centerfield maz

Wednesday, June 11th , 1980 :   The 1980 season, may have not been a great one for the Mets, but this June series with the Dodgers was memorable. First off the Mets swept the Dodgers on homestand where they took eight of ten games. The previous night's win featured the bench clearing brawl starring Mets pitcher Pat Zachry & Dodger All Star Ron Cey. On this Wednesday evening, a Shea Stadium crowd of 23,500 came out to see Joe Torre's Mets (25-27) who were six games behind a good Montreal Expo team, as they hosed Tommy Lasorda's second place Dodgers (32-23) who were just 1.5 games behind the first place Houston Astros.  The starting pitchers were Craig Swan (4-4) for New York & Jerry Reuss (7-1) for the  Dodgers. Reuss began the season as a reliever going 6-1 with three saves & a 2.85 ERA thru May. He would go 18-6 with a 2.51 ERA & six shut outs as one of the NL's top pitchers that year. Craig Swan Trivia: Craig Swan entered the game at 4-4 with a 2.27 E...

Tuesday June 10th, 1986: A solid weeknight crowd of 27,472 came out to Shea Stadium to see Davey Johnson's first place Mets (38-16) take on John Felske's third place Phillies (26-28.) Prior to this series the Mets had won five of six games, taking an eight game lead in NL East. The previous night, the Phillies had won the series opener with a 10th inning RBI single from Glenn Wilson off pitcher Doug Sisk. Tonight's  starters were Bobby Ojeda for the Mets, who came in at 7-2 with a 2.29 ERA against Philadelphia's Charlie Hudson (4-3). In the top of the 1st, Bob Ojeda escaped trouble after walking the leadoff man, giving up a single to Juan Samuel & getting the bases loaded after Rafael Santana's error at short. Ojeda then got Von Hayes to pop up & then struck out John Russell to end the inning.  In the top of the 3rd, the Phillies Jeff Stone & Ron Roenicke led off with base hits. Juan Samuel grounded out to second base, but Jeff Stone was able to s...

Tuesday June 10th, 1980: A small Shea crowd of 14,759 came out to see the Joe Torre's fourth place Mets (23-27) host Tommy Lasorda's first place Los Angeles Dodgers (32-22). The Dodgers were holding a half game lead over the Houston Astros who would eventually win their first divisional title that season. Joe Torre's Mets were in fourth place Mets, under .500 at 24-27. They would remain around the .500-mark until mid-August then a seven-game losing streak, in a stretch where they lost 14 of 17 games killed any chances of a .500 finish. The Mets sent pitcher Pat Zachry (1-2) who had come over in the Tom Seaver trade three years earlier (1977) to the mound going up against L.A.'s Bob Welch (6-1).  The young Bob Welch, who had been in the league three years at that point, was having his bests season to date, winning six straight games entering this contest. He finished the year at 14-9. In the top of the 1st, Zachry retired the side in order. In the bottom of the...

Friday June 9th, 2000: This highly anticipated regular season subway series game was a prelude to the World Series Subway Series, the first in New York City since 1956, forty years earlier.  Bobby Valentines Mets (34-26) were in second place, 4.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves but the Mets were leading the wild card race.  Tonight, they were across town in the Bronx, facing Joe Torre's A.L. New York club (32-24) a half game ahead of the Boston Red Sox in the AL East. The starting pitchers for this matchup were the Mets Al Leiter (6-1) against Roger Clemens (4-5). In the top of the 1st, short time Mets player Jason Tyner led off with a double, but the Mets left him stranded. In the top of the 3rd inning, Tyner reached on a Jorge Posada throwing error to first base. Derek Bell drew a walk & both runners advanced on a passed ball that went by Posada. Roger Clemens then walked Edgardo Alfonzo to load the bases for Mike Piazza. Piazza launched a rocket of his own, a grand...

Sunday June 9th, 2024: Game Two of the 2024 London Series. The series marked the third time a two-game set of MLB teams played at London Stadium in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in the Stratford district of London, England. Usually a home to Soccer, special adjustments had to be made in order to have the stadium be suitable for MLB baseball play. Even a larger clubhouse was bult to accommodate the players since pro soccer clubhouses are smaller. A big crowd of 55,074 came out for the second game of the Mets Phillies matchup with Philadelphia being the home team. Pre Game Festivities: Both Countries Nation Anthems were sung before the game.  Instead of a ceremonial first pitch, Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney & his wife actress Kaitlin Olsen did a ceremonial double play as she rolled a ball to former Phillie & Mets nemesis Chase Utley who then threw to Bryce Harper at first. Also, the Phillie Phanatic dressed as a Beefeater serving tea to the ESPN crew. Former Mets Hall of F...