Tommie Agee: 1969 World Champion Mets Center Fielder (1968-1972)

Tommie Lee Agee was born on August 9th, 1942 in Magnolia, Alabama. He was one of eleven children, nine of them were girls. His father worked for the Aluminum Co. of America & moved the family to Mobile, Alabama when Tommie was a year old. His mother Carrie Agee wanted her son to be a minister, but Tommie took a career in sports.

The area produced the great baseball talents of Hank Aaron, Willie McCovey, Billy Williams, Satchel Page, & Amos Otis who was a short time teammate with him on the Mets. 

While playing baseball in junior high school he met his lifelong friend & future Mets team mate on the 1969 World Champion Mets, Cleon Jones.

Agee attended Grambling State University on a baseball scholarship. At the same time, he went to the school, NFL cornerback Willie Brown & NBA star Willis Reed also attended Grambling. 

Agee batted .553 which was the second highest
average in the Conferences history at that time. After first being labeled with a lack of coordination defensively, he adjusted his fundamentals becoming a fine outfielder. His friend Cleon Jones was at his house the day all the MLB scouts arrived to attempt to sign him.

Quotes- Cleon Jones: "There were thirty to forty scouts, all of them trying to talk to him, trying to get him signed. That blew me away."

In 1961, Agee went with the Cleveland Indians signing a deal with a $60,000 bonus. Blowing through the ranks of the minor leagues, Agee made his MLB debut on September 14th, 1962 batting a s a pinch hitter in Minnesota, against the Twins, flying out. He had a cup of coffee, playing five games going 3-14. 

The next two seasons he made brief appearances in the majors, playing in only 13 games each season, hardly hitting at all.

In 1964 he hit 20 HRs with 24 doubles at AAA Portland in the Pacific Coast League. 

White Sox Career: Prior to the 1965 season he was sent to the Chicago White sox along with Tommy John, in a three-team deal that included Rocky Colavito & Cam Carreon (future Met Mark Carreon’s dad). He spent most of the year at AAA batting just .228 with 8 HRs & 33 RBIs. He got another September call up to the Sox batting just .158 in ten games.

Rookie of the Year Season: In 1966 he was named the White Sox regular centerfielder & finally made his impact. It began right away with a two run HR on Opening Day. He was the Sox sole representative at the All-Star Game, coming in the game as a defensive replacement in the 9th inning. The NL won the game in the 10th inning, on the Dodgers' Maury Wills walk off base hit scoring the Cards Tim McCarver.

He drove in twenty runs in the month of August & on September 2nd had a season high five RBI
day. He would also have three other games where he would drive in four runs that season.

Overall, He hit .273, with 22 HRs 27 doubles 8 triples 84 RBIs 98 runs scored (3rd in the A.L.) & 44 stolen bases (3rd in the A.L.). 

Agee won the Rookie of the Year Award & won a Gold Glove while leading the league in putouts, posting a .982 fielding percentage with 12 assists. At the plate he was a free swinger who would strike out over 100 times five straight seasons.

1967: A good White Sox team, were in the pennant race until the last days of the season, falling to the Boston Red Sox in their "Impossible Dream" season. Agee had a good first half making another All-Star team, this time with two other White Sox teammates, outfielder Ken Berry & 16 game winner Gary Peters. The NL won this classic 2-1 in 15 innings as the Mets Tom Seaver took the save. Agee had come in the game as a pinch runner.

After a decent first half his numbers fell off in the second half as he struggled, not helping Chicago's chances during the four-team pennant race in September. On September 20th, he drove in three runs in a win over the Angels but had just four other RBIs all month & just one more in the final seven games going 3-29.  He finished batting .234 with 14 HRs 26 doubles 52 RBIs & 28 stolen bases while striking out 126 times.

The White Sox gave up on him, but the new Mets manager Gil Hodges, remembered what he saw of Agee while he was managing the Washington Senators the previous year especially. Hodges wanted Agee as his centerfielder in New York. That December, Agee was traded to the New York Mets along with Al Weis in exchange for Tommy Davis, Jack Fisher, Billy Wynne and Dick Booker.

Mets Career: Agee was happy to be re-united with his childhood friend from Alabama, left fielder Cleon Jones. In his first at bat in Spring Training he was beaned in the head by Bob Gibson & had to be taken to the hospital. He recovered as Hodges penciled him in as the Mets starting centerfielder on opening day 1968 and he remained there for the next five seasons.

Agee made his Mets debut batting third & playing centerfield on Opening Day 1968. In that game
he went 2-4, stole a base & scored two runs in the Mets 5-4 loss to the Giants in San Francisco.

After starting out by going 5-16 he then he slumped for two weeks going hitless in 34 at bats finding himself batting just .102 at the end of April. On April 15th in the Mets 24 inning game at the Houston Astrodome, he struck out four times & went 0-10. He didn’t hit his first HR until May 10th coming at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

On May 16th, he singled in the bottom of the 9th inning off the Reds Gerry Arrigo to give Tom Seaver the Mets a 2-1 walk off win. On May 21st, his two run HR in the 2nd inning helped the Mets in a 4-3 win over the Pirates at Shea Stadium. 

Agee struggled mightily his first season in New York, he didn't even hit over the .200 mark until midway through September.

On June 7th he hit a HR in San Francisco & wouldn't hit another until August 4th, almost two months later. He hit another later in the month then went all through September without a HR or an RBI. 

He finished up 1968 hitting .217 with 5 HRs 12 doubles 3 triples a .255 on base % & 17 RBIs in 132 games.


Agee continued to hustle, he did steal 15 bases, stayed positive and never complained. He earned the respect of his manager Gil Hodges as well as with the players & the New York fans.

1969 Championship Season: In 1969 he became one of the most important position players on the Mets World Championship squad. He was moved up to the leadoff position and provided most of their speed as well as power until Don Clendenon arrived in June. 

On Opening Day, he got two hits & drove in two runs against the expansion Montreal Expos who beat the Mets at Shea Stadium 11-10.

Longest HR In Shea Stadium History: On April 10th, in the third game of the season Agee blasted a tremendous HR to the left field Upper Deck Section 48 at Shea Stadium. It was the longest HR in Shea Stadiums history, estimated at 480 feet, coming off Montreal’s Larry Jaster. No other player would ever hit an upper deck HR in that part of the old ballpark.

To commemorate the HR, a red & white marker was painted on the spot where the ball landed. He hit two HRs that day leading the Mets to a 4-2 victory.

Agee was in the middle of most Mets highlights throughout the 1969 season, whether it was with his glove on the bases or at the plate.

On May 2nd, he had a big four hit day at Wrigley Field, hitting a HR & driving in two runs. In a May 11th double header at Shea against the Houston Astros, he homered in the first game & then hit two in the night cap driving in three runs leading the Mets to a 11-7 win.

In the week of May 11th through the 17th he was in the midst of a ten-game hit streak, with 15 hits & boosted his batting average up to .313. He drove in eleven runs, with RBIs in six of seven games.

On June 8th, his 8th inning double off the Padres Al Santorini in San Diego, tied three game at two. Wayne Garret's RBI single proved to be the 3-2 game winner.

On June 10th, in San Francisco Agee had a four-hit day, where he clobbered a pair of HRs, his eighth & ninth of the year, one off Mike McCormick & another off Ray Sadecki. He drove in three runs in the Mets 9-4 win.

In a June 22nd double header at Shea, Agee drove in two runs of the first game to help New York defeat Steve Carlton 5-1. In the nightcap he drove in the game's only run, helping Jerry Koosman defeat Mike Torrez 1-0.

On July 3rd, he led off the game with a HR, leading the Mets to an 8-1 win over the Cardinals in St. Louis. Agee would hit three lead off HRs that month & set a club mark with four on the season.

The next day he hit another HR & drove in three runs in the first game of a July 4th twin bill that the Mets swept & went on to a seven-game win streak.

On July 9th, the night of Tom Seaver's classic imperfect one hit game, Agee helped the cause by driving in the games third run with a double in the second inning.

On July 13th in another double header sweep at Shea Stadium, Agee hit two HRs off Expo pitching, to lead the Mets past Montreal 9-7. He drove in four runs in that contest as well. 

Agee then helped the Mets take two of three from the first place Cubs at Wrigley Field when he homered in the last game & drove in runs in both wins. The Amazing's were now just four games behind the Cubs & all of baseball was taking notice.

On July 26th, his two-run single in the 5th inning off Tony Cloninger & the Cincinnati Reds, led Tom Seaver to his 15th win in a 3-2 Mets victory. Agee had six HRs with 17 RBIs in July at one point getting his average up near .290.

In August he was consistent with six more HRs & 16 RBIs, keeping his average at .280.

On an early August Road trip, he homered in back-to-back victories at Atlanta to beat the Braves. 

On August 12th, Agee had a big two hit, four RBI Day at the Houston Astrodome & homered the next day, but the Mets were swept by Houston, who gave them the hardest time in the 1969 regular season.

Agee had drove in runs in three straight games, five of six. 

Walk Off HR: On August 19th in front of 49,968 at Shea Stadium, he hit a walk off HR off the San Francisco Giants & Hall of Famer Juan Marichal, helping Gary Gentry & the Mets to an exciting 1-0 victory. 

In the first eight days of September Agee hit four HRs two in a losing effort Los Angeles. Then came one on a Shea home stand against the Phillies where he drove in three runs in a 9-3 win.

Pennant Race vs Cubs: The Mets began September five games behind the Cubs, but On September 8th 1969, the first place Chicago Cubs came to town with the hot Mets just 1.5 games back. 

The Black Cat Game: This game would go down in Mets history as "the Black Cat Game" In the 5th inning, a black cat appeared on the field behind Cubs slugger Ron Santo in the on-deck circle. The cat then glared into the Cubs dugout & disappeared under the Shea stands, notoriously known to be rat infested.

Earlier as the game began, New Jersey born Cubs pitcher Bill Hands knocked down the Mets leadoff man Agee, with a brush back pitch to try to send a message. 

Mets pitcher Jerry Koosman sent a message right back, when he hit the Cubs slugger Ron Santo on the wrist with a pitch, injuring him. The message was received, don't mess with these Mets.

In the 3rd inning, Agee got his revenge as well, hitting a two run HR scoring Bud Harrelson.

 In the 6th inning Agee then singled and stretched it into a double, scoring on a close play at home plate on Wayne Garrett's base hit. Cubs catcher Randy Hundley went crazy thinking he had the out call as the slow demise of the 1969 Cubs continued. The Mets won the game 3-2 & were within a half a game of first place.

The next night Gary Gentry beat the Cubs 7-1 as the Mets took over first place, Agee had two hits, a walk & scored a run in the game. The Mets went on an incredible ten game win streak in a stretch where they won 13 of 14 games. By the end of that stretch on September 18th they had a five game first place lead.

On September 24th, the Mets clinched the NL East at Shea Stadium with a 6-0 win over the reigning NL Champion Cardinals, Agee went 0-3 in the game.

On October 1st, with the Mets having clinched & the Cubs nine games back, the Mets were playing at Wrigley Field. With the score tied in the top of the 9th inning, Agee doubled to score two runs & put New York ahead. Although they couldn't hold the lead, they won the game 6-5 in extra innings.

Overall in the 1969 Mets Championship Season, Tommie Agee played in 149 games, more than any other position player. 

He led the team in HRs (26) RBIs (76) runs scored (97) & at bats (565) hitting 23 doubles, with 4 triples, & 12 stolen bases. 

That season Cleon Jones batted .340 finishing third in the NL in batting. He competed in the batting race all year & Cleon gave Agee credit for him having such a good year by being on base often.

He played an excellent center field, posting a .986 fielding %, making only five errors & nailing seven assists. He was considered for the MVP award coming in sixth overall in the final voting.  

1969 Post Season: NLCS: In the 1969 NLCS against the Atlanta Braves, Agee hit .357 with two HRs and 4 RBIs. 

In Game #1 at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium, he went hitless 0-5 in the Mets 9-5 win.

In Game #2 he went 2-4, hitting a two run HR, off Ron Reed in the second inning.

Late in that game, Agee was on third base, with the Mets leading 9-6. He attempted a surprise steal of home plate offside arm pitcher Cecil Upshaw.

As he headed home, Cleon Jones was trying to distract catcher Bob Didier swinging at the pitch. He fouled off the ball with a line shot down the third base line about a foot from Agee’s head. Luckily no damage was done.

In the 7th inning, he walked & scored on his buddy Cleon Jones' two run HR. In the game, Agee scored a pair of runs as the Mets went on to romp the Braves 11-6 taking a two game to nothing lead while heading back to New York.

In the pennant clincher Game #3 at Shea Stadium, Agee went 3 for 5, driving in two runs and stealing two bases. In the 3rd inning he hit his second NLCS HR, this time off pitcher Pat Jarvis cutting the Braves lead to 2-1. 

In the sixth inning, he singled home the seventh & final run of the game off future Met pitcher, George Stone. The Mets won the game 7-4 sweeping the Braves in three games & advancing to the World Series.

1969 World Series: The Amazing New York Mets shocked the baseball world by getting to the World Series. They were heavy underdog to a mighty Baltimore Orioles team.

Agee led off the 1969 World Series against Mike Cuellar & the Orioles in Baltimore at Memorial Stadium as the games first batter. He grounded out to third base, and then went hitless in that game as well as the second game. 

The Series was tied one game each going back to a wild Shea Stadium. In Game #3, Tommie Agee had what Sports Illustrated called “the greatest day any centerfielder ever had in a World Series”.

Agee led off the Mets 1st inning with a HR off the Orioles Jim Palmer, getting the Shea crowd even more revved up. 

In this game he would he make two catches that were a pair of the best catches ever made in the two most important situations.  Agee single handedly probably saved five runs and will be remembered forever in Mets & World Series history for this feat.

In the 4th inning, with the Mets up 3-0, the Orioles had runners on the corners. Baltimore catcher Elrod Hendricks ripped a Gary Gentry pitch to left center field. Agee got on his horse in a mad dash for the ball, he stuck out his glove, catching the ball backhanded in the webbing & running into the wall to rob Hendricks of an extra base hit. 

He preserved the Mets 3-0 lead & ended the inning. Of course, he led off the next inning to a standing ovation.

In the seventh inning, the Mets had a 4-0 lead, the bases were loaded full of Orioles as outfielder Paul Blair stepped in against Nolan Ryan, who had just been brough in to relieve Gentry. 

Blair ripped a shot to right center field. Agee ran back at full speed dove to his right & came up with the ball, making his second spectacular catch of the day.

This time a sliding grab on the warning track saving three more runs from scoring. 

The crowd of 56,335 was ecstatic, and when Agee led off the bottom of the inning, he received a standing from the Shea faithful.

Quotes- Tommie Agee: "Words can't describe how that made me feel. I felt like I wanted to hit two home runs in that one time at bat. The homer meant only one run; the catches saved more than that."

The catches immediately were rated among the best in World Series history at that time, along with grabs by Brooklyn Dodgers' Al Gionfriddo off Joe DiMaggio in the 1947 Series. Brooklyn's Sandy Amoros’ catch off Yogi Berra in 1955 at Ebbets Field And the greatest catch of them all, the New York Giants' Willie Mays classic catch in the Polo Grounds, off Cleveland's Vic Wertz in the 1954 Series.

Overall, in the 1969 World Series Agee only hit .167 going (3-18) striking out five times, hitting one HR, driving in one run and walking twice. 

Game #3 was the high point of his career and made him a Mets legend forever.

After the World Series win he was voted the NL Comeback Player of the Year & enjoyed stardom like many other 1969 Mets. 

The Miracle Mets, the Amazing Mets were World Champions & the ultimate underdogs of all time. They would forever be loved in New York.

Celebrity Status: He appeared with his team on The Ed Sullivan Show, then appeared with other members of the 1969 Championship Team in a short-lived Las Vegas revue singing American standard tunes. 

In their hometown of Mobile, Alabama a parade was held in honor of hometown heroes Tommie Agee & Cleon Jones.

After the Championship: Agee followed up the 1969 Championship season with possibly his best season ever. In 1970 he became the first position player to win a Gold Glove in both leagues, and the first Mets player to ever win the award. 

He led all outfielders in put outs (374) as well as errors (13) while posting a .967 fielding percentage.

Agee opened up the season with three hits in Pittsburgh, scoring two runs in the Mets 5-3 win over the Pirates. 

At the end of April, he had a twenty-game hitting streak going into May. Later in the summer he would have a 19-game hit streak from late June into July.

On May 19th, Agee hit a pair of HRs against Montreal Expo pitchers, Dan McGinn & John Strohmayer, leading New York to a 7-4 win. He would dive in 13 runs in the next 19 games in the month.

On June 10th, Agee hit a two run HR in Houston in a losing effort. That started a hot streak as the Mets came home. In a seven-game home stand he would hit five HRs & drive in ten runs, while getting 14 hits & scoring ten runs. 

On June 12th he hit HRs off Atlanta's Phil Niekro & Larry Jaster in an 8-1 Mets victory. The next night he connected off Mel Queen & added an RBI double as well. He then homered in two games of a series split with Cincinnati. Overall, in the first three weeks of June he hit nine HRs, giving him 14 for the year among the league leaders.  

As the Mets moved on to Wrigley Field on July 22nd, Agee hit his 15th HR a three-run shot off Ferguson Jenkins. 

He would drive in runs in seven straight games & have RBIs in 13 of 15 games. The Mets won ten of those games & entered July in first place with a two-game lead. In the month he also drove in 28 runs, with 11 multi-RBI games.

Second Met to Hit for the Cycle: On Monday night July 6th at Shea Stadium, Agee hit for the cycle in a game against the St. Louis Cardinals. He singled in the first, then scored a run. In the bottom of the 4th, he blasted a three run HR off Jerry Reuss, putting the Mets up 6-0. 

In the next inning he doubled, driving in Al Weis. In the 7th, he then completed the cycle, as he tripled off Frank Linzy. Quite a day for Agee in the Mets 10-3 win.

Two weeks later he had another four-hit day in Los Angeles and was batting above .290. 

Walk Off Steal of Home: On July 24th, Agee reached base in the bottom of the 9th inning, on a fielder's choice grounder in a 1-1 game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He stole second base & reached third on a Jim Brewer wild pitch. Then with Cleon Jones aboard he got a great jump & stole home pl in a most dramatic style.

By mid-August the Pirates had taken over first place, in a four-game series split in Pittsburgh Agee drove in five runs collecting eight hits, including a five-hit game on August 8th.

After a seven-week drought without any HRs, he blasted two round trippers on August 23rd leading the Mets past the Cincinnati Reds 5-4. 

In September he kept the Mets in the pennant race ending the season by hitting safely in 13 of the last 15 games, including nine straight to end the year. The Mets stayed in the race but faded in the final week of the season, after being as close as 1.5 games back on September 22nd.

In 1970 he led the club in hitting with career highs in batting (.286) HRs (24) doubles (31) & slugging percentage (.469). He set team records at that time in runs scored (107) at bats (638) stolen bases (31) total bases (298) & was the first Met to hit twenty HRs or more in two straight seasons.

His 31 stolen bases were sixth most in the league.

He also had career drove in 75 runs with a .344 on base % He received votes for the MVP Award as well coming in at 19th.

1971: It was at this point in his career he began to suffer from chronic knee injuries that would end his career early. 

On Opening Day, he Agee drove in a run against Montreal's (Rookie of the Year) Carl Morton, helping Tom Seaver to a 4-2 victory. On April 24th, he hit a grand slam HR at Wrigley Field against Milt Papas & the rival Cubs in a 7-5 Mets loss.

Walk Off Single: On May 3rd, as the Cubs came to Shea Stadium, Agee came to bat against Ken Holtzman in the bottom of the 11th inning with the score tied 2-2. Agee lined a single to right field, scoring Jerry Grote for a walk off game winning run.

During the next home stand, he had back-to-back HR games against the Braves, leading the Mets to wins both times. 

In June, he was batting .280 when he injured his knee & missed almost three weeks of action. He returned on June 26th & two days later he homered in a 3-1 win over the Phillies. On July 22nd, he hit two HRs off Milt Papas in a win at Wrigley Field.

In the August he had a three-hit game in the Mets 20-6 win over the Braves at Fulton County Stadium. 

On August 28th, in the second game of a double header against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Agee singled home Duffy Dyer in the bottom of the 8th inning off pitcher Jim Brewer. The Mets won it on a Cleon Jones walk off HR in the 9th.

Pinch Hit Walk Off Hit: The next day it was Agee's turn to be the walk off hero, this time in a pinch-hitting role. He singled off Dodger pitcher Bill Singer in the bottom of the 9th driving in Ken Singelton with the game winning run.

By September 3rd the Mets were 11 games back of the Pittsburgh Pirates & Agee went down with another injury, keeping him out of action for two weeks.

Agee finished the 1971 season batting .285, second on the club to Cleon Jones. He tied for the team lead in HRs with 14 HRs, also hitting 18 doubles with 50 RBIs & 58 runs scored with a .362 on base % (third on the club). Agee stole 28 bases & tied with Bud Harrelson for fourth most steals in the league.

:1972: Due to the bad back & constant injuries, Agee’s career was already winding down at the age of 30. In Spring Training, Manager Gild Hodges passed away from a sudden heart attack & the Mets family was in shock. 

Agee took it very hard & it also took a toll on him. Overall the death made a negative impact on the Mets chances in 1972. Yogi Berra was named the Mets manager & after a Players Strike the season began.

In the home Opener on April 15th, the Mets retired Gil Hodges uniform #14 and beat the Pittsburgh Pirates on a Tom Seaver 4-0 shut out.

On April 26th he & Jim Fregosi homered off the Padres Mike Corkins' in a 5-1 win in San Diego. On April 28th, in Los Angeles, Agee had another big moment coming at Dodger pitcher Jim Brewers expense. He hit a grand slam HR leading Rookie of the Year Mets pitcher; Jon Matlack to a 6-1 win.

Willie Mays Joins the Team: In May Mets Owner Mrs. Joan Payson acquired her favorite player, the veteran Willie Mays from the San Francisco Giants. Although Mays was over forty, he was a huge fan favorite & took playing time away from Agee.

On May 21st, in with the Mets down 3-0 in Philadelphia, Agee hit a two run HR in the 6th off Steve Carlton scoring Willie Mays. In the top of the 8th Mays then hit a two run HR leading New York to a 4-3 win.

On June 6th, his 7th inning RBI single ended up being the game winner in a 3-2 win over The Big Red Machine. But Knee injuries were also setting Agee back. 

He would miss three weeks of action in July.  After batting in & out of first place they fell to second in June & never recovered. In August he hit HRs in two straight games at Wrigley Field, including an extra inning game winner off the Cubs Burt Hooton. In his next game, the Mets returned to Shea & Agee hit a two run HR in a 5-0 Mets win behind Jim McAndrew.

In September he would miss time & only play in nine games in the month. On September 24th, Agee hit a 1st inning HR off The Phillies Steve Carlton. The only other run of the game was driven in by rookie Lute Barnes, helping Tom Seaver out dual Carlton 2-1, for his 19th win of the year.

On September 29th, Agee drove in his last career Mets run, it was the only run of a 1-0 game where Tom Seaver earned his 20th win of the year, beating the Pirates Nelson Briles at Three Rivers Stadium. He would play his last Mets game on October 4th, 1972.

Agee will always be remembered as one of the most popular Mets & a Shea favorite. 

Overall, in 1972 Agee played the least number of games in his Mets career (114) and only stole eight bases. 

He led the team with 23 doubles and was second to Rookie John Milner in HRs hitting 13. He drove in 47 runs, scored 52 runs & posted a .317 on base %. That year he led all centerfielders in errors (10) & posted a .962 fielding % while making six assists.

On November 27, 1972, he was traded to the Houston Astros in exchange for Rich Chiles and Buddy Harris.

All Time Mets List: Agee has played the third most games in centerfield for the Mets with 591. He is 13th on the Mets all time stolen base list (91) one ahead of Cleon Jones. Agee is 19th in runs scored (344) & 22nd in HRs (82).

Post Mets Career: He spent his last major league season platooning for the Houston Astros (83 games) and then the St. Louis Cardinals (26 games). His final at bat came on September 30th, 1973 grounding out in a pinch-hitting role at Busch Stadium. In 108 games he hit .222 with 11 HRs, 8 doubles & 22 RBIs.

He was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Pete Richert but didn’t make the big-league club. In way too short of a career, Agee retired from baseball at age 31, during spring training, 1974.

Career Stats: He finished his 12-year career with a .255 lifetime batting average, 999 hits 130 HRs 170 doubles, 27 triples, 558 runs scored 167 stolen bases a .320 on base % & 433 RBIs in 1129 games.

In the outfield Agee played 1073 games, 933 in centerfield. He had 2371 put outs, with a.975 fielding % making 61 errors & 53 assists.

Quotes-Tommie Agee: “When you win in New York, it just happens to carry on. Every day I walk around the city and people stop me and want to talk about 1969. They remember some home run I hit or the time I stole home in the 10th inning. They remember that team.”  
                   
Retirement: Agee went into business running his own Restaurant called the Outfielder's Lounge, located on Astoria Blvd. near Shea Stadium. After that he also worked for the Stewart Title Insurance Co. in New York City.

Family: Tommie married Maxine Agee in 1985; his best man was friend & teammate Cleon Jones. Agee had Art Shamsky on standby to fill in, just in case Cleon didn’t show, since Cleon was running very late. Tommie & Maxine have one daughter.

Passing: In 2001, Tommie Agee collapsed while walking out of a midtown Manhattan office building. Emergency medical service workers found him in cardiac arrest and attempted to work on him. They used a defibrillator en-route to Bellevue Hospital but could not resuscitate him. He passed away at age 58.

Teammates from the 1969 Amazing Mets, Tug McGraw, Ed Charles, Ed Kranepool, Art Shamsky, Bud Harrelson & Donn Clendenon served as pallbearers during his funeral service in Mt. Vernon, New York.

Ed Charles, his friend & the third baseman on the 1969 championship team, spoke on behalf of the Mets during the service.

 Quotes- Ed Charles: "In that miraculous year of 1969, he was very special to us. I can't recall anyone who ever said a bad word about Tommie Agee, or anyone that wasn't taken by that disarming smile of his." 

Quotes- Ed Kranepool: “Forget teammates. Teammate was over a long time ago. He was a friend."

Ron Swoboda: "He was a great friend and the way he conducted himself after his playing days were over was admirable. He's gone way too soon," Ron Swoboda.

Honors: Agee was inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame in 2002.

He also appeared with other 1969 Mets on the Everybody Loves Raymond episode: Big Shots in season three in 1999.

In 2008, Agee's widow Maxine & his daughter were invited to the closing ceremonies of Shea Stadium where Ahee was remembered. His memory was also honored in the 40th & 50th Anniversaries of the 1969 Amazing Mets.

Tommie Agee Educational Campus: In 2022 a new Middle School in his old neighborhood of East Elmhurst, Queens was named in his honor. Agee's wife, daughter & teammate Cleon Jones were all on hand for the opening.