The stands were not full that day. Capacity at the Polo Grounds was 54,500, but on the afternoon of Oct. 3, 1951, only 34,320 paid their way in — 60 cents for bleachers, $1.25 for general admission…

You are the Captain, and so you must weigh what’s best for the team – as well as for yourself.

Andre Drummond is not going to fear filling Mitch Robinson’s size 15s. He is not going to worry about filling Mitch’s old No. 23 jersey.

They are limping now, literally and figuratively. They are wounded. They look ready to go. And it is time for them to go.

They are limping now, literally and figuratively. They are wounded. They look ready to go. And it is time for them to go.

Andre Drummond is not going to fear filling Mitch Robinson’s size 15s. He is not going to worry about filling Mitch’s old No. 23 jersey.

Now comes the flip side. Now comes the turned page, the next chapter, the Season After.

Now comes the flip side. Now comes the turned page, the next chapter, the Season After.

The sad truth about the legend of Joe Willie is this: there was a flip side, and a dark, depressing one. He had the heart of his career stolen from him. It’s the part we rarely talk about.

The sad truth about the legend of Joe Willie is this: there was a flip side, and a dark, depressing one. He had the heart of his career stolen from him. It’s the part we rarely talk about.

And like that – like that – a Giants season that began with such optimism and quickly powered up to genuine hope felt like something else entirely.

And like that – like that – a Giants season that began with such optimism and quickly powered up to genuine hope felt like something else entirely.

Do you kick or do you receive?

This one hurts. This one stings. Ernie Accorsi was a great many things in a full, vibrant life that spanned 84 years before that enormous heart of his was stilled at last Saturday night.

This one hurts. This one stings. Ernie Accorsi was a great many things in a full, vibrant life that spanned 84 years before that enormous heart of his was stilled at last Saturday night.

You don’t often get the opportunity to make sweeping statements to countermand history like that. But the Jets do now.

There was something that was bothering me after watching Pete Alonso at Citi Field this week.

Even in a jaded age of sports, there are still feel-good things you can root for.

As the days grow shorter, so do the opportunities to listen to a genuine virtuoso at work.

As the days grow shorter, so do the opportunities to listen to a genuine virtuoso at work.

He tossed the bat away triumphantly and took this 360-foot tour of the bases for the 300th time.

He tossed the bat away triumphantly and took this 360-foot tour of the bases for the 300th time.

Oh, and two other things happened that day, Sept. 13, 2009. In Houston, the Jets dominated the Texans in Houston, 24-7. In East Rutherford, the Giants beat Washington, 23-17.

Oh, and two other things happened that day, Sept. 13, 2009. In Houston, the Jets dominated the Texans in Houston, 24-7. In East Rutherford, the Giants beat Washington, 23-17.

Stearns was rescued by Tong completing his 1-2-3 inning, and then by a quick-thinking Citi Field staffer who put Howie Rose’s picture on the scoreboard.

Sunday, 3,623 days after his last Gang Green word, Geno Smith got to start a fresh chapter on his life as a Jet. It was a good read.

Sunday, 3,623 days after his last Gang Green word, Geno Smith got to start a fresh chapter on his life as a Jet. It was a good read.

Pitino has never said goodbye to Billy Minardi, either, not really.

One awful day, almost 25 years ago, Bobby Valentine — like so many of us — asked the same question: “What can I do?”

One awful day, almost 25 years ago, Bobby Valentine — like so many of us — asked the same question: “What can I do?”

Great voices, like great athletes, aren’t often treated well by time. But there are exceptions ..

Lou Holtz had come prepared to celebrate his first victory as an NFL coach, even if it didn’t count.

Lou Holtz had come prepared to celebrate his first victory as an NFL coach, even if it didn’t count.

Mostly, the teams just hope to escape this last weekend of pretend games unscathed.

After 2,004 games with ABS, we have lived in these new times long enough to make a vast number of educated opinions and draw a reasonable amount of conclusions.

Look, despite what many think, Cashman has not been named GM for life.

A slow start likely derailed his Rookie of the Year campaign. His turnaround has pointed to bigger things.

A slow start likely derailed Nolan McLean’s Rookie of the Year campaign. His turnaround has pointed to bigger things.

Bill Walton’s eyes got misty. The smile — that million-watt smile that lit up every room, every gym, every Grateful Dead venue he ever walked into — dimmed. This was the one subject that coul…