Father's Day June 17th, 1962: The original 1962 Mets team were known as the loveable losers. The New York fans were so happy to have National League baseball back after the departure of the Giants & Dodgers five years earlier it almost didn't matter if they won, as one baseball's strongest fan bases was born. The team was known for its ineptitude, mental mistakes, errors & poor play.With 72-year-old Casey Stengel leading the young bunch, he tried to guide them as best as he could. If nothing else with his fast talking & so called "Stengelese' language he was the best promoter for his young Amazing Mets.
Quotes- Casey Stengel: "We got them from the babies up, as soon as the kid can start to talk, you sat Metsie, not pappa not mamma, Metsie-Metsie-Metsie"
On this Father's Day the Mets 13,128 fans came to the Polo Grounds as Casey's Mets (16-42) hosted the Chicago Cubs (22-42) in an afternoon double header. The Mets Al Jackson went up against the Cubs Glen Hobbie. Two years earlier Hobbie led the league with twenty losses.Trivia: This was the fifth of 17 double headers the Mets would play at home in the Polo Grounds that year.
That year these were the two worst teams in the National League, as in a ten-team league, the Mets finished last & the Cubs finished ninth.
'62 Cubs Trivia: Although the Cubs line up featured four future Hall of Famers in Ernie Banks, Lou Brock, Billy Williams & Ron Santo they lost 103 games 103 games. From 1960 thru 1966 the Cubs finished seventh or lower in the NL, losing 90 plus games five times. In 1967 & 1968 they finished third. Then from 1969 thru 1972 Chicago finished second three times in those four years.
Also, two pitchers on the Cubs staff Don Cardwell & Cal Koonce would be on the 1969 World Champion Mets staff.
Throneberry's Obstruction Call: In the top of the 1st inning Al Jackson issued two walks. Then as Don Landrum took off for second base Al Jackson threw to first & caught him in a run downplay. But Marv Throneberry was called for obstruction as he collided with the base runner, Marv's memorable day was just beginning. According to the radio broadcast of the game it was the first obstruction call of the year on an infielder.
Next, Al Jackson walked Billy Williams then Ron Santo tripled into the vast centerfield area of the Polo Grounds. Next rookie Lou Brock followed with one of the longest HRs ever hit in the Polo Grounds, blasting a tremendous HR into the right centerfield bleachers at an estimated 460ft.
Polo Grounds Trivia: Since it's remodeling in 1923 only three MLB players had ever hit HRs in the Polo Grounds centerfield Bleachers in a game: Joe Adccok (1953) Lou Brock (1962) & the next day Hank Aaron (1962).
Lou Brock Trivia: Brock spent his first three & half seasons with the Cubs before getting traded to the St. Louis Cardinals where he became the All-Time stolen base leader & having a Hall of Fame career.
In the bottom of the 1st, Richie Ashburn led off with a base hit. He was sacrificed over & the recently arrived Gene Woodling drew a walk. Frank Thomas then singled bringing in Ashburn for the Mets first run.
Now with two on, Marv Throneberry hit a flyball into the right field gap into the bullpen area. Both runners scored on the play as Marv headed for third base with a triple.
But Cubs pitcher Glen Hobbie threw over to first base to Ernie Banks on an appeal play. Throneberry was indeed called out for not touching first base.He Missed Second Base Too: When Manager Casey Stengel started to come out to argue the call he was told by first base umpire Dusty Boggess and / or first base coach Cookie Lavagetto not to bother because Throneberry missed second base too. Stengel supposedly replied "well I know he touched third base because he's standing on it".
Charley Neal followed with a HR off the facade in left field tying up the game at four. Legend has it Casey Stengel motioned to Neal pointing out each base as to make sure he touched them as he ran out the HR trot.
In the top of the 3rd Ernie Banks hit a solo HR for Chicago. In the bottom of the 5th, Richie Ashburn tied it up with a HR of his own.
In the top of the 8th, Banks doubled & Lou Brock collected his third RBI of the game with a double to left field. In the top of the 9th, Bob Anderson singled & Ken Hubbs walked, ending Al Jackson's day, as he was relieved by Ken MacKenzie. Billy Williams greeted him with a two-run triple.
Trivia: Ken MacKenzie was the only pitcher on the 1962 staff that posted a winning record (5-4).
In the bottom of the 9th, after Cubs pitcher Bob Anderson recorded the first two outs, pinch hitter Cliff Cook drew a walk & Gene Woodling doubled bringing him in making it 8-6. Don Elston was brought into pitch to face Frank Thomas. Thomas singled to center scoring Woodling to bring the Mets to within a run. Then with the tying run on base, Marv Throneberry struck out to end the game & very frustrating day.
The Mets lost both ends of the double header during a seven-game losing streak, a stretch where they lost nine of ten.
