Jon Matlack: Mets Hall Of Fame Inductee (Part Two: 1974 -1977)
.JPG)
In his next start he earned no decision in a 2-1 loss to the Phillies allowing just one run in seven innings. Matlack struck out ten Phillies, it was the first of five times he would reach double figures in strikeouts that season.
On April 23rd, he was roughed up in San Diego, allowing 4 runs in 3.2 innings, taking a loss.
On April 23rd, he was roughed up in San Diego, allowing 4 runs in 3.2 innings, taking a loss.
From April 28th to May 15th, Jon won four straight starts
allowing five runs in 34 innings striking out 33 batters & walking five.
Four Hit Shut Out: On April 28th in the first game of a double header sweep at Candlestick Park, he tossed a four-hit shutout beating the Giants 6-0.
Complete Game Win: On May 8th at Shea, he pitched a complete game win beating the Giants for the second time in eleven days, allowing two runs on just four hits, while striking out a season high 12 batters.
Four Hit Shut Out: On May 18th in New York, he threw his second shut out of the year, a four-hitter over Steve Rogers & the Expos. Matlack fanned nine, walked four getting to 5-1 on the year lowering his ERA to 1.89.
One Hit Shut Out: Sunday June 29th, was Old Timers Day at Shea Stadium. After all the festivities, Matlack pitched a one hit shut out over the then first place St. Louis Cardinals. He struck out seven Redbirds walking three. The only hit was a 3rd inning single, off the bat of the opposing pitcher, John Curtis.
It was the second one hit game Matlack pitched in his career & the 11th one hitter in franchise history. Matlack had also thrown the last Mets one hit game the previous July.
Matlack was the winning pitcher, in the first game of an Independence Day double header at Philadelphia, where he allowed three runs & struck out ten, reaching double figures in Ks for the third time on the year.
On July 9th, the Padres beat him for five runs in a 5-4 loss.
Back to Back Complete Games: Matlack then pitched two straight complete game victories on the road in Southern California, allowing three earned runs in the two games over 18 innings. First he beat the Dodgers in Los Angeles & then the Padres in San Diego leading up to the All-Star Game.
1974 All Star: At the All-Star break, Matlack was 9-6 with a 2.55 ERA. His manager, Yogi Berra was the NL All Star Manager & he brought Matlack with him to Pittsburgh for the All-Star Game at Three Rivers Stadium.
With the game being held in Pittsburgh, the hometown fans were upset at Berra for his choice of his own players. They preferred he chose their new hometown hero, a young Dave Parker instead.
In the Game, Matlack would pitch a scoreless 6th inning allowing a leadoff single to George Hendrick, as well as a walk in the 7-2 NL victory.
After the All-Star break Matlack was having his best season to date. The Mets on the other hand were in last place already nine games back. Injuries & poor offense led them to to a sub .500 disappointing year. Tom Seaver also had issues with his mechanics that year resulting in one of his worst seasons.
After the All-Star break Matlack was having his best season to date. The Mets on the other hand were in last place already nine games back. Injuries & poor offense led them to to a sub .500 disappointing year. Tom Seaver also had issues with his mechanics that year resulting in one of his worst seasons.Poor Run Support: From August thru the end of the season, although he pitched brilliantly at times Matlack would only have four wins to show for it in 13 starts. In the final two months he posted a 1.86 ERA & allowed two runs or less including four complete game shut outs in nine of those 13 starts.
Fourth Shut Out: After allowing a season high six runs in his last start, On August 3rd, in Montreal Matlack threw a seven-hit shutout walking just one batter in a 10-8 Mets win. The win got him into double figures in victories for the third straight season.
The rest of August resulted in a loss where he gave up a season high six runs to the Reds & two no decisions.
Sixth Shut Out: On September 3rd, in the first of a twin bill sweep at Wrigley Field, Matlack tossed his sixth shut out of the season, a four hitter. In the game he struck out ten & walked no one reaching the double digit strike out mark for the fifth time on the season, as his record went to 12-10.
Sixth Shut Out: On September 3rd, in the first of a twin bill sweep at Wrigley Field, Matlack tossed his sixth shut out of the season, a four hitter. In the game he struck out ten & walked no one reaching the double digit strike out mark for the fifth time on the season, as his record went to 12-10.
On September 7th, Matlack gave up just two runs in St. Louis, but Bob Gibson held the Mets to just one run. The Cardinals won the game on Lou Brock's walk off single.
In the game Matlack collected two hits with a two run single off Bob Gibson in the 4th inning.
Seventh Shut Out: On September 22nd, Matlack threw his league leading seventh shutout of the year, a 4-0 three hitter at Three Rivers Stadium, in Pittsburgh. In the game he struck out three & walked three. He had his second multi RBI game of his career as well.
Matlack struck out 195 batters (4th most in the league) he also had five double digit strike out games.
Jon pitched 14 complete games (5th most in the NL) throwing 265 innings (7th in the NL).
His record certainly didn’t reflect how good he was that season going 13-15 suffering a lot of hard luck losses, on a team that didn’t score many runs.
Matlack began the 1975 season, pitching in the second game of the year at Shea. He allowed two runs over seven innings but earned no decision as the Mets fell to the Phillies 3-2.
On April 20th, he won his first game of the 1975 season, even though he gave up a season high six earned runs, the Mets scored eight in a win at Wrigley Field. Jon would allow six runs four times on the season.
He won his next game in a 5-3 victory at Montreal pitching into the 8th inning.
On April 30th at Wrigley Field, he only lasted into the 4th inning allowing six earned runs to the Cubs including a two run HR to batting champ Bill Madlock.
From May 12th thru June 2nd, Matlack went on a five-game win streak allowing six earned runs over 38 innings for a 1.87 ERA. He struck out 33 batters in 43.1 innings as well.
On May 12th at Shea Stadium, he went seven innings, holding the Giants to one run, out dueling Jim Barr for a 3-2 win. On May 17th at the Astrodome, he pitched just six innings holding down the Astros down to two runs, for a 6-4 win.
On May 28th, he won his third straight start beating the Dodgers & Doug Rau 4-3 at Shea Stadium.
Four Hit Shut Out: On June 2nd at Shea, the four game win streak was topped off with a 2-0 four hit shutout over the Houston Astros. Matlack struck out six & walked four with Dave Kingman & Jerry Grote providing the RBIs.
rebounded with a three-hit shutout, beating Don Sutton & the Dodgers in Los Angeles. In that game he struck out Steve Garvey three times.
In his next start the Expos roughed him up for a season high six runs, with a three run HR from Gary Carter & a solo shot from Larry Parish. After taking that loss then earned a no decision & made a relief appearance in a loss to St. Louis.
Complete Game Win: On July 2nd, Matlack started out the month with a two-run complete game win over the Cubs at Shea Stadium, where he collected a season high eight strike outs. It was his fourth complete game of the season. Felix Millan had a multi-four RBI game & Joe Torre hit his second HR of the season.
Although he lost two straight starts, By the All-Star break Matlack was 10-7 with a 3.54 ERA, earning him another trip to the All-Star Game.
.jpg)
1975 All Star Game co-MVP: He went to his second All Star Game that year, with the 1975 Mid-Summer Classic being held in Milwaukee's County Stadium. Matlack came into the game in the 7th inning, following teammate Tom Seaver after he had served up a three-run game tying HR to the Red Sox Carl Yastrzemski.
Matlack pitching two scoreless innings while striking out four American leaguers-Rod Carew, Bucky Dent, Gene Tenace & Fred Lynn, in the 6-3 National League win.
For his efforts Matlack ended up sharing the All-Star MVP Award honors with the Chicago Cubs Bill Madlock, who drove in the game winning runs off Rich Gossage in the top of the 9th inning.
Matlack was issued the Award by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn & Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Since there was only one award to actually be handed out, Madlock took that one home with Matlack getting his from the league's office in New York when he returned to Shea Stadium.
For his efforts Matlack ended up sharing the All-Star MVP Award honors with the Chicago Cubs Bill Madlock, who drove in the game winning runs off Rich Gossage in the top of the 9th inning.
Matlack was issued the Award by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn & Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Since there was only one award to actually be handed out, Madlock took that one home with Matlack getting his from the league's office in New York when he returned to Shea Stadium.
After the All-Star Game he took a loss to the Braves, but then went on to a six-game win streak. Six Game Win Streak: From July 23rd to August 29th Matlack went 6-0 winning six straight starts, posting a 2.81 ERA giving up 15 runs with 33 K's & 10 walks in 48 innings. In that time the Mets got within 3.5 games of first place before falling out of the race in September.
On July 23rd, he started the win streak with a complete game win at Shea, beating the eventual World Champion Big Red Machine matching his season high eight strike outs.
On July 28th although he then gave up ten hits & five runs, but still earned an 11-7 win in St. Louis. The Mets collected 17 hits with six players driving in runs led by Felix Milan's multi-three RBI game.
Injury: Matlack then missed over two weeks getting sidelined with a shoulder issue returning on August 19th.
Matlack then won two games on the west coast road trip, including a one run complete game six hitter over the Dodgers in L.A. In that game he struck out seven walked just one to earn his fifth straight win on the road. In the Mets six run 1st inning he collected a two run single off Don Sutton, for his only two RBIs of the year.
It seemed he was on his way to his first twenty-win season, possibly joining Tom Seaver as the second twenty game winner on the staff. That season Seaver would also win his third Cy Young Award that year as Matlack pitched in his shadows once again. The Mets also entered September, just four games behind the first place Pirates, but the month was a huge disappointment. The Mets went 11-16 thru the end of the season.
It would be Matlack's worst month as well, as he went 0-4 with two no decisions giving up 22 runs , 19 earned for a 4.04 ERA in six starts.Bicentennial Year: The 1976 season began to bring changes to the Mets family, as owner Joan Payson passed away. With her daughter taking over & handing the reigns to M. Donald Grant who destroyed the franchise this was the last year before the bottom fell out. For Jon Matlack he had his best Mets start to any season.
Four Hit Shut Out: In his first start, which was the second Mets game of the season, he beat the Expos veteran Woody Fryman in a 1-0 duel at Shea Stadium pitching a four-hit shutout. It was his 18th career shut out.
His second start was a disaster, as he allowed six earned runs to the Cubs at Wrigley Field with Dave Rosello hitting a two run HR in the Cubs four run second.
Complete Game Win: After a rough loss at Houston where he gave up just two runs, he beat Joe Niekro & the Astros 2-1 at Shea in a complete game win to get to 3-0.
On May 5th, Matlack threw 9.2 shut out innings at Shea over the Big Red Machine dueling with Gary Nolan. In the game Jon struck out a season high eleven batters & walked just two. The Mets lost the game in the 11th inning as former Red Tom Hall gave up RBI singles to George Foster & Ken Griffey.
Four Straight Complete Games: From May 31st to June 15th he threw four straight complete game victories, allowing just four runs in 36 innings of work for a 1.00 ERA. In that stretch he threw 18 consecutive scoreless innings, struck out 22 batters & walked eight.
On June 5th in Los Angeles, he gave up just one run in a 3-1 win over the Dodgers & Doug Rau.
20th Career Shut Out: Five days later on June 10th in San Diego, he shut out the Padres striking out eight batters while walking five in the 6-0 win. It was his third shutout of the year & 20th of his five year career.
On June 15th, he earned a win after he & Burt Hooton both threw six shutout innings in a 2-1 pitcher's duel at Shea Stadium. The Dodgers got a run in the top of the 7th & the Mets answered with a 7th inning RBI single from Wayne Garrett. In the bottom of the 8th inning Dave Kingman added an insurance run.
On June 20th he had a terrible seven run, three inning outing against the Giants at home, taking a 9-2 loss. On July 25th, Jon pitched his tenth complete game of the season, it was his ninth win coming at Wrigley Field.
Five Hit Shut Out: On July 1st at Shea, he threw a five-hit shutout, in a 13-0 Mets blowout over the Cardinals. In the game Jon Milner hit a grand slam HR off Mike Wallace. Matlack struck out five walked two lowering his season ERA to 2.62. It was Matlack's fourth shutout of the year & 21st of his career. Matlack reached double figures in wins for the fifth straight season as he won his tenth game 10-2 with a 2.62 ERA.
Jon joined his Mets teammates Tom Seaver & Dave Kingman at the Mid-Summer Classic in Philadelphia. Matlack did not pitch in the 7-1 NL win.
On July 6th, at the Astrodome, he pitched shutout ball for nine innings, but the Mets lost a 1-0 heartbreaker to J.R. Richard & the Astros. In the 10th inning Jerry DaVanon singled off Skip Lockwood scoring Wilbur Howard with the walk off run.
From July 16th thru July 31st, he had a rough stretch losing four straight games, although he
allowed two earned runs or less in three of the four games. Three of the losses came on the rad where he posted a 3.29 ERA as opposed to a 2.46 ERA at Shea on the season, a slight difference.
In August Jon rebounded, winning at Pittsburgh & then beating the Padres at Shea Stadium for his 12th win. After taking a loss in Los Angeles he won his next two starts.
Fifth Shut Out: On August 22nd in San Diego, Matlack threw his fifth shut out & 12th complete game of the year in a 1-0 classic in San Diego where he dueled with that year's Cy Young Award winner Randy Jones. The only run of the game came on Jerry Grote's 7th inning double, scoring short time Met Pepe Mangual.
13th Complete Game: On August 28th at Shea, he was involved in another pitching duel, this time with the Dodgers Rick Rhoden. Matlack allowed one run on three hits with the Mets winning it 2-1, on a Felix Millan walk off single.
The Mets had fallen ten games back in June & never came close to catching the Phillies. In September & early October Matlack went 3-3 pitching three more complete games.
Sixth NL Leading Shut Out: On September 7th at Wrigley Field, he tossed his league best sixth shut out of the season, in an eight hit five K performance. He also earned his 15th victory matching his career high.Shut Out & Complete Game Trivia: Matlack would lead the NL in shut out for he second time in three years. From 1974 thru 1976 Matlack threw 16 shut outs with 38 complete games.
17th Victory & Multi-Three Hit Game: On September 27th, he beat the Expos at Shea to earn his career best 17th win of the season. At bat he had a career best multi-three hit game driving in a run with an RBI single as well.
This year Matlack was overshadowed once again on his own staff, not by Tom Seaver but this time by Jerry Koosman. Kooz won twenty games for the first time in his fabulous career. Koosman posted a 2.69 ERA second to Seaver's 2.59 ERA with Matlack posting a 2.95 ERA. All three pitchers threw 247 innings or more & all had at least 13 complete games. The big three pitchers combined for 14 shut outs as well.
This year Matlack was overshadowed once again on his own staff, not by Tom Seaver but this time by Jerry Koosman. Kooz won twenty games for the first time in his fabulous career. Koosman posted a 2.69 ERA second to Seaver's 2.59 ERA with Matlack posting a 2.95 ERA. All three pitchers threw 247 innings or more & all had at least 13 complete games. The big three pitchers combined for 14 shut outs as well.
He notched 153 strikeouts (8th in the NL) & posted a 2.95 ERA (tenth in the NL) with walking 57 batters.
At bat that year he drove in runs in a season best seven games batting .193 with a career high 17 hits & nine RBIs.
A public feud with Grant & between the press led to the team Trading away Tom Seaver. They also traded away Dave Kingman on that sad night known as the Midnight Massacre. Joe Torre became the skipper on a sinking ship.
On April 10th in his first start, he gave up six runs to the Cubs at Wrigley taking the first of two straight losses.
Complete Game Win: On April 29th, he pitched a complete game win over the Padres in San Diego where he struck out a season high ten batters.
Jon took two straight losses on the West Coast, with a loss in Los Angeles where he gave up three runs, then ta big loss at San Francisco where he gave up a season high ten runs & twelve hits in a 10-0 Mets disaster. Back to Back Shut Outs: Matlack then threw back-to-back complete game shut outs at Shea. First he tossed a seven hitter over the Dodgers & then a five hitter blanking of the Giants where he struck out seven. It marked a milestone 25 career shut outs for Matlack keeping pace with Jerry Koosman for second in franchise history.
From May 24th thru July 6th, Matlack lost seven straight decisions he gave up 34 earned runs in 56 innings over nine appearances for a 5.46 ERA. He fell to 3-11 with a 4.41 ERA all career worsts.
Matlack said he believed the Mets had good pitching stating if they had some offense they could contend once again. Management thought he was complaining publicly although he was just telling the truth about their horrible decisions. Things were bad for the Mets.
The Midnight Massacre: On June 15th, the night when Tom Seaver was traded to the Cincinnati Reds, Matlack got the start in Atlanta. He allowed five runs in six innings but earned no decision as the Mets rallied to beat the Braves 6-5.
The Midnight Massacre: On June 15th, the night when Tom Seaver was traded to the Cincinnati Reds, Matlack got the start in Atlanta. He allowed five runs in six innings but earned no decision as the Mets rallied to beat the Braves 6-5.
From June 26th thru July 6th, three straight losses followed as he gave up four runs each time.
On July 12th, Matlack pitched into the 9th inning striking out nine in a 4-2 win over the Cubs.
Third Shut Out: On July 22nd, he pitched what was his last shutout as a Mets pitcher. It came in San Diego where he struck out seven, allowing seven hits in a 5-0 Mets win.
All Time Mets Shut Out List: It was his 26th Mets shut out, placing him second on the Mets all time franchise list tied with teammate Jerry Koosman.
On July 27th, Matlack earned another win although he lasted just five innings as an injury would have him miss a month of action due until the end of September.
On September 30th, Matlack returned to make one last start which turned out to be his final start as a New York Met. He gave up three runs to the Cardinals, including a two run HR to Roger Freed, striking out six walking three in a 6-3 win at Busch Stadium.On the year he went 7-15 with a 4.21 ERA. He struck out 123 batters walked 43 in 169 innings in 26 starts, which were all career lows. He gave up a career high 19 HRs & allowed 176 hits as well.
The Mets were getting rid of all the players from their glory days in many moves that made no sense. After Tom Seaver was dealt, everyone was expendable.
Traded: That December Matlack was traded in a strange four-team deal involving a number of players. Matlack went to the Texas Rangers along with John Milner (who then went to Pittsburgh) in exchange for Willie Montanez, Ken Henderson & Tom Grieve. The trade shocked Matlack.
In his seven-year Mets career Matlack ranks second in shut outs (26) tied with teammate Jerry Koosman. He posted a 3.03 ERA (fifth best in Met history). Matlack won 82 games (7th most) & lost 81 games (4th most losses all time) making 199 starts (8th most in franchise history).
Matlack pitched 65 complete games (4th most on Mets all-time list) 1448 innings (6th most on all time list) he has 1023 strikeouts (9th most on Mets all-time list) & has made 203 appearances (28th on the Mets all-time list) .
Post Mets Career: In his first year in the Arlington/Dallas area he went 15-13 & was second in the American League with his 2.27 ERA. He threw eight complete games (4th best in the AL) struck out 157 batters (6th in the AL) pitching in 270 innings (8th in the AL) in 35 starts. Matlack helped the Rangers tie for a second-place finish tying with the California Angles, finishing five games behind the mighty Kansas City Royals of the late seventies.
In 1979 injuries limited him to only 13 games, going 5-4 with a 4.13 ERA. It was his last year with a winning record as he’d go 10-10 in 1980 with a 3.68 ERA. That year he began the season with a three-hit shutout against the AL New York club, in Texas Stadium.
MLB Trivia: In August 1980 Matlack broke up George Brett's 30-game hitting streak holding him to an 0-3 night in Arlington Texas. Brett hit .390 that season.
Rangers Trivia: Jon Matlack was the Texas Rangers Opening Day starter for three straight seasons (1979-1981). In six years with the Rangers he went 43-45 with a 3.41 ERA.
In October 1983, he was released by the Rangers at age 34 ending his pitching career.
Career Stats: In a 13-year career, he was 125-126 with 1516 strikeouts (179th all time) with 638 walks, posting a 3.18 ERA, with 97 complete games, & thirty shutouts (110th all time)
He pitched in 2363 innings pitched in 361 games. At the plate he hit .129 (57-441) with three doubles & 23 RBIs.
Retirement: Matlack resurfaced pitching in the short lived Senior Professional Baseball Association where he had a solid 10-2 record. Outside of baseball he sold commercial real estate & also raised horses.
In 1988 after five years away from the game he became a minor league pitching coach for the San Diego Padres. He then moved on to the Chicago White Sox organization. In 1996 he became a pitching coach for the Detroit Tigers then spent over a decade (1997-2011) as a minor league rover & coach in the Tigers organization. He was instrumental in helping develop talent for the 2006 & 2012 AL Champions such as Justin Verlander, Jeremy Bonderman, Zach Minor & Rick Porcello.
Mets Hall of Fame Honors: In 2021 Jon Matlack became a member of the New York Mets Hall of Fame. He was induted along with Ron Darling & Edgardo Alfonzo.
Honors: In 2022 he attended the Old Timers Day festivities. Matlack along with Ed Kranepool, Cleon Jones & Felix Millan of the 1973 Pennant winning team, represented one of Willie Mays' teammates as the organization retired his #24.
They have three children two girls Kristin, Jenifer & a son Dan. They are also happy grand parents.
Diana Matlack has worked in the medical field where her specialty is advanced Practice Midwifery.
Jon has affectionately called his wife "Dee" thru the years.
Jon & Dee live comfortably, in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York, in the town of Johnsburg, NY.
