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Remembering Mets History (2011) Carlos Beltran & Jason Bay Hit Grand Slams HRs Breaking Mets Grand Slam Drought

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Tuesday June 28th, 2011: Terry Collins Mets (39-39) were on the inter league road trip in the Motor City to play Jim Leyland's Detroit Tigers.  The Tigers would finish first that season beat the AL New York team in the ALDS then lose to Texas Rangers in the ALCS. The Tigers would win four straight AL Central tiles (2011-2014) getting to the 2012 World Series where they lost to the San Francisco Giants. A crowd of 28,480 came out to Comerica Park as knuckleballer R.A. Dickey took on Rick Porcello. Porcello would win double figures six straight years. In 2016 with Boston, he led the AL with 22 wins then followed leading the league with 17 losses. The Mets came into the game winning four of their last five games.  In the top of the 1st, Jose Reyes led off with a base hit. With two outs, Reyes appeared to be picked off first base, but Rick Porcello's throw went past Miguel Cabrera & Reyes went into second base. The Mets got back-to-back RBI doubles from Daniel Murphy & Ang...

Remembering Mets History (1974) Jon Matlack Tosses His Second Career One Hitter

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Saturday June 29th, 1974: A crowd of 37,317 came to Shea Stadium to see Yogi Berra's struggling last place, Mets (30-42) host Red Schoendienst first place St. Louis Cardinals (38-34).  The Mets were still the reigning NL Champions, but injuries & poor offense made for a fifth-place finish in 1974.  Tom Seaver was struggling thru his mechanics & had just gone on the disabled list after his last start. He went on the worst season of his career. The Mets came into this game having won three of their last four, sweeping a series with the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Today the Mets sent Jon Matlack (5-5) to the hill to face the Cards John Curtis (4-7). Matlack had lost his last four decisions & had given up twenty earned runs in his last 51.2 innings although his ERA was still a low 2.68. Prior to that Matlack had won five of his first six with a 1.89 ERA. In the top of the 1st inning, Matlack started the game striking out Lou Brock.  Lou Brock ...

Remembering Mets History (1975) Casey Stengel's Last Appearance Comes in Style on Old Timers Day

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  Saturday June 28th, 1975- Old Timers Day at Shea: It was on this festive Old Timers Day that "the Old Professor" Casey Stengel would make his final appearance at Shea Stadium. Casey was just one month shy of his 85th birthday. Sadly, three months later he would pass away. The Mets always had grand celebrations on their Old Timers Day festivities. Today, Casey made a grand entrance on a Roman  Chariot led by a pair of white horses. He was wearing his legendary Mets uniform #37 clutching the reigns holding a whip circling the third base box seats. The chariot also featured an escort wearing a golden helmet to assist Casey.  Quotes-Casey Stengel: "I don't worry about Old Timers Day; I only worry if I'm strong enough & got enough health to get out there. I had the flu this winter & they said I was done, but I had a hundred write ups since then". Some of the fifty former players on hand that day were legends Willie Mays, Yogi Berra, Ralph Kiner, Joe...

Remembering Mets History (2015) Steve Matz Earns a Victory & Has Multi-Three Hit/ Four RBI Game at Bat in His MLB Debut

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Sunday, June 28th, 2015: At this point in the 2015 season, the Mets were at a low point. They had won just five of their last sixteen games, recently coming off a seven game losing streak.  They were not hitting with injuries to David Wright, Daniel Murphy & Travis d'Arnaud contributing to that problem. They had now fallen 4.5 games behind the first place Washington Nationals .  On this Sunday matinee, 29,640 fans were at Citi Field as the Mets hosted Bryan Price's Cincinnati Reds (34-39). Today was the much anticipated debut of the highly touted prospect & native Long Islander, Steven Matz. That season, the Mets 2009 top pick, Matz was 7-4 with 94 strike outs in 90 innings at AAA Las Vegas. Steven Matz took the mound with a large cheering section behind him as his parents, grandparents, other family members & a few friends were all in attendance. The previous game had been suspended on Saturday night tied 1-1 in the 7th inning due to rain. It was resumed on Sun...

Remembering Mets History (2000) Mike Piazza Sets Club Record Driving In Runs in 15 Straight Games

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From June 14th, 2000, to July 2nd, 2000, Mike Piazza set a club record driving in at least one run in 15 straight games: Wednesday June 14th, 2000: Bobby Valentines New York Mets salvaged a game at Wrigley Field in Chicago avoiding a sweep from Don Baylor's Cubs. Tonight Mike Piazza hit his 17th HR of the year, collecting two hits & three RBIs in the 10-8 Mets win. It was the start of a record 15 game stretch where Pizza would drive in at least one run, setting a Mets record with 15 straight games driving in at least one run. The Mets would move up I-94 north to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where they would take three of four games from the Milwaukee Brewers.  June 16th -17th, 2000:  Piazza hit his 18th HR of the year, a two-run shot off Steve Woodward. He collected two hits in the 7-1 win, helping Al Leiter get to 8-1 on the season.  The next night the Mets would take a 3-2 loss. Piazza would collect two mor hits & have an RBI single. He was now b...

Remembering Mets History (2008) Carlos Delgado Sets Club Record With Nine RBI Game

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Friday June 27, 2008:   On this afternoon, the Mets played a day/night cross town subway series double header. The afternoon game was a make-up from a previous rain out.  At this point, the Mets were hanging around the .500 mark, three games out of first place. Ten days earlier they had fired manager Willie Randolph replacing him with bench coach Jerry Manuel. Carlos Delgado was hitting some HRs but having a tough year entering this game he was batting .229 & on a stretch where he was 2-22. In the first game of today's split double header, in the Bronx, Mike Pelfrey (4-6) went up against Dan Giese (1-2).  In the top of the 1st, Luis Castill drew a one out walk then stole second base. David Wright singled to left field bring in Luis with the first Mets run. In the bottom of the 1st, Mike Pelfrey struck out the first two batters but walked Bobby Abreu, then gave up singles to Alex Rodriguez & Jason Giambi tying the game. In the top of the 3rd, Luis Castillo re...

Remembering Mets History (2019) Seaver Way Officially Named Along Citi Field

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June 27th, 2019: On this sunny afternoon the New York Mets & the City of New York officially named a section of 126th St along Citi Field, Seaver Way. The new address to Citi Field was now officially 41 Seaver Way, in honor of the greatest Met of All Time & the uniform number 41 in which he wore. Although Seaver himself was not well enough to attend, he was represented by his two daughters Sarah & Ann along with their families. Tom Seaver's 1969 World Champion Mets teammates Bud Harrelson, Jerry Koosman, Jerry Grote, Cleon Jones & Ron Swoboda were also on hand for the official street & address naming. Also on hand were Queens councilman & Cardinal Timothy Dolan. On this day the Mets CEO Jeff Wilpon also announced that the Tom Seaver statue would be coming to Citi Field the following year. Quotes- Sarah Seaver (Zaske): "His message to us is the work is in your heart, that puts a pep in your step. Show how excited you feel. Work your rear end off & ...