Remembering Mets History (1973) The Ball On The Wall Game

Thursday, September 20th, 1973: Yogi Berra's Mets (75-77) had been in last place, 12 games under .500 & 6.5 games out of first place at the end of August. 

But in that year's NL East, no team ever dominated play long enough to take control. The division was very competitive with five of the six teams still in contention, no more than three games back at this point late in September. 

The Mets had suffered with injuries to most of their regular players but at this point had everyone back & healthy. Since that low point in late August, they got hot & were playing good baseball. 

They became one of the league's best teams, going 17-6 in that time, finding themselves just 1.5 games out of first place, behind the Pirates.

Tonight, they hosted Danny Murtaugh's Pittsburgh Pirates (75-74) in what was certainly one of the most important games of the 1973 season. 

It would also become one of the most remembered games of that season & in Mets history. 24,855 fans filled Shea Stadium that night to see Jerry Koosman (12-15) go up against the Pirates Jim Rooker (9-5). 

Jerry Koosman started off the 1st inning striking out Rennie Stennett then ended the inning striking out Willie Stargell.

In the top of the 2nd, he issued back-to-back walks to Don Robertson & Dal Maxvill but struck out Jim Rooker to end the inning. 

In the 3rd, Kooz retired the side in order.

In the top of the 4th, Koosman walked Willie Stargell to start the inning. After retiring Richie Zisk, Manny Sanguillen singled to right field. Koosman then got Bob Robertson to look at a third strike for the second out.

Then sloppy play led to a Pirates run, as short stop Bud Harrelson threw wildly to first base on a Dal Maxvill's grounder allowing Willie Stargell to score the Pirates first run.

The Pirates Jim Rooker rolled along, shutting the Mets thru the first five innings on two hits. 

In the bottom of the 6th, Rooker walked Jerry Koosman to start the inning. Kooz was then forced at second by Wayne Garrett's grounder. Felix Millan continued his hot hitting with an infield single. 

Millan Trivia: From August 20th thru September 20th, Felix was batting .333 with 44 hits 36 of them singles. He also drew 12 walks for a .395 on base %. Millan led the team with 185 hits that season, seventh most in the NL. His 155 singles were second most in the league.

Rusty Staub flew to center for the second out as Garrett advanced to third.

Cleon Jones was next, after coming off a multi-HR five RBI game the previous night, here he came through with a single to left field scoring Garrett tying up the game at one. 

As Mets broadcaster Bob Murphy would say it was "getting to be a real nail bitter".

In the top of the 7th, Richie Hebner took a Jerry Koosman curve ball over the fence for a 2-1 Pirate lead. 

In the bottom of the 7th, Jim Rooker kept the Mets down clinging to the one run lead.

In the top of the 8th, pinch hitter Jim Beauchamp came through for manager Yogi Berra for the second straight night, as he singled to left field to start the inning. This would be the veteran Beauchamp's final MLB regular season game. He would make four post season at bats to end his career.

Teddy Martinez came in to pinch run for Beauchamp. Wayne Garrett laid down a successful sacrifice bunt advancing Teddy to second. Once again it was Felix Millan coming through with a base hit to centerfield scoring the speedy Martinez to tie the game at two. It was Millan's 12th multi- hit game of the month over twenty games.

After intentionally walking Cleon Jones, Jim Rooker got out of the inning getting John Milner to pop out to short, as the Mets stranded two base runners. 

In the top of the 9th, Mets reliever Harry Parker came in to pitch for the Mets. Parker had been a solid reliever throughout the year out of the bull pen. In September, over his last five outings Parker had not allowed a run in ten innings.

Parker walked Bob Robertson to lead off the inning. Pinch runner Dave Augustine was brought in to run for him. Dal Maxvill sacrificed Augustine over to second base. 

Harry Parker then fanned rookie slugger Dave Parker for the second out. Richie Hebner, who had homered earlier was due up again, Mets manager Yogi Berra wasn't taking any chances & intentionally walked Hebner. 

But Dave Cash, an All Star himself, then doubled past Cleon Jones in left field bringing in Augustine with the Pirates go ahead run making it 3-2.

In the bottom of the 9th inning, the Pirates made three defensive changes & brought in Bob Johnson to pitch. Yogi Berra sent another one of his best pinch hitters up, veteran of the 1969 Amazing Mets, Kenny Boswell.

Boswell delivered with a base hit to right field.

Boswell Trivia: From August 24th thru September 20th, Boswell hit .444 in a pinch hitting role going 4-9 with three RBIs in that time.

 Dohn Hahn then laid down a beauty of a bunt, advancing Boswell to second.

The Shea Faithful were now on their feet chanting "Let's Go Mets" as Ed Kranepool was announced as a pinch hitter. Pirates Manager Danny Murtaugh responded & changed his pitcher, bringing in Ramon Hernandez.

George the Stork Theodore was brought in to pinch hit. This was The Stork's first appearance since early July, as he had been on the DL after an outfield collision with Don Hahn. Stork was still not at his best & went down swinging.

The Shea crowd still cheered Theodore for his bravery of coming back. Theodore would remain a folk hero in Mets history returning in 2009 in the closing ceremonies of Shea Stadium.

Now with two outs & the tying run on second base, Manager Yogi Berra put up Duffy Dyer to pinch hit for the pitcher Harry Parker. 

Dyer doubled to left field scoring Ken Boswell, with the Shea fans going  wild. The Mets dugout was also excited & manager Yogi Berra looked like a genius once again making the right move.

It was onto the 10th inning & a whole new ball game. 

Defensively, Ken Boswell stayed in the game & took over third base, Wayne Garrett moved to short stop replacing Bud Harrelson. At catcher rookie Ron Hodges was brought in as well, with these additions playing a big part in what was to be.

In the top of the 10th, veteran Ray Sadecki was brought in to pitch for New York, he would retire ten batters in a row including striking out the side in the 11th inning. Sadecki played a key role as a reliever & spot starter for the 1973 Mets staff.

Sadecki would pitch four shut out innings, allowing two hits no walks & struck out six.

 

In the bottom half of the 11th, the Mets threatened, John Milner walked & Boswell sacrificed him over to second.

Luke Walker was brought in to pitch for the Pirates & he walked Don Hahn intentionally to set up the double play. Walker got catcher Ron Hodges to ground out, nut no double play. Although he ended the threat getting Sadecki to ground out to short.

In the top of the 13th inning, Richie Zisk singled with one out. Catcher Manny Sanguillen flew out to right field for the second out. Then, with the next play, the Mets fans really started to "believe" in Tug McGraw's mantra "You Gotta Believe".

The Ball on the Wall: Dave Augustine drilled a fly ball over the head of Cleon Jones in deep left field, the ball was headed to be a HR. But miraculously, it bounced on the top of the wall into Cleon Jones' glove. Jones played it perfectly, he then turned & fired to short stop Wayne Garrett.

From the moment the ball was hit, Pirates runner Richie Zisk took off from first & was rounding the bases. Wayne Garrett took the relay & made a perfect throw to home plate to catcher Ron Hodges. 

Hodges took the throw, blocked the plate held his ground & tagged out Zisk who was trying to score on the play. "Out at home plate". This play became known as "the Ball on the Wall Play".

Quotes- Ron Hodges: "I knew I had to catch the ball & hold on to it, but I didn't have all that much time. I had to block the plate, I squeezed the baseball hard as I could squeeze it. I didn't want to drop it."

Quotes- Cleon Jones: "Believe it or not, I had it in line all along, I thought it would hit the wall. Luckily Garrett was at short. If Harrelson had been there, he would have taken the relay much farther in the outfield & we would never have gotten Zisk."

The fans roared, still amazed at the great play they just witnessed were on their feet
shouting, "Let's Go Mets" & "You Gotta Believe!".

In the bottom of the 13th, Pirates reliever Luke Walker walked John Milner & Ken Boswell to start the inning. Pirates' manager Danny Murtaugh went to the mound replacing Walker with Dave Giusti. 

The Mets had gotten Giusti for three runs the previous night & a run the night before that. Over hos last three appearances he had given up seven earned runs on 12 hits in 4.2 innings of work.

Giusti got Don Hahn to pop out for the first out.

Then the Mets third string rookie catcher, Ron Hodges came through with a base hit to left field, John Milner scored easily with the walk off run, as the Mets won it in dramatic fashion.

The win brought them to within a half of game of the first place Pirates. The Pirates fell to .500 which was the best record in the NL East. The Mets were now 76-77 & had one more game against the Pirates tomorrow night.