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.

Thanks for reading! Be sure to Like Rising Apple’s Facebook page and follow @RisingAppleBlog on Twitter to keep up with the latest news, rumors, and opinion.

October 31, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants former center fielder Willie Mays waves to the crowd while riding in a car during the World Series victory parade at Market Street. The Giants defeated the Detroit Tigers in a four-game sweep to win the 2012 World Series. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Here’s how I see it: the Mets are descendants of both the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants.  With the Mets came the return of National League baseball to New York.  Since the Dodgers are part of the Mets’ heritage, naming their rotunda after one of the most important figures of the Civil Rights movement – an extraordinary man and Hall of Famer who both lived and played in Brooklyn – seemed entirely appropriate.  Still, there were those who complained the Mets didn’t care at all about their connection to the New York Giants.  Perhaps those people will stop complaining now.

Today on Mets.com, Paul Post put together a tremendous writeup on the restoration and coming reopening of the John T. Brush stairway at the old site of the Polo Grounds.  The project cost nearly $1 million, and was funded by the Mets, Giants, Yankees, and Major League Baseball.  Here’s an excerpt from the article:

From atop Coogan’s Bluff, above and behind the Polo Grounds, the stairway went from Edgecombe Avenue, between 157th and 158th Streets, down to the ticket booths behind home plate. The stairs also gave people a way to reach the Speedway, a once-popular Harlem River promenade, in addition to seeing some of baseball’s greatest and worst teams, from John McGraw’s Giants, who played in nine World Series from 1903-24, to the 1962 Mets, who lost more games than any team.

Once the restoration is complete, there is expected to be a re-dedication ceremony (perhaps on July 9th, to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the original opening of the steps).  Fans of the Mets should head over there once the site opens, as the steps are the only remaining remnant of the stadium where the franchise was born.

Be sure to click here and check out the full article from Paul Post.  It’s a great read.

Thanks for reading! Be sure to Like Rising Apple’s Facebook page and follow @RisingAppleBlog on Twitter to keep up with the latest news, rumors, and opinion.

August 22, 2012; New York, NY, USA; New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson (second from left) speaks about pitcher Johan Santana (not pictured) during a press conference before a game against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-US PRESSWIRE

So, there it is.  The former Cy Young’s 2012 season is effectively done.  He started twenty-one games, in which he posted a disappointing 6-9 record, accompanied by an equally disheartening 4.85 ERA.  In a word, I’d characterize Johan Santana’s season as being – hittable.  In 117 innings pitched, Johan allowed exactly 117 hits.  He hadn’t averaged nine hits allowed per nine innings pitched since his 2001 sophomore season.  He also surrendered an alarming seventeen home runs.  To go along with hits allowed, he issued thirty-nine walks over that span.  His 1.33 WHiP wound up being his worst mark since his 2000 rookie campaign.  On the bright side, Johan struck out 111 batters.  I guess that speaks to an effective difference between his fastball and change-up.  But as pitching goes, it was his location that ultimately knocked Johan out of the box.

Out of his twenty-one starts this season, he completed two of them quite marvelously.  On May 26th at Citi Field against San Diego, Johan pitched a nine inning gem, in which he allowed four scattered hits, walked none, and struck out seven batters.  He threw ninety-six pitches that night.  Johan then immediately followed that start with a masterpiece against the St. Louis Cardinals his next time out.  Johan Santana hurled the New York Mets first no-hitter in the franchise’s history.  And it will be for that game that this 2012 season will be remembered by.  He walked five batters that night, but struck out eight.  Make no mistake however, Johan Santana authored Citi Field’s first magical and amazin’ moment in the park’s four year history.

Particular to Johan Santana’s situation, (i.e.; returning from arm surgery) the game was not without its’ controversy surrounding Johan’s pitch count.  Final tally – 134 pitches thrown.  The no-hitter put the Mets, and Terry Collins in particular, in a precarious spot at the time, as this performance came on the heals of a complete game shut-out versus San Diego in his prior start, as noted above.

While Johan Santana is not a broken pitcher by any stretch, it can be said his season was akin to a ticking time bomb.  Detonation was just a matter of time, but in the after-math, the damage is clearly nothing to be exaggerated.  However, enough of Johan Santana’s left arm and body was sufficiently compromised this season to warrant a work stoppage.  I believe it is safe to say, all are in agreement that this is best regardless of inflammation in his back..

Now what?  Well…, with regard to Johan Santana, the Mets; this Winter; next season; next season’s trade deadline; the final season of Santana’s contract; and where the club goes from here; are all now matters for intense speculation.

Have fun.