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Ken Mackenzie: The Winnigest Pitcher On The Original Mets 1962 Staff (1962 - 1963)

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Kenneth Purvis Mackenzie was born on March 10, 1934, in Gore Bay, Ontario, Canada located on the North channel of Lake Huron.  The man with the thick glasses looked like a scholar, which he actually was. Ken was a graduate of the Yale class of 1956, lettering in both baseball & hockey.  Mackenzie was a six foot left hander was signed by the Milwaukee Braves in 1957. He went right to AA ball pitching in Atlanta winning 14 games. In his move up to AAA the following year he won 15 games making an impression. In 1959 he became relief pitcher mostly going 6-2at AAA Louisville making a debut in the big leagues by 1960. He saw action in just 14 games over two seasons in Milwaukee going 0-2 as a Braves reliever.  Mets Career: In October 1961, his contract was purchased by the New York Mets making him an original Met.  He would be the first Mets pitcher out of Yale University, until another famous alumnus in Ron Darling came along twenty years later.  ...
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Remembering Mets History (1960's) The Shea Stadium Usherettes & Hostesses

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1960's Shea Stadium Usherettes & Hostesses: Back in 1964 when Shea Stadium opened during the midst of the New York's World Fair, it was a grand place.   It was a major tourist attraction for New York City as World Fair guests could also catch a baseball game at the grand ballpark. Shea was the newest stadium in baseball & one of the most beautiful as well. One of its most interesting & good-looking attractions, were the Shea Stadium Usherettes & young lady hostesses. An usherette is defined as a female  hostess who greets & escorts a paying customer to their seat at a stadium or concert hall. These Usherettes only worked on the street level & field level section of the Stadium. They would greet the fans as they first entered Shea, then pointed them to the direction of the section of their seating. They did not take or rip the tickets upon entry. They were also known as 'female directors" more like a customer assistance job. The girls wou...
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Remembering Mets History (1964-1968) Mets Wives Events & Miss Universe Contestants

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  (1964) A promotional photo with some New York Mets players wives at the Shea Diamond Club.  Left to right:   Jackie Hunt, Shirley Kanehl, Rachel Altman, Annette Hunter, Martha Cisco, Nancy Willey, Carol Smith, Barbara Bearnarth, Judy Fisher, Beverly Cannizzaro, Nadine Jackson & Marie Taylor. ******************************************* (1967) Ed Kranepool publicity photo with the Miss Universe comtestants. **************************************************** (1968) A charity event photo with  New York Mets players wives .  Standing left to right:  Lavonne Koosman, Nancy Seaver, Yvonne Harrelson, Sharon Grote, Cecilia Swoboda, Nadine Jackson, Carol Kranepool & Barbara Weis.  Kneeling:   Caroline Selma, Ruth Ryan  Diane Bucheck .
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Randy Niemann: The Forgotten 1986 World Champion Mets Pitcher (1985 - 1986) Mets Coach (2009 - 2010)

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Randall Harold Niemann was born November 15, 1955, in Scotia, California to Randall &Maxxine Niemann. Randy has two sisters. The big six foot four, two-hundred-pound left hander, was drafted by the Expos then the Twins, but did not sign. In 1975 Randy did sign as the second-round pick of the AL New York club. In 1977 he was traded to the Houston Astros for Cliff Johnson & Dave Bergman. In 1978 at AA Columbus, he posted a 2.05 ERA going 9-5 record for the Astros minor league team. MLB Career: Niemann began 1979 at AAA Charleston but was called up in that May when pitcher Vern Ruhle went on the DL. He debuted on May 20th starting against the San Diego Padres. He pitched seven innings allowing just two runs but earned no decision in the 6-3 win.  In his next start he threw a complete game, one run victory over Paul Moskau & the Cincinnati Reds. On June 4th, in his third start he shut out the NL Eastern Champion Phillies on six hits. Phi...
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Ed Bouchee: 1960's Mets Utility Player & His Problems with Indecent Exposure (1962)

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Edward Francis Bouchee  was born on March 7, 1933,  in Livingston, Montana. The left-handed  hitting first baseman was signed out of Washington State University by the Spokane Indians. He batted .319 in his first season at A ball & then went off to serve two years in the Korean War.  After his military service his contract was purchased by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1955. He batted .313 at A ball Schenectady & then was promoted to AAA Miami in 1956. He hit .294 there making it to the majors for nine games in with the Philadelphia Phillies.  In his first full season (1957) he had 168 hits with 84 walks (4th in the NL) & led the league in hit by pitches (14). He had 17 HRs with 35 doubles (third in the NL) 76 RBIs while batting .293, posting a .394 on base % (third best in the NL).  At first base he led the league in errors (16) as well as assists (125) & games played (157). He was second in Rookie of the Year voting losing out to his t...
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Jeff Kent: Mid Nineties Mets Second Baseman & MLB Hall of Famer (1992 - 1996)

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Jeffrey Franklin Kent was born on March 7, 1968, in Bellflower, California a suburb of Los Angeles. His father was a motorcycle cop who didn't stand for nonsense or small talk. As a kid Kent was into motor cross & surfing, not watching baseball on TV because he later said it was too boring. His father did take him & his brother to baseball games. Kent did play baseball in little league & in school. At high school Kent & his attitude problem caused a serious run in with his baseball coach which got him removed from the team. He attended the University of California at Berkley, playing for the Golden Bears. The six foot one right hand hitter, was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 20th round of the 1988 draft. He played three brief seasons in the minors, showing power hitting 16 HRs in 1990 at AA ball. MLB Career: He got onto the Blue Jays Opening Day roster in 1992 debuting on April 12th getting his first career hit that day, a 6th inning doubl...
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