J-E-T-S Mets Mets Mets!

Gang Green played its first game at Shea Stadium on this date in 1964, pulverizing the Denver Broncos before 52,663 fans. I personally like to believe 6-year-old Gary Cohen was among them, citing precedents.

The 30-6 rout was a record margin of victory in the four-year-old AFL, which would merge with the NFL only after Joe Namath and the Jets shocked the world in Super Bowl III. 1969: a good year for Shea Stadium.

In 1984, the Jets moved out the burbs.

Birthdays

• Luis Castillo turns 37 -- no, not 55! A Met in the glory years of 2007-2010, the second baseman hit a little (.277), got on base (.366), but could never reach the outfield in under two bounces (.324 SLG). Perhaps it was because he never swung with a 0-0, 0-1, 1-0, 2-0, 2-1, 3-0, or 3-1 count. Speaking of birthdays, he dropped the ball literally on mine (A-Rod's). I liked Castillo more than most fans, though, because he was an island of competency in 2009.
• Mickey Lolich (turns 71) beat Bob Gibson in Game 7 of the '68 World Series, which takes doing. His long-time team, the Tigers, traded him to the Mets in '76, where he struggled and retired. Back in Detroit, he opened a doughnut shop.
• Mario Ramirez (turns 54) played 18 games at shortstop in 1980. The Padres nabbed him in the Rule 5 draft. Tito Navarro (turns 32) went one for 17 in his only major league season, 1993. He played short, too. Keith Hughes (turns 34), an outfielder, played three games with the 1990 club.