Remembering Mets History: (2016) Bartolo Colon Becomes the Oldest Player In MLB History To Hit His First Career HR

Saturday May 7th, 2016: A good crowd of 41,028 attended Petco Park in San Diego to see Terry Collins second place Mets (17-11) take on Andy Green's San Diego Padres (13-17). 

The Mets were trying to avoid a sweep & would make it a memorable night for the many Mets fans in attendance.

In the end it actually wasn't about the Mets finally winning a game in the San Diego series, or about the fact that the Nationals had lost three straight in order for the Mets to gain some ground to take over first place this early in the season.

It wasn't even about the fact that Bartolo Colon earned another career victory getting closer to the all-time Dominican born victory leader, Juan Marichal.


It was all about Bartolo Colon, the Mets modern day folk hero who kept expanding to his legend. Tonight, Bart, Big Sexy, Bartolo or whatever you want to call him, made Mets & MLB history once again.

In the top of the 1st, David Wright drew a walk & Yoenis Cespedes bit a two run HR, his tenth of the year & his 29th RBI among the NL leaders, for a 2-0 Mets lead.

In the top of the 2nd, with one out & Kevin Plawecki on second after a double to center, Colon hit his famous HR off James Shields.

MLB Trivia: Bartolo Colon became the oldest player (at age 42) in MLB history to hit his first career HR. He also became the fifth oldest pitcher in MLB history to ever hit a HR.

 Mets Trivia: As for Mets history, he is the second oldest Met & one of just three Mets (the great Willie Mays & Julio Franco) to hit HRs at the age of 42.


It was the first HR of Colon's career, the third extra base hit of his career as well as it being the first hit of the season. 

It took him 30.6 seconds to round the base, which may be another record in itself.

When Colon got to the dugout all the Mets players had hid in the runway & no one was there to greet him. But quickly, they all came running in to mob him with nothing but smiles.


Colon the slugger, also pitched a fine game as well, going 6.2 innings, allowing three runs, on six hits with just one walk & six strike outs. He went to 3-1 on the year with a 2.82 ERA.

In the 9th inning, the Mets went back-to-back, David Wright added his 4th HR of the year, then Michael Conforto added his 5th of the year. 

The Mets went on to a 6-3 win, bringing them to within a half game of first place.

Quotes: Broadcaster Gary Cohen- “This is one of the great moments in the history of baseball! Bartolo Colon has gone deep!”

Quotes: Bartolo Colon- I don't even know how to explain it. I'm very thankful, I thank God & am very grateful. It means a lot."

Bartolo said he knew it was gone because the ball in San Diego carries very well. He also said he felt it was the biggest moment of his career.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Remembering Mets History: (1977) The Felix Millan / Ed Ott Brawl In Pittsburgh

Remembering Bobby Ojeda's Tragic Boating Accident (1993)

Fictional Mets Infielder Chico Escuela ( of SNL) Visits Mets Spring Training (1979)

Remembering Vixen Founder / Guitarist; Jan Kuehnemund (1961-2013)

The History of Yogi Berra & Yoo-Hoo