Sign Man of Shea Dies at 83

Karl Ehrhardt entertained Mets fans with his placards from 1964-1981
By Mitch Pritchard,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 9, 2008 6:56 PM CST
Sign Man of Shea Dies at 83
A Mets fan at Shea Stadium holds up a "We Believe" sign during a game. The sign was likely inspired by Karl Ernhardt, who was known as the Sign Man of Shea from 1964-1981. He held up timely block-lettered placards at dozens of games each season from his box seats. During the Miracle Mets 1969 World...   ((c) ceonyc)

Karl Ehrhardt, known as the Sign Man of Shea, died Tuesday at his home in Glen Oaks, Queens, reports the New York Times. The 83-year-old was known for holding up his timely 20-by-26-inch placards in dozens of games at Shea Stadium each season from 1964-1981. He became famous during the 1969 World Series when he cheered on the Miracle Mets.

Ehrhardt, who designed advertisements, held up his block-letter signs that read "Believe In Miracles" and "There Are No Words" when the Mets finished off the Baltimore Orioles. The German immigrant had more than 1,200 signs at his home and brought a large bag full to each game. “I just called them the way I saw them,” he said in 2006. (More New York Mets stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X