Depending on one’s age you may be more familiar with the baseball broadcaster/analyst than the total ballplayer many of us “experienced” after Keith Hernandez joined the New York Mets June 15, 1983. It was electric inside and outside Citi Field yesterday (July 9, 2022). The Mets emailed ticketholders to arrive early; my Mets Group Sales rep Aaron Ryley also sent a similar message. We (Shelly and Marisa of course and friends Linda and Anthony Lemma) arrived as planned around 2:00 p.m. and observed very long lines as ticketholders lined up early to get the Keith bobblehead (even got an extra for Friday’s blogger).

We were able to park very close to the Jackie Robinson Rotunda and Marisa got on line; unlike the days of the previous owners when I recall frequent delays getting through the entry gates, especially on Opening Day, the line moved quickly and we reached our seats well before the 3:30 p.m. scheduled start of the Number 17 Retirement Ceremony.

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We enjoyed the game that followed and the result too!