Fan, ex-Met become pen pals decades later

IN 1969, Bill Parrinello, 12 years old and from Elmont, N.Y., wrote fan letters to his favorite Mets: Cleon Jones, Tom Seaver, Tommie Agee, Bud Harrelson, Ed Charles and spare outfielder Rod Gaspar, who in that championship season batted .228.

The only return he received was an autographed picture of Gaspar, with a note of thanks.

In 2005, Parrinello emailed this memory to The Ultimate Mets’ Database message board.

Last week, Parrinello received an email thanking him for his 2005 salute to Gaspar. It was from Rod Gaspar, now 76 and living in California. For real?

Parrinello was dubious. He called the number Gaspar included. After swapping obscure details of the 1969 season, he knew it was the same Met he wrote to 53 years ago. They had a nice chat, Gaspar pleased to be remembered. Pen pals for life. ➤ Sunday’s lineup: Jets at Bills, 1 p.m. CBS’ Jim Nantz and Tony Romo with the call. This game would have been baited and switched to prime time on NBC, which has Dolphins-Chargers, but CBS refused.

Good thing. The forecast for Buffalo is nearfreezing temperatures with a chance of rain and snow, dangerous driving conditions. But as Roger Goodell says, “It’s all about our fans.”

Eagles at Giants, 1 p.m. on Fox, Joe Davis and (Nurse!) Daryl “Moose” Johnston. Vaya con dios. ➤ Men’s College Basketball Games of the Week: Would you choose to be young or wise? Young Harris (Ga.) defeated Virginia-Wise, 85-76.

Bellarmine (Ky.) 110, Alice Lloyd (Ky.) 38. In that shameless stomping, Bellarmine made a school-record 23 3-pointers. One starter, playing 31 minutes, took 14 3s. Good for the Bellarmine Bullies!

Grinnell’s 111 3-point shots in its 124-67 victory over Emmaus Bible College left the winners looking very small, the bigger losers among the two Iowa colleges.