NY Mets no-hitter

Amazing front page of the NY Post of June 2, 2012

We waited 51 years for this bit of news, and since I’ve been a die-hard New York Mets fan since I arrived in New York in 1981, it is very appropriate to share this incredible news. For the first time in their history, and after 8,019 games, a Mets pitcher has thrown a no-hitter. The pitcher is Johan Santana, a native Venezuelan who has already pondered retirement after an injury side-lined him for a few months. But yesterday, June 1st, 2012 will be forever etched in Mets history as a truly historic date. After the likes of Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Dwight Gooden, Ron Darling, David Cone, Pedro Martinez, and another 250 pitchers have not been able to throw a no-hitter, Johann did just that on a historic Friday night. For those European visitors to this blog, a no-hitter happens when a pitcher throws at 27 batters in a game and no one gets a hit off him. And that’s what happened yesterday, even though Johann was helped with some incredible catches in the outfield by the other players. Which comes to show that baseball is a team sport. A no-hitter is not rare, and in fact there are on average two or three no-hitters every year, but the Mets have incredibly never got one, until yesterday. The only other team now without a no-hitter are the San Diego Padres.

The full 1986 New York Mets team that won the World Series.

To add a little trivia to this story, back in 1986, the NY Mets invited me to give them the Blessing and Invocation at the annual dinner they host for the fans in January, just before the players leave for spring training. And as I sat on the dais with the likes of Gary Carter, Darryl Strawberry, Jesse Orosco, Bobby Ojeda, and so many others, I prayed that they would hit timely home-runs in the bottom of the 9th and eventually win the World Series. And sure enough, my prayers have been answered, because that same year, the New York Mets were crowned World Series Champions. Of course I cannot take any credit for the victory, but I guess every little prayer helped, including my blessing and Benediction on the team.