Originally Roberto Clemente was asked to be the batter in the movie scene, but he declined the part because he did not want to be portrayed as a weak hitter. Another Future Hall of Famer & star of the 1960 World Series, Bill Mazeroski took the part, getting paid $100 for his role.
The scene in the film takes place from the press box in the top of the 9th inning with the Mets holding onto a one run lead.
Sports writer Oscar Madison is covering the
game & gets an emergency phone call in the press box from his roommate Felix Unger.
Oscar sarcastically comments to a sports writer while getting up, the Mets still have a chance if they make a triple play. On the phone call Oscar gets annoyed when Felix tells him not to eat too many hot dogs because he’s preparing dinner at home.



On the TV show, Jack Klugman’s Oscar Madison also often wore a Mets hat. Keep in mind the Odd Couple TV show began in 1970 & ran through 1975, a very good period in Mets history. Both Oscar characters had pictures of Mets players on their wall too.
The scene was filmed before a real game between the Mets & Pirates. When the actual game began, Mets manager Wes Westrum had Dennis Bennet take the mound against Pittsburgh’s Woodie Fryman.
Starting Lineups
1 | Maury Wills | 3B |
2 | Manny Mota | CF |
3 | Roberto Clemente | RF |
4 | Donn Clendenon | 1B |
5 | Bill Mazeroski | 2B |
6 | Jose Pagan | LF |
7 | Gene Alley | SS |
8 | Jim Pagliaroni | C |
9 | Woodie Fryman | P |
1 | Bud Harrelson | SS |
2 | Cleon Jones | CF |
3 | Tommy Davis | LF |
4 | Ron Swoboda | RF |
5 | Hawk Taylor | C |
6 | Ed Charles | 3B |
7 | Ed Kranepool | 1B |
8 | Jerry Buchek | 2B |
9 | Dennis Bennett |

Tommy Davis then singled home Harrelson, & Ron Swoboda blasted a three run HR to put the Mets up 4-1.
Bud Harrelson hit a sac fly ball that scored Buchek. In the top of the 4th inning, Bennet was replaced by Dick Selma after allowing two runs on seven hits with the Mets leading 5-2.
Selma earned his first win of the year by throwing 5 2/3 scoreless innings striking out four Pirates. On the big day of the movie, Bud Harrelson had three hits, Ron Swoboda & The Glider Ed Charles both had two hits each.
The Mets win put them at 25-41 in ninth place, 17 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals who would go on to win the World Series, beating the Boston Red Sox in seven games. The Mets finished the year at 61-101 in tenth place.
2 comments:
Correction, it was sportswriter, Haywood Hale Broun, not Maury Allen in the scene with Matthau.
I was at the game with my Dad. Mazeroski hit the first pitch off the wall. It was the 2nd pitch that was the triple play. During the real game, Gene Alley and Jose Pagan batted out of order.
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