Posts

Cookie Rojas: Former Mets Coach Appearing in Two Mets Post Seasons (1997 - 2000)

-
Image
Octavio Victor Rojas Rivas was born on March 6, 1939, in Havana Cuba.  Moniker: His mother gave him the nickname "Cuqui" meaning adorable & it eventually found it's way to Cookie, the name stuck his whole life. Born into an upper middle class family, his father wanted him to be a doctor, but Octavio wanted to play baseball for the Havana Sugar Kings. At the time Havana was an affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. Reds Career: In 1956 he was eventually signed by the Reds as a second baseman at the age of 17. In 1959 although they won the International League title the team moved to Jersey City, NJ the next year to avoid the turmoil in Cuba & the chance Fidel Castro would nationalize the team. In 1962 Cookie debuted as the Reds starting second baseman in the first game ever played at the new Dodger Stadium. A week later he got his first career hit, that coming off the great Dodger Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax. After one season with the Reds he was traded to the Phi...
Read more

Al Leiter: (The Mets Years) 2000 N.L. Champion Mets Pitcher (1998 - 2004)

-
Image
Mets Career: Al Leiter debuted  with the Mets  on April 2nd, in the second game of the 1998 season. In six innings of work, he gave up three runs on seven hits to the Phillies at Shea Stadium taking a loss to Mark Portugal. On April 7th, Leiter earned his first Mets victory. It came at Wrigley Field in a 3-2 Mets win. In that game he hit a two run double off Germi Gonzalez in the 4th inning. Al won his next three starts closing out April at 3-1.  On April 14th, he shut out the Cubs for seven innings at Shea Stadium, striking out six. Facing Germi Gonzalez again in the 4th inning, he drove in two runs with a single in the Mets four run 4th inning. In the year he batted .106 with six hits & the four RBIs. On April 19th Leiter shut out the Reds for another seven innings in Cincinnati, earning his second win. Leiter would throw 25 straight scoreless innings from April 14th through May 4th, when he gave up a 6th inning run. Shut Out: On May 23rd at S...
Read more