THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 7, 1994 TAG: 9407070668
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
To those who reveled in their glory, and have tended a vital oral history, the 1969 New York Mets mean a variety of things.
All good, many magical.
Which, to former Mets outfielder Art Shamsky, is why the team that charged from ninth place to the World Series championship in one year and lifted the burden of mockery from the Mets franchise holds a unique place in history.
It's unique enough that Shamsky - for fun and profit - has incorporated a 25th anniversary marketing and reunion blitz of the club that became known as the ``Miracle Mets'' even as its incredible season unfolded.
The Miracle of 1969 Enterprises Inc. tour stops in Hampton Roads this weekend with a banquet Friday night, a golf tournament Saturday morning and an exhibition game at Harbor Park on Saturday night against the ``Brooks Robinson All-Stars,'' featuring Robinson and Mike Cuellar.
``Let me give you an 800 number'' from which people can order merchandise, Shamsky injected early in a phone interview from New York. He ended by making sure ``you have that 800 number, right?''
Well, yes. A call to 1-800-650-5414 can get you any of the 40 collectible items, with a specially designed logo, produced by 18 companies that have come on board as Shamsky's idea has mushroomed.
``What we're trying to do is really capitalize on the 25th anniversary, and lo and behold, it's become such an enormous project,'' said Shamsky, who picked up the effort full time after he sold his Manhattan restaurant in September 1992. ``This is really one of the few teams in any sport that after 25 years could accomplish something like this.''
It was the right team that found improbable success under the right circumstances, Shamsky said. There were budding stars and personalities - Tom Seaver, Tug McGraw, Nolan Ryan - and old hands - manager Gil Hodges, coach Yogi Berra.
The Mets bucked the legacy of their 1962 forefathers and seven seasons of incorrigible losing by storming back from 9 1/2 games down on Aug. 13 to win 38 of their final 49.
They swept the Atlanta Braves in the first National League Championship Series and whipped the star-laden Baltimore Orioles, four games to one, in the World Series.
And in a media capital that spread the adventure far and wide, they did it all during a time of domestic and international crisis, providing fans an outlet for dreams and a reason to believe.
``A lot of people were downcast with what was going on in their lives,'' Shamsky said. ``People remember the Mets. They bring a smile to people's faces. Even kids who weren't born know about it from their parents.
``I stayed here quite honestly because of that team. I knew it had significance and people remember it, but I never thought it would be as magnified as it is.''
Shamsky united the 24 other surviving players, coaches Berra, Eddie Yost and Joe Pignatano and the families of the three deceased team members - Hodges, coach Rube Walker and pitcher Cal Koonce - into the corporation.
Each member shares equally in the proceeds from each personal appearance made, every piece of merchandise sold and other events (such as the '93 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and a cruise to Bermuda next month) attended, though charities are benefiting, too.
The group has split profits with the Muscular Dystrophy Association and will appear at a dinner in New Jersey next week for a fund that benefits children with blood disorders.
Part of the money generated this weekend will go to the Hampton Roads Charity Foundation and the Farm Fresh Charity Foundation.
The team has yet to appear in total, though everyone but Nolan Ryan turned up for a card show in New Jersey in January.
Shamsky and his partner, lawyer Ed Schauder, arrange the details and are taking calls for appearances as far off as November. That only confirms to Shamsky how special the '69 Mets were and will always be.
``We're all still living off that,'' Shamsky said. ``Whatever we do is directly affected by having been part of that team.
``If we wouldn't have done this thing, we probably would've kicked ourselves in the rear. We're doing the best we can to generate monies, and we're hoping people enjoy spending time with the '69 Mets.'' ILLUSTRATION: SCHEDULED EVENTS
[For a copy of the scheduled events, see microfilm on page C3 for
this date.]
by CNB