The Ed Sullivan Show

Today, when a team wins the World Series or Superbowl, you will most likely hear that the MVP is going to Disneyworld. And in recent years, the team will get an invitation to the White House. Back in 1969 this wasn't the case. You got to appear on the Ed Sullivan Show! 

For those not familiar with it, The Ed Sullivan show began in 1948 (originally called "The Toast of the Town" and ran twenty-four seasons before ending its run in May of 1971.

This was the fourth episode of the 1969-1970 season of the Ed Sullivan show. It originally aired on October 19th, 1969 and featured the New York Mets singing (yes singing!) "You Gotta Have Heart." Most of the World Champion New York Mets were there including Tommie Agee, Ken Boswell, Don Cardwell, Donn Clendenon, Duffy Dyer, Wayne Garrett, Rod Gaspar, Gary Gentry, Jerry Grote, Cal Koonce, Buddy Harrelson, Ed Kranepool, Jim McAndrew, Tug McGraw, J.C. Martin, Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan, Jerry Koosman, and Ed Charles.  This was actually the second episode that month to have members of the NY Mets on it. Two weeks earlier, Ed interviewed Gil Hodges, Cleon Jones, Tommy Agee, Jerry Koosman and Tom Seaver.

Availability: there are some episodes of the Ed Sullivan show available on DVD but I have not yet determined if the full segment of this episode is on any of them.

(Information for this entry came from the TV.com entry for the Ed Sullivan Show and that site can be found here.)

Men In Black

This 1997 movie starred Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith as government agents assigned to protect earth from aliens! Stationed in New York City, they are on the trail of an intergalactic assassin. The chase leads to the 1964 World's Fair site adjacent to Shea Stadium. 

Eventually a flying saucer flies across the night sky during a Mets game distracting Bernard Gilkey (this occurs about eighty minutes into the movie). So, the fans at Shea, so used to seeing jets fly over, get to see a UFO this time. In addition to Gilkey's cameo, there are some brief scenes of Shea Stadium both inside the park and outside.

The movie was directed by Barry Sonnenfeld and the screenplay was written by Ed Solomon. It is based on the comic book by Lowel Cunningham. A scene from the movie, along with scenes from other movies that showed Shea Stadium can be found here. (Thanks to Loge 13 for finding this site.)

Two Weeks Notice

This was a 2002 romantic comedy starring Sandra Bullock, Hugh Grant, and Mike Piazza. OK, maybe it was more like a cameo for Piazza but he actually had a speaking role and was listed in the credits!

In the movie, Bullock works for Grant and at one point they go to a Mets game together. With Pedro Astacio pitching, a Giant hits a foul ball that Piazza gives chase to. Piazza tries to catch the ball but comes up empty due to fan interference by - Sandra Bullock. This leads to a big chorus of boos by the crowd that is led by . . . Mr. Met. (Note: Tsuyoshi Shinjo (who was on the Giants - in between to one-year stints with the Mets) also appeared as the batter who was up prior to the foul ball.

According to Baseball-reference.com, the Mets played the Giants at Shea on May 9th, 2002 with Astacio pitching.* Footage of this game was used in the movie. According to the Internet Movie Database the foul ball scene was shot after the game.**  The foul ball was hit by #17 on the Giants. In 2002, the Giants did not have a #17 on their roster.*** 

The movie was written and directed by Marc Lawrence. A scene from the movie, along with scenes from other movies that showed Shea Stadium can be found here. (Thanks to Loge 13 for finding this site.)

* http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN200205090.shtml

** http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0313737/trivia

*** http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/roster.php?y=2002&t=SFN