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Showing posts from April, 2021

Marcus Stroman: Native Long Island Born Pitcher (2019 - 2021)

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Marcus  Earl Stroman was born May 1st 1991 on Long Island, in Medford, New York.   His mother was Puerto Rican & his father African American. His father was a Suffolk County Police Detective. His parents divorced when he was in the 5th grade.  He was very close to his grand mother, as she regularly attended his high school & college games. The five foot seven, right hander, attended Patchogue high school in Medford, Long Island. He was an outstanding pitcher & all around star baseball player.  He would face his future Mets team mate, Steven Matz who also grew up on Long Island, many times in competition. The two were even player, roommates at one time. Duke University: Stroman was drafted by the Washington Nationals in 2009 but did sign, instead electing to go to college at Duke University.  At Duke he pitched & set a Duke career record for strike outs (290 in 222 innings). He also played second base & short stop in his Duke years.  In 2012 he became the

Dillon Gee: Mets Pitcher Who Set Team Record For Most Consecutive Rookie Wins: (2010 - 2015)

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Dillon Kyle Gee was born April 28th 1986 in Cleburne, Texas.  He pitched two no hitters in high school & then went on to a successful college career. The six foot one right hander attended the University of Texas at Arlington, getting drafted by the New York Mets in the 22nd round in 2007. Gee was 3-1 at Brooklyn in 2007 for the A ball Cyclones getting promoted to St. Lucie in 2008. After going 8-6 there with a 2.92 ERA (5th in the league) he was given the Sterling Award & named to the All Star team.  That year he also led the Florida State League with the lowest walk rate in the league. He was pushed up to AA Binghamton where he went 2-0 allowing four runs in 18 innings pitched (1.33 ERA). In 2009 he was limited to just nine games due to a torn labrum in his right shoulder. He recuperated well in 2010 going 13-8 for the Bisons with 165 strike outs in 161 innings although he posted a 4.96 ERA. MLB Debut: On September 7th 2010, he made his first major league s

Remembering Mets History (1973): N.L. Champion Mets Score Season High 13 Runs

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April 22nd, 1973: Yogi Berra's New York Mets (8-6) faced off against Gene Mauch's Montreal Expos (6-7) for a classic Sunday afternoon double header. A crowd of 27, 230 came out to Shea Stadium on this Easter Sunday. In the first game, that years Cy Young Award winner, Tom Seaver went up against the Expos' John Strohmayer. Strohmayer would pitch for the Mets later in the season & again in 1974. T he Expos Ron Fairly, hit a lead off second inning HR and Strohmayer held down the Mets scoreless through the end of the 8th inning. He was relieved by relief ace, Mike Marshall who allowed a leadoff 9th inning walk to Jim Fregosi. He then threw a wild pitch advancing him to second. Jerry Grote sacrificed Fregosi to third & pinch hitter Ken Boswell came through with a base hit tying the game.  Newly acquired Mets relief pitcher Phil Hennigan, had his own troubles in the 10th inning. He walked John Boccabella, then walked pinch hitter Boots Day, intentionally. Aft

The Winningest Left Handed Pitcher of All Time- One Time New York Met: Warren Spahn (1965)

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Warren Edward Spahn was born on April 23, 1921 in Buffalo New York, being named after President Warren Harden. The tall six foot lefty, was known as "the Invincible one" and became the winningest left handed pitcher of all time. He came up with Boston Braves in 1942 briefly before serving military time in the Military during World War II. In the war his heroic efforts won him a Purple Heart & a Bronze Star. He returned back to pitching by 1946 at the age of 26 going 8-5 with a 2.94 ERA. Quotes: "People say that my absence from the big leagues may have cost me a chance to win 400 games. But I don't know about that. I matured a lot in three years, and I think I was better equipped to handle major league hitters at 25 than I was at 22. Also, I pitched until I was 44. Maybe I wouldn't have been able to do that otherwise." In Boston he along with the number two man on the staff Johnny Sain, were so much better than the rest of the staff they inspir