Remembering Mets History (1980) Mike Jorgensen's Walk Off Grand Slam HR
On this evening, a Shea Stadium crowd of 23,500 came out to see the Mets host Tommy Lasorda's second place Los Angeles Dodgers (32-23) who were just 1.5 games behind the first place Houston Astros.
The starting pitchers were Craig Swan for New York & Jerry Reuss for the Dodgers.
Craig Swan entered the game at 4-4 with a 2.27 ERA. Swan was good pitcher on a bad team. Just two years earlier, Swan had won the NL ERA title (2.43).
The game went to extra innings with Craig Swan continuing in the top of the 10th. He gave up a
one out single to Mike Scioscia who then was moved over to third on a sacrifice. But Swan got Davey Lopes to pop up to Doug Flynn at second base.
Doug Flynn led off with a single to right & stole second base, his first stolen base of the year. With one out, Lee Mazzilli was walked intentionally. Frank Taveras then struck out for the second out. Steve Henderson was then walked intentionally to load the bases.
Mets Trivia: Mike Jorgensen was the third player in franchise history to end a game with a walk off grand slam HR. Tim Harkness & Jim Hickman had done it 17 years earlier in 1963.
The Queens born 32-year-old Mike Jorgensen was in his 11th year as a player. In 1968 his career began with the Mets playing in 14 games. He spent the 1969 Championship season playing at AAA Tidewater. In 1970 & 1971 he was back with the Mets for parts of the seasons. In 1972, he was traded to Montreal along with Tim Foli & Ken Singleton in exchange for Rusty Staub.
In the off season the Mets made him the highest paid pitcher in franchise history with a new contract. After a good start, he would have arm trouble & be diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff ruining his season.
The Dodger's Jerry Ruess was 7-1 with a 2.08 ERA entering the game. He would finish the year at 18-6 with a 2.51 ERA & leading the league with complete game six shut outs.
After a quiet first inning, in the bottom of the 2nd, Joel Youngblood, tripled to right field & scored on Alex Trevino's RBI single.
In the bottom of the 5th, veteran Jerry Morales who came in to replace Joel Youngblood, doubled to start the inning. After retiring the next two Mets, Jerry Ruess walked Doug Flynn intentionally to get to the pitcher Swan. But the Dodgers strategy backfired, as Swan singled to right field scoring Morales to make it 2-0 Mets.
In the top of the 7th, the Dodgers got a solo HR from Dusty Baker. Swan got to the 9th inning clinging to a one run lead. But Steve Garvey then hit a one out HR tying the game. For both Baker & Garvey it was their 13th HR of the season.
In the top of the 7th, the Dodgers got a solo HR from Dusty Baker. Swan got to the 9th inning clinging to a one run lead. But Steve Garvey then hit a one out HR tying the game. For both Baker & Garvey it was their 13th HR of the season.
one out single to Mike Scioscia who then was moved over to third on a sacrifice. But Swan got Davey Lopes to pop up to Doug Flynn at second base.
In the bottom of the 10th inning Rick Sutcliffe came on in relief for L.A.
The next batter was Mike Jorgensen who had come into the game in 9th inning to take over at first base. Jorgensen gave the Shea crowd something to cheer about as he hit a walk off grand slam HR to win the game.
The Queens born 32-year-old Mike Jorgensen was in his 11th year as a player. In 1968 his career began with the Mets playing in 14 games. He spent the 1969 Championship season playing at AAA Tidewater. In 1970 & 1971 he was back with the Mets for parts of the seasons. In 1972, he was traded to Montreal along with Tim Foli & Ken Singleton in exchange for Rusty Staub.
After a decent career with the Expos, Jorgensen went to the Oakland A's (1977) & Texas Rangers (1978 & 1979) before coming back to the Mets in as the player to be named later in the 1979 Willie Montanez deal. H would stay with the Mets until 1983. In his Mets career Jorgensen had 21 HRs with 90 RBIs in 492 games batting .234.
In 1985, after a stint with the Braves, Jorgensen became a successful pinch hitter with the 1985 St. Louis Cardinals making his only post season.
In 1985, after a stint with the Braves, Jorgensen became a successful pinch hitter with the 1985 St. Louis Cardinals making his only post season.