Remembering Mets History (1970) Tommie Agee Hits For The Cycle

Monday July 6th, 1970: Gil Hodges reigning World Champion Mets (43-36) were in first place, just a half game in front of the Pittsburgh Pirates. This evening New York hosted Red Schoendienst's fourth place St. Louis Cardinals (39-40). The Cards were trying to get back to .500.

A good crowd of 36,801 came out to Shea Stadium on this Monday evening.

The Mets' starter was Jim McAndrew (3-6) as he took on the Cardinals pitcher Jerry Reuss (1-1). 

Trivia: Jerry Ruess was just in his second season, the left hander would win 14 or more games, eight times in his 22-year career, spending the majority of his time with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1974-1978) & the Los Angeles Dodgers (1979-1987).






The Mets would have a big offensive night on this evening, scoring ten runs on seventeen hits off of five different Cardinal's pitchers. 

The Mets Donn Clendenon & Ken Singleton had three hits each, but it was Tommie Agee who had the biggest night.

In the bottom of the 3rd inning, with the game still scoreless Agee got his first hit, a base hit to center. He would score on Ken Singleton's two run HR. 

In the 4th inning, Joe Foy led off with a walk & Jerry Grote singled. After two pop outs, Agee stepped in & hit a three run HR putting the Mets up 5-0. It was Agee's 18th HR of the season; he would finish with 24 on the year.

 Bud Harrelson would draw a walk, that finished Ruess & brought in Sal Campisi. Ken Singleton would greet him with a base hit, sending Harrelson to third. Donn Clendenon added an RBI single it make it 6-0 Mets. 

In the 5th, the new Cardinal pitcher was Chuck Hartenstein, he served up three straight doubles to Al Weis, pitcher Jim McAndrew which brought home Weis & then to Agee. His scored McAndrew & Agee had his third hit & fourth RBI of the game as the Mets took a 8-0 lead.


In the 6th inning, Ron Swoboda hit a two run HR off Hartenstein making it 10-0 Mets. 

 In the bottom of the 7th, Agee completed the cycle as he tripled to right field off the latest Cards pitcher; Frank Linzy. It was his third triple of the year, he would hit seven in the season. In 1966 he hit a career high eight triples winning AL Rookie of the Year, while still with the White Sox.

Trivia: Agee would have four hits as he became the second Met in team history to hit for the cycle, Jim Hickman was the first to do it in 1963. It would take six more years until the next player would do it for the Mets, he was utility man Mike Phillips. 

Agee would also drive in a season high four runs in this game. Agee would have four different four hit games in 1970 as well as one five hit game. Tommie Agee would lead the team with 24 HRs, 30 doubles, 182 hits, 31 stolen bases & a career high 107 runs scored (6th in the NL) in 1970.

Jim McAndrew pitched into the 9th inning getting relieved by Tug McGraw who closed out the game, earning his 7th save. McAndrew went eight innings allowing three runs on eight hits, striking out six & walking no one. The Mets went on to a 10-3 victory.

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