Remembering Mets History (1978) "Bad Dude" John Stearns Wins Out in Home Plate Collision with Big Dave Parker
New York had lost five of six, nine of their last 13 and so on.
A nice crowd of 31,947 came out as the Mets pitcher Nino Espinosa (6-7) went up against Pirate rookie hurler Don Robinson (4-2).
In the home 8th, Nino Espinosa gave up a double to Parker & a then walked Bill Robinson. He was relieved by Paul Siebert who hit Willie Stargell with a pitch loading the bases. He then got Ed Ott to pop up. Mets manager Joe Torre went to Dale Murray who retired Phil Garner on a fly ball to right & the Mario Mendoza with a ground out.
Kranepool, who at this point was one the games best pinch hitters, came through with pinch hit single, scoring Stearns to tie up the game at three.
In this game Parker would hit one of his twelve season triples, scoring both Tavares & Moreno making it a one run 6-5 game, exciting the Three Rivers Crowd to their feet.
The six foot five, 230 pound Parker came barreling into Mets catcher John Stearns. Stearns caught Youngblood's throw, stood his ground & tagged out Parker s he was knocked away from home plate.
Quotes- John Stearns: "I gathered my senses & to my surprise the ball is still nestled in my mitt, like a sleeping baby. I showed it to the umpire & the game was over. I look over at Parker & he was still on the ground, moaning from a fractured jaw."
Trivia: John Stearns was one of the toughest guys in baseball. A former college football defensive back, at times Stearns was more football player than baseball player.
Stearns once tackled a fan who got onto the playing field that security & the police had a hard time getting down.
A nice crowd of 31,947 came out as the Mets pitcher Nino Espinosa (6-7) went up against Pirate rookie hurler Don Robinson (4-2).
Trivia: Nino Espinosa would lead the 1978 Mets staff with eleven wins (11-15) & also tie for most losses. Nino pitched 203 innings but struck out just 76 batters while walking 75.
The first two innings started out scoreless.
In the top of the 3rd inning, Mets pitcher Nino Espinosa doubled, his third double of the season. Len Randle singled to left field, advancing Nino to third. Tim Foli then hit a sac fly scoring Espinosa with the first run.
The first two innings started out scoreless.In the top of the 3rd inning, Mets pitcher Nino Espinosa doubled, his third double of the season. Len Randle singled to left field, advancing Nino to third. Tim Foli then hit a sac fly scoring Espinosa with the first run.
The two pitchers both pitched well as the game stayed 1-0 until the 5th inning.
In the bottom of the 5th, Phil Garner doubled & stole third. Frank Taveras reached on an infield single with Garner scoring from third.
In the bottom of the 7th, Phil Garner collected his second double of the game. Ken Macha made it back-to-back doubles scoring Garner to take the lead.
Shortstop Frank Taveras collected his second single of the game scoring Macha to make it 3-1 Pirates.
In the top of the 8th, Lenny Randle & Tim Foli both singled to start the inning for New York. The Pirates, Grant Jackson came in to pitch getting Lee Mazzilli & Steve Henderson to both to pop out in foul territory. Then "the Hot Dog" Willie Montanez came through with a double to right field scoring Randle bringing the Mets within a run 3-2.
In the top of the 8th, Lenny Randle & Tim Foli both singled to start the inning for New York. The Pirates, Grant Jackson came in to pitch getting Lee Mazzilli & Steve Henderson to both to pop out in foul territory. Then "the Hot Dog" Willie Montanez came through with a double to right field scoring Randle bringing the Mets within a run 3-2.
Trivia: The term "below the Mendoza line" which means a player hitting under .200 came from this player, Mario Mendoza. He hit under .200 five times his nine year career.
In the top of the 9th, John Stearns led off with a double, his ninth of the year. The Pirates relief ace, Kent Tekulve came on & got Doug Flynn to foul out. The Pirates brought in Dave Hamilton to face Ed Kranepool.
In the top of the 9th, John Stearns led off with a double, his ninth of the year. The Pirates relief ace, Kent Tekulve came on & got Doug Flynn to foul out. The Pirates brought in Dave Hamilton to face Ed Kranepool.
Pirate manager Chuck Tanner went to his bullpen again, this time to Ed Whitson. Lenny Randle then tripled, scoring Kranepool. Joel Youngblood then singled scoring Randle making it 5-3 Mets. With two outs Steve Henderson then brought in Youngblood with a single to right field.
The Mets took a 6-3 lead into the 9th inning with Dale Murray on the mound to save it. Murray got the first out, but then gave up base hits to speedsters Frank Taveras & Omar Moreno.
Then Big Dave Parker came to bat. Parker would win back to back NL batting titles (1977 & 1978) & that years MVP Award, hitting 30 HRs with 32 doubles, 12 triples, 117 RBIs & a .394 on base %.
The Mets took a 6-3 lead into the 9th inning with Dale Murray on the mound to save it. Murray got the first out, but then gave up base hits to speedsters Frank Taveras & Omar Moreno.
Then Big Dave Parker came to bat. Parker would win back to back NL batting titles (1977 & 1978) & that years MVP Award, hitting 30 HRs with 32 doubles, 12 triples, 117 RBIs & a .394 on base %.
In this game Parker would hit one of his twelve season triples, scoring both Tavares & Moreno making it a one run 6-5 game, exciting the Three Rivers Crowd to their feet. With two outs, the Pirates were still down by a run with Parker, on third base. The next batter was (future Mets coach) Bill Robinson.
Robinson hit a fly ball to left field, Dave Parker tagged at third base, the Mets outfielder, Joel Youngblood who had a good arm, caught it & threw home.
The six foot five, 230 pound Parker came barreling into Mets catcher John Stearns. Stearns caught Youngblood's throw, stood his ground & tagged out Parker s he was knocked away from home plate.
Quotes- John Stearns: "I gathered my senses & to my surprise the ball is still nestled in my mitt, like a sleeping baby. I showed it to the umpire & the game was over. I look over at Parker & he was still on the ground, moaning from a fractured jaw." John Stearns stood at six feet tall, weighing in at 185 lbs. But it was he, who walked away from the home plate collision without damage.
As for Dave Parker, he had broken his cheekbone & would miss two weeks of action. When he returned, he wore first wore a hockey style goalie mask & then a protective face mask on his helmet around his facial area, much like a football helmet.
As for Dave Parker, he had broken his cheekbone & would miss two weeks of action. When he returned, he wore first wore a hockey style goalie mask & then a protective face mask on his helmet around his facial area, much like a football helmet.
The Mets won the game 6-5.
Stearns once tackled a fan who got onto the playing field that security & the police had a hard time getting down.
Stearns had taken on the Expos Gary Carter starting a a bench clearing brawl. He had also taken on the Big Red Machine at another time. In Atlanta when the team mascot, Cheif Noc-a-Homa, had taunted him, Stearns went out & tackled him to the ground.