Remembering Mets History (1973) Willie Mays Appreciation Night at Shea & the Win Puts the Mets 1.5 Games atop the NL East

Tuesday September 25th, 1973: It was a special emotional evening at Shea Stadium on this fall Tuesday evening as the Mets were to honor the great Willie Mays. 

A paid crowd of 43,805 was the official attendance, with an estimated 54,000 fans showing up at Shea Stadium to say goodbye to "the Say Hey Kid" on "Willie Mays Appreciation Night".  

The 42-year-old veteran was beat up & tired. Mays had always felt manager Yogi Berra used him too much early on in the '73 season, mostly to appease the fans that adored him. But as the season went on, he was not able to contribute, due to his age & injuries. Now the Mets had won 17 of their last 25 fighting to win the pennant race & Berra couldn't find a spot to put him in.

Mays had not played in a game in over two weeks, the last was back on September 9th, in a 3-0 win at Montreal where he cracked two ribs while chasing a foul ball. 

On September 20th, in a press conference at Shea Stadium Willie announced his retirement. 

Quotes- Willie Mays: "When your 42 & hitting .211 it's no fun. I just feel the people of America shouldn't have to see a guy play who can't produce".

Tonight, in a pregame ceremony Willie was joined by his wife Mae & their son Michael who was donning his military uniform as the organization paid tribute. 

He was showered with gifts such as cars. snowmobiles, vacations, champagne, scotch, a lifetime supply of records, golf clubs, a fur coat for Mae & other articles of clothing. Cy Berger head of the Topps baseball Card Company had a special posted made for him with all his Topps baseball cards thru the years.

Some of his former New York Giants teammates were on hand to say goodbye: Bobby Thompson, Monte Irvin & Dusty Rhodes. Former rival Brooklyn Dodgers were on hand as well, Ralph Branca, Duke Snider, Joe Black & Pee Wee Reese. 

Baseball Legends Joe DiMaggio & Stan Musial were also on hand as was Larry Doby (now a coach with Montreal) Roy McMillan (now a Mets coach) & Mets manager Yogi Berra. 

Mets broadcaster Lindsey Nelson hosted the ceremonies, introducing him in his classic drawl saying, "Ladies & gentleman Willie Mays". The Shea crowd went wild giving him a six-minute standing ovation. 

An emotional Mays stepped up to the microphone.

Quotes- Willie Mays: "This is a very sad night for me. I may not look it but in my heart I'm sad because I hear you cheering for me & I am unable to do anything for you". I hope that with my farewell tonight, you would understand what I'm going through right now. Something that I never feared I was to ever quit baseball, but as you know they will always come a time for someone to get out. And I look at these kids over here, the way they are playing & the way they are fighting for themselves, tells me one thing. Willie, say goodbye to America." 

He stepped back, wiped a tear from his eyes as another rolled down his face. The crowd continued to cheer & as he tipped his cap to them. 

Shea organist Jane Jarvis played "Auld Land Syne" on the organ as he then walked over to greet Mrs. Joan Payson who had a bouquet of flowers for him. It was a special emotional night for all."

Quotes- Cleon Jones: " I felt I wanted to cry. I know how Willie must have felt to say he can't perform anymore. It got next to me. I think I might have dropped one or two tears. It was one of those times when you cry inside".

Willie had planned to leave the team right away, but the Mets principal owner; Mrs. Joan Payson, who adored him, convinced him to stay with the club & finish out the season. 

Mays' presence alone was truly an inspiration to the young players & his knowledge of the game was priceless in helping them. Not only for themselves, but this team wanted to win also to have Willie to go out a winner.

Mays Final Chapter: Willie would finish the year, clinching the NL East with his team. 

In Game #5 of the NLCS at Shea Stadium, Mays collected an RBI single in the series clinching win over the Reds in another emotional at bat. 

He would get the first hit of the 1973 World Series in the Bay Area where he defined his career. The next day his final career hit, was an RBI single that put the Mets ahead for good. Mays did not go out a world champion but did go out a winner on a New York team.

At 8:35 after the festivities, the Mets had a very important game to play. They were now a half a game up in first place over the Pittsburgh Pirates having taken over the top spot in the East three games prior when they took four of five from the Pirates.

Tonight, the Mets hosted Gene Mauch's fourth place Montreal Expos (75-80). Although they were five games under .500 they were just 3.5 games behind the Mets in a tight NL East.

The Mets Jerry Koosman (12-15) would go up against Expos rookie star pitcher Steve Rogers (9-4).

Koosman had won four of his last five decisions but since September 3rd, he took a loss with three no decisions. Prior to that he was 4-0 setting a Mets record pitching in 36 consecutive scoreless innings, that record stood for thirty-nine years. Steve Rogers was coming off a 3-1 loss to the Cubs but had won five of his last six decisions.

Needless to say, the Shea crowd was fired up & ready to go.

Jerry Koosman shut out Montreal through the first five innings. 

On the other side, Steve Rogers held the Mets down through the first four innings. 

In the bottom of the 5th, Bud Harrelson led off with a base hit & was sacrificed to second by a Jerry Koosman bunt to the right side. Wayne Garrett then singled but Harrelson was unable to score from third. Then the steady Felix Millan hit a sac fly to left field, getting Harrelson home from third, making it 1-0 Mets.

In the top of the 6th, Montreal also scrapped for a run as Ron Woods singled & stole second. Bob Bailey drew a walk & then Manager Gene Mauch called for a double steal.

Although Bailey was nailed at second, Woods stole third safely. Hal Breeden then hit a grounder to Bud Harrelson, the usually sure handed short stop made an error, allowing Woods to score the tying run. 

In the home 6th, the Mets took the lead right back as the hot hitting Cleon Jones hit his 9th HR of the year. 

Cleon Trivia: Jones had missed over two months with injuries, in the first half of the season & was playing in just his 88th game. He was now healthy & was the club's best hitter in the final two weeks of the season. In the last ten games of the year, he blasted six HRs with 14 RBIs & had ten hits. In 92 games of the regular season, he hit 11 HRs with 13 doubles 48 RBIs & batted .260. 

In the top of the 7th, with the Mets ahead 2-1, Kooz gave up a pair of two out singles to Pepe Frias & Jose Morales. With Felipe Alou coming to bat, manger Yogi Berra went to his bullpen ace Tug McGraw. 

Koosman pitched 6.2 innings allowing a run on six hits with four strike outs & two walks.

Tug Trivia: From August 22nd to September 24th, Tug was 5-0 with ten saves, allowing just three earned runs in 34.2 innings for a 0.78 ERA & was the NL's leading fireman. 

McGraw quickly put out the fire, getting Alou to fly out to left field. In the top of the 8th, he gave up a single & a walk to start the inning but got two ground ball outs & a pop up to end the inning as the crowd roared.

In the top of the 9th, Tim Foli flew out & Pepe Frias grounded to Wayne Garrett at third for the second out. Finally, Ron Fairly popped up to Garrett at third to end the game. 

Tug earned his 24th save, pitching 2.1 scoreless innings. He walked off the mound, doing his trademark of tapping his glove on his upper thigh, a gesture to his wife Phyliss.

Kooz got the victory to get to 13-15 on the season with a 2.94 ERA. He would finish out the year
going 6-1 from mid-August thru September 30th. 

Around the League: On this night in Pittsburgh, Steve Carlton & the Phillies helped the Mets beating the Pirates 2-1 on HRs by (future Mets hitting coach) Bill Robinson & Mike Anderson. 

The Mets now had their biggest lead of the crazy season, going up by 1.5 games with five scheduled to play. In St. Louis the Cubs beat the Cardinals dropping them four games back. The Cubs were 3.5 games behind the Mets with a four-game set to be played against each other at Wrigley Field to close out the season.