centerfield maz

In July of 1973 there still wasn't much going right for the New York Mets. Injuries to the starting players were killing them. The teams biggest HR hitter hamstring injury. Catcher Jerry Grote was out with a wrist injury. Shortstop Bud Harrelson had hurt his left hand when the Reds Bill Plummer crashed into him trying to break up a double play. He missed almost all of June then went down again with a fractured sternum after crashing into Rennie Stennett of the Pirates at the end of July. Left Fielder Cleon Jones suffered a wrist injury diving for a ball & then in June was placed on the DL after he was hit in the elbow with a pitch. Willie Mays was showing his age in center field, he could not be in the lineup on a steady basis. George the Stork Theodore suffered an eye injury when he was hit with a ball in June, then he had the brutal outfield collision with Don Hahn fracturing his hip. Jon Matlack missed a small amount of time after getting hit in the head with a line driv...

Leo Ernest Durocher was born on July 27, 1905, in West Springfield, Massachusetts. His father George worked for the Boston & Albany Railroad Co.  He & his wife Clarinda had Leo & three older sons. The family was French Canadian& often spoke French in the household. As a boy he began to play pool & started hustling for money. He was also a good athlete & became a local star baseball player. The fiery kid caught the eye of a scout & the second baseman / shortstop made his was signed by the AL New York team. In 1925 he made his MLB debut with New York team as a teammate of Babe Ruth & Lou Gehrig. Leo, didn't get along with the top players as he talked & antagonized them nonstop. He lived extravagantly,  dressing in expensive clothes & going to fine establishments. Leo loved the nightlife & was known to stayed out late even passed team curfews.  Manager Miller Huggins loved the passion & competitiveness in Durocher & ...

Carol Walter Lockman was born on July 25, 1926, in Lowell, North Carolina.  Lockman was signed by the New York Giants in 1943 at the young age of 16. He was an outfielder with the Jersey City Giants in 1944, leading the International League in both outfield assists & errors. MLB Debut: Lockman made his MLB debut on July 5, 1945; at the age of 18 & hit a HR in his first career at bat. His season ended when he was drafted into the Merchant Marines, he finished batting hit .341 in 129 at bats.  After missing the 1946 season while in the military he returned in 1947 only to then break his ankle. In 1948 he became a Giants regular outfielder until 1951, when he began to play at first base as well. He became one of the toughest players in the league to strike out, only striking out more than 36 times twice while averaging over 530 at bats each season. He rarely hit into double plays, averaging one every 87 at bats, one of the best ratios in baseball history. I...