Remembering Mets History (1972) Willie Mays Returns to New York & the First Place Mets Go On a Franchise Record Eleven Game Win Streak
Mets coach, Yogi Berra was the popular choice getting named the teams fourth manager. The better baseball choice would have been Whitey Herzog, the Mets head of minor league player development.
That year the Mets traded away the hard throwing Nolan Ryan, to the California Angels for Jim Fregosi. In new York, Ryan was not happy, his pitching was brilliant at times but wild at other times. He still hadn't developed into the Hall of Fame legend he became.
Young slugger John Milner was also brought up becoming a steady force in the line up.
The legendary, future Hall of Famer Mays had always been a favorite of Mets principal owner, Joan Payson since his New York Giants days. Mrs. Payson was on the New York Giants Board of Directors. Later, with the Mets she had pursued Mays but was never able to make a deal.
Although he was in the twilight of his career, his presence & knowledge meant so much to the young players. The New York fans were thrilled to have the "Say Hey Kid" back in town.
Walk Off Win: In the bottom of the 9th, Giants reliever Jerry Johnson walked Cleon Jones. Jim Fregosi then singled & Eddie Kranepool was walked intentionally, loading the bases. Catcher Jerry Grote delivered the walk off game winning base hit, as the Mets won a 2-1 squeaker.
Saturday May13th 1972: This Shea crowd of 35,780 came out for the second game of the series on this Saturday afternoon. It was to be another pitcher's duel, as the Mets young Buzz Capra went up against future Hall of Famer, Juan Marichal.
Sunday Mother's Day- May 14th 1972: It was a special day at Shea Stadium, on this Mother's Day, as the great Willie Mays made his triumphant return to New York.
Trivia: Sam McDowell had been a twenty-game winner in Cleveland two years earlier & had won 15 or more games four times in his career. From 1965-1971 he had led the AL in strike outs & walks five times each.
In the bottom of the 1st, Willie Mays walked up to the plate to a huge standing ovation. He obliged by drawing a walk in his first Mets at bat, the first of two walks he would have on the day.
Next, pinch hitter Bernie Williams tripled into right centerfield, scoring Healy. Giants' short stop Chris Speier then doubled to bring Williams in making it 2-0. Next, second baseman Tito Fuentes hit a two run HR tying up the game. Sadecki finished the inning giving way to Jim McAndrew in the tied game.
In the bottom of the 5th, Reliever Don Carithers came in to pitch for the Giants, with Willie Mays leading off the inning.
Trivia: It was Willie's 647th career HR, third on the all-time list at that point in history. Babe Ruth & Hank Aaron were the only ones in front of Willie on the all-time HR list. It was Mays' first of the year.
In the top of the 5th, the man with the nest Italian / American name in Canada, John Boccabella singled to lead off the inning, he advanced on a sacrifice & Ron Hunts base hit. Ron Woods then singled scoring Boccabella, but Cleon Jones threw a strike to Jim Fregosi who then threw to catcher Jerry Grote tagging Ron Hunt out at home to end the inning.
Tuesday May 16th 1972: Tonight Tom Seaver (5-1) went up against the 1970 Rookie of the Year, Carl Morton (1-2). Seaver wasn't at his best exiting in the 6th inning after walking in two runs, with a 5-3 lead.
In the bottom of the 2nd, Rusty Staub, John Milner & Jim Fregosi all singled, giving the Mets a 1-0 lead. Carl Morton then walked Ed Kranepool intentionally loading the bases. Morton then balked bringing in the Mets third run.
After recording the next two outs, Bud Harrelson drove a two run single into centerfield giving the Mets a 4-0 lead. In the inning they sent nine men to the plate, collecting four hits, all singles, two walks & a balk.
Wednesday May 17th, 1972: Tonight, the Mets put up 12 runs for the first time on the season, they would score 12 or more runs three times with a season high being 13 runs scored. The Mets collected 17 hits, with six players having multi-hit games.
In the bottom of the 3rd, the Mets sent 12 men to plate, scoring six runs off Denny Lemaster, collecting six hits, highlighted by John Milner's three run HR. Bud Harrelson hit an RBI single, then Ken Boswell went back to back with a two run single, giving the Mets a 9-0 lead.
In the bottom of the 7th, John Strohmayer came back to pitch for Montreal, Tommie Agee led off with a walk, then with two outs, Jim Fregosi tripled, bringing in Agee. Duffy Dyer's fourth hit of the game brought Fregosi in with the 12th run.
Thursday May 18th, 1972: On this Thursday afternoon, 19,194 fans came to Shea looking for the sweep of the Expos as Jim McAndrew (1-1) went up against an undefeated Mike Torrez (3-0).
Friday May 19th, 1972: The first place Mets went down to Philadelphia for a weekend series, with the second place Phillies who were five games back. The Phillies were 15 -12 at the time but would go on to lose 94 games that year. On a chilly, rainy night,20,451 fans came to see The Mets Buzz Capra go up against (former Met) Dick Selma.
In the top of the 1st, Tommie Agee walked & stole second, he scored on John Milner's RBI single. In the bottom of the 2nd, with two men on Dick Selma hit a two run double putting himself up 2-1. These were the only two RBIs Selma had all season.
Saturday May 20th, 1972: This matchup was a twi-night double header with the largest crowd up to that point in time to see a Mets game in Philadelphia at 36,697. The first game was a quickie ending in under two hours.
In the 4h inning, the Phillies lone run was brought in by the Hot Dog, Willie Montanez, a future Met.
Night Cap: In the second game of the twin bill, veteran Ray Sadecki got a spot start for New York, going up against Bill Champion (3-1).
Sadecki Trivia: Ray was a good hitting pitcher, batting .191 with 5 HRs & 56 RBIs in his 17 year career.
Sunday May 21st, 1972: The classic pitching matchup of two Hall of Famers, Tom Seaver & Steve Carlton highlighted the bill today. Today was also bat day at Veterans Stadium & the crowd of 57,256 was the second largest crowd in NL history for a day game. These two pitchers would go at it quite often in this era being the top aces of their respective staffs.
But today wasn't either pitchers best day, in the bottom of the 1st, Larry Bowa led off with a
walk, then Tim McCarver who was to be Steve Carlton's personal catcher in Philadelphia, doubled. Greg "the Bull" Luzinski then singled bringing Bowa in with the first run.
Carlton held the Mets hitless thru the first five innings, although he walked four batters. In the top of the 6th, Willie Mays led off with a double, two batters later Tommie Agee hit his fifth HR of the year & extended his team lead in RBI's to 19.
Quotes- Willie Mays: "I'm not taking any individual credit, when you start doing that, the team comes apart & you start losing. This gang is all pulling together."
Danny Frisella Trivia: Since giving up a HR to the Dodgers Bill Russell in his first appearance of the year, Frisella would not allow another run until June 8th, ten appearances later. At this point he had a 0.84 ERA.
The Mets moved on to Wrigley Field in Chicago where Ferguson Jenkins & the Cubs ended the eleven game win streak. It was a tight game thru the first seven innings. In the bottom of the 8th inning of a 1-1 tie, Carmen Fanzone singled off Tug McGraw then Paul Popovich doubled to right field bringing in what was the games winning run.
Jim Fregosi a former All All Star was brought in for power but was past his best years. This was one of the worst trades of its era.
The Mets also brought in All Star Rusty Staub from Montreal, but gave up three good young players in Ken Singleton, Tim Foli & Mike Jorgensen. Staub would break his hand & reinjure it playing in just 66 games.
That years NL Rookie of the Year, pitcher Jon Matlack was brought up to the rotation behind Tom Seaver & Jerry Koosman.
The Mets also brought in All Star Rusty Staub from Montreal, but gave up three good young players in Ken Singleton, Tim Foli & Mike Jorgensen. Staub would break his hand & reinjure it playing in just 66 games.
That years NL Rookie of the Year, pitcher Jon Matlack was brought up to the rotation behind Tom Seaver & Jerry Koosman.
Young slugger John Milner was also brought up becoming a steady force in the line up. That year the season began a bit late due to the first MLB Players Association strike.
Up to May 12th the Mets began the year at 14-7.
The Say Hey Kid Returns to New York: There was a time when the SF Giants organization said they would never trade Willie Mays. But by 1972 times were financially bad in San Francisco. The Giant's club was losing money & team owner Horace Stoneman felt he couldn't afford to pay Willie Mays' the salary he was to receive.
On May 11th, 1972, a deal was finalized sending Willie Mays to the Mets in exchange for pitcher,
Charlie Williams & $50,000 in cash.
Charlie Williams & $50,000 in cash.
The Mets also offered Mays a coaching job with an additional salary for the rest of his life. Mrs. Payson finally got her man; Mays would finish out his career in the city where his great Hall of Fame career began.
Although he was in the twilight of his career, his presence & knowledge meant so much to the young players. The New York fans were thrilled to have the "Say Hey Kid" back in town.Friday May 12th 1972: One day after the official arrival of Willie Mays, the Mets (15-7) hosted Charlie Fox's San Francisco Giants (9-17) as Gary Gentry went up against Steve Stone. After his pitching days, Stone became a successful long time broadcaster starting in 1982.
In the top of the 6th, after matching zeros through the first five innings, Gary Gentry served up a HR to Giant short stop Chris Speier. In the bottom of the 8th, with the score still 1-0, Mets pinch hitter John Milner walked, then Ken Boswell doubled scoring Milner to tie the game.
Walk Off Win: In the bottom of the 9th, Giants reliever Jerry Johnson walked Cleon Jones. Jim Fregosi then singled & Eddie Kranepool was walked intentionally, loading the bases. Catcher Jerry Grote delivered the walk off game winning base hit, as the Mets won a 2-1 squeaker.
In the bottom of the 2nd, Cleon Jones & Duffy Dyer both singled, then Buzz Capra helped his own cause with an RBI base hit into left field scoring Jones. Marichal would not allow another run & gave up just two more hits thru the 7th inning. Jim Barr came on fir a scoreless 8th inning.
On the Mets side, Buzz Capra was even better, shutting out the Giants, on just three hits thru eight innings. He did not allow a hit after the 5th inning although he put some one on base each inning via a walk. Capra struck out seven, his highest strike out total up to that point in the season & walked a season high five batters.
In the 9th, Tug McGraw came on striking out the side, sending down Bobby Bonds, Dave Kingman & Ken Henderson. The Mets won it 2-1 with Capra getting the win (2-1) & McGraw collecting his fifth save.
In his first game back with the Mets, Mays was batting leadoff and playing at first base. It was a day filled with standing ovations for Willie, from the Shea crowd of 35,505.
On this day Yogis Berra's Met's were sitting in first place (17-7) as they hosted Willie's old team (9-19) going for the sweep. The Mets sent veteran pitcher Ray Sadecki to the mound to face an undefeated "Sudden" Sam McDowell (5-0).
The game began with Giants short stop Chris Speier flying out. After a Tito Fuentes double, Ray Sadecki retired Bobby Bonds & Dave Kingman.
In the bottom of the 1st, Willie Mays walked up to the plate to a huge standing ovation. He obliged by drawing a walk in his first Mets at bat, the first of two walks he would have on the day.
Sam McDowell would have early control issues walking, Bud Harrelson & Tommie Agee to load up the bases. Today's clean-up hitter was another new addition to the 1972 Mets, Rusty Staub. Staub a certified All Star, had come over in a trade from the Montreal Expos in the off season.
Grand Slam HR: Rusty Staub gave the Mother's Day crowd, a big thrill, as he blasted a grand slam HR, putting the Mets up 4-0. A great start to the day. McDowell then bore down & struck out the next three Mets.
For New York, Ray Sadecki held the Giants scoreless on three hits into the 5th inning. Fran Healy started the inning with a walk.
Next, pinch hitter Bernie Williams tripled into right centerfield, scoring Healy. Giants' short stop Chris Speier then doubled to bring Williams in making it 2-0. Next, second baseman Tito Fuentes hit a two run HR tying up the game. Sadecki finished the inning giving way to Jim McAndrew in the tied game.In the bottom of the 5th, Reliever Don Carithers came in to pitch for the Giants, with Willie Mays leading off the inning.
In story book fashion, Willie gave the crowd their biggest thrill, hitting a HR over the Shea Stadium left field fence into the Giants bullpen, to put the Mets up 5-4.
Trivia: It was Willie's 647th career HR, third on the all-time list at that point in history. Babe Ruth & Hank Aaron were the only ones in front of Willie on the all-time HR list. It was Mays' first of the year.The Mets dugout jumped up in excitement & the wet Shea Stadium crowd went crazy. For Willie, it was quite a home coming!!
The Mets only had four hits in the game, but the HRs provided all they needed with Mays' HR being the games winning run in the 5-4 win.
The Mets only had four hits in the game, but the HRs provided all they needed with Mays' HR being the games winning run in the 5-4 win.
Ray Sadecki got his first win & Jim McAndrew tossed four scoreless innings giving him his first save.
Monday May 15th, 1972: 
Gene Mauch's Montreal Expos (13-12) came to town with the young cast that had been traded for Rusty Staub prior to the season. The first Mets player to start in an All Star Game (1964), Ron Hunt was also on this Expos team.
In the series opener, undefeated Mets Rookie Jon Matlack (3-0) went up against Bill Stoneman.
Gene Mauch's Montreal Expos (13-12) came to town with the young cast that had been traded for Rusty Staub prior to the season. The first Mets player to start in an All Star Game (1964), Ron Hunt was also on this Expos team.In the series opener, undefeated Mets Rookie Jon Matlack (3-0) went up against Bill Stoneman.
Stoneman Trivia: Bill Stoneman would pitch two career no-hitters, his second would come against the Mets later in the year. He also became a successful executive after his playing career, leading the Anaheim Angels to their first World Championship (2002).
In the top of the 4th after Clyde Mashore led off with a double, Jon Matlack was called for a balk then a botched pick off play allowed Mashore to score.
In the bottom of the 5th, new Expo pitcher John Strohmayer walked Matlack to start the inning. With two outs Tommie Agee tied the game with a two run HR, his fourth HR of the year.
The two pitchers kept the score tied going into the bottom of the 8th inning. With one out Rusty Staub singled, then advanced on a balk, Strohmayer a bit rattled then walked Cleon Jones.
Next Jim Fregosi hit a three run HR for his third HR of the year. Fregosi would get injured play in just 101 games & hit just five HRs that season.
Jon Matlack went into the 9th inning, now with a 5-2 lead. With one out, the Expos hit back-to-back singles. Mets skipper Yogi Berra removed Matlack for Danny Frisella. After pinch hitter Jim Fairey singled in a run, Frisella struck out Ron Fairly & got Ron Hunt to pop up to end the game. The Mets won their fourth straight, as Jon Matlack went to 4-0 with a 2.50 ERA.
Tuesday May 16th 1972: Tonight Tom Seaver (5-1) went up against the 1970 Rookie of the Year, Carl Morton (1-2). Seaver wasn't at his best exiting in the 6th inning after walking in two runs, with a 5-3 lead.In the bottom of the 2nd, Rusty Staub, John Milner & Jim Fregosi all singled, giving the Mets a 1-0 lead. Carl Morton then walked Ed Kranepool intentionally loading the bases. Morton then balked bringing in the Mets third run.
In the bottom of the 3rd, Rusty Staub led off with a HR, his fourth of the year.
The two big bats the Mets had brought in this year for offense were now second & third on the club, behind Tommie Agee (15) RBIs, Jim Fregosi (13) & Rusty Staub (12).
Tom Seaver pitched 5.2 innings allowing three runs on seven hits, walking tree & striking out four, not a typical Seaver outing but he still got the win to get to 6-1 with a 2.25 ERA. Chuck Taylor earned his second save, going 3.2 scoreless innings.
Wednesday May 17th, 1972: Tonight, the Mets put up 12 runs for the first time on the season, they would score 12 or more runs three times with a season high being 13 runs scored. The Mets collected 17 hits, with six players having multi-hit games.Catcher Duffy Dyer would have a four hit game & Jim Fregosi a three hit game. Rookie John Miner would hit a three run HR & hit a two run double, for season best multi- five RBI game.
Montreal's Ernie McNally struggling at 0-3 with an ERA over six, walked the first three Mets he faced in the 1st inning. Staub's sac fly made it 1-0. John Milner's double made it 3-0.
In the bottom of the 3rd, the Mets sent 12 men to plate, scoring six runs off Denny Lemaster, collecting six hits, highlighted by John Milner's three run HR. Bud Harrelson hit an RBI single, then Ken Boswell went back to back with a two run single, giving the Mets a 9-0 lead.
In the bottom of the 4th, Teddy Martinez drew a bases loaded walk from Tom Walker making it a 10-1 game.
Mets manager Yogi Berra referred to Dyer as one of the brightest spots of an injury plagued season. For a while Berra was so impressed with Dyer he gave him the lead catchers role.
Mets pitcher Gary Gentry cruised to an easy win, getting to 3-1 with one of the league's top ERAs at 2.25. The Mets had now won five straight.
Mays Slides Safely Into Home: In the bottom of the 1st, Willie Mays led off with a walk, Then the 41 year old Mays had to circle the bases as Backup infielder Teddy Martinez drilled a triple to right field. As the throw came home to the plate Mays slid into the catcher John Boccabella & the ball got passed hm as he was charged with an error allowing Martinez to score as well.
It was all the runs Mike Torrez would allow the rest of the way, but Jim McAndrew would hold the Expos to a run over six innings & Tug McGraw then shut them out for the final three innings to earn his sixth save. The Mets swept their second straight series giving them a perfect seven game home stand.
Trivia: That Season, Tug McGraw would come in second in the NL to Clay Carroll with 27 saves.
Friday May 19th, 1972: The first place Mets went down to Philadelphia for a weekend series, with the second place Phillies who were five games back. The Phillies were 15 -12 at the time but would go on to lose 94 games that year. On a chilly, rainy night,20,451 fans came to see The Mets Buzz Capra go up against (former Met) Dick Selma.Dick Selma Trivia: Selma was born in Fresno, California growing up & competing with his friend Tom Seaver. Selma a year older than Seaver, was actually thought to be the best of the two early on. Selma was signed by the Mets in 1965 then brought up a year later. In 1966 the Mets won the Tom Seaver lottery & Seaver was brought up the next year.. The two were teammates from 1967-18 before Selma was chosen by the Padres in the expansion draft.
In the top of the 5th, Rusty Staub hit his fifth HR of the season, tying up the game.
Grote's Multi- HR Game: In the top of the 6th, Jerry Grote led off with a HR. In the top of the 9th, Grote would hit a three run HR off Chris Short giving him four RBIs. This was the only multi-HR game of Jerry Grote's career.
Dick Selma walked the next two batters then was relieved by Ken Reynolds who walked Tommie Agee to load the bases. Rusty Staub then collected his third hit of the game with a two run single giving him a multi- three RBI game. Staub also took over the team lead with 16 RBIs.
Buzz Capra won his third game of the year with Danny Frisella earning his third save. Dick Selma lost his seventh straight game to the Mets since leaving them in 1968. The Mets won their eighth straight besting their record to 22-7.
Saturday May 20th, 1972: This matchup was a twi-night double header with the largest crowd up to that point in time to see a Mets game in Philadelphia at 36,697. The first game was a quickie ending in under two hours.Jon Matlack went to 5-0 with his second complete game of the season, he would have eight on the year. Matlack allowed a run on five hits, with five K's & a walk in his win over Woodie Fryman.
In the top of the 3rd, with Jerry Grote aboard after a single, Willie Mays doubled to left field bringing home Grote with the first run.
Say Hey Trivia: For Mays it was his 505th career double. The RBI was his 1861st placing him seventh on the All-Time MLB list & third on the NL All-Time list behind Hank Aaron & Stan Musial.
In the 8th, with the score still tied as Matlack & Fryman were holding their opponents down, Matlack doubled off Fryman for just the fifth Mets hit of the game. After Willie Mays was intentionally walked, Tommie Agee cleared the bases with a two run double giving New York all they needed in the 3-1 win. Agee was now back on top of the team lead in RBIs.
Night Cap: In the second game of the twin bill, veteran Ray Sadecki got a spot start for New York, going up against Bill Champion (3-1).
In the top of the 2nd, Rusty Staub led off with a double to right field. Wayne Garrett walked moving Staub into scoring position. Ed Kranepool brought in Rusty with his 12th RBI of the season making it 1-0 Mets. In the 4th inning, the Mets pitchers continued their hitting as Ray Sadecki collected an RBI single making it 2-0.
Jerry Koosman who was having issues, staring the year at 0-3 & having missed his last start, came on in relief in the 5th inning. Kooz would pitch four scoreless innings earning his first win of the year & his first since September 10th of last season. He would go to win six straight decisions getting back in the rotation full time by early June.
Tug McGraw came on for his seventh save of the season. Tug was posting a 0.35 ERA having allowed just one earned run in 25 innings that season.
At this point the Mets had won ten straight games, 13 of their last 14. They were looking the best they had since the 1969 season. They were 24-7 with a 6.5 game lead over the Pirates who had now passed up the Phillies in second place. They would remain on top of the NL East until June 13th.
Trivia of Two Hall of Famers: In 1972 Steve Carlton would win the Cy Young Award, topping the league in wins (27) strike outs (310) & ERA (1.97). As for Mr. Seaver, he would go 21-12 for his third twenty win season, strike out 249 batters & post a 2.92 ERA. From 1970-1976 Seaver would lead the NL in strike outs five times & ERA three times. In their careers Seaver won 311 games & Carlton 329 games.
walk, then Tim McCarver who was to be Steve Carlton's personal catcher in Philadelphia, doubled. Greg "the Bull" Luzinski then singled bringing Bowa in with the first run.
In the 4th, The Phils Tommy Hutton hit a two run HR giving the Phillies a 3-0 lead. It was his first as a Phillie as he had just come over from the Dodgers, Hutton hit just four HRs all season. In his career Hutton hit .320 vs Seaver.
Steve Carlton held the 2-1 lead retiring the next five batters in a row. In the top of the 8th, pinch hitter Jim Beauchamp led off with a base hit into left field.
Willie Mays was the hero once again, as he hit a two run HR ff the top of the left field fence, the 648th HR of his career, which ended up being the second game winning HR as a Met during this eleven game win streak.
Quotes- Willie Mays: "I'm not taking any individual credit, when you start doing that, the team comes apart & you start losing. This gang is all pulling together."Trivia: In his career vs. Carlton (62 at bats) Mays had just five extra base hits off him with two of them coming in this game.
Tom Seaver would pitch seven innings allowing three runs while earning his seventh win (7-1). Seaver felt due to the baseball strike he was still not in his best shape & was having trouble with some of his pitches.
Quotes- Tom Seaver: "Yes I saw him hit the HR. He's fantastic isn't he? He just makes things happen. First he comes up & gets the hit then he comes up with the winning run at the plate & boom he puts it out".
Danny Frisella pitched two scoreless to earn his fourth save of the year.
Willie Mays left for San Francisco after the game to take care of some family business. He had been promised some furlough when traded to New York.
Quotes- Willie Mays: "I don't think I have anything to proves after 20 years & I'm not trying to show anybody up. I'm glad to be with the Mets, they have great spirit & they made me relax by welcoming me with open arms."
11 Game Win Streak Matches Team Best: The Mets had won their eleventh game in a row, tying a franchise record from 1969. They had also won 14 of 15 games, to get to 25-7, extending their lead to 6.5 games in the NL East.
The Mets would drop the first two in the Wrigley series, before their next win.