centerfield maz

Subway Series 2024: It seemed that there was revived interest in the regular season subway series which had lost some its excitement since it's hey days of the 1990's & early 2000's.  As a younger fan base began to dominate the attendance, they brought a new enthusiasm to what was old news to the older longtime fans.  The fact that the two New York teams were playing well also helped strike up the rivalry. The Mets entered the series having gone 14-5 in the month of June after a horrendous start to their season. The Mets had come off a seven-game win streak & had won eight of their last ten. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza hosted the AL New York team where he had coached for the previous six seasons. He sent the undefeated David Peterson (3-0) to the mound to face Gerit Cole. Tuesday June 25th, 2024: In the top of the 1st, David Peterson got into some quick trouble with a leadoff single & a pair of walks. But he turned it all around striking out the next three b...

In 1983 Rusty Staub set three MLB pinch hit records. In June he tied an MLB record with eight straight pinch hits. On a June Mets home stand, Staub began with five successful pinch-hit  appearances.  Saturday, June 11th: In the bottom of the 7th inning, with the Mets down 5-0 to the Expos, Rusty  Staub came to bat with the bases loaded, no one out, facing Jeff Reardon, one of the NL's top relievers.  Staub doubled of the center field wall, driving in Mark Bradley & Jose Oquendo bringing in the only two runs of the 5-2 loss. Rusty Staub began his streak. Sunday June 12th :   In the bottom of the 6th inning, Tom Seaver, who was in his second go-around in New York, was holding the Mets to a 3-1 lead over the Expos. With two outs, Staub came to bat as a pinch hitter with rookie Darryl Strawberry & veteran George Foster on base  facing Montreal's Charlie Lea.  Rusty smashed a double to left field, driving in both runners  in the 9-1 win. It w...

  Sunday June 23, 1963: In the first game of a sunny afternoon Sunday double header at the Polo Grounds, Casey Stengel’s young ninth place New York Mets (27-44)  hosted Gene Mauch's eighth place Philadelphia Phillies (31-39). Gene Mauch Trivia: Gene Mauch was in his fourth season as manager of the Phillies. He would manage the club from 1960 - 1968, finishing with a winning record six times.  Mauch would manage in the big leagues for 27 years. He has the distinction of being the winningest manager that never got to a World Series.  In his career Mauch also managed the Montreal Expos (1969-1975) Minnesota Twins (1976-1989) & California Angels (1981-1987). The starters were the Mets Carl Willey (5-6) & the Phils Dallas Green. Green of become a successful manager with the Phillies (1979-1981) winning a World Series in 1980. He also managed the Mets (1993-1996) & AL New York team (1989). After two scoreless innings, in the bottom of the 3rd  inni...

Friday- June 22nd, 1962: This evening's matchup had two of the leagues expansion teams faced off in a Twi-night double header at the Polo Grounds.  The game was rescheduled from April 16th, due to cold inclement weather. Casey Stengel's Mets (17-47) already 26 games back of the first place Dodgers hosted Harry Craft's, Houston Colt 45's (30-35) 14 games out of first place.  Trivia: In 1962 there were no divisions yet, the National League consisted of just ten teams.  The Colt 45's would be renamed the Houston Astros in 1965. Tonight, the Mets Al Jackson (3-8) took on Houston's Turk Farrell (5-6). In his last start Jackson had given up a season high eight runs to the Cubs. Before that he had allowed just three runs in 18 innings over three appearances. In the top of the 1st, Al Jackson retired leadoff man Bob Lillis on ground out to short. The second batter of the inning,  Joe Amalfitano hit a base hit into left field.  This was to be the...

Tuesday May 25th , 1999 : Bobby Valentine's Mets were in second place just 1.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves. The Mets were in Pittsburgh taking on Gene Lamont's fifth place Pirates (22-23).  Tonight's game would start a personal 24 game hit streak for Mike Piazza. In the 4th inning, with the Mets ahead 1-0 Mike Piazza hit his 9th HR of the year, a solo HR off Kris Benson. Piazza would have a big night with three hits, including a double & drive in three runs on the day.  Piazza had come into this game already batting .302 as the hit streak began.  The next night Piazza got one hit in the 5-2 win over the Pirates. Benny Agbayani homered & Jon Olerud drove in two runs. May 28th -May 30th, 1999: From there the Mets came home to Shea Stadium, hosting the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Trivia: This was the worst stretch of the year for the '99 Wild Card Mets team, as they would lose eight in a row, all six games on this home stand, two of three ...