Home Run Apple facts for kids
The Home Run Apple is a fun, giant apple that pops up at Citi Field in New York City. This special apple rises whenever the New York Mets baseball team hits a home run in their stadium. It's a cool tradition for fans! The first apple was at the old stadium, Shea Stadium, starting in 1980. The new, bigger apple was put in Citi Field when it opened in 2009. The old apple was about 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall. The new one is much bigger, standing 18 feet (5.5 meters) tall and 16 feet (4.9 meters) wide!
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The Story of the Home Run Apple
How the Apple Began
The Home Run Apple first appeared at Shea Stadium in 1980. The New York Mets wanted to make their games more exciting. They chose an apple because New York City is often called the "Big Apple". When it was first built, the apple was made of fiberboard. It would come out of a giant top hat with the words "Mets Magic" on it. A few years later, this was changed to "Home Run".
However, the Mets didn't win many games in 1980. The Home Run Apple sometimes got stuck. An electrician often had to fix it. Over time, the apple also became misshapen from bad weather. It was hard to keep it in good shape.
Saving the Apple
In 2007, the Mets announced that the Home Run Apple would be retired. But Mets fans loved it! They started a website called savetheapple.com to keep it. Many fans wanted the apple to move to the new stadium. Because of this popular demand, the New York Mets decided to build a brand new Home Run Apple for Citi Field. The old apple from Shea Stadium was placed outside Citi Field. You can still see it near the home plate entrance.
How the New Apple Works
The old Home Run Apple at Shea Stadium used a motor and pulleys to go up. The new Home Run Apple at Citi Field uses powerful hydraulics. It is controlled from a special room. Someone needs to turn a key and press a button to make it rise.
Even with better technology, the new apple has had a few problems. In 2009, when Fernando Tatís hit a home run, the apple didn't go up. Fans booed and chanted "We Want Apple!" for a long time until it finally rose. It happened again in 2017 when Travis d'Arnaud hit a home run. The apple didn't rise right away, and fans chanted again. It did go up two batters later.
Memorable Apple Moments in Baseball
When the Apple Rises
During Major League Baseball games, the Home Run Apple usually only rises for New York Mets home runs. But there was one exception in 1998. The Mets' rivals, the New York Yankees, had to play a home game at Shea Stadium. This was because of a problem at their own stadium. During that game, former Mets player Darryl Strawberry hit a home run. The Apple was partially raised for him. It stopped before the Mets logo was fully shown.
The Apple Gets a Bandage
In 2015, something funny happened. Travis d'Arnaud hit a home run that actually hit the Home Run Apple! This happened during Game 1 of the 2015 National League Championship Series. The very next day, a bandage was placed on the apple. It was put right where the baseball had hit it.
