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Steve Trachsel "The Human Rain Delay": 2006 N.L. Eastern Champion Mets Pitcher (2001 - 2006)

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Steven Christopher Trachsel was born on Halloween 1970, in Oxnard California. His parents were Betty & Roy Trachsel, a banker. Steve was the oldest of three children, which included a brother & sister. He first attended Fullerton College then transferred to Long Beach State University, getting to the College World Series there.  In his college days he had issues learning to deal with his emotions while on the mound. The six foot three, right hander was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the eighth round of the 1991 draft.  In 1992 he pitched at AA Charlotte getting promoted to AAA Iowa where he went 13-6 in 1993. As he was getting ready to pitch Game seven of the championship he was called up to the big leagues. MLB Career: He got a September call up four days after his AAA team won the Championship. He got the September 19th start against the Marlins, where he gave up just two runs in seven innings of solid work but took a 2-1 loss to Chris Hammond. In...

Andres Torres: Former New Jersey Born Mets Outfielder (2012)

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A ndres Yungo (Feliciano) Torres was born January 26th, 1978, in Patterson, New Jersey. Torres family would move him to South Florida, where he attended high school in Miami. He then went to Miami Dade College.  In 1998, the five foot ten; outfielder was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the fourth round of the draft.  MLB Career:  By 2002 Andres was brought up for parts of the three seasons with Detroit. He was granted free agency & signed with the Texas Rangers playing eight games there. He then spent three full seasons in the minor leagues signing with the Twins, Cubs, Tigers before returning to the majors with the San Francisco Giants in 2009.  After playing behind Aaron Rowand that season, he became the Giants main centerfielder in 2010.  Torres would steal 26 bases at the top of the order for the World champion Giants, hitting .268 with 16 HRs 43 doubles (4th most in the NL) 8 triples (7th most in the NL) 84 runs scored & a .343 on base %. He pl...

Remembering Mets History (1983) Looking Back At How The Mets Got Keith Hernandez

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June 15th 1983: In the summer of 1983 the Mets made one of the best trades in team history. They acquired Keith Hernandez from the St. Louis Cardinals & almost instantly turned the organization around. Quotes- Mets catcher John Stearns: "it's the biggest heist since the Thomas Crown Affair". Hernandez was one of the game's best players, defensively he had won five straight Gold Gloves at first base from 1978 to that point. He was the 1979 NL co-MVP along with Willie Stargell. That year he won the batting title, led the NL in doubles & led the NL in runs scored for the first of two straight years.  He & his St. Louis Cardinals team, were the reigning World Champions, having beaten the Milwaukee Brewers in the 1982 World Series.  In that Series, Hernandez had a huge Game #7 hit, where he tied the game with a two-run single off Bob McClure. He then scored the game's go ahead run, when George Hendrick singled him in. Hernandez had a...

Rick Ownbey: One of the Two Mets Pitchers Traded To Get Keith Hernandez (1982 - 1983)

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Richard Wayne Ownbey was born October 20th 1957, in Corona, California. There he surfed in the day & worked at the Quickset lock factory at night. The six foot three right hander was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates but he did not sign choosing to attend  Santa Anna College.   In 1980, he was drafted by the New York Mets in the 13th round getting a $2000 signing bonus. On August 22nd, in his next start at Atlanta, Ownbey gave up four runs including a HR to Glenn Hubbard taking a no decision. On August 28th he took no decision allowing two runs over seven innings over the Braves at Shea Stadium. Back to Back Complete Games: By September, Ownbey seemed to quickly matured except for his control issues. Over the next five games he walked at least six batters in every game.  On September 3rd, he gave up just one run in nine innings taking a 1-0 loss to the Reds Frank Pastore. The only run came in the 4th inning, when Ownbey balked with Dave Concepcion...