Selling Shea Bit By Bit

[metirish]

This from Marty Noble

] NEW YORK -- Few people had witnessed more games at Shea Stadium or watched them more closely than Bob Waterman of the Elias Sports Bureau. So it came as no surprise on Monday when Waterman divulged a secret he'd discovered over the weekend, Shea's final weekend before being dismantled. From his seat in the pressbox, Waterman noticed that the middle panel of the center-field wall -- the one with the No. 410 on it -- was a darker, richer, presumably less-faded blue than those on either side of it. His suspicion proved true -- the panel had been changed. And someone fessed up to it on Tuesday. Barry Meisel, the president of the MeiGray Group, had removed the more faded predecessor and brought it to his New Jersey home as a souvenir. The MeiGray Group paid for the right to remove and sell most of the removable pieces of Shea, and Meisel, who formerly worked as a sportswriter for the Morristown (N.J.) Record and The New York Daily News, has a place in his heart for Shea and a place on his basement wall for the panel. The entire outfield wall is gone now, removed on Tuesday, the second full day of the de-Mets-ing of Shea. One party made a point of asking for the panel of the wall in left field where Endy Chavez made his memorable catch during the 2006 National League Championship Series. Some of the sod is gone as well, including the area behind the plate where the Mets logo had been painted. That will be part of Meisel's lawn -- at least until it must be mowed. Meisel said that some of the seats already have been removed from field level and that cranes will be used, beginning on Wednesday, to move seats from the upper deck to the field. And, sadly, also gone is a sign of great importance, one that had been posted in the clubhouse. It warmly worded: "No media beyond this point." Who might have taken that? Vince Coleman? Mark Bomback? Manny Aybar?

Then this from Greg

] Your Soul...$41,000 by Greg on Wed 01 Oct 2008 01:40 PM EDT A conversation with Laurie has raised between us a very good question: Why are the Mets selling Tom Seaver's locker? I know why: because they can. For $41,000. Why would the Mets sell it, though? Why wouldn't you preserve the locker of your only indisputable Hall of Famer and display it somewhere at Ebbets Faux? Why wouldn't you fix it up, recreate its 1969 persona, embellish it with era-specific equipment and a few Tom tchotchkes and place it somewhere where Mets fans could ooh and aah over it? And if it doesn't fit in with the Ebbets Faux motif, why wouldn't you make sure it meets the public eye? Why not donate it to the Queens Museum or the Museum of the City of New York or the Sports Museum of America? Why not Cooperstown? It is understood and accepted as common business practice that you close a stadium, you sell off as much of it as you can. Better than it winding up in a Dumpster. Fine. But everything must go? There is no space at Ebbets Faux for a few key Shea mementoes representing the history of the New York Mets? You can't keep Tom Seaver's locker on the premises? Or at least on the premises of somewhere where it might be appreciated? Is nothing � besides the cherished tradition of blowing a playoff spot on the final day of the season � sacred to this franchise?

I find it rather sad that they would sell certain things like Seaver's locker. Will there be anything in the new place to remind us of Shea and it's history?

Fonzie when asked Sunday if he would like anything from Shea....

] "My locker," I'd take it home and put it in my trophy room. That way, every morning I'd come down and see my locker and remember."

I guess he can bid on it.

[batmagadanleadoff]

metirish wrote: This from Marty Noble ] So it came as no surprise on Monday when Waterman divulged a secret he'd discovered over the weekend, Shea's final weekend before being dismantled. From his seat in the pressbox, Waterman noticed that the middle panel of the center-field wall -- the one with the No. 410 on it -- was a darker, richer, presumably less-faded blue than those on either side of it. His suspicion proved true -- the panel had been changed. And someone fessed up to it on Tuesday. Barry Meisel, the president of the MeiGray Group, had removed the more faded predecessor and brought it to his New Jersey home as a souvenir.

I also noticed the newer CF panel on Sunday but kept my observation to myself, thinking I couldn't possibly be right about what I thought I saw and its' implications.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

You never wanna wish a guy's garage would burn down but geez.

All the folks out there plunking down Big $$ for this stuff should be like me and not be able to afford to. And that way this kinda crap wouldn't happen.

[Guest Iubitul]

I noticed the new 410 on Sunday, too, but I didn't think anything about it.

The way they have done this has turned my stomach the more I think about it. At least they could wait until the body is cold before they started stripping things from her. They couldn't wait until after closing to remove the player banners that hung throughout the stadium?

Selling Seaver's locker? Did they really need the $41,000 that badly?

I want an owner that cares more about the team he owns than the team that left him 50 years ago.

[HahnSolo]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: ="metirish"]This from Marty Noble ] So it came as no surprise on Monday when Waterman divulged a secret he'd discovered over the weekend, Shea's final weekend before being dismantled. From his seat in the pressbox, Waterman noticed that the middle panel of the center-field wall -- the one with the No. 410 on it -- was a darker, richer, presumably less-faded blue than those on either side of it. His suspicion proved true -- the panel had been changed. And someone fessed up to it on Tuesday. Barry Meisel, the president of the MeiGray Group, had removed the more faded predecessor and brought it to his New Jersey home as a souvenir. I also noticed the newer CF panel on Sunday but kept my observation to myself, thinking I couldn't possibly be right about what I thought I saw and its' implications.

So the guy who is in charge of selling stuff basically pocketed something because he liked it. If I tried to take home a souvenir (hey, look, it's a Shea condiment dispenser) I'd wind up in central booking. I hope his kid doesn't like Tom Seaver's locker.

[Gwreck]

Iubitul wrote: Selling Seaver's locker? Did they really need the $41,000 that badly?

The City of New York is getting a lot of the money for stuff that's being sold, as they own the stadium (not the Mets).

[Frayed Knot]

I heard that guy being interviewed on the radio a week or so back.
He would slyly state that some items (I think the 410 sign was specifically brought up) were "off the market" or already spoken for but didn't let on that HE was one of the reasons for it.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Horrible. Then again, is anyone surprised?

Have there been stories about Yankee Stadium being stripped, too?

I do, however, feel less guilty about taking one of the paper Final Subway Series inserts out of a napkin holder when I was there in June.

[G-Fafif]

Gwreck wrote: ="Iubitul"]Selling Seaver's locker? Did they really need the $41,000 that badly? The City of New York is getting a lot of the money for stuff that's being sold, as they own the stadium (not the Mets).

They're participating in the scavenger hunt together and I'm guessing arrangements could have been made for certain items. Also, the Mets say their portion is going to their charitable foundation, which is very nice, but somebody could also make a sizable donation from selling The David (the statue, not the third baseman). Doesn't mean you should.

As a friend of mine said (and I hate to frame it like this), but do you think the Yankees are selling Thurman Munson's locker?

[Guest AG/DC]

There are a lot of people who think the Vat would do quite well selling Michelangelo's work for the charitable concerns of the church.

When the Pieta ends up in the hands of Bahraining sheik, well, you roll with it.

[stevejrogers]

Frayed Knot wrote: I heard that guy being interviewed on the radio a week or so back. He would slyly state that some items (I think the 410 sign was specifically brought up) were "off the market" or already spoken for but didn't let on that HE was one of the reasons for it.

Actually IIRC in the interview with Beningo and Roberts he actually DID say the 410 sign was to be owned by himself.

[stevejrogers]

metsguyinmichigan wrote: Have there been stories about Yankee Stadium being stripped, too?

Not yet, but there is a big fight about the future of the land that OYS currently occupies.

[seawolf17]

SteveJRogers wrote: ="Frayed Knot"]I heard that guy being interviewed on the radio a week or so back. He would slyly state that some items (I think the 410 sign was specifically brought up) were "off the market" or already spoken for but didn't let on that HE was one of the reasons for it. Actually IIRC in the interview with Beningo and Roberts he actually DID say the 410 sign was to be owned by himself.

Yes, he did. I heard the interview also, and the guy came off as a total ass. He mentioned a couple of times that his company is a "for-profit company... we plan to make money on this." A portion goes to the Mets, a portion to the city, and a big chunk to this dickhead and his company. He said he was taking the 410 and a few other things -- I don't remember what, but I do specifically remember him mentioning the 410, because that was what Beningo said he wanted.

[stevejrogers]

I do prefer his act to Brandon "The Yankees Rule" Steiner.

Not saying much though! =

[metirish]

[HahnSolo]

seawolf17 wrote: ="SteveJRogers"] ="Frayed Knot"]I heard that guy being interviewed on the radio a week or so back. He would slyly state that some items (I think the 410 sign was specifically brought up) were "off the market" or already spoken for but didn't let on that HE was one of the reasons for it. Actually IIRC in the interview with Beningo and Roberts he actually DID say the 410 sign was to be owned by himself. Yes, he did. I heard the interview also, and the guy came off as a total ass. He mentioned a couple of times that his company is a "for-profit company... we plan to make money on this." A portion goes to the Mets, a portion to the city, and a big chunk to this dickhead and his company. He said he was taking the 410 and a few other things -- I don't remember what, but I do specifically remember him mentioning the 410, because that was what Beningo said he wanted.

By "taking" the 410 sign, he just brought it home? Did he pay for it? And if he did pay for it, why was it not brought to auction first where he could bid for it like everybody else? I also just caught the bit about him taking the "Mets" sod from behind home plate.

Just from what I am reading it seems like the Mets and city got themselves some winner when they went with this guy's group.

[Centerfield]

Did the Mets feel like they need this guy? Isn't this the type of thing that, you know, we could have done?

[Guest AG/DC]

I've come to realize the way to get filthy rich in America is to be the middle man --- create nothing, import nothing, risk nothing when the product is shit. Just shuffle some papers, make important friends, claim to bring the buyer and seller together, lop off your percentage, and get fat. The Enron way.

All I need is crooked lawyer, preferably someone with Yankees living in his in-laws' building.

[bmfc1]

Audio slide show from [u:ee78ce0078]The Daily News[/u:ee78ce0078]:

http://multimedia.nydailynews.com/audioslideshow/sports/20081001_dismantlingshea

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

Damn, there goes my dream of purchasing an official Shea Stadium urinal for the game room.

[G-Fafif]

Was watching the Channel 4 news whose helicopter coverage revealed Shea is very much being torn apart as we speak. I was coming to grips with it earlier, but this was a sock in the stomach.

[Fman99]

Rockin' Doc wrote: Damn, there goes my dream of purchasing an official Shea Stadium urinal for the game room.

You should've jacked one the final weeked like I did.

Fboy got tired of carrying that thing halfway down the ramp to the parking lot.

[Willets Point]

Seeing Shea taken apart is more heartbreaking than I imagined. I even had a dream last night that there was a game being played at Shea after the seats were already taken out.

[soupcan]

The one thing we took at the last game was the blue & white plaque that indicates the box holder's name.

My brother-in-law's family has had the same seats since the place opened in '64. The name on the plaque is his family's company that his grandfather founded and according to him its the same plaque that was there the first day. That was the only thing he wanted.

I smuggled in a screwdriver and we took it off during the game. Somebody saw me and asked if they could borrow it. Before I knew it, my screwdriver was being handed from box to box and everyone was ripping those blue and white things off and some folks were prying off the brass box indicators as well.

[bmfc1]

I'm wondering how the city employees doing the taking apart of Shea, or the contract company that the city hired, became available the day after the season ended. It's not like anybody was 100% sure, other than Hanley Ramirez, that the Mets season would be over on Sunday so how did all of these employees suddenly become available?

And would it have been the worst thing for the Mets, and the city, to open up Shea for a few days to let us look around one last time? I know that they were scared of looters but you have cops there anyway. They could even have made a few bucks by selling the leftover stuff at the souvenir stands for a discount.

[metirish]

Is this the skyline with the ribbon?

] Yesterday workers removed a facsimile of the city skyline from the top of the giant outfield scoreboard. The skyline will be moved to Citi Field, the Mets' new ballpark being constructed in a Shea parking lot.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'm glad that a part of Shea will be in the new ballpark, but I don't think that tacky skyline is the part I would have kept.

[soupcan]

="metirish"]Is this the skyline with the ribbon?

That's my understanding.

="Benjamin Grimm"]I'm glad that a part of Shea will be in the new ballpark, but I don't think that tacky skyline is the part I would have kept.

I like the skyline alot. Don't think its tacky at all and its a helluva lot better than the stupid apple.



If I had my druthers though I'd remove the twin towers and the ribbon. If that sounds callous I'm sorry but everytime I see it it brings back so many bad feelings in me.

[Gwreck]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I'm glad that a part of Shea will be in the new ballpark, but I don't think that tacky skyline is the part I would have kept.

Serious question (to BG, and others):

What would you have kept -- that was practical to do so?

(Answers such as "a massive scoreboard in right field" or "12,000 upper deck seats" might be true but decidedly impractical).

[Guest AG/DC]

soupcan wrote: Though I'd remove the twin towers and the ribbon. If that sounds callous I'm sorry but everytime I see it it brings back so many bad feelings in me.

If it does, then maybe that's good.