Goodbye to Big Shea

You know, Shea Stadium has gotten a raw deal.

Eclipsed by the closing of Yankee Stadium, Shea Stadium's demise has received much less print.
In fact, it has been maligned as many as a "dump" whose passing should not be mourned.

Forget about the memories, World Series championships in '69 and '86, the close calls in '73, '88 and '00. The Beatles, the Jets, the Giants and Dodgers coming to town, Casey and the Amazin's, Ed Kranepool, Banner Day, Jane Jarvis, Bob Murphy, etc.

Fact is Shea Stadium WAS considered a gem architecturally when it first opened in 1964 - a companion to the 1964 World's Fair next door.

I'm not a Met fan (Though I have rooted for individual teams such as the Willie Randolph-managed Mets and the Rusty Staub Mets). But to be fair, there is a history there as well. In its time, it was a very nice ballpark and a place of his history of its own.

I, for one, will miss it.

Here's an article that takes a similar perspective:
"Stadium’s Appeal Lay in Futuristic Functionality" (NY Times)
By RICHARD SANDOMIR
September 28, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/28/sports/baseball/28sandomir.html?_r=1&ref=sports&oref=slogin

Also:
Memorable Moments at Shea (NY Times) (Slide Show)
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/09/28/sports/baseball/20080928_SHEA_SLIDESHOW_index.html

Giving In to Nostalgia at Shea (NY Times)
By GEORGE VECSEY
Published: September 28, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/29/sports/baseball/29vecsey.html


The Ceremony: Saying Goodbye to Shea Stadium (NY Times)
By JOSHUA ROBINSON
Published: September 28, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/29/sports/baseball/29ceremony.html?ref=sports