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Cal Koonce: 1969 World Champion Mets Pitcher (1967-1970)

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Calvin Lee Koonce was born on November 18, 1940, at Fayetteville, North Carolina. The six-foot right-handed pitcher attended Campbell Town University.  In his freshman year with the Fighting Camels he earned All American honors. Koonce was a star & basketball player getting elected to the schools Hall of Fame. Trivia: Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry & his brother Jim Perry also attended Campbell University  In 1961 Koonce signed with the Chicago Cubs. Koonce was in the major leagues the next season, making relief appearances in his first two outings. On April 27th, 1962he made his first start, pitching a complete game one run victory in St. Louis against the Cards.  One Hitter: On July 13th he pitched the best game of his career, it came at Wrigley Field against the Cincinnati Reds. In the 4th innings he allowed a base hit to the Reds; Don Blasingame, but he then retired the next 17 batters in a row, finishing off a one hit shutout. He pit...

Bubba Trammell: 2000 N.L. Champion Mets Utility Player (2000)

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Thomas Bubba Trammell was born on November 6, 1971, in Knoxville, Tennessee. He was named after famed Tennessee football quarterback Bubba Wyche.  The young Bubba always wanted to be a baseball player. When he was 14 his father put a batting cage in the backyard & bought him an automatic ball feeder to pitch, as he would be in the cage eight hours a day & more. The six foot three, right hand hitting outfielder attended the University of Tennessee. He was originally drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 1992 but did not sign. He was then drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 1994 and did sign. Trammell showed a lot of power in the minor leagues, hitting 27 HRs at AA Jacksonville in 1996 getting promoted to AAA Toledo where he hit six more HRs to end his year. The following year he hit 28 HRs with 75 RBIs including a big four HR game for the AAA Toledo Mud Hens.  MLB Debut: Trammell made his MLB debut with the Tigers, on the opening week of the 1997 season. He hit f...

Pedro Martinez: The Mets Years (2005 - 2008)

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Pedro Jaime Martinez was born October 25th, 1971, in Mano Guayabo, Dominican Republic. The five-foot eleven right hander was signed by the Los Angeles dodgers as an amateur free agent in 1988. Pedro would pitch two seasons with the Dodgers going 10-5 with a 2.61 ERA in the 1993 season. In November 1993 he was traded to the Montreal Expos for Delino Deshields. He would pitch four years with the Expos starting out in the strike shortened 1994 season where he was 11-5 for the first place Expos. Trivia: Imperfect Game- On April 13th, 1994, he lost a perfect game bid when with one on in the 8th inning, he hit the Reds Reggie Sanders with a pitch. Sanders charged the mound & a bench clearing brawl erupted. Sanders was ridiculed for thinking a pitcher would surrender a perfect game to hit him with a pitch. That year no post season games were played & the Expos missed out on their second chance at getting to the playoffs. In 1995 he went 14-10 with a 3.51 ERA. ...