Remembering Mets History (1984) Hubie Brooks Sets Franchise Record With a 23 Game Hit Streak

In May 1984 the New York Mets were playing better baseball than they had in years. On their way to an eventual 90 win, second place finish, these Mets were a solid team. 

Darryl Strawberry led the club in HRs (26) with George Foster right behind him (24). Keith Hernandez led the team in hitting (.311) & on base % (.409). While Mookie Wilson led in steals (46) & Wally Backman was second with (36). The pitching staff was led by Rookie phenom; Dwight Gooden (17-9 / 276 Ks / 2.60 ERA). 

The Mets third baseman that year was Hubie Brooks, who had been with the club since 1980. 

In 1984 he set a Mets record at the time with a 24 game hit streak. 

May 1st: Brooks collected two hits in the Mets 8-1 win over the Cubs at Shea Stadium. In the Mets seven run 6th inning he collected his second hit of the game, a two run single helping in the win.

The next night he collected an RBI double in the Mets 4-3 win over Chicago. 

On May 4th as the Astros came to town, Brooks hit his fourth HR of the season, while having his third straight multi- hit game as well as his third straight game with an RBI. The Mets won the game 2-0 in a Ron Darling, Jesse Orosco combined shut out. Brooks hit safely in the next two games which  the Mets lost, including another multi-hit game in the series finale.

On May 7th, he had his fifth multi-hit game in his last six games while collecting a double & triple in the Mets lo to the Reds. Next Atlanta came in to town for two games which the Mets split, as Hubie extended his hit streak to eight games hitting safely in each contest.

On May 8th, the Mets went out west to Los Angeles where two of the leagues best pitchers matched up. Dwight Gooden pitched a 2-0 four hit shut out over the Ferando Valenzuela & Dodgers striking out eleven. 

In the top of the 2nd, with Mookie Wilson on third base, Brooks singled to bring in the Mets first run. Mike Fitzgerald added an RBI single in the 6th inning.

The next night, Brooks had another multi-hit game. In the top of the 8th he led off with a single off Alejandro Pena then later came around to score what ended  up being the go ahead winning run on pitcher Ed Lynch's ground out. He now reached double digits with a ten game hit streak.

In the series finale, Brooks extended his hit streak to eleven games.

On May 15th the Mets went into the 8th inning down 5-2. Darryl Strawberry's two run single brought them within a run. Brooks then singled off Renie Martin bringing in George Foster & Straw putting the Mets ahead 6-5. The Giants would tie it up but Keith Hernandez 11th inning sac fly provided the game winning RBI.

Although New York dropped the next three games Brooks hit safely in each game reaching 15 straight games. On Saturday in San Diego, Hubie hit a two run single giving him 17 RBIs tying him with Keith Hernandez for the team lead. He also had his seventh multi-hit game during the hit streak.

The Mets salvaged the series finale & finished up 4-4 on the trip, returning to Shea Stadium 20-16 two games behind the first place Cubs. Personally Hubie Brooks had a 16 game hit streak.

The Mets dropped the first game of the homestand to the Giants with Brooks collecting another hit getting his streak to 17 games. In the next two games Brooks had two more multi-hit games first collecting two hits off Mike Krukow of the Giants.

On May 25th, Brooks had his second straight multi-hit game with two singles off Rick Honeycutt while helping Dwight Gooden in his 2-1 win over the Dodgers where he struck out 14 batters. His hitting streak reached 19 games, the longest hit streak in the majors so far that season.

On May 26th, in another exciting 2-1 Mets win over the Dodgers, Brooks hit his fifth HR of the season, a solo shot off the Dodgers Orel Hershiser tying up the game. Wally Backman added an RBI single for the games go ahead winning run. 

Brooks hit safely in the next two games extending the hit streak to twenty one games.

Tying Mets Hit Streak Record: On May 31st in a 5-2 loss to the Cardinals at Shea, Brooks led off the top of the 7th inning with a single off former Met Neil Allen. The hit extended his Brooks hitting streak to 23 games, tying Mike Vail (1975) with the Mets franchise record. The crowd gave him a long standing ovation & as he was greeted at first base, Mets coach Bill Robinson tossed the ball into the Mets dugout for Hubie's trophy case.

Setting Mets Hit Streak Record: On June 1st in the top of the 7th inning, Brooks led off with a base hit off the Cardinals Joaquin Andjuar extending  hiss hit streak to 24 straight games setting a new Mets franchise record.

During the 24 game hit streak, Brooks hit .398 collecting 33 hits with six extra base hits,  three doubles, two HRs a triple 10 RBIs & five runs scored. He drew eleven walks with a .398 on base % & .992 OPS. The Mets went 10-14 during Brook's hit streak.

In 1999 Mike Piazza would tie Brooks record hitting safely in 24 games. In 2006 David Wright set a new mark hitting safely in 26 straight games. In 2019 Wilson Ramos would also hit in 26 straight games. In 2007 Moises Alou set the new franchise record with a 30 game hit streak.

On June 2nd Hubie's hit streak ended as St. Louis Cardinal pitchers Danny Cox, Ricky Horton & Dave Rucker kept Brooks hitless in the 5-2 Mets win. 

After gong hitless in two games, Brooks would hit safely in 16 of the his next 18 games through June. Overall Brooks hit would hit safely in 41 of 44 games batting .381 in that time.

The Mets went 10-14 during Hubie's hit streak, he would finish the year batting .283 (second to Keith Hernandez among the regular players) collecting 16 HRs 23 doubles & 73 RBIs with a .341 on base %. 

After the season he was the main chip going to the Montreal Expos in exchange for Gary Carter.