The Bookshelf Conversation: Wayne Coffey (They Said It Couldn’t Be Done)

Continuing on our theme of celebrating the Fiftieth Anniversary of the “Miracle in Flushing,” we catch up with Wayne Coffey, author of They Said It Couldn’t Be Done: The ’69 Mets, New York City, and tew Most Astounding Season in Baseball History.

The last time we spoke with Coffey, it was for his work on Mets’ knuckleballer R.A. Dickey’s well-received memoirs, Wherever I Wind Up: My Quest for Truth, Authenticity and the Perfect Knuckleball. Now the author reminds those of us who were lucky (and old enough) to live through that magical season what an astounding campaign that truly was. After all, the Mets had been the worst team in the National League since their inaugural season in 1962. Coffey explains how Gil Hodges and a combination of marquee and marginal players like Tom Seaver, Tommie Agee, Cleon Jones, Ed Charles, among others, broke that loser’s yoke at a time when New York City really needed a boost (hence the Big Apple’s inclusion in the subtitle).

As enjoyable as reading the book was, and with limited time that should not warrant revisiting the same title so soon, I’m sorely tempted to listen to the audio version, narrated by the Mets’ wonderful TV broadcaster, Gary Cohen. Coffey gave Cohen — who was actually interviewed for the book for his own memories of that watershed season — major props for his contribution and having listened to the sample on Amazon, I am inclined to agree. Cohen is the perfect complement for his boothmates and former Mets stars Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling and brings his distinctive voice to They Said….