Who was managing the Mets when you first became a Met fan?

[batmagadanleadoff]

Who was managing the Mets when you first became a Met fan?

What are some of the earliest details you remember from a Met game, whether you witnessed the events in person or from television?

I'll go first.

Gil Hodges.

J.C. Martin running out of baseline in the 1969 World Series. A Tommie Agee 3-run homer and Lindsey Nelson shouting "a three-run homer, a three-run homer" as Agee rounded second during his home run trot.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I knew the Mets under Berra, but I jumped in with Joe Frazier's squad.

[Valadius]

Bobby Valentine, 1997.

[Guest themetfairy]

Hodges

[Benjamin Grimm]

Gil Hodges.

[DocTee]

Torre, before he became a nose-picking douche.

[batmagadanleadoff]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Who was managing the Mets when you first became a Met fan? What are some of the earliest details you remember from a Met game, whether you witnessed the events in person of from television? I'll go first. Gil Hodges. J.C. Martin running out of baseline in the 1969 World Series. A Tommie Agee 3-run homer and Lindsey Nelson shouting "a three-run homer, a three-run homer" as Agee rounded second during his home run trot.

Hey --- this one's a two parter. I couldn't fit part two into the topic header.

[ashie62]

Westrum 66

[Zvon]

Gil.
And Ill forever use him as a yardstick to measure others from.

My 1st Met game I ever went to I saw Art Shamsky try to make a great catch running from right into foul territory and into the stands/railing. He was taken off the field on a stretcher. I do believe he broke some ribs.
Not at all sure of date. I'm thinking 1968.
If someone can find out when that happened, that was my 1st Met game.

I had already been to Yankee Stadium.
Not a good experience, cuz out in right field I had a view of two things.
A big steel pillar and Gates Brown's ass.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Zvon wrote: A big steel pillar and Gates Brown's ass.

That was the one that stumped seawolf on the Jeopardy Daily Double.

What was the most enduring and painful memory of Kevin Colllins career?

[Guest sharpie]

Stengal but it was during the Wes Westrum era that I became hooked.

First game was a 12-4 win in August, 1964 over the Phillies. Galen Cisco got the win.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Zvon wrote: My 1st Met game I ever went to I saw Art Shamsky try to make a great catch running from right into foul territory and into the stands/railing.

Coming up empty.

[TransMonk]

Johnson, Davey

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Yogi

[Gwreck]

Davey

[metsmarathon]

in 1985, i realized baseball existed and was televised regularly. davey johnson was the manager of the team my grandfather watched every so often.

i dont have any specific memories of baseball back then, only ralph kiners voice, strawberry's sweet sweet swing, and mookie wilson's knack for getting out of the way of a ball at his feet.

i think my first mets game was in 86 (maybe 87), and we were in standing room only. it was summer and it was hot. later in the game we got to move into real seats.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Davey here, too.

It was late in '85, I think. They played the Cubs. Doc pitched a complete game, and struck out a lot of people. I had my first knish.

[G-Fafif]

Gil.

[Ceetar]

TransMonk wrote: Johnson, Davey

And my favorite player is Strawberry, mainly because I liked (like) Strawberrys.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

I adopted the Mets as my team during the 1969 World Series under the Gil Hodges.

[Fman99]

Torre and the running suck-a-thon that was the late 1970's Mets.

[HahnSolo]

Yogi

[metirish]

Bobby V. I was working construction at the then soon to be USA Tennis Center in Flushing , living in Woodside and taking the 7 back and forth, got curious about the big and beautiful blue stadium across the way and the rest as they say is history....torturous but history all the same.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

metirish wrote: Bobby V. I was working construction at the then soon to be USA Tennis Center in Flushing , living in Woodside and taking the 7 back and forth, got curious about the big and beautiful blue stadium across the way and the rest as they say is history....torturous but history all the same.

That's great.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Gil was in charge when I saw my first game in 1971, but Yogi was at the helm when I became fully obsessive.

[Centerfield]

Technically it was George Bamberger, but I was too young to notice anything about the manager except he had the same name as the store where my mom would shop.

By the time I really got into the team, it was Davey.

I have no recollection whatsoever of Frank Howard ever managing the Mets.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Centerfield wrote: I have no recollection whatsoever of Frank Howard ever managing the Mets.

That was a great period. Watching the gorgeous butterfly struggling to emerge from the cocoon.

[Centerfield]

It really was, and that's when I became a Mets fan, but I have no recollection of any managerial change, and don't have any specific memories of Frank as the manager.

[Guest attgig]

Davey.

my family immigrated from Korea in the early 80's (i apparently loved baseball even back then when the KBO was just beginning). I watched both mets and yanks when I was a little kid, but not often as I would never really have any say about what was on tv being only <=5 years old and the only baseball lover in my whole family.

Then, finally, 86 came, and there was no way I would ever root for any other team.

[MFS62]

Casey Stengel.

Later