Posts

Remembering Mets History (1969) Mets Have Second Six Game Win Streak of August & Win Twelve of Thirteen Games

-
Image
The Mets six game win streak ended when they dropped the final game of the series with the Giants. After coming back from being down 6-2, they lost the game in the 10th inning when Ken Henderson tripled off Ron Taylor scoring Don McMahon. It was just the second loss Ron Taylor suffered since June 25th. Now Walt Alston's Los Angeles Dodgers (67-55) came in for a three game series. The Dodgers had won 10 of their last 14 games getting them into first place in a tight NL West, where the Reds, Giants & Braves were all within 1.5 games. Friday August 22nd: Jerry Koosman (10-8) started the opener against Bill Singer (14-8). In the bottom of the 2nd, Wayne Garret led off with a walk, then Ron Swoboda hit his fourth HR of the year, a two run shot giving him his second straight multi-RBI game. In the bottom of the 3rd, three Mets singles from Tommie Agee, Cleon Jones & Art Shamsky made it 3-0. A passed ball charged to Dodger catcher Jeff Torborg allowed Cleon Jones to score giving ...
Read more

Remembering Mets History (2022) Mets Old Timers Day & Willie's #24 Retired

-
Image
August 27th, 2022: The Mets 2022 Old Timers Day was an absolute amazing success.  It was the first Mets Old Timers Day celebration in 28 years the last being at Shea Stadium in the 1994 season. In 2022, the Mets brought back 65 former players & their families celebrating sixty years of Mets baseball. Also, on this historic day the organization surprised everyone by honoring Willie Mays & finally retiring Willie's #24.  I have always been a strong advocate of the Mets' honoring Mays. The old ownership, who ruined the organization, never fully appreciated or respected past Mets history. The Wilpon's had completely ignored the importance of Willie Mays to the Mets.  Thanks to Steve Cohen who has put a winning product on the field as well as honoring Mets history with celebrations & retiring uniform numbers.  As a kid & ultimate diehard fan in the early seventies, the 1973 Mets Pennant team holds a special place in my heart. When Willie Mays came to the ...
Read more

Remembering Mets History (2015) Bartolo Colon's 31 Scoreless Innings Streak

-
Image
2015 was an up & down year for Bartolo Colon, he began the year at 4-0 and got as good as 6-1 with a 3.30 ERA by mid-May. By mid-June he was at 9-4 until he hit a snag and lost his next six decisions. As August began, he finally earned a win in Miami, allowing just one run in seven innings. His next starts were up & down as he was 10-11 with an ERA near five by late August, then the ageless wonder went on a record setting roll. August 26th: On this night Bartolo Colon took the mound for the first place Mets (70-56) in Philadelphia, against Pete Mackanin's last place Phillies (50-77). The Mets gave Colon a quick 3-0 lead as they jumped on starter Jerad Eickhoff in the 1st inning. Curtis Granderson reached on an error; Yoenis Cespedes then reached on an infield single. As Daniel Murphy grounded out, Grandy scored making 1-0. Michael Cuddyer doubled down the left field line scoring Cespedes & Cuddyer would score on a Michael Confort...
Read more

Remembering Mets History (1996) Mets Fire Manager Dallas Green & Hire Bobby Valentine as a New Winning Era Begins

-
Image
August 26th, 1996: On this day the Mets VP Joe McIlvaine fired Mets manager Dallas Green. Quotes: Joe McIlvane : ''We haven't done as well as we anticipated. Progress has been slower than expected. Our hope with this change is the younger players will begin to blossom some more, to come up to that major league level, to begin to make more significant contributions." In May 1993, the 62-year-old Green had taken over as manager of the Mets replacing Jeff Torborg who had taken the club to a 13-25 record up to that point of the season. When Green took over the Mets went 46-78 the rest of the way finishing in last place.  In the strike shortened 1994 season, the Mets finished third (55-58) in the newly aligned National League which now included a Central Division.  In 1995 New York finished below .500 once again (69-75) but did end up in second place to the Atlanta Braves.  Now five months into the 1996 season, the club was in fourth place (59-72) having...
Read more

Remembering Mets History (2003) Steve Trachsel Tosses His Second One Hit Shutout of the Season

-
Image
Monday August 18th, 2003: In an afternoon matinee at Shea the fifth place Mets (54-69) hosted Clint Hurdle's fourth place Colorado Rockies (61-66). The Mets were on a five-game win streak & after today's victory, would have their biggest win streak of the year at six. They had two different eight game losing streaks in the dismal year where they finished fifth under manager Art Howe (66-95). A crowd of 23,865 came to Shea Stadium &as Steve Trachsel (11-7) the Mets winningest pitcher that season go up against Chin-hui Tsao (2-0) In the top of the 1st, Steve Trachsel retired the side in order.  In the bottom of the 1st, with one out Jose Reyes singled to center. Mike Piazza followed with a two-run HR his ninth HR of the year.  Piazza Trivia: Mike  Piazza had missed three months of action with injuries. He had returned just five days earlier, hitting a two run HR & driving in five runs going 6-15 upon his return.      In the bottom of the 3rd, Jos...
Read more

Remembering Mets History (1985) Doc Gooden Becomes the Youngest Pitcher to Win Twenty Games During a 14 Game Win Streak

-
Image
Sunday August 25th, 1985:   In 1984 Dwight Gooden had burst on the scene taking the league by storm leading the NL in strike outs (276) going 17-9 leading the Mets staff as baseball's newest phenom. In 1985 he had one of the best seasons any pitcher could have in MLB history, heading into this game the 20-year-old Dwight Gooden was leading the league with a 19-3 record a 1.74 ERA & 2.08 strike outs.  Personally, Gooden was on a 14-game win streak, not having taken a loss since back on May 25th, three months earlier. In that time, he had tossed five shut outs & ten complete games.   From May 25th thru August 20th, Gooden had posted a 1.77 ERA, allowing 28 earned runs while collecting 142 strike outs in 142.1 innings of work. He also had eight double digits strike out games including a season high 16 K game in his previous outing also a shut out. The incredible Cy Young Award season for Gooden reached was about to reach another mile stone as Doctor K was going for...
Read more

Remembering Mets History (2005) Mike Jacobs Has A Slugging Start To His Career

-
Image
Sunday August 21st, 2005: Willie Randolph's Mets (63-60) were in fifth place but just six games out of first place &in a wild card hunt. On this day they hosted Frank Robinson's Washington Nationals (69-59).  Kris Benson & the Mets took a 7-4 loss but brought up a young rookie named Mike Jacobs. In the bottom of the 5th inning, Jacobs came to bat as a pinch hitter for pitcher Juan Padilla. In his first career at bat, he hit a three run HR off Estaban Loaiza. Mets Trivia: Jacobs became the fourth Mets Player in franchise history to hit a HR in their first career at bat. Benny Ayala (1974) Mike Fitzgerald (1983) & Kaz Matsui (2004). Mike Jacobs would get the start the next day but go 0-4 in a 4-1 Mets win at Arizona. T uesday August 22, 2005: The Mets had a huge offensive night on this date, scoring 14 runs bashing out 17 hits. David Wright had a multi-three-hit game, driving in a pair of runs. Ramon Castro had a bigger night driving in five...
Read more