WASHINGTON -- The New York Yankees just announced the roster for their 70th annual Old Timers' Day, to be held June 12 in the Bronx. And that begs the question: Why do the New York Mets no longer have a similar annual tradition?

The Mets are bringing back the 1986 championship team this upcoming weekend to celebrate the 30th anniversary of that title. A team spokesman added, "We bring back former players throughout the season each year, which allows us the flexibility to do more with fans throughout the year."

Back in a 2009 article in The New York Times, then-Mets executive Dave Howard was more blunt, saying about Old Timers' Day: “It was particularly unpopular as a promotion. We didn’t see an increase in ticket sales or interest from sponsors or even from people who already had tickets. It died of its own unpopularity in the early ’90s. We felt we were better served by bringing our alumni back over several days instead of one day.”