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

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.

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 pitched 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 got hit by a pitch. 

Charlie Neal then bunted & got aboard when first baseman Roy Sievers threw the ball away allowing Bell to score as well. Next, Thomas scored on Gil Hodges fielder's choice.

Felix Mantilla then singled to center field, Charlie Neal scored & Hodges & Mantilla advanced on another error by Sievers. Next Sammy Taylor grounded to the right-side allowing Gil Hodges to score the Mets fifth run. Art Mahaffey then threw a wild pitch which allowed Mantilla to score. Al Jackson drew a walk in that at bat. Next Jim Hickman finished off the scoring in the inning with a two run HR, giving the Mets an 8-0 lead. The Mets won this first game 8-0 but lost the nightcap 10-2.

Trivia: Before the 4th inning was over, Frank Thomas was plunked with another pitch. He made the record books, tying an MLB mark by reaching base twice in the same inning by getting hit with 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).