GaryMrMets
11-16-2004, 08:15 PM
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/nym/news/nym_news.jsp?ymd=20041110&content_id=912374&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp
11/10/2004 11:24 AM ET
Cashen, Johnson honored at gala
Former Mets general manager reminisces at ceremony
By Kevin Czerwinski / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- Frank Cashen had to be helped on stage Tuesday night at the New York Hilton, his advancing years and poor health robbing him of much of his mobility.
While the 78-year-old Cashen needed assistance to get to the podium during the Field of Dreams Gala, he didn't need any help to win over the capacity crowd that was there to honor him and celebrate the work of the Cobble Hill Health Center. The former general manager of the Mets and architect of the great New York teams of the mid-to-late 1980s only spoke for a few moments, but he received a standing ovation after telling jokes and reminiscing about his career in baseball.
Cashen, along with Davey Johnson, the manager of those Mets teams, and Bank of America's Jeffrey Barker were the honorees at the gala, which was chaired once again by former Met Keith Hernandez. The former Gold Glove first baseman has been the driving force in fundraising for The Cobble Hill Health Center in Brooklyn, which provides care for more than 60 patients suffering from Alzheimer's Disease.
Most of the 1986 championship team was in attendance to honor Cashen and Johnson, including Darryl Strawberry and current Orioles manager Lee Mazzilli. After warming over the crowd with stories and jokes, Cashen told the crowd to believe that someday a cure for the dreaded disease would be found. He then closed with a quip, drawing another standing ovation as he poked fun at all the political television ads that ran prior to last week's election.
"I'm going to leave you with something you've all probably heard a great deal over the last few months," Cashen said. "I'm Frank Cashen and I approve this message."
Cashen doesn't get back to New York much, preferring to spend time in his home near Port St. Lucie, Fla. But the chance to see old friends from the '86 team made the decision to come north an easy one. The Mets went 108-54 that season, storming to a division title by 21 1/2 games. Thrilling postseason victories over Houston and Boston followed, giving the club its second championship.
"It's always nice to come back to New York to be with these people," Cashen said. "They are a special group."
Johnson, who played for the Orioles when Cashen was the general manager in Baltimore in the late '60s and early '70s, was eventually fired by Cashen as skipper of the Mets. During his speech, he thanked Cashen for putting together such a spectacular team and then joked that if he had thanked his old boss sooner, he might not have gotten fired.
"He gave me the greatest group of guys I ever had," Johnson said. "Talk about chemistry. We had 25 guys who got together and could do the job. In '86, they could have managed without me."
Hernandez, who came to the Mets in a 1983 trade with St. Louis, was also effusive in his praise of Cashen.
"I guess I owe everything to Frank," Hernandez said. "He put together the deal that got me here. This is a big night for Frank, and it means a lot to me. He's a guy who achieved greatness in baseball without ever picking up a bat."
Kevin Czerwinski is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/2003/06/16/srmAuIWP.jpg
Keith Hernandez was a player during Frank Cashen's years as general manager. (Wilbur Funches/AP)
11/10/2004 11:24 AM ET
Cashen, Johnson honored at gala
Former Mets general manager reminisces at ceremony
By Kevin Czerwinski / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- Frank Cashen had to be helped on stage Tuesday night at the New York Hilton, his advancing years and poor health robbing him of much of his mobility.
While the 78-year-old Cashen needed assistance to get to the podium during the Field of Dreams Gala, he didn't need any help to win over the capacity crowd that was there to honor him and celebrate the work of the Cobble Hill Health Center. The former general manager of the Mets and architect of the great New York teams of the mid-to-late 1980s only spoke for a few moments, but he received a standing ovation after telling jokes and reminiscing about his career in baseball.
Cashen, along with Davey Johnson, the manager of those Mets teams, and Bank of America's Jeffrey Barker were the honorees at the gala, which was chaired once again by former Met Keith Hernandez. The former Gold Glove first baseman has been the driving force in fundraising for The Cobble Hill Health Center in Brooklyn, which provides care for more than 60 patients suffering from Alzheimer's Disease.
Most of the 1986 championship team was in attendance to honor Cashen and Johnson, including Darryl Strawberry and current Orioles manager Lee Mazzilli. After warming over the crowd with stories and jokes, Cashen told the crowd to believe that someday a cure for the dreaded disease would be found. He then closed with a quip, drawing another standing ovation as he poked fun at all the political television ads that ran prior to last week's election.
"I'm going to leave you with something you've all probably heard a great deal over the last few months," Cashen said. "I'm Frank Cashen and I approve this message."
Cashen doesn't get back to New York much, preferring to spend time in his home near Port St. Lucie, Fla. But the chance to see old friends from the '86 team made the decision to come north an easy one. The Mets went 108-54 that season, storming to a division title by 21 1/2 games. Thrilling postseason victories over Houston and Boston followed, giving the club its second championship.
"It's always nice to come back to New York to be with these people," Cashen said. "They are a special group."
Johnson, who played for the Orioles when Cashen was the general manager in Baltimore in the late '60s and early '70s, was eventually fired by Cashen as skipper of the Mets. During his speech, he thanked Cashen for putting together such a spectacular team and then joked that if he had thanked his old boss sooner, he might not have gotten fired.
"He gave me the greatest group of guys I ever had," Johnson said. "Talk about chemistry. We had 25 guys who got together and could do the job. In '86, they could have managed without me."
Hernandez, who came to the Mets in a 1983 trade with St. Louis, was also effusive in his praise of Cashen.
"I guess I owe everything to Frank," Hernandez said. "He put together the deal that got me here. This is a big night for Frank, and it means a lot to me. He's a guy who achieved greatness in baseball without ever picking up a bat."
Kevin Czerwinski is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/2003/06/16/srmAuIWP.jpg
Keith Hernandez was a player during Frank Cashen's years as general manager. (Wilbur Funches/AP)