Only the Walls were Aqua Green

[Frayed Knot]

Ashie62 wrote: I saw Goosen play many moons ago and it seems he was a highly thought of prospect.

Well Casey supposedly said of Goossen's prospect status that: 'he's only 20 years old and in ten years he had a good chance to be 30'

[Benjamin Grimm]

And he was right!

[batmagadanleadoff]

[fimg=373]http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1626791.1395759102!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/bitter-bill-jpg.jpg[/fimg]

Start saving up Mets fans, the ultimate Met memoribilia is going on auction
BY Bill Price
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Published: Wednesday, March 18, 2015, 4:37 PM

[fimg=544]http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2154363.1426710830!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_970/jul-13.jpg?enlarged[/fimg]
John Franco drives Tug McGraw onto the field in 2003 in bullpen cart that will be up for auction on April 1.

For those of us who grew up in the 70s and early 80s, we don't have too many wonderful memories from Shea Stadium. Sure, we will never forget the first time we went to a game, and a Mets-Dodgers game in 1982 when Randy Jones and Fernando Valenzuela went toe-to-toe was one of the greatest times I ever had at big Shea. But win or lose, one of the greatest thrills always came when the bullpen cart with the Mets cap on top, or the visiting cart with the cap for the road team, would roll out of the bullpen down the baseline and deliver a relief pitcher to the field. Well, on April 1, Sotheby's will be holding The New York Sale - an auction centered on things from New York City - and one of the big items in the collection is the Mets bullpen cart. According to the catalog, it's "A fantastic example of whimsical Major League Baseball marketing from the late 1960s, used intermittently at Shea Stadium for more than 20 years. Highights of its use include a memorable appearance at the 1986 World Series versus the Boston Red Sox and again in 2003 when Mets Captain John Franco drove Mets legend Tug McGraw onto the field as part of the team's celebration of the legendary 1973 team. "Immortalized by its dramatic appearance at the monumental 1986 World Series Championship in which it entered the field of play following the culmination of the game seven win, it promptly ran out of power adding further delight to the victory celebration. "Presented in largely original condition and displaying a lovely patina throughout, it is fully operational and represents an iconic piece of New York sports history celebrating one of New York's most memorable and important World Series Championship wins." Wow, that's a mouthful. Listen, in this case, Sotheby's could have saved a lot of time and just say the Mets bullpen cart is up for auction and end it at that, as I'm sure there are tons of Mets fans who don't need a description of the thing. When I saw the picture, I knew I wanted it. When I saw it may go from anywhere from 20-30 grand, well, my dream of having the cart shuttle players in and out of Wifflefest went out the window. But if you have the cash, and you do buy it, please, just give me a ride. And if you are wondering, it doesn't appear as if the pinstriped Toyota from Yankee Stadium is up for sale.

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/bitterbill/mets-bullpen-cart-auction-blog-entry-1.2154340

[G-Fafif]

For those of us who grew up in the 70s and early 80s, we don't have too many wonderful memories from Shea Stadium.

I realize this isn't the point of this thread, but can everybody who writes ledes like this -- even if or especially if your shtick is Long Suffering Mets Fan -- be reassigned to lacrosse? (No offense to any lacrosse fans out there.)

[dgwphotography]

G-Fafif wrote: For those of us who grew up in the 70s and early 80s, we don't have too many wonderful memories from Shea Stadium. I realize this isn't the point of this thread, but can everybody who writes ledes like this -- even if or especially if your shtick is Long Suffering Mets Fan -- be reassigned to lacrosse? (No offense to any lacrosse fans out there.)

I even had fun during Opening Day, 2003. You know - 15-2, bitter cold... yup, still had fun...

[batmagadanleadoff]

[fimg=433:4pvbqeok]http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2154363.1426710830!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_970/jul-13.jpg?enlarged[/fimg:4pvbqeok] [fimg=433:4pvbqeok]http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51cehlDqSFL._SY445_.jpg[/fimg:4pvbqeok]

Looks like the bullpen cart was given a permanent hard hat. Makes sense. The removable cloth covers were a space saver back when most teams also maintained a second cart for the visitors.

Edited March 18, 2015 by Guest

[batmagadanleadoff]

G-Fafif wrote: For those of us who grew up in the 70s and early 80s, we don't have too many wonderful memories from Shea Stadium. I realize this isn't the point of this thread, but can everybody who writes ledes like this -- even if or especially if your shtick is Long Suffering Mets Fan -- be reassigned to lacrosse? (No offense to any lacrosse fans out there.)

The topic is aqua green walls.

[G-Fafif]

What gets me about that Price lede is whatever drove him to a life covering sports probably sprouted in those days when allegedly there weren't too many wonderful memories. That's when you're getting your most unshakable wonderful memories. The standard's being set. If he wants to assert it wasn't as good later or that the Mets sucking on and off the field diminished his ardor or that a piece of Shea concrete crumbled into his lap one Saturday afternoon and it left him wondering for a while what the hell's so great about this place (that happened to me in 1999), fine. But it's just lazy and intellectually dishonest -- unless that's really his story -- to say "it sucked to be a kid at the ballpark, but the bullpen cart was kinda cool."

Hackish approach. Transcend frigging mediocrity.

[G-Fafif]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: The topic is aqua green walls.

Colors.

Shades.

Fences.

Uh...1967.

Shea.

Early in the season.

Colors. Lighter than usual. Not blue.

Oh boy...Seaver...Goossen...

[Edgy MD]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: [fimg=433]http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2154363.1426710830!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_970/jul-13.jpg?enlarged[/fimg] [fimg=433]http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51cehlDqSFL._SY445_.jpg[/fimg] Looks like the bullpen cart was given a permanent hard hat. Makes sense. The removable cloth covers were a space saver back when most teams also maintained a second cart for the visitors.

The money move here is that whoever designed those hat-covers for the carts thought enough about the authenticity to give them the green underbill.

[batmagadanleadoff]

G-Fafif wrote: I realize this isn't the point of this thread....

Let's all stay on topic by playing the Whose Team NFL Carts are Missing? quiz. Give me the complete list of NFL teams whose carts aren't pictured below -- in one post --- to claim credit for winning this quiz. Don't include the names of any NFL teams that didn't yet exist when the picture below was taken.

[fimg=866]https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8588/16851006745_e7a7003916_o.jpg[/fimg]

[G-Fafif]

Where did gathering of helmets convene? My first guess is the Murph, when it was still San Diego Stadium. But maybe wherever in Hawaii they have the Pro Bowl? Though I think the Pro Bowl wasn't yet a Hawaiian entity when the white Rams horn was still in effect.

[batmagadanleadoff]

G-Fafif wrote: Where did gathering of helmets convene? My first guess is the Murph, when it was still San Diego Stadium. But maybe wherever in Hawaii they have the Pro Bowl? Though I think the Pro Bowl wasn't yet a Hawaiian entity when the white Rams horn was still in effect.

The Pro Bowl was held at mainland warm weather sites during the period when that photo could have been taken. I'd eliminate Irving Stadium, Arrowhead and the Superdome because of the turf fields and indoor conditions. That's clearly an outdoor photo. But the LA Coliseum and the Orange Bowl are possibilities.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro_Bowl

[batmagadanleadoff]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Where did gathering of helmets convene? My first guess is the Murph, when it was still San Diego Stadium. But maybe wherever in Hawaii they have the Pro Bowl? Though I think the Pro Bowl wasn't yet a Hawaiian entity when the white Rams horn was still in effect. The Pro Bowl was held at mainland warm weather sites during the period when that photo could have been taken. I'd eliminate Irving Stadium, Arrowhead and the Superdome because of the turf fields and indoor conditions. That's clearly an outdoor photo. But the LA Coliseum and the Orange Bowl are possibilities. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro_Bowl

The photo could also have been taken at a Super Bowl. If so, Rice Stadium and Tulane Stadium are possibilities.

[G-Fafif]

Seeing, NFC edition...

NFC East: Giants, Redskins, Cowboys, Cardinals (assuming the Eagles were still in white helmets)
NFC Central: Lions, Packers, Vikings, Bears
NFC West: Rams, Saints

Not necessarily seeing, NFC edition...

Eagles (or, perhaps, Cardinals, pending whether the Eagles were green by then)
49ers
Falcons

Seeing, AFC edition...

AFC East: Jets, Dolphins, Colts, Bills, Patriots
AFC Central: Bengals, Steelers, Browns
AFC West: Raiders, Chiefs, Broncos, Chargers

Not necessarily seeing, AFC edition...

Oilers

[batmagadanleadoff]

G-Fafif wrote: Seeing, NFC edition... Seeing, AFC edition...

Close. But not quite there.

[G-Fafif]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: The photo could also have been taken at a Super Bowl. If so, Rice Stadium and Tulane Stadium are possibilities.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your halftime entertainment, please direct your attention to the sidelines, for the most wondrous if slightly incomplete assemblage of football helmet buggies, some with visible drivers! They will be accompanied by the trumpet stylings of Al Hirt as they roll onto the field of play and into your hearts...

[G-Fafif]

That white one with the space for a stripe where there isn't a stripe has me flummoxed.

Also, the one toward the back that I'm believing to be the Browns -- is that the Niners, except with the color not reproducing correctly?

[G-Fafif]

Also, am I mistaking the Oilers helmet for the Broncos?

[batmagadanleadoff]

G-Fafif wrote: Also, am I mistaking the Oilers helmet for the Broncos?

Yep, you did. The Broncos blue was darker.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Oilers '72 to '74. [fimg=444:2js6uv71]http://prod.static.titans.clubs.nfl.com/assets/images/team/helmet1972-74.gif[/fimg:2js6uv71]


The other missing helmet you weren't entirely sure about was the Eagles. During that era, the wings on the Eagles helmets ran all the way up to the front, and would be visible in the photo. So the white helmet with no center stripe has to be a Cardinals hat.

[batmagadanleadoff]

G-Fafif wrote: That white one with the space for a stripe where there isn't a stripe has me flummoxed. Also, the one toward the back that I'm believing to be the Browns -- is that the Niners, except with the color not reproducing correctly?

That's a Brown helmet. It took me a few minutes to distinguish the Browns from the Saints from the Packers.

[G-Fafif]

Not sure if I still have my NFL mini-helmet collection, thoughtfully garnered mostly from a South Florida IHOP by my parents in advance of my ninth birthday. At that juncture, when I became familiar with what every pre-concussed player protected his head with, Oilers wore silver, Redskins were still yella and I had no idea that a bronco was a horse, so it took me a while to match that logo to that team. I also didn't know the Patriot was a patriot, per se. I thought he was some kind of cowboy at first glance, though not a Dallas Cowboy.

Or would Bill Price say those who grew up in the early '70s enjoying this sort of thing probably don't have too many wonderful memories of it?

[G-Fafif]

I'm totally buying what you're saying about the Eagles vs. Cardinals because a) yes, of course, those wings were rather garish; and the football Cardinals seem like the kind of team they'd forget to put together a helmet buggy for.

[batmagadanleadoff]

That picture's from Miami's perfect 1972-73 season, the only season that that particular Oilers powder blue helmet and the Rams white horns helmet co-existed. That season, the Pro Bowl was held at Texas Stadium in Irving, an artificial turf venue; the Super Bowl was played at the LA Coliseum. Does that look like the Coliseum to you?

[G-Fafif]

Still looks like the Murph to me. Perhaps they assembled in San Diego and charged up I-5 to the Coliseum. Or maybe it was just some preseason photo shoot.

[HahnSolo]

That's a track the buggies are parked on, right?

I might lean LA Coliseum.

[MFS62]

Frayed Knot wrote: I saw Goosen play many moons ago and it seems he was a highly thought of prospect. Well Casey supposedly said of Goossen's prospect status that: 'he's only 20 years old and in ten years he had a good chance to be 30'

I remember the numbers in the quote being 19 and 29. But, he was right.

But why is everyone so concerned about the color of the walls (in this and other threads) in those photos?
I'm asking that as a serious question. Don't the colors of the walls in old photos depend on how the pictures (film in those days) were processed and under what temperature and humidity conditions the pictures have since been stored?


Later

[G-Fafif]

HahnSolo wrote: That's a track the buggies are parked on, right? I might lean LA Coliseum.

That is indeed a telling detail.

Plus w/o an Alouettes helmet and a time machine, we'd have to eliminate the Big O.

[Edgy MD]

I saw Goosen play many moons ago and it seems he was a highly thought of prospect. Well Casey supposedly said of Goossen's prospect status that: 'he's only 20 years old and in ten years he had a good chance to be 30' I remember the numbers in the quote being 19 and 29. But, he was right. But why is everyone so concerned about the color of the walls (in this and other threads) in those photos? I'm asking that as a serious question. Don't the colors of the walls in old photos depend on how the pictures (film in those days) were processed and under what temperature and humidity conditions the pictures have since been stored? Later

Because apparently for one homestand and one homestand only, at the start of 1967, the Shea outfield walls were a color they never were before or since. And that brief time included Tom Seaver's debut.

I long ago argued that the walls were white at the top of 1962. When some didn't believe, I offered photo evidence (largely presented in a thread that this one references in title, called "Only the Walls Were White"). Some responded to that evidence with the notion that these photos did not depict a wall that was really white. To which I say, well, I think they're meant to be white, and are certainly whitish. And that's where we are.

It had come up before, I think in a thread called "The Color of the Outfield Walls," but I don't think there was any controversy over the issue then.

Come out to big Shea and thrill to our new toothpaste walls.