Welcome A-Ford!

[G-Fafif]

Thirty-nine years ago today, Richard Nixon officially left office, having delivered his resignation speech the night before. Where did he go? To meet the Mets!

While Tricky Dick would spend many of his post-presidency hours at Shea Stadium, he took with him some bad Metsian vibes when he made like the Senators and departed Washington. In his last evening at the White House, the Mets got beat by the Buccos, 4-3, at Three Rivers when Al Oliver took Jon Matlack deep in the bottom of the ninth. Exit Nixon, enter Jerry Ford, whose presidency ended our long Metropolitan nightmare in the sense that the Mets returned to Shea to begin a homestand in very successful fashion, topping the Reds (whom Nixon loved to bait in the early '50s), 4-1. Three runs scored on a Don Hahn home run, the other on a Bob Apodaca double. Between them, Dack and Tug McGraw combined on a four-hitter.

And so a new presidential tradition took hold in which the first Mets game of a new presidency has, to date, always been a successful one.

8/9/1974 (Ford) Mets 4 Reds 1 @ Shea
4/7/1977 (Carter) Mets 5 Cubs 3 @ Wrigley
4/9/1981 (Reagan) Mets 2 Cubs 0 @ Wrigley
4/3/1989 (Bush I) Mets 8 Cardinals 4 @ Shea
4/5/1993 (Clinton] Mets 3 Rockies 0 @ Shea
4/3/2001 (Bush II) Mets 6 Braves 4 (10) @ Turner
4/6/2009 (Obama) Mets 2 Reds 1 @ Great American

Prior to Ford's "accidental" presidency, the Mets stumbled in the first games they played in all three previous administrations in which they existed.

4/11/1962 (Kennedy) Cardinals 11 Mets 4 @ Sportsmans Park
4/13/1964 (Johnson) Phillies 5 Mets 3 @ Connie Mack
4/8/1969 (Nixon) Expos 11 Mets 10 @ Shea

OTOH, Nixon's first year was the only one among the 10 Mets' presidents to end extraordinarily well.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

We could have used President Ford on those 1974 Mets!

[G-Fafif]

We could have used President Ford on those 1974 Mets!

Or Tuscon Toros outfielder Dan Ford, at the very least.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Hmmmm. Mets with presidential names: Johnson, Wilson, Carter, Jackson, Washington, Nixon, Taylor... am I missing anyone?

[Frayed Knot]

I sat about a section away from (ex-Prez by then) Nixon at Shea one night.

[Frayed Knot]

metsguyinmichigan wrote: Hmmmm. Mets with presidential names: Johnson, Wilson, Carter, Jackson, Washington, Nixon, Taylor... am I missing anyone?

Stanley Jefferson

[Guest themetfairy]

Nixon attended the Terry Pendleton game. So did I.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Frayed Knot wrote: Hmmmm. Mets with presidential names: Johnson, Wilson, Carter, Jackson, Washington, Nixon, Taylor... am I missing anyone? Stanley Jefferson

Nice catch!

[G-Fafif]

Hmmmm. Mets with presidential names: Johnson, Wilson, Carter, Jackson, Washington, Nixon, Taylor... am I missing anyone?

I forgot about him, even though it was 39 years ago today that the national consensus dictated "trot, Nixon."

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

themetfairy wrote: Nixon attended the Terry Pendleton game. So did I.

THAT'S AWESOME!!!!

I spoke to Nixon once in the YSII press box. A presidential signature on a Mets ticket is pretty incredible!

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Hmmmm. Mets with presidential names: Johnson, Wilson, Carter, Jackson, Washington, Nixon, Taylor... am I missing anyone? I forgot about him, even though it was 39 years ago today that the national consensus dictated "trot, Nixon."

Bad ass!

[Frayed Knot]

And the roster currently features [u:33vehhz4]Zachary[/u:33vehhz4] [u:33vehhz4]Harrison[/u:33vehhz4] Wheeler

[G-Fafif]

Frayed Knot wrote: And the roster currently features Zachary Harrison Wheeler

Between him and Isaac Benjamin Davis, this roster is prepared to build a bridge to the 19th century.

[dinosaur jesus]

metsguyinmichigan wrote: Hmmmm. Mets with presidential names: Johnson, Wilson, Carter, Jackson, Washington, Nixon, Taylor... am I missing anyone?

Didn't Willie Mays Hayes make a stop in New York on his way to the bottom? Maybe that was only spring training.

If it's presidents of Mexico, there's Carlos Diaz, VIctor Diaz, Wilmer Flores, Gil Flores, Ricky Gutierrez, Frankie Rodriguez, Rich Rodriguez, Raul Valdes, and Duke "The Silver Fox" Snider.

[G-Fafif]

dinosaur jesus wrote: If it's presidents of Mexico, there's Carlos Diaz, VIctor Diaz, Wilmer Flores, Gil Flores, Ricky Gutierrez, Frankie Rodriguez, Rich Rodriguez, Raul Valdes, and Duke "The Silver Fox" Snider.

[Edgy MD]

And if presidents pro temopore count, I give you Marlon Byrd. And his brother Paul.

[Benjamin Grimm]

That's the second reference this week to "Willie Mays Hayes." I had never heard that name before, so I googled and found out that he's a fictional character from a movie.

I think you're referring, perhaps, to Willie Mays Aikens?

[G-Fafif]

Does blurting after an error, "Garrrgh! FIELD!" count?

[dinosaur jesus]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: That's the second reference this week to "Willie Mays Hayes." I had never heard that name before, so I googled and found out that he's a fictional character from a movie. I think you're referring, perhaps, to Willie Mays Aikens?

Not unless there was a President Aikens.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Hmmm... I'll have to check my World Almanac and Book of Facts.

[RealityChuck]

A function of the fact that the Mets have the best record for opening-day games in the history of baseball.

[G-Fafif]

Mets 3-3 in first games of the second terms (or first full term) of presidencies already joined in progress, though all -- unlike Ford's first game -- were indeed Opening Days.

4/12/1965 (Johnson) Dodgers 6 Mets 1 @ Shea
4/6/1973 (Nixon) Mets 3 Phillies 0 @ Shea
4/9/1985 (Reagan) Mets 5 Cardinals 4 (10) @ Shea
4/1/1997 (Clinton) Padres 12 Mets 5 @ The Murph
4/4/2005 (Bush II) Reds 7 Mets 6 @ Great American
4/1/2013 (Obama Mets 11 Padres 2 @ Citi

Nixon's final season as president saw the Mets lose their first Opening Day game (4/6/1974: Phillies 5 Mets 4 @ Vet) since his first year in office. No wonder the push for impeachment ramped up.

[Edgy MD]

In the future, let's ensure as many one-termers as possible. And where workable, let's have as many mid-term power changes as we can effect.

[G-Fafif]

Edgy MD wrote: In the future, let's ensure as many one-termers as possible. And where workable, let's have as many mid-term power changes as we can effect.

Tippecanoe and the Mets win too!