The New York Mets play their first game in their new ballpark, Shea Stadium, against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Queens borough of New York, April 17, 1964. The Mets lost to the Pirates 4-3 before a crowd of 50,312. Shea took 29 months to build at a cost of $28.5 million.
Jim Bunning of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches a perfect game against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium in New York, June 21, 1964. The Phillies beat the Mets 6-0. Bunning retired all 27 batters who faced him in the first game of a doubleheader to become the first pitcher in 42 years with a perfect game in regular season play.
The Beatles perform at New York's Shea Stadium, Aug. 23, 1966. The Beatles also performed at Shea in 1965 before a sellout crowd of more than 60,000, the first major outdoor stadium concert in U.S. history.
New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath fades back to pass against the Cincinnati Bengals at Shea Stadium in New York, Dec. 8, 1968. Namath led the Jets' to their only victory in a championship game and went on to lead the Jets to their only Super Bowl win, when they beat the Baltimore Colts 16-7.
New York Mets pitcher Tom Seaver throws in the second inning against the Chicago Cubs at New York's Shea Stadium, July 9, 1969. Seaver hurled a one-hitter in the Mets 4-0 victory over Chicago. He had a perfect game for 8 and 1/3 innings. The only Cubs runner reached first on a single.
New York Mets catcher Jerry Grote embraces pitcher Jerry Koosman as the Mets defeated the Baltimore Orioles in the fifth game to win the World Series at New York's Shea Stadium, Oct. 16, 1969. At left is teammate Ed Charles.
The celebration at Shea Stadium in New York after the New York Mets defeated the Baltimore Orioles to win the World Series, Oct. 16, 1969.
Pete Rose, left, of the Cincinnati Reds, swings at New York Mets shortstop Bud Harrelson after Rose failed to break up Harrelson's double play in Game 3 of the National League Championship series at Shea Stadium in New York, Oct. 8, 1973. The Mets beat the Reds to move on to the World Series.
New York Mets pitcher Tom Seaver winds up during the first inning of Game 3 of the World Series against the Oakland Athletics at Shea Stadium in New York, Oct. 16, 1973. Seaver and Amazin's took the heavily favorite A's to 7 games before losing the series 4-3. Seaver is the only Mets player enshrined in Cooperstown.
Pope John Paul II gestures to the crowd at New York's Shea Stadium, Oct. 3, 1979. More than 60,000 fans flocked to Shea to see the pope. It rained hard all morning before the skies cleared almost on cue as the pope led a prayer service.
Boston Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner misplays the ball during Game 6 of the World Series against the New York Mets, Oct. 25, 1986. Down by two runs, with two outs and nobody on base in the bottom of the 10th inning, trailing three games to two in the series, the Mets rallied to beat the Red Sox, 6-5.
New York Mets catcher Gary Carter, right, is lifted in the air by relief pitcher Jesse Orosco following the Met 8-5 victory over the Boston Red Sox in Game 7 of the World Series at New York's Shea Stadium, Oct. 27, 1986.
New York Mets' Todd Pratt watches his game-winning home run in the 10th inning of Game 4 of their NL division series against the Arizona Diamondbacks Saturday, Oct. 9, 1999, in New York. The Mets won 4-3 to take the series 3-1 and advance to the NL championship series for the first time in 11 years.
New York Mets Robin Ventura watches his grand slam-turned single to defeat the Atlanta Braves 4-3 in the 15th inning of Game 5 of the NL Championship Series against Sunday, Oct. 17, 1999, in New York. The 5-hour, 46-minute game ended in total confusion, with three runners crossing the plate while Ventura was mobbed by his teammates before he could get to second base. The Braves would win the series 4-2.
The date of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center is embroidered on the sleeve of New York Mets Robin Ventura shown before a game against the Atlanta Braves in New York, Friday, Sept. 21, 2001. The game was the first baseball game to be held in New York since the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.
New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza acknowledges fans' applause as he comes up to bat in the first inning of the Mets 11-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2005, at Shea Stadium in New York. Piazza is often regarded as the best hitting catcher of all time, and holds the career record for home runs hit by a catcher with 396.
New York Mets left fielder Endy Chavez robs St. Louis Cardinals' Scott Rolen of a home run in the top of the sixth inning of Game 7 of the National League Championship Series, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2006, at Shea Stadium in New York. Chavez's throw back to first base doubled off Cardinals' Jim Edmonds to end the inning. But the Cardinals won 3-1 and went on to win the 2006 World Series.
New York Mets' Luis Castillo leans on the dugout fence during the eighth inning of their 8-1 loss to the Florida Marlins to end their season at Shea Stadium in New York, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007. No major league team had owned a lead of seven games or more with 17 to play and failed to finish in first place. New York, which had that margin on Sept. 12, matched the largest lead blown in September.
New York Mets fans look skyward for a fly-over at the end of the national anthem on Opening Day against the Philadelphia Phillies Tuesday, April 8, 2008, at Shea Stadium in New York. Tuesday was the last opening day at Shea Stadium. The Mets' new stadium, Citi Field, pictured behind the outfield wall, will open in 2009.
The New York Mets new ballpark, Citi Field, is under construction next to the club's current park, Shea Stadium, Monday, Sept. 8, 2008, in New York. This is the last season for Shea. Citi Field is scheduled to be ready for the 2009 season.