged that one in Paki communities, but kept it off the general schedule for fear of hate crimes.

[Guest KC]

I don't mean to be a wet blanket, but we can't even get everyone together
for a tail-gate party before a game much less a de facto Banner Day.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Well, I'm sorry to hear that.

What I mean to say is everyone in the Mets universe. Write to all the bloggers and get them to plug it.

[Willets Point]

If it rains on banner day we'll all have wet blankets, or at least wet sheets.

[Guest KC]

E: >>>Well, I'm sorry to hear that.<<<

I don't know what you're sorry about, but as a group we don't exactly have
a good track record of getting everyone on the same page for things at the
same time. I realize there are a lot of variables and good reasons, but get-
ting people to commit to stuff is a rough road.

I agree that perhaps an internet blitz by all sites, forums, and blogs is pro-
bably a good starting point.