Showing posts with label 1986 World Series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1986 World Series. Show all posts
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Lenny Dykstra settles in at Strawberry's restaurant
Saturday, October 22, 2011
New York Mets celebrate the 25th anniversary of World Series victory at Strawberry's Sports Grill
Fans paid upwards of $500 to mingle with the entire team at this private event and enjoy a wonderful open bar and seemingly endless buffet of food served by Strawberry’s staff. Darryl Strawberry himself was the consummate host, posing for photos and signing autographs at every turn of the corner, while catching up with teammates who came from far and wide for the reunion.
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| Rafael Santana (r.) toasts the Mets 1986 victory / N. Diunte |
“I was just a baby,” said Elster. “I love coming back here. It’s great to be around all of the guys. You couldn’t pick a better group.”
The list of those in attendance ranged from the stars such as Strawberry and Keith Hernandez, to lesser known members like John Gibbons and Bruce Berenyi, both who played in 1986, but didn’t make the World Series roster. On this evening, these designations didn’t matter; the Mets alumni were just ecstatic to be in each other’s company.
“I always look forward to any chance I can get to see all the guys again," Berenyi said. "I don’t get to see hardly anybody anymore. I’m not involved in baseball so it’s kind of tough. Not being part of the actual series is kind of a mixed emotion thing for me, but everyone always makes me feel like I was a big part of it.”
Game Six of the 1986 World Series played on the big screen televisions at the restaurant and many, including the players, watched and cheered like it was unfolding before their eyes. One could hear a player's name beckoned any time they were at the plate or made a play in the field. Most whose names were called stopped their mingling to fixate themselves on the TV screens when they had the spotlight.
“I never watched myself playing in this actual game until right now,” said Elster as he watched his at-bat against Roger Clemens in the seventh inning. “I don’t remember the details, but I remember that I flew out.”
Right on cue, Elster lofted a fly ball to Dave Henderson that ended the inning, to which Elster remarked, “I battled pretty good, didn’t I?”
As both the game and the party went to the later innings, everyone in attendance cheered whenever a Met got a hit or scored a run. Kevin Mitchell was seen with a wide grin when he scored on Bob Stanley’s wild pitch. The cheering grew louder with each pitch that Mookie Wilson fouled off until he bounced one to first base that slipped under the glove of Bill Buckner. As Ray Knight came around to score, Jesse Orosco high fived Rick Aguilera to congratulate him on his win.
For a small fraction of time, one had the feeling that they were in the clubhouse with the Mets as they tasted the spoils of victory. A celebratory toast was in order and everyone raised their glasses to the Mets. Once again, the Mets triumph reigned supreme in Queens.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Barry Lyons shares how B.A.T. sheltered him from Hurricane Katrina's destruction
Barry Lyons knows a thing or two about survival after seeing his home and personal possessions washed away by Hurricane Katrina. Lyons lost his home and his 1986 World Series ring when Katrina tore through his backyard. He has bounced back from the devastation that he faced becoming the athletics coordinator at the newly minted Ray and Joan Kroc Center in his hometown of Biloxi, Miss. Lyons’ road to recovery wasn’t done alone, as the baseball community stepped in to give him much needed support in the wake of Katrina’s path of destruction.
The 51-year-old former New York Mets catcher was in Queens this past weekend as part of Darryl Strawberry’s Community Day in Douglaston, which benefited Strawberry’s Autism Foundation as well as local youth groups. Lyons shared how the Baseball Assistance Team (B.A.T.) rushed to his aid after Katrina turned his world upside down.
“The Baseball Assistance Team has been very helpful to many people over the years and it is a great organization for a great cause," Lyons said. "I was involved in the B.A.T. dinner in years previous to the Hurricane Katrina situation that I went through. When I suffered what I suffered, David Cone and Andrew Levy, two of my friends, contacted B.A.T. and [former president] Jim Martin. He was the one that contacted me and helped me right away, immediately for about a year after the hurricane. It really helped me out tremendously.”
The support that B.A.T. was able to provide Lyons so quickly after the impact of Katrina helped to stabilize a life-altering tragedy.
“It was awesome," he said. "I was really devastated and my family was devastated. It was tough on all of us down there that suffered the losses that we [experienced]. It’s very heartwarming and comforting to know that B.A.T. was there for me and in my corner [to] help support me through the toughest part of that time which was the first few months after [it happened].”
For those less familiar with B.A.T., Lyons explained that anyone in the baseball family (players, coaches, trainers, office staff, etc.) is eligible for help when tragedy strikes.
“They support helping people involved in baseball, not just players, but families of players," he said. “Anyone that really falls on hard times that has a connection to baseball will be helped through B.A.T. if they just go through the proper channels. B.A.T. is a well organized, wonderful organization that does tremendous things for a lot of people.”
Lyons returns to New York every winter for the annual B.A.T. dinner, which is a major fundraiser for their efforts. He feels his appearance is the least that he can do to help the organization that stepped in for him when Mother Nature turned his world upside down.
“Every year, I come back to the B.A.T. dinner and do what I can to help out and raise money so that B.A.T. can help others that fall on hard times,” he said.
For more information on the Baseball Assistance Team, visit their website - www.baseballassistanceteam.com
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| Barry Lyons / N. Diunte |
“The Baseball Assistance Team has been very helpful to many people over the years and it is a great organization for a great cause," Lyons said. "I was involved in the B.A.T. dinner in years previous to the Hurricane Katrina situation that I went through. When I suffered what I suffered, David Cone and Andrew Levy, two of my friends, contacted B.A.T. and [former president] Jim Martin. He was the one that contacted me and helped me right away, immediately for about a year after the hurricane. It really helped me out tremendously.”
The support that B.A.T. was able to provide Lyons so quickly after the impact of Katrina helped to stabilize a life-altering tragedy.
“It was awesome," he said. "I was really devastated and my family was devastated. It was tough on all of us down there that suffered the losses that we [experienced]. It’s very heartwarming and comforting to know that B.A.T. was there for me and in my corner [to] help support me through the toughest part of that time which was the first few months after [it happened].”
For those less familiar with B.A.T., Lyons explained that anyone in the baseball family (players, coaches, trainers, office staff, etc.) is eligible for help when tragedy strikes.
“They support helping people involved in baseball, not just players, but families of players," he said. “Anyone that really falls on hard times that has a connection to baseball will be helped through B.A.T. if they just go through the proper channels. B.A.T. is a well organized, wonderful organization that does tremendous things for a lot of people.”
Lyons returns to New York every winter for the annual B.A.T. dinner, which is a major fundraiser for their efforts. He feels his appearance is the least that he can do to help the organization that stepped in for him when Mother Nature turned his world upside down.
“Every year, I come back to the B.A.T. dinner and do what I can to help out and raise money so that B.A.T. can help others that fall on hard times,” he said.
For more information on the Baseball Assistance Team, visit their website - www.baseballassistanceteam.com
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Kevin Mitchell returns to his baseball roots at Douglaston Community Day
The image of Kevin Mitchell ripping a single to center field following Gary Carter in the tenth inning of Game Six of the 1986 World Series is as bright for Mets fans as the sun shining off of his gold teeth while he joyfully signed autographs and posed for pictures with seemingly everyone in the enclave of Douglaston, N.Y. earlier this Saturday.
Mitchell was on hand to lend support to the Douglaston Community Day, which was a fundraiser to benefit Darryl Strawberry’s Foundation, which benefits autism research, as well the local little league and other community groups.
During a break from his autograph session in front of Strawberry’s Sports Grill, Mitchell discussed his excitement about being a participant in the day’s events.
“It’s always a good thing when you can come back especially for a charitable event, doing something for one of your old teammates, Darryl Strawberry,” said Mitchell, who slugged 47 home runs en route to winning 1989 National League Most Valuable Player award. "It’s an honor that I am here and that there are still fans that want autographs from us. It’s been a decade [since I last played], you know, but I feel good about it.”
Mitchell was signed by the Mets in 1980 after being seen playing softball in the rough section of San Diego. He made his debut in 1984 and played a valuable utility role for the 1986 World Championship team. He was traded after the 1986 season to the San Diego Padres for outfielder Kevin McReynolds. Even though he only spent one full season with the Mets [1986], Mitchell had great memories of playing in the Big Apple.
“My [most] memorable thing is just New York period,” he said. "The fans here are great. This is where I first got drafted by the Mets. I was able to come and play with New York. Once I got traded from New York, I was able to play anywhere. By coming here as a rookie, everything else was a piece of cake because of the fans. If you ain’t out there giving it 100%, they’re going to let you know.”
As for now, Mitchell is working with children in San Diego, sharing some of the knowledge he learned after 13 seasons in the majors.
“I’m coaching travel baseball, I’ve got my own travel team called the Gorillas. I’ve got 8-16 [year olds]. The kids that won the Little League World Series, Parkview, those were my kids. They’re high school kids [now], but I’m still working with them.”
Speaking with conviction, Mitchell remains enthused to help the next generation succeed.
“That’s my passion. I love working with the kids. I could have a job working somewhere in the big leagues, but this is my passion. I want to see the kids progress and keep going,” said Mitchell.
He is trying to get them to avoid some of the pitfalls that derailed his potential Hall of Fame career.
“I try to teach them about education, alcohol - the main things they have to survive with. You can do it without doing all this other stuff to punish your body.”
Mitchell was on hand to lend support to the Douglaston Community Day, which was a fundraiser to benefit Darryl Strawberry’s Foundation, which benefits autism research, as well the local little league and other community groups.
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| Kevin Mitchell / N. Diunte |
“It’s always a good thing when you can come back especially for a charitable event, doing something for one of your old teammates, Darryl Strawberry,” said Mitchell, who slugged 47 home runs en route to winning 1989 National League Most Valuable Player award. "It’s an honor that I am here and that there are still fans that want autographs from us. It’s been a decade [since I last played], you know, but I feel good about it.”
Mitchell was signed by the Mets in 1980 after being seen playing softball in the rough section of San Diego. He made his debut in 1984 and played a valuable utility role for the 1986 World Championship team. He was traded after the 1986 season to the San Diego Padres for outfielder Kevin McReynolds. Even though he only spent one full season with the Mets [1986], Mitchell had great memories of playing in the Big Apple.
“My [most] memorable thing is just New York period,” he said. "The fans here are great. This is where I first got drafted by the Mets. I was able to come and play with New York. Once I got traded from New York, I was able to play anywhere. By coming here as a rookie, everything else was a piece of cake because of the fans. If you ain’t out there giving it 100%, they’re going to let you know.”
As for now, Mitchell is working with children in San Diego, sharing some of the knowledge he learned after 13 seasons in the majors.
“I’m coaching travel baseball, I’ve got my own travel team called the Gorillas. I’ve got 8-16 [year olds]. The kids that won the Little League World Series, Parkview, those were my kids. They’re high school kids [now], but I’m still working with them.”
Speaking with conviction, Mitchell remains enthused to help the next generation succeed.
“That’s my passion. I love working with the kids. I could have a job working somewhere in the big leagues, but this is my passion. I want to see the kids progress and keep going,” said Mitchell.
He is trying to get them to avoid some of the pitfalls that derailed his potential Hall of Fame career.
“I try to teach them about education, alcohol - the main things they have to survive with. You can do it without doing all this other stuff to punish your body.”
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Doc and Straw share their thoughts on the 25th anniversary of the 1986 Mets World Series team
Twenty-five years ago, two of the New York Mets youngest and brightest stars shone brightly atop the pinnacle of baseball’s biggest stage, the 1986 World Series. Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry, both were in their early twenties and had captured the attention of baseball fans not only in New York, but nationwide.
A quarter of a century later, their careers have taken many twists and turns which included multiple run-ins with the law for drug offenses that derailed their once potential Hall of Fame careers. Despite their transgressions, they remain beloved figures in New York sports history.
A quarter of a century later, their careers have taken many twists and turns which included multiple run-ins with the law for drug offenses that derailed their once potential Hall of Fame careers. Despite their transgressions, they remain beloved figures in New York sports history.