A half-dozen members of the 1969 New York Mets - dubbed the “Miracle Mets” because of their unlikely late season run that won them the World Championship - showed up at three Stew Leonard’s stores yesterday to sign baseballs, kibitz with fans, and raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association.
The six players - Ron Swoboda, Cleon Jones, Ed Kranepool, Art Shamsky, Duffy Dyer and Jim McAndrew - all said they were there at least inn part because of the recent diagnosis of Tom Seaver. the team’s franchise pitcher, as having dementia, which caused his retirement from public life; Bud Harrelson, who also was on the team (and later managed the Mets), also has been diagnosed with dementia.
“These memories are treasures for me and when you start hearing about your former teammates, some of them aren’t here anymore,” Swoboda told the Journal News. “And some of them are here, but their memories are fading because of Alzheimer’s and dementia of various sorts. For (Stew Leonard’s) to bring us here and to raise money and try to come up with some sort of a solution is incredible work.”
The six players - Ron Swoboda, Cleon Jones, Ed Kranepool, Art Shamsky, Duffy Dyer and Jim McAndrew - all said they were there at least inn part because of the recent diagnosis of Tom Seaver. the team’s franchise pitcher, as having dementia, which caused his retirement from public life; Bud Harrelson, who also was on the team (and later managed the Mets), also has been diagnosed with dementia.
“These memories are treasures for me and when you start hearing about your former teammates, some of them aren’t here anymore,” Swoboda told the Journal News. “And some of them are here, but their memories are fading because of Alzheimer’s and dementia of various sorts. For (Stew Leonard’s) to bring us here and to raise money and try to come up with some sort of a solution is incredible work.”
- KC's View:
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Wish I’d been around for this … these were my guys, 50 years ago.
It is great symmetry, and a good cause. Good job, Stew.
