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Sign Man of Shea Dies at 83

Posted Feb 9, 08 6:56 PM CST in Sports 

(Newser) – 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.

Source New York Times

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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...   ((c) ceonyc)
The Shea Stadium crowd awaits opening day last April. The crowds at Shea Stadium were entertained from 1964-198a by Karl Ernhardt, the Sign Man of Shea. The 83-yea-old super Mets fan dies Tuesday at 83....   (Associated Press)
Karl Ehrhardt, the Sign Man of Shea from 1964-1981, dies Tuesday. He was 83.   ((c) terryballard)
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