A Giant Fruit

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]Mets' new, bigger Home Run Apple for Citi Field in the works By ANTHONY McCARRON DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Giant Met Home Run Apple is ready to blossom at new park. Giant Met Home Run Apple is ready to blossom at new park. Workers in Minnesota are putting the finishing touches on the Mets' new Home Run Apple, a bigger, shinier and more advanced version of the Shea curio that inspired strong feelings among fans who either adored or hated its hokiness. The new apple will be installed at Citi Field in early February, according to Mark Silvera, who designed it along with fellow engineer Andrew Agosto. Look for the Mets to have a ceremony when the apple is unveiled, although the team declined comment Wednesday. "I guess somebody has made a giant pop-up apple before, but when we were going through the process, we wanted to have it be bigger, better and more reliable," said Silvera, an engineer at Uni-Systems, the Minneapolis engineering firm hired to build it. "It'll be exciting to see it installed and then see how fans respond to it." The fresh apple, made of fiberglass with a foam core, is 16 feet tall and 18 feet in diameter, meaning it would tower over the 9-foot-tall original. The new one weighs 4,800 pounds, but adding the hydraulics and guideframes underneath means the total weight lifted will be around 8,500 pounds. The old apple weighed 582 pounds. When a Met hits a homer, the apple will rise 15 feet. It's slated to make the trip in just three seconds, but the Mets may be able to tweak the timing once it is installed. The original apple first appeared at Shea to the right of the 410-foot sign in center field during the 1980 season as a marketing ploy to inject some excitement into a dreadful team that finished 67-95, in fifth place in the NL East. That team didn't hit many homers, either - Lee Mazzilli led the way with 16, while the Mets finished with just 61 and were mocked by a Daily News graphic that measured their homer output against Roger Maris' 1961 total. The Mets and Maris finished tied. But the apple morphed into a symbol of the franchise, its lumpy, red fiberboard frames plucking fans' heartstrings, and Met officials long wanted to have the apple represented in some way in the new park. While the apple has been famous and/or notorious in New York, depending on your point of view, Minnesotan Mark Hagelberger didn't know apple lore. Hagelberger's company, Fiberglass Fabricators, Inc., was hired to build the new apple's shell and he Googled the Met apple to learn. "Wow," he said Wednesday, "this is a big deal." To some fans, so is the final resting place of the original apple. Good news, Hagelberger says - it's likely to go on display somewhere at Citi Field. "That's the plan I heard," Hagelberger said.

[metirish]

] When a Met hits a homer, the apple will rise 15 feet. It's slated to make the trip in just three seconds

I dunno but that just sounds like trouble to me , with it's expected weight and all. I'd hate to see Beltran and whoever is in RF get crushed by the apple.

[Gwreck]

="John Cougar Lunchbucket":9cwh7oib]I think the Delta 360 Club is the one limited to $100 ticket holders.[/quote:9cwh7oib] Not exactly. The "Delta 360 Club" (formerly the Sterling Club) is limited to Sterling-Level seat holders. Those are the seats on the lowest level, right behind the plate. Those tickets run $175/game on the low end. The Left Field Restaurant is limited to these seating categories: Sterling Club Platinum and Gold; Ebbets Club Gold; Excelsior Club Platinum and Gold; Metropolitan Box and Field Box. Of course, all of those levels are over $100 per seat. --- And yes, if you take a look here: http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/nym/ticketing/season_plans.jsp, you'll see that the Mets have renamed the "Excelsior Level" the "Caesar's Level."

Edgy DC Jan 22 2009 09:43 AM

Suckers.

G-Fafif Jan 22 2009 09:45 AM

]The original apple first appeared at Shea to the right of the 410-foot sign in center field during the 1980 season as a marketing ploy to inject some excitement into a dreadful team that finished 67-95, in fifth place in the NL East. That team didn't hit many homers, either - Lee Mazzilli led the way with 16, while the Mets finished with just 61 and were mocked by a Daily News graphic that measured their homer output against Roger Maris' 1961 total. The Mets and Maris finished tied. Except the Apple was planted in 1981, the year after the admittedly power-starved Mets had some success with the marketing theme "The Magic Is Back," thus the top hat and the words Mets Magic. And while I wouldn't argue the historical verdict of "dreadful" against a fifth-place, 67-95 team, those Mets were winning back fans with an impressive midseason surge (a 47-39 run that put them in contention for a time) as that Maris vs. Mets graphic was running. Home runs aren't everything. Neither is accuracy at the Snooze, apparently.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 22 2009 09:47 AM

="metirish"]I dunno but that just sounds like trouble to me , with it's expected weight and all. I'd hate to see Beltran and whoever is in RF get crushed by the apple. The apple won't be rising while the Mets are in the field. It's the opposing outfielders who have to fear the apple!

Edgy DC Jan 22 2009 09:49 AM

Can UMDB do a quick home/road split since 1981 and tell us which Mets have lit the apple the most?

metirish Jan 22 2009 09:54 AM

="Benjamin Grimm"] ="metirish"]I dunno but that just sounds like trouble to me , with it's expected weight and all. I'd hate to see Beltran and whoever is in RF get crushed by the apple. The apple won't be rising while the Mets are in the field. It's the opposing outfielders who have to fear the apple! LOL....of course....

Frayed Knot Jan 22 2009 09:57 AM

Fortunately for me I've always been able to make it through a 3-hour baseball game without starving to death so I can still attend a game without paying for high-priced meals in up-scale restaurants that are restricted to only those with upper-priced seats.

G-Fafif Jan 22 2009 09:58 AM

="Gwreck":bglynpwb]you'll see that the Mets have renamed the "Excelsior Level" the "Caesar's Level."[/quote:bglynpwb] Will the games be renamed Bread And Circuses? Speaking of renaming, I haven't been able to find any trace of "Coogan's Landing" on the official seating chart or anywhere in the various propaganda save for the original unupdated fact sheet. I guess that one sop to NY Giants history has been quietly yet effectively disappeared. G-Fafif Jan 22 2009 09:59 AM ]I'd hate to see Beltran and whoever is in RF get crushed by the apple. ]The apple won't be rising while the Mets are in the field. It's the opposing outfielders who have to fear the apple! Beltran, Don't Fear The Apple... Gwreck Jan 22 2009 10:01 AM ="Edgy DC":2op1dcbm]Can UMDB do a quick home/road split since 1981 and tell us which Mets have lit the apple the most?[/quote:2op1dcbm] I don't think you need UMDB to tell you it's 1. Darryl 2. Mike But after that... Benjamin Grimm Jan 22 2009 10:01 AM ="Edgy DC":2raunp2q]Can UMDB do a quick home/road split since 1981 and tell us which Mets have lit the apple the most?[/quote:2raunp2q] Piece of cake! Most Shea Stadium (regular season) Mets home runs since 1981: Darryl Strawberry 127 Mike Piazza 99 Howard Johnson 90 David Wright 70 Kevin McReynolds 65 Todd Hundley 57 George Foster 53 Edgardo Alfonzo 53 Carlos Delgado 51 Carlos Beltran 47 Cliff Floyd 44 Bobby Bonilla 40 Gary Carter 40 John Olerud 39 Dave Kingman 38 Keith Hernandez 38 Robin Ventura 36 Jeff Kent 34 Jos� Reyes 30 Mookie Wilson 28 G-Fafif Jan 22 2009 10:06 AM Has anyone ever noticed whether the Apple rose on Met Inside-the-Park HRs? Or was the Apple operator too overcome with shock to get the fruit up in the air? FYI, the following ITPHRs were hit at Shea in the Apple Era: Wally Backman, 7/31/82 Mark Bradley, 8/31/83 Darryl Strawberry, 5/3/89 Marlon Anderson, 6/11/05 Jose Reyes, 9/7/06 Centerfield Jan 22 2009 10:08 AM Never would I have guessed George Foster would be on that list. Edgy DC Jan 22 2009 10:09 AM Jeff Kent, apple polisher. John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 22 2009 10:23 AM I was at the Mark Bradley ITPHR game. I don't remember if the apple went up because I was too busy razzing Dodgers RF Mike Marshall for making the poor decision to dive that led to it.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Suckers.

[G-Fafif]

]The original apple first appeared at Shea to the right of the 410-foot sign in center field during the 1980 season as a marketing ploy to inject some excitement into a dreadful team that finished 67-95, in fifth place in the NL East. That team didn't hit many homers, either - Lee Mazzilli led the way with 16, while the Mets finished with just 61 and were mocked by a Daily News graphic that measured their homer output against Roger Maris' 1961 total. The Mets and Maris finished tied.

Except the Apple was planted in 1981, the year after the admittedly power-starved Mets had some success with the marketing theme "The Magic Is Back," thus the top hat and the words Mets Magic. And while I wouldn't argue the historical verdict of "dreadful" against a fifth-place, 67-95 team, those Mets were winning back fans with an impressive midseason surge (a 47-39 run that put them in contention for a time) as that Maris vs. Mets graphic was running.

Home runs aren't everything. Neither is accuracy at the Snooze, apparently.

[Benjamin Grimm]

="metirish"]I dunno but that just sounds like trouble to me , with it's expected weight and all. I'd hate to see Beltran and whoever is in RF get crushed by the apple.

The apple won't be rising while the Mets are in the field. It's the opposing outfielders who have to fear the apple!

[Guest Edgy DC]

Can UMDB do a quick home/road split since 1981 and tell us which Mets have lit the apple the most?

[metirish]

="Benjamin Grimm"] ="metirish"]I dunno but that just sounds like trouble to me , with it's expected weight and all. I'd hate to see Beltran and whoever is in RF get crushed by the apple. The apple won't be rising while the Mets are in the field. It's the opposing outfielders who have to fear the apple!

LOL....of course....

[Frayed Knot]

Fortunately for me I've always been able to make it through a 3-hour baseball game without starving to death so I can still attend a game without paying for high-priced meals in up-scale restaurants that are restricted to only those with upper-priced seats.

[G-Fafif]

="Gwreck":bglynpwb]you'll see that the Mets have renamed the "Excelsior Level" the "Caesar's Level."[/quote:bglynpwb] Will the games be renamed Bread And Circuses? Speaking of renaming, I haven't been able to find any trace of "Coogan's Landing" on the official seating chart or anywhere in the various propaganda save for the original unupdated fact sheet. I guess that one sop to NY Giants history has been quietly yet effectively disappeared.

G-Fafif Jan 22 2009 09:59 AM

]I'd hate to see Beltran and whoever is in RF get crushed by the apple. ]The apple won't be rising while the Mets are in the field. It's the opposing outfielders who have to fear the apple! Beltran, Don't Fear The Apple...

Gwreck Jan 22 2009 10:01 AM

="Edgy DC":2op1dcbm]Can UMDB do a quick home/road split since 1981 and tell us which Mets have lit the apple the most?[/quote:2op1dcbm] I don't think you need UMDB to tell you it's 1. Darryl 2. Mike But after that... Benjamin Grimm Jan 22 2009 10:01 AM ="Edgy DC":2raunp2q]Can UMDB do a quick home/road split since 1981 and tell us which Mets have lit the apple the most?[/quote:2raunp2q] Piece of cake! Most Shea Stadium (regular season) Mets home runs since 1981: Darryl Strawberry 127 Mike Piazza 99 Howard Johnson 90 David Wright 70 Kevin McReynolds 65 Todd Hundley 57 George Foster 53 Edgardo Alfonzo 53 Carlos Delgado 51 Carlos Beltran 47 Cliff Floyd 44 Bobby Bonilla 40 Gary Carter 40 John Olerud 39 Dave Kingman 38 Keith Hernandez 38 Robin Ventura 36 Jeff Kent 34 Jos� Reyes 30 Mookie Wilson 28 G-Fafif Jan 22 2009 10:06 AM Has anyone ever noticed whether the Apple rose on Met Inside-the-Park HRs? Or was the Apple operator too overcome with shock to get the fruit up in the air? FYI, the following ITPHRs were hit at Shea in the Apple Era: Wally Backman, 7/31/82 Mark Bradley, 8/31/83 Darryl Strawberry, 5/3/89 Marlon Anderson, 6/11/05 Jose Reyes, 9/7/06 Centerfield Jan 22 2009 10:08 AM Never would I have guessed George Foster would be on that list. Edgy DC Jan 22 2009 10:09 AM Jeff Kent, apple polisher. John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 22 2009 10:23 AM I was at the Mark Bradley ITPHR game. I don't remember if the apple went up because I was too busy razzing Dodgers RF Mike Marshall for making the poor decision to dive that led to it.

[G-Fafif]

]I'd hate to see Beltran and whoever is in RF get crushed by the apple.

]The apple won't be rising while the Mets are in the field. It's the opposing outfielders who have to fear the apple!

Beltran, Don't Fear The Apple...

[Gwreck]

="Edgy DC":2op1dcbm]Can UMDB do a quick home/road split since 1981 and tell us which Mets have lit the apple the most?[/quote:2op1dcbm] I don't think you need UMDB to tell you it's 1. Darryl 2. Mike But after that...

Benjamin Grimm Jan 22 2009 10:01 AM

="Edgy DC":2raunp2q]Can UMDB do a quick home/road split since 1981 and tell us which Mets have lit the apple the most?[/quote:2raunp2q] Piece of cake! Most Shea Stadium (regular season) Mets home runs since 1981: Darryl Strawberry 127 Mike Piazza 99 Howard Johnson 90 David Wright 70 Kevin McReynolds 65 Todd Hundley 57 George Foster 53 Edgardo Alfonzo 53 Carlos Delgado 51 Carlos Beltran 47 Cliff Floyd 44 Bobby Bonilla 40 Gary Carter 40 John Olerud 39 Dave Kingman 38 Keith Hernandez 38 Robin Ventura 36 Jeff Kent 34 Jos� Reyes 30 Mookie Wilson 28 G-Fafif Jan 22 2009 10:06 AM Has anyone ever noticed whether the Apple rose on Met Inside-the-Park HRs? Or was the Apple operator too overcome with shock to get the fruit up in the air? FYI, the following ITPHRs were hit at Shea in the Apple Era: Wally Backman, 7/31/82 Mark Bradley, 8/31/83 Darryl Strawberry, 5/3/89 Marlon Anderson, 6/11/05 Jose Reyes, 9/7/06 Centerfield Jan 22 2009 10:08 AM Never would I have guessed George Foster would be on that list. Edgy DC Jan 22 2009 10:09 AM Jeff Kent, apple polisher. John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 22 2009 10:23 AM I was at the Mark Bradley ITPHR game. I don't remember if the apple went up because I was too busy razzing Dodgers RF Mike Marshall for making the poor decision to dive that led to it.

[Benjamin Grimm]

="Edgy DC":2raunp2q]Can UMDB do a quick home/road split since 1981 and tell us which Mets have lit the apple the most?[/quote:2raunp2q] Piece of cake! Most Shea Stadium (regular season) Mets home runs since 1981: Darryl Strawberry 127 Mike Piazza 99 Howard Johnson 90 David Wright 70 Kevin McReynolds 65 Todd Hundley 57 George Foster 53 Edgardo Alfonzo 53 Carlos Delgado 51 Carlos Beltran 47 Cliff Floyd 44 Bobby Bonilla 40 Gary Carter 40 John Olerud 39 Dave Kingman 38 Keith Hernandez 38 Robin Ventura 36 Jeff Kent 34 Jos� Reyes 30 Mookie Wilson 28

G-Fafif Jan 22 2009 10:06 AM

Has anyone ever noticed whether the Apple rose on Met Inside-the-Park HRs? Or was the Apple operator too overcome with shock to get the fruit up in the air? FYI, the following ITPHRs were hit at Shea in the Apple Era: Wally Backman, 7/31/82 Mark Bradley, 8/31/83 Darryl Strawberry, 5/3/89 Marlon Anderson, 6/11/05 Jose Reyes, 9/7/06

Centerfield Jan 22 2009 10:08 AM

Never would I have guessed George Foster would be on that list.

Edgy DC Jan 22 2009 10:09 AM

Jeff Kent, apple polisher.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 22 2009 10:23 AM

I was at the Mark Bradley ITPHR game. I don't remember if the apple went up because I was too busy razzing Dodgers RF Mike Marshall for making the poor decision to dive that led to it.

[G-Fafif]

Has anyone ever noticed whether the Apple rose on Met Inside-the-Park HRs? Or was the Apple operator too overcome with shock to get the fruit up in the air?

FYI, the following ITPHRs were hit at Shea in the Apple Era:

Wally Backman, 7/31/82
Mark Bradley, 8/31/83
Darryl Strawberry, 5/3/89
Marlon Anderson, 6/11/05
Jose Reyes, 9/7/06

[Centerfield]

Never would I have guessed George Foster would be on that list.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Jeff Kent, apple polisher.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I was at the Mark Bradley ITPHR game.

I don't remember if the apple went up because I was too busy razzing Dodgers RF Mike Marshall for making the poor decision to dive that led to it.