Billy went to baseball games since he was 7 years old. Among the ballparks visited were Yankee Stadium, the Polo Grounds, Shea Stadium, Fenway Park, US Cellular Field, and Citifield among the majors. For minor league teams, by 2015 he saw games in Norwich CT, Toledo OH, Fort Wayne IN, Brooklyn and Staten Island NY, and Newark NJ.
On March 29, Billy agreed to play softball for the 2016 season with his firm's team, the Bees. On April 5, the team and the managers met for a lunch and blackboard session to map out the new season.
The Bees Opening Day was April 13, 2016 at Harlem River Park, located at the northern end of 3rd Avenue in Manhattan between 128th Street and the Harlem River Drive. Billy got there around 5:30 to participate in batting practice, and set up the score book for both the Bees and their opponent, Bessemer Trust. Since the Bees were the home team, Bessemer Trust came to bat first and scored first, making it 2-0 after a half inning. But the Bees scored two in the bottom of the 1st, and never looked back. Besides keeping score for both the Bees and Bessemer Trust, Billy came to bat 3 times as an extra hitter, despite having a pulled muscle in the left hip. That meant he grounded out 3 times, and was 0 for 3. But don’t let that fool you. On two of the ground outs, he advanced runners, including one from second base to home, giving him an RBI. The final score was 11-5. After the game Billy joined several of the other Bees at the Applebee’s at 5th Avenue &125th Street for some pub grub and drinks. Billy was impressed with the décor, since it plugged the music, sports, and culture of Harlem. He also liked the gorgeous brownstones that were around the corner on 126th Street. After two rounds of pub grub and one apple cider, he bid adieu to his teammates and walked over to the 7th Avenue Subway at 125th & Lenox Avenue. Unfortunately, he had about a 10-minute wait for a train and it got him to Penn quickly enough when it did arrive, but not quick enough since he missed the 9:35 train home and had to take a local to Babylon and asked Ellen & Eileen to pick him up.
Billy missed the next game, held on Monday April 18th since he had a fire department meeting, but he was there with his teammates on the 28th at DeWitt Clinton Field when they faced a team called On Deck. He kept score for the two teams but did not make it into the lineup. The Bees won 17-12.
Billy was planning to play on Friday May 6th but the game was rained out, and made up on May 9th, a Monday. That is when his fire company meets so he missed that one too (Mondays are not good softball wise). But the Bees did win 15-5 against the Empire State Ballers. Two days later Billy was able to go, and the Bees played LinkedIn at Thomas Jefferson Park up in East Harlem. As always, Billy kept score but did not make it into the lineup. But he faithfully recorded the box scores for both teams, and the Bees ended up winning 14-12 in a very close game, making them 5-0 by mid-May.
Billy made it to the game on May 18th, up in Central Park's North Meadow. This time they faced the Dark Knights, who were also undefeated. But the Bees managed to win 8-6 to go up 6-0. Billy kept score but did not make it into the lineup. Then the Bees played FIUNYC Resnick Panthers and won, making them 7-0. Billy had a Rescue Squad meeting, and since he is now the treasurer, he had to be there.
He made it to the game on June 2nd, against Kelly Drye Warren at DeWitt Clinton Park. He did not get into the lineup, but kept an accurate of the game for both teams, and recorded the Bees' first loss of the season, 8-6. Even though it was a late game, he joined his teammates at the American Retro Pub for some pub grub and once finished eating headed to Penn and the 10:30 train home.
While Billy was off on June 17th, he told the manager that he would be at the game that evening. After doing some things at home, he hopped the train to the city and planned to meet the team at Morningside Park. But while on the train he checked his e/mails to learn that the game was canceled because the other team (Clarion Partners) forfeited. Billy got off the train at Jamaica and headed back home, while the Bees got a win by forfeit.
On Father's Day the 3 of them went to a Long Island Ducks game at Bethpage Ballpark. The visiting team was the Lancaster Barnstormers, and while the Ducks took an early lead, 1-0, Lancaster came from behind to tie and then go ahead 2-1. But in the bottom of the 9th inning, the Ducks scored two runs to win 3-2. Billy also managed to get Ducks coach (and former Met) Bud Harrelson to sign and autograph for him, and also pose with him. After the game the 3 went to Kingston's Clam House in West Sayville for some great seafood.
Billy was back with the Bees on the 24th at DeWitt Clinton Park, against Buffalo S'wings. Only 11 Bees showed up, so Billy not only kept score but was an extra for the entire game. He ended up 0 for 4: a strike out, a pop out, and two ground outs (one was a double play). But the Bees ended up winning, 22-8. It was a late game so shortly after the last out he headed over to Penn for the 9:35 train home.
On June 30, the Bees played Fourth Base at Thomas Jefferson Park. As always, he kept the score for both teams, but this time did not come up to bat. It was a close game, as the Bees only won by three runs, 9-6. After the game he walked along 110th Street to Lenox Avenue to get the subway to Penn and the LIRR home.
The Bees' final game on the 2016 regular season was played on July 14th at DeWitt Clinton Park over in Hell's Kitchen. The opponent was Translate This! As always, Bill kept the score for both teams, but since it was a very close game, with the lead being changed a few times, he did not get into the game. But in the end, the Bees won 10-9, and then headed to the American Retro Pub on 11th Avenue and 51st Street for some pub grub. Billy enjoyed his teammates company, and then left around 8:50 to get the subway at 8th & 50th to ride to Penn for the 9:35 home.
Like in 2015, Billy went to the annual Partners Associates softball game, and kept score for both teams. This year it was held on the Great Lawn, field #3. The associates took the early lead but the partners came from behind to end up winning 8-5. After the game Billy joined his colleagues at Paola's at Madison Avenue & 92nd Street for a nice Italian dinner, and then enjoyed a car ride home.
The Bees made it to the playoffs again this year. Thanks to their 11-1 regular season record, they got a bye in the first round. Thanks to the rainy weather, the second round did not start until late July, and the Bees faced their opponent Translate This! At East River Park on the evening of July 29. It was an early game, 5:45 – and Billy was minding the store at the office. Once he clocked out at the usual time of 5:30, he hopped the subway to 1st Avenue & 14th Street to start the long trek to East 10th Street and the FDR Drive. He got there in the 2nd inning and the Bees were already down 5-2. He took over the scoring and had to endure more Bees’ fielding errors and base running mistakes, meaning that Translate This! won 9-8 and the Bees said “wait until next year".
While the Bees maybe done until April, Billy still has been following his beloved Mets. In July he saw a notice to donate blood at Exchange Ambulance of the Islips and get a free pair of Mets tickets. He made an appointment for the evening of August 5th, and two weeks later got an e/mail telling how to get the tickets. After a bit of frustration doing it online, he called up the ticket office and got two tickets for August 30th, against the Marlins. Since Ellen could not go and Eileen did not want to, he asked his nephew and members of Engine 2, but no dice. So after work on the 30th, he hopped the subway to Mets-Willets Point statin and walked to the park. Along 126th street he saw that the east side of the street is barricaded, and buildings are closed up or in the process of being demolished. So it looks as if this is the end of the Iron Triangle as we know it. He made it to McFadden's and got seated at a table. Unfortunately, the music was deafening. He ordered a Sea Dog blueberry lager, and a blue cheese burger. Both were good but the service was a bit slow and the music too loud. After he paid his check he went into the ballpark and headed to his seat in the promenade (nosebleed) section behind home plate. Naturally he bought a program/scorecard and meticulously kept score for both the Mets and the Miami Marlins. Since the Marlins were the visitors, they batted first and drew first blood, 2-0. But in the bottom of the first inning the Mets tied it, went ahead to 3-2, and led the rest of the game. It was 7-2 in the top of the 9th inning when Miami scored tow, but the Mets retired the sides and won, 7-4. Billy then headed to the LIRR station to get a train to Woodside and then switch for one heading east.
On Sunday September 25th, Billy went with a member of his fire company (and some family members) to Citifield to see the Mets play the Phillies. The drive was a bit rough near Route 110 and then later on the LIE near Mt. Saint Mary’s Cemetery (car accident). They finally got to Citifield in the second inning score 0-0 but soon things opened up for the Mets. Instead of the stands, they were in a suite (#227) that was in line with the first base line and not that high. Also free stadium/pub grub. A friend of Billy’s fellow firefighter got them the tickets. But soon the Mets rallied and kept scoring, thanks in part to the poor Philadelphia pitching. The final score was 17-0, pay back for the prior night’s loss. As always, Billy bought a program/scorecard and kept the score. It was a great time and Billy made sure to thank his friend for inviting him.
The Mets ended up with the same record as the San Francisco Giants (87-75) so that meant a sudden death game on October 5 with the Bay Area team. Unfortunately the Giants won 3-0 so it's "wait until next year" for the Mets fans. Over the rest of the post season, it came down to the Chicago Cubs against the Cleveland Indians for the World Series. Billy wanted the Tribe to win it all, but like with the Mets, it was not to be and On November 3, 2016 the Chicago Cubs won the World Series for the first time in 108 years!