SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) – An American tradition has returned to Syracuse. Baseball is back, but for season ticket holder Mary Helen Rizzuto, today has a little more meaning.
Rizzuto has been a season ticket holder for around 10 years. Alongside her was her mom, Marie Miczan, at every single game.
“My mother was also a season ticket holder,” Rizzuto said. “She just recently passed away, so we’re honoring her today. We’ve got her seat there and her favorite beverage. This is gonna be the first season she’s not here with us.”
TRANSCRIPT
DREW: Mary Helen Rizzuto is a lifelong Syracuse baseball fan who has held season tickets for the past 10 years, with her mom sitting next to her at every game. However, today is a bit different than in years past.
MARY HELEN: My mother was also a season ticket holder, she just recently passed away, so we’re honoring her today. We’ve got her seat there and her favorite beverage. This is gonna be the first season she’s not here with us.”
DREW: Mary Helen has been coming to these games long before she bought season tickets, reminiscing on the old giveaways and memories she made as a kid when her family would go to the ballpark.
MARY HELEN:We would come very regularly as a family all growing up at the old MacArthur Stadium. They’d give away full sized bats and batting helmets as, you know, the giveaway gifts and things like that.
DREW: And with her mom being so involved with the team for years, the General Manaer, Jason Smorol, is even planning something special for her at the ballpark.
MARY HELEN: Family’s with me, and baseballs been a big tradition we’re gonna do a celebration of life here at the stadium with Jason later in the season.
DREW: And while this season may be different, she’s still grateful for the support of her fellow season ticket holders, like her close friend Bob Crabtree, who have sat with her game in and game out for the last decade.
MARY HELEN: We have a whole baseball family here. You know Bob Crabtree, I met him here, we’ve been fast friends for the past five, six, seven years. I’ve got a whole baseball family here, and we see each other outside of the season, not just in season.
DREW: With her family and friends all together, with that empty seat in the ballpark, they still enjoyed their traditional Syracuse Mets Opening Day, with the comfort of each other. In Syracuse, Drew Matyasik, NCC News. WITH HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS ALL TOGETHER, WITH THAT EMPTY SEAT IN THE BALLPARK, THEY STILL ENJOYED THEIR TRADITIONAL SYRACUSE METS OPENING DAY, WITH THE COMFORT OF EACH OTHER. IN SYRACUSE, DREW MATYASIK, N-C-C NEWS.
Now, before she was a season ticket holder, Rizzuto would go to games all the time with her family. Memories that she keeps close to her heart all these years later.
“We would come very regularly as a family all growing up at the old MacArthur Stadium,” Rizzuto said. “They’d give away free full-sized bats and batting helmets as the giveaway gifts.”
With her family being involved in the team for years, she teamed up with Syracuse Mets General Manager Jason Smorol to honor her mom in a special way.
“Baseballs been a big tradition, we’re gonna do a celebration of life here at the stadium with Jason (Smorol) later in the season,” Rizzuto said.
While the season may feel different, Rizzuto is still grateful for the support of her fellow season ticket holders. People like Bob Crabtree, with whom she has been friends for nearly seven years since he got season tickets next to her. A friendship like the many others she’s met through Syracuse baseball.
“Bob Crabtree, I met him here we’ve been fast friends for five, six, seven years. I’ve got a whole baseball family here, and we see each other outside of the season, not just in season,” Rizzuto said.
With her family and friends all together, with her mom’s empty seat in the ballpark, they still enjoyed their opening day. Keeping mom’s seat warm, and with the comfort of each other.
