Remembering Mets History (1964) Mets Score Their Franchise Best Up to That Point- 19 Runs at Wrigley Field
Trivia: In 1965 the Mets put up double figures twice in Chicago with a season high of 14 runs on July 29th. On August 8th they also put up ten runs against the Cubs at Shea Stadium, but they lost 14-10. In 1966 the Mets single game high was also 14 runs, they did at Wrigley Field & Candlestick Park in San Francisco. The inconsistent Mets of the early to mid sixties also had games where they were shut out or put up just one at Wrigley as well.
Todays run production was a rare event for these Mets who had only put up double figures in wins 12 times up to now since their inception in 1962.
The Mets Jack Fisher (1-3) who had lost his last two starts, went up against Bob Buhl (3-2) who was on a personal three game win streak.
The Mets had just lost nine of their last twelve games, dropping two of three in Houston games scoring 12 runs in that time.
After Joe Christopher struck out, Charley Smith drove a two run single to left field, then Roy McMillan singled to center scoring Hickman with the Mets fourth run, ending Bob Bouhl's afternoon.
In the bottom of the 2nd, with Wayne Schurr pitching for Chicago, Frank Thomas & Jim Hickman collected back-to-back two out base hits. Joe Christopher then tripled off the Ivy in centerfield bringing in both runners to make it 6-0. A passed ball allowed Christopher to score making it 7-0.
In the top of the 5th, Charley Smith led off with a base hit off Cub's pitcher Sterling Slaughter. Catcher Chris Cannizzaro, who manager Casey Stengel called "Canzaroni" because he couldn't/t pronounce his name, doubled scoring Smith with the eighth run.
Dick Smith would single, collecting his third hit of the game, scoring Cannizzaro giving new York a 9-0 lead. It's safe to say manager Casey Stengel got Dick & Charley Smith mixed up as well both being in the lineup that day.
Jack Fisher held the Cubs scoreless on just one hit thru the first four innings. In the bottom of the 5th "Mr. Cub" Ernie Banks doubled, then Billy Cowan's base hit brought home the future Hall of Famer with Chicago's first run.
the last hit he'd allow the rest of the way, retiring the last ten batters in a row. Fisher earned the win to get to 2-3, he allowed on run on four hits, struck out three walked one. That year
Jack Fisher Trivia: Fisher pitched four games against the Cubs that year, winning three of them, all complete games. That year Fisher pitched an overall eight complete games.
In the top of the 7th, Glen Hobbie was on as the Cubs fourth pitcher, Roy McMillan led off with a base hit, then Chris Cannizzaro was hit by a pitch. Pitcher Jack Fisher joined in the fun with an RBI single to left field scoring McMillan. Fisher hit .158 that year & drove in a career high eight runs.
Ron Hunt then collected his fourth hit of the game, an RBI single scoring Fisher making it 12-1.
Ron Hunt Trivia: Hunt was now batting .309 & having a good enough season to earn him the starting second base position in that years All Star Game held at the new Shea Stadium. Hunt would bat .303 that season having this & one more multi-four hit game.
Cubs manager removed his pitcher bringing in his fourth hurler of the game in Jack Spring with runners on first & third. Spring balked bringing in Smith from third for the Mets 13th run.
In the top of the 9th, the sixth Cubs pitcher Don Elston was now on the mound. With one out, Dick Smith tripled, collecting his career best multi-five hit game.
Ron Hunt then reached base for the fifth time on the day with a walk. Back to back base hits from Frank Thomas & Jim Hickman brought in three more runs making it 16-1. Thomas' RBI was the Mets 14th run of the game tying the team's high set in July of 1963. Hickman's two runs set a new Mets record for most run scored in a game. Personally Hickman also had himself a multi- three hit-three RBI game.
Charley Smith Trivia: Charley was one of the better hitting third baseman for the Mets in the early years, a position that the team never seemed to get filled permanently. In 1964 Smith led the club with 20 HRs & was second to Joe Christopher with 58 RBIs. But with his glove he made 23 errors at third base in just 85 games for New York. In his ten year career he player for seven teams hitting just .239 making a total of 119 errors playing at second, third & short stop positions.
The Mets won the game 19-1, setting a franchise record for most runs scored in a single game. That record would hold until for seven years, when on August 7th, 1971, they would put up 20 runs in a win at Atlanta.
Quotes- Casey Stengel: "I suppose most of the club owners will be trying to contact me now to get my players".
Cubs Trivia: It was the worst Cubs loss since allowing 22 runs to the Reds in 1957.