The national pastime will be on fine display tonight with the All-Star Game at the Mets’ home park, Citi Field.
While the Big Apple hosted the Midsummer Classic just five years ago in the old Yankee Stadium, the Mets haven’t had an All-Star Game in 49 years. That’s the longest drought for any baseball team.
It’s a shame, too, given that the 1964 All-Star game at the then-new Shea Stadium was one of the most exciting. The National League won with a ninth-inning rally: Willie Mays walked and stole second. Orlando Cepeda drove him in with a bloop to right field. After another walk, Johnny Callison hit a game-winning two-out, three-run homer.
We hope this year’s game at Citi Field lives up to its 1964 predecessor at Shea. Even in the midst of a disappointing season, the hometown crowd has something to cheer: Mets ace Matt Harvey will become just the 11th pitcher of a host team to start an All-Star game. At 24 he’s the youngest All-Star starter since — yep — the Mets’ Dwight Gooden, who was 23 when he started in 1988.
Meanwhile, Yankee fans get to bid farewell to Mariano Rivera in his 13th and final All-Star Game.
There you have it. An up-and-coming star and a departing great get to display their skills and love for their sport — under the lights of the greatest city in the world.
Play ball!