New York Sophisticates

[G-Fafif]

Excellent 1962 Mets footage (found via On The Black), though this newsreel announcer has a real attitude.

[Willets Point]

Wow, color footage of the Polo Grounds. If I had a time machine, a game at the Polo Grounds would be my first stop.

[dgwphotography]

i love how Richie Ashburn was throwing his hands out during the rundown in an attempt to deflect a throw...

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

What a windup by Mizell. Jeezus.

[metirish]

Brilliant

"Gus Bell wheels and NY squeals, as one crack of the bat the Mets are in arrears as Gus rings the bell with a three run rifle shot"

[batmagadanleadoff]

That footage was borrowed from the makers of the Mets early team sponsored season highlight packages. Portions of that Mets/Braves footage appear in the highlight packages now being shown on SNY.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: What a windup by Mizell. Jeezus.

All of a sudden, I'm thinking that Tim Robbins may just have been doing a dead-on Vinegar Bend impression, instead of just being a terrible fake pitcher.

[Theoldmole]

Why does YouTube think that fans of the 1962 Mets will also enjoy Stalin's funeral?

I was living in the Midwest when the Mets came into existence but I did see the New York Giants play at the Polo Grounds.

[Guest themetfairy]

Great stuff Greg - thanks!

[soupcan]

I liked how the crack of the bat sounded exactly the same for bunts as it did for homeruns.

[ashie62]

Wow, color footage of the Polo Grounds. If I had a time machine, a game at the Polo Grounds would be my first stop.

I'd think reattaching Mr. Johnson would be your first stop.

Check the teenage boy saying "shit" at 2:19 after a Mizell WP. This kid knew early.

[Guest The Second Spitter]

Here's a link of the audio broadcast of the first Mets game. Curiously it's 62MB.

Have a Rheingold and a Viceroy...

[G-Fafif]

The Second Spitter wrote: Here's a link of the audio broadcast of the first Mets game. Curiously it's 62MB. Have a Rheingold and a Viceroy...

Gold, Jerry, gold!

Tall, rangy right-hander Roger Craig is in trouble, and it's only the bottom of the first. We're gonna need a lot of Rheingold and a carton of Viceroys.

If the Mets don't win this, they will never be above .500 as a franchise.

[G-Fafif]

16,147 Cardinals fans sure murmur loudly and continuously.

[G-Fafif]

St. Louis hoping Larry Jackson can be the bell cow of the pitching staff.

God, I love Bob Murphy.

[G-Fafif]

"Long, slow and costly" -- Rheingold's brewing process, according to Murph, but it could also apply to Oliver Perez's contract.

[G-Fafif]

Ralph Kiner just called Stan Musial's third-inning, run-scoring double (and then the run he scored to tie Mel Ott's all-time National League record). I'm not sure what's more awe-inspiring: than Stan Musial played against the Mets or that Ralph Kiner still announces Mets games.

Musial versus the Mets: .405/.515/.684 in 101 plate appearances, with 6 homers, 21 ribbies and 14 runs scored across 30 games.

But he didn't do spit against the Colt .45s.

[G-Fafif]

Gil Hodges just hit the first home in Met history, passing Joe DiMaggio on the all-time round-tripper list.

Eff you, Yankee Clipper.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Sign advertising first scheduled Mets game (4/10/62). The game was rained out. But not before about a dozen Mets on the way to the ballpark got stuck in their hotel elevator for 20 minutes. Scheduled starter Sherman "Roadblock" Jones was scratched: while lighting a cigarette, the match-head flew off and landed in his eye.

[G-Fafif]

Encountered a little glitchiness listening to the broadcast, but enjoyed a great deal of it. Thanks Spitter.

I encourage one and all to sample the above link to April 11, 1962, if just to retroactively see what we were getting ourselves into.