Extra Innings by Joe Boesch

-- Joe Boesch

Here's a reprint of the "Shot Heard Around the World" story by Red Smith By Red Smith Now it is done. Now the story ends. And there is no way to tell it. The art of fiction is dead. Reality has strangled invention. Only the utterly impossible, the inexpressibly fantastic, can ever be plausible again. Down on the green and white and earth-brown geometry of the playing field, a drunk tries to break through the ranks of ushers marshalled along the foul lines to keep profane feet off the diamond. The ushers thrust him back and he lunges at them, struggling in the clutch of two or three men. He breaks free and four or five tackle him. He shakes them off, bursts through the line, runs head on into a special park cop who brings him down with a flying tackle. Here comes a whole platoon of ushers. They lift the man and haul him, twisting and kicking, back across the first-base line. Again he shakes loose and crashes the line. He is away, weaving out toward center field where cheer...

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Even though the season is over, every Mets fan still yearns for next season. The Mets, though, have a good amount of players that have made a good contribution to them through the years. Here's a look at the members of the Mets Hall of Fame: Tommie Agee, Gary Carter, Frank Cashen, John Franco, Dwight Gooden, Jerry Grote, Bud Harrelson, Keith Hernandez, Gil Hodges, Davey Johnson, Cleon Jones, Ralph Kiner, Jerry Koosman, Ed Kranepool, Tug McGraw, Bob Murphy, Johnny Murphy, Lindsey Nelson, Joan Payson, Mike Piazza, Tom Seaver, Bill Shea, Rusty Staub, Casey Stengel, Darry Strawberry, Mookie Wilson and George Weiss. Until then see ya at the World Series. Sent from my BlackBerry® by Boost Mobile

So long Mariano. This is the day that Yankee fans never wanted to happen -- saying goodbye to the Sandman. It was a great career for Mariano, but now he can do what he wants and that is rest with his family. The core four is now one with Derek Jeter left and feeling like a late 30 year-old and not a kid anymore. The Yankees had great teams, but now they must rebuild and start now. Until then, see ya at Yankee Stadium. Career Saves Leaders 651 Mariano Rivera 601 Trevor Hoffman 478 Lee Smith 424 John Franco 422 Billy Wagner 390 Dennis Eckersley Mariano's Saves Timeline 1 May 17, 1996 100 June 11, 1999 200 Aug. 1, 2001 225 May 9, 2002 300 May 28, 2004 400 July 16, 2006 500 June 28, 2009 600 Sept. 13, 2011 602 Sept. 19, 2011 Now it is closing time. Sent from my BlackBerry® by Boost Mobile