The New York Mets were founded in 1962 to replace the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants who departed the National League. In 1969, the Mets defeated the Baltimore Orioles to win their first World Series. They were known as the “Miracle Mets.” In 1973 they lost in game seven of the World Series to the Oakland As. Some 29 years ago, in 1986, the “Amazin Mets” played the Boston Red Sox in the World Series and were victorious in game seven; and then in 2000 they lost to the New York Yankees. That was a brief history of our heroes in orange and blue.
The Mets are taking on the Kansas City Royals in the hopes of bringing the championship back to Queens; but you do not have to be from Queens to be a Mets fan, and you do not have to pay upwards of $500 to see them play. Though, if you wanted to, you could pay more than $1,200 for a lovely box seat. It might even come with a hot dog and a beer.
The Teaneck Doghouse, which was packed with fans during the Mets National League Championship Series run against the Cubs, is looking forward to welcoming back fans for the World Series. According to owner Jonathan Gellis, “We will have several beers on sale and we have two Mets-themed cocktails, The D Murphy (named after Mets first baseman Daniel Murphy) and the Mets Mojito.” Gotham Burger will also be showing the games on their screens in Teaneck and for surprise specials check out their Facebook page. Their Manhattan restaurant will be offering draft beer specials and other specials from the bar, and any person wearing Mets gear will get a 15 percent discount off of their bill if they watch the game there.
Avi Halevi, the manager of the Riverdale K Grillhouse, is also excited for the World Series. “We have a sports bar and a spacious restaurant, both equipped with large screens so patrons can watch the games in comfort while eating and drinking,” he said. Halevi wants his customers to feel that it is their home away from home.
Riverdale’s new Chinese restaurant Kai-Fan also has televisions so people can enjoy their authentic Chinese cuisine while watching the game.
The Zagha family of Teaneck will be going to one of the games at Citi Field, but as for the rest of the Series, Sammy (Mr. Zagha) will be sitting in the exact same position he sat in for the playoffs, wearing the exact same clothes (which go unwashed unless they lose.) He has been a fan his whole life and his wife Alissa joined him as a fan 34 years ago. Their three daughters are also avid Met fans because, according to their father, “they have been raised correctly.”
Zagha is not the only one who has a Mets game ritual. A high school freshman from Riverdale who would only be interviewed on the condition of anonymity, since most of his friends are Yankees fans, will only sit and watch the game in the basement while the Mets are playing and his brother must sit in the kitchen. Ping pong is played between innings. Jack Ganchrow, a sophomore at Yeshiva University, does not have a preference where he watches the game, but he must have his Mets “fandini” to wear when the game is on.
Randi and Arnie Spier of Fair Lawn would love to get tickets to the Series but “we will probably just get together with friends from down the block. With our kids out of the house, we are always texting them during the games as if they were with us.”
Over the bridge in Washington Heights, Alter Gross will be watching the Series at home. “I was born a Mets fan, heavily influenced by my two older brothers and my mom. When I was in eighth grade, I became a lifetime Mets fan after going to the NLCS game six against the Cardinals at Shea Stadium with my Little League coach, who just happened to be my mother.” Gross was fortunate enough to fly to Chicago to see the Mets clinch the National League Pennant and hopes that lightning will strike twice, and he will be able to get tickets again when (and if) the Mets win the World Series.
Let’s not forget Mets fans in Israel. Josh Blumenthal and Rami Levine, both from Teaneck and both studying at Yeshivat Torat Shraga in Israel are feeling very homesick; and it isn’t because they miss their families. According to Levine, “It is pretty annoying and ironic that the one year they made it into the Series is the year I am not in America, but it is still really awesome.” He and four other Mets fans have stayed up and watched every game on a computer until 6 a.m. “We fans are really dedicated,” said Blumenthal.
Other stores have gotten into the Mets Madness. Butterflake was selling orange and blue cakes and cookies with the Mets logo on them. If you happen to walk past The Purple Bow, there is a Mets towel proudly displayed in the window. Sarabeth Fein, the store’s owner, is amazed at how the Mets products have been flying off of the shelves. “We had Fatheads, baby teethers, gloves, decals and hooded towels; all of these things all had to be re-ordered because of the high demand.” Fein, herself, is a huge Mets fan, as is her son-in-law. “My daughter has to leave the house so he can watch the game, and the Mets cufflinks he got as a bar mitzvah present years ago have finally come out of the box because he is now proud to wear them.” Fein, a Forest Hills native, plans on watching the games at the Doghouse with some friends.
As of press time, the Mets lost game one of what is going to be a very exciting series. Though they were defeated, the game itself, which was over five hours long, is now tied for one of the longest World Series Games every played, extending to 14 innings. So whether you watch the game at home, in a restaurant or with friends, cheering on your Mets is always amazing!
By Banji Ganchrow
