Retire 17: The Mandt Letter

This is the fourth in a series of articles demanding that the Mets retire Keith Hernandez's number 17.


I guess you can say the unofficial origin of this blog was just a few days after the Mets disgraceful ceremony honoring one of the most important players in their history. My anger over the situation did in no way dissipate after leaving Shea on that Sunday sfternoon. In fact, as the days passed I became more infuriated. In an effort to temper my feelings I needed an outlet, a way to express my displeasure. What better way to do this than write to the vile culprtits responsible for the shameful act- or, more appropriately, non act?

Approximatley five days after the day officially branded as. "Modells Back To School Day", I sat down, took pen to paper and wrote as articulate of a letter as I have ever written, detailing not only a comprehensive list of grievances over the days events, but constructing a logical argument as to why Mex's #17 should have been retired. As anticipated, the writing of the letter served as a healthy outlet to express my anger and succesfully tempered by emotional state. Thinking that was the end of it, I was ready to move on, so you can imagine my surprise when just a week later I received a phone call from Bob Mandt, then Shea Stadium's Director of Stadium Operations

To this day I remain grateful to Mr. Mandt for not only the phone call, but his willingness to stay on the line for nearly a half hour and debate the issue. This was clearly more than a "thanks for the letter, we'll take it under advisement" fan public relations move. It was clear that Mandt respected my passion for the subject and appreciated the opportunity engage in an intellectual discussion. With that said, Mandt's- and presumably the Met Brass's- position was ridiculous. According to Mandt, a retired number is reserved only for those who are icons of the game. Absurd, I say. First, They have something in Cooperstown for that, (which Hernandez belongs in, but that is an article for another day); the more appropriate standard for a retired number is whether a player is an icon of your team. And second if the Mets want to use that as their standard, then, with all due respect, there is no way Gil Hodges should have his number on the left field wall. And if Casey Stengal's is for that reason, then why isn't Willie Mays's?

While seemingly reluctant to acknowledge it, The New York Metropolitan Baseball Club has a rich history- one that is concentrated within specific time periods. The lovable expansion Mets of the early 60's; The Miracle Mets of 1969, whose seemingly impossible achievement captured the zeitgeist of American culture; Ya Gotta Believe of '73; The Bobby V/Piazza madness of the late 90's. But there has been no time period comprable to the truly Amazin' Mets of the 1980's. And the heart and soul of that era deserves to be honored appropriately. Stop the nonsense. Retire 17.