My friends sent me a pair of mementos tangentially related to Mets games of the semi-recent past.
It’s hard to believe, but it was four years ago last month that Citi Field opened. I couldn’t make it to the first exhibition game against the Boston Red Sox, and I didn’t think the Opening Day ticket prices were worth it so I didn’t get to see a lot of the ballpark’s “firsts.”
But I did get to see Jed Lowrie, then of the Boston Red Sox, hit the first grand slam at Citi Field at the Mets’ second exhibition game against the Red Sox. I thought my friend Bart would at least appreciate this photo of Lowrie crossing the plate afterwards, so I had it printed and gave it to him. He sent copies of it to Lowrie a few times, and one that he’d given up for lost made its way back to him so he gave me the duplicate.
My friend Greg also passed along a program from the Miami Marlins series with the Mets last week at Marlins Park. (It was from the one game they came back to win.)
I’m thankful for the interesting, unexpected additions to my collection.
PaulHadsall.com 
Very cool!
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Without having the boxscore at hand, I believe Mets relievers that day include Darren O’Day, who the Mets gave up on; he since appeared in the World Series w/ Texas as a useful setup man. I also believe LHP Mike Antonini pitched in a NYM uniform that day; he is now in the Atlantic League (Patriots or Riversharks, not sure which).
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Without digging up my scorecard, I can’t confirm or deny O’Day. (Omar Minaya’s poor roster management strikes again.) Mike Antonini did get into the game – he signed a photo that I took that day when I saw him again later in the season with the Binghamton Mets.
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