Tickets for Banner Day are on sale now through the Mets 50th Anniversary Banner Day Pack on Mets.com. The five-game pack starts at $50 and also includes games against the San Francisco Giants (Saturday, April 21), Cincinnati Reds (Friday, June 15) and Miami Marlins (Thursday, August 9 and Friday, September 21).

The revival of Banner Day is part of the Mets season-long 50th Anniversary celebration and banners should illustrate fans’ favorite memories and moments in franchise history. Fans can visit Mets50.com to share their favorite photos and memories from past Banner Days.

Banner Day was a Mets tradition from 1963 to 1996 with fans of all ages parading on the field showing their homemade banners made with bed sheets that professed their love for the team.

The Mets will announce more details about Banner Day including guest judges, prizes and logistics in the weeks leading up to the event.

JOHN FRANCO TO BE INDUCTED INTO METS HALL OF FAME ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3
January 26, 2012 – The New York Mets today announced that John Franco, the club’s all-time leader in saves and games pitched, will be inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame during the Mets Hall of Fame Induction ceremony presented by Citi Sunday, June 3 prior to the 1:10 p.m. game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Franco saved 276 games for the Mets over his 14-year career (1990-2004) with the team, the second-longest in franchise history behind Ed Kranepool’s 18 years of service. The four-time All-Star compiled 424 saves during his career, the fourth-most in major league history and the most by any lefthanded reliever.

“It’s a tremendous honor to be elected to the Mets Hall of Fame,” said Franco, who is currently in his fourth year as a Club Ambassador with the Mets. “I would like to thank Fred Wilpon, Saul Katz, Jeff Wilpon, the Hall of Fame Committee, all of my managers and coaches and of course my teammates. My entire family is looking forward to June 3.”

“John set a very high standard during his career both on and off the field,” said Mets COO Jeff Wilpon, who serves as Ex-Officio for the Selection Committee. “It’s great that during our 50th anniversary season we can have John – a true New Yorker in every sense – inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame.”

he Brooklyn native appeared in 695 games with the Mets and earned the National League Rolaids Relief Award twice (1988, 1990). Franco was named the Mets’ team captain on May 4, 2001 and was also honored on the 40th Anniversary All-Amazin’ team.

The Mets Hall of Fame now has 26 members. The previous Hall of Fame members in order of the year they were inducted are: Joan Payson (1981); Casey Stengel (1981); Gil Hodges (1982); George M. Weiss (1982); Johnny Murphy (1983); William A. Shea (1983); Ralph Kiner (1984); Bob Murphy (1984); Lindsey Nelson (1984); Bud Harrelson (1986); Rusty Staub (1986); Tom Seaver (1988); Jerry Koosman (1989); Ed Kranepool (1990); Cleon Jones (1991); Jerry Grote (1992); Tug McGraw (1993); Mookie Wilson (1996); Keith Hernandez (1997); Gary Carter (2001); Tommie Agee (2002); Frank Cashen (2010); Dwight Gooden (2010); Davey Johnson (2010) and Darryl Strawberry (2010).

The seven-member Mets Hall of Fame committee is comprised of a combination of Mets front office staff and media members with long-standing connections to the club. The members are: Dave Howard, Executive Vice President, Business Operations who has been with the organization for 20 years; Jay Horwitz, Vice President, Media Relations who enters his 33rd season with the team; Tina Mannix, Executive Director, Marketing who has been with the Mets for 11 years; former Mets pitcher and original Met Al Jackson, a pitching consultant who is in his sixth decade with the Mets; Marty Noble, the Mets.com writer who has covered the team for over five decades; Gary Cohen, a New York native and voice of the Mets on SNY, who is entering his 24th season of broadcasting Mets baseball; and Howie Rose, a Queens native and radio voice of the Mets on WFAN who has covered the team since 1987.

The Mets Alumni Association Presented by Citi was launched in 2010 as part of the organization’s ongoing commitment to honor its history and serve the community. Dozens of Mets players spanning all eras visit Citi Field throughout the season, interacting with fans at the ballpark and participating in community events around New York City.

FLUSHING, N.Y., January 11, 2012 – The New York Mets today announced the club has re-signed outfielder Scott Hairston to a one-year major league contract.

Hairston, 31, batted .235 (31-132) with 20 runs scored, eight doubles, one triple, seven home runs and 24 RBI in 79 games with the Mets last season.

The 6-0, 204-pounder hit three pinch-hit home runs in 2011, one shy of the single-season franchise record shared by Mark Carreon (1989) and Danny Heep (1983).

He started at all three outfield positions, appearing in 10 games (four starts) in leftfield, 10 games (eight starts) in centerfield and 15 games (11 starts) in rightfield. The Fort Worth, TX native also had a career-high five RBI on July 16 at Philadelphia.

Hairston has hit 75 career home runs and driven in 222 runs in 643 major league games with Arizona, San Diego, Oakland and the Mets.

Winter Blood Drive this Thursday (January 5, 2012) from 10-5 at the Caesars Club.

Similar to the Coat Drive and Food Drive, fans donating blood will receive a voucher good for one pair of tickets to a select Mets game in April 2012.  Fans donating blood will also receive 15% off regularly priced merchandise at the Mets Team Store with Season Ticket Holders getting 20% off (the discount will be valid on Thursday only).

Fans can enter the ballpark via Hodges VIP with complimentary parking available in Lot G on 126th Street off Roosevelt.

Complete details are here:
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/nym/community/blood_drive.jsp

FLUSHING, N.Y., December 19, 2011 – The New York Mets today announced the club has signed free agent righthanded pitcher Frank Francisco to a two-year contract.

Francisco, 32, went 1-4 with 17 saves and a 3.55 ERA (20 earned runs/50.2 innings) in 54 games with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011. The 6-2, 250-pounder issued 18 walks and had 53 strikeouts. He converted all seven save opportunities and posted a 1.37 ERA (four earned runs/26.1 innings) after the All-Star break. Francisco hurled 16.0 scoreless innings from July 22-September 5.

The Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic native has appeared in 50 or more games in each of the last five years. He was 6-4 with two saves and a 3.76 ERA (22 earned runs/52.2 innings) with 60 strikeouts while helping the Texas Rangers advance to the World Series in 2010.

Francisco set a career-high with 25 saves in 2009 with Texas. He ranks fifth among American League relievers with 302 strikeouts over the last five years (2007-2011).

He is 18-19 with 49 saves and a 3.72 ERA (138 earned runs/334.0 innings) with 368 strikeouts in 331 games with Texas and Toronto during his seven-year major league career.

FLUSHING, N.Y., December 7, 2011 – The New York Mets today announced the club has acquired righthanded pitcher Ramon Ramirez and outfielder Andres Torres from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for outfielder Angel Pagan.

Ramirez, 30, was 3-3 with four saves and a 2.62 ERA (20 earned runs/68.2 innings) in 66 games with the Giants in 2011. The 5-11, 200-pounder held righthanded batters to a .203 (37-182) mark and issued 26 walks while recording 66 strikeouts.

Among pitchers who have appeared in 250 games since 2008, Ramirez ranks sixth in the majors with a 2.77 ERA.

Ramirez is 20-17 with eight saves and a 3.16 ERA during his six-year major league career with Colorado, Kansas City, Boston and San Francisco. He has held righthanders to a .202 (156-774) batting average during his career.

Torres, 33, batted .221 (77-348) with 50 runs scored, 24 doubles, four home runs, 19 RBI and 19 stolen bases in 112 games last season. In 2010, he hit .268 (136-507) with 84 runs scored, 43 doubles, eight triples, 16 home runs, 63 RBI and 26 stolen bases while helping the Giants capture the World Series.

The 5-9, 200-pound, switch-hitter has batted .244 (308-1,264) with 197 runs scored, 79 doubles, 21 triples, 27 home runs, 118 RBI and 60 stolen bases during his major league career with Detroit, Texas and San Francisco.

Pagan, 30, hit .262 (125-478) with 68 runs scored, 24 doubles, seven home runs and 56 RBI in 123 games with the Mets in 2011.

FLUSHING, N.Y., November 21, 2011 – The New York Mets today announced the Mets Team Store at Citi Field will hold a special Post-Thanksgiving sale starting this Friday, November 25 through Sunday, November 27.

The new authentic 2012 Mets jerseys and new authentic cap featuring the 50^th Anniversary logo will be included in the sale – and do not have any black.  The jerseys, which are available exclusively at the Mets Team Store and Mets.com, celebrate the franchise’s 50^th Anniversary by reflecting the look of the team’s original blue-and-orange uniforms in 1962.

On Blue Friday from 8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m., Season Ticket Holders who show their ID card will receive 40% off regularly priced merchandise and all fans will get 35% off regularly priced merchandise. After 10:00 a.m., the following schedule will apply for regularly priced items:

• 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.:  30% off

• 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.:  25% off

• 2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.:  20% off

The sale continues Saturday, November 26 and Sunday, November 27 with Season Ticket Holders receiving 20% off regularly priced merchandise and all fans receiving a 15% discount.

In December, the Mets Team Store will offer fans purchasing a new replica jersey free custom name and numbers.  The store will hold weekly specials on various items throughout the month.

The Mets Team Store, located next to the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, will be open seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. starting this Friday through December 24.

Complimentary parking is available in Lot G on 126^th Street off Roosevelt Avenue

FLUSHING, N.Y., November 16, 2011 – The New York Mets today announced plans to celebrate their 50^th Anniversary next season unveiling a commemorative logo, introducing redesigned uniforms, revealing a series of promotional giveaways, and launching an interactive online campaign focused on Mets fans and their memories.

The Mets played their first game on April 11, 1962 and six Season Ticket Holders from the club’s inaugural season joined the Mets in making today’s announcement in the Caesars Club at Citi Field.  Mets third baseman David Wright, first baseman Ike Davis and outfielder Lucas Duda were also present and each modeled the uniforms during the event, which was emceed by Howie Rose, the radio voice of the Mets.

Logo

The Mets 50^th Anniversary logo incorporates the basic elements of the original blue and orange skyline logo, which was introduced 50 years ago today, with gold accents in celebration of the franchise’s golden anniversary.  The logo will be affixed to player jerseys on the left sleeve, replacing the primary logo for the anniversary season, and on the back of blue game caps.

Uniforms

The Mets this coming season will wear new home pinstripe, white and road grey uniforms reflecting the look of the original uniforms from their inaugural season.  The black dropshadow will be removed from the Mets script logo, letters and numbers.  The pinstripe uniform will be the primary home uniform with the white and black alternate jerseys worn on select dates.  The blue cap will be worn with the home pinstripes and white uniforms, and the road grey uniforms.  The team will also wear a new blue and orange batting practice jersey.

The redesigned uniforms and a wide selection of Mets 50^th Anniversary merchandise including t-shirts and patches are on sale starting today exclusively at the Mets Team Store at Citi Field, Mets.com and at Mets Clubhouse Shops.  Fans purchasing a new jersey today at the Mets Team Store at Citi Field will receive 50% off any Authentic Collection jacket.

Promotional Schedule

The return of Banner Day headlines a series of promotions recognizing Mets history.  Banner Day, which began in 1963, will feature a Mets 50^th Anniversary theme with fans parading around the warning track with signs expressing their favorite Mets memory.  The Mets will announce the date of Banner Day in the weeks ahead.

The Mets will celebrate each decade of Mets history with a series of alumni bobblehead giveaways.  Mets legend and Hall of Famer Tom Seaver will kick off the series in April.

The Mets full promotional schedule for the 2012 season will include commemorative items featuring the 50^th Anniversary logo on caps, t-shirts and collectibles. Mets fans will get the chance to choose a commemorative promotional item through an online vote, which will launch during Spring Training.

Mets50.com Web Site

The Mets today launched Mets50.com which will serve as the hub for all Mets 50^th Anniversary news and content.  Fans will be encouraged to visit the site and share photos of their favorite Mets memories to enter the “FANtastic at 50” sweepstakes to win a pair of 2012 Mets Season Tickets.  Other features during the season will include an interactive timeline detailing significant moments through Mets history, “This Date in Mets History,” and archival footage from important Mets moments from the past 50 years.

Mets 50^th Anniversary Ticket Packs

A limited number of Mets 50^th Anniversary Ticket Packs will go on sale Monday, November 28 exclusively online at Mets.com.  The five-game plans start at $50.

Mets Alumni Association Presented by Citi

The Mets Alumni Association Presented by Citi will make multiple appearances throughout the season in concert with the 50^th Anniversary season long celebration.

No. 50 Jersey Giveaway and In-Park Elements

A lucky fan at each home game will receive an authentic No. 50 jersey embroidered with the name “FANTASTIC.”  The Season Ticket Holders from 1962 present for today’s announcement received these jerseys as a thank you for their loyalty.

In-park entertainment during Mets games next season will feature highlights from the past 50 years, trivia and other programming on Citi Vision.

Mets Hall of Fame & Museum

New exhibits featuring artifacts focusing on the Mets 50^th Anniversary will be installed in the Mets Hall of Fame & Museum in time for Opening Day, Thursday, April 5, 2012.