The year is 2012 and the date is July 26th. It’s just after 6pm and the New York Mets are set to take on the Arizona Diamondbacks in a regular season matchup. Despite the later start time, the weather is a blistering 102 degrees in the harsh Arizona climate.
At first glance, this seems like any other MLB game. However, Mets fans remember this date as the debut of one of the most polarizing figures to don their uniforms: pitcher Matt Harvey. After a promising minor league career, Harvey was called up to take the rotation spot of ailing ace Johan Santana.