Funny Mets story (of course there are alot of them)

In case you never heard of it...

It seems that in 1962, Elio Chacon and CF Richie Ashburn were having a communications problem. On short fly balls they would inevitably collide even after Ashburn would scream "I got it!" After the third or fourth time this happened Ashburn takes Chacon aside and asks him, "Elio, how do you say 'I got it!' in Spanish?" Chacon replies, "yo la tengo!"

So the next day a batter hits a short fly to center field. Chacon runs out and Ashburn runs in and Ashburn yells, "yo la tengo! yo la tengo!" So Chacon backs off. Ashburn gets set to make the catch -- and left fielder Gus Bell smashes into him!

Its no wonder why Richie Ashburn retired after the 1962 season.

This isn't really a funny story about the Mets.

I was six years old when the Mets went to the WS in '69. Sports weren't a big deal in my house at that time and I wasn't aware of what was going on. I lived in upstate NY outside of Syracuse.

I did something in school (don't recall what) and got sent to the principle's office. I get to his office and knock on his door. He ushers me in; shushing me and telling me to sit down. He's listening to the radio to one of the Mets' WS games (which I don't realize). He wants to know if I am a Mets fan (of course, I am the moment he asks). He's all excited and talking about the Mets. I think I tried to tell him what I did to get sent to his office and he either shushes me or ignores it. We listen to the game until the end of the school day and then he sends me out telling me I can come back, tomorrow. I can't remember if I did or not. In any case, at one point in the game, he yells, grabs his head laughing and saying, "Al Weis, Al Weis."

I was a baseball fan and originally a Mets fan forever more after that even though it took me until 1973 - 74 to really piece together how baseball worked. No one in my family was a baseball fan. I stopped being a Mets fan in 1977 when they traded Seaver to the Reds for a pizza and a six-pack.

My first favorite player was Al Weis. It took at least two years until someone convinced me he was less then nothing.

I know, now, Al had a great WS. He played in all five games and was productive. His best moment was the 2-run HR in game 5 in the 7th inning. I don't recall the length of the school day back then. But, I think that was the play I must have been there for when the principle reacted the way he did. I know I wasn't there to hear them win - I'm pretty sure I would remember that and I'm also pretty sure the school day would have been over, first.

Al Weis.