Remembering Mets History (1966): Jack Hamilton Tosses A One Hitter

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Wednesday May 4th,1966: A small crowd of 7,924 came to the newly opened Busch Stadium in St. Louis, to see Wes Westrum's New York Mets (6-8) take on Red Schoendienst Cardinals (8-11).

In a year where the Mets went 62-99, this night was one of the few early team highlights the team had. In that 1966 season, they put up what was their best record to date, in their brief five-year history. This three years prior to the Amazing Worlds Championship Miracle year of 1969.
This game would be Jack Hamiliton's Mets gem. Hamilton spent parts of two seasons with the Mets, posting a 6-13 record in 1966 with a 3.93 ERA.

After going 2-0 in 1967, he was traded to the California Angels where he would infamously hit Boston's Tony Conigiliaro in the head with a pitch. It is still one of baseballs' worst beaning's & ruined Tony C of a promising career. Hamilton never got over it.

On this day, Hamilton took the mound after his last start which the Mets lost 8-0 in Pittsburgh. Today he allowed a 3rd inning single to pitcher Ray Sadecki (a future Met) & then a walk to Hall of Famer; Lou Brock. From there on, he retired the next 19 batters in a row, completing a one hit, one walk shut out. Along the way Hamilton struck out six batters.
Mets
1Eddie Bressoud2B
2Roy McMillanSS
3Ken Boyer3B
4Jim HickmanRF
5Ron SwobodaLF
6Ed Kranepool1B
7Jerry GroteC
8Billy MurphyCF
9Jack Hamilton
P

Cardinals
1Lou BrockRF
2Alex JohnsonLF
3Curt FloodCF
4Tito Francona1B
5Charley Smith3B
6Julian Javier2B
7Dal MaxvillSS
8Pat CorralesC
9Ray SadeckiP

It was a big day for the Mets offense, right off the bat. In the 1st inning Eddie Bressoud singled & was forced at second on a Roy McMillan ground out. With two outs, Jim Hickman walked, then young slugger Ron Swoboda socked a three run HR making it 3-0 New York. 

In the 2nd inning, Mets center fielder, Billy Murphy walked & advanced on a botched pick off play. Eddie Bressoud then singled him home to make it 4-0. Later that inning, Ken Boyer brought Bressoud in with an RBI single to left, making it 5-0 Mets.

In the 4th, Eddie Bressoud continued with his big three hit day, hitting a solo HR off Sadecki, making it 6-0 Mets. 

In the top of the 8th, Jim Hickman singled & Ed
Kranepool walked. Then another botched St. Louis pick off  attempt, brought home Hickman with the Mets seventh run. Ron Hunt then hit a grounder to first, that was misplayed by Tito Francona (Terry Francona's dad), causing Kranepool to score, icing the Mets 8-0 win.

Trivia: The one hitter was the second of the 39 one hitters thrown in Mets history.

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