Jun 21, 2006

New York Mets Signman Lives!

Thanks to Jon Cudo at the GameOps.com blog for pointing us towards a New York Times article on "The Signman". The Signman was a regular at New York Mets games in the 60's, 70's, and 80's -- and was famous for ... signs!

(Karl) Ehrhardt, 81, better known to fans of a certain vintage as the Sign Man of Shea, looked down at a pile of placards he once flashed in Flushing, bits of commentary designed to praise and inspire, or tease and rattle, the Mets and their opponents.

From 1964 to 1981, the Sign Man, dressed in a blue shirt and a black derby emblazoned with a Mets logo, responded on cue to much of the drama played out between the white lines.

...

He took roughly 60 signs to each game; he once owned as many as 1,200, but only 12 remain. The letters were white paper spray-glued onto black cardboard measuring 20 inches high and 26 inches wide.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Anyone who is old enough to have experienced the '69 series miracle remembers Karl Earhardt. He was awesome and hsi signs were one of many things that made that team and season special. I am so thankful that I was alive and barely old enough to have been there that year - from my patio, or play room (where the TV was), or at Shea. It was magical and something I will never forget. I was 10 ...it was perfect.