So Long, Shea Stadium: Some Old Pictures

[Radiohead]

I started a thread of old Yankee Stadium pics last month, and now it's time that Shea gets it's due before it is torn down after next season. Like the Yankees thread, I hope to add pics over the next year. Hopefully others can add some as well.

Mets vs Brewers 1973


Same photo but different lighting effect


Shea concourse 1964


Similar view from the mid 60's


A more recent view from the same spot


Mid 60's aerial


60's postcard


Construction shot from early 1964


60's B&W shot from the upper deck

[Radiohead]

7 train from the 1970's (the heydey of graffiti)


A more recent shot with some vintage trains


1964 World's Fair with the brand new Shea in the background


Remember when the Jets used to play there?




"What are you doing tonight, honey"


1963-64 construction shots






1964

[Radiohead]

Early 2000's


The next 3 are from a 1964 Popular Science article






Shea was a very modern stadium for it's time as evidenced by this angle. I love the vertical bars on the sides of the stadium. Future "modernizations" stripped the old Shea of some of it's charm, IMO.



Probably around 1970


The next 2 are of the field excavation in 2002




An early proposal for the new NYC baseball park; the end result came pretty close to this



Shea went dark during the blackout of 1977, with a game in progress

[Radiohead]

1965...the Beatles come to Shea (thanks to RickVg on Flickr)













Fireworks after a game


From 1977. Poor image quality, but there's no mistaking the Houston Astros loud uniforms


Another aerial post 2001


1997: Pres. Clinton speaks at 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier

[Zephyr]

Every time I question something about the new Met stadium, I look back at these pictures and I am happy to see this old stadium in the rear-view mirror. (However, some will say that the new stadium is not really that different.)

Yes, there is much to treasure from the past, in spite of Shea. We were re-introduced to the National League again, with those old Giant colors back to boot. It is the home of many events we all remember, some of which were connected to the Metropolitans. But it was a cookie cutter at best - and maybe the most frustrating of them all - with jets disturbing both the fans and television broadcasts on a summer afternoon, The strange ritual of the apple levitating from the top hat after a homerun was charming but small time (some traditions never die even when opportunity knocks).

Once it was an affordable alternative to take the family, with places to spread out during the game. I suspect that those days are long gone too ... but some of that is not a bad thing.

[lofter1]

When was the last time those moveable sections of seats on tracks were rolled about?

[Radiohead]

I would guess not since the Jets left for East Rutherford in '84. I don't know of any other reason. And that's assuming they still move

[TallGuy]

I never knew that's how they worked! thanks for these great photos. Shea was never a beautiful park, but it looks so much better with its' orginal colors than the later prmary colors, especially the blue.

[DMAG]

I was there today watching the my poor Mets get swept by the Phillies.

Citi Field is getting HUGE.

[BrooklynRider]

Great photos, Radiohead! Thanks-

[Radiohead]

1987. Look at the railings. Shea was starting to look it's age even then.


Dave "Kong" Kingman Mid 70's




Yanks played there in '74-75 while their home was being gutted and modernized.


1986 Mets vs Cubs


Jets vs Broncos 1964. First Jets game at Shea


Scene after the Mets defeated the Orioles to win the 1969 World Series. The crowd was generally well behaved



This was the scene after the Mets clinched the 1973 NLCS. These fans were not as well behaved, and caused considerable damage to the field. As a result, there was no standing room only seating for the World Series games at Shea against the A's.


Mid 60's exterior shot

[Radiohead]

Some more Beatles pics, these from their 1966 concert. They quit touring in '66, so this may have been one of their last shows

Rare intact ticket














Here's a link to a short video about the concert. Cool aerial footage of Manhattan and some shots of Shea.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h2qpqJwW0o

1976 Mets program


1973 World Series program


By the way, here's a great, continually updated site about the last days of Shea, called Loge13. Some great video and info.
http://www.loge13.com/

[Jim856796]

The photos of Shea stadium taken during the 1960s must be digitally restored or something. And when was Shea's exterior painted from white to blue?

[BPC]

great photos. Never reaized it was originally white. MUCH better looking. The only thing I tbink they should preserve from the current Shea are the neon guys on the side.

[Wrightfan]

Never knew those seats moved like that. In that case then at least the place had one redeeming feature.