July 7, 1973: It was a sunny humid Saturday afternoon at Shea Stadium, as the Mets, fresh off a three game win streak, hosted the Atlanta Braves. Yogi Berra’s Mets were still in last place 12 ½ games behind the Cubs. But from this day on, as they got their key players off the disabled list they would go 48-34, to take over the division. It was a wild day at Shea, where 37 different players and nine pitchers were used.In the top of the 7th inning the score was tied 3-3. Phil Hen
nigan was pitching for New York with a runner on 2nd, & Frank Tepedino singled to left field. George "the Stork" Theodore, playing left, for the injured Cleon Jones made an error on the play allowing the run to score. The next batter was Ralph Garr; he ripped a liner toward left center field. Theodore wanted to make up for his error and ran full speed after the ball, but so did centerfielder Don Hahn.
nigan was pitching for New York with a runner on 2nd, & Frank Tepedino singled to left field. George "the Stork" Theodore, playing left, for the injured Cleon Jones made an error on the play allowing the run to score. The next batter was Ralph Garr; he ripped a liner toward left center field. Theodore wanted to make up for his error and ran full speed after the ball, but so did centerfielder Don Hahn.In one of the most violent collisions in Mets history, the two crashed into each other, fell to the ground and both lay motionless on the warning track. The ball rolled to the wall, and Garr got an inside the park home run. Both outfielders had to 
be removed from the field on a stretcher. Theodore suffered a fractured hip and would miss action until the end of September. He was admitted to New York Hospital, and spent days recuperating there. The Stork told reporters two weekes earlier he had a dream where Jerry Koosman & Tug McGraw were removing him from the field on a stretcher. (He never fully recovered to get his swing back. After hitting .158 in 1974 his baseball career was over.) Hahn’s injuries were minor and he remained day to day.
Berra brought Cleon Jones, fresh off the DL in to play left and placed 42 year old Willie Mays in center. In the bottom of the 8th Jone
s walked, and Braves pitching walked the bases loaded. Then Mays got a single & drove in two runs. Wayne Garrett doubled home two more, putting the Mets up 7-3. In the 9th Tug McGraw couldn’t hold them and the Braves scored six runs going ahead 9-7. In the bottom of the 9th, Kenny Boswell tripled and Cleon Jones singled, but the Mets fell short 9-8.
be removed from the field on a stretcher. Theodore suffered a fractured hip and would miss action until the end of September. He was admitted to New York Hospital, and spent days recuperating there. The Stork told reporters two weekes earlier he had a dream where Jerry Koosman & Tug McGraw were removing him from the field on a stretcher. (He never fully recovered to get his swing back. After hitting .158 in 1974 his baseball career was over.) Hahn’s injuries were minor and he remained day to day.Berra brought Cleon Jones, fresh off the DL in to play left and placed 42 year old Willie Mays in center. In the bottom of the 8th Jone
s walked, and Braves pitching walked the bases loaded. Then Mays got a single & drove in two runs. Wayne Garrett doubled home two more, putting the Mets up 7-3. In the 9th Tug McGraw couldn’t hold them and the Braves scored six runs going ahead 9-7. In the bottom of the 9th, Kenny Boswell tripled and Cleon Jones singled, but the Mets fell short 9-8. 
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