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Showing posts from August, 2022

Remembering Mets History: (1974) Tug McGraw Pitches His Only Career Shut Out

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Sunday September 1st, 1974: Yogi Berra's fifth place Mets (60-71) were nine games back at the start of September, but unlike last year in 1973, there was no NL Pennant run in store this September.  The Mets were still the reigning NL Champs but were to lose their title in the next month.  Tonight, the Mets hosted Clyde Kings third place Atlanta Braves (73-61) in front of 33,879 fans at Shea Stadium. The Braves former Rookie of the Year, Carl Morton (14-7) went up against The Mets Tug McGraw (5-7). In his Mets career, Tug McGraw made 36 starts for the club, most of them in the earlier part of his career. In the upsetting Mets 1974 season, the team needed help in the starting rotation at times & McGraw filled in making four starts. This game would be the only shut out he pitched in his fine career, where he made 39 starts in 824 appearances. In the 1st inning, that year's NL Batting champ Ralph Garr "the Roadrunner" led off with a base hit. Marty Perez then

Willie Mays "The Sey Hey Kid #24": The Mets Years (1972 - 1973)

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By 1972 the Giants franchise was losing money, and owner Horace Stoneham was in debt. He would not be able to pay Mays' his big salary. So, after negotiations with the Mets Willie was traded back to New York for pitcher Charlie Williams & $50,000. At first, he did not know all the details & was upset at the trade. He felt betrayed by the Giants organization after all his years of dedicated service.  He felt a bit better after Stoneman tried to explain that it was done for Mays’ best interests as well as the team’s financial situation. New York Mets owner, Mrs.  Joan Payson was a huge fan of Willie and had tried to purchase his contract years earlier, offering one million dollars, but Stoneham refused the offer.  In 1972 the Mets gave Mays a ten-year contract at $ 175,000 a year, and after retirement $50,000 a year for the rest of his life. They offered him a position as a coach upon his retirement & Mrs. Payson promised to retire his number. Willie’s return to New

Billy McKinney: Former Mets Outfielder (2021)

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William Landis  McKinney was born August 23rd, 1994, in Dallas Texas. The left hand hitting, six-foot one outfielder also plays at first base. McKinney was signed by the Oakland A's, out of Plano West Senior High School, in the first round of the 2013 draft, the 24th pick overall.  After receiving a 1.8 million signing bonus, and spending one year in Athletics minor leagues, McKinney was traded along with Addison Russell & Dan Straily to the Chicago Cubs for Jason Hammel & Jeff Samardzija. In the Cubs organization, he went up to the AA level before suffering a hair line fracture in his knee, shutting him down for 2016. Next, he was traded along with Gleyber Torres & Adam Warren to the AL New York team for Aroldis Chapman. MLB Career: He made his big-league debut, on March 30th, 2018, getting a hit in his first MLB at bat. The next day he got injured & was placed on the DL.  After two games with the AL New York team, he was traded along with (another 2021 future Me