Today, Opening Day 2010, in Citi Field’s sophomore year, the New York Mets dedicated the “bridge” walkway behind right-center field as the Shea Bridge. Prior to last season, the Mets made Shea Stadium their home. No doubt more than one curious child who had a ticket to today’s game was informed by his parents that the bridge was named after the recently dismantled ballpark. An accurate answer of course, but sadly incomplete.
From its opening day in 1964 to the closing ceremonies that followed the final game of the 2008 season, Shea Stadium, by its very existence, preserved the memory of the man for whom it was named. Today’s gesture will ensure that the name of William “Bill” Shea remains associated with the history of the New York Mets.
Why New Yorkers should remember Bill Shea After the 1957 season, both the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants left the city for the greener pastures of California. The exodus tore out the hearts of many New York National League sports fans and essentially stole the soul of Brooklyn. Decades of hatred for the Yankees would not allow these fans to adopt New York’s only remaining team.
Bill Shea was a lawyer who dedicated four years of his life to working tirelessly to bring National League baseball back to New York. It was an uphill battle against powerful entrenched landlords desperately fighting to maintain the status quo. Along with the help of baseball legend Branch Rickey, Shea announced the formation of a competitive third major league called the Continental League. Bowing to the pressure, the reluctant owners agreed to Major League Baseball’s first expansion since the acrimonious and slow recognition of the American League by the senior circuit in the early days of the 20th century.
In 1961, the American League added two teams, the Los Angeles Angels and the “new” Washington Senators when the 1960 Washington Senators moved to the Twin Cities to become the Minnesota Twins. The National League did the same in 1962 with the Houston Colt.45s and the adorably inept New York Mets. For scarred Dodger and Giant fans, the Mets filled a void, regardless of win-loss record between 1962 and 1968, and in eight seasons, the 1969 Amazing Mets shocked the world with an improbable but glorious championship.
Bill Shea passed away in 1991 at the age of 84. His son, Bill Shea, Jr. was present at today’s dedication as was his three-and-a-half-year-old great-granddaughter Hatcher. As with so many families, the consequences of Bill Shea’s tireless efforts transcend generations.
For Met fans and their children, united through shared memories of the Mets past and present, and the incredible experience that is baseball, it’s Bill Shea who made it all possible. In today’s corporate-dominated sports scene, it is unfortunate but understandable that the new Citi Field cannot be called the “new” Shea Stadium. Citibank’s money ended that possibility. Today’s dedication of the Shea Bridge was an admirable effort to keep the name of William Alfred “Bill” Shea, the man who brought National League baseball to New York City, on people’s lips and in the memory .