centerfield maz

Saturday September 7th, 2024 : The red-hot Mets were riding a season best eight game win streak, tied for the third place in the wild card race. This rainy afternoon had 34,048 fans come to Citi Field to see Carlos Mendoza's Mets (77-64) take on David Bells Reds (68-75).  The Mets moved on after learning Jeff McNeil would miss the rest of the regular season after getting hit in the wrist in last night's game. Today's pitchers, Jose Quintana (7-9) went up against Jakob Junis (4-0) who was making just his third start of the season in 21 appearances. Jose Quintana had a shaky 2nd inning issuing a leadoff walk, but the Mets defense turned a 4-6-3 double play. Quintana the gave up back-to-back singles but he then struck out Amed Rosario to end the inning. He would scatter just three more hits thru the middle of the 7th inning, leaving with a 4-0 lead.  Overall, he surrendered no runs, struck out six & walked two earning his 100th career victory to get to 8-9 on the season....

Friday September 7th, 1984:   The Mets were at one of their highest points than they had been in years. And Shea Stadium  was the place to be.  The excitement of the Davey Johnson's Mets was even more electric when young phenom; Dwight Gooden was on the mound.  Gooden was lighting up Shea all summer long, with big crowds, the K Korner in the upper deck & the wave cheer, flowing for the first time in its heyday, through the rafters.  On this night it was one of the most exciting games of the year as the second place Mets (79-62) were in the heat of a pennant race 6.5 games back Jim Frey's Chicago Cubs (85-56). Tonight, Doctor K (14-8) went up against the Cubs Dick Ruthven (5-9) in the first game of a big three game series at Shea. centerfieldmaz attended this wild game, complete with a homemade "Kill Kubs" sign. The oak tag sign featuring a Heavy Metal type character "Max" which I created. Max was swirling an axe at a little cub be...

September 1978: The 1978 Mets (66-96) finished last place under Manager Joe Torre. One of the few highlights that year was catcher John Stearns. Stearns a three time All Star with the Mets during those dark years, set a record for N.L. catchers by stealing 25 bases. On Opening Day 1978 in a 3-1 Mets win at Shea over the Montreal Expos Shea. Four days later he would swipe his second base of the year, as Craig Swan shut out the Chicago Cubs 6-0 at Shea Stadium, giving the Mets a 4-1 start to the season in front of just 3,751 fans. On April 26th, John stole his second base of the year, coming in a 1-0 ten inning loss to Bert Blyleven & the Pirates. Multi- Steal Game: On May 10th, Stearns had a big day going 2-3 hitting his first HR of the season, collecting a single & drawing two walks. In that game he also stole two bases off the Expos Gary Carter, in the 7-2 win in Montreal. On May 20th in a loss at Philadelphia, he swiped his seventh base, then two days later Stear...

Friday September 5th, 1969:   After a late August six game win streak, the Mets had gone 6-4 on their last west coast road trip of the season. They were in second place five games behind the Chicago Cubs. Meanwhile the Cubs had come off a five game win streak & the previous night's loss was the start of an eight game losing streak that would come thru New York.  Tonight Gil Hodges, New York Mets (77-56) hosted George Myatt's fifth place Philadelphia Phillies (54-80) in a double header at Shea Stadium. The first game was a make up of an April rain out. In the opener, Tom Seaver was taking the mound not only trying for a big team win but a personal goal trying to become the first Mets pitcher to win twenty games. In the top of the 1st inning, John Briggs led off the game with a bunt base hit but he was caught stealing then Seaver retired the next two batters. In the top of the 2nd, Johnny Callison drew a walk, then Deron Johnson followed with a triple scoring Callison w...