Remembering Mets History: (1965) Jim Hickman Becomes the First Met to Hit Three HRs In A Game

Friday September 3rd, 1965: Jim Hickman, known as "Gentleman Jim" was the Mets first regular center fielder. Hickman was an original Met playing with the club for five seasons, until he & Ron Hunt were traded to the L.A. Dodgers for Tommy Davis.

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). The Cards were the reigning World Champions.

The Mets highly touted pitching prospect; Dick Selma (0-0) was on the mound making his big league debut, going against (future Met) Ray Sadecki (2-11).

Starting Lineups

Mets

1	Ron Hunt	2B
2	Roy McMillan	SS
3	Joe Christopher	RF
4	Charley Smith	3B
5	Ron Swoboda	LF
6	Jim Hickman	1B
7	Cleon Jones	CF
8	Greg Goossen	C
9	Dick Selma	P

Cardinals

1	Bobby Tolan	RF
2	Curt Flood	CF
3	Lou Brock	LF
4	Ken Boyer	3B
5	Bill White	1B
6	Dick Groat	SS
7	Tim McCarver	C
8	Julian Javier	2B
9	Ray Sadecki	P

In the 2nd inning, with two outs, Hickman connected off Sadecki, for a solo HR, his 10th
HR of the season. 

In the 3rd,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 singled to bring in Selma, making it 2-0.

In the 4th, Hickman connected again off Sadecki, for another HR putting the Mets up 3-0. 

For the Cards, Bill White answered with a two run shot off Selma in the bottom of the inning. 

In the 6th,with one out, the Mets Ron Swoboda drew a walk. Jim Hickman stepped in & did something no other Met had done before, in the clubs first four years of team history. Hickman hit his third HR of the game. It was his 12th HR of the year. 

The Mets have had 13 players in team history hit three HRs in a game.

The Mets went on to a 6-3 win, giving Selma his first career victory. In four seasons with the Mets, Selma, who had come out of Fresno, California & was a friend of Tom Seaver, would pitch for the Mets for four seasons going 17-21 with three saves & a 3.16 ERA.