Editing Shea Stadium (section)

===Baseball===
[[File:Shea Stadium 1969.jpeg|thumb|250px|<!--Shea Stadium-->A Mets game in [[1969 New York Mets season|1969]]]]
Shea Stadium was the home of the New York Mets starting in 1964, and it hosted what would be its only [[1964 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] that first year, with [[Johnny Callison]] of the [[1964 Philadelphia Phillies season|Philadelphia Phillies]] hitting a [[walk-off home run]] in the ninth inning to win the only Mid-Summer Classic held in the Queens ballpark for the National League. A month earlier, on Father's Day, Callison's teammate, future [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Hall of Fame]] member and [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] [[Jim Bunning]], pitched a [[Perfect game (baseball)|perfect game]] against the Mets.<ref>{{cite news|quote=The Phils won the contest...before 32,904 fans who were screaming for Bunning during the last two innings...Yesterday's perfect pitching turned the usually loyal Met fans into Bunning fans in the late innings. From the seventh inning on...Bunning had the crowd...behind him.|title=Bunning Pitches a Perfect Game; Mets Are Perfect Victims, 6 to 0|first=Gordon S. Jr.|last=White|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=June 22, 1964|page=1}}</ref>

The stadium was often criticized by baseball purists for many reasons, even though it was retrofitted to be a baseball-only stadium after the Jets left. The upper deck was one of the highest in the majors. The lower boxes were farther from the field than similar seats in other parks because they were still on the rails that had swiveled them into position for football.<ref name="Storied"/> Outfield seating was sparse, in part because the stadium was designed to be fully enclosed.

At one time, Shea's foul territory was one of the most expansive in the majors. This was very common for ballparks built during the 1960s, in part due to the need to accommodate the larger football field.<ref name="Storied"/> This was also because, as mentioned, the stadium was designed to be fully enclosed (which never happened). However, seats added over the years in the lower level greatly reduced the size of foul territory by the dawn of the 21st century. On the plus side, Shea always had a natural grass surface, in contrast to other multi-purpose stadiums such as [[Three Rivers Stadium]], [[Veterans Stadium]], and [[Riverfront Stadium (Cincinnati)|Riverfront Stadium]], which were built during the same era but had [[artificial turf]].

Shea Stadium hosted postseason baseball in 1969, 1973, 1986, 1988, 1999, 2000, and 2006; it hosted the [[World Series]] in {{wsy|1969}}, {{wsy|1973}}, {{wsy|1986}}, and {{wsy|2000}}. It had the distinction of being the home of the [[1969 New York Mets season|1969]] "Miracle Mets"—led by former Brooklyn Dodger [[Gil Hodges]] that defied 100–1 odds and won the World Series, after seven straight seasons in last or next-to-last place. Shea became famous for the bedlam that took place after the Mets won the decisive Game 5 of the [[1969 World Series|World Series]], as fans stormed the field in celebration. Similar scenes took place a few weeks earlier after the Mets clinched the [[National League East]] title, and then defeated the [[1969 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]] in the [[1969 National League Championship Series|first National League Championship Series]] to win the pennant.

[[Tommie Agee]], [[Lenny Dykstra]], [[Todd Pratt]], [[Robin Ventura]], and [[Benny Agbayani]] hit post-season, [[walk-off home run]]s at Shea (although, while the ball hit by Ventura over the fence may have been the most famous of the postseason walk-off hits, it was famously called "the [[Grand Slam Single]]", because when he hit the game-winning ball over the fence, he was mobbed by his teammates before he could reach second base, and never wound up touching second base, third base and home plate. It was not ruled a home run as he never circled the bases completely. It probably made Ventura, known for his penchant for hitting grand slams, and the hit itself even more famous, because he never circled the bases, technically not making it a homer).

Agee was the only player in the history of the ballpark to hit a<!-- home run--> fair ball into the upper deck in left field. The spot was marked with a sign featuring Agee's number 20 and the date, which was April 10, 1969.<ref name=aghmtwi>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=odBKAAAAIBAJ&pg=3953%2C2335763 |work=Schenectady Gazette |location=(New York) |agency=Associated Press |title=Mets turn back Expos as Agee homers twice |date=April 11, 1969 |page=22}}</ref> Teammate [[Cleon Jones]] said the ball was still rising when it hit the seats, so it very likely could have been the longest home run hit at Shea.{{Citation needed|date=September 2008}} It came in the second inning, and Agee hit another in the seventh over the center field wall; both solo shots were off of [[1969 Montreal Expos season|Montreal Expos]] starter [[Larry Jaster]], and the Mets {{nowrap|won 4–2.<ref name=aghmtwi/>}}

In [[1971 New York Mets season|1971]], [[Dave Kingman]] – then with the [[1971 San Francisco Giants season|San Francisco Giants]] and later to play for the Mets on two occasions – hit a home run that smashed off the windshield of the Giants' team bus, parked behind the left field bullpen.

For many years, the Mets' theme song, "[[Meet the Mets]]", was played at Shea before every home game. [[Jane Jarvis]], a local jazz artist, played the popular songs on the Thomas organ at Mets games for many years at the stadium.<ref>{{cite news|title=Recalling a Meeting With the Pied Piper of Shea|first=Glenn|last=Collins|url=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/01/recalling-a-meeting-with-the-pied-piper-of-shea/|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 1, 2010|access-date=February 15, 2012}}</ref>

On October 3, 2004, it was the venue for the last game in the history of the [[2004 Montreal Expos season|Montreal Expos]], and the Mets won {{nowrap|8–1.<ref>{{cite news|title=Zeile Exits on High Note, Spoiling Expos' Farewell|first=Dave|last=Caldwell|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/04/sports/baseball/04mets.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 4, 2004|access-date=January 16, 2010}}</ref>}} Montreal's major league story ended where it had started 35 years earlier: at Shea Stadium.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mets Lose on Opening Day for 8th Time in Row as Expos Win, 11–10; Montreal Victor in Its First Game|first=Joseph|last=Durso|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00D15F6355D137A93CBA9178FD85F4D8685F9|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=April 9, 1969|access-date=January 16, 2010}}</ref> The following year, the Expos relocated to [[Washington, D.C.]], and became the [[2005 Washington Nationals season|Nationals]].

The last game played at Shea Stadium was a 4–2 loss to the [[2008 Florida Marlins season|Florida Marlins]] on September 28, 2008. However, the Mets were in the thick of the playoff chase until the last day. A win would have meant another game for Shea as the Mets were scheduled to play the [[2008 Milwaukee Brewers season|Milwaukee Brewers]] in a one-game playoff for the National League Wild Card berth. Following the game, there was a "Shea Goodbye" tribute in which many players from the Mets' glory years entered the stadium and touched home plate one final time so that fans could pay their last respects to the players and the stadium the Mets called home for 45 years. The ceremony ended with [[Tom Seaver]] throwing a final pitch to [[Mike Piazza]]; then, as the [[Beatles]]' "[[In My Life]]" played on the stadium speakers, the two former Met stars walked out of the centerfield gate and closed it behind them, followed by a display of blue and orange fireworks set to [[Fanfare for the Common Man]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Bitter Repeat on Stadium's Final Day|first=Ben|last=Shpigel|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/29/sports/baseball/29mets.htm|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 28, 2008|access-date=August 15, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Immersed in Gloom, a Farewell to Shea Still Enchants|first=Joshua|last=Robinson|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/29/sports/baseball/29ceremony.htm|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 28, 2008|access-date=August 15, 2010}}</ref>

[[File:Shea Stadium (51069133137).jpg|thumb|A panoramic view of Shea Stadium from the upper deck behind home plate before a baseball game in 2008. The construction of [[Citi Field]] is visible beyond the outfield wall.]]
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Shea Shea Shea.jpg|thumb|right|Fans staying well after the conclusion of the September 27, 2008 next-to-last game at Shea (and last Mets win there), taking pictures and one last look.]] -->

Three [[National League Division Series]] were played at Shea Stadium. The Mets won all three, and never lost a Division Series game at Shea.
* '''[[1999 National League Division Series|1999]]''' against the [[Arizona Diamondbacks]] – Mets won 3 games to 1
* '''[[2000 National League Division Series|2000]]''' against the [[San Francisco Giants]] – Mets won 3 games to 1
* '''[[2006 National League Division Series|2006]]''' against the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] – Mets won 3 games to 0

Seven [[National League Championship Series]] were played at Shea Stadium.
* '''[[1969 National League Championship Series|1969]]''' against the [[Atlanta Braves]] – Mets won 3 games to 0
* '''[[1973 National League Championship Series|1973]]''' against the [[Cincinnati Reds]] – Mets won 3 games to 2
* '''[[1986 National League Championship Series|1986]]''' against the [[Houston Astros]] – Mets won 4 games to 2
* '''[[1988 National League Championship Series|1988]]''' against the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] – Dodgers won 4 games to 3
* '''[[1999 National League Championship Series|1999]]''' against the [[Atlanta Braves]] – Braves won 4 games to 2
* '''[[2000 National League Championship Series|2000]]''' against the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] – Mets won 4 games to 1
* '''[[2006 National League Championship Series|2006]]''' against the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] – Cardinals won 4 games to 3{{ref|a}}

{{note|a}}The decisive seventh game of this series was played at Shea Stadium, marking the only time that the Mets lost the deciding game of a National League Championship Series at Shea.

Four [[World Series]] were played in Shea Stadium.
* '''{{wsy|1969}}''' against the [[1969 Baltimore Orioles season|Baltimore Orioles]] – Mets won 4 games to 1
* '''{{wsy|1973}}''' against the [[1973 Oakland Athletics season|Oakland Athletics]] – A's won 4 games to 3
* '''{{wsy|1986}}''' against the [[1986 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]] – Mets won 4 games to 3
* '''{{wsy|2000}}''' against the [[2000 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] – Yankees won 4 games to 1

The Yankees' World Series win in 2000 was the only time that a visiting team won a World Series at Shea Stadium. The Mets won both their World Series titles at Shea Stadium (in Game 5 in 1969, and Game 7 in 1986).

[[File:Shea Crowded.jpg|thumb|left|Shea Stadium prior to the start of a New York Mets game in [[2008 New York Mets season|2008]]. Shea had the best attendance in the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] that year, averaging over 51,000 fans per game.]]
The [[New York Yankees]] played their home games in Shea Stadium during the 1974 and 1975 seasons while [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]] was being renovated. The move to Shea was helped by the city and the Mets, with the former helping in setting up office space in Flushing Meadows Park. [[Joe DiMaggio]] participated in his final [[Old Timers Day]] game in 1975 at Shea.<ref>{{cite news |last=Russell |first=David |date=August 20, 2014 |url=https://www.qgazette.com/articles/when-mets-yankees-called-shea-stadium-home/ |title=When Mets, Yankees Called Shea Stadium Home |work=Queens Gazette |access-date=February 10, 2024}}</ref>

On the afternoon of April 15, 1998, the Yankees also played one home game at Shea, against the [[Anaheim Angels]] after a beam collapsed at Yankee Stadium two days before, destroying several rows of seats.<ref>{{cite web|title=April 15, 1998 Anaheim Angels at New York Yankees Play by Play and Box Score|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA199804150.shtml|website=Baseball-Reference|access-date=January 2, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The New York Yankees Greatest Hits|first=Albert|last=Lin|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/features/1998/yankees/timeline/|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|year=1999|access-date=January 2, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091224133322/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/features/1998/yankees/timeline/|archive-date=December 24, 2009}}</ref> With the Mets playing a game at Shea that evening against the [[Chicago Cubs]], the Yankees used the visitor's locker room and dugout and the Angels used the home dugout and old locker room of the New York Jets.<ref>{{cite news|title=One Stadium, Four Teams, No Problem|first=N. R.|last=Kleinfield|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/16/nyregion/one-stadium-four-teams-no-problem.html?pagewanted=print|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=April 16, 1998|access-date=January 18, 2010}}</ref> Former Mets star [[Darryl Strawberry]], by then playing for the Yankees, hit a home run during the game. Stadium operators partially raised the Mets' home run apple signal before lowering it back down, to the delight of the crowd.<ref>{{cite news|title=Strawberry Gets The Apple to Rise|first=Murray|last=Chass|author-link=Murray Chass|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/16/sports/baseball-strawberry-gets-the-apple-to-rise.html?pagewanted=print|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=April 16, 1998|access-date=January 18, 2010}}</ref>

Shea Stadium also hosted the first extra-inning regular season baseball opener played in New York, on March 31, 1998,<ref>{{cite news|title=Mets Take An Opener For the Ages|first=George|last=Vecsey|author-link=George Vecsey|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=April 1, 1998|page=C1}}</ref> when the Mets opened their season against their [[Mets–Phillies rivalry|rival]] [[Philadelphia Phillies]], playing the longest scoreless opening day game in the National League and the longest one in Major League Baseball since 1926.<ref>{{cite news|title=For Openers, Zilch Phils Fall in 14th Without a Run|first=Jim|last=Salisbury|newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]|date=April 1, 1998|page=E1}}</ref><ref name=1998OpeningDay>{{cite news|title=A Midsummer Classic in March as Mets Nip Phillies|first=Jason|last=Diamos|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B04E5D71E3BF932A35757C0A96E958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=April 1, 1998|page=C1}}</ref> The Mets won the game 1–0 in the bottom of the 14th inning.<ref name=1998OpeningDay/>

During the [[New York City blackout of 1977|1977 New York City blackout]] the stadium was plunged into darkness at approximately 9:30&nbsp;p.m. during a game between the Mets and the Chicago Cubs. It occurred during the bottom of the sixth inning, with the Mets trailing the Cubs 2–1 and [[Lenny Randle]] at bat. Jane Jarvis, Shea's organist (affectionately known as Shea's "Queen of Melody") played "[[Jingle Bells]]" and "[[White Christmas (song)|White Christmas]]".<ref name="Great Moments">{{cite web|title=Great Moments at Shea Stadium|first=Marty|last=Noble|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080319&content_id=2444907&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym|publisher=[[Major League Baseball Advanced Media]]|date=September 22, 2008|access-date=July 26, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100521054537/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080319&content_id=2444907&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym|archive-date=May 21, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> The game was eventually completed on September 16, with the Cubs defeating the Mets 5–2.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mets Finish Two-Month Loss to Cubs|first=Parton|last=Keese|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 17, 1977}}</ref>