Countdown to Mets Fantasy Camp 16 Days to Go.
Every year for the last 3 years as Spring gives way to Fall, Mets season merges into NY Rangers season, I have been able to keep the baseball side of my brain occupied with thoughts of Mets Fantasy Camp. This year more so then ever, in the past I have simply gone down to cover the week long camp as a reporter, this season I am headed down to actually participate as a player. Each year I have tried to find unique ways of counting down the days until camp and sharing them with Mets fans, So this year I will do the countdown by Jersey numbers, When possible I will post my 3 favorite Mets who have worn that number, some numbers are harder then others.
#16
#1
Dwight Gooden
I honestly cannot remember anticipating a players arrival to the majors as much as Dwight's. And when he arrived he didn't disappoint, his road games were must see TV, his home games were an event, When the Doctor took the mound Shea was electric. The K Korner was all part of the show. So many younger people ask about if the feeling is the same with Matt Harvey, while Harvey has been amazing thus far and when all is said and done he most likely will out do all of Docs Mets numbers, but when Doc was right, the Mets were a powerhouse and the city was a Mets town in included building sized paintings of Doc,until the Mets reclaim that spot Harvey's starts will never match that of Docs. Here is our interview with Dwight Gooden from WLIE 540am SPORTSTALKNY as well as a video from Mets Fantasy Camp below.
#2
Lee Mazzilli
The Centerpiece for some very bad Met teams, Lee was Ny's own one of the few bright spots Mets' fans had during that era was Maz's 1979 All-Star Game in Seattle. He came up as a pinch-hitter in the 8th and hit an opposite-field home run off Jim Kern. Then, the next inning he earned a bases-loaded walk to drive in the game-winning run off Yankee Ron Guidry. Then he comes full circle to end his career with the Mets in the role of pinch hitter in 86 and was a part of the game 6 triumph, proving there is no place like home.
#3
Paul Lo Duca
Like Mazzilli another New Yorker coming home to play for his hometown team,Lo Duca had to deal with replacing a NY Icon in Mike Piazza, pretty big shoes to replace behind the plate,all Paul did was hit over .300 and provide great defense behind the plate as well as a grittiness and toughness the Mets needed, was a big mistake to let him go via free agency in my opinion, here is my interview with Paul Lo Duca from WLIE 540am SPORTSTALKNY.
Mets who wore #16
Bobby Gene Smith
Sammy Taylor
Jesse Gonder
Dick Smith
Danny Napoleon
Tommie Reynolds
Kevin Collins
Mike Jorgensen
Felix Millan
Dave Schneck
John Stearns
Lee Mazzilli
Dwight Gooden
Hideo Nomo
Derek Bell
David Cone
Doug Mientkiewicz
Paul Lo Duca
Angel Pagan
Rob Johnson
Rick Ankiel
Daisuke Matsuzaka
By: Mark Rosenman
WLIE 540 AM SPORTSTALKNY Host and Producer
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