Former Original Met of the Day: Charlie Neal (1962-1963)

Charles Leonard Neal was born on January 30, 1931 in Longview Texas. Neal began in the Negro Leagues and got signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1950. It took him six years to get to the big league Dodger squad with such a talented infield of Pee Wee Reese, Jackie Robinson & Jim Gilliam. In his rookie season he hit .287 in 136 at bats, and in 1957 became a regular short stop as Pee Wee moved over to third base.


Neal remained with the Dodgers from their move to L.A. through 1961 and had some good seasons there. He gets forgotten among all the Dodger stars of the day, but Neal did make three All Star teams. In the 1959 Dodgers Championship season, he led the league in triples (11) & sacrifice hits (21). That season he hit 19 HRs, scored 103 runs and had career highs with 83 RBIs, 30 doubles & 17 stolen bases, earning him 20% of the MVP voting. He led the NL in fielding (.989) double plays & put outs, which won him a gold glove.

In Game #2 of the 1959 World Series he hit two HRs and drove in three runs at Comiskey Park, leading the Dodgers to a 4-3 win. Overall he hit .370 (10-27) driving in six runs, with the two HRs, two doubles and four runs scored in the Series. As Maury Wills arrived Neal’s days were numbered. After hitting only .235 (10 HRs 48 RBIs) in 1961 he was traded to the expansion Mets for $100,000 & a veteran named Lee Walls.


Neal was an original Met, playing second base and batting third in the first game in Mets history on April 11, 1962. He had a great day going 3-4, driving in two runs & scoring a run at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis. In the 3rd inning he singled and drove in the first run in Mets history, scoring Ritchie Ashburn. In the top of the 5th he hit the second HR in Mets history off Larry Jackson.


In the month of April Neal hit 3 HRs drove in 9 runs & batted .310. He would play in 136 games, in 1962; bat .260, hit 11 HRs, 58 RBIs and lead the team in triples (9) & sacrifice hits (9). He primarily played short stop for the Mets, but also had time at third & secondbase. By far he was their best defensive infielder. In 1963 after 72 games he was batting .225 with 3 HRs & 18 RBIs, when the Mets traded him to the Reds along with Sammy Taylor for Jesse Gonder. Neal finished his eight season career batting .259 with 87 HRs 391 RBIs 113 doubles 461 runs scored & 38 triples. In 1996 Neal passed away in Dallas, Texas at age 65.