Did Nelson Doubleday Really Say That?

[Frayed Knot]

Zvon wrote: I want to clarify: I still would have liked to have seen how Doubleday would have handled the team if things happened differently and the Wilpons left the scene. I used to believe that there is no doubt that things would have been better, but from what I've learned from you guys it's very possible things wouldn't have been any better.

And there's nothing wrong with wondering if, or speculating about how, things would have been better; my only beef is with those who treat it as fact and either bend of make up "facts" to bolster their case because it fits in well with their go-to rant.

And the part of the Doubleday narrative I'm flat-out NOT buying is the part about him being the epitome of the baseball savvy owner. EVERYTHING I've heard (including from the inside) suggests exactly the opposite, that he was only a casual baseball fan and that owning a team was the classic rich man's toy to him.

[Zvon]

Frayed Knot wrote: I want to clarify: I still would have liked to have seen how Doubleday would have handled the team if things happened differently and the Wilpons left the scene. I used to believe that there is no doubt that things would have been better, but from what I've learned from you guys it's very possible things wouldn't have been any better. And there's nothing wrong with wondering if, or speculating about how, things would have been better; my only beef is with those who treat it as fact and either bend of make up "facts" to bolster their case because it fits in well with their go-to rant. And the part of the Doubleday narrative I'm flat-out NOT buying is the part about him being the epitome of the baseball savvy owner. EVERYTHING I've heard (including from the inside) suggests exactly the opposite, that he was only a casual baseball fan and that owning a team was the classic rich man's toy to him.

I'm like Stephen Colbert. I don't let the facts get in my way. But I really didn't have any.

Back in those days I followed the Mets heavily but I felt my only connection to managment was Cashen and what he was doing. Most of the media I came in touch with didn't go any further than Cashen. I'm sure I knew the names of the owners at that time but that's about it. And that's the way I preferred it.

[stevejrogers]

Another piece for the Doubleday was a saint vs the devil Wilpon file, and a plea to put Nelson in the Mets' HOF

http://www.gothambaseball.com/2013/11/the-full-nelson-the-man-who-saved-the-mets/

[Zvon]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: That's a great profile of Jeff. I think he probably deserves his rep as a snot and probably like his dad has screwed up stuff he was trying to fix but I really don't think he's the same kind of incompetent boob his better-mannered Dad is, always putting personal favors, questionable style tastes, a thirst for thrift, etc ahead of what any idiot could see was best for the team and its fans.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I think he just sits funny. That's actually a pretty damn sharp sweatshirt thingy.

[ashie62]

Its more like masochism...

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Actually, it looks pretty comfortable to me.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Most people who follow the team today simply refer to the purchase of the Mets in 1980 from Charles Shipman Payson as when �Doubleday and Wilpon bought the team.�

Speak for yourself.