Full Count: The Book of Mets Poetry - Softcover

Internationally recognized poet and performer Frank Messina has appeared on SNY-TV, the station that broadcasts Mets games, in video montages that feature him reciting his poetry against the visual backdrop of glorious moments in Mets baseball. As a result, baseball fans refer to Messina as "The Mets Poet". His Mets-related poetry has seeped into the realm of pop culture, being the subject of debate and commentary in the pages of the New York Times, Sports Illustrated and on such programs as Jimmy Kimmel Live and CBS's The Early Show.

Messina has authored four books of poetry including the well-received Disorderly Conduct, and recorded over a hundred spoken word & music compositions including works from Walking Home (2007), The Long Road to Nowheresville (2004), Absorb (1999), Rage (1999) and Biting the Tongue (1998). Messina is a recipient of the Woolrich Poetry Award and Fellowship of Columbia University and was nominated for the 1995 Allen Ginsberg Poetry Award.

A resident of New Jersey, he travels worldwide giving poetry readings and readily admits that much of his Mets poetry is driven by the passion of being a diehard fan of a team that repeatedly endures dramatic victory and defeat like no other team. An example:

Do you know what it s like

To be chased by the Ghost of Failure

While staring through Victory s door?

Of course you do, you re a Mets fan!

"Frank Messina has become a classic..." (New York Times)