tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122736168771714314.post2189169752890627862..comments2024-01-24T11:33:11.129-05:00Comments on Mike's Mets: What Might Have BeenMike Steffanoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08573922415294713184noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122736168771714314.post-32413720716059214872020-04-24T11:22:22.699-04:002020-04-24T11:22:22.699-04:00I'll tell you what, if anyone from that group ...I'll tell you what, if anyone from that group is still around that would be a fascinating interview. I'd love to know what their plans were if they had the winning bid.Mike Steffanoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08573922415294713184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122736168771714314.post-9815366112701003952020-04-24T08:28:40.962-04:002020-04-24T08:28:40.962-04:00Mike,
As Ralph would tell the story, Branch tol...Mike, <br /><br />As Ralph would tell the story, Branch told him "We can finish last without you." <br /><br />Have been trying to find the backup to my 1980's memory about fans trying to buy the Mets. No luck so far. I have have to wait until the library re-opens and check out the micro-fish files. Do they still have those? <br /><br />One of the sources I checked without results was Jack Lang's great 25 year Mets History book. One day I will find the story. <br /><br />https://www.amazon.com/New-York-Mets-Jack-Lang/dp/080500467X/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=jack+lang+Mets&qid=1587729925&sr=8-2<br />John From Albanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03757707663955650787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122736168771714314.post-48734316846243183022020-04-23T17:55:55.789-04:002020-04-23T17:55:55.789-04:00I remember reading about Veeck. He was quite the c...I remember reading about Veeck. He was quite the character. Baseball has lost a lot of character with all of the bland corporate ownership.<br /><br />I remember Ralph Kiner talking about playing for Branch Rickey when he owned the Pirates. The one that still makes me smile was that Rickey didn't want to give Ralph a raise after his 50 HR a season because the team finished last.<br /><br />Thanks for the great commentMike Steffanoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05357223447597568328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122736168771714314.post-79798880293210519162020-04-23T13:44:15.773-04:002020-04-23T13:44:15.773-04:00I remember Del Webb and Dan Topping selling the Ya...I remember Del Webb and Dan Topping selling the Yankees to CBS in the mid '60s for $10 million, and then CBS selling just a few years later to George Steinbrenner for the same amount. I believe the most recent Forbes valuation, before Coronavirus, was $3.5 billion, and the average team's valuation is over $1 billion. the amazing return aside, think about who could buy a team back in the '50s. one of my all time favorite books is the autobiography of Bill Veeck "Veeck As In Wreck." Bill (not that I ever had the privilege of meeting him, but he always said Mr. Veeck was his father, he was Bill) owned, among other teams, the 1954 Cleveland Indians and the 1959 Chicago White Sox, the only 2 teams to defeat the Yanks for the AL pennant between 1949 and 1964. the reason that I'm bringing this up was at that time, all teams were worth single digit Millions, not Billions, and when Bill wanted to buy a team, he'd leverage his home, and get together some friends to come up with the funds needed. guess today, if you don't have the money yourself, you'd need Warren Buffet or Bill Gates as a friend.Jon Messingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09232843670130172412noreply@blogger.com