In the 1950s, New York lost both the Giants and the Dodgers, and rumor had it that the teams left, in part, because they wanted a new stadium. This left New York with only one baseball team remaining. By 1960, the owners of the National League were ready to award new franchise baseball teams to New York, one of the requirements being the construction of a new stadium.

True to their word, on October 28, 1961, New York City broke ground on a new facility that would host future Major League Baseball games. Originally named Flushing Meadow Park, the facility was later named Shea Stadium and is now the home of the New York Mets. Its name change was inspired by William A. Shea, an attorney who was instrumental in efforts to bring National League baseball back to New York. When construction was complete, the stadium had cost $25 million and was set to open its doors on April 17, 1964. In front of a crowd of more than 48,000, the New York Mets suffered a 4-3 loss at the hands of the pirates

Over the years, there have been few aesthetic changes to Shea Stadium. New seats were installed simply because the old ones needed replacing, but otherwise the facility is much the same as it appeared on opening day more than four decades ago. Technological advances made modern scoreboards and luxury suites possible, along with the New York Mets Magic Top Hat attraction, which is designed to honor the home runs of one of the New York Mets players. In celebration of each home run, viewers will see a large red apple pop out of the hat.

The New York Mets and Shea Stadium have witnessed a number of great moments over the years, including the stadium’s first home run, which was hit by Willie Stargell in 1964. That same year, Jim Bunning pitched the only game perfect that has ever been released in Shea. Stadium history. Also, fans watched in 1984 when Dwight Gooden set a major league rookie record with 276 strikeouts. Another memorable moment, occurring in 1996, was seen when Todd Hundley defeated Roy Campanella’s 43-year-old Major League record, which honored the most home runs by a catcher in a single season.

To this day, discussions of the New York Mets’ home renovation often resurface. Although rich in history and charm, thoughts have been expressed of replacing Shea Stadium to build a new home for the New York Mets. At this point, nothing has been decided and fans will continue to enjoy the facility they have known for over 40 years.

Collectors wishing to request an autograph from any of the players on the New York Mets roster should send their letter and a SASE (stamped, self-addressed envelope) to:

Player’s name

c/o New York Mets

shea stadium

123-01 Roosevelt Avenue

Flushing, New York 11368

Fans requesting an autograph should limit their request to two items per letter. Popular items that get signed include photos, index or trading cards, baseballs, etc. Patience is key when soliciting autographs by mail, but the best time to contact an athlete is often in the off-season.