DJMUSIC wrote:Nalod wrote:How you become a SF Giants fan BTW?
good ques. Nalod, excellent.
Well I was in middle school (mid 70's close to 1980s)
And not yet in highschool, showing my age here *LOL,
DJ first 2 NY pro teams I loved was 1st NY Mets 69, 73 and our Ny Knickerbockers.
This dude in pic below, was my 1st hero of sports:
Legendary #41
My other hero was Walt Clyde Frazier "Knicks" which I was very lucky to meet and spend time with at
corporate event.
When Mets traded Seaver , its was hard. This was the M.Donald Grant , Joan Payson era firesale of ALL METs stars and studs.
Didn't realize it in my teens I held that against the Mets organization & turned to NBA and NFL (steelers)
So I watched alot of west coast games (tv delay) when 1973 METs gave away good players.
Began to watch the 'Old' SFGiants had guys like Sadecki, McCovey, Jim Ray Hart all on their way out
in their aging process in mid,late 70's, and a young dude star in making Bobby Bonds<rip> in SF, father of Barry Bonds.
There was no Tampa Bay, no Marlins, nor any of these other teams and Mets, Atlanta, Dodgers, Pirates, Cubs, SF Giants played
each other 12-18 times a year easily more.
So began love affair with SFGiants in their "Losing" years until their World series 1989 ? vs Oakland
and the sole 2002 world series featuring Barry Bonds, a terrible post season player.
Was a SF Giant fan, never really a big Barry Bonds fan. Now my eldest got great scholarship in NJ,
Attending SF University as a Freshman. Been to SF for games at AT&T Park. A Nice place.
ITs easier to go to Heinz field for NFL than going to West coast. Of Course I don't like the LA Dodgers. Hope NYM beats em' !
Thats my story Nalod. The Tom Seaver trade did me in. I easily got lots of Orange/black old SF Giants sports wear.
I can never ever dislike NY Mets or any NY team, root against them only when they play my SF GIants.
Giants are 1 boring MLB team but I love them as much as My Knickerbockers.
Championship Pro teams sustains you when your Other pro sport teams Sux!
*LOL isn't that correct ? ?
Between SFGIants and Steelers , If I never see another MLB or NFL title again !
I'm very happy pro sports fan.
On June 15, 1977, the Mets traded Kingman to the San Diego Padres for minor league pitcher Paul Siebert and Bobby Valentine; Tom Seaver was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for Pat Zachry, Doug Flynn, Steve Henderson and Dan Norman; and Mike Phillips was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for Joel Youngblood.
Bonds for Mercer happened before the 1975 season.
Via wall st. journal a few years ago:
Seaver, who was 7-3, with a 3.00 ERA at the time of the swap was 32 at the time."Tom Seaver was an icon. Tom Seaver was the franchise. Trading him was like the Braves trading Hank Aaron or if the Pirates traded Roberto Clemente.
"The circumstances of our trade were very unique," says Zachry, the 1976 co-NL Rookie of the Year and a centerpiece of the deal. "That sort of thing doesn't take place very often, and may well never happen again."
Indeed, back in 1977 organizational ineptitude crippled Shea Stadium. Four years had passed since the "Ya Gotta Believe" Mets won the National League pennant, and in that span M. Donald Grant, the team's chairman, turned a roster filled with young, proud, passionate gamers into sludge. In the spring of 1976 the Mets had signed Seaver to a three-year, $675,000 contract, making him the game's highest-paid player. Four months later, however, a new collective bargaining agreement ushered in unrestricted free agency, and Seaver's riches now looked downright paltry.
According to several former teammates, Seaver, who could not be reached for comment, was actually thrilled by the economic opportunities afforded players—but livid over the Mets' refusal to engage. As the cross-town Yankees added one big name after another, the Mets did nothing, prompting their ace to ask, "How can you not even try?" Those words—along with mounting resentment over his contract—led to war.
Dick Young, at the time the city's most famed, confrontational and ownership-friendly columnist, began to regularly slam Seaver in the Daily News, referring to him as an ingrate who should have greater appreciation for Grant and the franchise. Seaver actually agreed to an extension with the club, but when Young ripped him one last time, in a personal manner, Seaver had enough. He demanded to be traded ASAP.
The Mets were in Atlanta, facing the Braves, when a deal was completed.
"We'd heard the rumors, but when it finally happened we were shocked," says Bob Myrick, a pitcher with the club. "It was like letting air out of a balloon. We weren't a very good team. But to get rid of our ace? It made no sense."
That same day, the Mets shipped Dave Kingman, their star slugger, to the Padres. The Massacre was complete.
And yet, was it really a massacre? Though Worst Trade lists almost always include Seaver-to-the-Reds, the results—from the Mets' end—weren't that awful. Flynn started for 4½ years in New York, winning a Gold Glove in 1980. Zachry was a rotation mainstay for 5½ seasons, going 41-46 for some dreadful teams. Henderson batted .290 or better in three of his four seasons with the Mets and Norman, well, Norman never panned out.
"Look, we played hard and we represented New York well," says Zachry, who lives in Woodway, Texas, where he works as a physical education teacher. "But when a trade involves someone as legendary as Tom Seaver, it's hard to live up to that standard. I suppose that's the risk of trading a star. The return package has to be good.
"It better be awfully good."
Awful trade and the mets were awful in contrast to the surging Yankees. Too bad George could not get him and kept him in NY.
Why on earth did the GIants trade Bill Madlock???? But they had "THE COUNT"!!!!
After moving to North Carolina in 1985 I have tried to root for other teams. Panthers are OK, been to a few games, but not under my skin like the Giants are. Maybe cuz as a kid I saw Giants play the Cards in Yankee stadium with Fran Tarkenton? Saw Jets a few times and remember when Namath was cooler than Clyde, if that was even possible!!!
I dont' recall much about 1969 mets, but was very much into the 73' team. Went to Met Games a lot but kind of rooted for both Yanks as well. American league and National was very separate then. I did root for the A's in their day. That was a special team!! Swagger and Talented! But it was no NY team!!!
Hornets/Bobcats I go to games, but its not the same. I tried taking an interest again in the Nets (I went to more ABA Games then NBA in 1972-76) since they moved to Brooklyn but its just not there. Nets played in a different league so One could be a fan of Knicks and Nets. Once the merger hit and they sold DR. J, They were dead to me in Jersey. Never set foot in a game over there! I rooted for them in the finals with Kidd as they are a "Ny team", and now in Brooklyn I root for them over all others besides Knicks. Im from Brooklyn. Whaddayagonnado?
9/28/2015 3:32 AM
