Memorable Moments at Shea Stadium All Star Game Site: 1964  World Series Site: 1969, '73, 86, and 2000. Cy Young winner Dwight Gooden in 1985. Bill Buckner missed Mookie Wilson's grounder, in Game 6 of the '86 World Series, allowing Ray Knight to score, and the Mets winning the World Series. Phillies' Jim Bunnigs perfect game on June 21, 1964. SHEA STADIUM 126th Street and Roosevelt Avenue Flushing, Queens, New York 11368

 

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   With the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants move to California, the New York area had only one baseball team in 1960. But that soon changed. New York fought to get a team. New York City Major Robert Wagner appointed William A. Shea, and four other lawyers to acquire an N.L. franchise. Shea first tried to get the Reds, Pirates, or Phillies to move to New York, but that failed. In 1958, Shea started the Continental League, which lead MLB to award New York and Houston franchises that would begin playing in 1962. With a new team, a stadium needed to be built. So construction began on a stadium on October 28, 1961. Unfortunately, the Mets had to play in antiquated Polo Grounds for two years before the move to the new stadium, originally to be called Flushing Meadows Park. The stadium was renamed before its opening to Shea Stadium, in honor of William A. Shea.

Opening Day for Shea Stadium came on April 17, 1964. Shea Stadium became the grandest stadium when it opened. The five tiered stadium seated 55,601. It was the first stadium of its size to have an extensive escalator system, being able to convert from a football gridiron to a baseball diamond by two motor operated stands, and in which every seat was directed at the center of the field. After more than 1.7 million fans filled Shea Stadium in 1964, plans were announced to add 15,000 seats and add a dome. But a study showed that the stadium pilings could not hold a dome.

With the exception of seats being replaced over the years, very few changes have taken place at Shea Stadium. The exterior was painted blue for the 1987 season. The New York Yankees played at Shea from 1974-1975, while Yankee Stadium was renovated. Today, Shea Stadium remains a very nice place to watch a baseball game, with the exception of the airplanes landing and taking off at the nearby LaGuardia Airport. A 175ft. wide by 86ft. high scoreboard sits behind the right field fence. The Mets Magic Hat is located behind the center field fence. When a Mets’ player homers, an apple rises out of the hat. A small set of bleachers are located behind the left field fence, along with a Diamond Vision video screen. The Mets have talked about building a new stadium adjacent to Shea, but talks have come to a halt. Their has also been talk of renovating Shea Stadium.

      
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Name: Shea Stadium 
Location: New York, NY
Tenant: New York Mets
Capacity: 55,601
Surface:  Grass 
Construction Began: October 28, 1961
Opened: April 17, 1964
Cost: $28.5 Million
Architect: Praeger, Kavanaugh, Waterbury
Dimensions: 325-L, 375-LC, 404-C, 375-RC, 325-R 
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