Remembering Mets History (1962): Al Jackson Tosses First Mets Shutout & Frank Thomas Gets Hit By Pitches Twice In Same Inning

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Sunday April 29th, 1962: At this early point in the Mets inaugural season, Casey Stengel's Mets had only won two games in their first 14 tries. It would be a long year trying to earn wins for the 1962 Mets.
 
Ob this day, Casey would earn his third Mets victory & see first shut out in team history. 

The Mets hosted the Philadelphia Phillies on this Sunday afternoon double header at the Polo Grounds. A good crowd of just under 20,000 came to the old ballpark to see 26-year-old Al Jackson pitch for the Mets, against the Phils, Art Mahaffey.

Starting Lineups



Jackson, would be one of the better pitchers for the Mets in the early 1960's, accomplishing many firsts in team history. In this game, he became the first Mets pitcher to toss a shutout.
 
Jackson went nine innings, allowing eight hits & one walk, while striking out four to earn his first win of the year.

In the home 2nd, Mets slugger, Frank Thomas hit a HR off  Art Mahaffey. It was already Thomas' sixth HR on the young season.

In a crazy home 4th inning,  the Mets scored seven runs & sent 13 men to the plate. Gus Bell led off with a base hit & then Frank Thomas would then get hit by a pitch . With the next five batters Mets runs would score on an error, a Gil Hodges fielders choice, a Felix Mantilla base hit, a Sammy Taylor ground out & a wild pitch to the pitcher, Al Jackson.

The Mets Jim Hickman finally knocked out the pitcher, Mahaffey when he hit a two run HR, making it 8-0 Mets. The Mets won this first game of the twin bill 8-0 & lost the nightcap 10-2.

 Trivia: Before the inning was over, Frank Thomas was plunked with another pitch. He made the record books, as he tied an MLB mark by reaching base twice in the same inning with getting hit by pitches. He would get hit eight times that year (5th most in the NL) & get plunked 51 times in his career.

The 32-year-old Thomas was the Mets first true slugger. In 1962 he hit 34 HRs with 94 RBIs & would hit 25 or more HRs seven times in his 16 year career. He finished up with 286 career HRs (52 as a Met). 

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