Former Met of the Day: George "the Stork" Theodore (1973-1974)

George Basil Theodore was born November 13, 1947 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was Nicknamed "The Stork," because he flat out resembled one, with long legs, a hunched over shoulder frame and long nose. The unusual looking ballplayer was six foot four weighing in at 185 lean pounds. He has the distinction of being the only Met I history to ever be from the state of Utah. He attended the University of Utah playing baseball with another future MLB layer, Bill Parsons. George was selected by Mets way down in the 31st round of the 1969 free agent draft. He hit well in the minors, and in 1971 he was the California League MVP for the Visalia Mets.

He made the 1973 Mets team as a reserve outfielder making his debut on April 14th at Shea, replacing Willie Mays in the late innings. The fans loved him, due to his unusual appearance and the underdog Theodore became an instant Mets legend. To add to his flaky legacy the back of his 1974 Topps baseball card said: “George likes marshmallow milkshakes”. He once filled out a Mets publicity questionnaire by recording his interests as “astrology, marbles, people watching & psychoanalysis”. He asked management for a $1000 bonus if he was voted “Most Popular Met”, saying he couldn’t hit much but was very likeable. In another interview he said very off beat; “I've been trying transcendental meditation, and that helps me be passive and wait on the curve. I've got to find something else to hit the slider." In reality the Stork was a very bright man, who seemed out of place with other players.

He struck out in his first at bat. A week later he got his first hit, a double in his second start against the Cubs. In May he had a hot series in Los Angeles getting seven hits in fifteen at bats, with two RBIs. He saw more playing time due to injuries to most of the Mets regular outfielders. George hit .259 overall for the 1973 NL Champion team driving in 15 runs in 115 at bats. He was originally brought up to replace the injured Cleon Jones until he went down himself, getting hit in the eye by a ball in San Diego on June 3rd. It was feared he would lose his sight, but the ever durable Theodore was back in the line up five days later. On the 4th of July he had one of his biggest games in Montreal. He had two hits and hit his first MLB HR in the Met loss. A month later he was involved in a one of the most violent collisions in Mets history, and unfortunately he is best remembered for it.

In a game against Atlanta at Shea Stadium, The Stork had made an error in the 7th inning on a single to left field that allowed a run to score. He was upset and determined to make up for it. In the next inning he came charging over from left field chasing a line drive and crashed into centerfielder Don Hahn who was rushing over from center. They both went down & and lay motionless on the field for a few minutes as Ralph Garr rounded the bases with an inside the park home run.

Strangely the moment was captured forever in a photograph in the 1974 Mets yearbook next to Theodore’s bio. Theodore fractured his hip, and had to be taken off the field on a stretcher. In NY hospital he told reporters he had a dream two weeks earlier that he was being removed from the field on a stretcher carried by Jerry Koosman & Tug McGraw. He spent a few days in the hospital and was pretty much done for the year after the injury except for pinch hitting roles. He went 0 for 2 in the 1973 World Series as a pinch hitter appearing in two games.

In 1974 he appeared as a pinch hitter and went 0-5 until getting a hit that May. He hit his second and last career HR on July 20th in San Diego in the Mets 10-2 romp. It was his only RBI of the year. He struggled most the year and finished up 1974 batting .158 (12 -76). A lifetime .219 hitter with 2 HRs, 5 doubles, 16 RBIs in 105 games played, but he was there and batted in a World Series.

Retirement: Today, Theodore serves as a youth baseball coach and gives counsel to elementary school students. He made a triumphant return to Shea for the closing ceremonies in 2008.