Remembering Mets History (1962) New York City Honors Expansion Mets With Ticker Tape Parade

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Thursday April 12th, 1962: On this drizzly cool day in New York City, the expansion New York Metropolitan baseball club was given a ticker tape parade. The Mets had just played their first game ever, the day before in Pittsburgh. The day before their home opener in New York's Polo Grounds, the City welcomed the Mets to town.

An approximate 40,000 or so people attended the festivities in lower Manhattan. The players, manager Casey Stengel & team coaches wore their new Mets home uniforms, driving down Broadway in open convertibles. 

 The broadcasters & other team associates were also in the parade. The Mets threw out plastic baseballs sponsored by Rheingold beer, to the crowd. 

 New York City Mayor Robert Wagner, introduced Casey Stengel & the infant team as "New York's own".
 Casey did player introductions & made a speech in Stengelese. After the parade the Mets went uptown to have a work out in the Polo Grounds. The rain delayed that practice & the next days home opener. "Lets Go Mets" began...……….

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