Week's Wait Nets Mets Tix
BY DAN MILLER AND LINDA J. WILSON

Number 1 Mets fan Eddie Sanchez, holding the ticket he waited on line at Shea Stadium for a week to purchase, with Mr. Met.

Bayside native Eddie Sanchez moved to the Poconos in Pennsylvania three years ago, but that didn't stop him from vying for the title of "Most Determined Mets Fan". For 14 years he was number two on line when Mets ticket windows opened on the second Sunday in March, and for the past two years he's been the first person to buy tickets. This March was no exception.

When the New York Mets opened their ticket windows on Sunday, March 11 to sell single game tickets for the 2007 regular season, Sanchez snatched up the first ticket sold.

Sanchez had waited on line during a week that saw temperatures dip to near record levels, demonstrating his devotion to the National League East Champions. (The Mets missed the 2006 National League Playoff title by one game.) A contractor, Sanchez took a vacation from his wife, three children and his job to trek to Shea Stadium on Sunday, March 4 to secure his place at the head of the singlegame ticket line. On Sunday, March 11 he bought one ticket, for the last game the Mets will play at home during the 2007 regular season on Sunday, September 30, a 1:10 p.m. match up against the Florida Marlins.

Eddie Sanchez (r.), who waited on line at Shea Stadium for a week to purchase the first ticket to a 2007 Mets home game, with (l. to r.) team mascot Mr. Met and members of the 1969 World Series Champion Mets Ed Kranepool and Ed Charles. Kranepool joined the Mets at age 17 and spent 18 seasons with the team as a star first baseman; Charles played third base with the World Series-winning team.

Sanchez was joined at Shea Stadium by former Mets heroes Ed Kranepool and Ed Charles, who congratulated him for his feat of purchasing the first single game ticket sold.

According to Sanchez being the number one Mets ticket-buying fan is easy:

"My secret; take a vacation from your wife, family and job, and be prepared with food to last you for a week. Yes! You must also love the Mets."

Besides his ticket-buying fervor, Sanchez demonstrates his love for the team with his car. It has more Mets' auto-

graphs than any other vehicle in the world. Sanchez has offered his Metsmobile for the New York Mets to use at the Stadium; the team has yet to take him up on his offer.

The defending National League East Champion Mets open their 81-date home schedule on Monday, April 9 against the divisional rival Philadelphia Phillies. Tickets for select single games start at $5. Nearly 725,000 seats for 36 games of the 2007 season are priced at $9 or less.

Mets fans can purchase single game tickets:

+ At Mets.com and LosMets.com, + By calling the Mets Ticket Office at 718-507-TIXX,

+ At Shea Stadium (Advance Ticket Window and Group Sales Office),

+ At the Mets Clubhouse Shops, in Manhattan on West 42nd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues or the Manhattan Mall at Herald Square, or at Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City, Long Island,

+ At KeySpan Park in Brooklyn, or

+ By phone for Disabled Seating at 718-565-4360; and TDD at 718-672- 9163.

Fans will have the same inventory availability online at Mets.com and LosMets.com or the 718-507-TIXX phone line as will those waiting on line at Shea Stadium. Fans interested in taking the No. 7 line to Shea should note there will be a disruption of service on Sundays. due to weekend construction and trains will not run between Times Square and 61st Street/Woodside. Instead fans can take the E, F or R lines to 74th Street/Roosevelt Avenue to connect to the 7 line that will run to Willets Point/Shea Stadium.