Remembering Mets History (1969) Gil Hodges Removes Cleon Jones From Left Field
The Mets manager Gil Hodges demanded that his players gave it 100% at all times, no matter what the score or situation was. He also demanded discipline from his team as well.
On this day, he sent a message to his team, that no slacking off would be tolerated, not even from his team's best hitter, who was chasing the NL batting title. The incident has become legendary in Gil Hodges lore & in the 1969 Mets story.
Harry Walker's fifth place Houston Astros (52-49) came in to play a double header in a wet rainy Shea Stadium in front of 28,922 fans.
First Game: In the first game of this twin bill, the Astros pummeled the Mets 16-3. The game was highlighted by an eleven-run top of the 9th inning that featured seven hits, four walks & two grand slam HRs.
First Game: In the first game of this twin bill, the Astros pummeled the Mets 16-3. The game was highlighted by an eleven-run top of the 9th inning that featured seven hits, four walks & two grand slam HRs. The first came off the bat of "the toy cannon" Jimmy Wynn off the Mets Cal Koonce. The other from Dennis Menke off the Mets Ron Taylor.
Trivia: This was the first time a National League team had ever hit two grand slams in the same inning. In 1962 the Minnesota Twins had done it in the AL.
Trivia: This was the first time a National League team had ever hit two grand slams in the same inning. In 1962 the Minnesota Twins had done it in the AL.
In the game Cleon Jones collected two of the Mets eight hits & scored a run raising his average to an NL best .344.
Night Cap: In the second game, the Mets Rookie Gary Gentry (9-8) went up against the Astros Larry Dierker (12-8).
In the top of the 3rd, the Astros had another huge inning, collecting ten runs as 13 men came to the plate, as Gary Gentry gave up eight runs, five hits & issued three walks, plus a wild pitch.
In that 3rd, inning Nolan Ryan came in to relieve Gentry with the Mets down 7-0. Astros catcher Johnny Edwards doubled to left field scoring Doug Rader with the eighth Astro run.
Mets left fielder Cleon Jones who had been nursing an ankle injury, slowly went after the ball that Edwards hit & weakly tossed back to the infield.
Here Comes Hodges: Next thing everyone saw, was manager Gil Hodges coming out of the dugout. Gil started walking to the mound, but Nolan Ryan had just pitched to one batter & it wasn't likely he was coming out yet. Hodges didn’t want him & walked past the mound.
As he walked toward short stop, Bud Harrelson couldn’t figure what he had done wrong.
As he walked toward short stop, Bud Harrelson couldn’t figure what he had done wrong.
Quotes- Bud Harrelson: "Oh no he's coming to get me",
But Hodges had no problem with the short stop & walked past Harrelson toward left field.
Cleon Jones, who originally thought Hodges was going to Harrelson as well, now knew he was coming to him. The rest of the team held their breath.
Quotes- Tom Seaver: “I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of this”.
According to Cleon Jones, when Hodges arrived in left field, he said to him “I don't like the way you went after that ball, is that ankle still bothering you? You better come out, if you’re nursing it like that”.
Cleon Jones replied “I told you I can play through it Gil, the grass is just wet.”
Hodges then sternly said "No you better come with me" & pulled him off the field. Hodges turned around, walking back toward the dugout with a dejected Cleon Jones hanging his head a few feet behind the manager.
Cleon Jones replied “I told you I can play through it Gil, the grass is just wet.”
Hodges then sternly said "No you better come with me" & pulled him off the field. Hodges turned around, walking back toward the dugout with a dejected Cleon Jones hanging his head a few feet behind the manager.
Manager Gil Hodges had just proved a point to his team, that he would not settle for anything else than 100% from his players no matter what the score or situation was. It must be noted that at the time of the incident, that Cleon Jones was leading the N.L. in hitting. The rest of the team certainly got the message. If our manager will remove the league’s batting leader, he could remove any of us.
Trivia: From this day forward on the 1969 Mets would go 45-19 in the regular season with the best record in baseball. In the post season they went 7-1 winning the World Series.
Trivia: Years later, Gil Hodges widow Joan Hodges, spoke about that 1969 night at an event in Brooklyn. She said later that evening, after the game she asked Gil why he would do that to the young man in front of everyone. Hodges said, he realized that after he walked past the mound, but he couldn't go back! He never meant to humiliate his player.
Trivia: Years later, Gil Hodges widow Joan Hodges, spoke about that 1969 night at an event in Brooklyn. She said later that evening, after the game she asked Gil why he would do that to the young man in front of everyone. Hodges said, he realized that after he walked past the mound, but he couldn't go back! He never meant to humiliate his player.
