Remembering Mets History (1965) Jim Hickman Becomes the First Met to Hit Three HRs In A Game
On this 1965 evening, Wes Westrum's tenth place Mets (45-92) were at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis taking on Red Schoendienst seventh place Cardinals (67-69). At the time the Cardinals were still the reigning World Champions.
In the top of the 2nd inning, with two outs, Hickman stepped in & connected with a solo HR, it was his 10th HR of the season.
In the top of the 4th, Hickman connected once again off Sadecki, for his second HR of the game putting the Mets up 3-0.
In the home 4th, for the Cards, Bill White answered with a two-run shot off Selma. The first HR Selma surrendered in his career.
The Mets highly touted pitching prospect: Dick Selma (0-0) was on the mound making his big-league debut. Selma had grown up a childhood friend & little league rival of Tom Seaver. Selma was signed first by the Mets at 20 years old. Tonight, he went up against (future Met) Ray Sadecki (2-11).
In the top of the 3rd, the Mets put up another run. Goose Goossen led off with a base hit. He was forced on a Dick Selma ground out. Selma advanced to second when Ron Hunt grounded out. Short stop, Roy McMillan then singled to left, bringing in the pitcher Selma, making it 2-0 Mets.
In the top of the 4th, Hickman connected once again off Sadecki, for his second HR of the game putting the Mets up 3-0.
Bill White Trivia: For White it was 21st HR of the year, he would hit 24 on the season. From 1961 -1966 White hit 20 or more HRs each year driving in over 100 runs four times.
In the bottom 6th consecutive base hits from Curt Flood, Lou Brock & Ken Boyer gave St. Louis their third run.
In the top of the 6th, after Charley Smith flew out, Ron Swoboda drew a walk.
Franchise First: Then, Jim Hickman stepped in &hit his third HR of the game, all three off Ray Sadecki. Jim became the first player in franchise history to hit three HRs in a single game.
Trivia: It took eleven years before another Mets player hit three HRs in a game, Dave Kingman (1976). In franchise history 14 players have now hit three HRs in a game.
In 1965, Jim Hickman hit 15 HRs with 18 doubles 40 RBIs & batted .236. He spent five seasons with the Mets hitting 60 HRs 78 doubles 9 triples batting .241 with a .306 on base %. Hickman would move on to the Chicago Cubs where in 1970 he had an All-Star Year hitting 32 HRs with 115 RBIs.
The Mets went on to a 6-3 win in this game, giving Selma his first career victory.
Dick Selma pitched five innings, allowing three runs on six hits. He didn't strike any one out & walked two. Gordie Richardson came on to pitch four shout, hitless innings. In four seasons with the Mets, Dick Selma, would go 17-21 with three saves & a 3.16 ERA. He would move on to five MLB team spending the most time with Phillies (1970-1974).