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