Where It Began, You <i>Can</i> Begin to Knowin'

Said Ashburn: "Throneberry is the people's choice and you now why? He typifies the Mets. He's either great or terrible." He paused and turned to Throneberry. "But you better not get too good," he said. "Just drop a pop fly once in a while." Said Throneberry: "Aw, I haven't dropped a pop fly in a week." —Leonard Shecter, Once Upon the Polo Grounds, 1970 Perhaps it's the proliferation of 1962-style plays that made it such a perfect spot to stop along the way in 2009, though it's not like 1962 hasn't come and found us time and again this year. Just that very night, a Met named Emil Brown would pass a Met named Luis Castillo on the basepaths in Washington. Six nights after that, with two outs and the Mets up a run in the ninth inning, there was a pop fly hit to the second baseman and...well, let's just say a little 1962 has gotten into these Mets and it won't get out. Yet you have to stretch like Marv Throne...