Remembering Mets History: (1996) Todd Hundley Sets MLB Season Mark For Catchers With 41 HRs
The game was a nationally televised since it had playoff implications for the Braves. They would eventually go on to win the World Series that year.
The Mets were not in any playoff contention, but the Mets fans were looking to see Todd Hundley hit a HR to set an MLB single season record for catchers.
Todd Hundley Trivia: A week earlier on Sunday, September 8th Hundley had tied Roy Campanella's mark of 40 HRs set in his 1953 MVP season, one of the years Campy won the MVP Award. That 40th HR also set a Mets franchise single season mark passing Darryl Strawberry's 39 (1987). Hundley became the first NL switch hitter to reach 40 HR with the only other switch hitter to reach that mark being Mickey Mantle.
In 2006, Carlos Beltran tied Hundley's Mets single season mark with 41. In 2019 Pete Alonso would set a new Mets franchise mark with 53 HRs.
In the top of the 1st, Terry Pendleton doubled to left field. After a walk to Fred McGriff, Ryan Klesko lined a shot to left field that Bernard Gilkey misplayed leading to Pendleton scoring the Braves first run.
In the home 7th inning, pinch hit base hits by Matt Franco & Carl Everett started up a Mets rally. Lance Johnson the Mets leading hitter at .331 was competing for a batting title, chasing Tony Gwynn, then singled to load the bases. Johnson would come in fourth in the NL on the season at .333.
Quotes- Todd Hundley: "I wanted to be professional about it. I was not going to jump up & down like we just won the World Series & show somebody up. I was thinking more of the score. I was just thinking, dog gone here we go."
Each bullpen would hold the other team down thru eleven innings. The Braves used eight pitchers
on the night & the Mets used six pitchers. After Mike Fyhrie, Paul Bird, Ricky Tricek, Jerry DiPoto all pitched two shutout innings each.
Lance Johnson then singled to center field, scoring Franco with the games walk off winning run. It was Johnson's only walk off hit in his one season with the Mets. That year he set a Mets single season mark with 227.
In the top of the 3rd, Terry Pendleton singled & Chipper Jones doubled putting runners on second & third. Fred McGriff grounded out to first base, but Terry Pendleton scored his second run on the game. Ryan Klesko lined a base hit scoring Chipper Jones making it 4-0.
In the top of the 5th, short time Met Mike Fyhrie was on the mound issuing a two out walk to Terry Pendleton then a ground rule double to Chipper Jones. Fred McGriff singled scoring Pendleton with his third run making it 5-0 Braves.
Steve Avery shut out the Mets for five innings holding them to two hits. In the bottom of the 6th, Brad Clontz pitched a scoreless inning.
Steve Avery shut out the Mets for five innings holding them to two hits. In the bottom of the 6th, Brad Clontz pitched a scoreless inning.
Greg McMichael came on to pitch, Bernard Gilkey then hit his 42nd double of the year, a two-run shot scoring Matt Franco & Carl Everett. Gilkey would hit 44 doubles on the year, fourth most in the NL.
Todd Hundley then came to bat on an 0-2 count; he hit an opposite field three run HR to left field tying up the game at 5-5. The HR was Hundley's 41st on the season, setting a new MLB record for catchers in a season.
Todd Hundley then came to bat on an 0-2 count; he hit an opposite field three run HR to left field tying up the game at 5-5. The HR was Hundley's 41st on the season, setting a new MLB record for catchers in a season.
Hundley did come out of the dug out for a curtain call responding to the Shea Stadium fans.
Quotes- Todd Hundley: "I 've been thru a lot with the fans here. I've gone from getting booed by 40,000 to getting a standing ovation from 20,000 to 30,000".
on the night & the Mets used six pitchers. After Mike Fyhrie, Paul Bird, Ricky Tricek, Jerry DiPoto all pitched two shutout innings each.
In the top of the 12th, the Mets Derek Wallace retired the side in order.
In the bottom of the 12th inning, reliever Joe Borowski started the inning walking Matt Franco who then advanced on Chris Jones weak ground out to second base.
Quotes- Lance Johnson: "Thats the way you want to end a game".
The game lasted four hours, the 12-inning affair saw Mets manager Bobby Valentine used 23 players & Braves manager Bobby Cox also used 23 players on the extended September rosters for a total of 66 players used in the game. Overall, 14 different pitchers were used as well.