Aiming to increase the presence of Mets history throughout Citi Field, team officials announced a series of changes to the ballpark for 2010.
Among the alterations for the second year of the new stadium: the construction of a Mets Hall of Fame near the Jackie Robinson Rotunda (the entranceway for the majority of fans) and the renaming of sections of the ballpark after influential contributors to the organization.
The team received negative feedback from fans about the lack of a Mets presence in the ballpark during the inaugural season there. The perception was that principal owner Fred Wilpon, who grew up a Brooklyn Dodgers fan and who attended high school with Sandy Koufax, had built a stadium that paid more tribute to the franchise for which he had a childhood affinity than to the Mets.
"These additions amplify our commitment to better recognize our team's heritage and honor the players and memories our fans cherish," Dave Howard, the Mets' executive vice president for business, said in a statement. "Ownership is acting upon our fans' desire to see more Mets around the ballpark. We hear our fans loud and clear and these additions continue the process that started last season."
The Mets had a team Hall of Fame at their former home, Shea Stadium, but it was tucked away in the Diamond Club and had been dormant in recent years. No one had been inducted since 2002, when outfielder Tommie Agee was selected as the 21st member. The new selection committee will include broadcasters Gary Cohen and Howie Rose, former pitcher Al Jackson, chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon and Howard.
Other members of the team's Hall of Fame with Agee are: Joan Payson (inducted 1981), Casey Stengel (1981), Gil Hodges (1982), George M. Weiss (1982), William A. Shea (1983), Johnny Murphy (1983), Ralph Kiner (1984), Bob Murphy (1984), Lindsey Nelson (1984), Bud Harrelson (1986), Rusty Staub (1986), Tom Seaver (1988), Jerry Koosman (1989), Ed Kranepool (1990), Cleon Jones (1991), Jerry Grote (1992), Tug McGraw (1993), Mookie Wilson (1996), Keith Hernandez (1997) and Gary Carter (2001).
"The reformation of the Mets Hall of Fame committee is central to our concerted efforts to better connect our present and future to our past," Wilpon said in a statement. "It reinforces the organization's and our fans' shared desire to recognize our greatest players. With our 2010 opening of the Mets Hall of Fame & Museum at Citi Field, now was the time to bring this group together."
Days later, the Mets also announced their uniforms were going retro. The new pinstriped home uniforms for 2010 will be an off-white shade rather than bright white, similar to the uniforms from the 1960s.
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