centerfield maz

Wednesday July 21st, 1965:    Casey Stengel's  New York Mets (30-63) were 25 games out of first place & in tenth place.  They had lost ten straight games & needed something good for themselves as well as their fans.  Today they were starting a series at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, facing Harry Walkers sixth place Pirates (47-48).  Future 1969 Met, Don Cardwell (8-3) was the Pirate pitcher taking on the Mets Al Jackson (4-12).  Jackson had been one of the better Mets pitchers on the bad teams of the franchise early years, although you would never know it with a 43-80 record in those years.  In 1965 he went 8-20 with a 4.34, his worst year as a Met. But those eight wins, tied with Jack Fisher  for the team lead in wins. His twenty loses were tied for third most in the NL. Jack Fisher lost 24. This game was all about good pitching, Al Jackson & Don Cardwell would both go the distance. Only one run on seven hits combined in...

From July 6th thru July 11th, Brandon Nimmo would have a hot streak that included HRs in three straight games, with RBIs in five straight games, having three multi-RBI games. In the six games he batted .369 with nine hits, three HRs, two doubles ten RBIs, five runs scored & a 1.185 OPS.  Sunday July 7th, 2024: The previous night in the Mets 5-2-win, Brandon Nimmo had a multi-three hit game, one of his seven multi-three or more hit games. This afternoon Sean Manea pitched six shutout innings giving up just two hits, striking out six & walking three. Over his last three starts Manaea had given up one earned run in 18 innings but earned just one victory.  In the top of the 7th, Reed Garrett pitched a scoreless inning. In the top of the 8th inning, after Jose Iglesias was caught stealing, Jose Lindor drew a walk. Brandon Nimmo then doubled to centerfield scoring Lindor with the first run.  In the bottom of the 8th, Dedniel Nunez struck out two batters but gave up two ...

Saturday July 10th, 1999: The 1999 subway series games at Shea Stadium, began with both New York teams having almost identical records.  The Mets had taken the Friday night game, as Al Leiter beat Roger Clemens 5-2. Mike Piazza hit a three run HR, as he was just starting out what would become dominance whenever he faced Clemens.  Jon Olerud also hit a solo HR. In this Saturday matinee, Joe Torre's AL New York club (51-34) came to Shea facing the second place Mets (50-38). As usual a sellout crowd of 53,972 came to Shea, to watch the subway series.  The Mets Rick Reed (3-3) went up against Andy Pettitte (3-4). Both starters would have a rough time of it & were both gone by the 6th inning.  In the top of the 1st, Bernie Williams reached on a one out base hit & Paul O'Neill homered putting the Mets down 2-0.  In the bottom of the 2nd, they quickly answered back as Rickey Henderson led off with a single to left field then stole second base fo...

Wednesday July 9th, 1969: On this date the New York Mets ball club played in one of the most significant games in team history.  On this night the franchise gained respected & was recognized as a true contender. The most important Met of All Time, Tom Seaver pitched one of his greatest games as well as one of the best pitched game any Mets pitcher ever had. In 1962, just eight seasons earlier t he Mets were an expansion team losing a record 120 games. That team mostly consisted of washed-up veterans & below average young players who never had a chance to develop.  Before 1969 the Mets had finished in last place six of seven seasons. But Manger Gil Hodges & their star pitcher Tom Seaver brought a new attitude to New York, it was about playing hard to win. There were some good young players who had come through their system with some of the best young pitching arms in baseball. By July 9th, 1969, the Mets were playing the best baseball they had...

George Heard Stone  was born on July 9, 1946, in Ruston, Louisiana, 70 miles east of Shreveport.  The tall six-foot three-inch left hander attended Louisiana Tech, known more for its football, including alumni- Colts quarterback Bert Jones & NFL Hall of Famer Fred Dean. George Stone was a standout basketball player & baseball player. In 1966 Stone, was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the fifth round. He was signed by the urging of Braves scout Mel Dider. Dider had previously signed George's third cousin Brave pitcher, Cecil Upshaw. Braves Career:   In 1967 after an injury to Tony Cloninger the Braves called up the young 20-year-old Stone to their staff in late September. He appeared in two games, making a September 29th, start where he pitched seven innings allowing just a run to the soon to be World Champion Cardinals, earning no decisions. In 1968 he began the year in the minors but was brought up on July 2nd. After spending mo...