Home Run Apple History

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

I'm looking for documentation about when the Home Run Apple made its Shea debut. Does anyone have that?

Thanks.

[Guest KC]

Informatioin has it's price.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

Do tailgate party cookies count as currency?

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

It was part of the 1980 "Magic is Back" campaign and originally said Mets Magic on it. I guess it debuted in 1980 tho I don't know whether it was opening day.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

Thanks JD.

[stevejrogers]

Johnny Dickshot wrote: It was part of the 1980 "Magic is Back" campaign and originally said Mets Magic on it. I guess it debuted in 1980 tho I don't know whether it was opening day.

Wow, I bet you there is a misconception amongst those who no nothing about the Mets that it's been there since Shea was built.

So it came in with the changeover from green to blue and going straight blue from the panels outside Shea. Cool. I might just check my 81-82 Met publications for some neat pics of it

[metsmarathon]

i'll bet its something those of us who were threewhen it was installed didnt know either.

[stevejrogers]

="metsmarathon"]i'll bet its something those of us who were threewhen it was installed didnt know either.

Good point as well. But I'm generallizing that young Met fans have been exposed to various images (films, pictures, baseball cards) depicting an Apple-less backdrop in Right-Center from 64-79

Of course it might not be in someone's nature to have it ingrained in their memory that Shea's outfield fence was green and the scoreboard back then was noticeably different

[Guest KC]

Weirds me out that people know what I have on that server that I'd have
to take time to search for.

[Frayed Knot]

A good way to see the pre-adorned Shea is to check out the flick 'Bang the Drum Slowly'
Much of that movie was filmed there circa 1972: green plywood walls, no apple/hat, no picnic area, etc.

[stevejrogers]

Frayed Knot wrote: A good way to see the pre-adorned Shea is to check out the flick 'Bang the Drum Slowly' Much of that movie was filmed there circa 1972: green plywood walls, no apple/hat, no picnic area, etc.

Good one! BTW, to the point MM made, a better example actually would be the banners that adorn the walkways and entrance ways of famous moments and Mets (and in the Mezz and Loge walkways you'll see banners depicting members of the All Amazin' Team from 2002). Since those are rarely, if ever shown on film or are captured in photographs, it would be easy to assume that the Mets always had them there, when in fact they started appearing IIRC sometime in the early 1990's

[Valadius]

Are the Mets bringing the Apple into the new ballpark? They should.

[stevejrogers]

Valadius wrote: Are the Mets bringing the Apple into the new ballpark? They should.

Yes they are. Not 100% sure if its going to be the actual Apple or a new Apple, but its featured in the back of CF in the plans of the new Ball Park

[stevejrogers]

[Valadius]

Ahhhhh. Fantastic!

[G-Fafif]

While "The Magic Is Back" was indeed 1980's call to arms (albeit a call to arms like those belonging to Mark Bomback's, John Pacella's and Roy Lee Jackson's), the home run apple didn't debut until 1981, beginning of the season. The Mets tried to keep the Magic theme going for a couple of years. The hat used to read Mets Magic in Metsian script where it now says HOME RUN in block letters. Don't remember when it was switched, but it was well after "Magic" advertising had disappeared. I do remember that in '81, the ad slogan was "The Magic Is Real. Catch It Here." Though not magical per se, the Mets affixed KINGMAN FALLOUT ZONE signs to lamp posts throughout the parking lot, warning patrons that management was not responsible for home runs that shattered windshields and such.

Such a fuss to go from 67-95 to 41-62. Jerry Della Femina earned his commission.

[Benjamin Grimm]

After they switched the sign from "Mets Magic" to "HOME RUN", I remember seeing the actual discarded Mets Magic panel in the the parking lot at Shea just behind center field. It was cracked and in two pieces, and too big to carry, especially since it was before I had entered the stadium.

But I wish I had gone back and tried to grab it and bring it home. What a great keepsake that would have been! I imagine somebody who was there with a car that day (I had taken the LIRR) ended up claiming it.

[seawolf17]

Boy, how times have changed. You think Fred would just throw out a sign, no matter how broken, these days? Hell no. eBay, baby!

[MFS62]

]While "The Magic Is Back" was indeed 1980's call to arms (albeit a call to arms like those belonging to Mark Bomback...)

Bomback's nickname was "Boom Boom". He may have inspired the team to do something to celebrate a home run.

Later

[soupcan]

I hate the stupid apple. When it was installed as an accompaniment to the 'Magic is Back' campaign, well I guess it was fine, but years later...?

It just makes no sense. An apple? Coming out of a top hat? WTF does that mean? It has no real link to the history or tradition of the team - it's just a relic of an old ad campaign.

And what about the fact that it looks like a papier mache project a kindergarten class made?

I do like the neon skyline on top of the scoreboard and I really do dig when it lights up after a homerun. Wish they'd remove the Twin Towers from it though. It takes away a small bit of the joy I feel when I look at the sign and see the red, white and blue ribbon surrounding the blacked out towers.

[Benjamin Grimm]

That's why I like the apple, because it's so stupid.

[metsmarathon]

hey, i was just about to say that i hope the skyline makes it over to the next stadium, blacked out and beribboned wtc and all.

[Willets Point]

New York is the Big Apple. A Big Apple pops out to celebrate Mets homeruns. Pretty easy connection to history and tradition in my book.

[Guest cooby]

I always wondered why they used a top hat because as I recall, the Yankees used to use one in their logo

[soupcan]

Willets Point wrote: New York is the Big Apple. A Big Apple pops out to celebrate Mets homeruns. Pretty easy connection to history and tradition in my book.

I get the 'apple' part, thanks Mr. Boston.

How does the top hat factor in? Was David Copperfield the mayor of New York City once and I missed it?

[Benjamin Grimm]

The hat is a magician's hat. It links to the apple's original "Mets Magic" theme.

I like that it's a remnant of a long-forgotten slogan.

It's kind of like the story of how the Dodgers got their name.

[Guest cooby]

ohhhhh

[Willets Point]

Amazin' Mets, Miracle Mets, Magic Mets. The Mets have a long history with magical kind of stuff too.

And David Wright can rock the tophat when he's puttin' on the ritz.

[RealityChuck]

="soupcan"]How does the top hat factor in? Was David Copperfield the mayor of New York City once and I missed it?

No, but Jimmy Walker was.

[soupcan]

I know why they originally put the freakin' apple in the freakin' top hat. I get that. I'm just saying that it makes no sense now and the actual apparatus itself looks chintzy and cheap.

="Willets Point"]Magic Mets

You made that one up.


Jimmy Walker is good though.