Shea Stadium, former home of Mets, meets its end

[February 19, 2009]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Shea Stadium, the circular modern stadium that hosted two World Series title winners but was criticized for its lack of charm and amenities, met its end Wednesday. It was 44. The last remaining part of the ballpark, the section 5 ramp, was knocked down at 11:25 a.m., New York Mets spokesman Ethan Wilson said.

A remembrance for the ballpark, where the Beatles played their first U.S. stadium concert in 1965, was held Sept. 28, following the Mets' final game there. Demolition began immediately after the Mets were eliminated from postseason contention on the final day of the regular season.

After pilings that supported the stadium are removed, the area will be converted to parking for Citi Field, the $800 million ballpark that opens in April on what had been parking space for Shea.

Opened on April 17, 1964, with a 4-3 Mets loss to Pittsburgh, Shea Stadium was among the first of what became known as cookie-cutter ballparks that could be shared by teams from different sport.

New York won the 1969 World Series there, beating Baltimore in Game 5 and setting off a wild scene. The Mets won their only other Series title there in 1986, when they rallied in the 10th inning to defeat Boston in Game 6, then bounced back from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Red Sox in Game 7.

The ballpark was named after William Shea, a lawyer who helped return National League baseball to New York after the Giants and Dodgers migrated to California for the 1958 season. It is survived by the Mets, who are moving to Citi Field, and the Jets, who moved to Giants Stadium after the 1983 NFL season.

[Associated Press]

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