centerfield maz

Monday September 1, 1975: It was a big night for  the '75 Mets. Interim Manager Roy McMillan's third place Mets (72-64) were just four games behind the first place Pittsburgh Pirates (75-59). Roy McMillan had taken over the club on August 6th after Yogi Berra had been fired. Since then, the Mets were 16-9 & had gained four games in the standings. Tonight,  the Mets hosted Danny Murtaugh's Pirates at Shea Stadium in front of 45,991 fans.  The Mets were trying to stop a two-game  losing streak, after having won five straight on a long 14 game west coast road trip that included a three-game  stop in Houston.  Roy McMillan Tonight,  was the first home game since August 17, two weeks ago. The Pirates sent New York native, John Candeleria (7-4) to go up against the 1975 Years Cy Young Award winner; Tom Seaver (19-7).   Seaver was going for his 20th victory of the season & going after an MLB feat that had never been done before. MLB Record Breaker:   Tonight,  Tom Se

Saturday September 2nd, 1972: Yogi Berra's Mets (64-59) were in third place, fourteen games out & time was running out on them with thirty games left to play. Tonight, they were in Houston, playing a good Astros team (73-55). The Astros were in second place in the NL West, seven games behind the Cincinatti Reds.  The Astros started the year with Harry Walker as manager, he was fired in late August as the Astros fell to nine games back. Former Met Salty Parker managed for one game, then the legendary Leo Durocher took over. He got the Astros on a six-game win streak, entering tonight's game. But unfortunately, the Astros would lose four straight then go 11-14 the rest of the year, to finish third. Durocher would take Houston to an 82-80 season in 1973 before ending his 26-year managerial career (2008-1709). The Mets would finish third (83-73) in 1972. Today's starting pitchers would be rookie Brent Strom (0-2) making his fourth career start & Houston's Don Wilso

David William Wallace was born on September 7th, 1947, in Waterbury Connecticut.  The five-foot ten right hander attended the University of New Haven getting signed by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1969.  Minor Leagues: Wallace would spend nine seasons in the Phillies minor leagues, five of them at the AA level. Overall, he spent parts of twelve seasons in the minor leagues going 48-37 with a 4.11 ERA in 360 appearances.  MLB Career: Wallace made brief appearances in three seasons at the major league level.  In 1973 he appeared in four games over July & August, for the last place Philadelphia Phillies ( 71-91)  posting no record. He allowed nine earned runs in 3.2 innings posting a whopping 22.09 ERA. In May 1974 he had three appearances, taking a loss to the San Diego Padres on May 7th, the only decision of his career. In 1978 he was released by the Phillies & signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. He appeared in four games with Toronto at the big-league level. Wallace retired

1973 Mets N.L. Pennant Season:   Tug started out the season with another Opening Day save, after relieving Tom Seaver to finish off ta shut out of the Philadelphia Phillies.  At the end of April, he had four straight saves and was posting a 1.59 ERA, just like the Tug McGraw of old.  But in May he began to struggle, on May 4th he entered a tie game against the Astros, with the bases loaded in the 8th inning. He walked three runs in & had to be removed, the Mets lost it in extra innings.  On May 6th, he came  into  the game in the 6th inning, with two on & the Mets up on the Astros 7-3. He gave up a double to Cesar Cedeno & a three run HR to Bob Watson tying up the game. In the 7th, he gave up two hits & then walked two batters blowing the  four-run  lead having to be removed again. The Mets blew the game losing 14-8. Tug did get a bit on track saving three games until May 19th, when he served up HRs to the Pirates Bob Robertson & a three runs blast to Willie Stargel

After the Pennant- 1974:   After their pennant season, the Mets struggled the next season.  McGraw was no exception. On Opening Day he gave up a walk off HR to Mike Schmidt in Philadelphia. He did earn his first save the next day. On April 14th, he took an extra inning loss at Shea, this one to the Phillies as well. On May 5th the Padres tagged him for two runs, to come from behind in a 5-4 win, earning him another loss. By May 15th, his ERA was an enormous 9.00. In a June 30th double header he gave up HRs in both ends, taking the loss in the night cap, when Bake McBride hit a 10th inning HR.  It wasn't until July 28th, when he earned his first win. In August he did win four games but also blew two games where he took the loss.  Player of the Week: On August 27th he was given a start at Shea against the Astros. He gave up just one run in six innings to earn the 4-2 win. On September 1st, he threw his only career shut out. It came against the Atlanta Braves in a 3-0 win, where he a