Today In Mets History: Jimmy Piersall Touches 'Em All- Backwards

June 23, 1963: In the 1st game of a Sunday double header at the Polo Grounds, Casey Stengel’s young Mets took on Gene Mauch’s Phillies. New Yorks Carl Willey threw a complete game two hit shut out, while striking out six. Willey bested his record to 6-6 with a 2.62 ERA beating future Mets manager Dallas Green.

The Mets scored first, on a 3rd inning Duke Snider single. Then in the 5th inning a strange thing happened. Jimmy Piersall (who had 3 hits on the day) led off with a home run, it was the 100th of his career; he dropped the bat and ran around the bases, backwards!!

Piersall was a veteran two time All Star & gold glover. He was diagnosed with a nervous breakdown due to emotional exhaustion. He blamed the pressure his father put on him in becoming a ball player. He made a successful comebck taking over centerfield in Boston after Dom DiMaggio. But not without drama; He fought with his own teammates, and others. Once in a huge brawl he beat Billy Martin to a pulp (kudos there). During another game he went up to the grand stand to heckle the umpire. In 1964 he came to the plate wearing a Beatles wig & playing air guitar on his bat. Eventually he was traded to Cleveland then to the Senators for Gil Hodges. He was ejected from six games in 1960, and was once seen sprinting back & forth in the outfield when Ted Williams came to bat. He was the subject of the great baseball movie “Fear Strikes Out” starring Tony Perkins in 1957.

Piersall observed when Duke Snider hit his 400th home run there wasn’t much fan fare. He vowed when he hit his 100th he would do something to make it festive. The crowd loved it, as he trotted around the bases backwards, his team mates even laughed. He never tripped and even shook coach Cookie Lavagetto's hand on the way round.

The Phillies & pitcher Dallas Green were not amused, nor was Commissioner Ford Frick who was in attendance that day. The Mets organization didn’t like it either, Casey Stengel was so mad he cut Piersall from the team two days later.

Piersall once appeared on The Lucy Ball Show as himself for television fame. In Boston he was praised as the best outfielder Ted Williams ever saw.After his playing days, he worked in the front office for Oakland & Texas. He was a broadcaster for the White Sox (1977-1981) and instructor for the Cubs until 1999. He will turn 90 this year.