National League Standings, August 1, 1980
METS FANS SHARE THEIR MEMORIES OF THE AUGUST 1, 1980 GAME:
Joe Figliola
December 28, 2010
This was a Friday night contest at Shea that my brother Michael, his then-girlfriend Carol, and my cousin Rosemarie went to. Apart from myself, none of them were big baseball fans. For the time, I guess this was the strangest combination of people that I accompanied to a Mets game in person.
During the match, there was a man of Spanish descent sitting two or three rows behind us in Loge (we were directly behind home plate). All he kept saying was, "Let's go, Astros" in a heavy accent. He just wouldn't shut up. My brother was so annoyed with this fan that he was thinking of actually going up there and beating the hell out of him. But I persuaded him not to, saying that I was here for the game and that I'm not going to get into any embarrassing situations resulting in my missing a Mets victory. My brother decided to give peace a chance and calmed down.
Although the Astros put up a quick four-spot against Pacella, I figured the Mets would still have a chance to win; given that this was the period in 1980 where they went 47-39 and were looking pretty competitive. I was right. Lots of excitement abounded after Steve Henderson hit one of the Mets' 61 homers to lead the Amazin's to the comeback win and shut that Astros fan up for good.
When I recall this game with friends and fellow baseball fans, I refer to it as "Hot August Night at Shea" because of my brother's anger at that fan as well as the Mets' comeback victory.
David Rivera
August 3, 2022
I went to this game as a kid. Me, my dad, I'm trying to remember if my cousin went too. Definitely up in what were then the basically empty green seats. Great comeback after a tough start.
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