Remembering Mets History (1973) Mets Come Back from Six Runs Down to Beat Braves in Largest Come from Behind Win of Season with a Little Help from Willie Mays
Tuesday July 17th, 1973: Yogi Berra's last place New York Mets (39-50) rolled into Atlanta's Fulton County Stadium with the second least wins in the National League.
Mays & Aaron: Two of MLB's All-Time HR leaders would also figure in the game, as Willie Mays & Henry Aaron were in their respective teams' dugout. 42-year-old Mays was in the final year of his career & 39-year-old Aaron was chasing the All-Time HR record at 697 career HRs.
In the month of July, they were 6-11. On this road trip, they had just split a four-game series in Cincinnati then lost the opener of this series in Atlanta against Eddie Mathews fifth place Braves (45-52).
Tonight, Yogi sent Tug McGraw to the mound making his first start since September 1971. In the past four seasons dating back after the 1969 Championship season McGraw had made just one start.
Tug Getting Ready to Believe: At the time, Tug was struggling mightily, going 0-4 with five blown saves & a 5.85 ERA. He said it was like he had forgotten how to throw a baseball.
But soon with inspiration from some Catholic Nun who was a huge Mets fan, as well as a friend of his who was a motivational speaker, the Rally Cry of "You Gotta Believe' would be born.
In August Tug would turn it around to become one of the game's best relievers.
Former Rookie of the Year, Carl Morton went to the mound for the Braves.
In the bottom of the 5th, the Mets got back-to-back singles form John Milner & Ron Hodges. Don Hahn's RBI sac fly scored Milner making it 4-1.
Hank Aaron Trivia: For Aaron it was his 697th career HR, just 17 away from Babe Ruth's all-time record. Aaron would hit 40 HRs that season, along with teammates Davey Johnson (43) & Darrel Evans (41) becoming the first trio of teammates to hit 40 or more HRs in a season. Aaron hit 40 or more HRs seven times in his career. Beginning today, Aaron would homer in three straight games.
Tug McGraw pitched six innings allowing seven runs (six earned) allowing three HRs, on ten hits while walking four & striking out four. His ERA ballooned to a season high 6.17 as he hit rock bottom for the season.
In the top of the 9th, the Mets were down 7-1 as the Brave's Carl Morton was still on the mound rolling along.
Wayne Garrett led off with a base hit to right field. Felix Millan lined out to centerfield for the first out.
Rusty Staub then hit a two run HR, his 8th HR of the year making it a 7-3 game. Cleon Jones followed with a base hit up the middle. The Mets leading HR hitter,
John Milner followed with his 13th HR of the year, a two-run shot making it a 7-5 ball game knocking Carl Morton out of the game.
Next, the Mets centerfielder Don Hahn singled up the middle. Ed Kranepool was called on to pinch hit for Bud Harrelson & drew a walk. Yogi Berra now sent Teddy Martinez in to run for Kranepool.
Veteran Jim Beauchamp was called on to pinch hit & singled to right field scoring Don Hahn bringing the Mets to within a run.
Beach-Trivia: Jim Beauchamp would later have a long career with the Braves coaching in their minor leagues from 1975 to 1990. He was then Braves coach from 1990-2002, for his longtime pal Bobby Cox,
The wild inning continued as Braves manager Eddie Mathews brought in Tom House to pitch.
Say-Hey Trivia: In1973 although his stats are no longer what they were in his prime, Willie Mays presence along with some key hits such as in todays game, help inspire a young Mets ball club get to the World Series.
In the inning, the Mets sent twelve men to the plate, scoring six runs on eight hits. Manager Yogi Berra pulled all the right strings with three successful pinch hitters.
'73 Mets Trivia: The six-run deficit was the largest comeback for the 1973 Mets.
In the bottom of the 9th, Harry Parker came on for the Mets, striking out Darrell Evans & Sonny Jackson. Dusty Baker popped up to John Milner at first to end the game.
The Mets would win four of their next five games.