Former Met of the Day: Long Islands Own Hank Webb (1972-1976)

Henry Gaylon "Hank" Webb was a local Long Island boy born May 21, 1950 in Copiage, NY. He has the distinction of being the only other creature ever named Gaylon, besides Roddy McDowell’s chimpanzee character in the Planet of the Apes TV show.

He was one of the many good Mets minor league pitching prospects of the early-'70s. But it was tough to crack the solid Met staffs in those days and Webb never quite make it to major league success. He made his debut in 1972 allowing 9 earned runs in 18 innings in six games. Next season he pitched only twice getting hit hard enough to have an ERA over ten. No 1973 post season for Gaylon.

In September 1974 he got the call up again, and was involved in a historic game. On Sept. 11, 1974 the Mets and Cardinals played in one of the longest games in baseball history. In the 25th inning Gaylon comes in to pitch, with Bake McBride on first base. Webb tries to pick him off and throws wildly to first base. The ball bounces everywhere and McBride scores all the way from 1st base, in what’s to be the winning run ending the deadlock after seven hours, four minutes. Gaylon went 0-2 that September.
In 1975 he saw the most action, pitching over 100 innings in 29 games (15 starts). He went 7-6, with a 4.07 ERA striking out 38 batters while walking 62. It was the only time in five years with the Mets he ever recorded any victories. In 1976 he was 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA. In February 1977, he was traded to the Dodgers with Richard Sander in exchange for Rick Auerbach. He pitched in only five games for the 1977 NL Champs. Life time Webb was 7-9 with 4.39 ERA, walking 91 while only striking out 71 batters in 169 innings pitched.

I Remember Hank pitching a Mayors Trophy game when I was a kid. Not realizing this is only exhibition and no one cared about winning it but me, I asked my father “how come Tom Seaver isn’t pitching and this Hank Webb guy is?”