Remembering Mets History (2022) Mets Old Timers Day & Willie's #24 Retired

The Mets 2022 Old Timers Day was an absolute amazing sucess. It was the first Mets old Timers Day since 1994. For this historical Mets blog, it certainly was an important day. It was even more special when the Mets surprised everyone by honoring & retiring Willie Mays #24. 

I have always been a strong advocate of the Mets' honoring Mays. The old ownership, who ruined the Mets organization & never respected the past Mets history, had also ignored the importance of Willie Mays to the Mets. 

A special thanks to Steve Cohen who has put a winning product on the field & has been honoring
Mets history by retiring numbers of Jerry Koosman, Keith Hernandez & now Willie Mays. Also, for bringing back 65 former Mets for an Old Timers Day celebrating 60 years of Mets baseball.

All Mets at the ceremony can be found on this blog at some point in time, please search to find your favorites or who you are most curious about. It was great to see all these great players & managers as well as family members of Mets who are no more. On the other hand, it was sad to realize those who are no longer with us or those who could not attend. I will not comment on all events of the Old Timers Day but will focus on the retirement of #24!

As a kid & ultimate diehard fan in the early seventies, the 1973 Mets Pennant team holds a special place in my heart. When Willie Mays came to the Mets, it didn't matter how old he was, certainly to a kid- it didn't matter, he was a Mets player. 

In 1973 his leadership presence help motivate the "You Gotta Believe" team to the World Series. His role to that team, that era & Mets history is of the utmost importance. It should never have been forgotten & pushed aside especially for fifty years, as generations of Mets fans did know what Willie was to their team's history.

Below is a video of the Old Timers Day ceremony & game.