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George Theodore: 1973 N.L. Champion Mets Folk Hero (1973 - 1974)

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George Basil Theodore was born November 13, 1947, in Salt Lake City, Utah. The tall lanky six-foot four right-handed outfielder, was an unusual looking ballplayer. He wore thick glasses, had long legs with a hunched over shoulder frame and a long nose.  He also has the distinction of being the only Mets player in history to ever be from the state of Utah. Theodore attended the University of Utah playing baseball with future MLB player Bill Parsons. Theodore was selected by New York Mets way down in the 31st round of the 1969 free agent draft.  Theodore credits his minor league manager Joe Frazier for giving him the chance to play. After struggling at the AA level Frazier sent him back to A ball Visalia where he excelled. In 1971, Theodore was the California League MVP for Visalia batting .333 with 28 HRs & 113 RBIs. It’s hard to imagine but the Stork was a power hitter in his early years in the small ballpark at Visalia.  In 1972 at AA...
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Jimmy Piersall: Remembering the Animated Career of Former Met Who Once Ran Around the Bases Backwards & Had a Movie Based on His Life (1963)

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James Anthony Piersall was born on November 14, 1929, in Waterbury, Connecticut. He was a fine all-around athlete leading his high school team to the New England Basketball Championship in 1947. The next year he was signed by the Boston Red Sox at age 18 making it up the big leagues by 1950 as one the youngest players in the league.  MLB Career: By 1952 he was the Sox regular centerfielder & would be one of the finest defensive outfielders in the league in the coming years. Piersall won two Gold Glove Awards (1958 &1961) led the league in fielding % for centerfielders four times & put outs twice. He also posted ten or more assists from the outfield four times.   Drama: That year he began to suffer from personal issues. In a May game against New York, he got into a fist fight with Billy Martin, then later in the clubhouse he got into another fight with teammate Mickey McDermott. He was ejected from four games that year soon af...
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Danny Heep: 1986 World Champion Mets Outfielder / Pinch HItter (1983-1986)

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Daniel William Heep was born on July 3, 1957, in San Antonio, Texas. The five foot eleven, left hand hitting Heep, began his baseball career as a pitcher. Heep attended St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, winning two All American honors, while earning a bachelor’s degree in physical education. He would eventually be elected to the schools Hall of Fame. Heep was drafted as a second-round pick by the Houston Astros in 1978. In 1979 he was the Southern League’s MVP batting .327 with 21 HRs 30 doubles & 84 RBIs at AA Columbus.  Astros Career: Heep got a late season call up, making his MLB debut on August 31st, against the New York Mets. He went 0-1 as a pinch hitter that day popping out to third base, off pitcher Mets Craig Swan. The next year at AAA Tucson in the Pacific Coast League, Heep batted .343 with 17 HRs playing in 96 games. He got back to the Astros for 33 games that year, where he hit .276. 1980 NLCS:   In the 1980 NLCS loss to t...
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