Mets merchandise flying off the shelves as team heads to World Series

NEW YORK (WABC) -- As the New York Mets get ready for their first World Series in 15 years, fans are snapping up Mets merchandise from area sporting goods stores.

At the Modell's by Penn Station, some of the hottest items were Mets caps with the World Series logo on it.

Not to mention ugly Mets sweaters and scarves for 'November' baseball.

Alex Ruiz was stocking up on that Mets World Series gear. He says he's loading up now, because you never know when it'll happen again.

"I was here 6 o'clock in the morning and the place was going nuts," he said. ("You were here and you're back again?", we asked.) "I was in Times Square at the Mets clubhouse shop looking for these hats and these hats are the hottest thing in the world," saod Ruiz.

And the Amazins are so amazing right now that there are even converted fans.

Like one guy who says he used to root for that other team in pinstripes up in the Bronx.

"I'm originally a Yankee fan, I know people aren't gonna like that. But in like 2007, 2008 I turned into a Mets fan," he said.

("So what converted you?") "I switched over, I'm not gonna lie, my favorite players used to be David Wright and Jose Reyes, I used to love the two together. And the colors, the colors are better than the regular pinstripe."

Hey buddy, switching allegiances because of team colors? I'm not so sure how cool that is. But hey, at least you made the switch when the Mets weren't red hot, so you're not a bandwagon fan.

But whether you're a converted fan, casual fan, or die hard, that Mets fever is catching on.

It's been a long wait for fans, 15 years since their team last won the NL pennant.

And fans say this year's team is made of champions. Robbie Hecker sported his throwback Lenny Dykstra jersey for good luck, a key player on that last Mets team that won it all in 1986.

"The pitching is way too good to be beat this year. We've already proven it getting through the Dodgers and the better Cubs lineup. I hate to say it so I'll say it quietly. Shh we're gonna win the World Series," said Hecker.

Meanwhile the owner of Modell's, Mitch Modell, is not as superstitious.

He says to stay ahead of the curve, they started printing Mets gear days ago, so they could open stores right after the last out Wednesday night, to roll out the Amazin' gear.

"At 2-0 and 3-0 we started printing merchandise because we knew it'd be a logistics issue," said Modell. "So we had 53 stores open last night which was never done ever in the history of our company."