Shea Stadium. Oh, the memories that are evoked by those two words. It’s hard to believe that it’s gone after 44 years. It is even harder to think of the Mets as being an expansion team. Haven’t they been around forever? Oh, and for all you trivia buffs out there Shea Stadium was formerly known as the Flushing Meadow Park Municipal Stadium.

Throughout its history, Shea Stadium has housed some of the greatest names in baseball ever to appear on a baseball roster. Duke Snider, Nolan Ryan, Warren Spahn, Tom Seaver, Willie Mays, Eddie Murray, Yogi Berra, Casey Stengel, Richie Ashburn, and Gary Carter all made it to the baseball Hall of Fame. Other players, just as entertaining if not as famous, like Lenny “Nails” Dykstra and Gil Hodges that just gritted it out from day to day are also remembered with fondness.

Although the history of the stadium has been entwined with stories that have shocked us, angered us, even caused us to laugh and cry, in the end they are all great memories. In 1986 the world watched as sluggers Dwight Gooden and Daryl Strawberry took the Mets to a World Series win over the Boston Red Sox. Sadly the two beloved players spent through the rest of their careers struggling with drug issues and other personal problems.

We saw them win their first Championship in 1969 with the Miracle Mets when no one really knew of a young man on the roster who would spend the next 27 years striking out 5,714 batters. In fact there were so many historic moments throughout the history of Shea Stadium we could literally write a book about it. However, when it’s all said and done, the stadium may be gone as a new chapter begins, but the memories will live in the hearts of Mets fans around the world for eternity.

Outside of baseball though was the remembrance of 9/11. Shea Stadium became the centerpiece for supplies, food, and a place to stay for all the victims to utilize. It took an unprecedented for the MLB to get back to everyday life, but for New York, it was one of the most inspiring nights ever in baseball history. Over 41,000 fans packed the stadium to watch the Mets take on the Braves and keep those who were lost close to all our hearts. When mixed in with great baseball everyone will tell you that Shea was a place like no other. Here’s to 50 more years of baseball history.