While channel surfing yesterday, came upon a gem on the MLB channel, Major League Baseball. It took me back 40 years to 1969, a year of great dichotomies. A year where man walked on the moon, but also gathered at Woodstock. A year when the Manson Family brought fear to the LA area by their brutal murders, and also the year the Jets won the Super Bowl. All events changing lives forever. But it was in the fall, October 16th, to be exact, that baseball changed forever, and with it the lives of many die hard National League fans. For on that date, the NY Mets won the World Series. A team that had lost 89 games the year before, who had never had a winning season, and were 100-to-1 odds to even be in it, won it!
On a team in the past with the lovable likes of Pumpsie Green, Felix "Wrong Way" Mantilla, Choo Choo Coleman, Marvelous Marv Throneberry, and two Bob Millers-both pitchers, one L and one R, had put together a team that did it. They had come a long way from Al Jackson, the game, little left hander from Waco, Texas!Managed by Gil Hodges, Brooklyn Dodger great first baseman, and local hero, he told them in spring training they were a championship team, and that sometime during the year they would surface and become one. A team who won 40 games its first year, a team that only once had risen to ninth place-a championship team?
Maybe not in the standings, but definitely in the fans hearts. For their across the river rivals, the Yankees, seemed to never lose, yet the Mets outdrew them in attendance every year. A lovable team, who's fans knew and loved them. We knew that Jerry Grote was from Texas. Tom Seaver was from Southern Cal-you could always pick out his wife Nancy in the stands. Joan Hodges was Gil's wife, and they were all like friends to us Met fans. But this year was different-at least it didn't start out that way.
Playing the expansion team, the Expos, they had a chance to win their first season opener ever, and lost. And wallowed in the second division until June-when they won 10 games straight. Gil's prophecy was about to begin. Who could forget Tom "Terrific" Seaver's one hitter against the Cubs putting them in first place in August? A team that once it got the fever, kept it-and the fans went nuts. They were 28-5 down the stretch at home, and were 28-11 the last two months. "Break up the Mets" was heard, as no one had seen them play ball like this before. And so it was fitting, that after sweeping the Braves in the playoffs, they would come up against the Baltimore Orioles- a team that had won over 100 games that season. And beat them 4 games to 1 in the World Series.
And watching that game I remembered Joan Payson, the owner and first lady of the Mets, who always sat in her box by the dugout-with the fans. Pearl Bailey, Louis Armstrong, Averill Harriman, Skitch Henderson, and Connie Francis were all Met fans. As were the countless millions who were vindicated that day. Warren Giles, National League president, claimed it was the best World Series ever, and to top it off, they won it on Mr. Payson's birthday. What a gift! The day we had waited for, and thought impossible had happened. The Amazins' had become the Miracle Mets! The World Champs!
More than followers, and more than fans, we stayed with them through the highs and lows-peaks and valleys as the Bible calls them. You see true Christians, stay with Jesus in good and bad times. he gets us through, and we are not just followers, but friends, as He calls us. We know Him intimately, like we did our Mets, and are familiar with Him. We know Him, not just about Him. It is a relationship. And in the family, rich or poor, tall or short, left or right throwing, we are all equal. We all rejoice when someone is saved, and all weep when an injustice is done. But we are always with Jesus, and after trials and tribulations, enjoy the thrill of victory even more. You see when the Mets were losing, we were made fun of, but when they were winning, everyone wanted to be a Met fan. But we could tell the wannabes from those whose heart was Met blue and gold-just like Jesus can tell the sheep from the goats. Our hearts and lives are sold out to Him-and we are His. A precious relationship-win or lose, that when we die we win! And even though we don't win every game, we stay with Him, as He guides us through the day.
The 1969 Mets were described as being able to do ordinary things in an extra-ordinary way, and extra-ordinary things in an ordinary way. Sounds like Jesus-miracles abound when He is in your life, and sometimes they become so commonplace you forget the love in them. But He doesn't, and gently reminds us-it is called grace-unmerited favor. Sounds like the Mets season that year. Like Met fans He never leaves us or forsakes us.
You can walk like winners everyday, no matter the score, with Jesus. Losing streaks will end-they are really times of testimony building, and winning streaks extend way past the end of the season. Today join a team where its members are loved, and where we worship and rejoice together. Christians-let's all unite under the banner of Jesus-and even though we worship at different denominations, let's keep the main thing the main thing-Jesus. For just like in baseball, fundamentals still count the most.
Did you know Ed Charles, the Glider had been in the leagues for 18 years, and never a champion? And Jerry Koosman was from Appleton, WI? That Tommie Agee and Willie Mays are both from the same town in Alabama? Or that Davey Johnson made the last out, the same Davey Johnson who would manage the Mets to their next World Series Championship in 1986? Met fans do. Can you tell me where Jesus was born, and where He resides now? That the Bible contains 66 books by 40 authors, written over 4000 years, inspired by the same God? Christians can-join the team, no tryouts needed! Let's Go Mets!
And as always-let's go with Jesus! A champion every year, in every league.
love with compassion,
Mike
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