Remembering Mets History: (1993) Anthony Young Losses 27th Game In A Row & the Vince Coleman M-80 Incident

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Saturday July 24th 1993: Dallas Green's last place Mets (32-65) are in Los Angeles for a three game series with Tommy Lasorda's third place Dodgers (51-46). 

 This Saturday afternoon game at Dodger Stadium has a big crowd of 43301 as the Mets' Pete Schourek goes up against Pedro Astacio for L.A. 

Starting Lineups





In the bottom of the 4th, the pesky Bret Butler triples & comes home on a ground out. The Mets tie up the game in the top of the 5th on a HR by Dave Gallagher.

 In the 6th, Eric Davis walks & comes home on Eric Karros double, as the Dodgers regain the lead. 

 In the top of the 7th, the Mets get within a run as Eddie Murray rips an RBI single &Bobby Bonilla adds a sac fly to make it 4-3. The Mets tied it up in the 8th, as Jeff McKnight's sac fly scores Todd Hundley.

 In the bottom of the 8th inning, the Mets brought in relief pitcher Anthony Young. Young gave up a base hit in the 8th & then retired the side in order in the 9th.

In the bottom of the 10th, the Dodgers get two lead off singles & then intentionally walk Jose Offerman. Young then walks pinch hitter Dave Hansen with the bases loaded to end the game. The Dodgers win it 5-4.

 The loss puts Young at 0-13 on the season. Worst of all it was his 27th losing decision in a row, setting an all time major league record. Young had been used as a starter & reliever in that time dating back to the 1992 season. He actually did well as a reliever converting 12 straight saves in save opportunities.

Drama & Stupidity: After the game Vince Coleman was sitting with the Dodgers; Eric Davis in his blue Jeep Cherokee. Coleman lit an M80 firecracker & threw it toward a fence separating the Dodgers private parking lot & the fans. Coleman gets back in the jeep & the vehicle exits the Dodger Stadium parking lot. 

 The M80 fire cracker, went off approximately 25 feet away from a crowd of an estimated 200 people who were looking for post game autographs from Dodger players. A 33 year old woman, suffered inner ear damage, an 11 year old boy suffered bruises on his leg & a two year old girl suffers second-degree burns under her right eye and lacerations of her cornea. 

The news was bad press for an unpopular player & a bad team. Coleman was in the line up the next night as the news spread, he went  0-5. In the mean time the  L.A. County Police Department & Arson unit were busy filing Felony charges on Mr. Coleman. 

 Vince Coleman did not comment directly to the media, instead the Mets Spokesperson Jay Horowitz, made a statement on behalf of Coleman: "I take full responsibility for a very foolish act for which I am suffering greatly. It was never my intent to hurt anyone. My main concern is for those injured."

Mets VP at the time Gerry Hunsicker had some harsher words for Coleman and made it known his days were numbered:  "It only involved the New York Mets because he is an employee of the Mets. In large measure, this is Vince Coleman's problem."

Coleman was a problem ever since joining the Mets in 1991 with a four year $12 million deal. His Hamstring injuries constantly kept him out of the line up. 

 He once injured Dwight Gooden swinging a gold club in the locker room. He once batted out of turn in batting practice and was told to come out of the cage by then manager; Mike Cubbage. Coleman went on a tirade cursing out his manager & refused to apologize. He then had another huge argument with his next manager Jeff Torborg & received another suspension.

 He appeared in just two more games as a Mets player after the fire cracker incident. As he was suspended for the rest of the season. That winter Coleman was traded to the Kansas City Royals for Kevin McReynolds return to New York.
Coleman was lucky enough with the law, to get away with a fine, probation & serving community service in Los Angeles.

 This was a horrible point in Mets history...……...

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