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Glendon Rusch: 2000 N.L. Champion Mets Pitcher (1999-2001)

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Glendon James Rusch was born on November 7, 1974, in Seattle, Washington. The six foot two, left hander was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 17th round of the 1993 draft. After his first two seasons pitching in pro ball, Rusch had a great season in 1995 at A ball Wilmington going 14-6 with 1.74 ERA. He then was pushed right up to AAA Omaha, the next year winning 11 games (11-9) posting a 3.98 ERA with 117 strike outs in 169 innings. MLB Career: He was brought up to the Royals staff in 1997 & won his first start, pitching eight shutout innings in Milwaukee against the Brewers. He went on to win six games in each of his first two seasons but posted losing records.  In 1998 he lost 15 games which were fourth most in the league. He spent most of 1999 at AAA Omaha going 4-7 with a 4.74 ERA.  Traded: In mid-September of 1999 he was traded to the New York Mets for Dan Murray who had pitched just two innings allowing three runs that month as a Met. Met...
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Ron Hodges: 1973 N.L. Champion Mets Reserve Catcher (1973 - 1983)

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Ronald Wray Hodges was born on June 22, 1949, in the rural town of Rocky Mount, Virginia. He was one of nine children to Daisy & Anthony Hodges. Although he shared the same name, he was not related to Gil Hodges in any way. The six-foot one catcher attended Appalachian State University where he was drafted three different times. First by the Baltimore Orioles (1970) then the Kansas City Royals & Atlanta Braves, (1971) but didn’t sign with any of those teams.  In 1972 the Mets offered him a bonus & he did sign, as a second-round draft pick.  Hodges spent the season at A Ball Pompano Beach bashing 15 HRs with 15 doubles & 48 RBIs in 112 games. In 1973 Hodges was playing at AA Memphis, hitting only .173 but all of a sudden, things changed very quickly.  In June he was called up to the Mets big league squad when catchers' Jerry Grote & Jerry May went down with injuries. Hodges was needed to help back up Duffy Dyer, who had t...
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Cal Koonce: 1969 World Champion Mets Pitcher (1967-1970)

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Calvin Lee Koonce was born on November 18, 1940, at Fayetteville, North Carolina. The six-foot right-handed pitcher attended Campbell Town University.  In his freshman year with the Fighting Camels he earned All American honors. Koonce was a star & basketball player getting elected to the schools Hall of Fame. Trivia: Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry & his brother Jim Perry also attended Campbell University  In 1961 Koonce signed with the Chicago Cubs. Koonce was in the major leagues the next season, making relief appearances in his first two outings. On April 27th, 1962he made his first start, pitching a complete game one run victory in St. Louis against the Cards.  One Hitter: On July 13th he pitched the best game of his career, it came at Wrigley Field against the Cincinnati Reds. In the 4th innings he allowed a base hit to the Reds; Don Blasingame, but he then retired the next 17 batters in a row, finishing off a one hit shutout. He pit...
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