Remembering Mets History (1975) Casey Stengel's Last Appearance Comes in Style on Old Timers Day

 Saturday June 28th, 1975- Old Timers Day at Shea: It was on this festive Old Timers Day that "the Old Professor" Casey Stengel would make his final appearance at Shea Stadium. Casey was just one month shy of his 85th birthday. Sadly, three months later he would pass away.

The Mets always had grand celebrations on their Old Timers Day festivities. Today, Casey made a grand entrance on a Roman Chariot led by a pair of white horses. He was wearing his legendary Mets uniform #37 clutching the reigns holding a whip circling the third base box seats. The chariot also featured an escort wearing a golden helmet to assist Casey. 

Quotes-Casey Stengel: "I don't worry about Old Timers Day; I only worry if I'm strong enough & got enough health to get out there. I had the flu this winter & they said I was done, but I had a hundred write ups since then".

Some of the fifty former players on hand that day were legends Willie Mays, Yogi Berra, Ralph Kiner,
Joe Dimaggio, Rube Walker, Joe Pignatano, Pee Wee Reese, Jim Gilliam, Hank Greenberg, Orlando Cepeda, Ken Boyer, Harvey Kuenn, Jim Konstanty, Mike McCormick & Walt Dropo.

The Mets Tom Seaver humorously asked his 34-year-old teammate Joe Torre if he'd be playing in the first game today? 

Quotes- Joe Torre: "I've been going thru that for two days. Everybody wants to know if I'm playing in both ends of the double header". Torre would retire from playing two seasons later in 1977.

The regular season game that day was delayed over an hour due to rain. Yogi Berra's third place Mets (36-32) hosted Danny Ozark's second place Philadelphia Phillies (40-33) 1.5 games ahead of the Mets. The Mets were just 4.5 games behind the first place Pirates.

The Mets sent twenty-two-year-old right hander, Randy Tate to the mound to face, the Phillies future Hall of Fame pitcher Steve Carlton. 

Steve Carlton Trivia: In 1975, "Lefty" would go 15-14 in with 192 strike outs posting a 3.56 ERA. Carlton was the first MLB four-time Cy Young Award winner, winning twenty or more games six times, with 329 career victories (11th all time). He led the league in strike outs five times, collecting 4136 career strike outs (4th all time). 

In the top of the 1st, Mets starter Randy Tate walked leadoff man, Dave Cash. The speedster stole second & advanced to third on a sacrifice by Larry Bowa then scored on Greg Luzinski's sac fly. 

In the bottom of the 1st, Gene Clines drew a walk &advanced to third when Felix Millan singled to right field. Cleon Jones then hit a fly ball to right fielder Jay Johnstone. Clines attempted to score but was thrown out at the plate by Johnstone to catcher Johnny Oates. 

Rusty Staub followed with an RBI single to right field bringing in Millan to tie the game at one.

In the bottom of the 3rd, Felix Millan got his second hit of the game with a base hit to left. 

Two batters later, Joe Torre collected a one out single. Rusty Staub drove in his second run of the game with a sac fly to left, putting the Mets ahead 2-1.

In the top of the 4th, the Phils Jay Johnstone singled into right field. Veteran Dick Allen in his second go-around with the Phillies, then doubled to left field scoring Johnstone to tie up the game.

Dick Allen Trivia: Allen had spent the first seven years of his career in Philadelphia. Although he was a fine hitter, his days with the Phillies were filled with drama. He & the Philly fans did not get along, which led him to wear a batting helmet for protection while playing the field. He once wrote "Boo" in the infield dirt while being heckled by them.

Allen then went to the Dodgers & Cardinals before spending three years (1972-1974) with the Chicago White Sox, winning the 1972 AL-MVP Award, leading the league in HRs twice (1972/1974) & RBIs once (1972). Allen retired after the 1977 season. After many years of debate, in 2025 he was finally elected to the baseball Hall of Fame.

In the bottom of the 5th inning, Gene Clines led off with a base hit. Steve Carlton had some control issues, getting called for a balk, then walking Cleon Jones & Joe Torre to load the bases. But Carlton then struck out Rusty Staub for the second out. 

Slugger Dave Kingman stepped in & drove a two-run single to left field, scoring both Clines & Jones giving the Mets a 4-2 lead. Phillies outfielder Greg Luzinski threw Joe Torre out at third base to end the inning, killing the rally.

In the top of the 7th, Randy Tate walked slugger Mike Schmidt with one out. But he struck out Jerry Martin looking & pinch hitter Tommy Hutton to end the inning

In the 9th, Randy Tate was going for the complete game win. He got the first two outs, walked Johnny Oates then struck out Mike Schmidt to end the game. 

The young Randy Tate pitched one of his best games in his short one-year career. Allowing two runs on four hits, striking out nine, walking four. 

Randy Tate Trivia: On August 4th, Randy Tate would take a no hitter into the 8th inning, but then it all fell apart. Everything went bad as Tate gave up three hits, an RBI single to Gary Carter & a three run HR to former Met Mike Jorgensen taking the 4-3 loss. 

Manager Yogi Berra was fired the next day. Tate went to the minors & never returned, he was traded to the Pirates organization then tore his rotator cuff, ending his career.