Happy Birthday, Joe D

Well, here we are on Wednesday, September 13th, 2023, and I believe it’s safe to say that the New York Mets season hasn’t exactly played out the way many of us had expected it to. There’s no question that it has been a challenging year. After a winter of great hype and even greater expectations, it didn’t take long to be dealt our first gut punch of the year. Just shy of three weeks into the season, we lost our founder at MetsmerizedOnline. A man many of you knew affectionately as “Joe D,” but to me, he was simply, Uncle Joe.

There are many things that I miss and will continue to miss about Uncle Joe — but as the season reaches the homestretch — one thing in particular comes to mind. Every year around the holidays, I’d go and pick him up, and we’d drive back to my parents’ house for Thanksgiving. A month later, we’d do it again for Christmas. During those car rides, we’d typically be gearing up for the winter meetings, and it was a time to debrief and assess the baseball season. We’d talk Mets, general baseball news, the hot stove, etc. Then, he’d take me through what was new at MMO and what he was excited about. No matter what, no matter how heartbreaking or disappointing the previous season was, he’d always be hopeful about what the offseason would bring and hopeful that April would bring better baseball days.

Even when he was pessimistic or skeptical — he was still hopeful and genuinely excited about the new baseball season. And, without fail, at some point during that drive every year, he would turn to me and say, “So, what do you think about your Skankees this year?” I know I’ll miss that. For thirty-six years, he did his very best to convert me into a Mets fan, and perhaps in his final act — he succeeded. One last practical joke from Uncle Joe, where he left me with his Mets site and a band of rabid Mets fans to interact with every day.

I won’t spend time talking about the type of person he was — I think most of you already know that. It was confirmed by the overwhelming outpouring of love on MMO and across social media after his passing. The thousands of heartfelt comments and stories from those who knew him well and those who knew him only in passing, were incredible. The truth is that you all have taught me things about Joe D that I never knew – and reading through it all in the days following his death gave me and my family a great deal of comfort and closure. He lived a good life and was loved by many.

The last five months have undoubtedly been challenging – but the silver lining has been getting to meet so many wonderful, dedicated and truly gifted people since coming on board here. I’d like to thank the entire MMO staff for everything they’ve done to keep this truly special community thriving during times of uncertainty — and I’d like to thank each and every one the readers who continue to come here day after day, making it the special place that it is.

Today would have been Joe D’s sixty third birthday. I’d like to think that wherever he is, he’s hopeful and proud as the baseball season winds to a close. Hopeful because the Mets have a bright future — and proud because his beloved Metsmerized Online has a bright future, too.

Happy Birthday, (Uncle) Joe D!

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