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Mike Pelfrey: 2006 NL Eastern Champion Mets Pitcher (2006 - 2012)

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Michael Alan Pelfrey was born on January 14, 1984, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The six-foot seven right hander known as Big Pelf was a star pitcher at Wichita State University, hiring Scott Boras as his agent entering the 2005 draft. He was selected by the New York Mets in the 9th round & negotiated for six months before settling on a deal.   He began 2006 at A ball in St. Lucie, going 2-1 with a 1.64 ERA, moving up to AA with Binghamton where he went 4-2 with a 2.71 ERA.  Mets Career: He was called up to the Mets staff that July making his debut at Shea Stadium against the Florida Marlins on July 8th. He pitched five innings allowing three runs but got the win with the help of Jose Valentin’s grand slam HR.  On July 18th, in his second start Carlos Beltran’s grand slam helped him earn his second win & he became the first rookie to have grand slams hit for him in his first two games. Pelfrey allowed two runs in seven innings while striking ou...

Dan Norman: One of The Players the Mets Got In the Tom Seaver Trade (1977-1981)

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Daniel Edmund Norman was born on January 11, 1955 in Los Angeles, California. The six foot two switch hitting outfielder was drafted in the 15th round of the 1974 amateur draft by the Cincinnati Reds. He played through the Reds system next to outfielder Steve Henderson s getting promoted together through the minor leagues.  In 1976 he hit 17 HRs batting .273 at AA Trois-Rivieres getting promoted to AAA Indianapolis the following year. The Midnight Massacre: On June 15, 1977, he was traded along with his pal, Steve Henderson as well as Doug Flynn & Pat Zachary to the Mets for Tom Seaver in the famous “Midnight Massacre” trade.  According to former WFAN Radio talk show host, Jody Macdonald; he thought Norman was going to be a star player. He told his dad, Joe MacDonald who was the Mets GM at the time to make sure he got Norman in the trade. Coming to New York Henderson got promoted right away to the Mets team while Norman was sent down to AAA Tidewater. There he...

Kevin Mitchell: 1986 World Champion Mets Utility Player Who's Baserunning Helped Win the Classic Game Six (1984 - 1986)

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  Kevin Darnell Mitchell was born January 13, 1962, in San Diego, California. As a child he was raised by his grandmother Josie Whitfield. She encouraged him to play baseball over football which he favored. Quotes- Kevin Mitchell: "My grandmother convinced me to go with the safest sport, just to get out of San Diego."  As a teen he was living in a rough neighborhood & had to became a tough guy joining a street  gang.  Mitchell was shot three times with bullet scars on him forever to remind him of the bad times. It was b aseball  that kept him out of deeper trouble.  In 1980 he went to a New York Mets sponsored tryout & hit two HRs off Bud Black who was a minor league player at the time. He impressed the scouts & the Mets signed him as an amateur free agent. Kevin was a fan of Bill Madlock, Willie Stargell, Dave Parker & the 1979 World Champion Pirates. In the minors he batted .300 or better his first three seasons. In 1983 at AA Ja...

Kelvin Torve: Former Mets Utility Player Who Was Mistakenly Issued Uniform #24

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Kelvin Curtis  Torve was born January 10, 1960 in Rapid City, South Dakota. The six foot three inch, left handed hitter, attended Oral Roberts University at Oklahoma, where he later became a member of the school's Hall of Fame. In 1991 he was drafted in the second round by the San Francisco Giants.  Torve hit well in the minor leagues, batting over .300 three times but still spent ten years there before making the big leagues.  In 1981, Kelvin began at A ball staring his journey through the ranks of the Giants organization. In 1985 he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles organization spending three years there.  In 1988 he signed with the Minnesota Twins AAA team, where he batted over .290 two straight years. Torve was scouted as a first baseman with very little power. MLB Career: In 1988 he made his MLB debut with the Twins seeing action in 12 games going 3-16 (188). In 1989 he placed at AAA Portland in the Pacific Coast League. Mets Career: In Dece...