Remembering Mets History (1997) Mets Take First Ever Regular Season Subway Series Game
In 1997 MLB began interleague play where teams from the National League would play teams from the American League in the regular season. Before that season, the respective leagues teams only met in the World Series, All Star & exhibition games.
Since the Dodgers & Giants left New York, there had not been a Subway World Series game since 1956. In 1962 the Mets began play& would only meet their AL New York opponents in Spring Training games as well as the annual Mayor Trophy's exhibition game held each season thru 1983.
There was lots of excitement in the air for this first June subway series. The fans on both sides love
it, as the whole City got wrapped up in the thrill of it all. It was something everyone had an opinion about & something everyone could debate.
In the top of the 1st, Andy Pettitte (8-3) took the mound & threw the first pitch to Lance Johnson as the very first regular season subway series game was under way.
In the bottom of the 3rd, Joe Girardi doubled to center field, but Mlicki struck out Derek Jeter & Pat Kelly to end the inning.
John Olerud who was batting .317 at the time, delivered again with a base hit thru the hole at short stop & third bringing in Matt Franco & Luis Lopez with two more Mets runs, making it 5-0. The Mets fans in attendance now cheered even louder in that Bronx ballpark & all over New York City as well.
In the top of the 9th, the Mets Matt Franco led off with a base hit off reliever Graeme Lloyd. Luis Lopez attempted a sacrifice bunt & reached when Tino Martinez botched the play.
In the bottom of the 9th, Bobby Valentine sent out Mlicki to finish off his shut out. Charlie Hayes led off with a single but was thrown out at second base by Bernard Gilkey, as he was trying to stretch it to a double.
Mark Whiten then singled to left. Chad Curtis grounded out to Matt Franco at third for the second out. Joe Girardi the singled up the middle to put two on once again.
Mets Manager Bobby Valentine stuck with Mlicki, who then struck out Derek Jeter looking for the third out & final out of the game sealing the shutout victory.
Quotes- Dave Mlicki: "Like it was yesterday. I remember the excitement in the Stadium, all the Met fans chanting, ‘Let's Go Mets' in their Stadium. I thought that was really cool."
Almost thirty years later, Mlicki still gets e-mails, phone calls, social media inquiries & regular mail about that night, especially around the time of year the subway series is played.
Quotes- Dave Mlicki: "I remember the day after; my wife Annie and I were out to breakfast at a diner and people were talking about the game and no one had any idea I was sitting there. It's what people want to talk about."
it, as the whole City got wrapped up in the thrill of it all. It was something everyone had an opinion about & something everyone could debate.
On this night 56,188 came to the Bronx to see Joe Torre's second place AL New York club (37-30) host Bobby Valentines fourth place Mets (37-30). The starting pitchers were Andy Pettit & a lesser-known low key guy named Dave Mlicki for the Mets.
After Lance Johnso grounded out, Bernard Gilkey & John Olerud hit back-to-back doubles to right field giving the Mets a 1-0 lead.
Todd Hundley drew a walk & Butch Huskey singled to right field bringing in Jon Olerud with the Mets second run. Carl Everett stepped in & Mets manager Bobby Valentine put on a double steal.
As Butch Huskey took off for second, Todd Hundley came running down the line from third stealing home plate safely. It was a fast exciting 3-0 lead for the Mets.
Trivia: Todd Hundley would steal just two bases all season.
Half the crowd who was Mets fans were loving it cheering loudly in that other New York ballpark.
In the bottom of the 1st, Dave Mlicki gave up a leadoff single to Derek Jeter. He then but retired the next three batters in a row.
In the bottom of the 2nd inning, Mlicki retired the side in order, the only inning the AL New York team did not have a batter reach base.
In the bottom of the 4th, Cecil Fielder doubled with one out, then Tino Martinez grounded out to Matt Franco at third base. Charlie Hayes then lined out to Carlos Baerga to end the inning. Over the next two inning, Mlicki gave up a harmless base hit in each inning.
In the top of the 7th, with the Mets holding the 3-0 lead, Matt Franco & Luis Lopez both singled.
Andy Pettitte then walked Bernard Gilkey to load up the bases.
Andy Pettitte then walked Bernard Gilkey to load up the bases.
Olerud would bat .294 & drive in 102 runs that season.
In the top of the 8th inning, the AL New York team collected a pair of singles, getting two base runners on board in the same inning for the first time on the evening. Dave Mlicki then got Cecil Fielder to hit a slow grounder to short for the second out & Tino Martinez to fly out to center to end the inning.
Lance Johnson grounded into a force at second that advanced Matt Franco to third. Bernard Gilkey then hit an RBI sac fly off to right field, scoring Franco with the sixth Mets run, 6-0.
In the bottom of the 9th, Bobby Valentine sent out Mlicki to finish off his shut out. Charlie Hayes led off with a single but was thrown out at second base by Bernard Gilkey, as he was trying to stretch it to a double.
Mark Whiten then singled to left. Chad Curtis grounded out to Matt Franco at third for the second out. Joe Girardi the singled up the middle to put two on once again.
Mets Manager Bobby Valentine stuck with Mlicki, who then struck out Derek Jeter looking for the third out & final out of the game sealing the shutout victory.Quotes- Dave Mlicki: "Like it was yesterday. I remember the excitement in the Stadium, all the Met fans chanting, ‘Let's Go Mets' in their Stadium. I thought that was really cool."
With all the big names & All Stars on the field, it was the relatively lesser-known Dave Mlicki (2-5) who shined above all. As he went about his business & he threw a complete game shutout, scattering nine hits with two walks, while striking out eight.
Trivia: Dave Mlicki went 8-12 on the season with a 4.00 ERA. He would pitch four seasons with the Mets going 66-80 with a 4.72 ERA. His best performance as a Met was on this night.
Quotes- Dave Mlicki: "I remember the day after; my wife Annie and I were out to breakfast at a diner and people were talking about the game and no one had any idea I was sitting there. It's what people want to talk about."