Cradle Of Aviation Honoring '69 Miracle Mets At Special Dinner

On June 27, The Cradle of Aviation Museum is hosting a celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the 1969 World Champion Mets.

The special event is honoring Jack DiLauro, Duffy Dyer, Wayne Garrett, Rod Gaspar, Jerry Grote, Cleon Jones, Ed Kranepool, J.C. Martin, Jim McAndrew, Art Shamsky, Ron Swoboda and Ron Taylor. Tickets are $150 per person and include a cocktail reception at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and a question-and-answer session with the players at 7 p.m. All proceeds from this fundraising event benefit the Cradle of Aviation’s education and preservation programs. Tickets are available here or by calling Reservations at 516-572-4066.

The Amazin’ Mets, or Miracle Mets, were considered one of the worst teams in baseball since their start in 1962. With solid young new pitchers and under the leadership of disciplined coach Gil Hodges, the Mets turned it all around in 1969 through teamwork and a focus on winning. On Oct. 16, 1969, they became the world champions of baseball, defeating the Baltimore Orioles with four straight wins. It is considered one of the greatest upsets in baseball history.

“For years people used to say we’ll land a man on the moon before the Mets win the world series…well in 1969 both events happened and both events changed the world for the better,” said Andrew Parton, president of Cradle of Aviation Museum.