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 has the distinction of doing many "firsts" in team history. He was the first Met to hit a walk off grand slam as well as the first Met to hit for the cycle. 

 

On this 1965 evening, Wes Westrum's tenth place Mets (45-92) losers of 11 of their last 12 games, were at Busch Stadium in St. Louis taking on Red Schoendienst seventh place Cardinals (67-69). At the time the Cardinals were still the reigning World Champions. Earlier that week the Mets had taken three of four games over the Cardinals at Shea Stadium.

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). On

In the top of the 2nd inning, with two outs, Jim Hickman stepped in & connected with a solo HR, for his 10th HR of the season. 

In the top of the 3rd, 19 year old Mets catcher 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 to second base. Short stop, Roy McMillan then singled to left field, scoring Selma, making it a 2-0 Mets lead.

In the top of the 4th, Jim 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. 

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, a 400 foot shot that a NY newspaper said "shook up the hot dog stand atop the left field bleachers". All three of the HRs came off Ray Sadecki. Jim Hickman became the first player in franchise history to hit three HRs in a single game, adding to his "franchise firsts".

Trivia: It took eleven years before another Mets player hit three HRs in a game, until Dave Kingman hit three in 1976. In franchise history 14 players have hit three HRs in a game.

Quotes- Jim Hickman: "I was just swinging, just swinging".

In the bottom of the 6th, the Cardinals collected three straight hits off Dick Selma getting within two runs 5-3. Manager Wes Westrum came on to relieve Selma, as he pitched five innings, allowing three runs on six hits, walking two with no strike outs.

Gordie Richardson came on to pitch, Bill White sacrificed for the first out. Richardson then struck out Dick Groat & got Tim McCarver to fly out to left field. 

In the top of the 7th, the Mets collected three straight singles off Ray Sadecki knocking him out of the game. Don Dennis came in & Charley Smith singled scoring Roy McMillan topping off the 5-3 win.

Gordie Richardson would retire 11 of the the 12 batters he faced, finishing off the win.  

The Mets went on to a 6-3 win in this game, earning Dick Selma his first career victory. 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).

Hickman Trivia: 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.