The New York Mets and Toyota Motors hosted the family of New Rochelle firefighter Keith Morris at CitiField tonight for a game between the Atlanta Braves and Keith’s beloved New York Mets. Morris a longtime and loyal Mets fan, died tragically in a boating accident last month in the waters off Stamford, CT.
The game was broadcast nationally as the ESPN Sunday Night Baseball Game of the Week.
On hand was Keith’s parents, Steve and Linda Morris, along with his brother Drew and sister Shae, who threw out the first pitch.
“This is one of the greatest things to have to remember him.” said Linda Morris. “He was our number one Mets fan”.
The Mets organization brought the family down on to the field about an hour before game time.
About 100 New Rochelle residents came out to support the Morris Family. A caravan of cars led by a coach bus made their way from Spectators Pub in downtown New Rochelle to CitiField at 5 p.m. Sunday.
The New Rochelle crowd was dressed in light grey “Keith Morris Remembrance” t-shirts (click link to order).
As a chant of “Keith! Keith! Keith!” rang down from the upper decks, Mets management took notice. Soon security guards were directing the entire group down to the field level, near where the Morris family stood, so they could watch Shae Morris from up close as she threw out the first pitch. Afterwards, the Mets upgraded the entire group to field level seats behind home plate.
The family watched from the field as both the Mets and Braves teams were introduced. Then the cast from the Broadway musical Peter and the Starcatcher sang the National Anthem.
Finally, Shae Morris’ big moment arrived. She ran out onto the field, stood on the pitcher’s mound as Mets players took the field and raised her hands over her head in celebration. Starting Mets pitcher Jonathon Niese handed Shae Morris a baseball.
Morris delivered a split-finger fastball to Mets catcher Rob Johnson.
“That was great,” beamed Morris as she ran off the field towards her family, Mets fans all. Shae, despite the spelling of her name, is actually named after the Mets long-time ball park, Shea Stadium.
Toyota Motors worked with the Mets organization to make the night a special one for the Morris family. The game was designated Toyota Tote Bag Night. The first 25,000 fans to arrive at the park received a collectible tote bag commemorating the franchise’s 50th anniversary.
Both Niese and Johnson figured heavily in the game. Niese went on to pitch well, getting a 6-5 win after giving up six hits, walking two and striking out six in eight innings of work. Niese left the game leading 6-1. The Mets bullpen turned into a nail biter, giving up 4 runs in the ninth and leaving the tying run stranded at third base after Rob Johnson threw out Jason Heyward at first following a dropped third strike.
Article by Robert Cox and James O’Toole.
Photo Credits: Anthony Johnson (Tony Johnson Photography), James O’Toole.