centerfield maz

Tuesday July 4, 1972: On this Fourth of July, Navy Day at Shea, it was an old-fashioned twin bill Holiday matinee followed by some fireworks at night. Yogi Berra's second place Mets (43-28) were just one game behind the first-place reigning World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates. Today the Mets hosted Don Zimmer's last place; San Diego Padres (25-47).  The Padres were playing in the franchise's fourth season, t hey would finish last in the NL West from 1969-1974, losing 100 games or more four times in that stretch. In 1972, the Padres best hitter was Nate Colbert who would hit 38 HRs & drive in 111 runs. Today for the Mets, Tom Seaver (10-4) would pitch on five days rest. an extra day than his usual four days between starts. Tom was going up against the friars' Clay Kirby (5-7). The Mets had won five of their last seven rebounding from a stretch where they had lost six of eight. They were suffering thru injuries with Rusty Staub, Tommie Agee & Cleon Jones all out of...

Sunday July 3rd, 2016: The Mets had returned home after being swept in Washington D.C. The reigning NL Champs continued to struggle, losing eight of their last twelve games. Terry Collins Mets (40-37) were hosting Joe Maddon's first place Cubs (51-27) in front of 36,137 fans at Citi Field.  The previous October, the Mets swept the Cubs in the 2015 NLCS to advance to the World Series.  The Mets picked up where they left off with the Cubs, taking the first three games of the four-game set. On this Sunday they went for the sweep. The starting pitchers were two of the best, as Noah Syndergaard (8-3) went up against Jon Lester (9-3).     In the top of the 1st, Jason Heyward doubled & scored on Anthony Rizzo's base hit. In the bottom of the 1st, Curtis Granderson returning after four games with an injured calf, hit a solo HR to tie the game. In the bottom of the 2nd Wilmer Flores started the inning with a solo HR off Jon Lester. It was his second HR of th...

Tuesday July 1st, 1969:  It had only been two weeks since Donn Clendenon had arrived on his new exciting Mets team. Mets manager Gil Hodges had perused Clendenon wanting to bring him aboard to add much needed power & run production in the lineup. When Donn did arrive, Hodges determined he was to share time at first base in a platoon with Ed Kranepool.   In his first ten games, Clendenon collected four hits in 22 at bats driving in four runs. As July began, he settled in with his new club & got more comfortable at the plate.  July 1st, 1969:  This evening the Mets dropped a double header to the Cardinals in St. Louis. In the nightcap they took an 8-5 loss with Clendenon going 2-2 with RBI singles off Mike Torrez & Joe Hoerner. Wednesday July 2nd, 1969: In this 14 inning 6-4 Mets win in St. Louis, Clendenon had his second straight multi-hit game. In the top of the 4th inning he collected an RBI single off Dave Guisti then added another hit in the...

Wednesday June 25th, 1986: A good crowd of 33,030 came out to this matinee at Shea as New York hosted Buck Rogers second place Expos (38-30). Montreal had the second best winning % in the league behind the Mets. The Mets had lost the first two games of the series with Montreal but had an eight game lead over the Expos in first place. After a seven game win streak, the Mets had lost five of seven one of the few weak points of their Championship season. The Mets sent Sid Fernandez (8-2) who was on a personal three game win streak, to the mound to face Andy McGaffigan (5-2). In the top of the 2nd inning with two outs & runner on first, former Met Mike Fitzgerald who was traded to Montreal in the Gary Carter deal, doubled to bring in the first run. In the top of the 4th Fitzgerald added another RBI double making it 2-0 Expos. Fitz had homered against his old team the night before as well. They were the only runs, Sid Fernandez gave up in his six innings of work. In the bottom of the ...