Second Thoughts

Shortstop gives a gift to celebrate

New York shortstop Ruben Tejada rewarded teammates handsomely after clinching a berth in the World Series.
New York shortstop Ruben Tejada rewarded teammates handsomely after clinching a berth in the World Series.

New York Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada didn't get to participate in the team's victory over the Chicago Cubs in the National League Championship Series, so he has become the club's biggest cheerleader instead.

Tejada suffered a broken leg in the NL division series when Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley slid into him, causing the ugly injury and weeks of debate about the need to protect infielders on such plays.

When his teammates earned a trip to the World Series with a dominating sweep of the Cubs, Tejada rewarded them and others in the organization with a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label scotch whisky. Each bottle came engraved with "NLCS Champs 2015 Keep Walking."

The generous gift went over well with his teammates, who have plenty of time to enjoy it before the start of the World Series on Tuesday night.

Not that cheap

With the New York Mets now in the World Series, ticket prices for a seat at Citi Field next week are surging.

A fan will have to shell out at least $700 just to snag a seat in the stadium if they want to watch any of their home games. That's for a cheap one, too, according to data from TiqIQ, a firm that compiles statistics about ticket prices.

In an email to Fortune, TiqIQ revealed that the average price of a Mets home game ticket is now $1,587.

Mascot on the ropes

The Philadelphia Phillies finished the season in the cellar. But that didn't keep the team's beloved mascot from engaging in some rooftop shenanigans.

The Phillie Phanatic rappelled 31 stories down the face of a skyscraper Friday. That's a 418-foot drop.

The event was a fundraiser for the Outward Bound School, which offers outdoor programs designed to build character and leadership skills.

Organizers aimed to have 100 people rappel during the all-day event. Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter was among them.

Four rope lines dangled from the 1 Logan Square office building as a rotating crowd of spectators cheered below. Participants had to raise at least $2,000 for Outward Bound.

Franklin, the furry blue canine who represents the Philadelphia 76ers, also took up the challenge.

Niners blasted

The last time the San Francisco 49ers won a Super Bowl, the roster included cornerback Deion Sanders. In a Thursday night loss to the Seattle Seahawks, the 49ers continued to look nothing like a postseason contender, and Sanders let the franchise have it.

"This San Francisco 49ers football team and the fans should be ashamed," Sanders said on CBS. "The management and ownership should be ashamed. This team is three years removed from a Super Bowl and they're putting out that product. Colin Kaepernick has nowhere to go, nowhere to throw. We're here seeing this live. No one is open. They're not blocking a soul. This is pathetic for a team that was in the Super Bowl just a few years ago. They lost a darn good coach and some really good players."

After firing (or, officially from the team's perspective, mutually parting with) Coach Jim Harbaugh, owner Jed York said that fans should hold him accountable if the team doesn't compete for championships.

It's now up to the team's fan base to hold York accountable, while still displaying loyalty to a franchise that has won five Super Bowls.

QUIZ

What year did the Phillie Phanatic became the team's mascot?

ANSWER

1978

Sports on 10/24/2015

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