ONGOING renovations at the Long Island Rail Road Woodside complex (it was last re-done between 1995 and 1998 and requires an overhaul) have revealed a “To Shea Stadium” sign at the stairs to the center platform IRT Flushing Line. Shea Stadium, home of the Mets, original home of the Jets, temporary home of the Yankees (in 1974 and 1975) as well as numerous other events such as rock concerts (famously the Beatles, Grand Funk Railroad, The Who/The Clash), Billy Graham revivals, and many other events, opened in April 1964 and closed in September 2008 on a day when the Mets were eliminated from the postseason.
As it is in the Standard Akzidenz font the MTA used before switching to Helvetica, the sign likely dates to the late 1960s or early 1970s. This isn’t the first old Shea Stadium sign visible at Woodside; one has been hidden in plain sight at the dead end 62nd Street entrance to the eastbound (toward Jamaica) platform, though I’m likely dooming it by showing it here, given that station renovations are ongoing.
Photo: Howard Fein, who has enabled my team to multiple Top Five finishes in the annual January Transit Museum Trivia (will it ever return?)
As always, “comment…as you see fit.” I earn a small payment when you click on any ad on the site.
5/23/23
3 comments
On a barely related note, happened to have just shot out to Flushing Meadows and the Queens Museum, via the #7. Couldn’t help but notice that all text referring
the stadium read, simply, “Baseball Stadium”, suggesting that either (a) the name “Citi Field” hadn’t been formally decided upon yet, at the time of new signage
installation, and/or (b) the powers-that-be realized, in today’s day and age, that sports venue naming will forever be up for “grab$”, and no sense being forced
to spend agency dollars to continually chase whomever is “today’s” corporate mega-sponsor!
While Citigroup sponsored the ballpark at which the Mets play, they chose to not pay the MTA for a sponsorship of the subway station. Had they done so the station would have carried their name.
Great find. I happen to be going to the Mets vs Phillies game tonight, May 31. Passing through Woodside station, I will look for these remnants of yesteryear.
Good hunting for all things historical.