Wake Up With Wakefield

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George Vecsey shares an e-mail from 1964 one-season wonder Bill Wakefield on what it was like to wake up at brand new Shea Stadium.

�We were staying at the Travelers Inn as a team,� Bill wrote. �Rod Kanehl took me out the night before and we went to Toots Shor�s, and Howard Cosell came up and said, �Runner Rod, how are you?� and I thought, �Wow, this is the Big Leagues � better than Tulsa. �We then took separate cabs back to the Travelers. I was late going to breakfast and I remember Rod telling me, �I thought somebody had taken you to Brooklyn and I�d never see the rookie again. I�m glad you�re here for breakfast.� �I had a one-day pay check from the Mets. 1st and the 15th. I think it was around $160. I cashed it � in NYC � cash in my pocket. This is the life.� �Game against the Pirates. Saw buddies from college along the stands in right field. Hickman looking at the stands and asking me, �Are we good enough to play here?� �As Chris Cannizzaro used to do before opening day � he went around the entire clubhouse, shook hands with all 25 players and said, �Have a good year.� You, too.�

Don'tcha just want to roll around in those images for a while?