I was driving back from CT and had just come over the Whitestone Bridge, a route that takes me right by Shea.  I had driven that way on Thursday night, but it was dark so I couldn’t really see how little of Shea was left.  There were a ton of articles this week about how the old stadium would be gone by the end of the week, so I decided to stop and take a photo or two on my way home.  The sun was beginning to set when I arrived, and to my surprise, I was not the only one there watching the sun set on Shea Stadium.  There were old fans and young, parents with kids too young to know understand, and buddies reminiscing about their times at the old stadium.  All I had was my camera phone to shoot the stadium with, but I took a couple of shots below.  I couldn’t help but be sad.  Shea as a piece of architecture could never be accused of being interesting. But without a doubt it was a place were memories were made.  I remember in 1998 heading through the stands on a June night when the Reds were in town.  It had rained earlier so batting practice had been cancelled, but near the 3rd base dugout stood Ken Griffey, Sr., then bench coach for the Reds standing and talking with a couple of writers.  I hadn’t been to a game in years, and there, on the green grass was one of the guys I grew up watching.  I thought about that day, which probably set me on my way to today.  I thought about all the fans I have set next to at games, all the moments that will stay with me when I sit in the new stadium.  As I headed back to my car, a man was helping his three small daughters out of his.  We looked at each other and smiled acknowledgment for the seeming last visit to our old friend.  Goodbye Shea.

Last Part of Shea still standing- Feb. 2010

Another angle of Shea

Shea Stadium and Citi-Field