On 50-Year-Old Tape, Sounds of Mets’ Awkward First Steps.

It was 50 years ago Saturday that the Mets played their initial spring training game, an 8-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. There was nothing surprising in that result, considering the Mets went on to win only 40 games all season, a record for futility that still stands.

But what is somewhat intriguing is the identity of the first announcer to greet listeners of the game’s radio broadcast. It wasn’t Ralph Kiner or Bob Murphy or Lindsey Nelson, all of whom were on hand for the start of what would be their long collaboration chronicling the team’s fortunes.

Instead, the first voice coming out of the radio belonged to none other than Howard Cosell, still emerging at that point as a larger-than-life personality in American sports.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/10/sports/baseball/on-50-year-old-tape-sounds-of-mets-awkward-first-steps.html?src=dayp

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Note other stories on front page: Phils moved team out of Clearwater due to anti-integration policy at motel.

AND Mantle and Boyer homered in first pre-season game in new facility in Ft. Lauderdale.