June 1st, 2012: A Date that will live forever in Mets History
— Matthew Falkenbury (@dailystache) June 2, 2012
[youtube]http://youtu.be/5bGvwhz6MW4[/youtube]
Matthew Falkenbury (@DailyStache) It was just my Mom and I watching the game at my house on that Friday evening. My Dad had been in the Hospital since May 12th and it had been hard on all of us. It was supposed to be the return of Beltran to Citi Field for the first time with the Irony that Adam Wainwright was the Cardinals starter. The game went along and although I joked about it on Twitter, I always follow the same rule about No-Hitters. I don’t start truly thinking about one being possible until the 7th inning. When Yadier Molina came up with one out in the 7th, I had a feeling he, the SOB that ruined us in 2006, would break it up. It was supposed to be like that, right? The man who ruined my dreams six years ago would do it again. But, Mike Baxter saved the day. When he made that catch, I just knew fate was finally on our side. I kept calling my Dad and talking to him during the late innings to make sure he was watching. We had grown closer thanks to the Mets, and although we could not share this moment in person, I had to connect with him at least on the phone. As the Ninth inning rolled around I was nervous. The Mets hadn’t been this close since the days of Seaver. When David Freese struck out to end it I jumped off the couch and screamed as loud as I could. It was the moment Mets fans like my Dad had been waiting for and like Gary Cohen said so perfectly “It Has Happened”. June 1st, 2012 is a date that will live on forever. Thank You Johan Santana.
Mike Ganci (@MikeGanci) When I was watching the no-hitter develop, all I could think about was my father. He was at the game. Through his 50-plus years of being a sports fan, he’s never seen much to cheer about, and to have such a historic event happen in front of him honestly made me emotional.
Sean Engel (@SeanEngel05) I was driving home from work and listening to the radio. It was the top of the ninth and there were two outs just as I was pulling up to my house. I didn’t want to miss the last out so I sat in the car outside my house on the edge of my seat. Once the final out was made I felt like driving to Citi Field and celebrating. It was a great moment that I will never forget.
Scott Ilowite (@ttlsportsblog) When the 9th inning came around, my mom, wife and daughter were all sitting with me, and my dad was on the phone trying to get the MLB.com page to work after it crapped out on him. Thank god he finally got the page back up and he even had the “live look in”. We hung up the phone quickly and I think we both knew that if we were talking on the phone, we’d jinx the no-no. With Two outs, now I’m getting REAL giddy. Is this where our hearts are ripped out of our chests again? Are the Cardinals going to be the ones to do it again? Please god. Don’t let it happen. When pitch number 134 left Johan’s hand, there was no doubt in my mind that it would be his signature change-up. And what a beautiful one it was. Halfway to home plate, the ball dove straight down and under the outstretched bat of Freese. After 8,019 games, the New York Mets had their first no-hitter, and I was this close to shedding a tear. It’s amazing how a regular season game could mean so much to a fan base. But this isn’t just any fan base. These are the tortured New York Mets fans and for one “meaningless” game in June, we were the happiest group of fans in the world.
Meriwyn Travisano (@Meriwyn) Like many other Mets fans, I sat on the edge of my chair with my hands joined together near my chin. I inched closer and closer to the TV with each out Johan made. I watched his final strike, accompanied by Gary Cohen’s call, over and over and over again, a grin on my face so wide I thought my face would burst. Tears were also running down my face. It was the sheer joy of watching history being made.
Devon Jeffreys (@DevOnSports) It was kind of surreal. I was on Recap duty that night filling in for Brad. From the first few innings I had this weird feeling because Johan was walking a lot of people, but it almost looked like he was pitching around them. Once it got later in the game I was more worried about going to the pen than anything else. After Baxter’s catch I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was the 2006 NLCS all over again and that the baseball gods would once again take hope away from us in the cruelest of manners. Once IT HAPPENED, I remember my hands shaking a lot. It was all I could do to stop them to write the recap, but it was so worth it to be a part of that night as a writer. It’s something I’ll always treasure.
Tyler Siminski (@TySim19) On that June 1st night that Johan made history, I was watching the game by myself at home on my couch. The first few innings gave no indication that this was going to be the night that history would be made, as Johan clearly didn’t have his best stuff out of the gate. As the game moved on and he found all of his pitches, my feelings changed. By the time the 7th rolled around, you just knew it was going to happen. Despite being alone, I felt as if the entire fan base was sitting on the edge of my couch with me during that last at bat to David Freese. It was certainly a special night I will never forget. Even though It is unlikely we ever see Johan in the blue and orange again, that night will always be celebrated.
Kevin (@MetsKevin11) I have only cried twice in my life over a sporting event. I cried after Beltran’s strike three in ’06 NLCS and cried after Johan’s no-hitter. That’s how much Johan’s performance meant to me. June 1, 2012 will be a day I will never forget.
Tommy Rothman (@KnicksMemes) For the first few innings, I thought we were just going through the motions again. When the 7th inning came and we hadn’t seen the nightly “Not today, boss” tweets, I started to think something special was happening, especially after that Beltran call in the sixth. After Baxter’s catch, it seemed like destiny, but– as a Mets fan— I still expected it to fall short until the very last pitch. When Freese struck out to end it, it was shock, then excitement, then a few days of happiness before Johan’s career came crashing down.
Mark Ethe (@TooGooden16) I was utterly speechless and overcome with emotion. Chaos was occurring inside as I wanted to share the moment with my father. I hoped that somewhere he was able to watch and enjoy what felt like a championship victory. Sure it was just a no-hitter and there are no-hitters pitched every year, but this was our no-hitter. It was our first and it took until season number 51, but it was oh so sweet. It was our Holy Grail and Johan Santana had achieved the impossible.
Susana Crespo (@SusiMJK) Watching Johan’s no-hitter was the greatest sports moment I’ve ever experienced with my own eyes behind Piazza’s post-9/11 homerun. I remember my brother joining me for the last 2 innings on my bed– completely still. None of us moved an inch. I’d bring my hands to my face with every pitch. In the 9th, my heart was beating at an unsafe rate, I’m sure of it. It took me a while to realize just how crazy what Johan had accomplished was. Deep inside my heart, I felt like the Mets would never have a no-hitter. Johan did it. I still get chills whenever I see the highlights, especially after Keith yells “YES!” It was amazing, and I can’t wait for the perfect game!
