On November 13, 2006, The New York Mets stage a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the construction of the 45,000-seat ballpark which will replace Shea Stadium in 2009. The new $800 million ballpark, named Citi Field in association with Citigroup Inc., Some of the park’s architecture harkens back to Ebbets Field and will feature a statue of…
Julio Franco, at 47 years, 240 days old, becomes the oldest player in major league history to hit a home run. At Petco Park, Franco connects for a two-run, pinch-hit shot off Scott Linebrink that launches the Mets’ six-run 8th inning and propells them to a 7 – 2 comeback victory against the Padres. This gives Franco the spot in the record book that had belonged to Philadelphia Athletics pitcher Jack Quinn, who was 46 years, 357 days old when he homered on June 27, 1930. Franco already was the oldest player to hit a grand slam and a pinch-hit homer, and to have a multi-homer game. He also has four career pinch-hit homers. Kazuo Matsui hits another notable homer for the Mets early in the game. His inside-the-park home run leading off the 3rd inning makes this the third consecutive year he’s homered in his first at-bat of the season. The last player to do that was Ken Griffey, Jr.from 1997 to 1999, while with Seattle.
Rickey Henderson is back in the major leagues, this time as an instructor for the New York Mets.
The Marlins cut their payroll when the team sends last season’s premiere free agent Carlos Delgado (.301, 33, 115) and $7 million to the Mets for Mike Jacobs (10 homers in 100 at-bats), minor league infielder Grant Psomas and Yusmeiro Petit, a highly touted pitching prospect. In January, the free-agent first baseman left Toronto after 12 years of service to sign a four-year deal worth a reported $52 million to play for Florida.
2005 – The New York Mets establish a club record for most home runs hit in a game with seven. At Citizens Bank Park, the Mets go deep with Jose Reyes (2), Victor Diaz (2) David Wright (grand slam), Mike Piazza and Doug Mientkiewicz connecting as they rout the Phillies, 16 – 4.
The New York Mets announce their former All-Star and Rookie of the Year Darryl Strawberry will rejoin the team as a special outfield instructor during spring training. Strawberry will also join former 1986 World Champion teammates Gary Carter, Lenny Dykstra, Howard Johnson and Tim Teufel at Shea Stadium on February 27 when single-game tickets go on sale.
2005 – The New York Mets sign Carlos Beltran to play center field for the next seven years.
On October 3, 2004 – The final game in Montreal Expos team history is played away from home, against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium. New York defeats Montreal, 8 – 1. Jamey Carroll scores the final Expos run and Endy Chavez becomes the final Expos batter when he grounds out in the top…
At Dodger Stadium, Mike Piazza ties Carlton Fisk for the most career homers by a catcher as he hits Hideo Nomo’s sixth-inning pitch into the stands for his 351st round-tripper as a backstop. The homer, which was his 362nd overall, moves the Mets’ star past Yankees’ Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio on the all-time list.
Major League baseball returns to Brooklyn for a day when the Mets appear at KeySpan Park, the Coney Island home of the short-season single-A Cyclones, for the team’s final preseason workout. Although the practice session is rained out, fans enjoy meeting the players and collecting autographs, with the profits made from beverage and other sales being donated charities in the NYC area serving children.
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