Asdrubal Cabrara's 11th inning home run 2 nights ago was as dramatic as they come, saving the Mets from a gut wrenching defeat and propelling us to the happiest, most satisfying of walk off wins. I could not have been more delighted.
This wasn't the first time.
Back in 1963 my dad took me and my sister Lysie to a Met game at the old Polo Grounds in order to celebrate my junior high school graduation. The guys fell behind early but battled back to tie, possibly because they knew that this was my special day. Then they teased me by coming close to victory several times but somehow not getting the decisive run across.
In the 14th, sadly, the bad guys pushed 2 runs in, but the Mets battled back, loading the bases with 2 outs for Tim Harkness. Tim was a left handed hitting first baseman we'd gotten from the Dodgers and though he hadn't done a whole lot (and would continue on in that vein for the rest of his career), he was one of my favorites. He worked the count to 2-2 and then looked at a fast ball around his knees. I went silent. All of the Polo Grounds seemed to go silent. We waited for the umpire to yell strike 3 and tragically put an end to the long afternoon. But he didn't. Ball 3. The count was full. The runners took off on the next pitch and this time Tim swung....
The crack of the bat sounded clearly way up to the left field foul line where I was sitting. It was the most beautiful sound I've ever heard. The ball shot off Harkness's bat on a rapid line to right field, well over the outfielder and well over the fence. A grand slam! He'd done it! We'd won...the most satisfying of walk off wins!
Leaving the ballpark, I kept shouting "Tim Harkness for MVP." Perhaps my sister was not used to Public Displays of Affection for a Ballplayer because she complained to my dad who simply responded: "Let him have his fun."
The Mets lost 111 games in 1963 and Harkness with his .211 batting average and 10 home runs failed to draw much MVP consideration. It's fair to say that neither the team or my then favorite player gave me much more fun that season.
But for that one day? What a great celebration! The great Tim Harkness. Just like, 2 days ago, the great Asdrubal Cabrara!
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