Today In Mets History: 1964- Jack Hamilton 1 Hits St. Louis

May 4th, 1966: At the old Sportsman's Park in St. Louis the 8-11 Cardinals host the 6-8 Mets. It was the season before St. Louis moved to Busch Stadium, and would go to two consecutive World Series.

Manager Wes Westrum sent Jack Hamilton to the mound to face future Met Ray Sadecki. Sadecki bunted in 3rd inning and got a base hit, next up Lou Brock walked putting two men on. But Hamilton struck out Alex Johnson (the 1970 AL batting champion) to end the inning. Hamilton was perfect the rest of the way, he retired the next 18 batters in a row, throwing a one hit shut out. He would strike out six,earning his 3rd win of the year (3-1) and lowering his ERA to 2.17. It was the 2nd no hitter in Mets History, Al Jackson had pitched one in 1962.

A three run home run by Ron Swoboda in the 1st inning & a Eddie Bressoud solo sot over the center field wall in the 4th, led the Mets eight run attack. Bressoud had three hits on the day, Ken Boyer drove him in on an RBI single in the 2nd. Cardinal errors led to two unearned runs as the Mets blanked St. Louis 8-0 in front of 7,924 fans.

The Met line up that day featured Bressoud at 2nd, (future Mets coach) Roy McMillan at short, Ken Boyer at 3rd, Swoboda & Jim Hickamn in the outfield, Ed Kranepool at

1st, Jerry Grote behind the plate & Billy Murphy in center.

Jack Hamilton would go 6-13 with a 3.93 ERA in 1966, the next season he was 2-0 and hit a grand slam HR, before the Mets traded him to the California Angels for Nick Willhite. On April 17, 1967 Hamilton would throw the famous career ending pitch to Boston's Tony Conigliaro. The ball hit Tony C's cheekbone and eye socket,

damaging his retina. Hamilton never got over it, he was afraid to throw inside and retired in 1969.