An Amazin’ly Unique Perspective

As part of my Washington D.C. semester, our professor sends us relevant news and opinion articles to read. This week he sent us the obituary of scholar Jacques Barzun. Amongst the topics included in the piece was an excerpt from his 1953 essay “On Baseball:”

The wonderful purging of the passions that we all experienced in the fall of ’51, the despair groaned out over the fate of the Dodgers, from whom the league pennant was snatched at the last minute, give us some idea of what Greek tragedy was like.

I’d say about half of you read that segment and grudgingly let out an “Amen.” As for the other half, you probably had my reaction: “Hey, give some mind to the guys who did the pennant-snatching, buddy! My team won that year!”

Allies in every other aspect, Mets fans are still divided over the 1951 National League playoffs. Descendants of New York Giants fans like myself (via my father’s father) celebrate, while those with Brooklyn backgrounds sigh in pained disgust. Brooklyn Dodger fans are the only ones in all of baseball who see the Shot Heard ‘Round the World differently. The rest of the sport celebrates Bobby Thompson and the comeback kids, but the Bums don’t because their team lost; they zoom in on Ralph Branca and the 13.5-game lead that evaporated so suddenly.

It got me thinking: surely there are events like this that Mets fans see differently from everyone else. And so, I submit to you just a few notable events, and even some everyday occurrences, that are seen uniquely through the Amazin’ perspective.

We’ll start off with a couple easy ones.

Bill Buckner’s Error – Game 6, 1986 World Series

April 20, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox former players Bill Rohr, left, Bill Buckner, Luis Tiant and Tommy Harper wait in the alley before they enter the field during the 100th anniversary celebration at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Rest of Baseball

“Aww, poor Bill Buckner. I wouldn’t wish that fate on anybody. I hope Red Sox fans will forgive him someday…”

Mets Fans

“YES! YES! Ray Knight’s gonna score! The Mets win the ballgame! The Mets win! Mets win! Mets win!”

Kirk Gibson’s Roy Hobbes Moment – Game 1, 1988 World Series

Rest of Baseball

“He did it! Gibson did it! How does a man even swing the bat in that condition, let alone hit a game-winning home run!? The Dodgers are gonna win for sure!”

Mets Fans

“It should’ve been us. That SOB Gibson robbed us of a chance to avenge ’73. I hope his legs fall off.”

You get the gist by now. Here’s a few more:

Oakland Athletics’ Dynasty – 1972-1974

Rest of Baseball

“Now that there’s one of the best teams of all-time. What a cast of characters! Too bad they couldn’t stick together longer.”

Mets Fans

“It should have only been two out of three. So close…Shame we couldn’t send Willie Mays out on top. And Rollie Fingers’s mustache? Nothin’ next to Keith Hernandez’s.”

Atlanta Braves’ 14 Consecutive NL East Championships – 1991-2005

October 3, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Atlanta Braves right fielder Jason Heyward (rear) embraces Braves third baseman Chipper Jones (10) as they leave the field after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. The Atlanta Braves won 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Rest of Baseball

“What a historic run! This is great for baseball. Isn’t it sweet they’re always on TBS?”

Mets Fans

“Son, if you name your kids ‘Larry,’ ‘Bobby,’ ‘Greg,’ or any variation of those names, I’ll disown you. And don’t you dare eat at Ted’s Montana Grill. Ever.”

Tom Seaver’s No-Hitter – June 16, 1978

Rest of Baseball

“Way to go, Tom Terrific! I knew he’d get it eventually. You can only come close so many times!”

Mets Fans

“Well, he finally did it…for the Reds. Did we seriously trade that guy? For Doug Flynn?”

Nolan Ryan’s Seven No-Hitters

Rest of Baseball

“We’ll never see another pitcher like him! All of that spread out over three decades and three teams! But didn’t he play for a fourth?”

Mets Fans

“You couldn’t save one of those for us, Nolan? This is the thanks we get for your only World Series ring? And lay off Robin Ventura, he’s gotta do important stuff for us in six years!”

Pete Rose

Rest of Baseball

“Gambler! But great ballplayer. Disgrace! But so much hustle. No Cooperstown for you! But what’s a Hall of Fame without the all-time hits leader…Gah!”

Mets Fans

“Nah, we don’t like you even a little. What did Bud Harrelson ever do to you, Chuck?”

Finally, a mundane, basic part of the game that has forever been warped by one man’s blunder for the ages.

March 11, 2011; Port St Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets second baseman Luis Castillo (1) leads off of third base during an exhibition spring training game against the Florida Marlins at Digital Domain Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Infield Popups

Rest of Baseball

“Meh.”

Mets Fans

“Two hands, please!”

What do you think, Metsians? Any events or everyday ticks you think should be on the list? What do you see differently from the rest of your baseball friends because of your allegiance to the orange and blue? Feel free to let us know in the comment section.

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