It’s Amazin’ Mets Night this Sunday, August 9th, at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater as the Somerset Patriots take on the Sugarland Skeeters. 1969 World Series Champs Art Shamsky, Ed Kranepool and Ed Charles are scheduled to appear at the ballpark and there will be a team autograph session with the Somerset Patriots from 4-4:25 p.m. prior to the 5:05 p.m. first pitch.
Sunday is the day of football’s “big game,” but I know some of you are like me and can’t wait for baseball season to return.
And if you happen to be in the area of Lebanon, New Jersey on Feb. 1, you’ll have to chance to meet and get autographs from a 1969 Met as well as the man who threw the first official pitch at Shea Stadium.
RC Collectibles, 1060 Route 22 West, will be hosting a sports cards and collectibles show and auction from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Former Mets Ed Charles and Jack Fisher will be signing autographs for $25 each, with a combo ticket available for $40. Photo ops with either former player are $10 each, and there is a special “golden ticket” option which includes autographs from and photos with both Charles and Fisher for $50.
If you’re still looking for a piece of the Mets’ old home ballpark, Shea Stadium Memorabilia will one of the vendors at the show.
Check RC Collectibles’ website for the most up-to-date information before you go.
I’m not planning to attend this event – if you do, please let me know how it goes!
The second annual Queens Baseball Convention at McFadden’s Citi Field is coming up this Saturday, and for the second year I’m going to have to miss it. (The day I was going to purchase my ticket, I found out I was going to have to work on Saturday… maybe I’ll get to go in 2016.)
Three former Mets players with World Series rings will be the headline guests of the convention – Mookie Wilson, Wally Backman and Ed Charles. Current Mets radio broadcaster Josh Lewin and New York’s best baseball mascot, Mr. Met, will also be there.
Backman and Wilson will both be signing autographs for fans (free of charge with paid admission) and participating in panel discussions, while Charles is attending to accept the Gil Hodges Unforgettable Fire Award. Filmmaker Heather Quinlan will discuss the making of 86 Mets: The Movie, a film about baseball’s most beloved and hated team. There will be a presentation about legendary Mets broadcaster Lindsay Nelson, a Q&A panel with ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin, and a “State of the Mets” round table with bloggers and professional media members.
The full panel schedule includes many other events. Tickets to the Queens Baseball Convention are $35 and are still available.
If you’re going, please let me know what you think is the best part.
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Some more baseball cards from Ritchie:
I love these posed photos taken during batting practice. (Though I guess if I grew up in the 60s and 70s, maybe I’d prefer the action shots that dominate the baseball card sets now…)
Happy New Year!
To start things off in 2009, I’ve got an autograph from another member of the 1969 Miracle Mets.
Ed Charles was originally signed by the Boston Braves in 1952. Since he was stuck behind future Hall-of-Famer Eddie Matthews, he remained in the minor leagues for eight seasons until the Braves traded him to the Kansas City Athletics in 1961.
At the age of 29, Charles made his big league debut in 1962. After five solid seasons with the A’s, Charles was traded to the Mets. Although he was only a Met for three seasons, “The Glider” is still fondly remembered by New York fans.
Continue reading “Autograph of the Day: 1968 Topps Ed Charles”
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