"Sunday's victories were small, specific, and personal. Taking the train in from a different station and everything clicking as a result. Passing through the gate unaccosted and being handed the day's "first 15,000" premium. Instigating several pregame encounters with total strangers, reminding me fans at a ballpark share a special bond when we start our day in proximity to one another."
"Check, check, check. Except it's not really a matter of fulfilling tasks on a to-do list. I'll shepherd a streak to keep it alive, but the streak has to be something I want to ride until I can't no more. Every Closing Day since 1995 still going as of 2025 is my streak of streaks. I wouldn't have envisioned that stretching out thirty years ago on the Sunday I simply decided I had to be on hand for Game 162. I wouldn't have thought to think about it."
"The Mets of the moment as a ballclub are the essence of meh, and that might be a charitable interpretation. The Mets as an entity continue to lure me to their environs year after year, multiple times per year. This year, it was nine games, not a lot historically (I peaked at 44 in 2008), but it was enough. Besides, I finished strong, with three during the final homestand."
Small, specific, personal victories—taking a different train, passing through a gate unaccosted, receiving the day's "first 15,000" premium, and greeting familiar and new fans—defined Closing Day. Several pregame encounters emphasized a special bond among ballpark fans. The day included nine innings shared with a fully understanding companion and dressing to handle both summer and incoming fall. The Closing Day streak began in 1995 and reached thirty consecutive non-pandemic years by 2025. Attendance at Citi Field in 2025 totaled nine games, with a historical peak of 44 in 2008; three games occurred during the final homestand. Both the team and the individual's Citi Field record were 4-4 before Sunday; neither secured a win to reach .500. The Mets face larger organizational problems beyond small-sample performance.
Read at Faithandfearinflushing
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