Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Shea Souvenir Hunters Top Yanks Bunting Bozos
By
Dave Hogarty
Published Apr 12, 2008
Modified Apr 12, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Dave Hogarty
Published Apr 12, 2008
Modified Apr 12, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Two Mets fans were arrested Wednesday at the team's home opener when they kicked a Shea Stadium seat to pieces and tried to smuggle it out of the facility. While it's not unheard of for fans to claim souvenirs during a stadium's last stand, what the pair failed to consider was that they were at the season home opener, not the final game.
A Shea security guard saw Darrell Wassil, 30, and Christopher Yatsko, 22, both of Putnam County, kicking the seat apart and then attempting to nonchalantly put the pieces under their shirts. 'Tis the season for fan stupidity: Last week, two Yankees fans tried to steal Yankees home opener bunting. They later claimed that they weren't guilty of theft so much as victims of their own stupidity.
Baseball teams are well aware of the value that venue memorabilia holds for fans--in 2003, a woman was arrested after the Phillies' last game at Veteran's Stadium, when she exited the ladies' room with a toilet seat around her neck. A good deal of Shea Stadium, including seats, will be sold after the Mets move to Citi Field. An item on a CBS Sportsline message board gave examples of expected prices for memorabilia from Yankee and Shea Stadia. Something for the true collector: a dugout urinal expected to sell for $1,000.
The Mets are playing right now: Johan Santana is making his Shea Stadium debut against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Tagged
arrest
bunting
memorabilia
mets
queens
seat
shea stadium
souvenirs
Yankees
Dave Hogarty
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
5 men charged with trespassing in 2 Manhattan manhole cases
Two people who were found soaking wet and smelling of sewage say they went underground to look for jewelry, according to police and a criminal complaint.
By
Charles Lane
Published Oct 23, 2026 at 7:49 p.m. ET
6-year-old girl breaks leg after getting hit by falling bricks in Queens
The girl was walking with her mother in Maspeth on Thursday. The Department of Buildings cited the owner of a garage for “failure to maintain” it.
By
Charles Lane
News
6-year-old girl breaks leg after getting hit by falling bricks in Queens
The girl was walking with her mother in Maspeth on Thursday. The Department of Buildings cited the owner of a garage for “failure to maintain” it.
By
Charles Lane
Mamdani extends ban on permits for new street fairs due to NYPD overtime
By
Carol Chen
Inside the Midtown Bus Terminal rebuild: Decks over Lincoln Tunnel approach, a new park
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Black couple seeking Queens apartment sues over racist text from broker
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .