DECEMBER 2, 1941
Giants’ skipper Bill Terry is named as the team’s new general manager. Mel Ott, a future Hall of Famer, will serve as New York’s player/manager for the next seven years, but the club will never finish above third place. (Nationalpastime.com)
The Mets did more than retire a famous baseball number Saturday afternoon, stunning a nostalgia-nourished crowd at Citi Field when it was revealed that Willie Mays’ No. 24 would formally be retired. The team honored its recent vow to recognize its rich franchise history on the day it celebrated the return of Old Timers’ Day. And did so note-perfectly.
Yes, 24 was Willie Mays’ number, and no athlete in American sports history is more closely identified with that digit than the “Say Hey Kid.” But it was also an essential piece of the heart of a woman named Joan Whitney Payson, a New York Giants fan to her core and a member of the team’s board, the lone “no” vote when the time came to decide on whether the team should move to San Francisco.
A few years later, Payson became the Mets’ charter owner, a fixture in her field box, the first woman to ever own a ballclub. And though she lived and died with her Mets, Willie Mays remained her favorite. It was her dream that Willie finish his career in New York. And in May 1972, when it became clear the Giants would make Mays available, she pounced.
Mays himself, comfortable in San Francisco, was unsure about moving East, knowing he was no longer the breathtaking force of nature who’d once roamed center field at Coogan’s Bluff. But Joan Payson made him a promise.
“Willie,” she said, according to team lore, “you’ll be the last Met to ever wear No. 24.”
That was good enough for him. Famously, he hit a home run in his very first game as a Met — against the Giants, of all teams, on May 14, 1972. He was 41 by then, no longer a kid, but it didn’t matter. Mets fans were delighted to have him back home. He hit the final 14 of his 660 lifetime homers as a Met.
But Payson died not long after Mays retired in 1973. Twenty-four disappeared for a while, but Payson’s wish was never granted. Someone named Kelvin Torve was somehow issued the number in 1990. The backlash was immediate, and Torve was soon wearing 39. Rickey Henderson and Robinson Cano were given special dispensations when they became Mets.
The number was in repose, but not retired. Not until Saturday.
History has often been cruel to Mays’ final days as a Met. Any aging ballplayer, any sport, the simile is always the same: Willie-Mays-falling-down-in-the-outfield. It is also a grossly unfair stigma. Yes, Mays lost a ball in the sun in Game 2 of the 1973 World Series. But so did Oakland’s Joe Rudi (who was 27) and Reggie Jackson (also 27).
The Mets were only in the World Series because Mays drove in a key run in decisive Game 5 of the NLCS. And in that wild Game 2 in Oakland? Mays’ two-out single in the 12th inning broke a 6-6 tie in a game the Mets would win 10-7.
But 24, in truth, isn’t being taken out of circulation for Mays’ 491 plate appearances with the Mets. It will hang forever next to 14, 17, 31, 36, 37, 41 and 42 because of what he meant to baseball New York, especially when he was young and he’d play stickball with the neighborhood kids in Harlem in his civvies after grinding nine innings in his uniform. It’s why Joan Whitney Payson fell in baseball love with him. And she wasn’t alone.
It will honor the .312/.387/.593 slash line he had a New York Giant; toast the .345/41 HR/110 RBIs he accumulated when he won his first MVP, at 23, in 1954; exalt the greatest defensive play of them all, the one he made that fall, in the World Series against Cleveland, running down Vic Wertz’s fly ball in the deepest pocket of the Polo Grounds.
Mostly, it will be a permanent reminder that the Mets were, indeed, descended from two baseball fathers. Past ownership was unabashed about the team’s ties to the Dodgers, but the Mets’ colors are orange in addition to blue. Perhaps Mays’ best days came in a uniform other than the Mets, but so did Jackie Robinson’s. And now 24 and 42 will be tied to New York’s National League team forever. As they should be.
Forty-nine years ago next month, a tired Mays walked to a microphone at old Shea Stadium and told a weepy crowd, “Willie, say goodbye to America.” But a part of New York’s baseball soul never truly said goodbye to him. And now it never will. -Mike Puma
Jaime Rupert has created this brand-new website as she attempts to get her grandfather Horace Stoneham inducted into the Hall of Fame. Stoneham is a polarizing figure to many of our members. Many feel he has been overlooked while others feel he doesn’t deserve the honor. When brought up in the past, it caused many mixed emotions with some of you. The website is very well done (a few errors will be updated) with many wonderful things on the site which might sway you or it won’t. The Willie Mays and Hall of Fame Giants (McCovey, Perry, & Cepeda) (Juan Marichal wasn’t available at the time), video comments are hard to ignore as are the testimonials written by Cepeda, Monte Irvin’s daughter, and Felipe Alou. She reminds us that the link (website) can only be viewed on your computer and not your phone.
www.horaceinthehall.com
Brand new book about the longest winning streak in MLB history, held by the 1916 New York Giants:
In September, 1916, the New York Giants caught fire and made baseball history. It’s a tale complete with Hall of Famers, has-beens, and never-weres. It includes players who are remembered for something completely different or are now forgotten because baseball has re-written them out of the record books. The forces that would help tear baseball apart and then bring it back together after the Black Sox Scandal are all here, bubbling under the surface as the Giants continue to win game after game. The streak has never been fully looked at or understood until now.
A new book by Jeff Wagner. Here is the Amazon synopsis: Honus Wagner, Duke Snider, Warren Spahn, Johnnie Mize, Frank Frisch, Willie Keeler, Steve Carlton, Randy Johnson. Some of the greatest players to ever play major league baseball. All Hall-of-Famers. But did you know they each have one other thing in common? They all played baseball for the New York/San Francisco Giants franchise at some point in their career! Whether at the beginning, end, or somewhere in between, they all wore the black and orange at some point, and will always be considered members of the Giants family.
They Played Baseball for the Giants? Explores these and over 25 other players that you may have forgotten or didn’t know donned a Giants uniform, including 15 MLB Hall-of-Famers, two NFL Hall-of-Famers, an Olympic champion, and a character from the movie Field of Dreams. So, whether their tenure lasted several years or several months, explore the fascinating stories surrounding how these players became a New York or San Francisco Giant, and what they did while they were one.
The Giants player development coach, who played with the team in the 1950s and 1960s, is retiring days before his 87th birthday.
By Brady Klopfer
On Saturday it was revealed that Joey Amalfitano, who held a player development role with the San Francisco Giants, was retiring.
According to current 3b Coach Ron Wotus:
The greatest 3B coach of all time just retired yesterday. Joe Amalfitano, a treasure in baseball. Wow, what a tremendous career you have had. The Giants will miss you!! I will miss you! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and for your tutelage! It will always be with me.
Amalfitano, who will turn 87 later this month, had one hell of a journey in baseball. It included three stints as a player with the Giants, including one while the team was still in New York. According to John Shea, Amalfitano was in a Giants jersey at the Polo Grounds when Willie Mays made perhaps the most iconic catch in baseball history.
He managed the Chicago Cubs, and worked as a coach for five different teams, including four seasons in the 1970s with the Giants. And in the latter stages of his career, he turned to consulting and developing.
What an impressive career. 67 years in the big leagues … enjoy retirement!
Due to the COVID 19 Pandemic, The New York Giants Preservation Society has been having virtual meetings for the past few months. Generally we have in the past, had guest speakers 3-4 times a year, first at The Bergino Baseball Clubhouse, then at Finnerty’s. Since this for the time being is impossible, we have done the next best thing. Here is our illustrious group of speakers to date, with more to come!!
Noel Hynd-7/22/2020
Jaime Rupert-8/19/2020
Dan Taylor-9/2/2020
Ed Logan Jr.-9/9/2020
Chris Haft-9/23/20
Steve Treder-10/1/2020
Jon Miller-10/8/2020
Rob Garratt-10/15/2020
John Shea-10/22/2020
Bruce Jenkins-10/29/2020
Stew Thornley-11/5/2020
John Rosengren-11/12/2020
George Gregor-11/19/2020
If you would like to get in on our sessions, just contact me here!
THE 2ND NYGPS MEETING OF 2020 WITH STEW THORNLEY
The 2nd NYGPS Meeting of 2020 will take place on Thursday, January 23rd, at 5:30PM, at Finnerty’s. Famed Polo Grounds historian and author Stew Thornley will be our guest speaker. Stew will be talking about his lasts book on the PG’s, The Polo Grounds: Essays and Memories of New York City’s Historic Ballpark, 1880-1963. He previously authored Land of the Giants: New York’s Polo Grounds. This looks to be a great event. Here are the synopsis’ on both books.
Please bring copies of the books and Stew will gladly autograph them for you if you wish.
Please RSVP me ASAP if you plan on attending. The meeting is only 2 weeks away! Be well, Gary
In addition, Finnerty’s gives us the use of its backroom for the event. For your enjoyment, libations will be available at the Happy Hour rate until 8PM. Drinks specials are:
$5 draft beers
$6 mixed well cocktails
$7 glasses of wine
Please RSVP ASAP to me. All the best, Gary
The New York Giants Preservation Society’s first meeting in quite some time will take place at Finnerty’s on Tuesday, November 19th, at 6PM. Our guest speaker will be the renaissance man himself, Morris (Moe) Resner. Resner, an original NYGPS member, will be discussing a new film produced and directed by Janko Radosavljevic, entitled: Moe Resner 1957 Baseball. The movie will show Resner’s passion for the fabled Polo Grounds. Mo will be discussing his times at the Polo Grounds including the last game the NY Giants ever played at the famed ball park on September 29, 1957. Resner recently took the same subway to the PG location, and climbed down the Brush Stairway accompanied by Radosavljevic, as if the clock had been turned back over 60 years ago. The banter between them could only be imagined as Resner has the gift of gab!! The short film will soon be available on Amazon. Resner will also speak about The End of an Era, which depicts the final game the NY Giants played in NYC. Resner, a very young man was able to film the game, basically on the field. The video resides in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown NY. Resner will be making both videos available for purchase.The night will be one to remember for sure!!
In addition, Finnerty’s gives us the use of its backroom for the event. For your enjoyment, libations will be available at the Happy Hour rate until 8PM. Drinks specials are:
$5 draft beers
$6 mixed well cocktails
$7 glasses of wine
Please RSVP ASAP to me. All the best, Gary
THE NEW YORK GIANTS PRESERVATION SOCIETY SALUTES MONTE IRVIN ON HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY
by Bruce Slutsky
The New York Giants Preservation Society met last night at Finnerty’s to celebrate the 100th birthday of Monte Irvin who played for the New York Giants from 1949-1955 and who was one of the first African American baseball players in Major League Baseball. You can see from Baseball-Reference that he did not come to the Giants until he was 30 years old, but played in the Negro Leagues before that.
Gary Brown and John Barr, who actually met Monte Irvin, spoke to the audience and said only glowing things about him. Audience members were invited to contribute to the discussion as well. A great time was had by all!