Ultimate Mets Database - Memories of Lindsey Nelson

Gary from Chesapeake
April 20, 2002
I was shocked and disappointed when Lindsey left the "team" after so many wonderful years, with the Mets, up and down in the standings. He saw some great ones and he saw some dogs! What a pity that the new, young Met fans never got to hear this classic baseball announcer calling the games of our favorite team. I can recall his voice as if he'd just done tonight's game: kind of nasal with perfect diction flavored with a Southern twang. They don't make 'em like this, any more!

flushing flash
April 22, 2002
Lindsey left the team when I was eleven years old, but I do remember him well. He was great with the unusual names, like Mardie Cornejo or John Montefusco, much like the great Bob Sheppard at Yankee Stadium. However, since my family only had black-and-white television sets during Lindsey's tenure I never fully appreciated his plaid jackets. I guess I missed out.

Jim Snedeker
April 24, 2002
Good old Lindsey. A lot of people didn't know that he was also an excellent NFL football announcer. I liked his shtick with the sport jackets.

He occasionally sounded like Red Barber. I remember one time when a Met player hit a home run, Lindsey exclaimed, "And it's deep, going, going, GONE EMMY LOU!"

Once while hunting for autographs in the Shea parking lot in the mid-70s, I got Lindsey, Bob, Ralph, Ron Swoboda and Bob Scheffing all in the same day! I mentioned to Lindsey that I had just read his book "Backstage at the Mets" (written in the mid-60s), and he smiled and said, "Oh, that was a long time ago!"

Charles
April 26, 2002
"Hello there, everybody!" (his opening)

Lindsey!!!! My favorite all-time Met announcer. As someone who writes for a living, I often hear the voices of Lindsey and Bob Murphy when I get into a writer's block on how to word or phrase things. I loved their sense of "rhythm" when they spoke.

Two memories of Lindsey (aside from the jackets!): As much as I hate to dispute a fellow Met fan, the signature home run call that I remember was (after saying the usual "Deep to [left, right, center] field"): "and Good-bye Dolly Cray!," accenting the "bye." (Sometimes he would say " and Bye-bye Dolly Cray!")

My other memory of Lindsey would be with the inaugural game of the 1970 season, where Lindsey said "And the World Champion New York Mets take the field," then nonchallantly added, "It has a ring to it."--LOL!

Kaz911
April 30, 2002
On windy day in Chicago, he was doing the wrap-up and his entire copy flew out of the press box window. He hardly missed a step. He was the ultimate professional.

Joe
May 20, 2002
Once in the late "80s, I was driving to Boston from NYC late at night and I caught a radio interview with Lindsey Nelson. I was very disappointed when the signal finally faded away.

My two recollections of that interview were first, that he was very proud to have been given a '69 World Series ring, and second, that he was the last of a very special breed. ("You don't know what you've got til it's gone...")

Why is it that the very best of the baseball announcers had that same accent? (Red Barber... Mel Allen... Lindsey.)

Kenny M
May 29, 2002
Lindsey was the best. Most of his trademark, crazy sportjackets were purchased at Marsh's in Huntington Village, LI. A typical home run call in high-pitched voice was "way back in left field...that ball is way back, way back, and it is a home run! A home run for Cleon Jones!" Lindsey died of Parkinson's in his hometown of Knoxville, TN after broadcasting Tennessee and SEC football games for many years.

Ed K
May 29, 2002
It was a shame his sports jackets were wasted on black and white television in the early years.

Mike Johnson
June 4, 2002
In 1979 I was working at WBIR in Knoxville. Lindsey had just moved back to Knoxville, living in a condo overlooking the Tennessee River and the University of Tennessee Campus. He would come to the radio station to record a nationally syndicated thing he was doing for Exxon. I helped him record his spot. He was always professional, just one take. I'll always remember how nice he was, treating me as an equal and sometimes taking me out to lunch after his recording was done. He would say, "This is on Exxon." I had the impression he was a shy man, but a man who was proud that he had made it in New York. I recall he once told me that he enjoyed being the voice of the Mets much more than the time when he was the number one network sportscaster in the country.

Bob R.
January 9, 2003
Lindsey was great. I remember the radio broadcasts from spring training when he'd shoot the breeze with Ralph Kiner about the old days of baseball. It was fascinating and hilarious and made these meaningless exhibition games worth listening to. I have a book he wrote called "Backstage With the Mets" and it's a real hoot to read. The other fans are right...Lindsey was the ultimate professional, and today's breed of broadcasters should spend many hours listening to tapes of this man to find out how to do it right.

Bruce
January 25, 2003
I can remembering all the games I used to listern to on the radio when my parents thought I was asleep. nobody beats Lindsey on the radio. He took you like you were right there watching the game.

Jim Snedeker
March 7, 2003
As good as Lindsey was for the Mets, he was also one of the best football announcers around.

I remember reading a Mad magazine satire on TV sports, and they called Lindsey "Nipsey Smellson."

Bobster1985
March 21, 2003
Yes, I remember Lindsey doing the Notre Dame games during the football season! He used to do a condensed one-hour version on Sunday mornings of the previous day's game. It was funny because he was constantly saying in voice-over, "After neither team scored on their next possession, Notre Dame took over." They cut out half the game but they always showed the Notre Dame band playing the fight song at halftime. Nowadays this kind of a broadcast seems laughable, but back in the '60s and '70s we didn't have all these sports programs and cable stations, so it was a treat.

Rose
March 22, 2003
What a GREAT announcer Lindsey was!! I remember writing him and telling him how much I loved his jackets!! Remember his crazy jackets he wore....he was the best Mets announcer ever....

Leon Charney
February 17, 2004
I was studying to be a lawyer in college and I came across a Mets game on Channel 9. The game was being broadcast by the Mets fantastic 3, Murph, Ralph and Lindsey. I had not seen a game before, it was oh about 1964 and I was stunned by how damn good it was.

I was particularly thrilled by the fella with the great sports coat; Lindsey Sol Nelson. He was outstanding! Needless to say I became a Mets and Lindsey fan.

I followed them for years but I was greatly saddened when Lindsey left the Mets to retire in oh it was around 1978. He showed up later in San Francisco with the Giants, but in the days before satellite I couldn't get him.

However Lindsey got me interested in television. I passed the bar exam and became a lawyer. But television, I still had a big, fat interest.

Finally I started a show called "The Charney Report." This was many years ago and it's still on! Thanks to Lindsey Sol Nelson! I was very upset when he passed in oh the mid 80's.

But he made a mark with me.

He was the best. I miss him.

Stu Paul
March 4, 2004
A true legend and THE CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL!

He was beloved in New York City, considering his Southern Roots.

He will forever be remembered announcing, "AT 9:07 ON SEPTEMBER 24th, THE METS HAVE WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE EASTERN DIVISION OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE!!" That was, of course, September 24, 1969 at Shea Stadium, when the Mets won the NL East Title, beating St. Louis, 6-0, that night.

Also, the night of August 19, 1969, when the Mets beat the Giants, 1-0, in 14 innings, Sadly, the two Mets heroes in that game had since passed away. However, Tug McGraw was splendid in relief for 5 innings after starter Gary Gentry matched Giants' ace Juan Marichal for 9 scoreless innings. Clyde King, the skipper, left Marichal in too long and Tommie Agee blasted a homer beyond the bullpen wall in leftfield and Lindsey went berserk when Tommie hit the homer. The Channel 9 cameras showed different scenes of the stands showing the 48,000 fans screaming and going hysterical over the game-winning homer. I thought Lindsey would lose his voice. It was a time when the Mets started making their miraculous comeback.

It was sad when he decided to leave the Mets after 1978, but wanted to move on. He took the San Francisco Giants' offer so he can be closer to his daughter, Nancy, who was attending grad school at USC in Los Angeles at the time.

It was great when he broadcast for the CBS Radio "Game of the Week" in 1985. In June, of that year, he did a Mets game and he had Bob Murphy for the "hometown" inning in the 5th. When they conversed, I almost had tears in my eyes.

Jerry
September 24, 2004
Lindsey was my favorite New York Mets announcer. I will always remember September 24, 1969 when the Mets clinched the Eastern Division title and Lindsey called the final out on television. "This could be it. There's one there's two the Mets are the champions. At 9:07 on September 24th, the New York Mets clinched the Eastern Division of the National League. Look at that scene, Gentry's cap is gone, it's a scene of wild jubilation." I was 12 years old at the time but had the good sense to tape record the whole thing. I still get goose bumps listening to that call.

Jeff
September 30, 2004
Lindsey Nelson was rythym in the booth. I was 9 when I became a Mets fan, and I first heard him when he would rotate with Murph and Kiner between the TV and radio booth. I just thought the Mets were lucky to have him. I was surprised when he left. Once or twice, I then heard him announce football games. It was odd because at the time, I didn't know he did other sports. To this day, I miss hearing him. I liked all three of their announcers, and those who followed, including believe it or not, Steve Albert. Lindsey to me, was the best, with no disrespect to the recently passed Murph, McCarver, Howie Rose (whom I think is awesome), and the rest of them. Still miss hearing you Lindsey.

Mike Marando
January 10, 2005
Lindsey Nelson left an indelible mark on broadcasting that future aspirants should follow. Football, baseball, he could do it all. What I'll remember most was the impromptu, on-air tribute he gave to Willie McCovey minutes before the opening pitch of a game in September, 1980. McCovey was playing his last game as a Giant, the last game of his storied career. And after a station break, following the National Anthem, Nelson spun a yarn that seemingly lasted forever, extolling how "McCovey would stroll down the hallowed hallways of the Candlestick Park clubhouse one last time ... " The tribute was so good that I pulled my car over just to listen, wishing I had a tape recorder. Alas, the Giants' flagship station, KNBR68, does not have an archived record of this very memorable tribute.

Jonathan Stern
January 19, 2005
I liked a comment Nelson made in 1969 re the early bad Mets. Something to the effect that anyone can call a winner, but calling games when your team is losing 10-0 after three innings is tough. Said Nelson, "What do you say to the fans after you've said you're sorry?"

Mark
March 13, 2005
I seem to remember that when WOR broadcast the first spring training game of the 1970 season that the broadcast opened with Lindsey Nelson smiling into the camera as a bottle of champaigne was poured on his head. Does anyone else remember this?

richard baker
March 15, 2005
Was at Shea stadium in 1986 at Old Timers Game. Lindsey Nelson was the m.c. doing the ceromonies on the field. I remember he started by saying, "Hello again, everybody!" With that Shea Stadium gave him a big ovation. For me it was like old times at Shea. Remember when he was wearing a blue jacket with lightning bolts all over it? Lindsey, thank you for the memories that will last forever.

Feat Fan
September 23, 2005
Classic sports ran a 1980 NFL playoff game matching Dallas-Atlanta with Lindsey doing the call.

What a wonderful football broadcaster as well. A treat!

Feat Fan
October 13, 2005
On the early New York Mets: "It was my job to set the broadcast policy. I told our broadcast team, 'This is a very inept group of players, and we're not going to try to hide their ineptness. We're also not going to make fun of them.' We simply described what they did, and what they did was hilarious."

Hank M
October 13, 2005
The game was never dull when Lindsey Nelson was on the air. He had a voice that always grabbed your attention.

Whenever he would come on in the 7th inning and said "Thank you very much, Ralph Kiner and hello again, everybody" I would get the feeling that an exciting ending was in store.

Lindsey, Ralph and Bob Murphy were New York's (perhaps baseball's) best broadcast team ever! During the game, they talked only about baseball. Nothing else. The Yankees, meanwhile, had three guys (one of them nicknamed "Scooter") who would be consumed with talking about things not related to the game that interested only themselves. What a bunch of turnoffs! The Mets trio was a truly professional unit.

Lindsey can be classified as a broadcasting original. Not only were his colorful jackets unique, but who else ever did a broadcast from a gondola at the top of the Astrodome?

Metsfanforlife
November 6, 2005
They just don't make 'em like this anymore. What a great announcer. As a kid, it seemed like "Lindsey, Bob & Ralph" would always be there. They were a trio that balanced each other perfectly.

We may have had bad teams at times, but the Mets always had the best announcers, for many years. I could tell how much they enjoyed it when the team actually became respectable.

Roscoe Bernard
December 1, 2005
In the 60's & early 70's when there was a rain delay the Channel 9 broadcast would usually do an impromptu Kiner's Korner and if the game was cancelled, Channel 9 would show the "Million Dollar Movie" with the Gone With The Wind soundtrack. I vividly recall one game where the rain delay lasted a bit longer than expected. They probably had interviewed everyone of note that was in the press box that day to kill time. Finally, Lindsey Nelson and Ralph Kiner, having exhausted all baseball related topics, decided to share with the audience some of the nuts and bolts of broadcasting a game; the hand signals they used with the technical crew, how they knew when to cut to commercial, etc etc. Even though I was young, I recall thinking that I hoped the rain stopped soon, that poor Lindsey was truly at the end of his rope if that was all he had to talk about.

Darryl
January 17, 2006
My favorite thing about Lindsey Nelson was that he had a style that drew you in. He, Mel Allen, Bob Murphy, and today Keith Jackson set the word picture and melted in with the game. Oh and you just had to love those jackets.

VS Hawks Bob Inzerillo
February 22, 2006
Lindsey Nelson was the "anchor" of that first Mets crew from 1962-1979. He, Bob Murphy, and Ralph Kiner did every inning of every game on TV and radio. They would rotate every 3 innings, alternating between play-by-play and color.

WOR-9 would start with Bob Murphy and his signature, "Skies are clear, temperatures in the 70's, oh what a day for a ballgame!" Ralph Kiner would do the middle 3. Then, in the top of the 7th, he'd give you a quick summary of the game to that point, "...so the Mets are holding a 3-2 lead as Tom Seaver takes the mound to start the 7th, and here to carry you along for the play-by-play, is Lindsey Nelson." Lindsey always took over with, "Thank you very much, Ralph Kiner, hello again everybody!"

He had his share of "signature calls", none of which were obnoxious or self serving. He would slip them in there at the appropriate time, like right after an RBI single, "and for Agee, a single to left, a run batted in, AND THE METS ARE LEADING BY A SCORE OF 4-3!"

I always loved the way he'd keep you focused when one team took the lead and the trailing team's next time up was their last shot in either the top or bottom of the ninth. Nelson would say, "If you want to look ahead, now, to the bottom of the ninth, the Mets are scheduled to send up Felix Millan, Cleon Jones, and Rusty Staub."

His recaps at the end of the game, with the field as the background, were great too. He'd give you the whole game in 3-5 minutes, reading it all from the scorecard he kept. He'd go over each run, each pitching change, and without labeling it as such, he'd give you the turning point of a game. If a base hit by John Milner gave the Mets a lead they never gave up, he'd say, "In the 6th, John Milner singled through the middle driving in Millan and Garrett, and put the Mets ahead 3-0. AND THAT WAS ALL THAT THEY NEEDED, as Jerry Koosman was exceptional. He went all the way allowing only 1 run..."

He was the voice of the Mets for 18 years, and it was never the same when he left. I not only missed his announcing, but his legendary sports jackets as well. They were perfect for adjusting the color knobs on your 19" "portable" Zenith.

Bob P
February 24, 2006
Just a quick comment on the previous post: Lindsey and Murph used to flip-flop every other game on WOR-TV. Ralph always did the 5th and 6th innings on TV, Lindsey or Bob would do the first four, and the other would do innings 7, 8, and 9.

Chris
April 3, 2006
Lindsey Nelson was an amazingly down to earth guy. His calls and his enthusiasm were awesome. The reason he went to SF in 1979 was entirely personal although slightly due to the Mets play. In either 73 0r 74, his wife died at home of a stroke or a heart attack and his youngest daugther was disabled. His ideal job was to teach at Tennessee and still do Notre Dame football. He liked the Giants calls cause it enabled him to work part-time.

I think Nelson did the '84 Boston College-Miami game with the Flutie pass.

Joey from 14th street
April 15, 2006
We knew the cheery man from Tennesse on channel 9 - he came to us like a friendly neighbor - Hello Everybody - I'm Lindsey Nelson.

But beneath that - there was a very hard aspect to the cheery greetings.

The public Lindsey Nelson walked in fame and celebrity, but the private Lindsey Nelson had to deal with many ordeals, the knowledge that his first daughter was retarded, the early death of his wife Mickie, the long siege of Parkinson's disease over his last 12 years. Through all of these and other bitter experiences, he maintained that courage and dignity and wit that saw him safely through the war. The last time I saw him, he was served lunch at the assisted living facility where he was residing. The main dish was roast beef.

Lindsey had very little strength left, and using his hands was difficult because of the Parkinson's. He attacked the meat as vigorously as he could with knife and fork, but it remained intact. After two or three minutes he leaned back in his chair and said:

"This looks like a tie game to me."

Doug DeLise
August 14, 2006
As a boy and avid N.Y. Mets fan growing up in a small town 75 miles North of Shea Stadium WOR/TV Channel 9 was my lifeline to my beloved Mets. I can still hear the voice of broadcasting GREAT Lindsey Nelson echoing in my ears. It was 1968 when I was bitten by the Met bug, that late run in 1969 when the Mets overtook the Chicago Cubs, I hear Lindsey Nelson saying "Agee is going to try for second, he's in there." Lindsey Nelson had a talent for taking you on the field, bringing you into the ballgame. As I think back those days of my youth that I spent watching the Mets and listening to Lindsey Nelson where some of my fondest memories, which unfortunately that is all we have of Lindsey Nelson.

I had the pleasure of meeting him once at Shea Stadium in the elevator outside the old Diamond Club. What a gentleman, plaid sports jacket and all. He could tell I was shocked, he smiled, we shook hands and he said "Thanks for listening". Now in my late 40's I think, NO Lindsey Nelson, Thank you for all those WONDERFUL MEMORIES. You are missed by those who heard you broadcast, your fans, friends, and most of all your family.

If there is a Pressbox in Heaven, you Lindsey Nelson are sitting next to Mel Allen, Red Barber, Curt Gowdy, Harry Carey, Bob Murphy. Wow what a group. All calling games together. If you don't mind I will just wait a bit longer before I tune in!

Todd Schuster
May 8, 2007
One of the all time great baseball broadcasters. Today's loudmouths like John Sterling & Michael Kay could learn a lesson about how to broadcast a game professionally without being a goofball. Besides Nelson, we had Bob Murphy, Mel Allen, Red Barber and Vincent Edward Scully, the creme de la creme of sportscasting excellence.

I will always remember Lindsey's class and professionalism along with those god awful sports coats he donned during the games. Despite the outlandishness he was great to listen to along with Murph and Ralph Kiner. An era is forever gone with Murph and Lindsey deceased. But at least Ralphie baby is still here along with Howie Rose, Ron Darling, Mex Hernandez, Gary Cohen and Tom McCarthy. All carry on Lindsey's class and mannerisms. They're a pleasure to listen to on WFAN and Sports NY. Lindsey, thanks for the memories.

Rob A.
April 3, 2008
How I met Lindsey: Sometime in 1976 when I was 14, about 2 hours before game time I was walking into Shea, approaching Gate C (near the Press Entrance). I looked up and saw this man wearing a multicolorful sportscoat. "Wow, It's Lindsey Nelson!", I thought. I quickly caught up to him and asked, "Mr. Nelson, can I please have your autograph?" He gave me a puzzled look, almost as if to say "you want my autograph?", but he stopped. I quickly thought- now that he stopped, what can I give him to sign? I had no program; but I did have a brown bag lunch. So, I handed him my lunch to sign! Without skipping a beat, he took out a pencil from an inside coat pocket, signed his name across the bag, smiled and said: "I don't think I've ever autographed a lunch before, but I hope you enjoy it!". I don't remember what the lunch was, but I still have that lunch bag with my other Mets treasures.

What a great guy.

Lee Robinson
April 8, 2008
Notre Dame Football and Lindsey Nelson. Even though he was a Tennessee boy, he made Irish football come to life to this little 8-year-old boy that lived in Kansas City, Missouri. How I loved him. He could make you feel like you were there watching the action. His vivid descriptions were the best that I have ever heard. I know that God has him calling games in heaven and I can only hope I can hear that golden voice again when I get to the pearly gates. Lindsey, I miss you buddy, you're gone but will never be forgotten.

Adrian Cano
April 8, 2008
I grew up in Texas, so I wasn't a Mets fan, but I have been a baseball fan my entire life. I enjoyed listening to Lindsey Nelson calling baseball games on CBS Radio, and I enjoyed Mr. Nelson for all of those years he did Notre Dame Football, and all of those wonderful years he called NFL football, and the Cotton Bowl for CBS as well. He was a true giant in the world of sports broadcasting, and I have really missed watching and listening to him.

Don Weisman
May 13, 2008
To me, Lindsey was always the most professional of the Mets original announcers. Very objective and a great broadcasting voice.

The one memory that stands out dearly to me was when Bob Apodaca used to warm up for the Mets. Lindsey took great joy in saying in rapid fire "And Robert Apodaca is warming up in the Mets bullpen." There was also an Expos player's name that used to roll of Lindsey's tongue in a similar fashion, but I can't recall the name right now.

Dan Roland
June 1, 2008
It so sad that he left when he did. He was the best of a great threesome.

The Expos player was John Boccabella.

Jim
October 6, 2008
Between attending the final game at Shea (another heartbreak) and then coming across this board, the memories of my youth and growing up with the Mets have come flooding back.

To this day, if I could have one job in the world, it would be to announce Mets games on TV and/or radio. I started following the Mets closely in 1968 (at the age of 9) and attended about 35 games each year from 1969 (not a bad time to start going to Shea regularly) through 1974. When I wasn't at the game, I'd be watching on Channel 9 or listening on the radio (does anyone else remember WJRZ in Hackensack?).

All 3 announcers were great, but Lindsey definitely stuck in my mind as the best of the best. I often sat in my bedroom, announcing the game along with Lindsey. Several times in 1969 and 70, when I went to the Stadium early to get autographs, I'd run into Lindsey. After awhile, he actually remembered me, which was a great thrill. I'm sorry I didn't get to follow in his footsteps and become an announcer for the Mets (or any other sports team), though I am grateful that I didn't follow in his fashion footsteps either!!!

And yes, his greatest call was at 9:07 on September 24th. I was actually at that game (my all-time favorite moment at Shea, even better than Game 6!!!). However, his call was still indelibly etched in my mind as every station in New York played that call over and over again on TV newscasts throughout the following week and well into the Autumn, long past the Mets' World Series triumph.

I have great respect for Gary Cohen, Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez, but for me, Lindsey Nelson was (and always will be) the consummate broadcaster for the NY Mets.

Bill Kappitor
October 21, 2008
Lindsey Nelson was Tony the Tiger...GREAT! I do remember WJRZ with Bob Brown doing the pre- and post-game shows on the radio. Later he went on to pick the Lotto numbers for New York State. Does anyone remember the song about the Mets WJRZ played? The words were "In all baseball land there is no fan as grand as a Mets fan. We play other teams and we win in our dreams, that's a Mets fan, but when Met fans shout go what they mean we all know, we have no place to go but up." Catchy tune to boot. Back to Lindsey, you guys remember him announcing the World Series in 69 with Curt Gowdy on NBC. He just wasn't the same without Bob and Ralph. What a broadcasting team. Here it is October 2008 and we still talk about Lindsey, what a tribute from all of us!

Ralph D.
October 24, 2008
Reading all the great tributes to Lindsey brings back great memories as a kid listening to the Mets games on my transistor radio. (Remember those?!) I would tuck it under my pillow and listen to the late night west coast games when my Mom would think I was asleep. Lindsey had a warm and friendly voice and it was a pleasure listening to him call the games. I do remember WJRZ in Hackensack. I live only a few miles from where it used to be. It was actually a very small one-story building. There used to be a jingle that they would play sometimes when they broke for commercial. It went...WJRZ in Hackensack! Sound of the New York Mets! Really great memories.

John C.
February 25, 2009
As a Red Sox fan living in New Jersey from 1963 to 1967, I started out listening to Met broadcasts to get the Red Sox scores. Lindsey, Bob and Ralph painted a picture with words that will never be surpassed. I soon adopted the Mets as my second team.

My family moved to Massachusetts, home of my beloved Red Sox, in 1968. But watching or listening to a baseball game was not the same. Missing was the soothing voices of Lindsey Nelson and Bob Murphy. I missed the broadcasts so much that I would scan my transistor radio for the Mets broadcasts. In 1970, I found if I huddled in the corner of my bedroom with my radio and the antenna extended just right, I could receive the Met broadcasts from a station in Poland Springs, Maine. Though it lasted just a year, it was great to be reunited with the greatest sports broadcast team ever.

I`ve never forgotten them, and with modern day announcers not wanting to just announce but be the show, the memories are more precious as time goes on.

Over the last year, I have been able to purchase some of the Met broadcasts. Now I take Lindsey, Bob and Ralph in the car wherever I go. It brings back memories I will have forever.

mark31656
May 15, 2009
A true gentleman. Always willing to give an autograph and talk to young fans. We loved your crazy jackets. Rest in peace.

mitch
June 30, 2009
I ran into Lindsey Nelson in the bookstore at LaGuardia Airport around 1984. He had just finished a national (radio) broadcast at Shea Stadium and was returning home. My initial reaction was he was a lot shorter than I thought, and I also noted he was not wearing a loud jacket. I commented to him, I hope he had a good day at the ballpark. He responded, "A good day for me, a bad day for the Mets."

Paul Scelzo
August 9, 2010
Lindsey Nelson's famous call of the Mets clinching the National League East in 1969 is indelibly etched in my mind. With one out and Joe Torre at the plate, the exact call (word for word) was - "There's one, there's two, the game is over; the Mets are the champions. At 9:07 on September 24th the Mets have won the Championship of Eastern Division of the National League. Look at that scene, they can't hold the fans - the Mets are being swamped, the Mets are being swamped - they've lost their caps - Gentry's cap is gone - the Met fans are pouring into the dugout - they're all over the field. It's a scene of wild jubilation here at Shea Stadium."

Ron
September 21, 2010
Ugly Ugly blazers. I remember going to a Mets game in Shea Stadium with my Dad and even at age 11 saying "That's an awful looking jacket" and my Dad shooshing me. He later told me I was right but it wasn't nice to say "bad things about people." Lindsey had a great voice and a great approach to play by play.

Frank the Met
October 29, 2010
Reading all of the above comments practically brings a tear to my eye. I don't know what I could possibly add. Lindsey Nelson was part of my youth, a wonderful and simpler time in sports and everything else. Lindsey, Ralph Kiner and Bob Murphy will always be the Mets announcers to me. In those days there were only three announcers on radio and TV -- two on TV and one on radio, which they would rotate. Except at the end of games (only home games starting in 1972) Ralph Kiner would be waiting downstairs to do Kiner's Korner. I agree that things were never the same after Lindsey left after the 1978 season.

Shickhaus Franks
January 12, 2011
Here are my few coins about the great Lindsey Nelson:
1) I would rather listen to Mr. Nelson even years after his death than that overblown walking advertisement for birth control John Sterling any day of the week.
2) He was the play-by-play announcer for the 1963 Army-Navy game on CBS sports which was played on Pearl Harbor Day December 7th (The game was postponed from its original date of November 23rd due to the assassination of President Kennedy). During that game, a new innovation which would change TV sports forever was introduced called INSTANT REPLAY.
3) Speaking of football, if you go on YouTube you can catch clips of Lindsey calling a 1977 NFL game between the Giants and Bengals in Cincinnati which was played in a snowstorm. GOOD STUFF!!!!
4) They named the TV booth in honor of Ralph Kiner and the radio booth in honor of Bob Murphy; at least the Mets should right a wrong and name the Press Box after Lindsey Nelson.

Quality Met
March 19, 2013
Lindsey served as narrator on the "Miracle Mets" vinyl disc record after the 1969 championship. On this record, he does a mock broadcast of Roger Craig dropping the ball on the mound for a balk that scored the first run ever allowed by the Mets in '62. This play did not actually happen! It puzzles me that Lindsey would go along with this kind of artificial nonsense. Was he not afraid of losing some amount of credibility? If he was forced into doing this, then the producers of that record should have been ashamed of themselves!

Jeff
September 26, 2013
What can you say about Lindsey, or for that matter the rest of the original three? Lindsey with his "Good afternoon everybody" and his sport coats, to Ralph's stories through out his career, to Murph's "Happy Recap". We were lucky to have these three together for 16 years. I also remember catching Lindsey announcing, I think, some Notre Dame games on TV. I miss those "way back there, gone for a home run" calls by Lindsey. I agree, they honor Ralph and Murph, they should also honor Lindsey in a likewise manner.

Eugene
March 19, 2016
Too many great memories of Lindsey Nelson (and of course Bob Murphy and Ralph Kiner) to list in one post. The way he announced it when the Mets won the Eastern Division in 1969 stands out! I remember that he was the play-by-play guy for the condensed re-runs of the Notre Dame football games on Sunday mornings. (We called the winter the "off-season" in those days!) :-) Great football announcer as well.