(recently posted on Metsblog)Recently, I sat down with Dan Reilly, the original Mr. Met.
Our conversation was truly a step back into Mets history, and thanks to Mr. Reilly’s first person accounts, I felt like I had been there myself.
Reilly’s new book, “The Original Mr. Met Remembers: When The Miracle Began,” is a must read for Mets fans of any age and can be found at iUniverse.com.
Regis Courtemanche: "So I have to ask, were you allowed to talk when in costume?"
Dan Reilly: “No, no, the Mets just wanted me to wave alot and go up to all the kids. I could never take the head off or anything. I even walked the entire Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade alongside Elsie the Borden’s Cow with that head on.”
RC: Was it hot in there?
DR: Oh, it was terrible (laughs). I have no idea where that head is now but would like to.
RC: Whose idea was it to have a mascot?
DR: We always had the cartoon character Mr. Met in the Polo Grounds, and it carried into Shea Stadium. I was an usher then, and also sold tickets - which we actually counted - at Grand Central for Bob Mandt... Tom Meany, the Mets first PR Director noticed so many kids at the games, and thought we should have a live Mr. Met. So, him and Jim Thompson called me into the office and I thought it was curtains. They asked if I’d be interested. I said I don’t dance or anything but ‘yeah, I’m game.’ In May of ‘64, we picked a doubleheader against the Giants and I came out in the second game.
RC: What was the inspiration for the book?
DR: Well, I love sharing stories and memories. My wife then really pushed me to do the book. Everyone said, just write down a story here and there, and eventually you’ll have a book. And eventually, I did. Regis, I have so many stories from back then I could probably write a few more. I feel like if we hadn’t won in ‘69 though, no one would remember us. That’s why I wrote the book.
RC: What was the vibe in the clubhouse like back then?
DR: Such a great group of guys, I really miss them. Everything was a party. Three-game winning streak? That’s a party. One night, Tug [McGraw] just beat Sandy Koufax and we were supposed to meet up with the guys at the Diamond Club to celebrate. Well, the World’s Fair was occuring right in the park, and Tug really wanted to go to the Irish Pavillion first. I could see trouble coming and needless to say, we never made it back to Shea.
RC: Who were your best friends on the team?
DR: They were all really great, but Tug and Swoboda. I lived with Swoboda, Kranepool, those were my guys. I miss them a lot.
RC: What were your best and worst moments?
DR: Oh no worst, no worst. But I really liked Christmas time. We’d all visit the hospitals and say hi to everyone. I can recall the highlights of every year I worked with the Mets from ‘64-’73. I was Mr. Met for three.
RC: How do you feel about Shea being replaced.
DR: Well, it’s sad. That was home, we were there easily 16 hours a day. Baseball’s much bigger now. It was a small organization then, everyone knew and liked each other. I miss those days and hope some of them miss me.
