Remembering Mets History: (1984) Hubie Brooks 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. The streak began on May 1st,as Brooks had a two hit game in an 8-1 romp of the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Brooks would have three straight two hit games, five of six. On May 4th, he homered, driving in one of the two runs in a Ron Darling (8 innings) Jesse Orosco (1 inning) two hit shutout against the Houston Astros. 

The hit streak was at eight on May 10th, as the Mets went on to a West Coast Road trip. Brooks helped New York, on May 15th as his two run 8th inning single tied up a game in San Francisco. The Mets went on to win it in extra innings on Keith Hernandez sac fly. 

The Mets went 4-4 on the trip, returning to Shea with Brooks hitting safely in 16 straight games. 

On May 26th, the Brooks hit streak reached twenty games, as his bottom of the 7th inning HR off Orel Hershiser, tied up the game 1-1. The Mets went on to a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Shea. Brooks hit doubles in the next three games, although the Mets lost all three games. 

On June 1st Brook's streak reached 24 games, setting a Mets record that held until 1999, when Mike Piazza would tie it. The record held until 2007 when Moises Alou hit safely in 30 straight games. 

On June 2nd the streak ended, as St. Louis Cardinal pitchers; Danny Cox, Ricky Horton & Dave Rucker stopped Brooks in a 5-2 Mets win. After another hitless game, Brooks hit safely in 17 of 19 through June. 

Overall he had hit safely in 30 of 34 games & was hitting .315 by June 29th. 

The Mets went 10-14 during Hubbie's hit streak, he would finish the year batting .283 (second to Hernandez among the regular players) with 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.

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