Meet the Mets
Encyclopedia
"Meet the Mets" is the fight song
of the New York Mets
of Major League Baseball
. It was written in 1961 by Ruth Roberts
and Bill Katz. A rewritten and modernized version was recorded in 1984.
The song first appeared in , heralding the return of National League
baseball to New York City
. "Meet the Mets" has also been featured in a "This is SportsCenter
" commercial starring Mr. Met
as well as on Seinfeld
and Everybody Loves Raymond
. Rock band Yo La Tengo
recorded a version of "Meet the Mets" live on New Jersey's WFMU
that was included on the 2006 compilation album Yo La Tengo Is Murdering the Classics
.
The instrumental of the original version opens and closes Met games on WFAN
and is used for lineup rundowns during home games on SportsNet New York
, while part of the 1984 update opens and closes WFAN's Mets Extra pre- and post-game shows. For the 2009 season, with the closing of Shea Stadium
and opening of Citi Field, the 1984 version was edited by WFAN to cut to the instrumental portion just before the singer sings "Hot dogs, green grass all out at Shea/ Guaranteed to have a heck of a day." According to the New York Times, the song's original lyrics -- “Bring your kiddies, bring your wife/ Guaranteed to have the time of your life" -- were viewed as "arguably sexist."
In 2008, the song was also recreated with a more Rap/Hip-Hop vibe, purportedly to appeal to a younger generation. In the second half of the 2009 Mets season, the team's first at Citi Field, the original 1962 version was often played in the ballpark during a break in the late innings as a crowd sing-along.
Sportswriter Leonard Koppett
affected the role of classical music critic in 1963 to tweak the song's simplistic composition: “There is little in the score of interest to a mid-20th-century audience. The harmony is traditional; no influences of atonality or polytonality can be found. In fact, it’s sort of un-tonal.”
"Meet the Mets" was not the first enduring baseball-related song for songwriters Roberts and Katz. The duo had earlier written "I Love Mickey," a tribute to New York Yankees
centerfielder Mickey Mantle
recorded in 1956 by Teresa Brewer
, and “It’s a Beautiful Day for a Ballgame,” well known to fans who heard it played regularly at Dodger Stadium
home games.
Fight song
A fight song is primarily an American and Canadian sports term, referring to a song associated with a team. In both professional and amateur sports, fight songs are a popular way for fans to cheer for their team...
of the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. It was written in 1961 by Ruth Roberts
Ruth Roberts
Ruth Roberts , was an American songwriter.Roberts was born at Port Chester, New York. She was educated at Port Chester High School, Northwestern University, and the Juilliard School. She had a long professional collaboration with lyricist Bill Katz...
and Bill Katz. A rewritten and modernized version was recorded in 1984.
The song first appeared in , heralding the return of National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
baseball to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. "Meet the Mets" has also been featured in a "This is SportsCenter
This is SportsCenter
This is SportsCenter is the name of a series of comical television commercials run by ESPN to promote their SportsCenter sports news show. The ads are presented in a deadpan mockumentary style, lampooning various aspects of sports, and sports broadcasting. The commercials debuted in 1994...
" commercial starring Mr. Met
Mr. Met
Mr. Met is the official mascot of Major League Baseball's New York Mets. He is a man with a large baseball for a head. He can be seen at Citi Field during Mets home games, has appeared in several commercials as part of ESPN's This is SportsCenter campaign, and has been elected into the Mascot...
as well as on Seinfeld
Seinfeld
Seinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, lasting nine seasons, and is now in syndication. It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself...
and Everybody Loves Raymond
Everybody Loves Raymond
Everybody Loves Raymond is an American television sitcom that originally ran on CBS from September 13, 1996, to May 16, 2005. Many of the situations from the show are based on the real-life experiences of lead actor Ray Romano, creator/producer Phil Rosenthal and the show's writing staff...
. Rock band Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo, sometimes abbreviated as YLT, is an American alternative rock band formed in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1984. Since 1992, the lineup has consisted of Ira Kaplan , Georgia Hubley , and James McNew .Despite achieving limited mainstream success, Yo La Tengo has been called "the quintessential...
recorded a version of "Meet the Mets" live on New Jersey's WFMU
WFMU
WFMU is a listener-supported, independent community radio station headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States, broadcasting at 91.1 MHz FM, presenting a freeform radio format...
that was included on the 2006 compilation album Yo La Tengo Is Murdering the Classics
Yo La Tengo Is Murdering the Classics
Yo La Tengo Is Murdering the Classics is a compilation album by the band Yo La Tengo, released in 2006.Yo La Tengo supported the fundraising efforts of New Jersey's world-renowned independent radio outlet WFMU with annual studio visits...
.
The instrumental of the original version opens and closes Met games on WFAN
WFAN
WFAN , also known as "Sports Radio 66" or "The FAN", is a radio station in New York City. The station broadcasts on a clear channel and is owned by CBS Radio...
and is used for lineup rundowns during home games on SportsNet New York
SportsNet New York
SportsNet New York is a New York City-based regional sports cable network which airs in the New York metro area and all of New York state, and nationwide via satellite. It is owned jointly by the New York Mets, Time Warner Cable, and NBCUniversal...
, while part of the 1984 update opens and closes WFAN's Mets Extra pre- and post-game shows. For the 2009 season, with the closing of Shea Stadium
Shea Stadium
William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008...
and opening of Citi Field, the 1984 version was edited by WFAN to cut to the instrumental portion just before the singer sings "Hot dogs, green grass all out at Shea/ Guaranteed to have a heck of a day." According to the New York Times, the song's original lyrics -- “Bring your kiddies, bring your wife/ Guaranteed to have the time of your life" -- were viewed as "arguably sexist."
In 2008, the song was also recreated with a more Rap/Hip-Hop vibe, purportedly to appeal to a younger generation. In the second half of the 2009 Mets season, the team's first at Citi Field, the original 1962 version was often played in the ballpark during a break in the late innings as a crowd sing-along.
Sportswriter Leonard Koppett
Leonard Koppett
Leonard Koppett was one of the most influential sportswriters of the 20th century.Born in Moscow, Koppett moved with his family from Russia to the United States when he was five years old...
affected the role of classical music critic in 1963 to tweak the song's simplistic composition: “There is little in the score of interest to a mid-20th-century audience. The harmony is traditional; no influences of atonality or polytonality can be found. In fact, it’s sort of un-tonal.”
"Meet the Mets" was not the first enduring baseball-related song for songwriters Roberts and Katz. The duo had earlier written "I Love Mickey," a tribute to New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
centerfielder Mickey Mantle
Mickey Mantle
Mickey Charles Mantle was an American professional baseball player. Mantle is regarded by many to be the greatest switch hitter of all time, and one of the greatest players in baseball history. Mantle was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.Mantle was noted for his hitting...
recorded in 1956 by Teresa Brewer
Teresa Brewer
Teresa Brewer was an American pop singer whose style incorporated elements of country, jazz, R&B, musicals and novelty songs. She was one of the most prolific and popular female singers of the 1950s, recording nearly 600 songs. Born Theresa Breuer in Toledo, Ohio, Brewer died of a neuromuscular...
, and “It’s a Beautiful Day for a Ballgame,” well known to fans who heard it played regularly at Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium, also sometimes called Chavez Ravine, is a stadium in Los Angeles. Located adjacent to Downtown Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium has been the home ballpark of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers team since 1962...
home games.