The mascot was a JACK A$$! A-P Met-el thread

[stevejrogers]

Anyone knows how long Met-el The Mule was used and whatever happened to that "dopey" mascot we used to have roaming around Shea?

Why was he brought in? An answer to the A's Charley O' The Mule?

The thread title comes from an infamous rant by a sports radio host in NY that considers himself a Met fan, he was ranting about how the Mets often have gone for the minor league gimmicky thing rather than the "classy Yankee" way of doing things

Steve

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

I think the mule was a one-year phenomenon, introduced in 1979 and given his unconditional release when Doubleday and Wilpon took over the following year. I looked in my 1979 yearbook a while back for a picture of Mettle but couldn't find one anywhere. I wanted to give him an entry in the UMDB.

[Guest old original jb]

Sure, Mettle the Mule was a jackass, but the question now is, can he pitch 6 innings?

[Guest Edgy DC]

I think this is a pretty narrow purpose All-Purpose thread.

One of the proposed names (I think they solicited fan submissions) was "KraneMule."

Ed didn't think it was very funny. On the outs with management (and baseball, I guess) at the time, he countered with a suggestion of "DeMulet."

[stevejrogers]

Yancy Street Gang wrote: I think the mule was a one-year phenomenon, introduced in 1979 and given his unconditional release when Doubleday and Wilpon took over the following year. I looked in my 1979 yearbook a while back for a picture of Mettle but couldn't find one anywhere. I wanted to give him an entry in the UMDB.

For some reason I think I remeber seeing footage of him in the "An Amazin' Era" video, maybe someone can do a screen cap

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

It's not that important. I've pretty much abandoned the idea.

Kranepool would have still been a Met when Mettle was around. In fact, the two of them were put out to pasture at about the same time, after the 1979 season.

[G-Fafif]

There is a pix of Mettle in the '80 yearbook, the player-family page. I think the Swan family has a young'n atop the condemned ass.

Wouldn't be in '79 because Mettle wasn't on the scene in '78.

(My god, will this All-Star Break ever END?)

[MFS62]

Wherever that mule is, it will be honored and protected by the Department of Homeland Security.
The editorial in today's Daily News:

]More terror funds? Let us bray Every year, Columbia, Tenn., holds Mule Day, which is not merely a day but "an almost week-long celebration of the mule." This year, it began with a canasta tournament, ended with a concert of gospel music and in between featured "pickin' and grinnin'," a knife auction, ham and biscuit breakfasts and a liars' contest. Surely a good time was had by all, and perhaps, verily, the Mule Day festivities are indeed in danger from Islamic terrorists. But somehow we doubt it. Nevertheless, Mule Day is listed as a potential target in the Department of Homeland Security's National Asset Database, along with, to name a few: a Bean Fest, the Groundhog Zoo (which best we can tell, is a tank at the Punxsutawney, Pa., public library), something called Trees of Mystery, Mail Boxes Etc., a landfill and - even more mysterious than the trees - a "Beach at End of [a] Street." All things being possible, Osama Bin Laden could, at this very moment, be sending his minions to destroy the "Beach at End of [a] Street," provided he has figured out which beach and which street. But somehow we doubt that, too. As apparently does the Office of Inspector General for Homeland Security, which this week issued an embarrassing report on the above-mentioned National Asset Database, which shows, for instance, that Indiana has 50% more at-risk assets than does New York. Is it any wonder that Homeland Security has stiffed New York in terror funding? No, there is no wonder because the agency under Michael Chertoff is a blundering behemoth of a bureaucracy with less sense than a mule or a groundhog. In this case, Congress ordered up an inventory of America's most critical potential targets, and Homeland Security responded by asking states to submit lists - without telling anyone what kind of targets were appropriate for listing. Some states then submitted everything bigger than a carpool, and Homeland Security duly recorded every entry. The folks in Indiana appear to have gotten passionately enthusiastic, while New York officials played it a bit safe listing, for another example, only 2% of the nation's banking and finance-sector assets. Indeed, the IG's report notes that the large number of "out-of-place" assets listed in the database are the result of both the states' "unfamiliarity with identifying" targets anda "lack of direction." All this could be amusing, except that the database is a critical tool in doling out anti-terror funding. Chertoff and his underlings had better put massive database revision on their immediate to-do list. As for the department spokesman who was quoted as saying of the database, "We don't find it embarrassing. The list is a valuable tool," well, this guy should head down to Columbia, Tenn., for the next Mule Day festival liars' contest.

Later

[Guest ABG]

]The thread title comes from an infamous rant by a sports radio host in NY that considers himself a Met fan, he was ranting about how the Mets often have gone for the minor league gimmicky thing rather than the "classy Yankee" way of doing things

Typical, more mediot drivel. Do you have any independent thoughts?

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

That Mule Day article would be perfect for PiazzaFan's All-Purpose Wrestling and Macrame thread.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

G-Fafif wrote: Wouldn't be in '79 because Mettle wasn't on the scene in '78.

Good point. I guess I looked in the 1979 yearbook to see if Mettle was listed among the personnel. I can't recall when in that season he was introduced. Maybe it was after the yearbook deadline.

[stevejrogers]

ABG wrote: ]The thread title comes from an infamous rant by a sports radio host in NY that considers himself a Met fan, he was ranting about how the Mets often have gone for the minor league gimmicky thing rather than the "classy Yankee" way of doing things Typical, more mediot drivel. Do you have any independent thoughts?

Just gleamed it for the thread title

Speaking of mascots, anyone know exactly when the original Mr. Met was mothballed?

I would find it stupidly funny though if Mettel was considered Mr. Met's "permanent replacement" Figures, they'd save money by having an animal running around the field rather than a team promotions department staffer (back then Dan O'Reilly, no clue who has been the main Mr. Met performer since Mr. Met's return, probably a string of promotion department interns or whoever shows up to work that day)

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Did Mr. Met ever go away? I don't think he did.

[Willets Point]

G-Fafif wrote: (My god, will this All-Star Break ever END?)

Soon we'll be debating if Lisa Loeb is hot or not.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Don't forget Sandra Oh.

[stevejrogers]

Yancy Street Gang wrote: Did Mr. Met ever go away? I don't think he did.

I don't remember him at all when I was at Shea regularly from 85-94/95ish

I do remeber they had a big thing when he was "re-introduced" in current form (as a Live Disney World Mickey Mouse character mascot)

Possible he only existed in product form (stationary, novelties sold at Shea, ect) for a while? Or just in PR situations?

[MFS62]

Yancy Street Gang wrote: Did Mr. Met ever go away? I don't think he did.

He did for a while.
The original Mr.Met was named Dave Zimmerman. I used to work with him. He actually made his own costume and paid his way into games. When he asked the team for some compensation, the Mets turned him down, so he quit. It took a while for them to find a replacement.

Later

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

I guess there was a time when he wasn't in costume roaming the stands, but I don't think Mr. Met ever got completely mothballed, like Speedy McDonald.

[stevejrogers]

="MFS62"] ="Yancy Street Gang"]Did Mr. Met ever go away? I don't think he did. He did for a while. The original Mr.Met was named Dave Zimmerman. I used to work with him. He actually made his own costume and paid his way into games. When he asked the team for some compensation, the Mets turned him down, so he quit. It took a while for them to find a replacement. Later

Huh? Then how did he get on the field and in official team related functions?

Both of these can be seen in the 1966 Yearbook

[stevejrogers]

And why in the world did I think it was Met PR guy during those years, Dan O'Reilly?

I think Mr. Met actually is in the video mentioned, possible I'm getting my names confused.

[MFS62]

Oh, they asked him to attend team functions. But he did it beacuse of his Metliness. And he may not have been the first one. I worked with him in the mid-late 70's, but I don't recall him telling me when he did it. All he said was "I used to be Mr. Met........." followed by the story I just related.
Can't say anything beyond that, so what has been posted above may be correct, too.
Later

[G-Fafif]

]Soon we'll be debating if Lisa Loeb is hot or not.

]Don't forget Sandra Oh.

Put me down for two yea votes.

But only because there's no baseball until 2:20 tomorrow.

[Guest Iubitul]

Met-el - Superman's metrosexual brother...

[stevejrogers]

="G-Fafif"]There is a pix of Mettle in the '80 yearbook, the player-family page. I think the Swan family has a young'n atop the condemned ass. Wouldn't be in '79 because Mettle wasn't on the scene in '78. (My god, will this All-Star Break ever END?)

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Ah yes, I remember Sandy Swan. The Met wife with the name that sounds most like a cartoon character.

[stevejrogers]

Yancy Street Gang wrote: Ah yes, I remember Sandy Swan. The Met wife with the name that sounds most like a cartoon character.

Heh, a classic Stan Lee way of remembering his creation's names.

Gee, his first name starts with an P...p...Paul? Oh right, Pete...Peter? Ah right, Peter, so whats that last name again? P....p....Parker!

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Bob Banner.