One of our most frequent topics of discussion over at the facebook group is the home run apple at Shea, and the mets future plans for the apple in the new stadium.

The home run apple made it's debut at Shea in 1980, and for the past 27 years, it arises out of the hat that hides it every time a mets player hits a home run. At 10 feet tall, 9 feet wide and weighing in at 582 pounds, the home run apple has become a symbol of the new york mets and their fans. The apple has undergone some changes over the years, including adding fireworks, changing the leaf design, and has been repainted many times, but the basic idea of the "big apple" emerging from a top hat every time a met hits a home run has remained.

The Mets will be moving to Citifield in 2009, and one of the most asked questions by all mets fan has been "What's gonna happen to the apple?" The Designs for Citifield all seem to include a drawing of a black top hat and an apple in center field, leading many fans to believe the tradition will be carried on to the new stadium.

There are a number of different theories on what might happen
- The other day, beat reporter Marty Noble indicated in the latest edition of Mets Mailbag that the home run apple would become a thing of the past.

"I suspect the venerable apple is fruit of the doom. I've never particularly liked it, thought it was a tad hokey. But it's grown on me. Just the same, I won't miss it."

- Earlier this month Metsblog author Matt Cerrone had indicated that he believed the apple would be auctioned off for charity, and a new more modern apple would be built for the new stadium. To me this seems like the most logical decision.

- There is however a lot of support from the diehard fans to keep the old apple and move it to the new stadium as a way to honor the past. A website called Savetheapple.com has taken this position. This idea is the sentimental play for the Mets, there is no question the apple is loved by the fans, and keeping the old one would be an important way to honor the past.

As of now, no official decision has been made on what to do with the apple.

We shall wait and see