Hunt And Ye Shall Find

As we reported here, 24 Hours...April 25, 2009, Ron Hunt, the former Mets 2nd baseman, who finished second in the 1963 Rookie of The Year balloting, was the first Mets All Star starter (1964), got the first hit, and hit the first HR at Shea (1964), wanted a pair of seats from Shea. The Mets offered to sell the seats to Hunt, but not give him the seats. Hunt, understandably, was very upset, telling the Mets, “I played for 7,000 dollars [a year] and had to play for four years to get a pension. If you can't get me two seats, then stick them up your --.”

Well Ron, there are Angels Among Us. As reported by Ken Davidoff - Newsday, Louise Peluso of Bayville, NY, a former Brooklyn Dodger and current NY Mets fan was able to lend a hand.

Ms. Peluso had purchased a pair of seats for the selling price of $869. A friend of her brother said he was interested in a pair, so Peluso purchased a second set of seats. Those seats were housed in her garage, while the first pair she bought would “ look perfect in her living room.”

Pelsuo never had another conversation with her brother's friend, so when hearing of Hunt's plight after reading Davidoff's original article on this subject, she said while speaking with Hunt, “It just hit me that I had to give them to you.”

Said the 88 year old Peluso, "Here he did so much. To make seven thousand dollars! The ballplayers today probably make that in 15 minutes."

This act of kindness touched Hunt, 68. Hunt upon learning of the gift, "I've never forgotten the support I got from New York fans." Hunt looks forward to meeting Ms. Peluso this summer when in NY for appearances.

Peluso summed it up best saying, "I feel like I made a new friend today." I am sure Ron Hunt feels the same way.

It is so easy to get lost in what is most important when working in large business like baseball. The most important thing to remember is what gets you to this level. It is the players who play their hearts out for their team, and the fans who root for their team during good times and bad. A lousy $869 is nothing in big business world of baseball, when that money could easily be absorbed to thank a player who left his heart and soul on the field everyday he played.