Even Yankees Fans Can Cheer for the Amazin' Mets

Sandman’s at the plate, winds up, throws a 98 mph fastball, strikes out the batter and the stadium goes wild. I, in my easy chair, Mom in hers, go wild too.

Mom exclaims, “What did I tell you? The Sandman always puts them away. You can count on Mariano!”

We celebrate with a bowl of Turkey Hill Yankees Pinstripe Brownie Blast ice cream. Our boys of summer, the Yankees, were on their way to the World Series. That was 2009.

By the time the Yankees approached the plate for the opener of the World Series that year, I was in my easy chair, cheering alone. Mom had passed only a short month before, but I could hear her every time Mariano struck out yet another batter and every time Jeter hit a home run. She was applauding, cheering on her Yankees from her easy chair in Heaven.

The New York Yankees, yes, they are our tradition—they were mom’s team and they remain my team though they haven’t made it to a World Series since 2009. This year, the Yankees got the AL wild card opposite the Houston Astros who wound up with the 3-0 final playoff win. The Astros advanced to ALDS while the Yankees fell silent. With them gone, I was forced to give my allegiance to the only other New York team—the Mets.

They came out very impressive against the formidable LA Dodgers in the National League playoffs. This week they are fighting for baseball domination against the Chicago Cubs in the National League Championship Series. Going into tonight, October 21, they’re up 3 games and die-hard Mets fans will once again be on the edge of their seats every time Daniel Murphy comes to the plate or Steven Matz throws a pitch.

I must confess, I’m following the Mets with the fervor I give to my Yankees. It’s not that I’m fickle—it’s simply that I don’t have any other choice. I think mom would adopt the Mets this year, too.

So tonight, I will be all set at 8:07 p.m., eyes glued to my television, cheering the New York Mets on to victory and hopefully to history should they win the 2015 World Series. A win tonight will get them their shot.

Oh, and they did acquire one of my favorite Yankees, Curtis Granderson. He’s guarding the outfield catching those high fliers for the Mets now just as he did for the Yankees back in 2009.

I guess if Grandy can find a home after the Yankees, I can join him and cheer on the Amazin’ Mets.

Barbara Anne Kirshner is a regular contributor to DansPapers.com and the author of Madison Weatherbee-The Different Dachshund.