On This Date in Sports April 17, 1964: Shea Hello
In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com
The New York Mets play their first game at Shea Stadium, hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates. Jack Fisher gets the start for the Mets against Bob Friend, as Willie Stargell hits the first home run as workers are still putting the finishing touches hours before the first pitch. The Pirates would win the game 4-3 before a crowd of 50,312 fans.
Shea Stadium built in Flushing Meadows Park in the borough of Queens at a cost a $28.5 million. The stadium had originally been proposed as the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers who protested and moved to Los Angeles taking the New York Giants to San Francisco. This left New York without a National League team and eventually led to the expansion era. Pushing for a team was William A. Shea, who announced plans to create a third major league called the Centennial League in 1959. This move forced owners in the American and National League to expand for the first time in 60 years, opening the door for the creation of the New York Mets in 1962. Because of this action, the stadium would carry Shea’s name.
Ground was broken for Shea Stadium on October 28, 1961. The plan was for it to open in 1963 and provide a home for both the Mets and the New York Titans of the upstart AFL. Due to its proximity of LaGuardia Airport, the Titans would change their name to the New York Jets. The stadium was originally planned to open in 1962. However, a harsh winter and labor issues caused the stadium’s opening to be delayed a year, keeping the Mets playing their games at the Polo Grounds in 1963. Even as opening day was hours away, workers were finishing the stadium as some fans went home with paint on their clothes from sitting in seats that were painted just hours before the first pitch.
Guy Lombardo and his band were on the field for some pregame entertainment, giving way for Casey Stengel to take over conducting the orchestra as this was a day for Casey Stengel and all those behind the early days of the Mets to be proud. While the team found itself in a familiar position after opening the season with two losses to the Philadelphia Phillies before coming home, a new stadium was a sign the club was coming of age. Jack Fisher got the start for the Mets and retired the Pirates in order Dick Schofield grounded out to Larry Burright at second base to open the game. Bob Friend got the start for Danny Murtaugh’s Pirates that Friday afternoon blessed with sunshine. Tim Harkness the Mets leadoff hitter grounded to Schofield at short to open the bottom of the first as the Mets also went down in order, with Roberto Clemente striking out to end the inning.
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In the second inning, Willie Stargell led off and got the first, hit, run, home run, and RBI with one long swing of the bat. Don Clendenon who someday in the future would make his own history at Shea followed with a pop up to first. Bob Bailey came up next and singled, but Pittsburgh added no more as Fisher set down the next two hitters with ease. In the bottom of the second, Jim Hickman became the Mets first base runner, reaching on a two-out walk. Bill Virdon and Roberto Clemente each recorded base hits in the third, but the Pirates were unable to add another run, while Harkness singled with two outs for the Mets first hit in the bottom of the inning.
The Mets would finally get on the scoreboard in the fourth as Ron Hunt led the inning off with a double and scored on a single by Jesse Gonder. The Mets would proceed to load the bases as Frank Thomas singled and Jim Hickman was hit by a pitch. Armando Samuel would make Pittsburgh pay with a two-run double. From there Bob Friend fielded two straight grounders himself as the Mets did not score again. The Pirates cut the Mets lead to 3-2 right away as Stargell doubled home Roberto Clemente who delivered a two-out single.
The Mets would hold a 3-2 lead into the seventh inning when Ed Bauta replaced a tiring Jack Fisher after Clemente started another two-out rally with his third hit of the game. Stargell followed with a single, as Donn Clendenon greeted the Mets reliever with a game-tying single to left. After Bailey walked, Baura escaped further damage by getting a groundout from Mazeroski. The game remained tied until the ninth inning, as Bob Friend allowed just two hits after the fourth inning. After a groundout by Clemente, Stargell got his fourth hit of the game. Clendenon followed with a single to put Stargell on third with the go-ahead run. Bailey would hit a liner to Ron Hunt at third, failing to advance the runners for the second out. However, Bill Mazeroski came through with two away singling home Willie Stargell to give the Pirates a 4-3 lead. Friend looking to close out the complete game struck out John Stephenson and pinch hitter Hawk Taylor, before getting Tim Harkness to roll out to Mazeroski to end the game.
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The 4-3 season-opening loss did not dampen spirits, as the Mets were not expected to win in those days, posting a record of 53-109 that season, while going 33-48 at Shea Stadium. It was a summer to remember in Flushing, as the opening of Shea Stadium coincided with the World’s Fair going on a hop away. That summer would see Jim Bunning throw a perfect game for the Phillies on Father’s Day, while the National League won the All-Star Game 7-4 on a walk-off Home Run by Johnny Callison.