Remembering Mets History (1962) Frank Thomas Ties NL Record Hits with Six HRs in Three Straight Games
The 1962 Mets lost a record 120 games in their inaugural season. As for winning games it was a rough season, but the fanbase grew in spite of its losing efforts as it was more important to establish National League baseball back to New York City. The old fans of the New York Giants & Brooklyn Dodgers took to the Mets as well as a whole new generation of loyal fans starting what was to be one one of the games largest & loyal fan bases.
In that zany season, there were many low lights as well as highlights. During the first week of August Mets slugger Frank Thomas also known as "the Big Donkey" brought some excitement to the old Polo Grounds.
In the bottom of the 1st inning, Richie Ashburn & Charlie Neal both singled, "Hot Rod" Kanehl also reached on a Philie's error to load the bases. Frank Thomas drew a walk bringing in the Mets first run. Felix Mantilla's RBI sac fly brought the Mets to within a run 3-2.
In the bottom of the 4th, New York's Joe Christopher singled to right field. Richie Ashburn who was sporting a .441 on base %, drew a walk to reach for the second time. After "Hot Rod" Kanehl popped up, Charlie Neal collected is second hit with a single to load the bases.
Multi- HR Six RBI Game: In the bottom of the 6th inning, with the Mets down 10-8 Frank
Thomas brought them within a run as he hit his second HR of the game, a solo shot off pitcher Dennis Bennett.
Thursday August 2nd, 1962: This afternoon the Mets Craig Anderson who was on a personal nine game losing streak, went up against the Phillies Art Mahaffey.
In the top of the 4th, the Phils added two more run, as Craig Anderson exited the game allowing eight runs on eleven hits in 3.1 innings as his ERA rose to 5.70.
"Marvelous" Marv Throneberry followed, going back-to-back with a HR to right field.
Friday August 3rd, 1962: On Friday night, Fred Hutchinson’s reigning NL Champion Cincinnati Reds (63-43) were in town to take on the Mets. New York's Jay Hook took on Joey Jay in front of 8,811 fans at the Polo Grounds.
Frank Thomas Trivia: Over the three games, Frank Thomas collected eight hits, with six HRs & ten RBIs. He brought his season average up to .296 with 25 HRs & 71 RBIs. On the season he would lead the club hitting 34 HRs (6th most in the NL) setting a Mets record that stood until Dave Kingman hit 36 HRs in 1975.
In that zany season, there were many low lights as well as highlights. During the first week of August Mets slugger Frank Thomas also known as "the Big Donkey" brought some excitement to the old Polo Grounds.
Wednesday August 1st,1962: Casey Stengel’s Mets (26-77) were a distant 43 games out of first place. On this night, they hosted Gene Mauch’s seventh place Philadelphia Phillies (50-58).
In the top of the 1st, The Phillies Tony Taylor reached on a Mets error at short by Charlie Neal. Don Demeter then hit a two run HR off Al Jackson. After a walk & base hit to Mel Roach, Bob Oldis drove in another run with an RBI single it was quickly 3-0.
In the top of the 1st, The Phillies Tony Taylor reached on a Mets error at short by Charlie Neal. Don Demeter then hit a two run HR off Al Jackson. After a walk & base hit to Mel Roach, Bob Oldis drove in another run with an RBI single it was quickly 3-0.
In the bottom of the 1st inning, Richie Ashburn & Charlie Neal both singled, "Hot Rod" Kanehl also reached on a Philie's error to load the bases. Frank Thomas drew a walk bringing in the Mets first run. Felix Mantilla's RBI sac fly brought the Mets to within a run 3-2.In the top of the 3rd, Al Jackson had more troubles. After a walk & a base hit, Tony Gonzales doubled bringing in the fourth Phillies run. After a wild pitch, Bod Oldis then singled with his second RBI of the game making it 5-2 Phillies.
In the bottom half of the 3rd inning, "Hot Rod" Kanehl singled & Frank Thomas reached on the second Phillies error of the game. Marv Throneberry's singled up the middle scoring Kanhel, then Felix Mantilla's ground out scored Thomas getting the Mets to within a run 5-4.
In the top of the 4th, Al Jackson was finally removed after walking the first two batters, he had given up seven runs (five earned) on seven hits. Ray Daviault the gave up three straight singles with four more runs to score putting New York in a 9-4 hole.
Frank Thomas stepped in & hit a grand slam HR to left field off (future Met) Jack Hamilton. It was Thomas's fifth career grand slam & his first as a Mets player. For the slugger it was his team leading 21st HR of the year.
In the top of the 6th, the Phil's Roy Sievers hit a HR to make it 10-8.
Multi- HR Six RBI Game: In the bottom of the 6th inning, with the Mets down 10-8 FrankThomas brought them within a run as he hit his second HR of the game, a solo shot off pitcher Dennis Bennett.
Frank Thomas Trivia: For Thomas it was his second multi-HR game of the season. The HR gave him a season high muti-six RBI game, setting a franchise record that would last until 1971 when Donn Clendenon drove in seven runs in a game.
The Phillies went on to an 11-9 win with Met pitchers Al Jackson allowing five earned runs, Ray Daviault two earned runs, Bob Miller & Willard Hunter one run each.
Trivia: The previous year Art Mahaffey had led the NL in losses (19) & in 1962 he would give up a league high 36 HRs & 120 earned runs.
In the top of the 1st, Tony Gonzalez hit his 18th HR of the season for 1-0 Phillies lead. In the top of the 2nd, with two men on, Tony Taylor's RBI hit gave the Phillies a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the 2nd, Frank Thomas led off the inning hit his 22nd HR of the year, a long solo shot into left field. It was his third HR in two days & the third in HR in his last four at bats.
If Mets pitcher Craig Anderson's season wasn't going bad enough, here he gave up a 3rd inning grand slam HR to the Phil's pitcher Art Mahaffey to fall behind 6-1. Art would hit two HRs that season & drive in ten runs.
In the top of the 4th, the Phils added two more run, as Craig Anderson exited the game allowing eight runs on eleven hits in 3.1 innings as his ERA rose to 5.70. In the bottom of the 7th, after having homered & singled in the game, Frank Thomas connected again. He lashed out a line drive over the Polo Grounds left field wall for his second HR of the game.
For Thomas it was his second straight multi-HR multi-RBI game. He had four HRs over his past two games with eight RBIs, 23 HRs & 69 RBIs for the season.
Multi- HR Game: Later in the top of the 9th inning, Throneberry would hit his second HR of the game, both coming off Mahaffey. For Marv it was the second multi-HR game of his career & his sixth & seventh of the year.
The Mets would take a 9-4 loss to the Phillies as Art Mahaffey earned the complete game victory allowing just five hits. Four of the hits were the HRs by Frank Thomas & "Marvelous' Marv. Frank Thomas base hit was the fifth hit.
In the bottom of the 2nd, Frank Thomas continued his hot streak as led off the inning with a HR to left field. It was Thomas's 24th HR of the season & his fifth in the last three games.
In the top of the 4th, the Reds put up five runs with RBI hits from Frank Robinson, Eddie Kasko & a two run HR by Gordy Coleman. The Reds added two more runs in the 7th inning as well.
In the bottom of the 5th, the Mets Charlie Neal hit his eighth HR of the year, a solo shot to right.
Record Tying HR: In the bottom of the 7th inning, Frank Thomas came up & hit his second HR of the game off Joey Jay, it was his sixth HR in the last three games tying an NL Record. In 1951 the Phillies Gus Zernial was the last to do it.
After that historic at bat, "Marvelous" Marv Throneberry also homered to go back-to-back for the second time with Frank in consecutive games.