tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18794737062332343752024-03-17T23:30:33.009-04:00centerfield mazUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2271125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879473706233234375.post-17318702693887948322024-03-17T23:30:00.001-04:002024-03-17T23:30:00.125-04:00"Hot Rod" Kanehl: First Mets Player To Hit A Grand Slam (1962 - 1964)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRsxh7UJwcRRGLd58RlA143i8owSY6oDBWZJK2vyPRIc8gOkrMpMtMN1SOaTAWpvkdXwsJAej3DAod7MMswIELgqWxrDUyt-8J5vj28GnPug6O9QEEeCCP89Ilo8hhPfo5U1KzNYmcSA3/s1600/hot+rod+kanehl+(6).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRsxh7UJwcRRGLd58RlA143i8owSY6oDBWZJK2vyPRIc8gOkrMpMtMN1SOaTAWpvkdXwsJAej3DAod7MMswIELgqWxrDUyt-8J5vj28GnPug6O9QEEeCCP89Ilo8hhPfo5U1KzNYmcSA3/s400/hot+rod+kanehl+(6).jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Roderick Edwin Kanehl</span> was born on April Fool’s Day 1934 in Wichita, Kansas. The six foot one, right hand hitter was signed after high school by the A.L. New York club as an amateur free agent in 1954. </strong></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>In his first year of pro ball, he hit .316 but toiled at the lowest levels of the minors for four seasons. In 1958 he went to AA Dallas batting .295 getting him promoted to AAA the next season. </b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>Kanehl spent the next two years in the minors with </strong><strong>the Kansas City A’s, Cincinnati Reds </strong><b>& Minnesota Twins organizations. In 1961 Kanehl hit .304 at AAA Nashville but didn’t’ have a contract when the season ended. </b></span><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Mets Career:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> The expansion New York Mets gave him a shot to try out at Spring Training, probably due to Casey Stengel remembering him from the minor leagues.</span></strong></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><div><strong>After eight years in the minors, Kanehl played his heart out in the Mets first Spring Training to earn a spot on the 1962 expansion team's roster. </strong></div></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAYwtWx1wcwNakRHTgV6BAfFMVEylueZaabyazWWzFm8G9tHjZWFIf3mdZo0PHCzX-rnMrgl8djoYaXIygpzkDEb6Fldyz6Bcm7oGxVRxmau2yO8-jplT2_-3tz84wAswL1C69E-CDFEE/s1600/hot+rod+kanehl+(8).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAYwtWx1wcwNakRHTgV6BAfFMVEylueZaabyazWWzFm8G9tHjZWFIf3mdZo0PHCzX-rnMrgl8djoYaXIygpzkDEb6Fldyz6Bcm7oGxVRxmau2yO8-jplT2_-3tz84wAswL1C69E-CDFEE/s400/hot+rod+kanehl+(8).jpg" width="400" /></a>Legend has it, Kanehl once jumped over a fence to catch a fly ball. His all-out hustle & determination earned him the nick name </span><span style="font-size: medium;">“Hot Rod” Kanehl. </span></b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>Hot Rod became one Casey Stengel's favorite players making the roster going north against the opinions of upper management. </strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>According to the book "Once Upon the Polo Grounds" Mets General Manager George Weiss told Stengel 'I ain't seen him do anything in the field. To which Stengel replied, 'You're full of baloney, he can run the bases." </b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTuHqCphuTOtY6cWA6WdqF_A-SssIzZSyi5m4UBqTN3vic4Gx5AfkvayKW92TIThT1a4UUklDM4G7seJzmMsZUKSjS6fkvdgj5PBggnTJlw0IwrwC3ZF7VnrCTVJ5lekAU6v6BcVmsJ_u/s1600/hot+rod+kanehl+(3).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTuHqCphuTOtY6cWA6WdqF_A-SssIzZSyi5m4UBqTN3vic4Gx5AfkvayKW92TIThT1a4UUklDM4G7seJzmMsZUKSjS6fkvdgj5PBggnTJlw0IwrwC3ZF7VnrCTVJ5lekAU6v6BcVmsJ_u/s400/hot+rod+kanehl+(3).jpg" width="320" /></a><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;">MLB Debut:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On April 15th, Kanehl debuted on in the second home game in Mets history, getting a pinch hit at bat going 0-1. </span></strong></span><strong style="color: blue;">Kanehl was mostly used mostly as a pinch hitter & pinch runner. </strong><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>On April 28th, Kanehl came into a game at the Polo Grounds against the Phillies as a pinch runner in a six-run 6th inning. Earlier that inning, Frank Thomas, Charlie Neal & Gil Hodges hit back-to-back-to-back HRs. </b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>Now with John DeMerit on at third base & Kanehl on second base, pitcher Chris Short threw a wild pitch. </strong></span><strong style="color: blue;">DeMerit scored from third & the always hustling Kanehl, scored right behind him. His run turned out to be the games winning run in the Mets first ever home victory. </strong></div><div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Fan Favorite:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> Hot Rod became an early Mets fan favorite, claiming to have the first banner in the Polo Grounds read “We Love the Mets & Hot Rod Kanehl”. </span></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_AA69uQDGQU-FYaHzqHBLad1rxKWY1xXln1nVl0YMpDy-O4iblFCflK9RmqoAPzdBcOXOOFyFnKqvb-Ok1dIY8_Y3o5TydLOBgPNydQ9FbvwzC9KTCGi3XpyGjdozjPS8Igl_Ses6mHl9/s1600/hot+rod+kanehl+(5).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_AA69uQDGQU-FYaHzqHBLad1rxKWY1xXln1nVl0YMpDy-O4iblFCflK9RmqoAPzdBcOXOOFyFnKqvb-Ok1dIY8_Y3o5TydLOBgPNydQ9FbvwzC9KTCGi3XpyGjdozjPS8Igl_Ses6mHl9/s320/hot+rod+kanehl+(5).jpg" width="223" /></a><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>Kanehl did hit well enough to reach the .300 mark by mid-May although he didn't have too many at bats. </b></span><br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;">First HR: </span></i><span style="color: blue;">On June 1st, he hit his first career HR, it came at the Polo Grounds against the Giants' 16 game winner, Billy Pierce in a 9-6 Mets loss. </span></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><strong><i>First Mets Grand Slam: </i></strong></span><b style="color: blue;">On July 6th</b><span style="color: blue;"><b>, 1962,</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> in a game against the Cardinals at the Polo Grounds, Kanehl stepped in as a pinch hitter with the bases loaded, in the bottom of the 8th inning facing Bobby Shantz. Kanehl hit the first Mets grand slam in team history, as his blast cleared the bases with Jim Hickman, Elio Chacon & Joe Christopher all scoring on the way to the Mets 10-3 win. </b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: blue;">Hot Rod hit well enough to get his average back up to .310 by the start of August. </b><b style="color: blue;">In the final ten days of that month, he drove in runs in five different games. </b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaeMz-F11iKeoF4EFNORFpwsF9i87lDnYG-IAWMtOABKq-KXrlT2N_-vtc9T9d-Ng37T96HSz95gMVqjCg72D9ySU8DJ8OhcCEirybW5pHpdUOHg7uwioRn9nfzLBLotYNWgpbFZnrPcbeBbXY3E0WyBKj7GtoL0HsvzctQm_ETOGV6jdGCf20HVIHZ5Wn/s325/rod%20kanehl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="261" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaeMz-F11iKeoF4EFNORFpwsF9i87lDnYG-IAWMtOABKq-KXrlT2N_-vtc9T9d-Ng37T96HSz95gMVqjCg72D9ySU8DJ8OhcCEirybW5pHpdUOHg7uwioRn9nfzLBLotYNWgpbFZnrPcbeBbXY3E0WyBKj7GtoL0HsvzctQm_ETOGV6jdGCf20HVIHZ5Wn/s320/rod%20kanehl.JPG" width="257" /></a></div><b style="color: blue;">Although he was not a great hitter, he was certainly versatile on the field making him very valuable on a poor fielding team. </b><strong style="color: blue;">Hot Rod would play at seven different positions for the ’62 Mets, everywhere but at catcher & pitcher. </strong></div><div><strong style="color: blue;"><br /></strong></div><div><strong style="color: blue;">He made 22 errors at second base (second most in the league). </strong><b style="color: blue;">Playing at third base he made eight more errors in 63 chances with two more in the outfield. </b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: blue;">He finished the season hitting .248 with 4 HRs 10 doubles 2 triples 8 stolen bases & 27 RBIs. He posted a .296 on base % with a .618 OPS.</b></div><div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;">1963:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> Kanehl made the Mets team again the next season & would play at seven different positions once again. On June 5th he had a three hit day while driving in a pair of runs in a 11-9 loss. </span></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Kanehl was batting just .174 by early June then began to slowly hit reaching the .200 mark again by mid-August. On August 16th he hit his only HR of the year, coming off the Dodgers veteran Johnny Podres.</b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VARst4gAjdzAMVLue87S_-wlTwkfW0Xe0KRuBaSI3Vs_VTPw8Q8GmcYfPJmKORfi2wR8kUSsd0M_8ff6TNS9WcjyAiTiyBQlIjferqtpAx-hi-hGZtfpgT5m6cyLkc6e3vH_jtCJUn_U/s1600/1962-fleer-rod-kanehl.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="360" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VARst4gAjdzAMVLue87S_-wlTwkfW0Xe0KRuBaSI3Vs_VTPw8Q8GmcYfPJmKORfi2wR8kUSsd0M_8ff6TNS9WcjyAiTiyBQlIjferqtpAx-hi-hGZtfpgT5m6cyLkc6e3vH_jtCJUn_U/w276-h400/1962-fleer-rod-kanehl.jpg" width="276" /></a></div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>He finished the year at .241 with one HR six doubles nine RBIs & six stolen bases playing in 109 games.</strong></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">1964:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> This season Kanehl got to play in the new Shea Stadium. In the Mets first win in their new stadium, which was his first start of the year, Hot Rod drove in two runs in a 6-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. </b></span></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>At the start of May he hit safely in 16 of 19 games & was batting over .400. On June 9th he drove in two runs with a 2nd inning base hit off Dick Ellsworth. The Mets went on to win the game in 12 innings. </strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>In 98 games he batted .232 hit one HR seven doubles a triple & 11 RBIs. He posted a poor .256 on base %. It would turn out to be Kanehl’s last season in the major leagues.</strong></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong></strong></span><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Quotes- Hot Rod Kanehl: </span></i></strong><strong style="color: blue;">"Baseball is a lot like life. The line drives are caught; & the squibbers go for base hits. It's an unfair game." </strong><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><strong style="color: blue;"><br /></strong></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsH_MJfoeAmRgyg9pAn-BatMyFkVH01FLWSXgxGVuPJU6gTEbm7ZkJPHUhvjFUddmCc5vKuEAVNSZ8m6byhEtNOKY6qMqCQQLH4Cd_qFfuZMC1N6ByqwbzQ18w6eV3EEJ8ocgSduz3CyATSzY0zLLW3MMLQVW3yktrI7eT7fOmTqti-1_0KDxoo_Ii3_i/s263/rod%20kanehl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="263" data-original-width="204" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsH_MJfoeAmRgyg9pAn-BatMyFkVH01FLWSXgxGVuPJU6gTEbm7ZkJPHUhvjFUddmCc5vKuEAVNSZ8m6byhEtNOKY6qMqCQQLH4Cd_qFfuZMC1N6ByqwbzQ18w6eV3EEJ8ocgSduz3CyATSzY0zLLW3MMLQVW3yktrI7eT7fOmTqti-1_0KDxoo_Ii3_i/w248-h320/rod%20kanehl.JPG" width="248" /></a></div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Career Stats: </span></i><span style="color: blue;">In a three-year career Kanehl batted .241 with 6 HRs 23 doubles 3 triples 103 runs scored 17 stolen bases & </span></b></span><b><span style="color: blue;">47 RBIs. He struck out 80 times with 35 walks </span></b><b><span style="color: blue;">a .277 on base % & .577 OPS.</span></b></div><div><br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><em>Retirement:</em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span>After his playing days, he sold insurance, worked construction & owned a restaurant.</strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Casey's Funeral:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> In 1975 after the passing of Casey Stengel, Kanehl was still loyal to his former manager to the very end He was one of the few original Mets players to attend the funeral. </span></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Family:</span></i> <span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>Rod was first married to wife Shirley, together they had three children. After the divorce<br /> he later married second wife, Blanche.</b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Passing:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> I</span></b></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>n 2004, Kanehl passed away from a heart attack in Palm Springs, he was</b></span><strong style="color: blue;"> 70</strong><strong style="color: blue;">.</strong></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879473706233234375.post-80149062162162793992024-03-17T23:20:00.001-04:002024-03-17T23:20:00.124-04:00Willie Montanez "the Hot Dog": Late Seventies Mets First Baseman (1978 - 1979)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2q3C6_D1dewIOS8bee4G9GyjHqs5a0Y8AfILj0ADNJkFMTUFvxbx0p2cD0j8G3sczUCrA0B_bjnneYu1er4LHXPGSgI9ZJnUJowd0O9hCwyb6VKnEV_IhzNYrmYAENSKYDLLKVt8owu5H/s1600/2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="233" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2q3C6_D1dewIOS8bee4G9GyjHqs5a0Y8AfILj0ADNJkFMTUFvxbx0p2cD0j8G3sczUCrA0B_bjnneYu1er4LHXPGSgI9ZJnUJowd0O9hCwyb6VKnEV_IhzNYrmYAENSKYDLLKVt8owu5H/s400/2.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Guillermo Montañez Naranjo</span><b> was born on April 1, 1948, in Catano, Puerto Rico, a suburb outside of San Juan known for being the home of the Bacardi Rum distillery. His father was a truck driver & his mother a housewife.</b></span><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>In 1965, the six-foot left-hand hitting outfielder / first baseman would originally get signed by the St. Louis Cardinals at age 18. </b></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>The next year </strong><strong>Montanez would get drafted (Rule V) by the California Angels</strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;">MLB Career:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> In 1966 Montanez made his MLB debut on Opening Day as a pinch runner & stole a base against the Chicago White Sox He would play in eight games before getting sent to back to the Cardinals. </span></strong></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>M</strong></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>ontanez played the next three seasons in the minors & then was sent to the Philadelphia Phillies as a player to be named later in the infamous Curt Flood trade. Flood had originally refused to report to Philadelphia challenging the reserve clause. </strong></span><br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong></strong></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>In 1970 </strong></span><strong style="color: blue;">at AAA Eugene, in the Pacific Coast League </strong><b style="color: blue;">Montanez had his best minor league </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>season</b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b> hitting</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> 16 HRs with 80 RBIs.</b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMMsfPjJlWs5c1zejeiDsvcjS8rernm5dtg_P9b9Yf7QlEFE_t899jxnp3w-STN4unBU4iRANZISGxuMYNaNXKd3C4ewwc66Ggju4rmxawwfcxvMbtW5ftO5XWKruhwT1XUZh5p9B5cK7FEg_oHRcYKv2HDmLvmymzy8H4Li6es7hR44Blqsi6BhSRrD0/s320/Willie%20Montanez%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="226" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMMsfPjJlWs5c1zejeiDsvcjS8rernm5dtg_P9b9Yf7QlEFE_t899jxnp3w-STN4unBU4iRANZISGxuMYNaNXKd3C4ewwc66Ggju4rmxawwfcxvMbtW5ftO5XWKruhwT1XUZh5p9B5cK7FEg_oHRcYKv2HDmLvmymzy8H4Li6es7hR44Blqsi6BhSRrD0/s1600/Willie%20Montanez%20(2).jpg" width="226" /></a></div></div><div>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Hot Dog:</span></span></i><b> Montanez became known as “The Hot Dog” due to some of his antics while playing the game. When walking up to the plate he would flip twirl his bat like a baton. If he swung missing a pitch, he would end the swing with a circular finish. </b></span><b style="color: blue;">If he fouled off a </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>pitch,</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> he sometimes did a leg kicking move. </b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>After he hit a HR, he would slowly strut around the bases, sometimes shuffling his feet after touching each base. </b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>When he caught fly balls, he would snatch the ball from the air one handed & s</strong></span><b style="color: blue;">ometimes at first base he would tap a runner on the butt with his glove after an out. </b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">His flashy style was popular with his hometown fans, but not appreciated by his teammates, opposing players or other teams' fans.</span></div><div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>In 1971 Montanez was penciled in as the Phillies starting centerfielder & had a great rookie year. In June he made two spectacular plays helping preserve Rick Wise's no hitter. </strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5iccwsYU9tG6HewQYUZAtwjzdVj5LPTTX1Cj6OgMMXnUr3GR4nia3YPH0hUSam_URQkcswLitcPPPQlIgVu7XgBDY8fPiviCW45AL8FiNPFHMbQZ3fdO6SXZtKK1F4ub8Y0l9N3_uT4y/s1600/Willie+Montanez+(3).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5iccwsYU9tG6HewQYUZAtwjzdVj5LPTTX1Cj6OgMMXnUr3GR4nia3YPH0hUSam_URQkcswLitcPPPQlIgVu7XgBDY8fPiviCW45AL8FiNPFHMbQZ3fdO6SXZtKK1F4ub8Y0l9N3_uT4y/w640-h440/Willie+Montanez+(3).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlcQNb7QaQ-C2L-EctVMRCpYDGDDOnlA3j-NmwDCC1hOV7bSVeW19UwXzlbIWayu8AMBcmZDW1hsUijEmPjxxxg49T9ZGyPcavs1hWaCyTeodlnEsbuFKF5KnnowMQHXg5NXz9XhGImKu/s1600/51V4tggX8DL._SY445_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="279" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlcQNb7QaQ-C2L-EctVMRCpYDGDDOnlA3j-NmwDCC1hOV7bSVeW19UwXzlbIWayu8AMBcmZDW1hsUijEmPjxxxg49T9ZGyPcavs1hWaCyTeodlnEsbuFKF5KnnowMQHXg5NXz9XhGImKu/s320/51V4tggX8DL._SY445_.jpg" width="226" /></a><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>On the season he batted .255 with </strong></span><b style="color: blue;">a career-high 30 HRs (7th in the </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>NL) &</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> drove in 99runs, both </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>Phillies</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> rookie records. </b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: blue;">He led the NL in 13 sac hits, with 27 doubles 6 triples 99 RBIs (5th in the NL) a .327 on base % & .798 OPS. He came </b><strong style="color: blue;">in second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting to the Atlanta Braves, Earl Williams. </strong></div><div><strong style="color: blue;"><br /></strong></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>In the outfield he made a league leading ten errors and made seven assists (4th most in the NL). </strong></span><br /><br /></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>In 1972 Montanez led the National League in doubles (39) while hitting .247 with 13 HRs (second on his club to Greg Luzinski). He drove in 64 runs on the worst team in baseball, as the Phillies finished last going 59-97. </strong></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Problems With Managers:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> Montanez was often fined & even pulled out of games for not hustling or taking a cut off throw.</b></span><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg56kuvJvO9qRAI8RB-LFyTbWmxfqG_UAk-S5xnP4poIu0XWlzjUhcwOflQzMoTFPBxnNFm5mISvlehnihXjllAZxg6UPNCdfJay4QG0G8laExYT78FwPW-4H4wx8mCWzDNsd3jhJLIp-LO/s1600/montanez1.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="379" data-original-width="191" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg56kuvJvO9qRAI8RB-LFyTbWmxfqG_UAk-S5xnP4poIu0XWlzjUhcwOflQzMoTFPBxnNFm5mISvlehnihXjllAZxg6UPNCdfJay4QG0G8laExYT78FwPW-4H4wx8mCWzDNsd3jhJLIp-LO/s400/montanez1.JPG" width="201" /></a><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>In 1973 he switched back to his natural position at first base, to make room for (future Met) Del Unser in center field. Montanez hit 11 HRs with 65 RBIs while batting .263. </strong></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>He would be a solid first baseman, leading all NL players at that position in assists three times (1975,1976,1978) & coming in the top five in fielding % four times. </strong></span><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>In the summer of 1974, Willie had a 24-game hit streak & hit over .300 for the first of three straight seasons. He also hit 33 doubles & drove in 79 runs, but his HR total dropped to seven. </b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>In May of 1975 he was traded to the San Francisco Giants for outfielder Gary Maddox. Willie closed out the year with a career high 101 RBIs (5th most in the NL) along with 10 HRs 34 doubles & a .302 average. </strong></span><strong style="color: blue;">Montanez a slow runner; grounded into a league leading 26 double plays. In his career he hit into 162 double plays & led the NL in that category </strong><span style="color: blue;"><b>twice. </b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>He often complained about the weather in San Francisco & was unhappy on the west coast. At Spring Training 1976, he demanded a trade to an east coast team. </strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>A</strong></span><b style="color: blue;">t the 1976 trade deadline, he was sent to the Braves, along with Jake Brown, Mike Eden & Craig Robinson in exchange for slugger Darrell Evans & short stop Marty Perez. </b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3-sfywr87a1M5WjPAhcZ5b-f1WmM7marobCmuEMOd2NVReIlivZO2Um6_gCs5YMDHHxIayunw0meydVl3aM2gdroiif3YHfNBDiMUS4iks7UfHKQKUCPIfHJupy2GTwkf9Q1PMrcEQn_/s1600/willie-montanez-78.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3-sfywr87a1M5WjPAhcZ5b-f1WmM7marobCmuEMOd2NVReIlivZO2Um6_gCs5YMDHHxIayunw0meydVl3aM2gdroiif3YHfNBDiMUS4iks7UfHKQKUCPIfHJupy2GTwkf9Q1PMrcEQn_/w229-h320/willie-montanez-78.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>The Hot Dog closed out the bicentennial year with a career high 206 hits (second in the league) leading the NL in singles (164) & games played (163). He batted .317 with 11 HRs & 84 RBIs, winning the Sporting News All Star first baseman position. </b></span><br />
<br /></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">1977 All Star:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> In 1977 he made his only All-Star appearance, being Atlanta’s only player representative in that years Mid-Summer Classic in New York. In the inning, he replaced Steve Garvey & went hitless in two at bats in the NL's 7-5 win.</span></b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>That year Montanez finished the season hitting .287 with 20 HRs 31 doubles 68 RBIs & a .328 on base % playing a full season in Atlanta Fulton County Stadiums “Launching Pad”. From 1975-1978 he drove in an impressive 393 runs. </strong></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE50NmsUoXaz59Hiamg3xdb_F67n0DsUisW49tNtaYi9-AJEL58rcfiPqcVI16kVhajBwdibezqj_oWiMYjPRKF_SkNrcsP-fB0b3Xdoam7l8OaMklTtSuIZoUiIEDo5gHkibqbSMnhjec/s1600/mont2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="610" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE50NmsUoXaz59Hiamg3xdb_F67n0DsUisW49tNtaYi9-AJEL58rcfiPqcVI16kVhajBwdibezqj_oWiMYjPRKF_SkNrcsP-fB0b3Xdoam7l8OaMklTtSuIZoUiIEDo5gHkibqbSMnhjec/w640-h440/mont2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dTC9K2LxPWgFbeSlCdNcKGgEKnSWnQ7S-jf-3vi81qETOMEQHRvLMId7hofPjpfEsq6EgXVkQusMGVm-g1AmC-fxWkByd0p-j_UYI9gkzcEQi9dv8c0KEIUzopFq5Tnrt4oCp9Q8EzO3/s1600/Willie+Montanez.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dTC9K2LxPWgFbeSlCdNcKGgEKnSWnQ7S-jf-3vi81qETOMEQHRvLMId7hofPjpfEsq6EgXVkQusMGVm-g1AmC-fxWkByd0p-j_UYI9gkzcEQi9dv8c0KEIUzopFq5Tnrt4oCp9Q8EzO3/w310-h400/Willie+Montanez.JPG" width="310" /></a><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><i>New York Mets Career:</i></span><b> On December 8, 1977, Montanez was part of a huge four team trade, which brought him to New York to play for the Mets. </b></span><strong style="color: blue;">This is the deal that sent Jon Matlack to the Texas Rangers and John Milner to the Pittsburgh Pirates.</strong></div><div><strong style="color: blue;"><br /></strong></div><div><b style="color: blue;">Strangely, the $999,000 deal he signed with Atlanta made him the highest paid player in Mets history up to that point. </b></div><div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>Who could forget the way Mets announcer Bob Murphy, </strong></span><strong style="color: blue;">in his classic drawl </strong><strong style="color: blue;">would say "now the cleanup hitter, the Hot Dog Willie Montanez". </strong></div><div><strong style="color: blue;"><br /></strong></div><div><b style="color: blue;">Montanez was immediately installed as the clubs first baseman & number four hitter. On Opening </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>Day,</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> he doubled off the Expos Steve Rogers in his first Mets at bat in the 3-1 Mets win.</b></div><div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>On April 15th, he hit his first Mets HR coming off the Expos Wayne Twitchell at Stade Olympique in Montreal in a 4-3 loss to the Expos. </b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb644RzLWnyT1DuK1G8AgwfLPNMEMUCUHYb3krgQ2EVNVQy2D69K6GxPpx1y219ltAM5UjmEyg_t0hKBWac8Tthzrquyi2GW3BUITsC1tgn8Nn_C6rFtnlASYo53rsui7KLXLHDM2cNeFd/s1600/willie+montanez.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb644RzLWnyT1DuK1G8AgwfLPNMEMUCUHYb3krgQ2EVNVQy2D69K6GxPpx1y219ltAM5UjmEyg_t0hKBWac8Tthzrquyi2GW3BUITsC1tgn8Nn_C6rFtnlASYo53rsui7KLXLHDM2cNeFd/s1600/willie+montanez.png" width="230" /></a>Montanez didn't get over the .200 hitting mark until May then went on to have a big month. </b></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>The Hot Dog batted .313 with 5 HRs & 28 RBIs by far more than any other Mets Player. From May 18th-May 26th Willie drove in 17 runs, with 15 hits & three HRs in the eight-game span.</b></span><br /></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Four RBI Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On May 18th, he had the first of three games where he would drive in four runs. He collected three hits with an RBI double, single & sac fly in the Mets 8-7 win.</span></strong></span></div><div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Walk OFF Hit:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> On May 19th, Montanez had a three-hit game in a 4-3 win over the Phillies. In the bottom of the 9th inning, with the score tied 3-3 he hit a walk off game winning base hit off former Met Tug McGraw. </b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b>On May 21st, with the Mets down 5-4 to the Phillies in the bottom of the 8th inning, Montanez doubled off Ron Reed driving in Lee Mazzilli tying up the game. The Mets won the game on Steve Henderson's walk off double, also scoring Mazzilli.</b></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_N6qsZiNGB4ng5x3bn9NTcEYE-NwUlFbI5_5C180CVDyD5xq0RJqyphnnksTHO7HZ9kdKJ9_j_MgWSaliNKhLTfsJ3uZJsp3EenbAJAOvIARxPowc0xKP9YIX142QqYMoaszWM_oqNUp2/s1600/th.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="474" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_N6qsZiNGB4ng5x3bn9NTcEYE-NwUlFbI5_5C180CVDyD5xq0RJqyphnnksTHO7HZ9kdKJ9_j_MgWSaliNKhLTfsJ3uZJsp3EenbAJAOvIARxPowc0xKP9YIX142QqYMoaszWM_oqNUp2/w316-h400/th.jpg" width="316" /></a><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Multi HR Game</span></i><span style="color: blue;">: On May 24th, he hit two HRs off the Pirates Don Robinson in Pittsburgh, driving in four runs, although the Mets still lost the game 6-5 on Rennie Stennett's walk off two run double off Skip Lockwood. </span></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>The next day he doubled off the Pirates; Bert Blyleven, tying up the game in the 6th inning. It was in the 11th inning, where Lenny Randle's base hit, won it for New York. </strong></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>From June 4th- June 11th, he collected 12 hits with two HRs & drove in nine runs. On June 5th he had three RBIs in a 9-8 win at Shea over the NL Champion Dodgers.</strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>On June 9th Montanez broke a 1-1 tie with the San Francisco Giants when he singled home Steve Henderson in the bottom of the 8th inning. Earlier he had driven in the Mets first run with a sac fly in the 3-2 win.</strong></span><br /><br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>In July he would drive in twenty-two more runs. On July 6th, Willie hit an RBI double then an 8th inning RBI single off Donnie Moore helping the Mets in a 9-6 win over the Braves at Shea. The next day he hit a three run HR off Ken Holtzman in a Mets loss.</b></span></div><div><strong></strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4N2rjX-NtWa28COgQE8dHwZkapB-1UUh6OVErbKmLPtS_TP8DzfevaziPl4_Qm_-TdtSnwgW3FZcoQKQR-G5LFP1IM-ow9U-5JbqEj2DYpwICew-GT68eu1nok3yYuUkorVM7zgnK4wytGTm9Hn4XIy9EPF1GoBP7kxCelO5IgIVSQ1tJYV2T64g-lJh/s320/Willie%20Montanez%20(10).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="244" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4N2rjX-NtWa28COgQE8dHwZkapB-1UUh6OVErbKmLPtS_TP8DzfevaziPl4_Qm_-TdtSnwgW3FZcoQKQR-G5LFP1IM-ow9U-5JbqEj2DYpwICew-GT68eu1nok3yYuUkorVM7zgnK4wytGTm9Hn4XIy9EPF1GoBP7kxCelO5IgIVSQ1tJYV2T64g-lJh/w305-h400/Willie%20Montanez%20(10).JPG" width="305" /></a></div>On July 19th he doubled in the 1st inning, off Houston's Mark Lemongello driving in two Mets runs which were enough for Craig Swan to earn a 2-1 Mets win at Shea Stadium. </strong></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>The next day he hit a two run HR & in the course of the home stand he drove in runs in five straight games with nine RBIs overall.</strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>In August Montanez batted just .219, although he did have three multi-RBI games.</b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Multi- Four RBI Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On September 7th, in a 9-4 win at Montreal, Montanez drove in a run with an RBI single in the 1st inning, then in the 2nd hit a three run HR off Gerry Pirtle to match his season high four RBI game. </span></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;">The next day as the Mets </span></b></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>returned home, he drove in all three Mets runs including an 8th inning go ahead RBI double off Bert Blyleven to defeat the Pirates 3-2.</b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>In his only full season as a Met Montanez led the team in most offensive categories; HRs (17) RBIs (96) games (159) at bats (609) hits (156) singles (107) & sac flies (9). He set a club record (at that time) for intentional walks (19) which was later broken by Howard Johnson.</strong></span><br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLHyBl4Z6hJsOe_9isTFu4PaZ_8jD8duAoqS_nbjm5GukNJoyJrn4k9OsbbrC0iKoN_MpcZNQLSTIGqbqHgVGXNtFGQG6-BoZTfOt7-fRMzdpQKgBhBSqEm78Mi2-QbqWvaWNhpfC1Tca/s1600/mont1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="467" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLHyBl4Z6hJsOe_9isTFu4PaZ_8jD8duAoqS_nbjm5GukNJoyJrn4k9OsbbrC0iKoN_MpcZNQLSTIGqbqHgVGXNtFGQG6-BoZTfOt7-fRMzdpQKgBhBSqEm78Mi2-QbqWvaWNhpfC1Tca/w640-h550/mont1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b style="color: blue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ix7ugRBLRQBiy9ypbWNiWZjNq7wZjUMMIHFvAfs32COCHY1OCHidDKXKEN66MuBZzXLHH5Wsn3USPdVOQTTiXR0QFHIxHa-Xv4DykStIgdyoCyDsFm-Nm4lGkFZeuraHUF6VnEk69ZB6/s1600/Willie+Montanez+(7).jpg" style="clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ix7ugRBLRQBiy9ypbWNiWZjNq7wZjUMMIHFvAfs32COCHY1OCHidDKXKEN66MuBZzXLHH5Wsn3USPdVOQTTiXR0QFHIxHa-Xv4DykStIgdyoCyDsFm-Nm4lGkFZeuraHUF6VnEk69ZB6/s320/Willie+Montanez+(7).jpg" width="226" /></a>His 96 RBIs were only eight shy of Rusty Staub’s 1974 single season Mets record at the time. There is no doubt that Montanez was the team's biggest bat on a ball club that lost 96 games finishing last in the NL East.</b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">1979:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> On Opening Day, he collected a hit in the Mets 10-6 win at Wrigley Field over the Cubs. But in April he struggled only batting .145 for the month.</b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><span style="color: blue;">In May Montanez had a solid hitting streak hitting safely in 15 of 17 games, but he struggled with his average not getting over the .200 mark until late May. </span></strong></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>In July things got better as he batted .287 & drove in 16 runs. On July 21st, in a 1-1 tie in San Diego, Montanez singled off Bob Shirley bringing home what was the game winning run. From July 14th -July 31st, he drove in nine runs, one RBI in nine of 14 games.</b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhByOtPeShfzjRmQ1ImLWf112ViaTvq3TFJenTqVc1zFhA7sMwzxJBZQ7UPJfnyxBioto-n6rs4eDproZ_fOetXW4GRnUXNuODfv7vrVzxhrvtfzlht4zII4gVPgFmDNaWZxjWPvW-muyF8/s1600/Willie+Montanez+(12).JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhByOtPeShfzjRmQ1ImLWf112ViaTvq3TFJenTqVc1zFhA7sMwzxJBZQ7UPJfnyxBioto-n6rs4eDproZ_fOetXW4GRnUXNuODfv7vrVzxhrvtfzlht4zII4gVPgFmDNaWZxjWPvW-muyF8/w226-h320/Willie+Montanez+(12).JPG" width="226" /></a><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>By August 11th, Montanez had 7 HRs with 47 RBIs hitting .234 thru 109 games. Then he was traded to the Texas Rangers in exchange for pitcher Ed Lynch & Mike Jorgensen, who was returning back to the Mets for a second go round.</b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Post Mets Career:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> For the rest of the year in Texas, he hit .319 with 8 HRs having one of his last good seasons. From that point on he lost most of his power, hitting just six HRs in 142 games between San Diego & Montreal. In 1981 he lost a starting job to Warren Cromartie at first base & that August was traded to Pittsburgh. He became a part time player & in 1982 was traded to Philadelphia where he finished up his career.</b></span></span></div><div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Career Stats:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> In a 14-year career, Montanez played in 1632 games, hit .275, with 1604 hits, 279 doubles 25 triples, 139 HRs 645 runs scored & 802 RBIs. He struck out 751 times with 465 walks, a .327 on base % .729 OPS & 65 sac hits.</span></strong></span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTtwqI9cJMMoMH1lEqNQR5WUnFrAjhMCDODSckX3cChtiJUaTf0_UABlHUgHmExLIsUznmhmsIZUYnAg-2mAUoXxa9wvPtkTe6DhkzsbISKUAhC0gzztaLzq-SIey9Kx_9l5H88FEXDn8/s1600/Willie+Montanez.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTtwqI9cJMMoMH1lEqNQR5WUnFrAjhMCDODSckX3cChtiJUaTf0_UABlHUgHmExLIsUznmhmsIZUYnAg-2mAUoXxa9wvPtkTe6DhkzsbISKUAhC0gzztaLzq-SIey9Kx_9l5H88FEXDn8/s1600/Willie+Montanez.jpg" width="241" /></a><span style="color: blue;"><b>Montanez played 1164 games at first base & 352 games in the outfield.<br /></b></span>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>In his career he was traded nine times, including deals that involved players like Darrell Evans, Al Oliver, Bert Blyleven, John Milner (twice) & Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry.</strong></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><em>Retirement:</em></span> </span>After his playing days Willie became a scout for the Phillies. </strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>Montanez appeared at Mets fantasy camps & on occasional interviews involving the Mets alumni. </b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>Family: Willie married his wife Marta in 1968. Together they had four children, three daughters & a son. Their son was tragically killed in a car accident in 2006. </b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>The Montanez's reside in Puerto Rico.</b></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879473706233234375.post-73671081015290972042024-03-16T23:20:00.001-04:002024-03-16T23:20:00.138-04:00Juan Lagares: 2014 N.L. Gold Glove Center Fielder (2013 - 2019)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1s1J3jwd9KwiLs2qObXNTJajcjpqEeaVOUuYIQF5flIwrWmuZ9u6raDBEk8y05BWla01sib3LNr0bYdEfhFjotVc-wJwElnxvclu3_sa0IEEQJymF-3G-EuGGRZ2EdNswMrb5gRqgIew/s1600/%2521%2521lagares+2015.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1s1J3jwd9KwiLs2qObXNTJajcjpqEeaVOUuYIQF5flIwrWmuZ9u6raDBEk8y05BWla01sib3LNr0bYdEfhFjotVc-wJwElnxvclu3_sa0IEEQJymF-3G-EuGGRZ2EdNswMrb5gRqgIew/w400-h265/%2521%2521lagares+2015.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Juan Osvaldo Lagares </span><span style="color: blue;"><b>was born on March 17,1989 in Constanza, Dominican Republic.
The six-foot, one outfielder attended high school at San Pedro de Macoris, a city that has exported some 76 different major league players including: Luis Castillo, Rico Carty, Pedro Guerrero, Juan Samuel & Tony Fernandez. </b></span></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"> Lagares was signed by the New York Mets in 2006. He began playing in the Dominican Summer League. </span></b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;">Lagares spent four seasons playing for the Savannah Sand Gnats, getting to the Mets A Ball Brooklyn Cyclones club for 19 games batting .250. He spent 2009 back with Savannah as well as the Gulf Port Mets. </span></b></span><div><br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5riIBYxMtQq49N3xrzgqfTOW1WmE8hhkESk0ip497IfsMwd5DMwUOdiwK-2NcwkA1f-JeVsEmFGfi-SBR-iVDk5eSJ43jaOCSCmMXthFZbrUoh-LoSOMOs0r0U-HGMTiP2FiPmkp-1zY/s1600/lagares.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5riIBYxMtQq49N3xrzgqfTOW1WmE8hhkESk0ip497IfsMwd5DMwUOdiwK-2NcwkA1f-JeVsEmFGfi-SBR-iVDk5eSJ43jaOCSCmMXthFZbrUoh-LoSOMOs0r0U-HGMTiP2FiPmkp-1zY/s1600/lagares.jpg" width="238" /></a>In 2010 he hit nine triples (second in the South Atlantic League) & stole 25 bases in 30 attempts for the St. Lucie Mets.
In 2011 he was promoted to the Mets AA Binghamton club where he hit .338 in 82 games. </span></b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;">In 2012 he fell to a .282 average but played a fine outfield, leading the Eastern League in assists (17) & put outs (353) setting a Binghamton Mets record. </span></b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b>In 2013 Lagares began the year at AAA Las Vegas & hit well, batting .346 through the first 17 games, with 13 runs scored. At the end of April, he was called up replacing a struggling Kirk Nieuwenhuis. </b></span></span><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Mets Career:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"></span> Lagares made his MLB debut, on April 23rd, 2013 in a 7-2 loss to the LA. Dodgers at Citi Field. In that game he got his first career hit, a single off Paco Rodriguez. With the 2013 Mets outfield in question as to who had a regular job, Lagares began to see more playing time. </span></b></span></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiADofV5tfBeNxXWX0uG8EYpcn65pRgs7mk0gPg4KZexr3tJnNRvIPY_m7uuFL7vYLLtfcb4WvdOK2U-hvJrCcKY29zjrk99TqNMPkHkaiH7ohAdXoaYB7QU0G4rbhKAYNfbq1SDHXhzpQ/s1600/juan-lagares-3.jpg"><br /></a><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvbEMllq35FOxzf409E7oGb19qoRUYfJHxo0rPxHXvMZWsnu4pL9eCJIDHboBJ8Ac2AB2c51ErNlPnYm3uDVlCrH6Fe7NAAVJj4ogab3e3rh7kKq426b8TZ-gsBf9lrH7xExovbJCJmA/s1600/juan+lagares+12.jpg" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvbEMllq35FOxzf409E7oGb19qoRUYfJHxo0rPxHXvMZWsnu4pL9eCJIDHboBJ8Ac2AB2c51ErNlPnYm3uDVlCrH6Fe7NAAVJj4ogab3e3rh7kKq426b8TZ-gsBf9lrH7xExovbJCJmA/s400/juan+lagares+12.jpg" width="240" /></a> On May 7th he got his next hit & then after a hitless game against the Chicago White Sox, he went on a three-game hit streak working his average up to the .200 level. </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>On May 9th, he made a game saving catch, robbing the Pirates Andrew McCutchen of an extra base hit with a runner on & two out in a tie game in the top of the 9th inning. The Mets won the game on a Mike Baxter walk off game winning hit.</b></span><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"></span></b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b>On Sunday May 12th, he made another circus catch diving ahead for a ball, that landed in his glove then popped out up in the air as he landed on the ground. Lagares stayed focused & caught the ball a second time, making an outstanding play in the Mets 3-2 loss to the Pirates. </b></span></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"> By now Lagares was getting a lot of attention for his outfield play. He was making the highlight reels with his leaping & diving catches. His arm was now respected throughout the NL. The question is can he hit at a major league level? </span></b></span><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b>On Sunday May 19th, he hit his first career HR, tying up a game at Wrigley Field off Cub's pitcher Travis Wood. The Mets went on to win the game as well. It took him until mid-June to get over the .200 mark, as he had 15 hits over an 11-game span getting to .235. </b></span></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtx-WB4zhnQAdip44Ls3YXso4rN6PBXD-0PpXWfEMF0KPdUgeEDXm0mMkMpSXKP_I7u6j_7CQ_rklwHArwgyJ64iILVl9dxG-_ZBoLM3jh3pBedNC2W6OPF4_wCTK69K4U6HYmXOV7SVA/s1600/juan-lagares-mlb-new-york-mets.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtx-WB4zhnQAdip44Ls3YXso4rN6PBXD-0PpXWfEMF0KPdUgeEDXm0mMkMpSXKP_I7u6j_7CQ_rklwHArwgyJ64iILVl9dxG-_ZBoLM3jh3pBedNC2W6OPF4_wCTK69K4U6HYmXOV7SVA/w265-h400/juan-lagares-mlb-new-york-mets.jpg" width="265" /></a> On June 21st, his 6th inning double, off Cole Hamels at Citizens Bank Park, scored the game winning run in a 4-3 win over the Phillies. On July 5th, he had his first three RBI Day, in a 12-5 Mets win over the Brewers in Milwaukee. On July 21st, he repeated that feat with a three run HR against the Cliff Lee & the Phillies at Citi Field helping Matt Harvey to his 8th win.</b></span></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;">On August 1st he peaked with a .275 average, proving he could play at the big league level. Later that week, he drove in all three runs in a 3-0 Mets win over the Colorado Rockies. Going into September he hit safely in 17 of 20 games, staying at the .270 mark. </span></b></span><br /></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;">His hitting tailed off from there as he finished the 2013 year hitting .242 with 4 HRs 21 doubles 5 triples 34 RBIs six stolen bases in nine attempts, but a poor .282 on base %, while playing in 121 games. </span></b></span><br /><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Defensively he began to show his talents, leading all NL center fielders with 14 assists & was second overall among all outfielders with 17 assists. He posted a .982 fielding % & his range factor was considered the best over nine innings among all NL center fielders.</span></b></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"></span></b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJljHVXlKn9xRCQuK58byAgUD-jAJZrZqT6V0XVI2aoBnc6iM9P7lI6HTiwt43VZjJOtTFg1Fog4nL-kecnRgrfdazw5y4leSHjEySTixWUCqJTQZP5LkePohgCTUgcmLfJ3TLhta2D8KreFvtrZXjklzS5eaO4MdPgMrWO-fpliuz-x8YVFCJ2JLITEL1/s831/juan%20lagares.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="831" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJljHVXlKn9xRCQuK58byAgUD-jAJZrZqT6V0XVI2aoBnc6iM9P7lI6HTiwt43VZjJOtTFg1Fog4nL-kecnRgrfdazw5y4leSHjEySTixWUCqJTQZP5LkePohgCTUgcmLfJ3TLhta2D8KreFvtrZXjklzS5eaO4MdPgMrWO-fpliuz-x8YVFCJ2JLITEL1/w640-h366/juan%20lagares.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span><br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="clear: left; color: #2b00fe; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9uaKvw-mb8MrJ9zbTEb9GKkKG6aXXoN_Etq6hyGUmlWlJNibajx0WoaXml7uz-OhN-ljaJs3aXqaWCt_GxX0datzmASYgNviky7Aex_Hdzt5v0oeUoiUtioAxgX_aYe6JLUTFpAeQDAk/s320/%2521%2521juann.jpg" width="320" /></span>There were questions about Lagares being able to win the center field job starting out the 2014 season. There was competition in the outfield with guys like Eric Young & Chris Young. </b></span></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;">But it was quickly obvious, Lagares could not be overlooked. His play in the outfield was outstanding, as he made the highlight reels almost every night, making diving catches, sliding catches, leaping catches & throwing out runners.</span></b></span><br /></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;">He covered tremendous range & according to baseball reference had the best range factor of all outfielders. He made 12 assists & posted a .984 fielding%. Lagares became the third Mets outfielder in team history to win a Gold Glove. </span></b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span><i><span style="font-size: medium;">2014:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCd1KetAle2GapxUO_lNTqORUefpvoL1cxWxkswJFAucn705TrcG0e3JIapbonoyh2vBXkNDMXRgqoDcUKIuBdQGzUeHwG6-vkeyNLSntMxDHsyYqKYv90tcUv_0zlnryLbSKvJ7IJ6U/s1600/juan-lagares-.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCd1KetAle2GapxUO_lNTqORUefpvoL1cxWxkswJFAucn705TrcG0e3JIapbonoyh2vBXkNDMXRgqoDcUKIuBdQGzUeHwG6-vkeyNLSntMxDHsyYqKYv90tcUv_0zlnryLbSKvJ7IJ6U/w259-h400/juan-lagares-.png" width="259" /></a> Going into the next season, Lagares biggest question mark was his hitting, but he improved well, by raising his average forty one points.
He began the season with an Opening Day HR, collecting two hits a walk & scoring three runs. </span></span></b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;">A good April had him batting .314 with seven RBIs & runs scored over 13 games, but he was then shut down with a hamstring injury for the next two weeks. Lagares would hit safely in 17 of his first 20 games. </span></b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;">On May 17th, he hit a two run HR & had a three RBI day leading the Mets & Bartolo Colon to a 5-2 win over the Nats in D.C. His batting was steady as he was still above .290 at the end of May & he drove in 11 runs. </span></b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b>In June he was back on the DL missing most of the month of June. In July, he had seven multi-hit games, plus a streak of driving in six runs over a nine-game span in the middle of the month.</b></span></span><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><br /></span></b>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b>On August 26th his 4th inning, two run HR off the Braves Alex Wood broke a 1-1 tie leading New York to a 3-2 win. That week, he drove in seven runs hitting a pair of HRs in just a four-game span. </b></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhek8p4gC9RbP3J4xGaXG-6xrM0pQwbWrpxig2eTRmMbJiu53i5lpnY7kNnUWsK97f1l0I_UQn3atJJAkQX4LQs9bg5cH7pNRAwij5h_zy8sDnbjr0LyFlrXDIm_9QPRXeTWGmonodPeBM/s1600/%2521%2521juan+la.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;">Lagares started out September with a nine game hit streak, getting his average back over .280. On September 16th his season was cut a bit short by an elbow injury.
On the year at the plate he hit .281 with 117 hits 24 doubles 4 HRs 46 runs scored 47 RBIs 13 stolen bases & a .321 on base %. </span></b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WGGdiyhmrqJ1KS8_5PB0da54fSoTmJHPqLXJ2PjrjeBPkEnDcPkoUm80MyFf4V0Ef-Tz9v46Zsznz3tCDklV5W5FEHStY199tagDmsd1jAYh5iSJ-UIrbH_n_Mw6nws6asCxczntGHOPXzM0fajBqjglJ52GkCORz211FTMhdjiuI9y_LkzZgG_3rcW_/s879/juan%20lagares.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="879" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WGGdiyhmrqJ1KS8_5PB0da54fSoTmJHPqLXJ2PjrjeBPkEnDcPkoUm80MyFf4V0Ef-Tz9v46Zsznz3tCDklV5W5FEHStY199tagDmsd1jAYh5iSJ-UIrbH_n_Mw6nws6asCxczntGHOPXzM0fajBqjglJ52GkCORz211FTMhdjiuI9y_LkzZgG_3rcW_/w400-h253/juan%20lagares.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>2015 Mets Pennant Season:</i></span><b> On April 2nd 2015 the Mets agreed to a four-year extension worth $23 million through 2019. </b></span></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;">Lagares started out the 2015 season as the Mets main centerfielder batting sixth on Opening Day. But it wasn't to be the season he was hoping for, as he had a hard time hitting right & suffered from an achy elbow which affected his fine defense.</span></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7PsYQlqwKD4apoHHZp9b6lb5v7iT_D3Kyyoe071ZmCql_ls5zOeLe520VRBnHx2NmF6KHXKKF3uI15etlIe648Ed0X3aEhtf03hQFDHNbvVGo_YLKyNm6zx_FuwmTEhcv87syrcVzRLFQPo6wV_nfgV4DPK0gjn-8Fm59gKX4aMtyUuVZjt_WsWPGkTr/s788/juan%20lagares.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="788" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7PsYQlqwKD4apoHHZp9b6lb5v7iT_D3Kyyoe071ZmCql_ls5zOeLe520VRBnHx2NmF6KHXKKF3uI15etlIe648Ed0X3aEhtf03hQFDHNbvVGo_YLKyNm6zx_FuwmTEhcv87syrcVzRLFQPo6wV_nfgV4DPK0gjn-8Fm59gKX4aMtyUuVZjt_WsWPGkTr/w400-h264/juan%20lagares.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b>In the early season subway series, he had a four-hit day as the Mets beat the AL New York team 8-</b><br /><br /><b>2 behind Matt Harvey. </b></span></span><b style="color: blue;">As April went </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>along,</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> he hit well enough to get his average up to a season high .311 by early May. Five muti hit games that week certainly helped his cause.</b></div><div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>On May 9th his first HR of the year a two run HR in Philadelphia, helped lead the Mets & Jonathan Niese to a 3-2 win. </b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>On June 14th he had a three hit three RBI Day, hitting his third HR of the year in a 10-8 Mets win over the Atlanta Braves. </b></span><b style="color: blue;">In the first week of July, he drove in five runs helping a struggling Mets offense win four games. </b></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgk4D2IKqK28nQMutl4OKAeWzeLf9FjyGmEzsIpA8ncU9BQ8Q80yL5Afd0J-mOXbJPaItia4AjI9v_ApYM1GZ58kfPFdQCxd4HoE_aOmypJKmvWe64Vdjmr7VlJBABwPHzvC2ZJ0JsPh5vPiQxL1eHq61ME1ZOCbcM1sPYw2gtENEPjLwX4JZxqxP-Q/s322/juan-lagares-8.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="322" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgk4D2IKqK28nQMutl4OKAeWzeLf9FjyGmEzsIpA8ncU9BQ8Q80yL5Afd0J-mOXbJPaItia4AjI9v_ApYM1GZ58kfPFdQCxd4HoE_aOmypJKmvWe64Vdjmr7VlJBABwPHzvC2ZJ0JsPh5vPiQxL1eHq61ME1ZOCbcM1sPYw2gtENEPjLwX4JZxqxP-Q/s320/juan-lagares-8.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">On the July 31st trade deadline, the Mets acquired Yoenis Cespedes & Lagares became more of a fourth outfielder for the Mets. Rookie Michael Conforto was hitting well enough to be an everyday player & Curtis Granderson was having a fine year in right.</span></b><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>Lagares carried on about his business & was happy to contribute any way he could. In August he had himself five multi-RBI games while hitting two HRs. </b></span><br />
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<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">A quite September at the plate had him finish the year batting .259 with 114 hits 16 doubles 6 HRs & 41 RBIs. He played in 143 games, 139 games in the outfield posting a .993 fielding % with three assists & two double plays turned.</span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVUb4YZkiC2gU5Rh_JswyCKQ4K4_UmbV643CIQhz7PWJz9P9aOnJ5ulsBj1HaEk1koycAMUOhTsHmSwYM7-FdR57-0R8b4gfruFymdK3-NkGqZgCzLDYjAnFyjPrmrBr1aAh5zTxJhOzc/s1600/%2521%2521cubs-vs-mets.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVUb4YZkiC2gU5Rh_JswyCKQ4K4_UmbV643CIQhz7PWJz9P9aOnJ5ulsBj1HaEk1koycAMUOhTsHmSwYM7-FdR57-0R8b4gfruFymdK3-NkGqZgCzLDYjAnFyjPrmrBr1aAh5zTxJhOzc/w400-h266/%2521%2521cubs-vs-mets.jpg" width="400" /></a><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><i>2015 Post Season-NLDS:</i></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"> Lagares made his post season debut in the NLDS Game #1 as a defensive replacement in the 7th inning. </span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">He got the start in Game #3 at Citi Field hitting a double & drawing a walk while scoring three runs in the Mets 13-7 win over the LA Dodgers. </span></b><br />
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<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">He got the start against Clayton Kershaw in Game #4 going 1-2 in the 3-1 Mets loss. Lagares got another hit in Game #5, a double off Kenley Jansen in his only at bat. He was once again used for late inning defensive purposes.</span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></b></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURIJ5HwmwQpsP0szw0EGAJdp2WA7FiwSdXLBFL2i5VmrZZMCWzF-fbdm-slNva52ooBv6TH0xlySSFOU0HQgUa3_pd9Q7a_PRV5uln_68QxubtKrtChR898ztUTJkdlFLJZhCZxy7uR4/s1600/%2521%2521lagares+nlcs.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURIJ5HwmwQpsP0szw0EGAJdp2WA7FiwSdXLBFL2i5VmrZZMCWzF-fbdm-slNva52ooBv6TH0xlySSFOU0HQgUa3_pd9Q7a_PRV5uln_68QxubtKrtChR898ztUTJkdlFLJZhCZxy7uR4/w400-h265/%2521%2521lagares+nlcs.jpg" width="400" /></a><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">2015 NLCS</span><span style="font-size: large;">:</span></i></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"> Lagares got the start in Game #1 of the NLCS at Citi Field going 2-3 with two runs scored.</span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"> In the 5th inning he followed Wilmer Flores with a base hit & scored on Curtis Granderson's single putting the Mets up 2-1. </span></b><br />
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<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">He later singled, stole third base & scored on Granderson's sac fly, leading to the Mets 4-2 win. </span></b><br />
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<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">Lagares would come in as a late inning defensive replacement the next two games. In Game #4 he then came in, in the 2nd inning after Yoenis Cespedes got injured.</span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPqk28vEWRfuJObENXQzo4bkftGk16H31UcWID95YJRo3DDdBLSSDh9lw7s4zRZ1vgZ61xbAchBidxJBbLziW47SPvBkdKdQ7cK7RqTEoZQ0XNPoYBF5v9yyKq_R1764Sz9aFi5Tp2phbXOdbfGCYsb9iS8tQwCs7hZACtQEIlv4ORCrqDpnOXfzmw83C/s861/juan%20lagares.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="861" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPqk28vEWRfuJObENXQzo4bkftGk16H31UcWID95YJRo3DDdBLSSDh9lw7s4zRZ1vgZ61xbAchBidxJBbLziW47SPvBkdKdQ7cK7RqTEoZQ0XNPoYBF5v9yyKq_R1764Sz9aFi5Tp2phbXOdbfGCYsb9iS8tQwCs7hZACtQEIlv4ORCrqDpnOXfzmw83C/w640-h342/juan%20lagares.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><b style="text-align: center;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4-G76RKprUVw0hmSqqrgjetZ4ZfIh6CIJ3B4RukpB6vuyZ9qCU7QSX9ZnitbWICG23rzo09-7OIzjxR-RpW7JabRxRaqyKt1utOHVkGVCZwPtbHJwA9kyWHywv1lyW_1JeLagwQn_Ykvo9tszN5rInYmTVxGRkblqG40U3ikdeWzf44tLx7Px_cftg/s325/juan-lagares-5.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="228" data-original-width="325" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4-G76RKprUVw0hmSqqrgjetZ4ZfIh6CIJ3B4RukpB6vuyZ9qCU7QSX9ZnitbWICG23rzo09-7OIzjxR-RpW7JabRxRaqyKt1utOHVkGVCZwPtbHJwA9kyWHywv1lyW_1JeLagwQn_Ykvo9tszN5rInYmTVxGRkblqG40U3ikdeWzf44tLx7Px_cftg/w400-h280/juan-lagares-5.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><b style="text-align: center;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><i>2015 World Series:</i></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"> Lagares came </span></b><b style="text-align: center;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">into Game #1 of the World Series against the Kansas City</span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"> Royals as a defensive replacement in the 6th inning. He may have been the hero if things worked out differently. </span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">In the top of the 8th he bunted for a single off Kelvin Herrera & stole second base. He then scored on an error by Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer. </span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">The run put New York up 4-3 but it wasn't to be. The Royals tied it & won it in the 14th innings with a sac fly walk off.</span></b></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>Lagares got the start in the 7-1 Game #2 loss in Kansas City going 0-3. </b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibF7japHgmEFVauz5C_GcoKSKj0kI5oltXOtpGdYTUS-E7Untgc5EI9KIylBI-ggiSo8I2EIC9h6NWEIkHiU4OpSn6it4sZfecMy71u7Uxo4L9sLdDdpdvUJ9h_ERmgV0SYUlLAKNhQWAWbBQaqTH5jANCIVnW1aubjoOU4pzAM0EQbh5NRsEL3hvFE6wM/s838/juan%20lagares.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="838" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibF7japHgmEFVauz5C_GcoKSKj0kI5oltXOtpGdYTUS-E7Untgc5EI9KIylBI-ggiSo8I2EIC9h6NWEIkHiU4OpSn6it4sZfecMy71u7Uxo4L9sLdDdpdvUJ9h_ERmgV0SYUlLAKNhQWAWbBQaqTH5jANCIVnW1aubjoOU4pzAM0EQbh5NRsEL3hvFE6wM/w400-h260/juan%20lagares.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>In the Game #3 Mets win at Citi Field, Juan got another post season hit in the Mets only series win. In the 6th inning he singled off Franklin Morales, then came around to score on Juan Uribe's pinch hit single, putting the Mets up 6-3.</b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>In the Game #4 loss he would come in as a defensive replacement in the 8th inning. </b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>In Game #5 Lagares came on in the 7th inning as a defensive replacement once again. He got two at bats going 0-2 finishing the 12 inning Mets loss in centerfield.</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>Overall Lagares had a fine post season at the plate, as he hit .348 going 8-23 with a walk & seven runs scored.</b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: blue; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGpsHBT3e7PknvDUIqE-WIrP9QeETcDFJhwUFlh0-5luYR0_TgwTbRLPkH_GJGyKzc_Ax74IMQjY_YNwIjmZR5EEtldROI1slp1qpAW5_SxvX8CRldOpCnm17_mfJ7tJRL5pQdSzzRkfysKMbQ0cUXNya53VVNwLMrgRIdCPf9SHCsxRYlI6AWYAIfA/s447/juan-lagares-6.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="447" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGpsHBT3e7PknvDUIqE-WIrP9QeETcDFJhwUFlh0-5luYR0_TgwTbRLPkH_GJGyKzc_Ax74IMQjY_YNwIjmZR5EEtldROI1slp1qpAW5_SxvX8CRldOpCnm17_mfJ7tJRL5pQdSzzRkfysKMbQ0cUXNya53VVNwLMrgRIdCPf9SHCsxRYlI6AWYAIfA/w640-h426/juan-lagares-6.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuK7NPsExwaUgPWRI3iEja4AUS1RdutQmfSuHTPjDR96bpbZf6vteTwIwMYIMgQKR7K0BNIOVG4QYcIjt107p6Yc9eC_pKaZMNtmPZh0AJaBKs1k60v11ck7Ndu3y_lYqFFbVyL99rPloGqeN07efZK7szIShkGylZPrCn5PJf6tI_vV7SWoNlkDAPRw/s320/juan_lagares.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuK7NPsExwaUgPWRI3iEja4AUS1RdutQmfSuHTPjDR96bpbZf6vteTwIwMYIMgQKR7K0BNIOVG4QYcIjt107p6Yc9eC_pKaZMNtmPZh0AJaBKs1k60v11ck7Ndu3y_lYqFFbVyL99rPloGqeN07efZK7szIShkGylZPrCn5PJf6tI_vV7SWoNlkDAPRw/w316-h400/juan_lagares.jpg" /></a><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>After the Pennant -2016:</i></span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> Lagares came to Spring Training 2016 a lot leaner this year, losing some twenty pounds, after working out with Jose Reyes in the off season. He has also changed his eating habits & was on a much better health kick.</span></b></div><div><b><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Quotes- Juan Lagares:</i></span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> "I don’t know what’s going to happen yet. But like I said, I feel 100% and I’m ready to help the team in any way that they need me.”</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Lagares entered 2016 as a reserve outfield, behind Yoenis Cespedes, Curtis Granderson & Michael Conforto. </span></b><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span><span style="color: blue;">Opening Day 2016 Lagares got a hit with a run scored in the Mets 4-3 loss at Kansas City. He would stay consistent hitting .280 through May. </span></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span><span style="color: blue;">On May 27th, he had three hits with a HR & three RBIs in a 6-5 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. He would play just seven games in June, missing time with a thumb injury. He then missed all of August & half of September too.</span></span></b></span></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="590" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3eq8nD3fNIeHyixCpJ-0-eNxrV0ah-rXoyrcoW-7v1F4kaNNoUsA7IhCaIUVd7OZE7PFGOUldbWPmYjtoN3WeOmmBldj0fWrR8kXaxtY0DzIgNtxP4tLLHEHmwbf2QxDTzO0zxLmgpT6e/s320/juan-lagares.jpg" width="320" /></span><span style="color: blue;"><b style="font-family: trebuchet;">By this time the Mets had acquired Jay Bruce & Juan's role remained that of a </b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>backup</b></span><b style="font-family: trebuchet;">, even after Michael Conforto had lost his starting spot. After peaking at .286 in early July his average dropped off to .239 by seasons end. The Mets earned a wild card spot finishing off at 87-75.</b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Overall,</b></span><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"> playing in 79 games he hit 3 HRs with 7 doubles 2 triples 9 RBIs & 15 runs scored, stealing four bases & posting a .301 on base %.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">
<b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b><b><span><i><span style="font-size: medium;">2016 Wild Card Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> He did not see action in the 2016 NL Wild Card loss to the Giants.</span></span></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: blue;">With the Mets not able to shop Jay Bruce in the off season, the Mets have a very crowded outfield. There was interest in Lagares during early Spring, but nothing materialized & the fine defensive outfielder once again must prove he can hit to make the Mets outfield.</span></b></span></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpzSk3OLz1KZVv-U2gtHwpn1fnp62PDInr4-MFroNQYIUp9kfSa5yHldJPOIw2QWSePJlbyvCQao2PzZ6B1soa6Lc-kNwFGvfHCMBD_N8oZyEjZ24hPWLHcPdBZae7X5CUmd4GJJYeUJwUdB0bmsLQ3QFEGedwr8xs4VsCU5wa3zZTeqpv6bzgtHZEIEV/s1242/Mets%20Astros%20(42).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1180" data-original-width="1242" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpzSk3OLz1KZVv-U2gtHwpn1fnp62PDInr4-MFroNQYIUp9kfSa5yHldJPOIw2QWSePJlbyvCQao2PzZ6B1soa6Lc-kNwFGvfHCMBD_N8oZyEjZ24hPWLHcPdBZae7X5CUmd4GJJYeUJwUdB0bmsLQ3QFEGedwr8xs4VsCU5wa3zZTeqpv6bzgtHZEIEV/w320-h304/Mets%20Astros%20(42).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>photo by centerfieldmaz</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">2017:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> Juan was once again limited by injuries. He got into his first game on April 13th. He did not<br /> get his batting average over .200 until May 3rd.</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"> </span></b></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>On June 11th his 3rd inning RBI single against the Atlanta Braves proved to be the winning run as Seth Lugo, Jerry Blevins & Addison Reed held down the Braves for the win.</b></span><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>From June 15th he went on the DL with another thumb injury, not returning until two months later in mid-August. </b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>In that summer's subway series, he made a sparkling running catch stealing a sure double in right centerfield. He collected four hits in that series as well.</b></span></span></div><div><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">In September he had six multi-hit games while also hitting safely in 11 of 15 games.</b></div><div><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0nhhXuWm9rsMIT5Xqj579ErDG6APJIAiUFNOjwNiqn_WU9oFAKl5U1nxRsceQQimWhx5hPsXzieL1W9wmjzgNqJHB7cuRtMTw_4z5H9vAs60q6XhqsRwU3BfoAMkWpPrvFbDw1No4_XXyg7ZYsK6TA9hsvwuyMxJSpRt-0Yfg7CiCzpZD0sVC0EvTBkgC/s531/juan%20lagares.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="531" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0nhhXuWm9rsMIT5Xqj579ErDG6APJIAiUFNOjwNiqn_WU9oFAKl5U1nxRsceQQimWhx5hPsXzieL1W9wmjzgNqJHB7cuRtMTw_4z5H9vAs60q6XhqsRwU3BfoAMkWpPrvFbDw1No4_XXyg7ZYsK6TA9hsvwuyMxJSpRt-0Yfg7CiCzpZD0sVC0EvTBkgC/s320/juan%20lagares.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: blue;">For the 2017 fourth place Mets, he played in 94 games batting .250 with 63 hits 16 doubles 2 triples 3 HRs 15 RBIs a poor .296 on base % & 7 stolen bases. </span></b></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>In the outfield, he shined once again, even in limited play he led the Met outfielders with seven assists.</b><b><br /></b></span><span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">2018:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> In the 2017-2018 off season, he spent ten days in California with noted hitting guru </span></b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: blue; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.12px; orphans: 2; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">Craig Wallenbrock, working a new approach to the plate & a new swing.</span></span></span></span><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.12px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><br /></span></b></span></span></span></span><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.12px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">But once again injuries ruined his season. On May 17th, he tore the plantar plate in his toe while attempting a diving catch. He missed the rest of the season. Lagares only played in 30 games batting a promising .339 with 6 RBIs (59 at bats).</span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.12px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><br /></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZo72fLFvV5nLm72mHNdJ7GCLuc1SLFKl5ikNGi56dJUw2OOXBPDeMYK8x7VbNm_4sXra8fnekCrjmPZeofhf_SOwfjExww5d6_IMUsJ8M46TrkBrYZkIxj63rZ0meDLi8cwvfAD2bcAm/w640-h426/image.jpg" width="640" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.12px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><br /></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.12px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><br /></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.12px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0eLA63x1ssZSJ15DPsUkVJzK2fSwE92Q0onwiVDAAOVfP_fIiQecwDzm83GqsR8PjBP6UOmJw7ZXo0oOjJ_PCFZVbKK8m4UAJ0GORwqyTmoClPu6EaEK0fd6nOlV7NPokeovvaaIhYJcGzJM6GXOOYWsb7ETctLyb1ipzJVxZTSsHmZ7mtp34fEr9NWjm/s645/juan%20lagares.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="645" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0eLA63x1ssZSJ15DPsUkVJzK2fSwE92Q0onwiVDAAOVfP_fIiQecwDzm83GqsR8PjBP6UOmJw7ZXo0oOjJ_PCFZVbKK8m4UAJ0GORwqyTmoClPu6EaEK0fd6nOlV7NPokeovvaaIhYJcGzJM6GXOOYWsb7ETctLyb1ipzJVxZTSsHmZ7mtp34fEr9NWjm/s320/juan%20lagares.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>In the off season, it looked like he would get traded but nothing ever came of it.</span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.12px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><br /></span></b></span></span></span><span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span><b><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-size: medium; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.12px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><i>2019:</i></span><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.12px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span>Lagares began the season hitting a HR in his fourth game, the earliest of his career. He also drove in runs in three straight games.</span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: trebuchet; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.12px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><br /></span></b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: trebuchet; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.12px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">On May 22nd, he had a three RBI game, against the Washington Nationals. He doubled with the bases loaded, clearing the bases in a 6-1 Mets win over the Nationals.</span></b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: trebuchet; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.12px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><br /></span></b></span></span></span></div><div><span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span><b><span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: trebuchet; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.12px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Grand Slam- Six RBI Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue; font-style: normal;"> On September 12th, in a 11-1 win over Arizona at Citi Field, Lagares had a career day. In the 3rd inning he belted his first grand slam HR coming off pitcher Alex Young. </span></span></b></span></span></span><b><span style="display: inline; float: none; font-family: trebuchet; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16.12px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: blue;">In the 5th inning he added a two run HR off James Sherfy to have a career high six RBI game. </span></span></b></div><div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1uoBwkFihCgf-Ar1Xx-ciGh4lfguEtDNWkqSpXVI3eLgjd-w-8pQYmlk9pmZABHu-3D5undRCucxE4Vy-JNrBJBfsTOdX2cA_91788ZP6Snzbi0nK9T2ep_-D9IkYhT3JcW4Fpil2uIXQfnXOfURBLoClZGuX0aNx4VL9SgAvJeGWzoKR6OhaUrJT6Q/s360/lagares1.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="360" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1uoBwkFihCgf-Ar1Xx-ciGh4lfguEtDNWkqSpXVI3eLgjd-w-8pQYmlk9pmZABHu-3D5undRCucxE4Vy-JNrBJBfsTOdX2cA_91788ZP6Snzbi0nK9T2ep_-D9IkYhT3JcW4Fpil2uIXQfnXOfURBLoClZGuX0aNx4VL9SgAvJeGWzoKR6OhaUrJT6Q/w400-h325/lagares1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span><span style="display: inline; float: none; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 16.12px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="display: inline; float: none; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: trebuchet; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe; display: inline; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 16.12px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"><span><b>For the 2019 Mets who went 86-76 just missing a wild card spot, Juan batted just .213 which was a career low. He hit 5 HRs with 12 doubles a triple 4 stolen bases 38 runs scored & 27 RBIs. He posted a </b></span><b>terrible</b><span><b> .279 on base%.</b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b style="color: blue;">He was granted free agency after the 2019 </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>season</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> getting signed by the San Diego Padres. They released him that July & he was resigned by the Mets. In the 2020 Covid shortened season </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>he played</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> defensively in two games.</b></span></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mets Career Stats:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><span><b> In his eight-year career with the Mets he has played in 718 games with 498 hits, batting .254 with 25 HRs 97 doubles 19 triples & 179 RBIs while posting a .279 on base %. </b></span></span><b style="color: blue;">In 668 games in the outfield, he played 655 in center. </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>Overall,</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> he posted a .987 fielding % with 19 errors in 1375 chances while making 35 assists.</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Post Mets Career</span>:</i></span><span style="color: blue;"><span><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqmeOAYs8T4D3QgYRbx6coml-rDNLiyOmm67kng9B6EivirRuqJbkynKZn5_yu71jGGqnnV4vRzJI1iUitZRdpf0ed6m88z-FeiDIGtDF8ncoBKkU6MPgeq6nvLcg_JEbyHAdiNc4SEyz/w400-h266/image.jpg" width="400" /></span><b> Lagares was granted free agency, then signed on with the L.A. Angels. In 2021 he played in in 112 games batting .236 making five outfield assists. In 2022 he signed a contract in May playing just 20 games with the at the </b></span><span><b>big-league</b></span><span><b> level, getting granted free agency a month later. </b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><span><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span><span><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">KBO:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> Juan then played the rest of the year in Korean baseball.</span></b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.12px; orphans: 2; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><br /></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div>
<span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 16.12px; orphans: 2; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"></span><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"></span><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Career Stats:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> In a ten-year career he batted .250 with 582 hits 119 doubles 22 triples 31 HRs & 217 RBIs with 270 runs scored. He struck out 528 times with 120 walks for a .291 on base % & .651 OPS.</span></b><br /></span></span></span></span><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TE-442ePmqxErZV1oKaV2Lb81Z248qoxAlH5E4TxhBta4rknz0WWo8GxBqsfqvnSGBnkQelgAFZbFIiDame7PqsOPV1_g0UN_lM8ggkP0KJS-nECCt29LoB31nweVKcS4HgpjbU2yezO6qtEtuRsvCCQQfIIj-yKfhcdDpZOIQalk7pETd4WTEE4pTrU/s220/juan%20lagares.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="217" data-original-width="220" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TE-442ePmqxErZV1oKaV2Lb81Z248qoxAlH5E4TxhBta4rknz0WWo8GxBqsfqvnSGBnkQelgAFZbFIiDame7PqsOPV1_g0UN_lM8ggkP0KJS-nECCt29LoB31nweVKcS4HgpjbU2yezO6qtEtuRsvCCQQfIIj-yKfhcdDpZOIQalk7pETd4WTEE4pTrU/s1600/juan%20lagares.JPG" width="220" /></a></div>In 801 games in the outfield, he won a Gold Glove, had 41 assists & made four double plays. He made 20 errors in 1574 chances posting a .987 fielding % with many spectacular catches.</b></span></div><div><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Lagares was always known & praised for his glove. Patrolling the outfield making sparkling, dazzling catches almost every day. </span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.12px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; display: inline; float: none; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: blue; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><i>Family:</i></span><span style="color: blue;"> Juan is not married & has one son Juan Jr. His name is stitched in Juan Sr.'s baseball glove.</span></b></span><b><br /></b>
</div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879473706233234375.post-33959127702729657612024-03-16T23:00:00.000-04:002024-03-16T23:00:00.135-04:00Vance Wilson: Early 2000's Mets Back Up Catcher & Current MLB Coach (1999 - 2004)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPceHDH8wBaelX0aALPYCZGDJCsOhBOvRmZiB6P830UjkSQJ4WrQcRNIZ0AZDZbqCYun5W-xpn2nzIDpgk6l6qGxuKv2RkBxHZQOR5xONBlQEW15HV_IVQUnMDI7SGEKHln6Og0HyURljH/s300/1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPceHDH8wBaelX0aALPYCZGDJCsOhBOvRmZiB6P830UjkSQJ4WrQcRNIZ0AZDZbqCYun5W-xpn2nzIDpgk6l6qGxuKv2RkBxHZQOR5xONBlQEW15HV_IVQUnMDI7SGEKHln6Og0HyURljH/s0/1.jpg" /></a></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Vance Allen Wilson </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>Was born on March 17, 1973, at Mesa, Arizona. </b></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>The local high school baseball star made Junior All American at Mesa Community College; he would later be elected to the school's Hall of Fame. </b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>In 1993 Wilson drafted by the New York Mets in the 44th round. </b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">After batting .302 in the NY / Penn. League in his initial year, his minor league career was hampered with injuries. He finally peeked into the majors for one game in 1999 as a defensive replacement. </span></b></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>He spent the 2000 season at AAA Norfolk as the team's main catcher, hitting 16 HRs with 62 RBIs while batting .260. </b></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: blue; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nDVkXQ3fAblU6k8A9kQcBrVv2Vw0us7hSGl_BbG8rWSr5rV6MeeyQsyflgB9pT0Sb3gxu7kQUEgRsSmhXfm4rCeO93CafJVhED73tbP94qLpo15mLDtutIBAyifWW9AQIFDxKXIcxt4/s1600/%2521%2521vance-wilson-2003.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nDVkXQ3fAblU6k8A9kQcBrVv2Vw0us7hSGl_BbG8rWSr5rV6MeeyQsyflgB9pT0Sb3gxu7kQUEgRsSmhXfm4rCeO93CafJVhED73tbP94qLpo15mLDtutIBAyifWW9AQIFDxKXIcxt4/s320/%2521%2521vance-wilson-2003.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Mets Career: </span></i><span style="color: blue;">In the Mets 2000 NL Pennant season, he did appear in four games as a pinch hitter (going 0-4) that September but saw no post season action. </span></span></b></div><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>After the Pennant- 2001:</i></span><span style="color: blue;"> Wilson began the year at AAA & was brought up in July, as the team's third string catcher behind Mike Piazza & Todd Pratt. In 32 games he hit well, batting .298 (17-57) with three doubles & six RBIs. </span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">2002:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> By now he became Piazza’s primary backup catcher, usually coming in as a late inning defensive replacement or making starts behind the plate during inter-league play when Piazza could DH. </span></span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One of Top NL's Defense Catchers:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> Wilson was not playing because of his hitting; it was his defense. From 2001-2004 he was ranked in the top three for throwing out base stealers. He threw out 45% of would-be base stealers for three straight seasons. </b></span></span></span><b style="color: blue;">In 2002 he led the majors throwing out 49% of would-be base runners.</b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBB7Snx5Jp1LyADo_CZKlE4G2YXEIHSIwXxKAc71a2agGH4Kd1uyJEWk24XLUZMEzrhIO2IfwG28XIZs6Ufn3yWPt8cp70Mn6dTEppSsF_FbSagZ9bGl6JzwfJotjeq58lJFSaYC0zqukp/s320/vance_wilson_2004_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBB7Snx5Jp1LyADo_CZKlE4G2YXEIHSIwXxKAc71a2agGH4Kd1uyJEWk24XLUZMEzrhIO2IfwG28XIZs6Ufn3yWPt8cp70Mn6dTEppSsF_FbSagZ9bGl6JzwfJotjeq58lJFSaYC0zqukp/s0/vance_wilson_2004_.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Wilson would see more time behind the plate in Mike Piazza's later years as a Met from 2002-2004. </span></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">In his first game of the 2002 season, Wilson came in the 7th inning as a defensive replacement. In the 9th inning he doubled home two runs, adding to the Mets 11-2 win over the Atlanta Braves. </span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">First Career HR:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> On April 13th he hit his first career HR, a three-run shot off the Expos Javier Vazquez in a 9-8 extra inning loss to the Montreal Expos. </b></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Later that month he drove in runs in three straight games, then drove in the winning run in a 2-1 win over Milwaukee Brewers. </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span>
<br /><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">In a</span></b><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> Ju</span><span style="color: blue;">ne 29th, he hit one of three HRs along with Mike Piazza & Mo Vaughn in an 11-2 Mets subway series win in the Bronx. In the 4th inning </span></b><b style="color: blue;">Wilson hit a solo HR off Ted Lilly as he had two hits driving in two runs in the win</b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: blue;">On August 8th Wilson had a </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>three-hit</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> day, driving in a pair of runs in the Mets 9-0 win at Milwaukee. That day he was behind the plate calling a </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>five-hit</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> shutout for Steve Trachsel. </b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMS1a-JM2fSLdxGC4FA8mIohoXN1l_rH_JLV7oRp8mVpmuOV5wwLOqO0X-vRepTw2Zc30LJ20_v2mENtEQ6_3FwRsM6eb77jnkhju0_ZHeDshTYhZMYeu0QfcR_1LowXPduDDARPIXl45/s363/vw.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="363" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMS1a-JM2fSLdxGC4FA8mIohoXN1l_rH_JLV7oRp8mVpmuOV5wwLOqO0X-vRepTw2Zc30LJ20_v2mENtEQ6_3FwRsM6eb77jnkhju0_ZHeDshTYhZMYeu0QfcR_1LowXPduDDARPIXl45/s320/vw.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Four RBI Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> On September 8th Vance hit his fifth HR, a three-run shot at Veterans Stadium off Brandon Duckworth. He added an RBI single off Rheal Cormier the next inning, for a season best four RBI game in the Mets 11-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. </b></span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">2003:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> This season Piazza was plagued with injures only seeing action in 62 games behind the plate. This gave Wilson much more playing time as he </b></span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;">had career highs in games played with 96. </span></span></b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: blue;">The Mets finished a disappointing fifth (66-95) under manager Art Howe.</b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;">In April, Wilson started off the year well with a pair of HRs & nine RBIs finishing the month batting at .287. </span></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>On May 6th he connected for a solo HR off the Dodgers Odalis Perez, following Tony Clark's HR going back-to-back. The Mets went on to a 3-2 win behind Pedro Astacio.</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMgplnPyk-i7-PEZG7g_TnCQyPu9G6rJH04sqJfABxBdUU-0HRXPToQjP0w2-c2nBizfLNIS7hC96X_1BOC2hTk8JvxlooyAj7XqX6MQA6QE4Obw5tdmDcu04KAia_6pF0Fa5NGTjFGny/s1600/vance+wilson+(4).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMgplnPyk-i7-PEZG7g_TnCQyPu9G6rJH04sqJfABxBdUU-0HRXPToQjP0w2-c2nBizfLNIS7hC96X_1BOC2hTk8JvxlooyAj7XqX6MQA6QE4Obw5tdmDcu04KAia_6pF0Fa5NGTjFGny/w323-h400/vance+wilson+(4).jpg" width="323" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>Vance hit safely in ten of thirteen games that month, as he briefly went over the .300 mark. </b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>From June 1st- June 15th, in a nine-game span, Vance batted .452 with 14 hits, five multi-hit games, with five extra base hits & driving in ten runs. Wilson then had a big series in Texas during interleague play with the Rangers.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b></b></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><b>On June 10th, he hit a three run HR off Jay Powell in a 9-7 loss.<br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Five RBI Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> On June 12th, the next day, in an 11-0 Mets shut out in Texas, Wilson had a career high five RBI game. In the top of the 2nd, he hit a two run HR off the Rangers Colby Wilson. In the Mets five run 3rd inning, he collected a two-run single. In the top of the 9th, he was hit by a pitch from Jay Powell who had homered off yesterday, with the bases loaded giving the Mets a 10-0 lead. </b></span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>In July he drove in eight runs with four multi-hit games, playing in 19 games. In the final two months of the season, he played in 23 games driving in five runs. </b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUum1CGYZajMrSw9mD9VIf4KdMJ20352-dBs4YekQp25Rjr0weJYzadzZtyIA9hwZVPunkRX7HwI9k1R2dFRLsB9TMNB-tjJ3Fy3MF1382l7Z21r2ydCoH7iTZeoqO5fz30BE1Wfejmdmg/s320/vance+wilson+%25283%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUum1CGYZajMrSw9mD9VIf4KdMJ20352-dBs4YekQp25Rjr0weJYzadzZtyIA9hwZVPunkRX7HwI9k1R2dFRLsB9TMNB-tjJ3Fy3MF1382l7Z21r2ydCoH7iTZeoqO5fz30BE1Wfejmdmg/s0/vance+wilson+%25283%2529.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>On the season, behind the plate Wilson was solid defensively, throwing out 45% of would-be base stealers posting a .990%. He hit .243 with career highs in HRs (8) RBIs (39) & games played (96).</b></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">2004:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> The following year, the Mets had another bad season with a fourth place finish (71-91) in Art Howes final season as manager. Mike Piazza play 68 games at first base as Jason Phillips became the main catcher, with Wilson as his back up (69 games). </b></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;">On May 13th he led the Mets to a 7-4 win in Arizona with a three run HR off Brandon Webb. </span></span></b></span></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: blue;">On June 1st he added a two run tenth inning HR, off Tim Worrell to beat the Phillies in Philadelphia 4-1. By early August he was batting over the .290 mark but fell off from there & only saw action in three games that September. </b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQLg6CheIv1NuY2_thNiP8xomgAxNc02AIY2zDbEqxtwRxm5znV-OqCtPzef9H8AQnCrVrv_2QjFBIFCAxlP4-w2KHaFasIgl8iSUTcHhu23XiQuQnILE51gOaq1srH1n6IryO-JpeemdiFYHyxp_k7rTyQCqUV7eOdXqcxB696aW6QjHi_4D3XKE2560/s530/vance%20wilson.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="530" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQLg6CheIv1NuY2_thNiP8xomgAxNc02AIY2zDbEqxtwRxm5znV-OqCtPzef9H8AQnCrVrv_2QjFBIFCAxlP4-w2KHaFasIgl8iSUTcHhu23XiQuQnILE51gOaq1srH1n6IryO-JpeemdiFYHyxp_k7rTyQCqUV7eOdXqcxB696aW6QjHi_4D3XKE2560/s320/vance%20wilson.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Wilson had career highs in at bats (268) hits (65) HRs (8) runs scored (28) & RBIs (39) batting .243 with a .293 on base % & .666 OPS. </span></span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;">That year he batted .274 with a career high ten doubles. He hit four HRs with 21 RBIs </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>playing in 79 games. At catcher he threw out 34% of would-be base stealers. </b></span></div><div><br /></div><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>In January 2005 the Mets sent him to the Detroit Tigers for Anderson Hernandez. </b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Mets Career Stats: </span></i><span style="color: blue;">In his Mets career he hit .254 with 165 hits 17 </span></b></span></span><b><span style="color: blue;">HRs </span></b><b><span style="color: blue;">2</span></b><b><span style="color: blue;">9 </span></b><span style="color: blue;"><b>doubles & 92 </b></span><span style="color: blue;"><b>RBIs in 286 games played over six seasons. He is 12th all time in Mets history 255 games behind the plates.</b></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Post Mets Career:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> He hit only .197 his first season in Detroit but rebounded the following year to bat .283 with 5 HRs & 18 RBIs in 56 games. </span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRdx2rOI8QWKoGUo_9WHtnlGPPzUB6l1lVrw54yf-hFQadj8d9ha-Sqz38uhyphenhyphenhIRclljx8KBCOEDmueY2C-sZxKz5Fzb_HyMIReEa5V5oYjya7p9x-vsm17D9KPsxDV376Mor9TWZ74lJ7/s480/vance.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRdx2rOI8QWKoGUo_9WHtnlGPPzUB6l1lVrw54yf-hFQadj8d9ha-Sqz38uhyphenhyphenhIRclljx8KBCOEDmueY2C-sZxKz5Fzb_HyMIReEa5V5oYjya7p9x-vsm17D9KPsxDV376Mor9TWZ74lJ7/w400-h225/vance.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;">In 2007 Wilson needed Tommy John surgery and was expected to return for 2008, but then more injuries ruined his chances. </span></span></b></div></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;">In 2009 he signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals, batting .270 in 59 games at AA Northwest Arkansas. </span></span></b></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMgplnPyk-i7-PEZG7g_TnCQyPu9G6rJH04sqJfABxBdUU-0HRXPToQjP0w2-c2nBizfLNIS7hC96X_1BOC2hTk8JvxlooyAj7XqX6MQA6QE4Obw5tdmDcu04KAia_6pF0Fa5NGTjFGny/s1600/vance+wilson+(4).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Career Stats:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> In his eight-season career, Wilson batted .250 with 238 hits, 42 doubles 25 HRs 129 RBIs while posting a .302 on base %. </b></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCf9N9tDhdU_BPHIn69S4ZuUdoEQeE_J2PamfRyz9ygLRk-jf-5YeMraZqGtwLryF48Qf-0Km0yUpSE8_UgYqW41UIVcgeYCk6bf72jG-hGftA95cI1wG9eTPr39otr3qw7lDWhyVJAgAi9eJXVovEFOjr76iqK7DHisBmkuA3dxUEUViNUitioelwzv-b/s477/vance%20wilson.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="472" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCf9N9tDhdU_BPHIn69S4ZuUdoEQeE_J2PamfRyz9ygLRk-jf-5YeMraZqGtwLryF48Qf-0Km0yUpSE8_UgYqW41UIVcgeYCk6bf72jG-hGftA95cI1wG9eTPr39otr3qw7lDWhyVJAgAi9eJXVovEFOjr76iqK7DHisBmkuA3dxUEUViNUitioelwzv-b/w317-h320/vance%20wilson.JPG" width="317" /></a></div>He threw out 40% of base runners trying to steal (90 of 245), posting a .990 fielding %, making 18 errors in 2388 innings behind the plate. </b></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Retirement:</span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b> In 2011 he was manager of the Kane County Cougars, a Kansas City Royals, A ball affiliate. </b></span></span><b style="color: blue;">In 2012 he managed the advanced A ball Wilmington Blue Rocks & was promoted to the AA Northwest Arkansas Naturals in 2014. </b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">KC Royals Coach:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> Vance became the Kansas City Royals bullpen coach (2018 - 2019). Since 2020 he has been the Royals third base coach & field coordinator.</span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Family:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> Vance & his wife Bridget have one daughter; they reside in Arkansas. There they raised money to help build a home for abused children.</b></span></span></span></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879473706233234375.post-6908035328742459842024-03-15T23:40:00.006-04:002024-03-15T23:46:51.906-04:00Remembering Jim McAndrew: 1969 World Champion & 1973 NL Champion Mets Pitcher (1968-1973)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUN5T3NQaJsB2RYMdrzl9jtYEQz1glA7SFDzyc6moLsP8QUbzTyT7boIl8eNvFFsCd99LXNq2CMyM9yz89-9K3KVBCMGg6_8o4msslVCpn8d3ycE4ojvUYArOXWxo3MNPzdK32rlyx_bUL/s1600/Jim+McAndrew+%25285%2529.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUN5T3NQaJsB2RYMdrzl9jtYEQz1glA7SFDzyc6moLsP8QUbzTyT7boIl8eNvFFsCd99LXNq2CMyM9yz89-9K3KVBCMGg6_8o4msslVCpn8d3ycE4ojvUYArOXWxo3MNPzdK32rlyx_bUL/s400/Jim+McAndrew+%25285%2529.JPG" width="290" /></a></div>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">James Clement McAndrew</span><b> was born on January 11, 1944, on a farm at Lost Nation, Iowa. The six-foot two right hander, excelled in both basketball & baseball in high school. </b></span><br />
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<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">After suffering a knee injury while playing basketball, he switched full time to baseball. McAndrew attended the University of Iowa where he was spotted by New York Mets scouts, who were there to watch first round draft pick Steve Arlin pitch against McAndrew. </span></b><br />
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<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">The Mets ended up drafting McAndrew in the 11th round of the inaugural MLB draft of 1965, one round after Nolan Ryan was selected. He earned a degree in psychology at college, married his high school sweetheart Lynn & had a son right away. </span></b><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>At first, he thought of quitting baseball when he didn’t reach the majors instantly, but his wife Lynn told him to try to stick it out.</b></span><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b></b></span><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmikgqRc2_6-vRuN4HsIZDhLslO7EqwMKRTOJ0PkhLJxuWYVIuQ_RYiLCSEEt3iKo1Lj9NEF0esyjd3yBxT-y6KxSLFfY2WI5vNedKu3O-6KNwNzo0uHfSWDGyoxfkOyC4WZInhLottIP/s1600/Jim+McAndrew+%25289%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmikgqRc2_6-vRuN4HsIZDhLslO7EqwMKRTOJ0PkhLJxuWYVIuQ_RYiLCSEEt3iKo1Lj9NEF0esyjd3yBxT-y6KxSLFfY2WI5vNedKu3O-6KNwNzo0uHfSWDGyoxfkOyC4WZInhLottIP/s320/Jim+McAndrew+%25289%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a>McAndrew then credits former Mets GM Bob Scheffing for helping coach him when Scheffing was still director of player development. </span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>In the minors McAndrew was pitching relief out of the bullpen until Whitey Herzog, the new Director of Player Development ordered his manager to make him a starter. That's the point where McAndrew's career took off as he excelled as a starter. </b></span><br />
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<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">In 1967 McAndrew was 10-8 with a 1.47 ERA at AA Williamsport striking out 120 batters in 153 innings. </span></b><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>In 1968 at AAA Jacksonville, he was 8-3 with a 2.54 ERA striking out 117 batters in 117 innings. </b></span><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">MLB -Mets Career:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> That July the Mets called him up for an emergency start to fill in a spot starting a game in a double header against the St. Louis Cardinals. </span></span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWdRM6cMeCpxSFaKmcVKnUjNH1oSr_isZdez7QEKNdHQweSIJg-1cOmRfbwMSVPuiGR4oxhvdSlJ0Z8BHlHOmwu6t9T9cHCsrh7PVPxN4QUCtKN5OySZ32MfU3go9oOeHNb2ApQPmWh3M/s1600/Jim+McAndrew+%25283%2529.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWdRM6cMeCpxSFaKmcVKnUjNH1oSr_isZdez7QEKNdHQweSIJg-1cOmRfbwMSVPuiGR4oxhvdSlJ0Z8BHlHOmwu6t9T9cHCsrh7PVPxN4QUCtKN5OySZ32MfU3go9oOeHNb2ApQPmWh3M/w250-h320/Jim+McAndrew+%25283%2529.JPG" width="250" /></a>McAndrew was a good pitcher who stayed with the Mets for six years but never became a regular starter due to the quality of pitching the Mets had during that period. </span></span></b><br /><br />
<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">McAndrew got his first career start going up against that years Cy Young winner, St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famer; Bob Gibson. In his MLB debut McAndrew only allowed one run over six innings but the Mets were shut out by Gibson, in a 2-0 loss. </span></b><br />
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<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">McAndrew was supposed to go back to AAA Jacksonville, but when Nolan Ryan was called away for military duty, he remained on the staff. </span></b><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>He suffered bad luck right off the bat, starting out 0-5 as the Mets got shut out four times in his first seven starts. On August 4th n his second start, Mike Kekich of the Los Angeles Dodgers threw a one hit 2-0 shutout over the Mets at Dodger Stadium. </b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQvcMASk_wQ8PzLMiCvgRNQxT1VSaNWXV2CZSCIQHkanM2V1JrU7vfC1UjJ6fsa7Xcw6wu9TAkR8WIx1AUvxtsvmUbiFnZWCdJ5c-HJ1ZG_W65eiIg5dNiJVmpqcSG3qDUvnjI-9j7nuQ/s1600/IMG_4253.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQvcMASk_wQ8PzLMiCvgRNQxT1VSaNWXV2CZSCIQHkanM2V1JrU7vfC1UjJ6fsa7Xcw6wu9TAkR8WIx1AUvxtsvmUbiFnZWCdJ5c-HJ1ZG_W65eiIg5dNiJVmpqcSG3qDUvnjI-9j7nuQ/s320/IMG_4253.jpg" width="240" /></a>Next, the San Francisco Giants Bob Bolin tossed a four-hit shutout over the Mets at Candlestick Park.</b></span><br />
<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">On August 17th, in his Shea Stadium debut, the Houston Astros Don Wilson & John Buzhardt combined for another shut out, putting McAndrew at 0-4 even though he didn’t allow more than two runs in any of his outings. He went to 0-5 when the Giants & Juan Marichal beat the Mets 13-3 at Shea Stadium.</span></b><br />
<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">On August 26th, he finally got his first win in St. Louis, beating Hall of Famer Steve Carlton but had to throw a five hit shutout to get a 1-0 win.</span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>After two straight losses, he won his last three decisions of the season. On September 11th at Wrigley Field in Chicago, McAndrew pitched 8.2 innings of shut ball. He was relieved after a base hit to Don Kessinger & Glen Beckert reaching on an error. Bill Short & Cal Koonce closed out the 1-0 over Fergie Jenkins. Jerry Grote's RBI double was the only run of the game.</b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMOmhrVBxrPmgJy8BI_29mBJhs4wR8P-Odc8AUdlI6qtuiS62Dmyw5PuMJfB3PQI9L_VaVop_JdDlwRn6O0bE5mVcEwB1CGANvASndxwHBLM7uPakISqb96Z2bqFlrVgnl5Kmt9Ohdb3Om/s1600/Jim+McAndrew+%252811%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMOmhrVBxrPmgJy8BI_29mBJhs4wR8P-Odc8AUdlI6qtuiS62Dmyw5PuMJfB3PQI9L_VaVop_JdDlwRn6O0bE5mVcEwB1CGANvASndxwHBLM7uPakISqb96Z2bqFlrVgnl5Kmt9Ohdb3Om/s400/Jim+McAndrew+%252811%2529.jpg" width="387" /></a><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>On September 17th, McAndrew pitched a two hit, two run complete game against Ken Holtzman & the Chicago Cubs. </b></span></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: blue;">He closed out the year with a fantastic 2.28 ERA although he had just a 4-7 record due to lack of run support. </b><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">McAndrew pitched in 12 games striking out 46 batters walking 17 in 79 innings of work.</span></b></div><div><br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">1969 Mets Championship Season:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> In Spring Training 1969 he pitched well enough to make a very talented staff & impressed Gil Hodges enough to get the start in the second game of the season. </span></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;">His bad luck troubles continued at the start of the season, mostly due to arm & finger problems. He pitched in both a starting & relief role.</span></b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7D9-wTPqPbENe9SCNhGyovmJKuit3sR9TkPlU6maHSBo8oFmT0F88TFiHB3tRNDs_ZwEA-wJ4YL9T3JLzpkdnbWsDf83ckczuHfcdNJUMEcFRynWDSMa79MDEICNQyLnD3jZoV56kzWwE/s1600/Jim+McAndrew+%25284%2529.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7D9-wTPqPbENe9SCNhGyovmJKuit3sR9TkPlU6maHSBo8oFmT0F88TFiHB3tRNDs_ZwEA-wJ4YL9T3JLzpkdnbWsDf83ckczuHfcdNJUMEcFRynWDSMa79MDEICNQyLnD3jZoV56kzWwE/s400/Jim+McAndrew+%25284%2529.JPG" width="270" /></a>He began the year at 0-2, not getting his first win until June 24th. That game he pitched eight innings for a combined two hit shutout with Ron Taylor in a 5-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies at Shea Stadium. In the top of the 6th inning, he drove in two runs with a single off Ray Washburn.</b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>In his next start he threw a complete game victory, allowing two runs on just three hits in a 10-2 win in St. Louis. </b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>In his last two starts, he had only allowed two earned runs over 17 innings</b></span><b style="color: blue;">. In July he made two starts & two relief appearances taking a loss.</b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: blue;">On August 2nd, he pitched seven </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>shutout</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> innings, in a 1-0 win over Ron Reed & the Braves at Shea. Cleon Jones provided the only run with an RBI single. In his next two games he took losses including a shut out by the Astros Tom Griffin & Fred Gladding. </b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: blue;">At the end of August, he threw three straight complete games, while matching a club record at the time </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>tossing 23</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> scoreless innings. </b><b style="color: blue;">On August 20th, he threw a two-hit shutout, striking out six San Diego Padres at Shea Stadium. On August 26th in San Diego, he blanked the friars on a five hitter & then in San Francisco later in the week, he got no decision after allowing just two runs over nine innings. </b></div><div><br />
<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">On September 10th, t</span></b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevpPrk8EsSa5HGTrCDWKh5k2KpqIS0AZTNCR-CDYh2-W-pl3NZqhKvGjYZuHM9xLCLir33x1nBHv1pId1Hw4OwQ29yYxVNoDQ3YpojALVdR9rGjZG6LWgMPrXx_9ERkJbEozWefwDSsXi/s1600/Jim+McAndrew+%25282%2529.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevpPrk8EsSa5HGTrCDWKh5k2KpqIS0AZTNCR-CDYh2-W-pl3NZqhKvGjYZuHM9xLCLir33x1nBHv1pId1Hw4OwQ29yYxVNoDQ3YpojALVdR9rGjZG6LWgMPrXx_9ERkJbEozWefwDSsXi/s400/Jim+McAndrew+%25282%2529.JPG" width="328" /></a>he Mets were tied for first place with the Chicago Cubs, when McAndrew got the start in the second game of a doubleheader with the Montreal Expos. </b></span><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">He pitched 11 innings allowing just two runs on four hits, striking out seven Expos, when Ken Boswell’s RBI single won it in the 11th inning. </span></b><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">In the month he was 0-2 with two no decisions. </span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">McAndrew finished the year at 6-7 with a 3.47 ERA, 90 strikeouts & 44 walks in 135 innings pitched. He made 21 starts in 27 games. At the bat he batted .135 going 5-37 with a double & three RBIs. </span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">1969 Post Season:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> Due to the strong Mets staff, he did not pitch in the post season as the Mets won the World Series.</span></span></b><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">After the Championship:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> In 1970 he got the start in the third game of the season taking a loss in St. Louis allowing five runs to the Cardinals. On April 19th he earned the victory in the second game of a double header with the Phillies. In May he lost two starts & a relief appearance falling to 1-4 on the year.</span></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGpdUJoHjPRV1fRyThapeWuXcRVP1lt9QMPJQT1U2BrTtBhkUJLg5zZv5JI2W0tZbthjUoBdTfgX_Nr_6rDJJj6_rBkU0bwSi2JBNBvLjGLHjLlirfirh5_7e2m2PEBBexBLNWuvxAFeA/s1600/2-t6507116-340.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="273" data-original-width="187" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGpdUJoHjPRV1fRyThapeWuXcRVP1lt9QMPJQT1U2BrTtBhkUJLg5zZv5JI2W0tZbthjUoBdTfgX_Nr_6rDJJj6_rBkU0bwSi2JBNBvLjGLHjLlirfirh5_7e2m2PEBBexBLNWuvxAFeA/w274-h400/2-t6507116-340.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b>On June 8th he threw a five-hit shutout in Houston & then won a game in Cincinnati where he gave up just one run to the Big Red Machine. On June 23rd, e came in relief in the 10th inning & earned his first save of the year. He then lost four of his next five starts.</b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;">On July 21st, McAndrew pitched nine shutout innings in San Diego. His opponent that day was the Padres Clay Kirby who had a no hitter going through eight innings. The Padre Manager, Preston Gomez lifted Kirby for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 8th. In the 9th the Mets scored three runs off reliever Jack Baldschun earning McAndrew the win. </span></b></span><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /><b>That season when he pitched well, he suffered from lack of run support, but other times he struggled due to his own poor pitching. </b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>From mid-August through the end of the season, he pitched four complete games during a course of six games, allowing just six runs over 51 innings to go 4-0. He finished out the season losing three straight, giving up at least two runs each time.</b></span><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzP6yigi2p2Jf3x1M_mSlO8Tw2sLso7VpXbV7VtiX0iXAX62k7ZlYvCHVtFusioJmj0OF2E83TIE5leMVUBYyEye_rV_adIeORn4b_tQQxFrDX-1H1mdZusAduqZGtNjkLokbuf7HIO39a/s1600/Jim+McAndrew+%25288%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzP6yigi2p2Jf3x1M_mSlO8Tw2sLso7VpXbV7VtiX0iXAX62k7ZlYvCHVtFusioJmj0OF2E83TIE5leMVUBYyEye_rV_adIeORn4b_tQQxFrDX-1H1mdZusAduqZGtNjkLokbuf7HIO39a/s400/Jim+McAndrew+%25288%2529.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>He finished the year 10-14 leading the club in losses (14) & shut outs (3) pitching in 32 games. He posted a 3.56 ERA with 111 strike outs in 184 innings, walking just 38 batters to give him one of the league’s best strikeouts to walk ratios.
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<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"></span></b><br /><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><i>1971:</i></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"> He started out May with a loss going 0-1, where he gave up six earned runs in 4.2 innings to the Cubs at Wrigley. </span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"> In early May, he was knocked out cold, while shagging fly balls in the outfield as he collided with pitcher Gary Gentry. McAndrew awoke in a hospital with stitches in his head, unaware of what had happened before regaining his senses. </span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>He was out almost three weeks returning on June 2nd. The injury affected his pitching as well. McAndrew would not earn another win until September 4th pitching mostly in relief.</b></span></div><div>
<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"></span></b><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>He was back in the rotation on August 15th & gave up four runs taking losses in two straight starts. On September 4th the long-awaited win came against the Phillies at the Vet, where he struck out a season high eight batters. </b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF5_92-U7u-Lr1kNCesALpXoqp6JVCTPzf8wqtRY7FFA_dhd78C-fE7xEOCklYlbJ1yJrmgyXFEYwU1RaHY4sHPK5wegcZZo4T7yfCdgfKCEBHhktF0KzES0hUswIUfUxdPlPin9agjQiNuNgknXyH6lA3ETAdw8_RdEPJIuDDshU2_o_9NJDK-6PDvw/s362/JIM%20MCANDREW.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="255" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF5_92-U7u-Lr1kNCesALpXoqp6JVCTPzf8wqtRY7FFA_dhd78C-fE7xEOCklYlbJ1yJrmgyXFEYwU1RaHY4sHPK5wegcZZo4T7yfCdgfKCEBHhktF0KzES0hUswIUfUxdPlPin9agjQiNuNgknXyH6lA3ETAdw8_RdEPJIuDDshU2_o_9NJDK-6PDvw/w281-h400/JIM%20MCANDREW.JPG" width="281" /></a></div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>He ended the year 2-5 with a 4.38 ERA, he struck out 42 batters & walked 32, allowing 10 HRs in 90 innings pitched. He made ten starts in 24 appearances. The Mets finished third 83-79 that season.</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div>
<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">1972:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> After the tragic passing of Gil Hodges just before the start of the 1972 season, new manager Yogi Berra put McAndrew back in the bullpen, working as a reliever. </span></span></b><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>McAndrew earned a relief win on April 23rd, when Jim Beauchamp won the game in the 12th inning with a walk off single.</b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>McAndrew would pitch well enough to get back in the rotation by mid-May. He took a loss in his first start giving up six runs in six innings to the Dodgers.</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>After earning a save, he won four straight starts from May into June, with two complete games, while lowering his ERA to 2.14.</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjDdl_kaD-dMZAP1JqVlGTgsL0D6f_LoKslDQiKYwGlWomj49k756U3sePYfjGVkvr8hnV2CwmC5mZBVdoougYZ3F_jDVxy2RxCTqawF4igE77mIBYnYECJadHKnxNcy7YOf8LELB37jw/s1600/Jim+McAndrew+%252810%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjDdl_kaD-dMZAP1JqVlGTgsL0D6f_LoKslDQiKYwGlWomj49k756U3sePYfjGVkvr8hnV2CwmC5mZBVdoougYZ3F_jDVxy2RxCTqawF4igE77mIBYnYECJadHKnxNcy7YOf8LELB37jw/s400/Jim+McAndrew+%252810%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>At the All-Star break McAndrew was 6-3 with a 2.99 ERA but did not pitch again until July 30th due to the fact Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman Gary Gentry & rookie of the year, Jon Matlack were all pitching so well. </b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>When he got the ball again, he won three straight games to start off August, including a three hit one run victory over the Chicago Cubs on August 4th, at Shea Stadium. In August he was 4-2 entering September 10-5.</b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>On September 12th he won a 4-3 game at Philadelphia that ended being his last win for the year, as he lost his last three decisions. The Mets finished in third place Mets who were 83-73.</b></span><br /><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZhtaY6C9tX-cz2bNlRvpYMjey_RFRoe_N3hTvKcNK-xvSff3n3KV-XdBC67EI9NxQsN-NQim4QmJIYZrq6ih9NWCo5KKNbqUuj-r6iZLyrVvGLGXcwHwa6Bd6AJjxzVA0Tr6EwOAoko7Xj7nHzYm-tyW-u8YYnOmxeYF_d_1GFsYzVKuwa_8vJzYFw/s400/McAndrew%20Jim.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="278" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZhtaY6C9tX-cz2bNlRvpYMjey_RFRoe_N3hTvKcNK-xvSff3n3KV-XdBC67EI9NxQsN-NQim4QmJIYZrq6ih9NWCo5KKNbqUuj-r6iZLyrVvGLGXcwHwa6Bd6AJjxzVA0Tr6EwOAoko7Xj7nHzYm-tyW-u8YYnOmxeYF_d_1GFsYzVKuwa_8vJzYFw/s320/McAndrew%20Jim.jpg" width="222" /></a></div>McAndrew still finished with his best overall season going 11-8, with a 2.80 ERA. He struck out 81 batters & walked 38 while giving up 12 HRs pitching in 160 innings in 28 games (23 starts). </span></b><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"> </span></b></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><i>1973 Mets Pennant Season:</i></span><span style="color: blue;"><b> McAndrew started out the season as a starter, taking a loss to the Phillies giving up four runs in 5.1 innings. In his next start he didn't get out of the 1st inning, serving up five runs to the Cubs. </b></span></span><b style="color: blue;">McAndrew then earned wins in Montreal & at home at Shea over Houston, finishing April at 2-2. </b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: blue;">On May 13th he won a game at Pittsburgh, which turned out to be his last winning decision on the year. A week later he came into an extra inning game in the 19th inning in Los Angeles. The Mets came up with four runs in the top of the 19th & McAndrew closed out the game, earning a save.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2ykTu4G4Qm14l7K_ByucU6kMGHtj2RjoR95qPJD1ifx8V7T5RJPFTc3GQOW4KeiiJUXfvuvyVae_vnyW4dyIjQ2z4Y0JfsYkidxqY-vdcxzb8cGhqstOkylE1CrY_NLV5pC4sdh18jy26CYNBwZixPT9Tz0ObGduiSjiaMxRINm5mKM9Bop1a_dlcQ/s444/McAndrew%20Jim3.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="354" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2ykTu4G4Qm14l7K_ByucU6kMGHtj2RjoR95qPJD1ifx8V7T5RJPFTc3GQOW4KeiiJUXfvuvyVae_vnyW4dyIjQ2z4Y0JfsYkidxqY-vdcxzb8cGhqstOkylE1CrY_NLV5pC4sdh18jy26CYNBwZixPT9Tz0ObGduiSjiaMxRINm5mKM9Bop1a_dlcQ/w319-h400/McAndrew%20Jim3.JPG" width="319" /></a></div>On June 18th, he gave up four runs in Philly & then five runs to the Phillies at Shea on June 28th, taking losses in both games. By July 8th he fell to 3-7 with a 5.83 ERA, then was back in the bullpen pitching in relief.</b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">He did get one start on August 5th, coming in the second game of a double header with the Cardinals. In five innings he gave up four runs & 12 hits, taking a loss.</span></b><br />
<br /><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">By that point Tug McGraw had secured the Met bullpen & the starters were all healthy while pitching their best. McAndrew only saw action in five more games through the end of the year.</span></b><br />
<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"></span></b><br /><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">In the Mets 1973 NL Pennant year he went 3-8 with a 5.89 ERA. He struck out 38 batters & walked 31 in 80 innings of work 23 games (12 starts). He threw four complete games and posted one save. </span></b><br />
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<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"></span></b><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><i>1973- Post Season:</i></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"> Although he was on the postseason roster, he didn’t see any action. Even though he was on two Mets World Series teams, McAndrew never pitched in a single post season game. </span></b><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2AKhHe5YiMIIS3IrdwxlIfPjjw9HGn7VivmOAGmGpovmac7xhxrGU_v9pkHj7FmMSxfZ9yiKc0XeKBaf3yw4GFN4-9G7jjye1U59t5044iQ43MJdo_5GxIHJTzmSnUAc1w92LHa5yg1NExXcVxhcvYvy4DF-TVrePsU2tNmjJnWbUuwTaxGa-rWQi6A/s216/McAndrew%20Jim2.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="216" data-original-width="210" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2AKhHe5YiMIIS3IrdwxlIfPjjw9HGn7VivmOAGmGpovmac7xhxrGU_v9pkHj7FmMSxfZ9yiKc0XeKBaf3yw4GFN4-9G7jjye1U59t5044iQ43MJdo_5GxIHJTzmSnUAc1w92LHa5yg1NExXcVxhcvYvy4DF-TVrePsU2tNmjJnWbUuwTaxGa-rWQi6A/s1600/McAndrew%20Jim2.JPG" width="210" /></a></div>In December of 1973, his run in New York was over, McAndrew was traded to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Steve Simpson. </b></span><br />
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<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">McAndrew will always be remembered as a Met pitching in the shadows of some great pitchers during some good old days. </span></b><br />
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</i></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><i>Mets Career Stats:</i></span><span style="color: blue;"><b> In six seasons as a Met, he was 36-49 with four saves & </b></span></span><b style="color: blue;">a 3.54 ERA. He struck out </b><b style="color: blue;">424 batters with 213 walks in 729.2 innings of work. He made 146 appearances with 105 starts. He batted .098 going 19-194 with six doubles & 9 RBIs.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRoaEn1nz-kjix6-fkPMBz-r5JuRBUYB67qgoN7VdZi3u0EK_VIe7pJ_4aMcS6f9ov0-72NWLBrBh3HifkFJsKtHaCM4LvjAmggC5w6zGZ4eCu5UktTbbtomAvq8VM_MXrLLfrJuCbpBm/s1600/Jim+McAndrew+%25286%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRoaEn1nz-kjix6-fkPMBz-r5JuRBUYB67qgoN7VdZi3u0EK_VIe7pJ_4aMcS6f9ov0-72NWLBrBh3HifkFJsKtHaCM4LvjAmggC5w6zGZ4eCu5UktTbbtomAvq8VM_MXrLLfrJuCbpBm/s400/Jim+McAndrew+%25286%2529.jpg" width="316" /></a><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-size: large;">Post Mets Career: </i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">In Spring Training 1974</span><i style="font-size: large;"> </i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">he injured his knee, he opted out of surgery &then injured his ribs.</span><i style="font-size: large;"> </i></span><span style="color: blue;"><b>McAndrew pitched in just 15 games going 1-4 in San Diego getting released that June ending his seven-year career. </b></span></span><br />
<br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Career Stats:</i></span><span style="color: blue;"> In his seven-year career he was 37-53 lifetime, with four saves, six shut outs & twenty complete games. </span></b></span><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">He posted a 3.65 ERA while striking out 424 batters & walking 213 batters in 771 innings, in 161 games with 110 starts. </span></b></div><div>
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<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><i>Retirement:</i></span> After baseball McAndrew worked as a sales manager in the coal industry for over 25 years. He worked out of Chicago, St. Louis & the Denver areas. </span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><i>Family:</i></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"> He & his wife Lynn retired to Phoenix Arizona after raising their four children.</span></b><br />
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<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6GaSUQc0Pcc3ryfezxQf-7cno_gBOhW1JyqZp2zLlYpS0X4tq1KRMruKOembWPkqBhcX-BduUHqFWwRQ6pn4JtedglhC6O8hwYCPX5FnVFdthx5MIkKx1F7mBmpfIw9nmHBdhMXSrxB-NaIA8cfEwqcLQ9yOtrco80sWRCCVL9FjYX3t2hnpB0rQf5Q/s306/mCaNDREW%20gROTE.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="306" data-original-width="298" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6GaSUQc0Pcc3ryfezxQf-7cno_gBOhW1JyqZp2zLlYpS0X4tq1KRMruKOembWPkqBhcX-BduUHqFWwRQ6pn4JtedglhC6O8hwYCPX5FnVFdthx5MIkKx1F7mBmpfIw9nmHBdhMXSrxB-NaIA8cfEwqcLQ9yOtrco80sWRCCVL9FjYX3t2hnpB0rQf5Q/s1600/mCaNDREW%20gROTE.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>His son Jamie pitched two years for the Milwaukee Brewers going 3-4 lifetime with a 5.98 ERA in<br /> 15 games.
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<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><i>Honors:</i></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"> The always smiling McAndrew was on hand for the 20th anniversary of the 1973 Mets Pennant team in 1993. He was also at the closing ceremonies of Shea Stadium in 2008.</span></b><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>McAndrew attended the 40th anniversary of the 1969 Championship team at Citi Field in 2009. He returned for the 50th Anniversary of the 1969 Amazing Mets in 2019 as well.</b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Passing:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On March 14th, 2024, McAndrew passed away in Scottsdale, Arizona after a brief illness, he was 80 years old.</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7N4qw6i6cKOLHSVSXXXyXRpaQ0N4OKBr8uxwJz3DRuf64WyuLU5GDNxk3zfglNVVaxoOHhu-W7j8xHu0f0bSvA6AJDQfVCwBXKr3AkkvGpgrttf4hyphenhyphen8_PyizD0OnpUxG-xSzhkedQYe_PL28ql3WJTIo6_elA-Yy10PTOYxVW-V-f7ygblfMg8zY-Kf_/s298/mcandrew.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="243" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7N4qw6i6cKOLHSVSXXXyXRpaQ0N4OKBr8uxwJz3DRuf64WyuLU5GDNxk3zfglNVVaxoOHhu-W7j8xHu0f0bSvA6AJDQfVCwBXKr3AkkvGpgrttf4hyphenhyphen8_PyizD0OnpUxG-xSzhkedQYe_PL28ql3WJTIo6_elA-Yy10PTOYxVW-V-f7ygblfMg8zY-Kf_/w326-h400/mcandrew.png" width="326" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879473706233234375.post-12694556243239461922024-03-15T23:25:00.000-04:002024-03-15T23:25:00.134-04:00Curtis Granderson: 2015 N.L. Champion Mets Right Fielder (2014 - 2017)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Curtis Granderson</span><b> was born on March 16th, 1981, in Blue Island, Illinois. His mother was a chemistry teacher & his sister a English Professor at Jackson State University. </b></span><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>Even though he grew up in Chicago he was not a Cubs or White Sox, rather choosing to root for the Atlanta Braves in their hey day's of the 1990's.</b></span><br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>The six-foot one outfielder batted left-handed but threw right-handed.</b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b> </b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Nickname</i></b></span><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> He is known as "the Grandy man". </span></b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7E-Ouwp8ghDepogKm5ya7FXFcpGd9ZaH-saJ663gArNtnrhvYfrWI5T_9vGTbRGwxy5fLIwhKR0NQyZOQJ-C2x5lWG1wPSMz0rxWK1aXyI5I_7pcDuY1TZlpAlkEMWw8Gky-_yOonTzQ/s1600/%2521th9ETVAI12.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7E-Ouwp8ghDepogKm5ya7FXFcpGd9ZaH-saJ663gArNtnrhvYfrWI5T_9vGTbRGwxy5fLIwhKR0NQyZOQJ-C2x5lWG1wPSMz0rxWK1aXyI5I_7pcDuY1TZlpAlkEMWw8Gky-_yOonTzQ/s400/%2521th9ETVAI12.jpg" width="400" /></a>Granderson played college ball at the University of Illinois, where he had his uniform #28 retired by the school. Educationally he earned a degree in business administration & business marketing. Granderson was a third-round selection of the Detroit Tigers in 2002 & by 2004 was named one of the top minor league players.
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;">MLB Career:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> After batting .303 at AA Erie in 2004 he got a cup of coffee with Detroit as a September call up. In 2005 he batted .290 at AAA Toledo and was with the Tigers by the end of July, batting .272. On September 15th he hit an inside the park HR & on September 26th, hit a walk off HR against the Chicago White Sox.</span></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45-0eFt5T8rz_N5yvGHz5oUjigPonm5FxGolwZ-jIgXGrwNcKqy5Ez6uKiDnSb0rUsf-v6QoVbTJPSyc3IWBBDu2aeecSPHKdw7nQhdpFL1Im1vW91qqUft5CQJPgPQAHpdvLy428vOEe/s1600/curtis+granderson+DETROIT3.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45-0eFt5T8rz_N5yvGHz5oUjigPonm5FxGolwZ-jIgXGrwNcKqy5Ez6uKiDnSb0rUsf-v6QoVbTJPSyc3IWBBDu2aeecSPHKdw7nQhdpFL1Im1vW91qqUft5CQJPgPQAHpdvLy428vOEe/s320/curtis+granderson+DETROIT3.jpg" width="272" /></a><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>In 2006 he beat out Nook Logan in Spring Training & Granderson became the Detroit Tigers main centerfielder. He added 19 HRs & 68 RBIs to a powerful Tiger team that featured four batters to hit 24 or more HRs. On the downside he led the AL in strike outs with 174 in 596 at bats. </b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>In centerfield he posted the league's best fielding % at the position (.994%). The Tigers won a wild card berth that season & got all the way to the World Series but were beaten by the surprising St. Louis Cardinals in five games.
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><em><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;">2006 Post Season:</span></em> In the ALDS win over the AL New York club, Granderson hit HRs in Game #1 as well as Game #3, while driving in runs in the first three games. In the top of the 7th inning, his triple off Mike Mussina, scored Marcus Thames which broke a 3-3 tie & led to the Tigers 4-3 win. </strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5eJUSVKzGntszrNnHgh_aM_T5WTxMK4ysDpRvgc4ewiv-kOwSKirFw6O01VuupUA5MkMuvak5W0H47Sx4TpJj76VJ8GX6Ij_lMb6q1JfYKojmdduDKbtHi1H4A2KM3-QFw5ZZD_F4x2Sqgh7iaax92mTptH_-fhiClL8urcKoupCRSNDbCFx-oJHzzw/s337/grandersonalcs.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="337" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5eJUSVKzGntszrNnHgh_aM_T5WTxMK4ysDpRvgc4ewiv-kOwSKirFw6O01VuupUA5MkMuvak5W0H47Sx4TpJj76VJ8GX6Ij_lMb6q1JfYKojmdduDKbtHi1H4A2KM3-QFw5ZZD_F4x2Sqgh7iaax92mTptH_-fhiClL8urcKoupCRSNDbCFx-oJHzzw/w400-h304/grandersonalcs.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>In the ALCS, he hit a Game #2 HR off the Athletics Huston Street, at Oakland Coliseum in the<br /> Tigers 8-5 win. In the World Series he got just two hits in 21 at bats (.095).</strong></span><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br />Over the next two seasons, Granderson would lead the AL in triples twice. </strong></span><strong style="color: blue;">In 2007 he scampered to 23 triples (the most in the AL since 1949), in the vast dimensions of Tiger Stadium.</strong></div><div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>He managed to hit more triples than six major league teams had as a whole that year. That year he hit 23 HRs 38 doubles, drove in 74 runs, batted .302 & posted a .361 on base %. He stole 26 bases but was only caught stealing once for a 96% average, the league's best. </strong></span><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><br /><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNT1_bFDmZ2w1tuORrFDA_gRNDGdKjBO3baVF-E5xewxEUcd2mmokdV9VxwkOZNPYIeBcuMG8fCGCnZ46-wQB_dcWkdFwvvacyhZGn8zmX67AiogPKa3V1wNAaRi2ORt3i0atygPsCfoVTJR9Hq9Prpu-eLj2kMAtBb2Tgb-LD5ab7xQ52HaBp-KeZKQ/s413/granderson%20all%20star.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="357" data-original-width="413" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNT1_bFDmZ2w1tuORrFDA_gRNDGdKjBO3baVF-E5xewxEUcd2mmokdV9VxwkOZNPYIeBcuMG8fCGCnZ46-wQB_dcWkdFwvvacyhZGn8zmX67AiogPKa3V1wNAaRi2ORt3i0atygPsCfoVTJR9Hq9Prpu-eLj2kMAtBb2Tgb-LD5ab7xQ52HaBp-KeZKQ/w400-h346/granderson%20all%20star.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Trivia:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On September 9th, 2007, Granderson became only the 3rd player in Major League history to have at least 20 home runs, 20 stolen bases, 20 triples and 20 doubles in one season. In center, he turned the most double plays (4) led the league in put outs (424) as well as errors (5). </span></strong></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>He was not featured on the 2007 All Star ballot, but received 376,000 write in votes, which was more than any other player got. He was tenth in the voting for the league's MVP Award that year as well. </b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>The durable outfielder, he was second in the league in games played in center for two straight seasons. He would do that three times & play the most games in the league at centerfield two more times while in New York with the AL team there. </strong></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>He was also among the top five centerfielders in put outs & assist during his playing time.</b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNfqlSmpqZ0nLoroJRFCWu3i-06l5ZWJtftM0TXjEWJ7P_YOZ97hRfI5MxzRHeO3qUSPoObH1DEpB-3XDaq68nTBR9VWgldNcjsHSN5t78nDX1-10bh2lspZX7bFsvMXgdNV3lPR0WxnM/s1600/Curtis_Granderson_Chrissy_Teigen.jpg" width="242" /></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>In 2008 Granderson batted .280, as 2007 was the last year he has hit over .300. He still posted a .365 on base %, led the league in triples (13) while hitting 22 HRs with 66 RBIs & 112 runs scored (second in the AL). </strong></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br />In 2009, he responded by hitting a career high (up to that point) 30 HRs & 71 RBIs. He also added 23 doubles, 8 triples (5th in the AL) with a .327 on base % while making his first All Star appearance.
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>As the Tigers failed to make the post season, TBS hired him as a commentator for the second straight season. That December he was involved in a huge three team trade, that brought him to the AL New York club. In the deal; Max Scherzer, Austin Jackson & Phil Coke went to Detroit, as Edwin Jackson & Ian Kennedy went to the Arizona D-backs.</strong></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>In his first year in New York, he missed 25 games, batting .246 with 27 HRs & 67 RBIs. </strong></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>But in 2011 he had a tremendous year; leading the league in RBIs (119) & runs scored (136). He bashed 41 HRs with 10 triples (second in the AL) 26 doubles & 25 stolen bases, while striking out 169 times (4th in the AL). </strong></span><b style="color: blue;">He was one of the league's top outfielders as well & made the All-Star team for a second time.</b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKjX9AfXy3JOi8qtlv_zoOLyYYx72_ENaspHoxPqpvBnGOFvJGRmap9zpxremQ_tEiOd0_2ZyR4f3eEhd669TqktLQqEZnL8P84_HDUuo6DZQO8xeE2yJfLGubQ5NqIC_DmKxjNWzyJv7/s1600/%2521%2521curtis-granderson222.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKjX9AfXy3JOi8qtlv_zoOLyYYx72_ENaspHoxPqpvBnGOFvJGRmap9zpxremQ_tEiOd0_2ZyR4f3eEhd669TqktLQqEZnL8P84_HDUuo6DZQO8xeE2yJfLGubQ5NqIC_DmKxjNWzyJv7/s400/%2521%2521curtis-granderson222.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><em style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;">2012: Post Season:</span></em><b> In the ALDS he hit a HR off his old Tigers teammates in Game #2 & drove in runs in three straight games. Detroit still took the Series in five games.
</b></span><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>Granderson returned to make another All Star team, hit a career high 43 HRs in 2012, driving in 106 runs. His average fell to .232, & hit a career low 18 doubles, since becoming a regular player. </strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>He struck out 195 times (second in the AL) which is the tied for 13th most in a single season all time. </strong></span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br />In 2013 he broke a bone in Spring Training when he was hit on the wrist by a pitch from pitcher J.A. Happ of Toronto. He made his season debut on May 13th but on May 24th went down again, not returning until August. In 61 games he hit .229 with 7 HRs & 15 RBIs (214) at bats.
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><i>Mets Career:</i></span><b> <span style="color: blue;">On December 6th, 2013, he signed a four-year $60 million deal with the New York Mets. Granderson was 33 years old & would wear the Mets uniform #3. David Wright was one of the first to contact Granderson after he signed, reaching out to congratulate him.</span></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8IEj2KAA311GtTsx4KOza5qwSohz8hhvTjtQAYO6k8Jld-49D3z5DGedRU2ZzmvXTr0Jg7Go02Le2FzjIh0qnsuod6IrvIZtlv5C3Hsm0D7s6cS6Ojze11O-1ql4TQGO2nxubPJTtY8/w640-h480/mets+grandy.jpg" width="640" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><strong>The Mets officially introduced him on December 10th, 2013. </strong></span><strong style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">During his introductory news conference Granderson told the media: </strong></div><div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong style="color: blue;"><br /></strong></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEQcXYh02vRGJS_6oal06kAuEOIjrI9SUxq2jzFxIT3TmyMR8Hil9gPTiYicGJLWulh_PbdDWiCAbm1LHwBXzryDnf-08Oel41FlFb27dljXQFro7ERrnDfQchvid3NZOtKiH4XDaz-4pfkSn5mvB7bBu1XPzlpIdD72hHsZ-e_oezjOXxhnOooj8PUZ1/s545/granderson.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="545" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEQcXYh02vRGJS_6oal06kAuEOIjrI9SUxq2jzFxIT3TmyMR8Hil9gPTiYicGJLWulh_PbdDWiCAbm1LHwBXzryDnf-08Oel41FlFb27dljXQFro7ERrnDfQchvid3NZOtKiH4XDaz-4pfkSn5mvB7bBu1XPzlpIdD72hHsZ-e_oezjOXxhnOooj8PUZ1/w400-h328/granderson.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Quotes- Curtis Granderson:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> “A lot of the people I’ve met in New York have always said that<br /> true New Yorkers are Mets fans. I’m excited to get a chance to see them all out there. Come out there in droves like I know you can, be very excited and eager about this upcoming season. It’s going to be fun to watch, we’re going to play hard out there for you, we’re going to be competitive and we’re going to go out there and win as many games as possible. If you haven’t been (to Citi Field), definitely come out for the first time because you’ll definitely be back.”</span></strong><br />
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfhUbD4Hbn4HtOzj3yYxls3B0Dp9td63N-WJjjwfhXkwPdFdtj00ag8Zpa0oHpvp9QzJpyDXjfwBKIELjKSBCLt_eG6dGLPXwsTsYDAYXUnDuzOawiFbhD1rohi6iKfh-LPfemVD-evs/s1600/curtis-granderson-mlb-.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>Manager Terry Collins said that the addition of Granderson “might be the best early Christmas present I’ve ever had.” He was quickly promoted by the team & became one of the faces of the new 2014 Mets.</strong></span><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0udIdJfD-9EuygLf8k1Jt6Z8ZGerYvxx3cA4HNguoXDSJaxGaFMw0drQDsxWbZlytXjOL1L4fT4j90efa9b00_veXW1C8TaU2LuJdZzHO37h1x_Z_8CmKRflSNXaJxWHzA3H22SruNNIpiOaPvaGElDl2rOQchba1ky9u1SteuD-no68NfvD9qtY8l4N/s744/granderson.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="744" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0udIdJfD-9EuygLf8k1Jt6Z8ZGerYvxx3cA4HNguoXDSJaxGaFMw0drQDsxWbZlytXjOL1L4fT4j90efa9b00_veXW1C8TaU2LuJdZzHO37h1x_Z_8CmKRflSNXaJxWHzA3H22SruNNIpiOaPvaGElDl2rOQchba1ky9u1SteuD-no68NfvD9qtY8l4N/w400-h208/granderson.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Mets fans were excited by the arrival of Granderson, but his first Mets season was not his best. With him & David Wright struggling all year, it was the difference of the Mets not being a .500 team or possibly a playoff club. </b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>Granderson made his Mets debut on Opening Day, batting clean up & playing left field. He went 0-5 in the Mets loss to the Nationals. In his third game he got two hits & drove in his first Mets run in another loss to Washington.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhi0nWLbyJUqBLNWfq5oZlVNizaitFqWrFcYYt19MGCImNdj5Fp-DNSXjMzEyRwjdAXIEcRvgx3s5KYdbNKi45T7zVyQiRoFbD7AoAzPZyLPQLzBoiRsIOBYuFaeXqIZrmek4P32iSuf3kEZDP7QvV7ZoKWUjSw2ibjm-ElYouGR_qCS0aCch8sjpfpmP/s642/granderson.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="642" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhi0nWLbyJUqBLNWfq5oZlVNizaitFqWrFcYYt19MGCImNdj5Fp-DNSXjMzEyRwjdAXIEcRvgx3s5KYdbNKi45T7zVyQiRoFbD7AoAzPZyLPQLzBoiRsIOBYuFaeXqIZrmek4P32iSuf3kEZDP7QvV7ZoKWUjSw2ibjm-ElYouGR_qCS0aCch8sjpfpmP/w400-h303/granderson.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>On April 5th, Curtis hit his first Mets HR, coming in a 6-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds.<br /></span></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"></span><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Walk Off Hits:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On April 20th after going 0-5 in a game against the Braves, he came to bat with two men on in the bottom of the 14th inning in a 3-3 tie. Braves pitcher Gus Schlosser threw a wild pitch putting runners in scoring position. Granderson's sac fly won the game with the walk off run as Kirk Nieuwenhuis scored from third.</span></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;">On April 25th, Curtis won another game with a walk off base hit coming against the Miami Marlins Steve Cishek. His single scored Omar Quintanilli who had tied up the game two batters before with an RB single to left. </span></b></span></span></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5iRIwnkfORh5hTybagv009pkg71EXy0_WBHr2sjCpwdEepRdCrgzzEVS-7QHSzAOWgekCIObi9pTn7OjVOApEwwwLDB95OrnucunDyhv4bSXdBIIXPbnRVXBHYVmyGzu7oBM3tHfdBumgbL4_Ic6i_Bw9oHEuNFIOoWD9-EfL01oCekwnN8sj6k0QV2z/s689/granderson.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="689" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5iRIwnkfORh5hTybagv009pkg71EXy0_WBHr2sjCpwdEepRdCrgzzEVS-7QHSzAOWgekCIObi9pTn7OjVOApEwwwLDB95OrnucunDyhv4bSXdBIIXPbnRVXBHYVmyGzu7oBM3tHfdBumgbL4_Ic6i_Bw9oHEuNFIOoWD9-EfL01oCekwnN8sj6k0QV2z/w640-h440/granderson.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMku8ege_NC5RdGO8BZ6pb-m8-JCUWuzFtURTB8WejXckS_085WaK3gvnOewge5plviWcSEJEAM4CkzPeU1qyDBiRrR7XOeN761a-ql8ERlblJqnSRjP-l_sPit9PsbIQ9yjWvhno8KGU/s1600/grandy+man+HRs+in+bronx.jpg" width="320" /></span><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;">But Granderson still struggled most of the month & at the end of April was hitting just .136</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></i></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Subway Series:</b></span></i><span style="color: blue; font-weight: bold;"> In his return to the Bronx for the subway series, after going hitless in the first game, he hit a two run HR off Hiroki Kuroda in the Mets 9-7 win, then hit a three run HR off Vidal Nuno in the series finale Mets win.</span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>He finally got over the .200 mark that week but fell back under the line by the end of the month. </b></span></span></div><div><strong style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">His 16 RBIs that month were the most he would have in a month, until September when he drove in 17 runs. He was most productive from May to July as he hit 14 HRs with 37 RBIs.</strong></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDjg1g4MqlpLfNuqdR6a8tzn6rTL25gGygdWXMmgRoIC4SILEyA6VoAGw8bh7Kw18SH2jTeqwDID01Bzv2q3NVtWAJHs7X3oLZhBmL4ziTc5iQUU1bXu_U0P_Rgu6N1_FSAJ7JNBttjKSk/s1600/%2521%2521i3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>On June 8th he hit two HRs off Tim Lincecum </strong></span></span><strong style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">in San Francisco </strong><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">but the Mets still fell short in a 6-4 loss to the Giants. Later that month He would hit a three run HR off Scott Kazmir at Oakland in the Mets 10-1 romp over the A's. In June he had eight </b><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><b>multi-hit</b></span><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"> games.</b></div><div><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUfsURPkFYz_aLZ-LZNxtgDEJRuiVegw_a6dS-0gr0LLCBYvh2PcK654QSoyICH8Yfp2dxHv1nu-JSXRYqEGJqd2KLz3QmG7tzHvOlSR04cgwDTQ_nkzcYWPMVB8VD-8g0G8qsCB6kQjy/w400-h263/%2521%2521curtis-granderson-e1443994660570.jpg" width="400" /></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Granderson closed out the month & started July off with back-to-back HR games in Atlanta, but both came in Mets losses. </b></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><b>On July 8th, when the Braves came to Citi Field, he homered off Luis Avilan to tie the game in the bottom of the 8th inning. The Mets won the game on Ruber Tejada's walk off base hit. The next day he homered again in a 8-3 Mets win.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></span></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">In August he slumped, batting just .147 with only one HR & 5 RBIs.</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>On September 5th, Granderson hit a three run HR off the Reds Ryan Dennick & had an RBI double to drive in a season high four runs, in the Mets 14-5 win in Cincinnati. </strong></span></span><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">He hit another HR in that series finale & drove in runs in four of five games that week. On September 8th with the Mets down 2-1 in the bottom of the 9th, Granderson tripled in Travis d'Arnaud with the tying run then scored the winning </b><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><b>run-on</b></span><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"> Wilmer Flores walk off sac fly.</b></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDjg1g4MqlpLfNuqdR6a8tzn6rTL25gGygdWXMmgRoIC4SILEyA6VoAGw8bh7Kw18SH2jTeqwDID01Bzv2q3NVtWAJHs7X3oLZhBmL4ziTc5iQUU1bXu_U0P_Rgu6N1_FSAJ7JNBttjKSk/s400/%2521%2521i3.jpg" width="400" /></span><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Record of Not Hitting to Double Plays:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On </span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><b>September</b></span><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"> 16th, he hit into a double play for the first time since May 15th, 2013, a streak of 205 games setting an MLB record.</b></div><div><strong style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></strong></div><div><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">In the final 11 games of the </b><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><b>year,</b></span><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"> he had four </b><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><b>multi-hit</b></span><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"> games, with two HRs & five RBIs in his last eight games of the season.</b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">Granderson did lead the team in walks (79) games played (155) & at bats (564). He was second to Lucas Duda in HRs & RBIs but only hit 20 HRs with 66 RBIs. He hit 27 doubles with 2 triples & 8 stolen bases posting a .326 on base % & .714 OPS. He batted a dismal .227 & struck out a team high 141 times. In right field he posted a .996 fielding % (2nd in the NL) with eight assists.</b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0O-tpL_bUcyRoZ7JQ86FHqw4KRMoNuSLP4sVdyvNqdJKVEmBFFKe0i9zXs3RQOF_20VdmghDremLE-zmxEK9DCms3FeX_nAu78K2veJxZDulhKrptoBuFsy93JexIQoCgi4c4wfVDjdYoayBZPtP8jxLnv-qxQ_rPW7OK4mBjpL7XEV_s8Uml6fTd0jiC/s870/granderson.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="870" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0O-tpL_bUcyRoZ7JQ86FHqw4KRMoNuSLP4sVdyvNqdJKVEmBFFKe0i9zXs3RQOF_20VdmghDremLE-zmxEK9DCms3FeX_nAu78K2veJxZDulhKrptoBuFsy93JexIQoCgi4c4wfVDjdYoayBZPtP8jxLnv-qxQ_rPW7OK4mBjpL7XEV_s8Uml6fTd0jiC/w640-h406/granderson.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOhL_ArQu4KbNU5m_Z6V3a8AQqBikDPP0xY37lCv0eCBbcgx9qkD1indwNms1hiNocdKKCUjpMe1xgltiSzcSt3CsGOXIS3-QYzpNCNngx6uiiNzYBLUZTCl1xIe-EbCsHWK5Jr82CHE0/s400/%2521%2521hi-res-47b44c65e835d05020b6f9d27fa965e2_crop_north.jpg" width="400" /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><i>2015 NL Championship Season:</i></span><span style="color: blue;"><b> Terry Collins came up with the idea of putting Granderson in the leadoff spot, a position the Mets needed help in. Granderson agreed & after a slow start it all worked out great. </b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Granderson worked hard with hitting coach Kevin Long, he became more patient & although he wasn't hitting for high averages, he drew more walks. This led to a higher on base percentage (.364) & more runs scored. In 2015 he would score 98 runs (sixth most in the NL).</b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjULgMyMzjwoJ0YipdjiGLhFItd6hN7PsOYYhfD3neKZiGblXqCiuEBJqqSezhiEJ_YTY6Fy3PGfwuNlrSn67qQx4Af-fKcz4rnat38gch5tsSwzQCS6Hf6lj87AidO5E4uCbVeSAool9eCU1yfPUyRG2zVsvmCtR8BPRnMtUqYhGj0UYdIcf5jF1Fjsw/s375/granderson%20opening%20day.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="246" data-original-width="375" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjULgMyMzjwoJ0YipdjiGLhFItd6hN7PsOYYhfD3neKZiGblXqCiuEBJqqSezhiEJ_YTY6Fy3PGfwuNlrSn67qQx4Af-fKcz4rnat38gch5tsSwzQCS6Hf6lj87AidO5E4uCbVeSAool9eCU1yfPUyRG2zVsvmCtR8BPRnMtUqYhGj0UYdIcf5jF1Fjsw/w400-h263/granderson%20opening%20day.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>On Opening Day, Curtis drew two walks & scored a run in Mets 3-1 win in Wahington D.C. It took him a while to get going, not hitting over .200 until late April. During the Mets April 11 game win streak, he batted .265 with nine hits, eight runs scored & four RBIs as thing began to get better for him.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Four RBI Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On April</span><br /></b></span></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b> 21st, in </b></span></span><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">a 7-1 win over the Braves at Citi Field </b><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">Curtis had his first season high four RBI game. He collected two RBI singles & later, an RBI double in the Mets victory.</b></div><div><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><b>April 22nd, he drew an 8th inning walk then scored the game's winning run-on Lucas Duda's base hit in a 3-2 win over the Braves. In the month of April, he drew 16 walks. </b>Granderson didn't hit his first HR until late April, coming in a subway series loss in the Bronx.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0557iBl-jzIUBVlxmGoqF1dU3a4Xu1fnn2JJdh07k5rTQLrwDlBankIBAfleekY1kqHLwVdTJidSAfUcoRf14_sWCATeGDnxk8Rweeod2_Iw6eJ1aqBFe399jq9BwgV5BFgSyqdMFKO6NE8V8EBxjKZv0QHts45zW0bd55r4gHCAqxf2Oc0490gplew/s448/granderson%20vs%20brewers.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="448" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0557iBl-jzIUBVlxmGoqF1dU3a4Xu1fnn2JJdh07k5rTQLrwDlBankIBAfleekY1kqHLwVdTJidSAfUcoRf14_sWCATeGDnxk8Rweeod2_Iw6eJ1aqBFe399jq9BwgV5BFgSyqdMFKO6NE8V8EBxjKZv0QHts45zW0bd55r4gHCAqxf2Oc0490gplew/w400-h260/granderson%20vs%20brewers.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>In a mid-May three-game series with the Brewers at Citi Field, Granderson hit HRs in back-to-back Mets wins.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b><span><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Multi HR Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On June 7th, he helped Jacob deGrom to his 7th win of the year, by hitting two HRs off Arizona's Josh Collmenter in a 6-3 win over the Diamondbacks. </span></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span><span style="color: blue;"><b>From June 20th to June 28th Granderson hit .452 with 14 hits, five HRs & 7 RBIs in an eight-game span. It came during a stretch where the Mets lost nine of thirteen games, losing seven in a row at one point. On June 26th, he hit a 1st inning solo HR off the Reds Johnny Cueto at Citi Field, helping Noah Syndergaard in a 2-1 win. The next day, his HR off Michael Lorenzen was the only Mets run in a game that was suspended after seven innings, in a tie. When play resumed the next day, the Mets won it in the 13th inning.</b></span></span></span></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37g09OvT2Zqms6WVEdlcNK_xjkVeBoKerkbqbwO_bL6lJrKEoKtZ0E4j68dqbjQN9sQl3Cx7jdFEwVZACQHFCVEZbMnWzgr8YPSONVzeWAXDo-XcukqdV0Lo85WLBcIE-QNPs1ry1vI4nVlGH_U8AD3DbbnNBRcr3g-sAV0x0BbugH_gk8fJ7UFzdMw/s271/granderson16.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="271" data-original-width="226" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37g09OvT2Zqms6WVEdlcNK_xjkVeBoKerkbqbwO_bL6lJrKEoKtZ0E4j68dqbjQN9sQl3Cx7jdFEwVZACQHFCVEZbMnWzgr8YPSONVzeWAXDo-XcukqdV0Lo85WLBcIE-QNPs1ry1vI4nVlGH_U8AD3DbbnNBRcr3g-sAV0x0BbugH_gk8fJ7UFzdMw/w334-h400/granderson16.JPG" width="334" /></a></div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;">By July, he was also among the top in the league in 40 walks. Although he was batting .254 his on base % was .351.</span></b></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;">On July 28th, Granderson's 8th inning two run HR off the Padres Shawn Kelly in San Diego, helped the Noah Syndergaard in his 4-0, eight inning shutout.</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>The Mets were fighting for first place, but the team wasn't scoring runs, there was pressure on hitters like Granderson because the offense was so weak, but that all changed at the trade deadline. </b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>In August Granderson scored at least one run in 16 different games and had his best month of the regular season. By now the Mets offense became one of the most potent in the league, thanks to the arrival of Yoenis Cespedes, as well as o</b></span></span><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">ther newcomers: Miachael Conforto, Kelly Johnson & Juan Uribe.</b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Granderson added to the mix as well. On August 2nd as the Mets finished off the Mets sweep of the Washington Nationals as they moved into first place in the NL East, Granderson hit a two run HR off Jordan Zimmermann to put the Mets up 2-1. </span></b></span><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;">It was one of three HRs in the inning as Daniel Murphy & Lucas Duda also hit long balls. </span></b></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-vKh_yrgV7gEGMCvadeQo8anNxIQLbuo9ovxt1fmjFXxcTP0dnzog1X7b83W6g2Em68TvlEkYltgo08d0HttJUSqHZqx877gWi8eTCYwkeDYjV5ITZhlmqn9TyjesuD03KWqoRK1nPly/w400-h266/%2521%2521Suntitled.png" width="400" /></span>The next day he had a three-hit game while driving in two runs in a 12-1 Mets win at Miami. As the road trip moved up North to Tampa, Granderson had another multi-HR game hitting a pair of solo shots in a 5-4 Mets loss to the Rays. </b></span></span><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>He would drive in runs in the next three games having a stretch of driving in at least one run in nine of eleven games.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>On August 13th, he helped the Mets in a 12-1 win over the Colorado Rockies by contributing with his 20th HR of the year, a two-run shot off Eddie Butler, as he drove in three runs in the victory.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEshH5n6U6tYaZlwoY3UtEwbk6fYgwf3nXN3noIFoQdMqakiz2zkRPiyaQKrY5azI_vtseIgUy2O-UpfSX-zvwBh8Hem4uGg-e8B-nFM2EjtmzAayA-5fmhZ49PmhIs5S6ZiYLkCts60AD/s400/mlbf_524299283_th_45.jpg" width="400" /></span><span><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Multi HR Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On August 18th he had this third </span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><b>multi-HR</b></span><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"> game of the year, hitting a pair off the Orioles Kevin Gausman in a 5-3 win at Baltimore's Camden Yards. </b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b style="font-family: trebuchet;">On that road trip Granderson had 14 hits, with seven extra-base hits in an </b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>eight-game</b></span><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"> span, batting .378. </b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b style="font-family: trebuchet;">On August 31st, his two run HR off the Phillies Jerad Eickhoff led the Mets in a 3-1 win at Philadelphia. </b></span></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;">August would be Curtis' best run producing month on the season, as he drove in 22 runs, as he collected 31 hits with 14 walks 7 HRs & 23 runs scored. </span></b></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_E-8oN1t1VjnAtAYiIuVNOlSpPYJn97GtcgEKya2egVhqm3cN_9hfEbw5Cb8fyLEOJBeK1eJ9LLDKluPhypxMacSAiA2msPtZRXJJcy7iR3hiJxHVyhnZbY4kxbVsJAR8C4VMk3h4Qsjm1pEg5lO_DwYh-rW8P7rOMfSyoBwTFQ-hn-37Ea_Avp-FTrM/s851/granderson.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="851" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_E-8oN1t1VjnAtAYiIuVNOlSpPYJn97GtcgEKya2egVhqm3cN_9hfEbw5Cb8fyLEOJBeK1eJ9LLDKluPhypxMacSAiA2msPtZRXJJcy7iR3hiJxHVyhnZbY4kxbVsJAR8C4VMk3h4Qsjm1pEg5lO_DwYh-rW8P7rOMfSyoBwTFQ-hn-37Ea_Avp-FTrM/w400-h248/granderson.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>The Mets had entered the month one game back of first & finished up 6.5 games on top in first place.</span></b></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;">On September 13th with the Mets down 3-2 to the Braves in Atlanta, Granderson doubled with the bases loaded in the 7th inning putting the Mets ahead 4-3. The Mets went ahead but the Braves tied it going into extra innings. He added an RBI in the 10th inning, as Braves pitcher Edwin Jackson walked three batters & gave up a single in the 10-7 win.</span></b></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBvBW3wJHF6wkCBiGbaFAUVdY9Gjp2a-9NJ7568D7CpZHp38eC08ODAFhGwy0I0yBiGCwe07Use_8B1slmxQ1rwOR7NalFW67emVGmtzMe1H2-FRZp67FJd3GmhAUcD2WjzcCRkp2CkZAyN1S76mx04M54XLG-EYnfGPrtU9gdTthhqpCv4MfsvjoPUpL/s719/granderson.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="483" data-original-width="719" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBvBW3wJHF6wkCBiGbaFAUVdY9Gjp2a-9NJ7568D7CpZHp38eC08ODAFhGwy0I0yBiGCwe07Use_8B1slmxQ1rwOR7NalFW67emVGmtzMe1H2-FRZp67FJd3GmhAUcD2WjzcCRkp2CkZAyN1S76mx04M54XLG-EYnfGPrtU9gdTthhqpCv4MfsvjoPUpL/w640-h430/granderson.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQ6wuxT-c4tn-aYAz9idQl6txL2LEw-RsZwTRWFDazJjp9288X0AP6DfBNiBfy-QotnMX28GamR6pCBcxU-xvwxGlB6IwBUb2waCgi0VSrJIgQ4hvL0nHsAghrt9EV2O1nJfbtXmA75ZB/w400-h266/%2521mets10e.jpg" width="400" /></span><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">On September 25th, as the Mets were counting down their Magic Number to clinch the East, the </b><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">team beat the Reds in Cincinnati 12-5. Granderson hit a three run HR off JJ Hoover & added an RBI double matching his season high four RBIs in the 12-5 win.</b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Mets Clinch NL East:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> The next day Saturday September 26th, the Mets clinched the NL Eastern title with a 10-2 win over the Reds. Granderson hit his 25th HR of the year, one three Mets HRs in the game as he had another multi hit game. </span></b></span></span></div><div><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></b></div><div><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="662" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglKSKAXYEpis6gtSMGeLsJ_FBdouNrClALVNXBi-mFrZaRf-oc2rKqu6J9Ncw5s0tkTsNvGkc162IGtWf_oeolLudui9N8Xwgy3k8URNzBUYVyDeReEgH2Z2t-rn4K4YcryQY9JOL9yZ-/w400-h278/2.JPG" width="400" /></span><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">He closed out the year with a HR, driving in the only run in the last regular season game of the year, as the Mets beat the Nat's 1-0 at Citi Field.</b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEshH5n6U6tYaZlwoY3UtEwbk6fYgwf3nXN3noIFoQdMqakiz2zkRPiyaQKrY5azI_vtseIgUy2O-UpfSX-zvwBh8Hem4uGg-e8B-nFM2EjtmzAayA-5fmhZ49PmhIs5S6ZiYLkCts60AD/s1600/mlbf_524299283_th_45.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Granderson closed out the 2015 regular season leading the club in hits (150) runs scored (98) walks (91) on base % (.364%) & games played (157). He was fourth in the NL in games.</span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: blue;">He was second on the club in HRs (26) doubles (33) RBIs (70) & OPS (.821) while batting .259. </span></b></span><strong style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">He did strike out 151 times (7th most in the NL). He was the Mets main right fielder playing 149 games there, making just four errors overall posting a .983 fielding % with nine assists (4th most in the NL).</strong></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23Wc791bFt6LgpOdrjP21AYXURR2XPVVS9Te0mDcH_x-vDwyKxwEQsq0L2BiYk8WnyETpjGw1OrnptGJbgjyuMj9tBTkMiIBF9Bh6Ooqqv1nkdV84ZraSE_XQNmeaSJBmb96uJBu6JpF1/s1600/1.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="671" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23Wc791bFt6LgpOdrjP21AYXURR2XPVVS9Te0mDcH_x-vDwyKxwEQsq0L2BiYk8WnyETpjGw1OrnptGJbgjyuMj9tBTkMiIBF9Bh6Ooqqv1nkdV84ZraSE_XQNmeaSJBmb96uJBu6JpF1/s400/1.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><i>2015 Post Season:</i></span><span style="color: blue;"> This was Granderson's fifth post season appearance getting to his second World Series, the first was with the Detroit Tigers in 2006. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><i>2015 NLDS:</i></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span>In Game #1 of the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he went 2-3 with a walk against Clayton Kershaw, as the Mets went on to a 3-1 win behind Jacob deGrom. </span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: blue;">In Game #2 against Zack Grienke he collected two more hits in the Mets 5-2 loss.</span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyw6h77qb5m2Y8-5_t8KDoBbE18fn1Fmrcl9YRooFbjZypVNYhsVbw5o-ykq2bVS8vXGb30n8LqOEbA294vdhY894kSBQExkl1QYIWUtBHwvIRuDHBEE9sRWTBjbWgMaUi1tXPbAX2jORC7_gxUzFBF2sI4CaA2XSkEGt17R8M54pVbyZhwGexSV8TXA/s452/Capture.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="452" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyw6h77qb5m2Y8-5_t8KDoBbE18fn1Fmrcl9YRooFbjZypVNYhsVbw5o-ykq2bVS8vXGb30n8LqOEbA294vdhY894kSBQExkl1QYIWUtBHwvIRuDHBEE9sRWTBjbWgMaUi1tXPbAX2jORC7_gxUzFBF2sI4CaA2XSkEGt17R8M54pVbyZhwGexSV8TXA/w400-h259/Capture.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Five RBI Post Season Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> In Game #3 at Citi Field </span></span></b></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Granderson had one of his biggest nights ever & one of the biggest RBI nights in Mets post season history. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">In the bottom of the 2nd inning the Mets were down 3-1, Granderson came up with the bases loaded & delivered a three run double off Bret Anderson to deep center field putting the Mets ahead 4-3.</span></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: blue;">The Citi Field crowd went wild as Granderson clapped his hands and revved up the team. </span></b></span></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;">In the 7th inning he collected his second double of the night, this time off J.P. Howell, driving in Wilmer Flores & Travis dArnaud making it a 14-3 Mets lead. </span></b></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-ruhyphenhyphenoPlKqTbRiI7aCDqlgBY1AJ-4aTNvRw4egnR5_vHorw7BzP_9eumfgvHbH8D3bfDk68-ip8FW0R9StVghc1KdqFvPUCYdkkq8cq_xnlNDsBgoNhow38VXiF1DN6GVw22irwvlYiunFlK9N6ZdOepoLcjWY_p-fDuIlisNt34DWsv9kIUZaSVJk61/s691/granderson.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="691" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-ruhyphenhyphenoPlKqTbRiI7aCDqlgBY1AJ-4aTNvRw4egnR5_vHorw7BzP_9eumfgvHbH8D3bfDk68-ip8FW0R9StVghc1KdqFvPUCYdkkq8cq_xnlNDsBgoNhow38VXiF1DN6GVw22irwvlYiunFlK9N6ZdOepoLcjWY_p-fDuIlisNt34DWsv9kIUZaSVJk61/w640-h432/granderson.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">
<b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b><b><span><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Trivia:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9c6ZzY9Z6ZF3byS71rN5tCTH4plTasrICRfv0vOwYb-U3HLPAipdwD-yWf05Ss6TfZVZBKynCFVPLo2K8QRMDLXidv8_-iT6y0g5qroJ2JLgfoSW3llCwaOdK5O7ujauQ-aSwaDRc2jtV/s400/%2521%2540curtis-granderson.jpg" width="400" /></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"></span> The five RBI night was the fourth in Mets post season history, matching Rusty Staub (1973 World Series) Edgardo Alfonzo (1999 NLDS) & Carlos Delgado (2006 NLCS). </span></span></b><b><span style="color: blue;">Lucas Duda would tie the mark with his two HRs & five RBIs in Game #4 of the NLCS the following week.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">In NLDS Game #5 at Dodger Stadium, Granderson led off with an infield single, then he would score the first run of the game on Daniel Murphy's double. The Mets went on to a 3-2 win & advanced to the NLCS.</span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: blue;">In the NLDS he batted .389 (7-18) with two doubles five RBIs & a .976 OPS.</span></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoxEIOhPGhmc78d5_Zh7712kuBW_3OkYCqfon6PJ3onc_jRndBwalwT3U-NyAwV-GDBSzYqmlwQNzNiLeMX_jG228WE9xyZdIVkquZJqnAyvVlejw1l8Wo1Z7lCJU1CLI_n2fpY8AFQspT/w400-h266/%2521%2521granderson2.jpg" width="400" /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoxEIOhPGhmc78d5_Zh7712kuBW_3OkYCqfon6PJ3onc_jRndBwalwT3U-NyAwV-GDBSzYqmlwQNzNiLeMX_jG228WE9xyZdIVkquZJqnAyvVlejw1l8Wo1Z7lCJU1CLI_n2fpY8AFQspT/s1600/%2521%2521granderson2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><i>20015 NLCS:</i></span><span style="color: blue;"> In Game #1 of the NLCS against the Chicago Cubs Granderson singled off Jon Lester in the 5th inning, bringing in Juan Lagares with the go ahead run. He added an RBI sac fly in the 7th inning as the Mets went on to an easy 4-2 win.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">In Game #2 Granderson contributed with two runs scored in the Mets 4-1 win behind Noah Syndergaard. He led off the Mets 1st inning with a base hit & then scored on David Wright's double.</span></b><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDUjx7gZM0enJGZ7g_QnqCzNlzzaOWYfy1xmyDUhAizQ-HgK8Wm8inR7O1RN7FVJarZnkeYidl08BswevmMMKvDFgmgOBTrRmFUN_Ld-hiKdkbRtRabPn8MdXDpXPE6NhaH9oFb_duSRd/s400/%2521%2521STEAL.png" width="400" /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>In the 3rd he drew a leadoff walk & then did something the Mets didn't do much all year, he stole two bases reaching third base. Granderson then scored on Yoenis Cespedes RBI sac fly. </b></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">In the 2nd inning he also made an outstanding leaping catch in right field to rob Chris Coughlan of a HR.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">After going hitless in Game #3 he went 1-4 with another stolen base & run scored in Game #4, scoring on Lucas Duda's 1st inning HR.</span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: blue;">In the NLCS he batted .200 (3-15) with two RBIs, three runs scored, three steals & two walks.</span></b></span></div><div><strong style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></strong></div><div><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18oalAbQwDWYAmnZOMBQaWavjGWRbxb0VpgrlkaVnWypiXXiKKndqGVyDk9-h654-hk3iTvj0pmtZ78m3LVEFkH3vEEKNuchvTyfsrHiQhTIXRjXBqmaNr8LJwzvxwA4noUeqTFicjkpJ/s400/%2521%2540World_Series_Gm3.jpg" width="400" /></span><strong style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><i>2015 World Series:</i></span> Granderson was one of the most potent bats for the Mets in the World Series as he would tie another Mets record by hitting three HRs in the World Series. </strong></div><div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>In Game #1 at Kansas City, he hit a 5th inning solo HR off Edinson Volquez putting the Mets ahead 2-1. He would also draw two walks in the 5-4 Mets loss.</strong></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>In Game #2 he was hitless with a walk in the 7-1 loss.</b></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">In Game #3 at the Series moved to Citi Field, he led off the Mets home 1st with a base hit & then scored on David Wright's HR. In the 3rd inning "the Grandy Man" blasted a two run HR off Yordano Ventura putting the Mets ahead 4-3. The Mets would win the game 5-3 behind Noah Syndergaard's six innings for their only series win.</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhinjv8K5RiTEmFVpTIcf_iUR3a4HFkvjdyUc5Mvwrun7mXdIMH85YnP2Gi8J_vZ8Drh9U0WoNRCxyPaU3QfzihDo4OJavD2Yfukcw5oCpKccRSddQ_BwXpzYh4Dm-CPKTHVi9ZnekMTs-9Vaz6ZCWGUuPXd-c07ds_XqybRNrxnRwhMgiMRO2RE-qp2V94/s883/granderson.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="883" height="413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhinjv8K5RiTEmFVpTIcf_iUR3a4HFkvjdyUc5Mvwrun7mXdIMH85YnP2Gi8J_vZ8Drh9U0WoNRCxyPaU3QfzihDo4OJavD2Yfukcw5oCpKccRSddQ_BwXpzYh4Dm-CPKTHVi9ZnekMTs-9Vaz6ZCWGUuPXd-c07ds_XqybRNrxnRwhMgiMRO2RE-qp2V94/w640-h413/granderson.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhD0iqP6rJhi5fDSEnVeKM_wH9O-NTM3bWkLYQ98GVbbopkWSLbxgglZxVcjE-6ggi_qPs2hEdOxpP80uChVAszGmuHVgDoS2lpm9-JARXFL5xLZt17uAkldB1dzP6-TG6QmpYJms-Gyi/s400/%2521%2521%2523untitled.png" width="400" /></span><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">In Game #4 </span></b><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">following Michael Conforto's HR, </span></b><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">his sac fly in the 3rd inning put the Mets up 2-0. He would also collect a 7th inning single in the 5-3 loss. </span></b></div><div></div><div><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><b>In the final Game #5 Grandy hit a leadoff HR in the Mets 1st inning. In the 6th inning he led off with a walk, advanced & scored on Lucas Duda's sac fly putting the Mets up 2-0. They would lose the lead, the game & the Series.</b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><b>In the World Series he hit .250 (5-20) with three HRs five RBIs four walks & six runs scored. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLrsPF5V1DPmNodTaykoTeXGsljNE-VLNkGA2O5iDr_eFxffB2__-5gun0EGrFA7bFmd5KPc82tF_ws1QcuJHxtsyBcVUP4J3SDvGLBVOTNhqEpIpV3nS48Tp0jtuslxpoRLxT9VOG6pwTjWWnJHY0Pqln-Hz9RiRbs_T0uCdEXeaE8Yy2a-KQuPYTg/s400/granderson6.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="400" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLrsPF5V1DPmNodTaykoTeXGsljNE-VLNkGA2O5iDr_eFxffB2__-5gun0EGrFA7bFmd5KPc82tF_ws1QcuJHxtsyBcVUP4J3SDvGLBVOTNhqEpIpV3nS48Tp0jtuslxpoRLxT9VOG6pwTjWWnJHY0Pqln-Hz9RiRbs_T0uCdEXeaE8Yy2a-KQuPYTg/w400-h266/granderson6.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">P</span></i></b></span><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">ost Season Stats:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> Overall, he had a fine post season batting .280 with 15 hits (15-63) three HRs </span></b><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;">twelve RBIs nine walks ten runs scored & three stolen bases.</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;">After the Pennant:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> In 2016, Granderson remained a steady in the Mets line up, as one of the few players who did not spend time on the DL. At age 35, he was the oldest position player on the club & was second to Bartolo Colon overall in age. </span></strong></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></strong></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><span style="color: blue;">Granderson led the team in games (150) at bats (545) runs scored (88) triples (5) & strike outs (130).</span></strong></span><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Grand Slam / Five RBI Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcR58NXyW1__v-y8aCKG6TfE4qnFcViaRxadF9wdQeZTWhf6Pf4m_4EObWzWJ9x8pBCgBUG4B_7KdbOg2C0A8Ys8U_cDfnLsT1a0erXQLT2vPEo_yOkFw7Pe6K8rKlSgYjtodZqNFAJVnt/w400-h266/2016-05-28T023552Z_1214268898_NOCID_RTRMADP_3_MLB-LOS-ANGELES-DODGERS-AT-NEW-YORK-METS.jpg" width="400" /></span> On April 22nd, in a 6-3 win over the Braves in Atlanta, Granderson hit two HRs off Bud Norris, including a 2nd inning grand slam. It was his sixth career grand slam & first as a Met.</span></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>On May 17th, his HR off Max Scherzer helped Noah Syndergaard, who pitched seven shutout innings, to a 2-0 win over the Washington Nat's at Citi Field.</b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Walk Off HR:</i></span><span style="color: blue;"> On May 27th, Curtis came to bat leading off the bottom of the 9th inning of a 5-5 tie with the Dodgers. He blasted a walk off HR to right field off Pedro Baez for a 6-5 </span></b></span><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;">Mets </span></b><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;">win.</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ItLX5dcLX5Susw6K54nPkS1COTRFtXEYkJdzNjoMELPc9XS8GhzeC0LXEvzmaFI7WuExG19c_vzOhcicpMqsuKlF0rOHvbJO-jZyeHxcvzR73htFPF32skTtYzQ-V8p_c7EF8iQowz3N/s1600/Curtis_Granderson.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"><i>Trivia:</i></span><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ItLX5dcLX5Susw6K54nPkS1COTRFtXEYkJdzNjoMELPc9XS8GhzeC0LXEvzmaFI7WuExG19c_vzOhcicpMqsuKlF0rOHvbJO-jZyeHxcvzR73htFPF32skTtYzQ-V8p_c7EF8iQowz3N/s400/Curtis_Granderson.jpg" width="400" /></span> On June 9th, he hit a leadoff HR off the Pirates Jimmy Nelson, it was his 17th lead off HR as a Mets player, the most in franchise history in that category.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>Granderson struggled to stay above the .200 mark until mid-June. He did hit four HRs in the first half of June then wouldn't hit another until July 1st. </b></span></span><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;">He then homered in back-to-back games, helping the Mets to wins over the Cubs & Marlins.</span></b></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b style="font-family: trebuchet;">After a July 17th HR in Philadelphia, he would not hit another </b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>unit</b></span><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"> August 3rd in the subway series. In that game he also drew three walks in the Mets loss.</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="981" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5kB9ZupbjZnu6Lv5RMVJoCmR5w7ou29kZSbiE1g3HmBFRsYTI2fB2QpO1C2geNivwkhNygDNpxzX5I3nOM-hkj2D3CslcExgRLIOvfS1H7Ebt00SD1XRZgz680yF9FCrWH_nq0gNb7Xn/s400/4.JPG" width="400" /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>In August he had his biggest slugging month where he blasted six HRs, but just like he did all season, did not drive in may runs only nine in the entire month. </b></span></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: blue;">At one point he was on rate to hit thirty HRs & drive in the least amount of runs of anyone in MLB history.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">On August 30th he had another multiple HR game, hitting two while driving in three runs in the Mets 7-4 win at Citi Field over the Miami Marlins. It was his 21st & 22nd HRs of the year.</span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX50OFtDWSyl-JqvCcgjuzcbPBn2tJnj5XcsNcxJtCBbI4Um_gN_EQTsxORAXzWZlb-BT0rUdVmGnPbxwduhVMrzOz98_N02qi-ACBsmjCaGIEdV_qi8Uu1sg2sHO_bTGw-QtEt7z5E7yu/s400/EP-309179763.jpg" width="322" /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Granderson had a big September, showing his classy veteran leadership, hitting eight HRs driving in twenty runs, while hitting safely in 19 of 28 games as the Mets chased a wild card playoff spot. </span></b><br />
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX50OFtDWSyl-JqvCcgjuzcbPBn2tJnj5XcsNcxJtCBbI4Um_gN_EQTsxORAXzWZlb-BT0rUdVmGnPbxwduhVMrzOz98_N02qi-ACBsmjCaGIEdV_qi8Uu1sg2sHO_bTGw-QtEt7z5E7yu/s1600/EP-309179763.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>From September 3rd to September 9th, he drove in ten runs over a span of five straight games. On September 4th in a 5-1 win over the Nat's, he started with a 1st inning sac fly bringing in the first run & then hit a two run HR for a three RBI game.</b></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>On September 9th in a 6-4 win over the Braves in Atlanta, he hit his 26th HR of the year, a two-run shot off Julio Tehren then added an RBI single in the 8th as well drawing two walks while scoring two runs.</b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b><span><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Walk Off HR: </span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b>On September 17th, he had his third multi-HR game of the year as well as his second walk off HR game. In the bottom of the 11th, he led off with a HR off the Twins Brandon Kintzler to tie the game back up. </b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span><span style="color: blue;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPak6YjOgcCEIN_-JOyOS4ovTqh_KbpggE6IMj7GuZEeBngbrX7oyvOFtB8gbEnlCmKatiNyNAlDgsM5UeT5KxpJ21th_xcO8fzN3fqMaIekqBbRXHookqHG_6yPZzb_QsDA98Q18YcR4ZHLOqzX83OHGSFzWS7RQZGu8zg87IHoeGf_Xtd8-Gdlrdxw/s382/granderson%202017%20walkoff.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="382" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPak6YjOgcCEIN_-JOyOS4ovTqh_KbpggE6IMj7GuZEeBngbrX7oyvOFtB8gbEnlCmKatiNyNAlDgsM5UeT5KxpJ21th_xcO8fzN3fqMaIekqBbRXHookqHG_6yPZzb_QsDA98Q18YcR4ZHLOqzX83OHGSFzWS7RQZGu8zg87IHoeGf_Xtd8-Gdlrdxw/w400-h309/granderson%202017%20walkoff.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>In the bottom of the 12th, Gandy Man then he connected off reliever Ryan O'Rourke for the game winning HR. </b></span></span><b><span><span style="color: blue;">The win put the Mets ten games over .500 keeping them atop the wild card heap.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b><b><span><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Trivia: </span></i><span style="color: blue;">He became just the eighth player in MLB history to hit multiple HRs in an extra inning game. </span></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: blue;">On September 27th he drove in three runs in Miami as the Mets went on to a 12-1 win. </span></b><br />
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWEKplHG29sKgTZJcDQR8-BUIUtrL-8it1Xjh3lco5sf4S1IAjw47kZ3m_69oBjD4BD_L7MtWGKVn8ZPKaQoHpFWmIJLRJ_UPso0jie2C5FW-J2rzLnHDuYrMejOHcsXugxAuQ8xkftzj/s1600/06METS3-master1050.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>On October 1st as the Mets clinched the top Wild Card spot & second straight appearance in the post season in back-to-back season, Granderson contributed with three hits & two runs scored.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWEKplHG29sKgTZJcDQR8-BUIUtrL-8it1Xjh3lco5sf4S1IAjw47kZ3m_69oBjD4BD_L7MtWGKVn8ZPKaQoHpFWmIJLRJ_UPso0jie2C5FW-J2rzLnHDuYrMejOHcsXugxAuQ8xkftzj/s320/06METS3-master1050.jpg" width="210" /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>He finished the year with 30 HRs, the most in his three-year Mets career. It was the fourth time in his career he topped the 30 HR mark. His 30 HRs were second to Yoenis Cespedes on the team. </b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>He batted .237 with 129 hits, 24 doubles 5 triples just 59 RBIs. Once again, he led the team in runs scored (88). He walked 74 times with a .335 on base % & .799 OPS.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>In right field he posted a perfect fielding % (.100%) best in the NL. He played 140 outfield games, 110 in right field making 8 overall assists.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><i>2016 NL Wild Card Game:</i></span><span style="color: blue;"><b> Granderson went 0-4 in the NL Wild Card Game loss, against the San Francisco Giants. He made an outstanding late inning catch saving two runs from scoring & keeping the game a shutout.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium; font-style: italic;"><i>Honors:</i></span><span style="color: blue;"><i style="font-size: large;"> </i>In 2016 he was the recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award</span></b></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYP0W-yhq_SFqC-2p26JCG0lbNWn0NmQb39_uTeIXehpCjL0kBqOeP1ODKOnw5Hs53BZr7M2NBQlk9k4QbVpgC270LcG7VGU8L4L52hvmzCRyAN1eag_m1ycGLwM2CNQxs7LGxjzgO33BBPdMmOzOjTpla573XezgWPGr45X0Uss_c8tCgsUXk1rSiTcpM/s891/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="891" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYP0W-yhq_SFqC-2p26JCG0lbNWn0NmQb39_uTeIXehpCjL0kBqOeP1ODKOnw5Hs53BZr7M2NBQlk9k4QbVpgC270LcG7VGU8L4L52hvmzCRyAN1eag_m1ycGLwM2CNQxs7LGxjzgO33BBPdMmOzOjTpla573XezgWPGr45X0Uss_c8tCgsUXk1rSiTcpM/w640-h408/Capture.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></b></div><div><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="594" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS-h2VgTAHM7FBAV8Ik8ax7OyN5rqlzJ3-PNCSiWHvZy5CLqdJzzKm8w4g7lKkU8ZQ70RBH7lPfCQbMlKb0rT5oWDSAxl6wJZIgs2y_x6P7nGjbgB9JZu0Bl8rSpg4W2RIh0rJhuh5dhBk/s400/New%252BYork%252BMets%252Bv%252BMiami%252BMarlin.jpg" width="400" /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">2017:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> the Mets would send away most of their veteran players whose contracts were to expire. The club had a disastrous year & they had to cut payroll, as well as start to rebuild.</b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>Granderson struggled as well, he di not get above the .200 level until the start of June. By that time, he had just four HRs as well. On May 5th, he helped the Mets come back from a 7-1 deficit to the Miami Marlins, hitting a two run HR at Citi Field.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">300th Career HR:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On June 14th, he hit his 300th career HR, it came off the Cubs Carl Edwars in a 9-4 win over Chicago at Citi Field.</span></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div><div><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="395" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxW5H9YWgycQgHcriJ-aT7Z-sq0-Vo9Drd1A1JNVkPI5JM8LKNgZHO6s23RbD1RAc82tlAnxXAi3n65F0q_6VDH8dkbAxVqaizm-fuFs2olIi2FHXNyxz44IM3c9DcfrENGdpj1Ndy421/w212-h320/Curtis%252BGranderson1.jpg" width="212" /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>In June he hit eight HRs as his bat livened up, he hit HRs in back-to-back games at Los Angeles, collecting five hits in those two games, but the Dodgers swept the Mets in the four-game series. </b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>Just three days later as the Mets moved to San Francisco, Granderson homered in two of those games, back-to-back then hit another in his third straight game, as the road trip moved to South Florida. From June 21st to June 30th, he hit 5 HRs & drove in 11 runs with 14 hits, bringing his average up to .237.</b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>He began July with a HR against the Washington Nat's but then did not hit another long ball for an entire month. He got another hot streak hitting six HRs from August 2nd through August 17th. Two of those HRs came against the Phillies & two came against the A.L. New York team in the subway series. </b></span></span></div><div><i style="font-family: trebuchet; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div><i style="font-family: trebuchet; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Grand Slam:</span></i><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><b> On August 17th, he hit his second career Mets grand slam. It came off Brian Mitchell in a subway series game at Citi Field. It was his seventh career grand slam.</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4F9gPNjDIYKhuTFxXPPzFD1ETeeiFbKdymgtYU0BhMvCbVJDvUvCxQpO1mIPPKjmBcAZhR8GE08qEYaJwbKt3wC2_9OE-5MpGdJVIQQ5Ycq743TqR5ljTnXhWroscx0svJUIWK1oSryG4qlw1pLcZu-ZuLLhTxC7Jdv4-ZOalSk8knjk75ubYjWDd9w/s424/granderson%20grandslam.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="424" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4F9gPNjDIYKhuTFxXPPzFD1ETeeiFbKdymgtYU0BhMvCbVJDvUvCxQpO1mIPPKjmBcAZhR8GE08qEYaJwbKt3wC2_9OE-5MpGdJVIQQ5Ycq743TqR5ljTnXhWroscx0svJUIWK1oSryG4qlw1pLcZu-ZuLLhTxC7Jdv4-ZOalSk8knjk75ubYjWDd9w/w400-h274/granderson%20grandslam.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>It was also his last game as a New York Met, as that night he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for a player to be named later.</span></b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mets Career Stats:</span> </span></i>Granderson had a solid Mets career, he will be remembered for giving it his all, being a good guy & a member of winning teams. </b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>He made a Mets World Series appearance & two post season appearances. In four years with the<br /> Mets, he played in 573 games with 484 hits 95 HRs 106 doubles 12 triples & 247 RBIs. He batted .239 with 512 strike outs & 297 walks, a .341 on base % & .784 OPS.</b></span><br />
</span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUzfyolX2IbkZSw0-BUSRjuehX4biQzzwqVy34BmxkwAkOrKlrNvKeenpDRO0DjoSkBeH7Y_gtnZk36Ao-JvD8T1kCCafE1-LWfZcSehk7n36xnwTbzaWcpxeWT55aHtYQzkRmEj2pAALz-hiwELL6sysRP1Ub9dSt4gDfrroN0Sx-dKJjNEPuwG3Hw/s400/granderson4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="400" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUzfyolX2IbkZSw0-BUSRjuehX4biQzzwqVy34BmxkwAkOrKlrNvKeenpDRO0DjoSkBeH7Y_gtnZk36Ao-JvD8T1kCCafE1-LWfZcSehk7n36xnwTbzaWcpxeWT55aHtYQzkRmEj2pAALz-hiwELL6sysRP1Ub9dSt4gDfrroN0Sx-dKJjNEPuwG3Hw/w640-h470/granderson4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jfGJgMTHajCZZmVufkltd_8YYaDSdDD471qe6I742VaHSEbvdhmsmPdHvTLNgGV7EJb9yeXM7abYJeKRkS4lDaQSrCq0l5ikRckbnJ6ckDNEdafsEjOxFWPTORiEndjLUCEA_7KuJXPopVFxgIk9LhTaRRoGb7i80v4xsE8zo1hf4WX0VtzcNTCN4w/s409/granderson%20LA.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="409" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jfGJgMTHajCZZmVufkltd_8YYaDSdDD471qe6I742VaHSEbvdhmsmPdHvTLNgGV7EJb9yeXM7abYJeKRkS4lDaQSrCq0l5ikRckbnJ6ckDNEdafsEjOxFWPTORiEndjLUCEA_7KuJXPopVFxgIk9LhTaRRoGb7i80v4xsE8zo1hf4WX0VtzcNTCN4w/s320/granderson%20LA.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Post Mets Career:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> In Los Angeles in just his third game with the Dodgers, he hit another grand slam HR, becoming the first player to hit two grand slams in the same week with different teams. The next day he stole his 150th career base.</span></b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Overall,</b></span><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"> in L.A. he was mostly a reserve player in 36 games he still hit 7 HRs with 12 RBIs although he only batted .161.</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"></span><i><span style="font-size: medium;">2017 Post Season:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> He went 0-7 in the post season for the NL Champion Dodgers. </span></b></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1400" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YCHHaAZYbU8Iasg4uSXBm-_v2P_HabtGjRfBCO2cM9aM5YA-_TXnk_KiseEj4zRDdQV7PBTbBlPqA3JgYld-u8pzEDDrSzm4o-JBqc0UAH2zXmPyPNves_TabMuzvPxafsS_gah5jduc/s400/la-1539191928-guv0sd6t65-snap-image.jpg" width="400" /></span>In the off season he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays for 2018. </span></b></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>He hit 11 HRs in 104 games before being traded to the first place Milwaukee Brewers on August 31st, 2018. Four games in Milwaukee he hit his first HR & then another a week later. In 19 games he hit 2 HRs with 3 RBIs batting .220.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b style="color: blue;"><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b style="color: blue;"><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">2018 Post Season:</span> </span></i>With the Brewers he reached his eighth post season. He went 0-2 in the NLDS win over the Colorado Rockies. In the NLCS he drove in a run with a double, in the 5-2 loss at Dodger Stadium to the LA Dodgers.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-HWrHpx-Nze-qnKSYizpE2cL3pzdoFAkzPEKGn4Qq5R2ciP1d6QqpGf_IureI6DpOJBdlVQTH8P7muHjpiDlRLM6NO7FFlhvYvPa5IDMIEGRpFHv0Qu_rpxdgRRBaXddRA-2R9BmdM-4/s320/_K_Xa6qM_400x400.jpg" width="320" /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>In 2019 he signed a minor league deal with the Miami Marlins. </b></span></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>He made the team out of Spring Training, playing as the team's main left fielder. He batted just .183 with 12 HRs & 34 RBIs. He announced his retirement in January 2020.</b></span><br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Career Stats:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> In a 16-year career, Granderson batted .249 with 1800 hits 346 doubles 95 triples 344 HRs (100th most all time) & 937 RBIs. He had 153 stolen bases with 924 walks, a .337 on base % & a .828 OPS. He had 1916 strike outs (12th most all time) in 7236 at bats in 2057 games. </b></span></span></span></div><div><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">He played 1254 games in centerfield (55th most all time) & 1897 games overall in the outfield (67th most all time).</b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">
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<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><i>Post Season Career:</i></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"> In eight post seasons he has played in 16 post season series batting .224 with 9 HRs 9 doubles 3 triples 30 RBIs & a .317 on base %.</span></b></span></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></strong></span></div>Trivia: </span></i><span style="color: blue;">The Grandy man</span><i> </i><span style="color: blue;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj56SqgVMn3EsfsczQII3-em9iOlbY9wsNr-jBwQOBBTvBQSYbtVNwVRRjjuUQqR6FUBOIi1lpdBMfFKe8vRvCC0f0DTDi7FN_XgZxsJ-WK2YbuRkg8BreFZmVDyx59_8LvU169O55Bfbl3Uz_QaLegcuCIpQ8pz13YNkHMH0s3SiAD5K7cQOkaSaeOQ/s299/granderson5.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="169" data-original-width="299" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj56SqgVMn3EsfsczQII3-em9iOlbY9wsNr-jBwQOBBTvBQSYbtVNwVRRjjuUQqR6FUBOIi1lpdBMfFKe8vRvCC0f0DTDi7FN_XgZxsJ-WK2YbuRkg8BreFZmVDyx59_8LvU169O55Bfbl3Uz_QaLegcuCIpQ8pz13YNkHMH0s3SiAD5K7cQOkaSaeOQ/w400-h226/granderson5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>is known to do a lot of charity work for the community, his foundation -Grand Kids Foundation has raised money for inner city kids across the country. </span></strong></span><span style="color: blue;"><b style="font-family: trebuchet;">He was once voted one baseball's </b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>friendliest</b></span><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"> players by Sports Illustrated.</b></span></div><div><strong style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></strong></div><div><strong style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;">He also served as an ambassador for MLB International, having gone to Italy, England, Holland, New Zealand, Japan & Africa. </span></strong></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></strong></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><span style="color: blue;">In 2013 it was announced that Granderson would put up $5 million of the $7 million cost for a<br /> new stadium at his alma mater, the University of Illinois-Chicago. The stadium will be named after him.</span></strong></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDCLFuV9LNIz6Aj4JH49hDKNnPrS8O5WlZxqsK4XN2a_M_jmH0BK4vqcfAEcFIna-VB5jaK1sRm6JcebJ-BqwGyhxnpu8JFjNtmPXCmVYjnPmvwsL7xYIvIQE4OMyZo6x7PifM2nQslbJIvCZfdZULrG7IqxKOmCbhwsgEso8D08zs-1YK1ZfJ8Mnpgw/s416/Capture.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="416" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDCLFuV9LNIz6Aj4JH49hDKNnPrS8O5WlZxqsK4XN2a_M_jmH0BK4vqcfAEcFIna-VB5jaK1sRm6JcebJ-BqwGyhxnpu8JFjNtmPXCmVYjnPmvwsL7xYIvIQE4OMyZo6x7PifM2nQslbJIvCZfdZULrG7IqxKOmCbhwsgEso8D08zs-1YK1ZfJ8Mnpgw/w400-h283/Capture.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b style="color: blue;">Starting in 2021 he served as president of the Players Alliance to increase opportunities for black athletes.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></strong></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Trivia:</span> </i><span style="color: blue;">Granderson wore his socks high in honor of the players from the old Negro Leagues. Curtis has been known to wear the slogan "Don't Think. Have fun" under the bill of his cap. </span></strong></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></strong></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><span style="color: blue;">He is a big fan of WWE Wrestling as well. </span></strong></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>Granderson resided on East 72nd St, in a luxury high rise off the East River.</strong></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Analyst:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> Curtis serves as a host for MLB on the TBS network.</span></b></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879473706233234375.post-12434733998972425942024-03-15T23:00:00.000-04:002024-03-15T23:00:00.134-04:00Rich Puig: The Mets 1971 Number One Draft Pick (1974)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZ7ntWcJXkZT8epHNRNgTIvTRGaQE_DFjzT0sOrt8b4GRhs0sLYb7n2x6aHr1oFsPMP57zWIfjXvrusH1YcCH_hR6QltcYcRqHsk2r2X_mh3VOjnzmFpumArkWTuXZZD5HdjW4RpUn6Zp/s1600/puig.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZ7ntWcJXkZT8epHNRNgTIvTRGaQE_DFjzT0sOrt8b4GRhs0sLYb7n2x6aHr1oFsPMP57zWIfjXvrusH1YcCH_hR6QltcYcRqHsk2r2X_mh3VOjnzmFpumArkWTuXZZD5HdjW4RpUn6Zp/w353-h400/puig.jpg" width="353" /></a></div>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Richard Gerald Puig</span><b> was born March 16, 1953, in Tampa Florida. </b></span><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">The five foot ten, infielder was still attending Tampa’s Hillsboro High School in 1971, when he was selected by the New York Mets as their number one draft pick (14th pick overall). The next player selected that year was Jim Rice the 15th overall pick, chosen by the Boston Red Sox. </span></b></div><div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>The left-handed hitting, right-handed throwing Puig, was more known as a solid fielder rather than a hitter.</b></span><br />
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<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">In 1972, Puig reported to A ball- Pompano Beach playing in the Florida League batting .272 while stealing 11 bases. </span></b><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">In 1973 Puig batted .292 with 14 HRs at A ball Visalia, but he would never hit that high for average or power again. Later that year he was promoted to AA Memphis & his average fell off to .208. He began 1974 at AA Victoria and was promoted to AAA Tidewater that same year. He hit .258 while posting a .964 fielding % there & got his cup of coffee that September. </span></b><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mets Career: </span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b>On September 13th, 1974, Puig made his MLB debut at Shea Stadium in a game<br /> against the Chicago Cubs. He came up as a pinch hitter in the 10th inning, of the second game of a Twi-night double header & struck out. </b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGCaRkUc4PpYgbgr2ZDoRc5qRIFcZOGfNmmYDwPXqBTTAmx0C2I8YYleXbCsT7WwXb_5nFHCHZCwdxRMixhHW9Qgrmp_-xDM1mKW-5fHdc3oWWE2jK91MWqkdaVJ53aDzuh9E0x2HfRx28-hr0AcfSUGCndiy-VfSRswnct6DqKMlBf28llMnShNbh5B4/s333/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGCaRkUc4PpYgbgr2ZDoRc5qRIFcZOGfNmmYDwPXqBTTAmx0C2I8YYleXbCsT7WwXb_5nFHCHZCwdxRMixhHW9Qgrmp_-xDM1mKW-5fHdc3oWWE2jK91MWqkdaVJ53aDzuh9E0x2HfRx28-hr0AcfSUGCndiy-VfSRswnct6DqKMlBf28llMnShNbh5B4/s320/2.JPG" width="299" /></a></div>Puig got his first start on September 14th, playing at second base. He would make three starts overall, playing in four games that September. </b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b style="color: blue;">On September 18th in a 4-0 loss at Montreal, he </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>went 0-1 & drew a walk, the only time he ever reached base. </b></span></span><br />
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<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">In September, he played three games at second base, Puig made one error & turned two double posting a .923 fielding percentage. He also played one game at third base. </span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">In 1975 & 1976 Puig spent the seasons in the Chicago White Sox minors at AA Knoxville. He never made it back to the big leagues. He is remembered as one of those early seventies “Future Stars” yearbook guys, who never quite made it.</span></b></div></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Retirement:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> Rich also known as Rick, later became a high school baseball coach.</span></span></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879473706233234375.post-9607142958728063432024-03-14T23:20:00.001-04:002024-03-14T23:20:00.130-04:00Rene Rivera: Thor's Favorite Mets Back Up Catcher: (2016-2017 / 2019-2020)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2GopS0tO3glisDVbQvshetkphvOQbQ0uJQKxZDLKdT5tSZcf7M9MW_Q7G_wjTC3xJn7KR0fU-hLueKcS9b-beP2nbQieBbLgnes4TKkLi2zU9Mo5DPm8YQi2F15kp2deLEInoER7cLs-R/s600/rene2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2GopS0tO3glisDVbQvshetkphvOQbQ0uJQKxZDLKdT5tSZcf7M9MW_Q7G_wjTC3xJn7KR0fU-hLueKcS9b-beP2nbQieBbLgnes4TKkLi2zU9Mo5DPm8YQi2F15kp2deLEInoER7cLs-R/w266-h400/rene2.jpg" width="266" /></a></div></span></b></div><div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Rene Rivera</span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b> was born July 31st, 1983, in Bayamon Puerto Rico. </b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>In 2001 the five-foot ten right hand hitting catcher was signed out of high school as a second-round pick of the Seattle Mariners. Rivera was never known for his hitting but as a solid defensive backstop.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">MLB Career:</span></i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b> Rene spent four seasons in the minor leagues getting a 2004 cup of coffee in two games for the Mariners. In 2005 he spent most of the season with AA San Antonio & AAA Tacoma but had two separate callups in June & September for 16 games at the big league.</b></span><br /><br /><b style="color: #2b00fe;">In 2006, Rene was catcher Kenji </b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>Jojima's</b></span><b style="color: #2b00fe;"> back up getting into 35 games with the Mariners, hitting just .152 with 2 HRs & 4 RBIs in 99 at bats.</b><br /><br /><b style="color: #2b00fe;">In 2007 the Mariners kept him in the minors to learn</b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="color: blue;"><b>better defensive skills & hoping he would hit more. At the end of the season, he was granted free agency & signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. </b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3K2SFLMhjpvB8_TPa2TDQwpRPNOtKzzk05n63lxC5A1T-PZ08YHRBZ6koBxzwUsIWXQR_oMveuUHvciVQBEDM7DwojNfsv2hAXH8ANYqNiiFJeM_c2hVwp0gZWyxYe3qHPf1JFCLeyfFsfJW-dr9UPJ2GXQkDrSJEviU6xfftBvNE_D53FJ3ElJn_88SG/s362/rene%20rivera.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="362" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3K2SFLMhjpvB8_TPa2TDQwpRPNOtKzzk05n63lxC5A1T-PZ08YHRBZ6koBxzwUsIWXQR_oMveuUHvciVQBEDM7DwojNfsv2hAXH8ANYqNiiFJeM_c2hVwp0gZWyxYe3qHPf1JFCLeyfFsfJW-dr9UPJ2GXQkDrSJEviU6xfftBvNE_D53FJ3ElJn_88SG/w200-h189/rene%20rivera.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b>In 2008 he played n the Dodgers minor leagues where he did hit better (.250). But after the season he was granted free agency & signed with the New York Mets.</b></span></span><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mets Minor Leagues:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> In 2009 Rene spent the season with the AAA Buffalo Bisons, under manager Ken Oberkfell. He was backup catcher to Robinson Cancel, catching 74 games batting .234 with 9 HRs 34 RBIs & throwing out 27% of would-be base stealers. </b></span></span></span></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">He moved on & over the next few years signed with the A.L. New York then the Minnesota Twins. In 2010 he also played Independent Baseball at Camden New Jersey.</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXY2ZI7LjVzmcl2GynQt3n-UTX95rcBcEryj3z4qj9lT99IPpZBut_F1De8BFXpUybVok7kj2Mo-j-55Qntmx5ZuzA01T4m7PShbRwrCATkCGlDW8WtU1mII6cFpeXLlBaBGpPE0tGijKrjH8sBjU-tc56UzOCA9Ecb9206LMdjdocAQ7nVgbPKy-u6bc9/s457/rene%20rivera3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="327" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXY2ZI7LjVzmcl2GynQt3n-UTX95rcBcEryj3z4qj9lT99IPpZBut_F1De8BFXpUybVok7kj2Mo-j-55Qntmx5ZuzA01T4m7PShbRwrCATkCGlDW8WtU1mII6cFpeXLlBaBGpPE0tGijKrjH8sBjU-tc56UzOCA9Ecb9206LMdjdocAQ7nVgbPKy-u6bc9/w286-h400/rene%20rivera3.JPG" width="286" /></a></div>In 2011 he returned to the big leagues, seeing action in 45 games with the Twins behind Joe Mauer. Behind the plate, Rene threw out 40% of would-be base stealers posting a .988 fielding % but he hit just .211. </b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>After another full year at AAA, he was let go to free agency & was signed by the San Diego Padres.</b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>Rene spent two seasons in limited action with the Padres, as he threw out 56%</b><br /><b> of would-be base stealers & posted a perfect 1.000 field %earning him the chance to get noticed defensively keeping him in the big leagues. </b></span></span></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">In 2014 he was the Padres Opening Day catcher, getting that honor for the first time in his career. </span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Multi 5 Rbi Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On April 28th in San Francisco, Rene blasted a three run HR & two run<br /> double, both off the Giants Madison Bumgarner, driving in a career high five runs in the 6-4 win. </span></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmiJ2Ui0XdEhhb8_W8ac2DzJp5Ru1BN4UeJccCiaGEadQidWqkcjbWGGrvD-pOT5nRc7sp72W4KogKqsjB-D_JtuYKJKzMMZq42d3UM7VL5_dUBUbLPXeytlqMPFbIZHZz6JO2YB-GsHk3SxMDkE4vZHA1MVhYiYG45rqySoFfc2Evi3NEZnjuf9r_nSn/s477/rene%20rivera3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="477" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmiJ2Ui0XdEhhb8_W8ac2DzJp5Ru1BN4UeJccCiaGEadQidWqkcjbWGGrvD-pOT5nRc7sp72W4KogKqsjB-D_JtuYKJKzMMZq42d3UM7VL5_dUBUbLPXeytlqMPFbIZHZz6JO2YB-GsHk3SxMDkE4vZHA1MVhYiYG45rqySoFfc2Evi3NEZnjuf9r_nSn/w400-h330/rene%20rivera3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Walk Off Hit: </span></i><span style="color: blue;">On August 27th, with the Padres down 2-1 in the 9th inning, Rene tied up the game with a HR off the Brewers Francisco Rodriguez. Later in the bottom of the 10th, he singled off Zack Duke driving in the walk off game winning run.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">From September 20th to September 28th, he had three multi RBI games & drove in eight runs. </span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">That year he was the Padres main catcher (103 games) sharing time with Yasmani Grandal who also played at first base. Rivera hit 11 HRs with 18 doubles & 44 RBIs while batting .252 & a .751 OPS. At catcher, h</span></b></span><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">e threw out 36.3% of base stealers (4th best in the NL) had 66 assists (5th best in the NL) & turned seven double plays (5th most) while committing 8 errors (5th most).</span></b><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvu2cynuGwN6HbwZxse6pkzQe-jcBwP9Eh5H7UnBdT4oYCCQysEBbdk-zUB_8RTw5kU1cy6rC4sOovFOkS09XqvN-GQC404tbU4yV2IOpIpV-Ueh5kxJ9qMSZ29GCIx641hte3JurDhcT/s400/rene8.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="400" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvu2cynuGwN6HbwZxse6pkzQe-jcBwP9Eh5H7UnBdT4oYCCQysEBbdk-zUB_8RTw5kU1cy6rC4sOovFOkS09XqvN-GQC404tbU4yV2IOpIpV-Ueh5kxJ9qMSZ29GCIx641hte3JurDhcT/w400-h275/rene8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b style="font-family: trebuchet;">At the end of the season the Padres traded both Rivera & Grandal in a </b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>three-team</b></span><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"> deal, sending Rivera to the Tampa Rays. There he won over the main </b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>catcher's</b></span><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"> spot & </b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>would</b></span><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"> play in 110 games that season. </b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b style="font-family: trebuchet;">He batted .178 with 5 HRs & 26 RBIs. Rene was also the personal catcher for Chris Archer who started the most games in the AL (34) going 12-13 with a 3.23 ERA.</b></span></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">His defense was still solid throwing out 37% of base stealers making 60 assists turning 5 double plays & making 11 errors with a .987 fielding %. Rene also played seven games at first base. In two games against the Mets that season he was 1-5 with a walk. </span></b><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">That March, he got to play the Cuban National team with Tampa. </span></b></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9ud3iDcc4EGRH1f0ahAh5PmQMVgEkR8XQZ21dTgxqfli8fqSBw9NQqqJ3dwbMvktd1ewLuZLjM8zGE0d6bg_XQ5G0VFQzuSTnmfrASx4KxHQ9SUOZBNhVBs1i9L9gQyY_EGOgxtFDnT4/s400/rene3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="355" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9ud3iDcc4EGRH1f0ahAh5PmQMVgEkR8XQZ21dTgxqfli8fqSBw9NQqqJ3dwbMvktd1ewLuZLjM8zGE0d6bg_XQ5G0VFQzuSTnmfrASx4KxHQ9SUOZBNhVBs1i9L9gQyY_EGOgxtFDnT4/s320/rene3.jpg" /></a></div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Mets Career:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> He was released in Spring Training, then signed with the New York Mets with a minor league deal, for veteran insurance. </span></span></b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b style="font-family: trebuchet;">It was a good signing as he was soon called up to replace Travis d'Arnaud who went on the </b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>15-day</b></span><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"> DL with a rotator cuff strain.</b></span></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"></span></b><span><span style="color: blue;"><b>On April 30th, Rivera debuted with the Mets in a 6-5 win against the San Francisco Giants. </b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span><span style="color: blue;"><b>On May 4th, in his second start on a rainy matinee that </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">centerfieldmaz </i><b>attended, Rene contributed with his first Mets HR, a two-run shot off Atlanta's Jhoulys Chancin in an 8-0 Steven Matz combined shut out.</b></span></span></span></div><div><strong><span><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></span></strong></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><span><span style="color: blue;">That month Rene had RBI's in two one run Mets victories, the first a 3-2 win over Milwaukee. On May 25th he had an RBI single in another Steve Matz shutout in a 2-0 win in Washington over the Nats. </span></span></strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><span><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></strong></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8n8zO7DyHoMWAno-zRscqDcbQ0sglQbINi3YXvrDTSxRxdtD4Weyb2_vLg1VhZPflUvouRdGdNBhZpnbWqudQ-3KFTwC_mfEGGrFQRpnjm3IsM8yhyphenhyphen3xAtSg5aEkkX3DjiRpNjAXiT5m/s683/syndergaard-rivera.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="683" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8n8zO7DyHoMWAno-zRscqDcbQ0sglQbINi3YXvrDTSxRxdtD4Weyb2_vLg1VhZPflUvouRdGdNBhZpnbWqudQ-3KFTwC_mfEGGrFQRpnjm3IsM8yhyphenhyphen3xAtSg5aEkkX3DjiRpNjAXiT5m/w400-h297/syndergaard-rivera.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span><span style="color: blue;"><b>In June Rene drove in runs in six of 12 games, with two multi-RBI games, although he was still struggling batting just .182. </b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><span><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></strong></span></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Thor's Personal Catcher:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> As the season went on, Rivera was handling the pitching staff well & he became Noah Syndergaard's favorite backstop. Syndergaard went 14-9 that season with a 2.60 ERA. Rivera caught Noah's last 15 starts from July onward.</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">
<strong><span style="color: blue;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: blue;">On July 3rd he homered & drove in three runs in the Mets 14-2 romp over the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field. </span></strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><span style="color: blue;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjODByO5vrvQEAgNYzJE5aAZnTZXB6DdXFbRV5eFlCSL5iwZ5geM-_Lny2q4I1xO9ZusYNgQVpC5swS1CD2tUvfAJpDoDKtzKGLirR58tgz9tJIE0qrBYwhyphenhyphenP5XEr6z78bWXuNCyRLm1r/s453/rene44.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="453" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjODByO5vrvQEAgNYzJE5aAZnTZXB6DdXFbRV5eFlCSL5iwZ5geM-_Lny2q4I1xO9ZusYNgQVpC5swS1CD2tUvfAJpDoDKtzKGLirR58tgz9tJIE0qrBYwhyphenhyphenP5XEr6z78bWXuNCyRLm1r/s320/rene44.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>On July 19th when the Mets went to Wrigley Field, Rivera's base hit RBI in the top of the 9th inning off Hector Rondon proved to be the game winning run. </span></strong></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>In August he had a three-game stretch where he drove in runs in each game. On August 25, he drove in two runs in a 10-6 Mets win at St. Louis. </b></span></span></div><div><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></strong></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><span style="color: blue;">In September he was brought in as a late inning defensive replacement when he wasn't starting, as the Mets were chasing & eventually won the wild card spot.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue;">In 2016, with the Mets catching problems of d'Arnaud's injury, Rivera was a great pickup for New York. </span></strong></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgddb8b130S9FFF7unrPy0XLwIt7CBFSpW9r9dwBi184J01kjGScIYitfULoTzD9CaYyZaO3Cebps6S3673ZgNCt0a_O9T6GmFBmgFnsX-Ht1v7RJn18wUgBsFK5m1hJrmneIXhpqW0bzFLTUt46CDCGzfBGwzn_FIpBjvHMVMBg-sLxztrIF2LUYvk6JgC/s540/rene%20rivera3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="317" data-original-width="540" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgddb8b130S9FFF7unrPy0XLwIt7CBFSpW9r9dwBi184J01kjGScIYitfULoTzD9CaYyZaO3Cebps6S3673ZgNCt0a_O9T6GmFBmgFnsX-Ht1v7RJn18wUgBsFK5m1hJrmneIXhpqW0bzFLTUt46CDCGzfBGwzn_FIpBjvHMVMBg-sLxztrIF2LUYvk6JgC/w400-h235/rene%20rivera3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: blue;"><b style="font-family: trebuchet;">He shared time with Kevin Plawecki & caught 59 games behind the plate throwing out 27% of<br /> </b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>would-be</b></span><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"> base stealers, making just two errors & posting a .996 fielding %.</b></span></div><div><strong style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></strong></div><div><strong style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;">He hit 6 HRs with 4 doubles & 26 RBIs batting .222 with a .632 OPS. </span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">2016 Post Season- Wild Card Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> Rivera got the start in the NL Wild Card game, since Syndergaard was the starting pitcher. Rivera got one of just four hits off Madison Bumgarner in the Mets 3-0 Mets loss to the Giants. </span></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;">In that game he threw out Dernard Spam attempting to steal.</span></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkoikotH6ljkcvA5BctQl48532rQ6HgfvtambjfMtmZZqf4EAMkhYRinktaDUlm6rYAfK0sC6o_m7Xev4KB_bx0V5SHRSPmpGFNRtZjeMaJZwYFK-yjuzUC8oRBp0x_hzIRiB0fitBuf-/w640-h334/rene9.jpg" width="640" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXVIZfEewL0YliDZQG8RoOqmxQwJL2lOitv8COMYt-3fnIMHKfXMpEobgqdHCRDp7viILkcqMg6eW_LfyPyhbZ2pRAqojU9QYZfwILiuOdYRytjn3wSW1gTqXGQhm78x8s_J8ON2qO8Rtf/s2048/rene11.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXVIZfEewL0YliDZQG8RoOqmxQwJL2lOitv8COMYt-3fnIMHKfXMpEobgqdHCRDp7viILkcqMg6eW_LfyPyhbZ2pRAqojU9QYZfwILiuOdYRytjn3wSW1gTqXGQhm78x8s_J8ON2qO8Rtf/w400-h266/rene11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">2017:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> Rivera began the year with Mets & started off well. In April he hit .250 having three multi-hit games, including a HR in the Mets horrific 23-5 loss to the Nationals.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>In May he batted .307 for the month, starting out with a ten-game hit streak, driving in runs in six of those games.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>On May 3rd he had three hits & drove in three runs in a 16-5 Mets win over Atlanta. In his next game he helped the Mets in a four-run comeback against the Marlins, diving in the first run of the five-run 7th inning. </b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWNGmKpoCLquDLVHu6jR2Lqskh9SDDX3A96w9QqFLG9L6XrRvNQZTqkU2yNtIN15STzExaNLmiavTU2MQC3xyHFSRDBHjvdKcJgb40pGrnLuUMo1xld66MuF9NewrlAwJDkp5zRie1RoYh74ndggHJfehKVNnK8L-Ms5V9KHBYIVSUYhQwN-4fI2y_Ao8/s500/rene%20rivera1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="500" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWNGmKpoCLquDLVHu6jR2Lqskh9SDDX3A96w9QqFLG9L6XrRvNQZTqkU2yNtIN15STzExaNLmiavTU2MQC3xyHFSRDBHjvdKcJgb40pGrnLuUMo1xld66MuF9NewrlAwJDkp5zRie1RoYh74ndggHJfehKVNnK8L-Ms5V9KHBYIVSUYhQwN-4fI2y_Ao8/s320/rene%20rivera1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Rene drove in runs in four straight games, getting his average up to .320. & driving in 12 runs in the month.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Multi HR Game:</span></i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> On June 25th, in an 8-2 win over the Giants in San Francisco, Rivera hit two HRs off Matt Moore collecting three RBIs.</span></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">By August the Mets, were under .500 and pretty much out of the playoff picture. </span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">On August 16th, Rivera hit a HR in a subway series game, which turned out to be his last Mets game. Rivera was batting .230 with 8 HRs & 23 RBIs after 54 games. </span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">He was placed on waivers & picked up by the Chicago Cubs for their </span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">pennant run. </span></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Post Mets Career: </span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-weight: bold;">Rene played twenty games for </span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>The first place Cubs & the new environment had him hit .320.</b></span></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span><i><span style="font-size: medium;">2017 Post Season:</span></i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3cko0voMRaM8Yoc2rJWe1pWU71Z9gmVMeSaVCdNFozzCkceDn_DUOuvuHg7iw9NcKYxIw9LUloySo2UFJo-7FUzhR0YxmpneruINNoQb3K33yzKP1bIS2Fqhzxw-9LhPAPkYZET0kWHP/w400-h266/rene13.jpg" width="400" /></span> Rene did not play in the post season. In the NLDS the Cubs beat the Nationals but lost to the LA Dodgers in the NLCS.</span></span></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;">In 2018 Rivera played for the Anaheim Angels in 30 games & then the Atlanta Braves for three games at the end of the year.</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Return to Mets- 2019:</span></i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> In March of 2019 he signed a minor league deal with the Mets. At AAA Syracuse, he hit 25 HRs & drove in 73 runs while batting .254 in 98 games. </span></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQuWjB5xOSUpI6ygIjFwxi3etQIml3G34qJL-vMUSK9cDC7Bgdut4NYXrxkysT8YlxKgdQaJSaQgH3EE38l1KB4MevaumePU0qRZEmWSSF0wC_P2UoCeP2kV9Q_1Zuzm2C9tWsJPFAa1RR/s600/rene4.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQuWjB5xOSUpI6ygIjFwxi3etQIml3G34qJL-vMUSK9cDC7Bgdut4NYXrxkysT8YlxKgdQaJSaQgH3EE38l1KB4MevaumePU0qRZEmWSSF0wC_P2UoCeP2kV9Q_1Zuzm2C9tWsJPFAa1RR/w266-h400/rene4.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>That August, he was called up by the Mets, as they were back in the heat of another pennant race. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;">On August 25th </span></b><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;">Rene made his first return start catching Steven Matz in a 2-1 loss to the Braves. On September 2nd, he collected a pair of hits & drove in a run in a 7-2 win over the Nat's. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;">On September 28th, he & Pete Alonso both homered off the Braves Mike Foltynewicz in the 3rd inning, helping Steven Matz & the bullpen in a 3-0 shut out. The Mets swept the Braves in the important series but narrowly missed the post season. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;">In nine games Rene hit .235 (4-17) with three RBIs.</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i>2020:</i></span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;"> This year he signed another minor league deal with the Mets & got into two games in July. But his season ended when he needed surgery on his left elbow. At the end of the year he was granted free agency.</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><i>Post Mets Career:</i></span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;"><b> In 2021 Rene would play 21 games with Cleveland & four games with Washington. In 2023 he announced his retirement.</b></span></div><div><i style="font-family: trebuchet; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div><i style="font-family: trebuchet; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhwbeFIotccKpvwV0Jxv32rYBfiIX8gkLhYOqj9Sk4t_nrfeWfOQwEQFJhPB5gTHRWB-Jlno0ja1jUebnJhP-7SnfV4GDoY97sW3TPZLwoQyA0RdS7sDZ7ni7GTfCBZ4jgy9ED6_yehEkxohaTx71TD2En26GuBuqY-_VI7mNNNe4T4UreKUmMuFEMqxe/s458/rene%20rivera.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="398" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhwbeFIotccKpvwV0Jxv32rYBfiIX8gkLhYOqj9Sk4t_nrfeWfOQwEQFJhPB5gTHRWB-Jlno0ja1jUebnJhP-7SnfV4GDoY97sW3TPZLwoQyA0RdS7sDZ7ni7GTfCBZ4jgy9ED6_yehEkxohaTx71TD2En26GuBuqY-_VI7mNNNe4T4UreKUmMuFEMqxe/s320/rene%20rivera.JPG" width="278" /></a></div>Career Stats:</span> </i><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><b>In a twelve-year career, Rivera batted .221 with 330 hits 62 doubles 2 triples 43 HRs & 167 RBIs in 517 career games. He struck out 446 times with 93 walks, a .273on base & .627 OPS.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Defensively he threw out 36% of would-be base stealers & posted a .992 fielding % in 481 games behind the plate. He made 35 errors in 4014 chances, turned 31 double plays & had 277 assists.</b></span></span></div><div><span><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><i>Family:</i><span style="color: blue;"> Rene is a happy family man, married to Mariel (Perez). Mariel's father is a founding member of the El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, salsa Orchestra. Rene & Mariel have two twin daughters. </span></b></span></div></div></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Retirement:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> Rene is a coach in the MLB Draft League.</span></span></b></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879473706233234375.post-39058791462483712052024-03-14T23:10:00.000-04:002024-03-14T23:10:00.128-04:00Jacob Rhame: Former Mets Reliver Famous for Being in the Center of a Head Hunting Series (2017 - 2019)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHULpkZIqjTovz8G8Q2SDHmehRiODGjDmfPL9tpPh_4o3egn6aXGmoqFPvhGVKvp6QGrTKSUshSLTunGx6pVjsSxjZ3tc2w0SvS83SNjD92kkgiTF3mCjlaAXLRRhQS_4PBuk9PrpmqIG8/s1600/Jacob%252BRhame%252BNew%252BYork%252BMets%252BPhoto%252BDay%252BjfxjIDE5dJ-l.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="389" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHULpkZIqjTovz8G8Q2SDHmehRiODGjDmfPL9tpPh_4o3egn6aXGmoqFPvhGVKvp6QGrTKSUshSLTunGx6pVjsSxjZ3tc2w0SvS83SNjD92kkgiTF3mCjlaAXLRRhQS_4PBuk9PrpmqIG8/s320/Jacob%252BRhame%252BNew%252BYork%252BMets%252BPhoto%252BDay%252BjfxjIDE5dJ-l.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: large;">Jacob Alan Rhame </span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">was born on March 16th, 1993 in Atlanta Georgia. He began his college career at the University of Oklahoma, pitching for the Sooners. But he gained nearly 60 pounds, lost his fastball & was cut from the team. </span></b><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">He went to Grayson College then ended up at Texas State pitching for the Bobcats.</span></b><br />
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<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 6th round of the 2013 draft. He spent four years in the Dodgers organization, reaching AAA Oklahoma City in 2016 where he went 1-7. </span></b><br />
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<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">In August of 2017 he was sent to the Mets as the player to be named later in the Curtis Granderson trade.</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVNFVHk7mFvLGZl9PylEMY3mvBFqMY2cEFULeZug9VZFs7yHsp3QFSuXpXF6bW9Ue2rfMtW4orEo6z1Ed9lZyCw2gwbdEujTri1QtskPy1QdFi6IgumVicyAb2ZyrsknSLtJAdG5Zg8UbP/s1600/81JgFP9fUXL._SX466_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="466" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVNFVHk7mFvLGZl9PylEMY3mvBFqMY2cEFULeZug9VZFs7yHsp3QFSuXpXF6bW9Ue2rfMtW4orEo6z1Ed9lZyCw2gwbdEujTri1QtskPy1QdFi6IgumVicyAb2ZyrsknSLtJAdG5Zg8UbP/s400/81JgFP9fUXL._SX466_.jpg" width="400" /></a><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Mets Career:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> The pitcher with the thick glasses, got onto the Mets staff as a September call up, debuting on September 2nd in a 6-5 loss to the Astros in Houston. On September 23rd, he gave up a 10th inning game winning HR to Daniel Murphy at Citi Field as the Nat's won it 4-3. He closed out the year with a win at Philadelphia pitching two scoreless hitless innings (9-10).</span></span></b><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>In 2018 he made the staff out of Spring Training, recording his first save on April 8th against the Nat's in D.C. In May, he suffered a loss & a blown save. By late summer, he saw regular action out of the pen, finishing up games in mop up rolls. </b></span><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>On September 20th he earned his first win of the year, a two-inning relief job against the Washington Nat's on the road. </b></span><br />
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<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">For 2018 he appeared in 30 games, finishing up 15, going 1-2 with a 5.85 ERA, striking out 28 batters with 8 walks in 32.1 innings of work.</span></b><br />
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<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">2019: He spent majority of his season at AAA Syracuse going 3-2 with a 5.49 ERA in 20 games. He made his first appearance with the Mets, of 2019 on April 20th, pitching 1.1 innings of relief. </span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZhCov2WfP6YjALdeTsvWkbyqOv4RDSLWMVsUMdF6j0kVHtscjvak5J7xAkq_bBRLMqTl5ztRnhxfXugLwMvAGrqqy0LrKZJc2cphzkJHsfzxjBt6bkuMm8JCYYxpO7kkQkKaPw2PMY34/s1600/imagesP6H18QN9.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="166" data-original-width="303" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZhCov2WfP6YjALdeTsvWkbyqOv4RDSLWMVsUMdF6j0kVHtscjvak5J7xAkq_bBRLMqTl5ztRnhxfXugLwMvAGrqqy0LrKZJc2cphzkJHsfzxjBt6bkuMm8JCYYxpO7kkQkKaPw2PMY34/w400-h219/imagesP6H18QN9.jpg" width="400" /></a><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #000037; font-size: medium;"><i>Drama & Suspension:</i></span></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><i> </i>In a wild series against the Phillies, Jeff McNeil & Pete Alonso were hit by pitches of Phillies pitchers in the first game. <span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">On April 23rd, Rhame came in to finish off a 9-0 Mets pounding of the Phillies. </span></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">After getting the first two outs, Rhame sailed a fastball over the head & of Rhys Hoskins. Hoskins too a few steps to the mound, both benches got up, with a few guys taking steps onto the field. </span></span></span></b><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></span></b>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>A few pitches later, Rhame threw another pitch, over the head of Hoskins. He angrily flipped his bat as Travis d'Arnaud & the umpire walked between him & Rhame.</b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>After the game, he denied throwing at Rhame intentionally. The next night, Rhame came in to pitch again, facing Hoskins. </b></span></span></span><div><span style="color: blue;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>This time he homered & took a slow trot around the bases, as the Phils beat the Mets 6-0.</b></span></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"> </span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>Two </b></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>days later Rhame, received a two-game suspension from the league. He was sent down to the minors after that, returning three months later.</b></span></span></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAPrOpabZki13W8UY-7q2QAxLeX16KPn8HWi5jPRW9JeAweMfkYuCwPnYBjm9GzHmmFD3iQ9eMxO2uVLQ6TTdB1P939aZbuiimdo72FHs8Bxg4cGA0U1GtsYJbbP5uVg9rRG8g-72rSLq/s1600/34235.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="600" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAPrOpabZki13W8UY-7q2QAxLeX16KPn8HWi5jPRW9JeAweMfkYuCwPnYBjm9GzHmmFD3iQ9eMxO2uVLQ6TTdB1P939aZbuiimdo72FHs8Bxg4cGA0U1GtsYJbbP5uVg9rRG8g-72rSLq/w400-h290/34235.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: blue;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>On July 24th, he came into a tie game in San Francisco. He walked the leadoff batter, then with two outs, Pablo Sandoval reached on a short fly ball to left field. It was ruled an error, but the winning run scored as Rhame took the loss. </b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>He returned in August & needed surgery on</b></span></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue; font-weight: bold;"> his elbow, ulnar nerve ending his season. In just five games he was 0-1 with a 4.26 ERA.</span></span><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: blue;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: blue;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">In 2020 he was granted free agency & signed with the Padres but was released in April 2021.</span></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: blue;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div><span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Career Stats: </span></i><span style="color: blue;">In a three-year career he is 2-4 with a save & a 6.23 ERA. He has 62 strike outs with 24 walks in 47.2 innings of work in 44 games.</span></b></span></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879473706233234375.post-88189460281571867412024-03-14T23:00:00.001-04:002024-03-14T23:00:00.125-04:00Al Luplow: Mid Sixties Mets Outfielder (1966 - 1967)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZY6RoAL3l9hmE_THOZNN10yMlzI9H2tcL19iuHuREQA9FPPHIG71vvMxMYmMTxc0BhhsuDUfUQhikzR4xcX7aTlxkZhrDmfFswTGV9hsjezQr4R6POVtxhnFPswpQH1hXBUuLzKWfc_S7/s1600/Al+Luplow+%252813%2529.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZY6RoAL3l9hmE_THOZNN10yMlzI9H2tcL19iuHuREQA9FPPHIG71vvMxMYmMTxc0BhhsuDUfUQhikzR4xcX7aTlxkZhrDmfFswTGV9hsjezQr4R6POVtxhnFPswpQH1hXBUuLzKWfc_S7/s1600/Al+Luplow+%252813%2529.jpeg" width="265" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Alvin David Luplow</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b> was born on March 13, 1939, in Saginaw, Michigan. Luplow attended Michigan State University, where he played varsity football, as well as baseball for the Spartans. </b></span></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>The five foot eleven Luplow, earned a reputation as a hard nose aggressive style player, making several minor-league All-Star teams. </b></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">He was a right hand hitting, left hand throwing outfielder, originally signed by the Cleveland Indians in 1959. He batted .300 in the New York Penn. League, making it through the ranks of the minors the next year. </span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">In 1961 he batted .302 at AAA Salt Lake City, getting a promotion to the big leagues by the end of the season. </span></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i>MLB Career:</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> He spent five seasons with the Indians, mostly as a reserve outfielder. In 1962 he played in 97 games, batting .277 with 14 HRs 15 doubles & 45 RBIs (362 at bats). The next year he was a regular in the fifth place Indians outfield, next to Vic Davillio & Tito Francona. He played in 100 games, but his average fell off to .234 with just seven HRs, six doubles & 27 RBIs. </span></b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPwTlz5M0ukUihCtOfgy_MS94CDcKkKNyfS_zi2YKdWLhsZdu4798j4C7IfyRq5G3mBZ1_SjqD0N4EWDAnaEp8DvNSVp91bZXClrO3eYC4TlNEp2xvZfzv75AFyv7mt-FBf1YuxyNUC_O/s1600/Al+Luplow+(8).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPwTlz5M0ukUihCtOfgy_MS94CDcKkKNyfS_zi2YKdWLhsZdu4798j4C7IfyRq5G3mBZ1_SjqD0N4EWDAnaEp8DvNSVp91bZXClrO3eYC4TlNEp2xvZfzv75AFyv7mt-FBf1YuxyNUC_O/w320-h278/Al+Luplow+(8).jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i>Famous Over the Wall Catch:</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> That year he made a spectacular game saving catch stealing a HR away from future Hall of Fame manager, Dick Williams. It happened at Fenway Park, in front of only 6000 fans on a weekday afternoon. </span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Although it has been written about throughout baseball history, only those who were there on that day, actually saw the catch be made. No recorded video of the play exists. </span></b></div><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Luplow chased down Williams deep fly ball, he leaped in the air & caught the ball over the fence. He flipped over the right center field wall & landed in the Red Sox bullpen. He jumped up waving his glove to show he made the fantastic catch and let everyone know he was alright. </span></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjaWWm2vwBcif2TEyouPrdQRqozSvPFNmzh7Ksvx93PC4CQ892JOLFFNM3lGUfNhBSvOCbClppEWT8aXbB96DMXYi_8LoYENCRTOtOTZNtp-rc082deBGUsY6WBoH7_xArF-9L1i5oeSC/s1600/Al+Luplow+%252811%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjaWWm2vwBcif2TEyouPrdQRqozSvPFNmzh7Ksvx93PC4CQ892JOLFFNM3lGUfNhBSvOCbClppEWT8aXbB96DMXYi_8LoYENCRTOtOTZNtp-rc082deBGUsY6WBoH7_xArF-9L1i5oeSC/w217-h400/Al+Luplow+%252811%2529.jpg" width="217" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">That season he posted the best fielding % of any outfielder in the AL at .994%. </span></b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">He saw little action over the next two seasons, batting a dismal .111 in 19 games in 1964. Then in 1965, the Indians acquired New York born, Italian American All Star Rocky Colavito and Luplow would see even less playing time. </span></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>The fact he hit just .133 in 53 games, didn't help his cause. At the end of November 1965, his contract was purchased by the New York Mets. </b></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Mets Career:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> Al Luplow wore uniform #18 in the 1966 season. </span></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>Luplow debuted as a Mets player in the second game of the season, as a defensive replacement in the Mets 3-1 win over the Atlanta Braves. The next day he came in as a pinch hitter in the 6th inning & collected a hit off the Braves Chi-Chi Olivo in a 5-4 Mets win.</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>On May 24th he drove in two runs in a loss to the Astros in Houston. </b></span></span><b style="color: blue;">Luplow eventually made his way as one of the teams' main outfielders by June. </b></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHMXKcTi14nxiEiwN-EOnwaB_N_oPh-mhEywh6bQ7xfn-5CJgmLXC6AkCpUb5gf9PbiIdKVOD5eD4u04dbYTCCMZyKERlJx72c5-8i4uL7_bMfIXZZL4NaS6_iGYvZXPoCiJeSUpg1VyP/s1600/Al+Luplow+(5).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHMXKcTi14nxiEiwN-EOnwaB_N_oPh-mhEywh6bQ7xfn-5CJgmLXC6AkCpUb5gf9PbiIdKVOD5eD4u04dbYTCCMZyKERlJx72c5-8i4uL7_bMfIXZZL4NaS6_iGYvZXPoCiJeSUpg1VyP/w275-h400/Al+Luplow+(5).jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>Luplow drove in runs in four games at the start of June. On June 13th he drew three walks in the second game of a double header split with St. Louis, then went on a modest five-game hit streak. On June 21st, he helped New York to a 2-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals with a ground out RBI, scoring Church Hiller for the first run of the game. </b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>On July 1st he hit a HR off Pittsburgh's Steve Blass, helping the Mets to a 4-3 win over the Pirates. Two days later he drove in the first run of the Mets 9-8 win over the same Pirates, as the Mets took a rare series victory from the Bucs. </b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>On July 4th, Luplow's big day came in the second game of a double header sweep in Philadelphia where he hit a two run HR off Ray Culp. He also doubled home two more runs in the Mets 8-1 victory over the Phillies. On July 7th, in a tied game with the Phillies, Luplow doubled home Ken Boyer with the go ahead run, he would then score on Larry Elliot's double in the 9-6 win.</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIVbnBiHKYJbvH7yfBunPyaefkuiQadAShJbp7WRbkLEraN2B2xKQUeeDuuhLEdLSHn_3PTzwBpOBLTY8-CzKXWSpL-ISTN9qkuAwSJWobqqGmR0e_fjHqiKQouZUCGFJitDK0cWnH32aIrDLZy4HBW2pVkOzH4cXUuaQU3HKj5GiuBbVT-rZK7UUiA/s404/al%20luplow.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="309" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIVbnBiHKYJbvH7yfBunPyaefkuiQadAShJbp7WRbkLEraN2B2xKQUeeDuuhLEdLSHn_3PTzwBpOBLTY8-CzKXWSpL-ISTN9qkuAwSJWobqqGmR0e_fjHqiKQouZUCGFJitDK0cWnH32aIrDLZy4HBW2pVkOzH4cXUuaQU3HKj5GiuBbVT-rZK7UUiA/s320/al%20luplow.JPG" width="245" /></a></div>HRs off Juan Marichal:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On July 20th in San Francisco, Luplow hit a HR off </span></span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Giants </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Hall of Famer Juan Marichal. In that game, weak hitting short stop Roy McMillan hit his only HR of the year, also off Marichal. </span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">The game went to extra innings & in the top of the 10th, Ron Swoboda's HR off Bill Henry was the game winner. It was a big deal at the time, because it was one of the few times the Mets could beat the Giants, especially with Marichal on the mound. </span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br />In the first two weeks of August Luplow had two four game hit streaks with five multi-hit games. On August 10th he had a four-hit game in a loss at Pittsburgh. </b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Two More HRs Off Marichal:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On September 17th, he amazingly hit two more HRs off Juan Marichal, in a 7-4 loss at San Francisco. On that last west coast road trip, he had six hits with three HRs & seven RBIs. </span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5_Tzs64O1EliEvBZ5R9tXOE43u9me8nFJmCbkPB7irqZfZpXmcSD1PixDWDRsDZuEpL39ZdDvg6_VF0_HxlRdU0NGI4ZNvc2K5zeOPOPyqorHhtEYPBsaoH0-PNTGKG410cWI9JebWHb/s1600/Al+Luplow+(4).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5_Tzs64O1EliEvBZ5R9tXOE43u9me8nFJmCbkPB7irqZfZpXmcSD1PixDWDRsDZuEpL39ZdDvg6_VF0_HxlRdU0NGI4ZNvc2K5zeOPOPyqorHhtEYPBsaoH0-PNTGKG410cWI9JebWHb/s1600/Al+Luplow+(4).jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>On the 1966 season Luplow would bat .251 with seven HRs, nine doubles, 31 RBIs </b></span></span><b style="color: blue;">38 walks & </b><b style="color: blue;">a .331 on base % in 111 games played.</b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">1967:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> Al began the year hitting safely in seven of nine games at the end of April, but he struggled after that. He was hitting just .205, with three HRs & nine RBIs, when the Mets sold his contract to the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 21st. </b></span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Post Mets Career:</i></span><span style="color: blue;"> Luplow hit only .184 the rest of the year playing in 55 games. </span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Career Stats:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> In his seven-year career he played in 481 games, batting .235 with 292 hits 33 HRs 34 doubles 125 RBIs & a .311 on base %. He played 101 games in the outfield making just two errors with four assists.</span></b></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVLxfLiHFJt4dLBul1s4DiVIXhkvoyWu_5iLY1gaZO_EO2P5iJ7v4sbkSv9hLLBX752AwEz0qR7e-ht6rFo37L9b1PDN9hYNGbZCZRJ-W_EDsLQK8jgwXg3QPS4ema0ndzyytnYQPtFfplzjTZdIVH_dSn3r3VOrjUW5Ni8uHpMNjoDK1T7AhoE5N4A/s212/al%20luplow.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="168" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVLxfLiHFJt4dLBul1s4DiVIXhkvoyWu_5iLY1gaZO_EO2P5iJ7v4sbkSv9hLLBX752AwEz0qR7e-ht6rFo37L9b1PDN9hYNGbZCZRJ-W_EDsLQK8jgwXg3QPS4ema0ndzyytnYQPtFfplzjTZdIVH_dSn3r3VOrjUW5Ni8uHpMNjoDK1T7AhoE5N4A/s1600/al%20luplow.JPG" width="168" /></a></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Retirement:</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span> After his baseball career, Al ran a tavern, worked as a real estate appraiser & coached baseball. He was generally known as an all-around good guy & good tipper.
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<b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #000037; font-size: medium;"><i>Passing: </i></span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"> In December 2017, </span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;">Al Luplow passed away at age 78.</span></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Family:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> Al married his wife Marlene in 1962. The remained married until the time of his passing.</span></span></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span><b><span style="color: blue;">His great nephew is </span><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Jordan Luplow </span></i><span style="color: blue;">who was signed by the Atlanta Braves in 2023. Jordan has played with the Pirates (2017-2018) Indians (2019-2021) & Diamondbacks (2022).</span></b></span></span></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879473706233234375.post-14941029972066354252024-03-13T23:25:00.000-04:002024-03-13T23:25:00.128-04:00Terry Leach: Former 1980's Mets Pitcher (1981/ 1985-1989)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4THjWW_1rxOeGb-z0iUmFj3z8XjJDth6nwYSVR23x4VH8NqL15u9RBcYGij5-I7fftrhQlVrznJcYvSpKnbbTb6PN9-bnP6Jia7aMFEccMRwQr8PGUUbFCXmdjck8K1wCEctLwD2avdkw/s1600/2.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="422" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4THjWW_1rxOeGb-z0iUmFj3z8XjJDth6nwYSVR23x4VH8NqL15u9RBcYGij5-I7fftrhQlVrznJcYvSpKnbbTb6PN9-bnP6Jia7aMFEccMRwQr8PGUUbFCXmdjck8K1wCEctLwD2avdkw/s400/2.JPG" width="290" /></a></div>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Terry Hester Leach</span><b> was born on March 13, 1954, in Selma, Alabama. His father Cecil was once a football player at Auburn </b></span><span style="color: blue;"><b>University. He & his wife Alma had two other sons before Terry fourteen years & seven years older than him.</b></span><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>The six-foot right-handed pitcher went to Auburn University pitching in the College World Series in 1976.</b></span></div><div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>He originally signed a contract with the Boston Red Sox that year, but that deal got voided. The next year he signed with the Atlanta Braves. There he struggled at 19-23 in their farm system & was released in July of 1980. </b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>A week later he was picked up by the New York Mets. </strong></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>Leach was a side armed throwing pitcher with a unique style. In his pitching motion, he would bend down low scraping his knee, which he kept padded, on the ground. </strong></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbowjI_QmVoSQoOOJRb1CNVFkkOz7sSSw1MU3niP6J6fMyEdgq3a5QFZ2hLZbHYWdvdM8GAfSBeaHvSTPZmJaDjTwYIVd0FRk8rAN4d3wkqaJJUdaT-bivo3di6UTor3Kbbdw0yeC7NKn/s1600/terry+leach+rookie+card.jpg" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbowjI_QmVoSQoOOJRb1CNVFkkOz7sSSw1MU3niP6J6fMyEdgq3a5QFZ2hLZbHYWdvdM8GAfSBeaHvSTPZmJaDjTwYIVd0FRk8rAN4d3wkqaJJUdaT-bivo3di6UTor3Kbbdw0yeC7NKn/s1600/terry+leach+rookie+card.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>In 1981 Leach was 10-3 pitching at both AA Jackson & AAA Tidewater for the Mets getting called up in August of that year.</strong></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><i>Mets Career:</i><span style="color: blue;"> Leach made his MLB debut on August 12th at Wrigley Field with the Mets ahead 4-2 in the 7th inning in relief of Ed Lynch. Leach blew the save allowing a two run HR to the veteran Hawaiian native Mike Lum.</span></strong></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><span style="color: blue;"></span></strong></span><span style="color: blue;"><b>Leach pitches a middle reliever thru the rest of the season. On September 9th he came into the game & pitched 3.1 innings of scoreless relief at Pittsburgh earning a win in the Mets 5-3 victory.</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXBYdJdba_7eMDOCVKXyFcZDLe9d0J1x4Dc-5m6vvQuJelc7EGBUK0xSAWSKFsVfK4vl2panVjgS33MYXokF8hUZPL9Dz0bs-LBP09-kId130BNONfIjMLZH5tRXk6-Dtz7iaWdvMiibsS1xLiW9kXUlWz28OCSSTCf8tE0s3qbAdhIlM3uzKRhsLyw/s405/leach5.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="405" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXBYdJdba_7eMDOCVKXyFcZDLe9d0J1x4Dc-5m6vvQuJelc7EGBUK0xSAWSKFsVfK4vl2panVjgS33MYXokF8hUZPL9Dz0bs-LBP09-kId130BNONfIjMLZH5tRXk6-Dtz7iaWdvMiibsS1xLiW9kXUlWz28OCSSTCf8tE0s3qbAdhIlM3uzKRhsLyw/w400-h341/leach5.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>He would appear in 21 games that season, going 1-1 with a 2.55 ERA. He finished off three games & made on start. Leach struck out 16 walked 12 in 35.1 innings of work.</b></span></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">1982:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> Leach began the year at AAA Tidewater where he was 4-1 with a 2.96 ERA & five saves in 30 appearances. He was called back to the Met staff by June. On June 29th he pitched four scoreless innings of relief in Montreal to earn himself a victory. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: blue;">In July he collected three saves & hold. On August 1st he gave up a 10th inning HR to Nill Madlock taking a loss to the Pirates at Shea Stadium. </span></b><b><span style="color: blue;">He made just one start on the season & it was a memorable one.</span></b></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><em><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></em></strong></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnh51cPPoWiVLvZfdbB-mdtOqaQLXVXaQqrPhrLs5b3L7JIpzOdV3hkQi8FdpHpY1XSQDGJp805sUOfkckede9-LfKFsoBcmVPldVVlXXRDSLxi62mXaMzdBBNjULDscMwP0-k9GOYURwxpnmh6KU_GiyinYhxV8Kkr3KA-WSO8VzB_fBgrFz6a1VUQ/s415/leach1.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="251" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnh51cPPoWiVLvZfdbB-mdtOqaQLXVXaQqrPhrLs5b3L7JIpzOdV3hkQi8FdpHpY1XSQDGJp805sUOfkckede9-LfKFsoBcmVPldVVlXXRDSLxi62mXaMzdBBNjULDscMwP0-k9GOYURwxpnmh6KU_GiyinYhxV8Kkr3KA-WSO8VzB_fBgrFz6a1VUQ/s320/leach1.JPG" width="194" /></a></div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><em><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;">One Hitter:</span></em> On October 1st, Leach threw a one hit shutout at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia on a 1-0 victory over the Phillies & John Denny. The only hit was a 5th inning triple from Luis Aguayo. Along the way Leach struck out seven batters & walked six in ten innings of work. It was the first Mets one hitter since Tom Seaver tossed one in April 1977.</strong></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>The only run of the game was driven in by Hubbie Brooks on a sac fly RBI in the 10th inning off Porfi Altamirano. This was the 13th one hitter in Mets history up to that point.</strong></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>On the season Leach was 2-1 with three saves and a 4.17 ERA in 21 appearances. He struck out 30 batters walking 18 in 45 innings of work.</strong></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>He couldn’t crack thru to the big-league club the next two years getting to the AAA World Series with Tidewater in 1983. He then had an impressive 11-4 season there in 1984 tying Bill Latham for the team lead in victories.</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-IZgT2g2Iq6Q7ss6Qw0qAQdDoWdEDuJM3-_QCO71OWyQG1VYFHOb2dm4h4um9qrIuvr5OMvH_Mxn_JhPDfPC8YhONt0FFso87_hgP5UbeUUI6fxAUgi1bBOr16h5GivRgyuoeheUGTJX8/s1600/leach++(2).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-IZgT2g2Iq6Q7ss6Qw0qAQdDoWdEDuJM3-_QCO71OWyQG1VYFHOb2dm4h4um9qrIuvr5OMvH_Mxn_JhPDfPC8YhONt0FFso87_hgP5UbeUUI6fxAUgi1bBOr16h5GivRgyuoeheUGTJX8/w280-h400/leach++(2).jpg" width="280" /></a>The Cubs were so impressed with they traded for him that season but when Jim Frey took over as manager, he wanted Leach to stop is side arm pitching which Leach was uncomfortable with. He was then traded to Atlanta & got resigned by the Mets.</b></span></div><div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">1985:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> Davey Johnso who had managed him at Tidewater knew he had a rubber arm & liked his versatility. Leach was back at Shea in 1985 & was now pitching for a much better team than he had three years ago. After making seven relief appearances & collecting two holds he made a July 21st start against the Braves. He gave up three runs (two earned) after six innings & got the win in what turned out to be a wild 15-10 game.</b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b>On August 22nd, he had another memorable start throwing a three-hit shutout over the San Francisco Giants. He struck out just three & walked one in the 7-0 win.</b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b>He pitched in relief & made two more starts where he went 1-1. </b></span></span><b style="color: blue;">On the year he was 3-4 posting a 2.91 ERA with 30 strike outs & 14 walks in 55 innings in 22 appearances with four starts. </b></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDtk_K0ffwzHoOezSUHNQ0G3gVSDa3Psg6mssJSn1bgqhlLwVhE_3zasyriZZMHoFI26kmeXsQLjPUnInLMl5BhfLI24VYz228dg_BiFOAUIbSHzCW7J6KIC027_-3ODoG43U5DB-Sndo5ttnBjr8WJtbwxMppuE6Bzbn0T5ZdW4Y5MPf6ozTVutHnXQ/s372/leach2.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="372" data-original-width="258" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDtk_K0ffwzHoOezSUHNQ0G3gVSDa3Psg6mssJSn1bgqhlLwVhE_3zasyriZZMHoFI26kmeXsQLjPUnInLMl5BhfLI24VYz228dg_BiFOAUIbSHzCW7J6KIC027_-3ODoG43U5DB-Sndo5ttnBjr8WJtbwxMppuE6Bzbn0T5ZdW4Y5MPf6ozTVutHnXQ/w278-h400/leach2.JPG" width="278" /></a></div><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Trivia:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> He earned the nickname Jack as in Jack of all trades.</span></b></div><div><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Quotes- Manager Davey Johnson: </span></i><span style="color: blue;">"He just wants the ball. He doesn't want to give it up when he's on the hill & if he's not on the hill he cant wait to get there."</span></b></div><div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">1986 Mets Championship Season:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> Leach began the season with the Mets but after six games was back at AAA Tidewater where he went 4-4 with a 2.49 ERA. He expected to be back when the September rosters expanded but he was injured at Tidewater & couldn't pitch. He was one of four Mets who did not get a Championship ring until years later when Randy Myers pressured Fred Wilpon & split the cost with him.</b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">1987:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> After the Championship season, Leach got a full-time chance to pitch as the staff was short when Dwight Gooden entered rehab & Roger McDowell got injured. It was his first year he spent opening day with the team, he was already 33 years old. </b></span></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzch7-J1iJWw-FzytKgXkjr5u71MB5Vv2kKW6OceRAZrispgLkmN4VdrPVZmSfCgtR8po8DZBrNt-_LpSnzZIK-LRRCf9Uq07Epn4Jl1VFgUGJRqQPg_VydRbF-BSQm3AFA7CPQP-t7EW/s1600/leach++(3).jpg" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzch7-J1iJWw-FzytKgXkjr5u71MB5Vv2kKW6OceRAZrispgLkmN4VdrPVZmSfCgtR8po8DZBrNt-_LpSnzZIK-LRRCf9Uq07Epn4Jl1VFgUGJRqQPg_VydRbF-BSQm3AFA7CPQP-t7EW/s320/leach++(3).jpg" width="274" /></a>He spent April & May pitching out of the bullpen, collecting three straight wins from May 22nd to May 29th. Leach was placed in the starting rotation on June 1st. His first start came in Los Angeles against Fernando Valenzuela. Leach allowed just one run on four hits in six innings of work, to earn his fourth win of the year.</strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>On June 16th he beat the Expos in Montreal then on June 27th he beat the Phillies in Philadelphia where he gave up just two runs & four hits over eight innings. He was now 6-0 with a 2.45 ERA.</strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Two Hitter:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On July 2nd, he tossed a memorable two hit shutout in Cincinnati. He struck out just three & walked two as he beat the Reds to best his record to 7-0. Lenny Dykstra led the offense with a HR, as Howard Johnson & Rafael Santana had two RBIs each.</span></strong></span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKiTWz1zErkzrWFLs3D3mjENzh6s-RdpZDALVPValsl1IAGLvvb8KhQq2DnqV-3QLNkfH_I9uIiqpp95Jya4Km558eFfNoINinnv1ot3pOrkQNeopdkE6o5FNOr32NTjCf6q0fgPzluoZO/s1600/leach++(1w).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKiTWz1zErkzrWFLs3D3mjENzh6s-RdpZDALVPValsl1IAGLvvb8KhQq2DnqV-3QLNkfH_I9uIiqpp95Jya4Km558eFfNoINinnv1ot3pOrkQNeopdkE6o5FNOr32NTjCf6q0fgPzluoZO/s400/leach++(1w).jpg" width="327" /></a><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>Next Leach earned a win at Atlanta where he gave up just one run in six innings lowering his ERA to 2.08. He was even used in relief on July 29th collecting a hold in St. Louis in between starts. On August 1st he earned his 9th win beating Montreal as the Mets put up 12 runs for him.</b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>On August 11th in a start at Shea Stadium he beat the Expos again, pitching eight innings allowing two runs, to put him at 10-0 on the year with a 2.80 ERA. </strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>Leach was an incredible surprise to the Mets helping them out in a time where they were short on pitching. By mid-August they were in second place five games behind the Cardinals.</b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>On August 14th Leach took his first loss of the season, the Cubs got four runs & eleven hits off Leach knocking him out by the 5th inning. After another start, he was put back in the bullpen for September.</b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6aeMzh-qn_Nmm2IhBT9sRbcLGx9iMfTcuDCCVtv_HUO98O1vuLaZ1mWwWoHCXyhgabOZZy2IP2mVta4T29lEiNJh_NhfIva56FGOJTC58HO_-65oiOb8_g7Kj4HzOxYNuqhHENTGfpI_kLybNg_V02lOpKDhh3nx6TK_vJRv97ivi0fhamPcKabGyw/s298/leach3.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="298" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6aeMzh-qn_Nmm2IhBT9sRbcLGx9iMfTcuDCCVtv_HUO98O1vuLaZ1mWwWoHCXyhgabOZZy2IP2mVta4T29lEiNJh_NhfIva56FGOJTC58HO_-65oiOb8_g7Kj4HzOxYNuqhHENTGfpI_kLybNg_V02lOpKDhh3nx6TK_vJRv97ivi0fhamPcKabGyw/w400-h346/leach3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>The Mets got as close as 1.5 games on September 19th, but they couldn't catch the Cardinals & finished second three games behind. In an era with no wild card the season was over.</b></span></div><div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>Leach finished the year wat 11-1 with a 3.23 ERA. He had 61 strikeouts & 29 walks in 131 innings pitched. </strong></span><strong style="color: blue;">Leach made 12 starts that year in 44 appearances & finished 12 games. He allowed 14 HRs in that time & 132 hits.</strong></div><div>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">1988 Mets NL Eastern Champion Season:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> It was back to the bull pen full time in 1988, where he had another fine season. On May 11th Leach came into a tied game in Houston in the 9th inning & earned the win when Kevin McReynolds won the game with a 10th inning RBI single off Dave Smith. On June 12th, he took a walk off loss when former Mets teammate Hubie Brooks singled in the winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning. </b></span></span><b style="color: blue;">Leach would go two months before he took another loss.</b></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2aWKAZCbwbrDERdKkbXzCczOinNw5Iu12tvsDYIG6S00TuZQdnNKJwV_zUuH3MN_ZDN5Ox2Kh9wLx_df4eWAW9w4Crx5Pyu7rD6_Gf4bTt61WK-OElvxxITH8irQ-HYH2haZVZa5URwG/s1600/leach++(4).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2aWKAZCbwbrDERdKkbXzCczOinNw5Iu12tvsDYIG6S00TuZQdnNKJwV_zUuH3MN_ZDN5Ox2Kh9wLx_df4eWAW9w4Crx5Pyu7rD6_Gf4bTt61WK-OElvxxITH8irQ-HYH2haZVZa5URwG/s320/leach++(4).jpg" width="194" /></a>In July he earned another extra inning win, coming in Atlanta when McReynolds once again delivered the game winning hit. On August 31st he took over for an injured Sid Fernandez in the 2nd inning in a game at Shea Stadium against the Padres. Leach gave up four runs in six innings taking the loss, his first of the year. In September he earned another win & a save.</b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b>On the season he went </b></span></span><strong><span style="color: blue;">7-2 with three saves while posting a 2.54 ERA. He struck out 51 batters walked 24 in 92 innings pitched in 52 appearances.</span></strong></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;">1988 Post Season- NLCS:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> He appeared in three games of the 1988 NLCS, striking out four Los Angeles Dodgers, without allowing any runs in five innings pitched. </span></strong></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>1989:</i></span><span style="color: blue;"> Leach appeared in just ten games with New York, playing his last Mets game on June 5th before getting traded to the Kansas City Royals for Agueda Vasquez. </span></b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Mets Career Stats:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> In his seven-year Mets career Leach was 24-9 (.727 %) with three saves 194 strikeouts 104 walks three shut outs three complete games in 18 starts & 176 appearances.</span></b></span><br />
<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVI-fYmN9vyq-TgL594uGbfYa0ZdYW42kMZtYNLf83lmP8vnHCOWRrXoshOAsSZoXpDzmw0RJ6qx-l984MXz4Nb5SruwSttRy_7Vm-QFupt95KXAn3JbSzYVhLZQnJE-HkuLnXPscQ0pLa/s1600/1.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="393" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVI-fYmN9vyq-TgL594uGbfYa0ZdYW42kMZtYNLf83lmP8vnHCOWRrXoshOAsSZoXpDzmw0RJ6qx-l984MXz4Nb5SruwSttRy_7Vm-QFupt95KXAn3JbSzYVhLZQnJE-HkuLnXPscQ0pLa/s400/1.JPG" width="237" /></a><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>He was released by the Royals in Spring Training 1990 & then signed with the Minnesota Twins. Leach pitched two seasons in the Twin Cities, going 2-5 with a pair of saves in 1990, making 55 appearances. </b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>In the 1991 Twins Championship season, he made 50 appearances going 1-2 with a 3.61 ERA. </strong></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><i><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;">1991 World Series:</span></i> He did not pitch in the 1991 ALCS win over the Toronto Blue jays. In the World Series he made two appearances. In Game #5 he gave up one run in the 5th inning, of the 14-5 loss to the Atlanta Braves.</strong></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong> After winning his second career Championship, he signed with the Chicago White Sox for 1992. There he went 6-5 with a 1.95 ERA in 51 appearances. He finished his playing career in Chicago, the following season. </strong></span><br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Career Stats:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> In an eleven-year career, Leach was 38-27 with ten Saves & a 3.15 ERA. He posted 331 Strikeouts with 197 walks in 700 innings pitched in 376 appearances with 21 starts & 138 games finished. </span></b></span><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><em><br /></em></span></strong></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIwsdiatz59jDFgWTlqlw0dXcq1ujiUd-WGIYVgtd5iw7Iz5Z02O-zGdcYe8a1dfKAnV9fW2L_EyzYn7Y8OlM4irWjlQO6mGh2ePHWJI3f7idVB-48vIBckGIcNxZ-5eHZPcR2yptVW5oIgeWSF2EMSIWT9Onpled7IMHckH7y7nlsTpidjFDwHAckQ/s234/Capture.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="234" data-original-width="176" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIwsdiatz59jDFgWTlqlw0dXcq1ujiUd-WGIYVgtd5iw7Iz5Z02O-zGdcYe8a1dfKAnV9fW2L_EyzYn7Y8OlM4irWjlQO6mGh2ePHWJI3f7idVB-48vIBckGIcNxZ-5eHZPcR2yptVW5oIgeWSF2EMSIWT9Onpled7IMHckH7y7nlsTpidjFDwHAckQ/s1600/Capture.JPG" width="176" /></a></div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><em>Retirement:</em></span> In 2000 he wrote an autobiography titled: "Things Happen for a Reason: The True<br /> Story of an Itinerant Life in Baseball".</strong></span></div></div></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Family:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> Leach met his wife Chris in Savannah daughter, whom they named their daughter after.</span></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><span style="color: blue;">Honors: Leach attended the 2022 Mets Old Timers Day at Citi Field.</span></strong></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879473706233234375.post-79344337846435907012024-03-13T23:10:00.000-04:002024-03-13T23:10:00.135-04:00Remembering Hobie Landrith: The Mets First Ever Draft Pick (1962) On His Passing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Y0zbA1ylgLhqC2xcIYyVia0Ql3skS6_88Iln3xMQ0jUD4AaQagvD9_p5u7h03maJyAcSTVaWqtgWjaw_r8sIW_foUGtRTLCMSMHhSftfUiv7HzVIk3IF8nneZ0l7QBOZAdLxjNtDLzc4/s1600/landrith+(10).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Y0zbA1ylgLhqC2xcIYyVia0Ql3skS6_88Iln3xMQ0jUD4AaQagvD9_p5u7h03maJyAcSTVaWqtgWjaw_r8sIW_foUGtRTLCMSMHhSftfUiv7HzVIk3IF8nneZ0l7QBOZAdLxjNtDLzc4/s320/landrith+(10).jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Hobert Neal Landrith</span> was born on March 16, 1930 in Decatur, Illinois. His family moved to the Detroit area where he & his six brothers took turns holding the catching position at their local high school. </strong></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>While still in high school he got the opportunity to go to Briggs Stadium (aka. Tiger Stadium) and warm up Tiger starting pitchers. He also helped Bronx born Tiger player, Hank Greenberg get back into shape after returning from military service. </strong></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>Hobie went on to attend Michigan State University, playing as a star catcher for the Spartan’s baseball team. At the age of 19 he was signed by the Cincinnati Reds. </strong></span></span><div><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>At Spring Training he became a highly touted prospect, but rumors came about that he wanted to play for only his hometown Tigers. The Tigers & Reds both made offers to him, but he still remained with the Reds. </b></span><br />
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHzeQFmFmqXcAdWjaxLzB-fq6FTzr_M153TX9-qzQ74NhjHhtSXcgn_t167mwdPS4GYz6cu-A-Gtj-J5SJhOyneC5ZHftp_8m9LlC4utGD1xdqoW2oEsGz3lZtA3YZcX1w1Ebqq8dgJsG/s1600/200px-1955-Bowman-Hobie-Landrith.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="133" data-original-width="200" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHzeQFmFmqXcAdWjaxLzB-fq6FTzr_M153TX9-qzQ74NhjHhtSXcgn_t167mwdPS4GYz6cu-A-Gtj-J5SJhOyneC5ZHftp_8m9LlC4utGD1xdqoW2oEsGz3lZtA3YZcX1w1Ebqq8dgJsG/s320/200px-1955-Bowman-Hobie-Landrith.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><i>MLB Debut:</i><span style="color: blue;"> He debuted briefly in 1960 & then spent six seasons in Cincinnati as a backup catcher, behind Andy Semenick & Smokey Burgess. In 1953 he got the Opening Day start against the Brooklyn Dodgers & although he drove in two runs, he allowed a passed ball in the 9th inning which won Brooklyn the ball game. </span></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Trivia:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> That year the All-Star Game was held in Cincinnati & the NL manager, Brooklyn’s Charlie Dressen, chose Landrith to catch batting practice. </b></span></span><br />
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhFDlkKPleUt4CIoUHJ8LIME6iJz4g6jnvW4CtChyphenhyphenkhcH1EPIOo_-ttM72ZXDHo5RatCAHoq2FUR32qN0JpscTGfvfmmA40BIlxRdrL43K2W2SitqG6YwMxZ2-1ALehqhG1zkXByqnA9Y/s1600/landrith+(2).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhFDlkKPleUt4CIoUHJ8LIME6iJz4g6jnvW4CtChyphenhyphenkhcH1EPIOo_-ttM72ZXDHo5RatCAHoq2FUR32qN0JpscTGfvfmmA40BIlxRdrL43K2W2SitqG6YwMxZ2-1ALehqhG1zkXByqnA9Y/s320/landrith+(2).jpg" width="204" /></span></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>In 1956 Landrith moved to the Chicago Cubs, playing as the teams main catcher batting .221 with three HRs & a career high 32 RBIs. Behind the plate he led the league throwing out 23 bases runners attempting to steal, a 38% average overall. He allowed ten passed balls & made 14 errors which was the most of all NL backstops.</strong></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>In December 1956 he was traded with Sam Jones, Jim Davis, and Eddie Miksis to the St. Louis Cardinals for Ray Katt, Jackie Collum, and Tom Poholsky. He played in St. Louis for two seasons behind main catcher Hal Smith. From there he was traded to the San Francisco Giants for Marv Grissom & Ernie Broglio. </strong></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>He played with the Giants from 1959-1961), playing as a regular there in 1959 hitting .251 with 3 HRs 14 doubles & 29 RBIs. That year he posted the league's second best fielding % for catchers (.992%) & caught 51% of the runners trying to steal on him (4th best in the NL).</strong></span><br />
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qjZajMuXIixn8jHvqUhNy0pKcXD0no8jlb4KoXqYgYuzQq75JQth5sICO3LkdN8DL2nRMl78CpaGGA8G6JVXFSuTZjPFtpXqQpXJ6hzEuoLhqs-xvm4TlzrbCMdLm4vRgLnNTHAFkjge/s1600/landrith.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qjZajMuXIixn8jHvqUhNy0pKcXD0no8jlb4KoXqYgYuzQq75JQth5sICO3LkdN8DL2nRMl78CpaGGA8G6JVXFSuTZjPFtpXqQpXJ6hzEuoLhqs-xvm4TlzrbCMdLm4vRgLnNTHAFkjge/s320/landrith.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Mets Career:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> In 1961 Landrith made New York Mets history as the first pick in the teams’ 1961 expansion draft. </span></strong></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Quotes- Mets Manager Casey Stengel:</span> </span></i>"You have to have catchers or you're going to have a lot of passed balls".</strong></span><br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br />In Spring Training he was hit in the head with a follow through of a hard swing from the White Sox Floyd Robinson. He was carried off the field but made a recovery for the season Opener.</strong></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>On April 11, 1962, in St. Louis, Landrith was behind the plate & hit in the number eight position in the first Mets game ever played. He signaled to Roger Craig for the first pitch in the 1st inning & the Mets were underway. Later he went 0-4 at the plate during the game. The Cardinals stole three bases off him in that game.</b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGVQxohfBtXypXJc4f93luMM6YC56NPWQUlUx3uzAPEpFtDop3z1UofxzIayRRCz5HqPxQLlpAvrMgZ82SKlxJ8AMEJL1AVd3qOdDC4FF-EcRwmTHSu44tuDdG3Ht17UeVlikez8-cXuQLM_CM2ib7dA9_ox3WCusHEyAE1Gh7a_fsqosyAlC591QiA/s288/hobie.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="240" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGVQxohfBtXypXJc4f93luMM6YC56NPWQUlUx3uzAPEpFtDop3z1UofxzIayRRCz5HqPxQLlpAvrMgZ82SKlxJ8AMEJL1AVd3qOdDC4FF-EcRwmTHSu44tuDdG3Ht17UeVlikez8-cXuQLM_CM2ib7dA9_ox3WCusHEyAE1Gh7a_fsqosyAlC591QiA/w333-h400/hobie.JPG" width="333" /></a></div>The Mets would use seven different catchers in their inaugural season, with none of them playing in any more than 70 games. Landrith had an early six game hit streak putting him over the .400 mark ten games into his season.</b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Walk Off HR:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> On May 12th, 1962, Landrith had his shining moment as a Mets player in the first game of a double header at the Polo Grounds. He hit an exciting 9th inning pinch hit, walk off HR off Milwaukee’s Hall of Famer Warren Spahn. </b></span></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b>The HR was almost invalid as base runner Hot Rod Kanehl missed third base. Coach Solly Hemus slowed down Landrith so Kanhel could go back to touch the base before he did.</b></span></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>That gave him a stretch of driving in runs in three straight games he had played in. In the second game of that same double header, Gil Hodges hit a walk off game winner making it a very exciting day for the ’62 Mets fans.</strong></span></span></div><div><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_HKPLwTLpTlSqgTpdWJDSazO6Z1zmc3pMK6S7zxZ8InA6HXws2YH1__OV7FIOmqnZIanP0ArofVGxw_SfVGnjHoXVpCNln_ic-05m4OjCi7wVqqK8ECvbdwC58QQBjaoiRuiwibBPwTE/s1600/gettyimages-515019026-1024x1024.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="690" data-original-width="616" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_HKPLwTLpTlSqgTpdWJDSazO6Z1zmc3pMK6S7zxZ8InA6HXws2YH1__OV7FIOmqnZIanP0ArofVGxw_SfVGnjHoXVpCNln_ic-05m4OjCi7wVqqK8ECvbdwC58QQBjaoiRuiwibBPwTE/s320/gettyimages-515019026-1024x1024.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>Landrith had a two hit game in Los Angeles against the Dodgers, then saw his average fall under .300 in the first week of June. He would only play 23 games with the Mets, hitting .289 (13-45) with three doubles, one HR, seven RBIs & a .389 on base %. </strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>Defensively</b><strong> he played in 21 games, throwing out 3 of 15 base runners trying to steal, posting a .968 fielding %. </strong></span><br /><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;">H<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">e made three errors in 93 chances. On June 7th he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for Marvelous Marv Throneberry, who was to become the Mets first folk hero type player.</span></span></span></b><br />
<b></b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"></span><span style="color: #000025;"></span><b></b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"></span><span style="color: #000037;"></span><b></b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"></span><span style="color: #000055;"></span><span style="color: blue;"></span><br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>Landrith’s likeable personality and abilities as a quality backup catcher kept him in the majors for 14 seasons. He finished his career in 1963 with the Washington Senators. </strong></span></span></div><div><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsnarR2gOKWcLpLPcn505oERyEJN8meAQx7Ril5rlTqzpbX4yK84KRPPEQwF0nrTPQSBvkQbRJ2w4uWDt6Kgzx88bZEhZk5LS0RVDAqvym8D-c9WJqBgbpoSAdCInhusWaHVp_IPpledAT/s1600/landrith+(5).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsnarR2gOKWcLpLPcn505oERyEJN8meAQx7Ril5rlTqzpbX4yK84KRPPEQwF0nrTPQSBvkQbRJ2w4uWDt6Kgzx88bZEhZk5LS0RVDAqvym8D-c9WJqBgbpoSAdCInhusWaHVp_IPpledAT/s320/landrith+(5).jpg" width="247" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Career Stats: </span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b>Landrith appeared in 677 games behind the plate, posting a .983 fielding %, making 59 errors in 3459 chances. He threw out 40% of would-be base stealers (137 out of 339 attempts). He hit .233 with 450 hits 34 HRs 69 doubles 253 walks 203 RBIs & a .320 on base % playing in 772 overall games.</b></span></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><em>Retirement:</em></span> After his playing days, he coached with the Washington Senators for one season then left baseball. </strong></span></span></div><div><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><strong>He became a car salesman in Northern California, eventually becoming the director of sales for over forty Volkswagen dealerships.</strong></span></div><div><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Family:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> Hobie met his wife Peggy in the tenth grade. They eventually got married & had six children.</span></strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Passing:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> On April 6th, 2023, Landrith passed away from natural causes at the age of 93.</b></span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879473706233234375.post-51483778075216778992024-03-12T23:30:00.000-04:002024-03-12T23:30:00.483-04:00Johan Santana: First Mets Pitcher to Throw a No Hitter (2008 - 2013)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwejy9OS8us7G1OWG6EyJxYerQBKFQX_iYYt9z5E2KuuI6dycXFjitDZGYztFdMnXu3kNrq0eNllyxxv18dB2pHyt_FmMf1jvrOnWE-GAmSoTuZkIKE6hywIjxX4j83nLRRwbzQmN82-h/s1600/johan+santana+(25).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwejy9OS8us7G1OWG6EyJxYerQBKFQX_iYYt9z5E2KuuI6dycXFjitDZGYztFdMnXu3kNrq0eNllyxxv18dB2pHyt_FmMf1jvrOnWE-GAmSoTuZkIKE6hywIjxX4j83nLRRwbzQmN82-h/s400/johan+santana+(25).jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Johan Alexander Santana </span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>was born on March 13th, 1979, in Tovar, Venezuela. The six-foot left hander was discovered by the Houston Astros, but they left him unprotected & he was drafted away by the Florida Marlins. </b></span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">In a deal of first & second round picks, he was traded to the Minnesota Twins for Jared Camp & cash. </span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">He soon developed his nasty change up which has become the best change in baseball. The pitch was tough for a batter to drive the ball on and to close to the strike zone for him to take. It swirled causing batters to lunge out at it, usually swinging & missing. </span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>He also threw a fast ball in the lower to mid-nineties with the same delivery which also confuses hitters. Santana started out as a reliever in the Twins bullpen from 2000-2003. </b></span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_LzygYrJMPUYRtcq3Hc_-V-8K9tzhOFIgF960SNNd3PKyUk2mRs9x_bQ7MnegRBHYbQCgBx90RhvCUXUbEi844qK9lmyCzAZxNi_VX5IQUdA5Np_ZRLgtzPhjLJBUXg_Bwz9-rVRt7BE/s1600/johan+santana+(2).bmp" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_LzygYrJMPUYRtcq3Hc_-V-8K9tzhOFIgF960SNNd3PKyUk2mRs9x_bQ7MnegRBHYbQCgBx90RhvCUXUbEi844qK9lmyCzAZxNi_VX5IQUdA5Np_ZRLgtzPhjLJBUXg_Bwz9-rVRt7BE/w400-h323/johan+santana+(2).bmp" width="400" /></a>In 2000 he appeared 30 games going 2-3 with a high 6.49 ERA. In 2001 he was with the Twins from April to early July appearing 15 games going 1-0 with a 4.74 ERA, 28 strike outs in 43 innings.</span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">In those first two seasons he only made nine starts. He was thrown into the starting rotation by manager Ron Gardenhire & it all came together. </span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">First in 2002 in 14 starts & 27 over all appearances he was 8-6 but now he struck out 137 batters in just 108 innings pitched & posted a 2.99 ERA. </span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">In 2003 he went 12-3 winning his last eight starts in a row, leading the Twins to a playoff berth. He struck out 169 batters (8th in the league) in 158 innings pitched while posting a 3.07 ERA.</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWHqihBAf9VTTKSpMe8477jmkSrXS0FXcJaaF4cF_Wp8VgAz6zkQxshdPYOdDItZ5BLc3a2OACzV1VHdH6uX5kyNI1f6T1S_00Q8bUsAHty8vZfhpeheRAS8AO8U5uye1slYEVxTrqswh/s1600/santana3.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="311" data-original-width="338" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWHqihBAf9VTTKSpMe8477jmkSrXS0FXcJaaF4cF_Wp8VgAz6zkQxshdPYOdDItZ5BLc3a2OACzV1VHdH6uX5kyNI1f6T1S_00Q8bUsAHty8vZfhpeheRAS8AO8U5uye1slYEVxTrqswh/s400/santana3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>2003 Post Season- ALDS:</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"> In the ALDS he pitched five scoreless innings in the opener but got no decision in the Twins 3-1 victory. He returned but took the loss in the final Game #4. </span></b><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">In 2004 he had a slow first half of the season, pitching well but ending up at 7-6. He then went on to tied an MLB record going an incredible 13-0 in the second half of the season, leading the Twins to another playoff berth. </span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">In the second half he averaged eleven strikeouts per nine innings & posted a 1.13 ERA. He pitched eight innings three times allowing less than two earned runs each time. That season he struck out ten or more batters in a game twelve times, posting 12 or more five times with a high of 14 against Baltimore on September 19th. </span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSBjnCfQTC2uI4qsrwhplwFow6aubZkjGEKKyZXLJiMz6ebmxm5ZJ7tttbn0p89qCj5pvBCWitNVKF6zFtYjpqGasNiRM0fkSR7zRzS6-nopkSIg3CeHlrGzc6D5drpq07EiP9F84clPe/s1600/johan-santana-2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="420" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSBjnCfQTC2uI4qsrwhplwFow6aubZkjGEKKyZXLJiMz6ebmxm5ZJ7tttbn0p89qCj5pvBCWitNVKF6zFtYjpqGasNiRM0fkSR7zRzS6-nopkSIg3CeHlrGzc6D5drpq07EiP9F84clPe/s400/johan-santana-2.jpg" width="266" /></a>Santana won his first Cy Young Award, going 20-6 and leading the AL in both ERA (2.61) & strikeouts (265) pitching in 228 Innings (second in the AL) with one complete game shutout. His 265 strike outs were a club record passing Bert Blyleven's old mark of 258 in 1973. </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">2004 Post Season- ALDS:</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span>He went on to beat the A.L. New York club in Game #1 of the ALDS pitching seven shutout innings. He began the final Game #4 but go no decision. It was his last post season appearance to date.</span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">In 2005 the Twins weak offense didn’t score many runs, he went 16-7 (5th most wins in the al) and led the league for the third straight year with 238 K’s. He was second in the league with a 2.87 ERA, he pitched 232 innings (2nd in the AL) & tossed three complete games. Santana was always better in the second half, this year was no exception as he went 9-2 after the break pitching at least eight innings six times. </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></b>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>On August 12th in Oakland, he pitched a three-hit shutout against the A's, striking out none. He came back to strike out ten White Sox in Chicago in his next start. He would get 13 strike outs the next time he faced them at home in September. </b></span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: blue; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4w3Uo373_IoyWgG-snblmMNki9fAZRevR1Qjs9U6odwIB2o0i9E9wC3l3v3wTWfA64SC_53ZIUAbpzeI0Ac62EKx0bCRzQALQ3i-TGwO4W4Pcx7bE9m-PDbCKq-at8i3ybMFRzXaLoSdQ5M_PJdAr7-pmKrhtiv5bJQgP2M0uYgO0f6byih8kHx9rmg/s357/johan%20santana1.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="274" data-original-width="357" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4w3Uo373_IoyWgG-snblmMNki9fAZRevR1Qjs9U6odwIB2o0i9E9wC3l3v3wTWfA64SC_53ZIUAbpzeI0Ac62EKx0bCRzQALQ3i-TGwO4W4Pcx7bE9m-PDbCKq-at8i3ybMFRzXaLoSdQ5M_PJdAr7-pmKrhtiv5bJQgP2M0uYgO0f6byih8kHx9rmg/w400-h308/johan%20santana1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><i><span style="font-size: medium;">2nd Cy Young Award:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> In 2006 Santana was spectacular winning his second CY Young Award, becoming the first pitcher since the Mets’ Doc Gooden to win the Pitching Triple Crown. He was tops in wins (19) Ks (245) & ERA (2.77). </span></span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>After the All-Star break, he once again had an incredible run, going went 10-1 posting an ERA under two. In that stretch he never allowed more than three earned runs in a game & went at least eight innings three times. </b></span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">On August 15th he threw a three hit eight inning shutout against the Indians at the Metro Dome. On the season he had nine games where he posted double figures in strike outs, including three in a row in early May. For the third straight year he allowed the fewest walks & hits per innings in the American League. He also led the league in innings (233) starts (34) & strike outs per nine innings for the third straight year (9.4). </span></b><br /><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinn_5wuKl-z2lc5P1hKyWgir_yX1VHyHg-NHo5hpWWbjWInfuicTYUn-KLTdiMw3otc8h7k5Nhq4PLnWrm3GZ2uWjfVWfRvxhhRO5WAj8Il3JQr55NNSz_XItPbwDV-KUKy2ylJl0FvRqt/s1600/Twins+2007.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1078" data-original-width="1600" height="429" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinn_5wuKl-z2lc5P1hKyWgir_yX1VHyHg-NHo5hpWWbjWInfuicTYUn-KLTdiMw3otc8h7k5Nhq4PLnWrm3GZ2uWjfVWfRvxhhRO5WAj8Il3JQr55NNSz_XItPbwDV-KUKy2ylJl0FvRqt/w640-h429/Twins+2007.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>photo by centerfieldmaz<br /><br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: blue; text-align: center;">
</div><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvxGG3a0W6s6BHGnsUp4uMA_WpuUxW0LhAS4kX2h6la57f6hSsGwWSqhV2Q3HFTX-NOiOAjJK6zBEi9R-Mf4WG62kmfglQvcuBbbdD2-75uf3kom3d1hVRYOaSFF9bxQBtLignVNGo7JyOqhXZ3Dr9Z-Nz3Re6TWiQVywcq1tHQ-XramjdVilMVMl_XEw/s360/johan%20santana.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="312" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvxGG3a0W6s6BHGnsUp4uMA_WpuUxW0LhAS4kX2h6la57f6hSsGwWSqhV2Q3HFTX-NOiOAjJK6zBEi9R-Mf4WG62kmfglQvcuBbbdD2-75uf3kom3d1hVRYOaSFF9bxQBtLignVNGo7JyOqhXZ3Dr9Z-Nz3Re6TWiQVywcq1tHQ-XramjdVilMVMl_XEw/s320/johan%20santana.JPG" width="277" /></a></div>Vs. Mets @Shea Stadium:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> 2007 Johan pitched against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium in an interleague game that summer. On the team bus on the way to the game, Twins broadcaster the former great pitcher, Bert Blyleven said he would shave his head if Johan pitched a shutout. </span></span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>From a box seat at Shea, </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">centerfieldmaz & darthmaz </i><b>watched Santana shut down the Mets in a complete game, four hit9-0 shutout. In the Twins world-Santana did the honors of shaving Blyleven’s head the next day.</b></span><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">That summer Johan made his third All Star team & went on to win his first Gold Glove Award. In a rain shortened game on the last day of the season, he ended a streak of pitching beyond the 5th inning in 123 straight starts. This incredible streak is the third longest in the past 50 years.</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissluxwnpqRNex6grQ1MMHSJ6-6gMz68cgjCbywjQTE3ENf2EpkJix61srA9w3OCpS5l5G9Od1z_g0FWwlVUOcx-XqKvnzbr8xKUSgyEvFOqeBraLaAIh_5RExoiSZwNlrMVAhkrlzn11e/s1600/santana5.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="318" data-original-width="322" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissluxwnpqRNex6grQ1MMHSJ6-6gMz68cgjCbywjQTE3ENf2EpkJix61srA9w3OCpS5l5G9Od1z_g0FWwlVUOcx-XqKvnzbr8xKUSgyEvFOqeBraLaAIh_5RExoiSZwNlrMVAhkrlzn11e/w400-h395/santana5.JPG" width="400" /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">He finished the year at 15-13 with a 3.33 ERA, his highest since becoming a starter. He was still considered one of the games top pitchers & The small market Twins knew they wouldn’t be able to pay Johan the big salary. </span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #000025;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></span></b></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span><i style="color: #000025; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mets Career:</span> </i><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;"><span><b>In the winter of 2008 he was traded to the New York Mets for prospects, Carlos Gomez, Phil Humber & Kevin Mulvey. That February the Mets gave him a huge </b></span><b>six-year</b><span><b> $137 million deal to keep him pitching in New York. He was the highest paid pitcher in baseball.</b></span></span></span></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">2008:</span> </i></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"></span>Santana made his Mets debut on Opening Day 2008 in Florida against the Marlins. He allowed two runs on three hits over seven innings earning the 7-2 victory. </span></b><b></b><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRN85CAnwSnK9PKifJpPobm0Msyb-LUzsEp62eIwFoGX4XoF4YGtKiycu9ZfKv7nZJmCP1VN0fS2xN1kuM76vXNyBGdG656ZXOnaUk2AN4EOjyIDPxP2OT-XK25nR4SWLl0AE1kOmEZYHz/s1600/santana7.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="419" data-original-width="596" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRN85CAnwSnK9PKifJpPobm0Msyb-LUzsEp62eIwFoGX4XoF4YGtKiycu9ZfKv7nZJmCP1VN0fS2xN1kuM76vXNyBGdG656ZXOnaUk2AN4EOjyIDPxP2OT-XK25nR4SWLl0AE1kOmEZYHz/w400-h280/santana7.JPG" width="400" /></a>In his second start he allowed just a run in seven innings to the Braves in Atlanta, but John Smoltz & the Braves bullpen held the Mets to a run as well. Santana took a no decision as Aaron Heilman gave up a two run HR to Mark Teixeira in the Mets 3-1 loss.</b></span><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>After a loss to the Brewers where he gave up four runs, he earned wins in Philadelphia & Washington to get to 3-2 to finish April. </b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>He would win four straight winning </b></span><span style="color: blue;"><b>decisions. </b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">On May 10 although he gave up ten hits, he just surrendered three runs beating the Cincinnati Reds 4-2, for his first win at Shea Stadium.</span></b><div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycsGMfKlV8krgnxMnAF8v9JFIw8ygG8nZPITFoK5e4V1R0KuiM0dgL_0dBsR8bt4xgz6iwO8WuKCYGm0prLX5pU6qK2BAFbixDGrlPBDR6tQ97WQybhiSLZoV7VYZkuBByA6wfTFd0rmS/s1600/santana11.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="233" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycsGMfKlV8krgnxMnAF8v9JFIw8ygG8nZPITFoK5e4V1R0KuiM0dgL_0dBsR8bt4xgz6iwO8WuKCYGm0prLX5pU6qK2BAFbixDGrlPBDR6tQ97WQybhiSLZoV7VYZkuBByA6wfTFd0rmS/s400/santana11.JPG" width="231" /></a></div>A week later he went across town & beat the A.L. New York club in his first subway series matchup. He went into the 8th inning that day, allowing four runs on seven hits with five strikeouts in the 7-4 Mets win. </span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i><br /></i></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">100th Career Win:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span>On June 1st, he beat the Los Angeles Dodgers at Shea, allowing just one in 7.2 innings of work. He struck out six in the win which was his 100th career victory, at the time he was only 29 years old.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>On June 6th he gave up two runs (one earned) in six innings at San Diego but took a 2-1 loss to Randy Wolf. He then threw seven scoreless innings against the Diamondbacks, but the Mets bullpen lost 4-3. Johan then lost three straight decisions, all during inter-league play. </b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">In the subway series at Shea, the team only put up two runs for him off Andy Pettitt as took the 3-2 loss.</span></b></div><div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">Up until that point in the season, lack of run support & a horrible 2008 Mets bullpen cost Santana at least five additional victories. </span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>So, from there he took matters into his own hands. He would not lose another game all season & carried his pitching staff to within one game of a playoff berth. </b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KlzyTQ90ELD3cV6oaEdBXW1UvqgSd9aCRElbMluL2d2wbpf1Th4D2iknhzj39o19WnrQ-n-wdlw5Q7zmbcJkwEaeXGYA_hGeOfbQwxAKc4dvI9rnm_Xr51aMeASpljquqr86X8zkrfJx/s1600/santana1.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="454" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KlzyTQ90ELD3cV6oaEdBXW1UvqgSd9aCRElbMluL2d2wbpf1Th4D2iknhzj39o19WnrQ-n-wdlw5Q7zmbcJkwEaeXGYA_hGeOfbQwxAKc4dvI9rnm_Xr51aMeASpljquqr86X8zkrfJx/s400/santana1.JPG" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>He would go 9-0 with three complete games & pitch into the 8th inning or beyond six times in the final three months of the season. </b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>On August 17th he pitched a three-hit shutout in Pittsburgh, striking out seven Pirates in a 4-0 complete game. In his next start he pitched eight shutout innings against the Houston Astros, walking just one batter & leading his team to a 3-0 win at Shea. At this point the Mets had a 2.5 game lead in first place.</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>After a no decision effort on September 1st, he would pitch seven innings or more in his last five starts, going 4-0 in the September pennant race. </b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Mets Collapse: </span></i><span style="color: blue;">The Mets entered the month in first place & would hold that spot until September 19th. They lost seven of their last ten games, losing a playoff spot on the final day of the season.</span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiiG6OHUQEjWCtbPFtr8PvK9dRTTmV1WjAbk_SQ8WaQ3g8NUlYnjt5WT6dL0KNo4VYkUNHXJnyYlh4xfflTwdEXeeQ7GHxq5qJWOPAlYJyAo5urxoSp4PteVbBGxuhhoVz0gipP9TV8Asjs0l3Nnf0MmNFZS15WNksrzONtFJ-Ui69ReyQ1JMKNqcjGf7k/s548/johan%20santana.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="548" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiiG6OHUQEjWCtbPFtr8PvK9dRTTmV1WjAbk_SQ8WaQ3g8NUlYnjt5WT6dL0KNo4VYkUNHXJnyYlh4xfflTwdEXeeQ7GHxq5qJWOPAlYJyAo5urxoSp4PteVbBGxuhhoVz0gipP9TV8Asjs0l3Nnf0MmNFZS15WNksrzONtFJ-Ui69ReyQ1JMKNqcjGf7k/w640-h460/johan%20santana.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdc-PzTGYDhi0Lw_r3MzatmE01CXie5FvKoezlRhKKVk2jn48Vzfa4KvWkW5EvmYWVeLC5CmtN6IH1eeim4YkzWIJ2iclQ-SAwPU61z4iLb3wae2Z6M8xj8LeKQJlsC3TjAJnPv9nuIOEK/s1600/johan+santana+(15).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdc-PzTGYDhi0Lw_r3MzatmE01CXie5FvKoezlRhKKVk2jn48Vzfa4KvWkW5EvmYWVeLC5CmtN6IH1eeim4YkzWIJ2iclQ-SAwPU61z4iLb3wae2Z6M8xj8LeKQJlsC3TjAJnPv9nuIOEK/s400/johan+santana+(15).jpg" width="343" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">September 27th Shut Out:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> In an incredible performance of determination & team leadership he had one of his best Mets games on the next to last day of the season. Santana threw a three-hit shutout against the Florida Marlins, striking out nine, to keep the Mets in playoff contention going into the last game of the year. </b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Unfortunately, the Mets lost to the Marlins 4-2 in on the last day of the season in the final game ever played at Shea Stadium.</b></span></span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">In his last two performances he had struck out nine or more batters each time, surpassing 200 strike outs on the year, making it five straight seasons he struck out 200 or more batters.</span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"> </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>He finished the year at 16-7 leading the league in ERA (2.53) innings pitched (234) & games started (34). He was second in the league in strikeouts (206) finishing with 200 or more strike outs five straight seasons. He was also second in the NL in shutouts (3) & third in complete games (3). He came in third place in the CY Young voting behind Tim Lincecum & Brandon Webb. </b></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsoJ_jALCVH6lcvwTYja7iTu2szFoMc7IJ1u3bSk61UCyy89eT-72JSNwTdU3yYrVXXR27YUqGsgiP3IlqqONtNR8mvJUJL3QTld7g7K16o0PzwcYHnXJHuCyQN_TPtAkKOhsozDQD96_/s1600/j.santana.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsoJ_jALCVH6lcvwTYja7iTu2szFoMc7IJ1u3bSk61UCyy89eT-72JSNwTdU3yYrVXXR27YUqGsgiP3IlqqONtNR8mvJUJL3QTld7g7K16o0PzwcYHnXJHuCyQN_TPtAkKOhsozDQD96_/s400/j.santana.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Off Season Surgery: </span></i><span style="color: blue;">As soon as the season ended, on October 1st he underwent a successful knee surgery for a torn meniscus. </span></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black;"><i><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div><span style="font-size: medium;">2009:</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"> He returned in 2009 with an Opening Day victory at Cinergy Field in Cincinnati, pitching into the 6th inning allowing just one run on three hits with seven strike outs. </span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">In his next start he only allowed two runs to the Marlins in Florida, while striking out 13 batters. But the Mets couldn’t score any runs & he took a 2-1 loss to Josh Hohnson. It was Santana's loss first since the June of last year. </span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>On April 18th he made his first start at the new Citi Field. he pitched seven scoreless innings over the Brewers not allowing any Brewer to get past first base. The Mets won it 1-0, the only run scored when Jose Reys lined out to the pitcher & Alex Cora scored on the force out at second.</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>On April 24th, Santana beat the Washington Nationals
striking out ten batters, allowing just two hits in seven innings. On May 6th, he beat Chan Ho Park & the Phillies 1-0 at Citi Field, striking out ten batters. </b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyeYWt8izrPUe7BPZROaERDUqYwYcwsfeSXt9czHk1xjtFGit9Kc53LrIwc2HTxbrccRu7mXlIWH43gB94aAwyE_DCH2sm0gedMxrHITuKdEFwmjwp9qgInTHcz5ESNL9Sn9kcQ6nSaXv/s1600/Johan-Santana57.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyeYWt8izrPUe7BPZROaERDUqYwYcwsfeSXt9czHk1xjtFGit9Kc53LrIwc2HTxbrccRu7mXlIWH43gB94aAwyE_DCH2sm0gedMxrHITuKdEFwmjwp9qgInTHcz5ESNL9Sn9kcQ6nSaXv/s1600/Johan-Santana57.jpg" width="233" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>On May 11th, he allowed two runs in 6.2 innings at Atlanta but took a loss to Derek Lowe. Johan then won games on the road at Boston & San Francisco. On May 27th he struck out eleven Nationals in his third straight win, giving
him his fourth double figure strike out game of the year. </b></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">He was 7-2 with an ERA of 1.77ERA at the start of June. </span></b></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><b>On July 5th, he took a 2-0 loss to Joe Blanton & the Phillies giving up two solo HRs. He then threw 14 scoreless innings, over two starts to collect wins over the Reds & Braves for his 12th victory. </b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">2009 All Star:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> Santana made his first & only All-Star appearance as a Met but did not pitch in the AL's 4-3 win at St. Louis.</span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>On July 24th the Astros scored five runs off him & he gave up his first HR in four games, taking a 5-4 loss.</b></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfs4L5t4q-y0v_kS0Q69Tk10pGTi1KcU3sk9ZKEPhD4YE6ttOJ1FpttNB9gMK_haOk1RGNTMXZA-py8tGb1jCKgSNAZKsRm94prAGxqBbLbysC0nRxlEQwJ2pbBfFh3q2wTk5KhWFwaw2n/s1600/santana1.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="382" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfs4L5t4q-y0v_kS0Q69Tk10pGTi1KcU3sk9ZKEPhD4YE6ttOJ1FpttNB9gMK_haOk1RGNTMXZA-py8tGb1jCKgSNAZKsRm94prAGxqBbLbysC0nRxlEQwJ2pbBfFh3q2wTk5KhWFwaw2n/s400/santana1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">On July 30th Santana pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing just four hits in a 7-0 Mets shut out over the Rockies at Citi Field.</span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">But as the season went on, he began to suffer with arm trouble. Soon everything else went wrong for the 2009 Mets as well. Santana’s year was over in August as he </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">needed to have bone chips removed from his elbow. </span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>The Mets finished a disappointing fourth under manager Jerry Manuel winning just 70 games (70-92).</b></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>Santana finished the 2009 season at 13-9 with a 3.13 ERA, 146 strike outs & 46 walks in 166 innings pitched, in 25 starts. </b></span><b style="color: blue;">At the plate he batted .167 (7-42) with three doubles & a career high four RBIs.</b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjahWanY8hvoiRJNOdIPjlF_n99DOjmdeuZ63QBBiJR8F5Ghz6s564b-P-2yV1FdR9XupcwXBqHH9mpM_mnhVLvVP_n-dEApQqp_wKvfuK6nju5RG8ryS_VbG_GdT7L1YiYW39O9DqlYUXLACD4rOGwvyT8xgzhv84QorI4FTbwTqzj-iGNVoqpAf0WmvBo/s552/johan%20santana.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="552" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjahWanY8hvoiRJNOdIPjlF_n99DOjmdeuZ63QBBiJR8F5Ghz6s564b-P-2yV1FdR9XupcwXBqHH9mpM_mnhVLvVP_n-dEApQqp_wKvfuK6nju5RG8ryS_VbG_GdT7L1YiYW39O9DqlYUXLACD4rOGwvyT8xgzhv84QorI4FTbwTqzj-iGNVoqpAf0WmvBo/w640-h460/johan%20santana.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOd2NT0W9MPuXqxYir9jkcWdrmkpqLN_VNpDjELOG8VoduKNzwRYBOIXnnaTbobb0YkHYJGkVxA4YKSHExs01C6EBxto94SzTfyr7CIMXfLYmV3pFGybgCsXFy27iL6WwXvavm4WoBDAcOYWnpt-7p1gzw--Ktyg-9_cObMwoKNnDWCpqdIpV-kzcPA/s282/johan%20santana2.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="282" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOd2NT0W9MPuXqxYir9jkcWdrmkpqLN_VNpDjELOG8VoduKNzwRYBOIXnnaTbobb0YkHYJGkVxA4YKSHExs01C6EBxto94SzTfyr7CIMXfLYmV3pFGybgCsXFy27iL6WwXvavm4WoBDAcOYWnpt-7p1gzw--Ktyg-9_cObMwoKNnDWCpqdIpV-kzcPA/s1600/johan%20santana2.JPG" width="282" /></a></div>Sporting News Poll:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> Johan was voted number three on a list of the Sporting News top the 50 current players; the votes came from a panel that included many Halls of Famers. </b></span></span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><i>2010:</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"> On Opening Day 2010 Johan returned, beating the Marlins at Citi Field, allowing just one run with 5K's in six innings of work. </span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">In his second start he gave up five runs in D.C. taking a loss to the Nationals. On April 17th he shut out the Cardinals for seven innings but got no decision in the 2-1 Mets win. On April 27th in the first game of a doubleheader, he shut out the Dodgers in six innings in a 4-0 Mets win. He would have a strong April going 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA. </span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZ9Vv3y2PIDDLAGyeghdRGEqSfjeVt8uR9dRMi6p2cWxxgI6Z4nlSnbjPm2Tz1JjICuUqef3b5vDQJQ64Tz-EbkOEgSvS8n6FpSfaIYv7wLHl8Uklr0aL2NLTMt_1XWL545ryHbKrEzu_/s1600/santana2.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="199" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZ9Vv3y2PIDDLAGyeghdRGEqSfjeVt8uR9dRMi6p2cWxxgI6Z4nlSnbjPm2Tz1JjICuUqef3b5vDQJQ64Tz-EbkOEgSvS8n6FpSfaIYv7wLHl8Uklr0aL2NLTMt_1XWL545ryHbKrEzu_/w264-h400/santana2.JPG" width="264" /></a></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">On May 2nd he had the worst day of his career giving up ten runs & serving up four HRs to the rival Phillies in a nationally broadcast game the Mets lost 11-5. </span></b></div><div>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>In his next start he gave up four runs to the Giants, although the Mets pulled out a 5-4 win with Johan getting no decision. He settled down after that, allowing just three earned runs in his next five starts, although he only collected one victory in that time. That win came in the subway series allowing just a run in 7.2 innings of work.</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Shut Out & a HR:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On July 6th he had his best day of the year beating the Reds at Citi Field with a three-hit shutout, striking out five & walking three. He also hit his only career HR that day, coming in the 3rd inning a solo shot off Matt Maloney.</span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b>In his first five games of July, he gave up just three earned runs in 26 innings but earned just two more wins, to get to 8-5 with a 2.79 ERA. Then on July 28th he gave up seven runs on 13 hits taking loss to the Cardinals at Citi Field.</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TU2phKSZEeI" width="320" youtube-src-id="TU2phKSZEeI"></iframe></div><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></div><div>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADCGxxfGKtSCkVD4-IQ4z8n3tabjjbN6jv2UQTY9ysOsKKUiO8DRqmuC4hlLTQXgtXwvlfGjbPctIimsay0e1TOVLoX6Hav8CntICzY0Yeold9zqQAJlGUaLW2SAn84KMuiBnwTwYw_PFVRMICCYYPU6PvAkcdbDS6S0wfUpRO11YHRNAk6lFxH0n_g/s648/johan%20santana3.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="648" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADCGxxfGKtSCkVD4-IQ4z8n3tabjjbN6jv2UQTY9ysOsKKUiO8DRqmuC4hlLTQXgtXwvlfGjbPctIimsay0e1TOVLoX6Hav8CntICzY0Yeold9zqQAJlGUaLW2SAn84KMuiBnwTwYw_PFVRMICCYYPU6PvAkcdbDS6S0wfUpRO11YHRNAk6lFxH0n_g/w400-h323/johan%20santana3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>In August he started out with a loss in Atlanta, where struck out a season high 11 batters. He then shut out the Phillies for 7.1 innings for a 1-0 win over Cole Hamels. </span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Shut Out: </span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b>On August 12th he threw a four-hit shutout at home against the Colorado Rockies. In that game he struck out ten batters to reach double figures in K's for the second time in three games. It was his second shutout of the year.</b></span></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><i>Injury: </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">On September 2nd he pitched his last game of the season. Another injury required him to need surgery for the third straight season. </span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3v-Zi3wdHG35JDcXku0Eci2EK1kPJNpubD800ddwl4yhrGW5YqT6bTTeMl6T1auzL5ArpVd6OYS4IZLXJmWHbvS90z_QTiVW97wA45TBxvvzLPVWvdz5CjlW3JebsnToP-fno3a28GV6b/s1600/johan+santana+%252824%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="238" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3v-Zi3wdHG35JDcXku0Eci2EK1kPJNpubD800ddwl4yhrGW5YqT6bTTeMl6T1auzL5ArpVd6OYS4IZLXJmWHbvS90z_QTiVW97wA45TBxvvzLPVWvdz5CjlW3JebsnToP-fno3a28GV6b/w298-h400/johan+santana+%252824%2529.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">On September 14th he underwent surgery to repair a torn anterior capsule in his left shoulder. </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">He would miss the rest of the year & all of the 2011 season at the major league level. </span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"></span></b></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b>For the 2010 season he went 11-9 with a 2.98 ERA. He struck out 144 batters walking 55 in 199 innings of work in 29 starts.</b></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">2011:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> A Slow rehab had him get two starts at A ball St. Lucie where he pitched five innings allowing a run on five hits. There was some frustration with the team's lack of success in these years. Johan & David Wright would take much of the blame being the top players of an otherwise unproductive team. </b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Also the Wilpon ownership's financial problems fell onto the team as they held back on spending money to improves the team. </b></span></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">2012:</span> </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">Santana returned to Spring Training 2012 with a lot of attention surrounding him. </span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7x_E_NW8Xn6x_xW8-pO__Ab7EdDicn4uJcbv7rSroTiJWijhObym7vhfiiW2xlfVBiAVWsTJepmKGz5S_iwlIIBD5QlcC7n585IRxIHTA7DS0QyKgwsz8tEb5o5ZkY8zTwerwkaqn1F98hbKgky0YRKWY_3UoCIMvAgZ67F9fQARfvDCMOjpYLFLX_me/s297/johan%20santana.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="230" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7x_E_NW8Xn6x_xW8-pO__Ab7EdDicn4uJcbv7rSroTiJWijhObym7vhfiiW2xlfVBiAVWsTJepmKGz5S_iwlIIBD5QlcC7n585IRxIHTA7DS0QyKgwsz8tEb5o5ZkY8zTwerwkaqn1F98hbKgky0YRKWY_3UoCIMvAgZ67F9fQARfvDCMOjpYLFLX_me/w248-h320/johan%20santana.JPG" width="248" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>On Opening Day, he returned to pitch his first game in 19 months. He excited Mets fans with a five inning two hit shutout performance against the Atlanta Braves. The Mets went on to a 1-0 win on a David Wright RBI single.</b></span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">In his next start he went another five runs allowing just one run to the Washington Nat's but he was he was out deluded by Stephen Strasburg 1-0. </span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">On April 17th, his start in Atlanta was not as good, getting hit for four runs never making it out of the first inning. Two no decisions followed where he allowed just one earned run over 12.2 innings of work.</span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"> In the month of May he pitched well enough to keep his ERA at a solid 2.75 but only had a 2-2 record to show for it on a bad offensive Mets team.</span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQoxgHMEjTH6vU9QtZfqVLy3P5OdM230PkrXMMsflzmKWfaW9rmfBW7oqTc5HHp1Jf-oKYmofRGX3bw2etIBZORq9YwYRz_2a2O-vhgtJjDCYQlhzU6ob-o1KHeJl9WDY72CJDDb2FUskR3BEB-wAMdjiR_1U6j-Xnt9NZc8syz2Zh_mZ4e-6yd4UzTPu/s588/johan%20santana.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="588" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQoxgHMEjTH6vU9QtZfqVLy3P5OdM230PkrXMMsflzmKWfaW9rmfBW7oqTc5HHp1Jf-oKYmofRGX3bw2etIBZORq9YwYRz_2a2O-vhgtJjDCYQlhzU6ob-o1KHeJl9WDY72CJDDb2FUskR3BEB-wAMdjiR_1U6j-Xnt9NZc8syz2Zh_mZ4e-6yd4UzTPu/w640-h422/johan%20santana.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></b></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuS_HDt5PLNjXEryDvYbjcbEIkR9ahzWB3wlK9RfgAwRIR9hDBv-c2-0N6bH_X7tqprsSc3gZI-dBpAdzat7Eo9jX92OOaMN5uhqdrhkqW6sS1pZ_GNAgdJmFcvIRGptlhL_p11rKD4wEF/s1600/johan+santana+(22).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuS_HDt5PLNjXEryDvYbjcbEIkR9ahzWB3wlK9RfgAwRIR9hDBv-c2-0N6bH_X7tqprsSc3gZI-dBpAdzat7Eo9jX92OOaMN5uhqdrhkqW6sS1pZ_GNAgdJmFcvIRGptlhL_p11rKD4wEF/s400/johan+santana+(22).jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><i>First Mets No Hitter:</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b> Then on June 1st, Santana made Mets history by throwing the first no hitter in the team's long pitching rich history. With all the great pitchers New York has had along with thirty-seven one hit games (including two the last year by R.A. Dickey) Santana was the first to toss a no hitter.</b></span><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>It happened on June 1st, 2012, in front of 27, 000 fans at Citi Field against the defending World Champion St. Louis Cardinals. Santana rolled along, with the help of a spectacular outfield catch by Whitestone Queen's born Mike Baxter, who got injured on the play. </b></span><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmMT7zhrxiseA2ryMffXuLB24FbvlAmKLA1JyGiPv6nEt7_3owcclGPlBh3FT_442nAXpfoXO2D-eJwgyYqgoHE40jWFDy-vLILbpyLFtt-Ave4MgSVPMY7awj9lAJ9QRuU-oCQR1K7AA/s1600/santana+burkhart.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmMT7zhrxiseA2ryMffXuLB24FbvlAmKLA1JyGiPv6nEt7_3owcclGPlBh3FT_442nAXpfoXO2D-eJwgyYqgoHE40jWFDy-vLILbpyLFtt-Ave4MgSVPMY7awj9lAJ9QRuU-oCQR1K7AA/w400-h225/santana+burkhart.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">Santana struck out eight & walked five along the way. As the late innings approached every Mets fan was sitting on the edge of their seats hoping to see history & what a thrill it was.</span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"> In the 9th inning Matt Holiday lined out to center field, Allan Craig flew out to left & it all came down to Santana against David Freese. Freese went down swinging and the Mets had their finest moment of the 2012 season.</span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzJqeQZMVElKILfOrpl7aSiZe07qRZBPhkr7fY3_RkKXu_KgEAg11A0bGnudrQKVM1_ktNWwZHUw3cGBqjvudY4u73veVJhao0bJXF3le4BfLxGq6PpnwWMvjuflMSp4zDFNtATuW3JUpMQU9av2s2_jOU2S8MMcULVlQj_UYfasEDgI3COBoKPLbjE_i/s679/johan%20santana.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="679" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzJqeQZMVElKILfOrpl7aSiZe07qRZBPhkr7fY3_RkKXu_KgEAg11A0bGnudrQKVM1_ktNWwZHUw3cGBqjvudY4u73veVJhao0bJXF3le4BfLxGq6PpnwWMvjuflMSp4zDFNtATuW3JUpMQU9av2s2_jOU2S8MMcULVlQj_UYfasEDgI3COBoKPLbjE_i/w640-h426/johan%20santana.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Cs4ap5NiIxc_qB5LMBjfqZJBvbpOOE_n_m2f1APJJQ9tNxXnkKzg-6w7AMz3UgJ4XbrKj7EisIMOGBghiGF_4Ww-vpIYYKiyxX8Bd5KDnc2edrRWCJRxqmPm3dNTSFgcKkkir9SKxaUgGhbrE16rjpIuRxasyubCyDAMPJnVzZrhGA5NlUZ4tzLs5A/s654/johan%20santana4.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="654" data-original-width="533" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Cs4ap5NiIxc_qB5LMBjfqZJBvbpOOE_n_m2f1APJJQ9tNxXnkKzg-6w7AMz3UgJ4XbrKj7EisIMOGBghiGF_4Ww-vpIYYKiyxX8Bd5KDnc2edrRWCJRxqmPm3dNTSFgcKkkir9SKxaUgGhbrE16rjpIuRxasyubCyDAMPJnVzZrhGA5NlUZ4tzLs5A/s320/johan%20santana4.JPG" width="261" /></a></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><i>After the No Hitter:</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"> </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">In his next start he gave up four HRs & six runs in the subway series matchup in the Bronx. </span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">Santana then won two straight games defeating the Rays in Tampa & shutting out a good Baltimore Oriole team for six innings in a 5-0 Mets win at Citi Field to get to 5-3. </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">On June 30th he pitched a three hit eight inning shutout in Los Angeles to beat the Dodgers 5-0. But it was to be the last win of the season & of his career.</span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">He lost five straight games, giving up six runs or more each time, serving up a total of eight HRs & 33 earned runs with 42 hits in 19 innings. </span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Injuries:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> At the end of July, he sprained his ankle & was placed on the 15 day disable list. </b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>Santana was then shut down with inflammation in his lower back. With the Mets going nowhere his season ended in mid-August. </b></span></div><div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnl00hztn_NliARypSjguHABDudBzS719-Y8sdjvjvrGUcTnuplonPYqXRO8ActjQVrxKfOf7nZTMUGbJ6qOHVtL0uzLm3cMx644Lccpbr8EdWMitU-YmxDLXynyL92jto5p8VGWRtuuNfB1jUaWzibWMUTpdd6yUB0Mt5D2zvH2fF5cpikA-Zn0xQlw/s424/johan%20santana5.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="424" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnl00hztn_NliARypSjguHABDudBzS719-Y8sdjvjvrGUcTnuplonPYqXRO8ActjQVrxKfOf7nZTMUGbJ6qOHVtL0uzLm3cMx644Lccpbr8EdWMitU-YmxDLXynyL92jto5p8VGWRtuuNfB1jUaWzibWMUTpdd6yUB0Mt5D2zvH2fF5cpikA-Zn0xQlw/w400-h251/johan%20santana5.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>In 2012 Santana was 6-9 with a 4.85 ERA. In 21 starts he struck out 111 batters while walking just 39 in 117 innings of work. By far it was the worst statistical season for him since becoming a starter in his third season. </span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><i>2013:</i></span><span style="color: blue;"> In 2013 the Mets were optimistic that Santana would be ready for Opening Day. But in Spring Training GM Sandy Alderson said that he would start the season on the disabled list. A few days later an MRI showed he had re-torn the capsule in his shoulder & another surgery was needed. Santana missed the entire season & in November of 2013 was granted free agency.</span></strong></span></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div><div><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WqxC9r2oOLN-dT_hCjM5sjfYHzkli9GWWA0LVVp_pC_s5l2UcsxZyG-APci9sEZcdsOFRmlCUJp9xaz0WqOhsC6lm_pbRAFdrpLLrDYeK5hNceQ1VAjJHL3FYw_BDW8YirmCwAsCQUox/w283-h400/johan-santana-.jpg" width="283" /></span><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><i>Mets Career Stats:</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span>In 109 games he is 46-34 with a 3.18 ERA. Santana struck out 607 batters (17th most in team history) & walked 203 i</span></b><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">n 717 innings. He has nine complete games (28th most) with six shut outs & one no hitter.</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>In 2014 he signed on with the Baltimore Orioles but did not pitch. In 2015 he was given a contract by the Toronto Blue Jays but did not pitch for them.</b></span><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue;"></span></strong><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><i><b>Career Stats:</b></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b> In his twelve-year career Santana won two Cy Young Awards, three ERA titles & one victory title. He was also named to four All Star squads & won a Gold Glove Award. </b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>Santana is 139-78 lifetime with .641 career win loss % (37th best all time). & a 3.20 ERA. He struck out 1988 batters (86th all time) with a 8.883 strike out per nine inning ratio (26th best all time). </b></span><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">He walked 567 in 2025 innings of work, his 2.519 base on balls average per nine innings is 21st best all time. Santana has ten shut outs, with 15 complete games in 360 games. </span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJtu81iCKTckJhoCAl9zxJGaL7ZS3-1fagsJ5Sr-Qhep9RfFFg-q8g0nlPM1JPcYX8NOQlmmybBNaHlFe0t5cLNu2I6iJJFcAMWoRzqMF3FKpQ_qWNPDLjzwK-AWdN2tvMdnh4KK6i6vc1zre6Rn1QQh1imKmwAI0qW7Mt9mB3MRe1QKIeS5Mr84wwL_W/s575/johan%20santana.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="575" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJtu81iCKTckJhoCAl9zxJGaL7ZS3-1fagsJ5Sr-Qhep9RfFFg-q8g0nlPM1JPcYX8NOQlmmybBNaHlFe0t5cLNu2I6iJJFcAMWoRzqMF3FKpQ_qWNPDLjzwK-AWdN2tvMdnh4KK6i6vc1zre6Rn1QQh1imKmwAI0qW7Mt9mB3MRe1QKIeS5Mr84wwL_W/w640-h442/johan%20santana.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Family:</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> Johan & his wife Yasmile, have two daughters. They reside in Miramar Lakes, Florida. </span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsFQ3u4LuUfotc14sCaA5rW_E5uy1Nnd6NYOWueTvs55YwIcFsXT7cUZ37hVQ6mCK32aXp5LbOQ2YNWnmW3KGyBt-WpZqDU8tiyDIxHVDC7FSU-_wr9tACC4pnaw22ysdPd14K97GxvlZgcIq5xeCapcwLyBhzoGWdcSaCcFc92J3XPzF2QaybmUjnTZB/s655/johan%20santana.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="407" data-original-width="655" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsFQ3u4LuUfotc14sCaA5rW_E5uy1Nnd6NYOWueTvs55YwIcFsXT7cUZ37hVQ6mCK32aXp5LbOQ2YNWnmW3KGyBt-WpZqDU8tiyDIxHVDC7FSU-_wr9tACC4pnaw22ysdPd14K97GxvlZgcIq5xeCapcwLyBhzoGWdcSaCcFc92J3XPzF2QaybmUjnTZB/w400-h249/johan%20santana.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Charity:</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> He is very active in the community, doing a lot for work for local hospitals & charities through the Johan Santana Foundation.</span></span></b></span></div></div></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Honors:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></span></b></span><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;">In 2014 the Twins retired his uniform number in a ceremony at Target Field. </span></span></span></b></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></span></b></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;">In 2022 the Mets honored him on the tenth Anniversary of his no hitter. Former catcher Josh Thole & manager Terry Collins were also on hand for the celebration.</span></span></span></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879473706233234375.post-86640525059993721012024-03-12T23:00:00.000-04:002024-03-12T23:00:00.248-04:00Joe Moock: Short Time 1960's Mets Third Baseman (1967)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAAC9IjucCemiGLRkRVfbPQNqBWl4CQy9tUNxpLqH91JxCm27HnxCLN-i7EnB9yI6AkGaTpbGkJwp77N3K0hv1mRw4wSfQiUe5r_vtiEMAA9RTpsc8Z6YAPmy-g7fnonPu8PQy9nsQMthf/s1600/joe+moock.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAAC9IjucCemiGLRkRVfbPQNqBWl4CQy9tUNxpLqH91JxCm27HnxCLN-i7EnB9yI6AkGaTpbGkJwp77N3K0hv1mRw4wSfQiUe5r_vtiEMAA9RTpsc8Z6YAPmy-g7fnonPu8PQy9nsQMthf/w232-h320/joe+moock.png" width="232" /></a><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Joseph Geoffrey Moock</span><b> was born on March 12th, 1944, in Plaquemine, Louisiana. Joe's father Joseph was a minor league infielder in the 1940's. </b></span><div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>The six foot one, left hand hitter, threw right-handed. </b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>Moock attended LSU at Baton Rouge, getting drafted by the New York Mets in the third round of the 1965 amateur draft.</b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>In 1966 Moock hit .284 in the New York Penn League & spent most of the next season there as well. </strong></span><b style="color: blue;">The Mets were desperate for a </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>successful</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> third baseman in those early years & this season was no exception. Although they had veteran </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>Ed Charles,</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> they brought Moock up in September to give him a chance, with maybe some hope for the future.</b></div><div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mets Career:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> On September 1st, 1967, Moock debuted wearing uniform #18, striking out in his first career at bat.</b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJ96ttRNv-DDJSjhRbNlN5szpxNm-A5GH7ULKFSCNJdqUW6Xbl1L_bv5IO9h3T7dr-YE5zMdr2wCg90v2Lpo65vxlwqKMWm2CA3BbJG4u0Fj8lDk20IquabCTxi81lq1Y6GBrBtorIUWu/s1600/Joe+moock3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJ96ttRNv-DDJSjhRbNlN5szpxNm-A5GH7ULKFSCNJdqUW6Xbl1L_bv5IO9h3T7dr-YE5zMdr2wCg90v2Lpo65vxlwqKMWm2CA3BbJG4u0Fj8lDk20IquabCTxi81lq1Y6GBrBtorIUWu/s1600/Joe+moock3.jpg" /></a> On September 13th in Atlanta, Moock helped Tom Seaver to his 14th win of the year. In the 4th inning he doubled off the Braves Par Jarvis driving in Ron Swoboda to tie the game. The Mets won it 2-1 on Jerry Grote's 9th inning base hit.</b></span></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>Later in the month, Moock would enjoy a four-game hit streak. On September 29th, he drove in two runs with a bases loaded single off the Dodgers Bill Singer in a 5-1 Mets win in L.A. </b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>The next day he drove in two more runs, with other bases loaded single in a 5-0 Les Rohr shut out. In the 1st inning he ripped one past pitcher Don Drysdale supposedly knocking the big guy on his butt. It was said that this was Moock's favorite baseball story to tell. </b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>Moock would play in 13 games batting .225 with two doubles & five RBIs. It was his only MLB season.</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHE38fR5H31R2IqHR2ktpaSpp_H1wV9OBTpZdBdjp9I8agPJ7QTAMbHgKGe5GKwQ2xkNXwczT6gSvphIVYdqZriEf2JqnOBW7Vst3enrbhaiD6A7vpRHZrAlaxnARxGHityWoQ25sYx6kT/s1600/joe+moock2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHE38fR5H31R2IqHR2ktpaSpp_H1wV9OBTpZdBdjp9I8agPJ7QTAMbHgKGe5GKwQ2xkNXwczT6gSvphIVYdqZriEf2JqnOBW7Vst3enrbhaiD6A7vpRHZrAlaxnARxGHityWoQ25sYx6kT/s1600/joe+moock2.jpg" /></a>Post Mets Career:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> Moock would be drafted by the Montreal Expos in their inaugural season. He had a fine 1969 Spring Training with them & actually hit the team's first ever HR in an intra-squad game exhibition game. But he was eventually cut from the team as they went North.</b></span></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>He would play in the minors through the 1970 season batting .259 in a five-year minor league career.</b></span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="color: black;">Retirement:</span></em> </span>After his playing days he coached baseball at a private school in Louisiana.</span></strong></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879473706233234375.post-67288983369675464492024-03-11T23:30:00.000-04:002024-03-11T23:30:00.125-04:00Darryl Strawberry (Part Two) The Later Mets Years (1987 - 1990)
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9F3aUkK5UWzScRDgnN3j3z9iclZ8Qf1EQDo3Ajqloysm3M3oiy5b5P24tfz2LD07IGQgo3pYkVtOmFhLJifbq9cerKo3qWjuexbDuVzUy_NYtDkG_CWWl_6etLOc3vJcMEf0j3sYeUWBrEuuCKzDp0SMXllLM62Xp-4YJoc1fdlWh0BL-BPfoVar6j-Q/s320/14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="214" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9F3aUkK5UWzScRDgnN3j3z9iclZ8Qf1EQDo3Ajqloysm3M3oiy5b5P24tfz2LD07IGQgo3pYkVtOmFhLJifbq9cerKo3qWjuexbDuVzUy_NYtDkG_CWWl_6etLOc3vJcMEf0j3sYeUWBrEuuCKzDp0SMXllLM62Xp-4YJoc1fdlWh0BL-BPfoVar6j-Q/w268-h400/14.JPG" width="268" /></a></div>After the Championship:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> After the Championship, Dwight Gooden was admitted to drug rehab missing the start of the season. Darryl had his own issues but was able to keep them mor private & when he produced the attention was off him.</b></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b>On April 7th, 1987, as the Mets raised the Championship flag at Shea Stadium. Straw began the year with an Opening Day three run HR off the Pirates Bob Patterson driving in all three Mets runs in the 3-2 win.</b></span></span><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>The next day he homered off Doug Drabek in a 4-2 win. He made it three HRs in the first three games of the season with a three-run shot off David Palmer.</b></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Multi RBI Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On April 16th-17th, Straw hit HRs in back-to-back in games at Philadelphia. On April 17th he hit a two run HR off Tom Hume. In the 1st inning, he walked with the bases loaded & later added sac fly for a four RBI Day in the Mets 9-3 win. He would have five games on the season with four or more RBIs.</span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjK-4YOGHdDCcfAXL4-xaGRVcjZYg1m69Z8qDRhgkqp3swBi6o8fYakcvKtIdzlzVUF3SeFvvhI9FPJd2lQzwoM53j-wXLbQ2S5n5icvJxKjJV77vOrInaxncG-e9BMraSxlN_VyPX_4X_D5MGnXux4pmIzBml8Z4fmP7766oQ1_r3Jlmmls-J7XjJlFz/s423/darryl%20strawberry13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="246" data-original-width="423" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjK-4YOGHdDCcfAXL4-xaGRVcjZYg1m69Z8qDRhgkqp3swBi6o8fYakcvKtIdzlzVUF3SeFvvhI9FPJd2lQzwoM53j-wXLbQ2S5n5icvJxKjJV77vOrInaxncG-e9BMraSxlN_VyPX_4X_D5MGnXux4pmIzBml8Z4fmP7766oQ1_r3Jlmmls-J7XjJlFz/w640-h372/darryl%20strawberry13.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrRIEKGhIzuMk4Oh5f8b6cIBjDkjZSNAlXdk_aA0GVUDqPTIp6EFERoV6_l6Ar7g5mDgNNV0PQjRoQ-A0bKN_qwRdMfSbiV2he3eCItyoyr5dA0qK-kpiuURMX7UhDqGwBrhwPWZXSqtJh2vhDEFEmH1WLqJ6ZWg4yzDfhPyVWAEwWaSieiZ2-otcby63/s411/darryl%20strawberry4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="411" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrRIEKGhIzuMk4Oh5f8b6cIBjDkjZSNAlXdk_aA0GVUDqPTIp6EFERoV6_l6Ar7g5mDgNNV0PQjRoQ-A0bKN_qwRdMfSbiV2he3eCItyoyr5dA0qK-kpiuURMX7UhDqGwBrhwPWZXSqtJh2vhDEFEmH1WLqJ6ZWg4yzDfhPyVWAEwWaSieiZ2-otcby63/s320/darryl%20strawberry4.JPG" width="242" /></a></div><span style="color: blue;"><b>In April he batted .307 with 5 HRs & 17 RBIs. In May he started out the month by hitting HRs in the first two games against the Expos at Shea. Later in the month he hit HRs in three straight games.</b></span></div><div><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Multi HR Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On May 27th, with the Mets down to the Giants 3-2 in the top of the 9th inning at San Francisco, Strawberry homered off Mark Davis tying up the game. In the 4th inning he had hit a two run HR off Atlee Hammaker, driving in three runs in the 4-3 win. </span></span></b></div><div><b><span><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div><b><span><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div><b><span><span style="color: blue;">It was the first of four multi-HR games on the season. Darryl would hit HRs in the next two games at San Diego.</span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b style="color: blue;"></b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>On May 30th, the Mets were down 1-0 in the 7th inning, when he homered off Eric Show, a two-run shot leading to a 3-1 Mets win. </b></span><b><span style="color: blue;">In May he hit 10 HRs while driving in 16 more runs & stealing</span></b><b style="color: blue;"> eight bases.</b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7WRM_QJA2k8gus1BS2kVoN30NnjaDpzTSUr9En50dzRPvcC0MWYapXYEyfyEoSDFsBZTHwO_NYSmcx8XYgWtLaAPsub-ezIYaM6vY_s1pmGtV1WUCMxYmugiyu8tonTQDhh70U2Jqto5/s1600/13.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="406" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7WRM_QJA2k8gus1BS2kVoN30NnjaDpzTSUr9En50dzRPvcC0MWYapXYEyfyEoSDFsBZTHwO_NYSmcx8XYgWtLaAPsub-ezIYaM6vY_s1pmGtV1WUCMxYmugiyu8tonTQDhh70U2Jqto5/s400/13.JPG" width="340" /></a>Multi HR Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On June 18th he hit a pair of HRs in Montreal, one off Neal Heaton & the other off Jeff Parret which was his 20th of the season. He drove in four runs in the Mets 10-7 Mets win. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: blue;">From there he went into a HR slump, hitting just one more HR over the next month. </span></b></div><div></div><div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Straw vs Backman & Mazzilli:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> The week of July 4th, he was involved in a highly publicized battle with Wally Backman. As the s</span></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">tory goes Backman & Lee Mazzilli had criticized Strawberry for missing two games against the Cardinals that week. </span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Darryl threatened Backman, saying "I’ll bust that little redneck in the face". Then the media jumped on Darryl as well, calling his play in the outfield lax & saying he was being lazy with his poor work ethic. </span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwlGJXqd-BJ7re1WUlWItOL5S_C_gp_Khe1qVDK55viPKY67idD1pcPrborPYnpR8BWltt_fiROZkfaoybT8iaQNjxuEA5PR5iJ5zg2ccqBBr5HbmOkfc1AJWV7hpW1EH1COmPjSLQVey/s1600/darryl+strawberry+(30).JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwlGJXqd-BJ7re1WUlWItOL5S_C_gp_Khe1qVDK55viPKY67idD1pcPrborPYnpR8BWltt_fiROZkfaoybT8iaQNjxuEA5PR5iJ5zg2ccqBBr5HbmOkfc1AJWV7hpW1EH1COmPjSLQVey/w274-h400/darryl+strawberry+(30).JPG" width="274" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></div>1987 All Star:</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b> By the All Star break he had 21 HRs with 51 RBIs getting to his fourth straight All-Star game. He went 0-2 in the NL's 2-0 shut out in Oakland, with Davey Johnson as the National League's manager. </b></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Multi HR Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On August 6th at Shea Stadium, Straw hit two HRs off the Cubs Les Lancaster in a 7-6 Mets win. He hit four HRs that week.</span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Four Hit Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On August 16th he had a four-hit game at Wrigley Field in a 23-10 Mets romp over the Cubs. Straw hit a 4th inning three run HR off Greg Maddox, & then added a two-run triple later in the game. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: blue;">On August 19th he hit his 30th HR of the season, it came at Shea in a loss to the Giants.</span></b></div><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>He had six multiple RBI games in August, driving in 18 runs with 8 HRs for the month. </b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Player of the Month:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> In September Straw hit eight HRs with ten doubles, 34 hits, 13 stolen bases & 27 RBIs winning him the Player of the Month Honors. </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqxEbBVb4JN8GxpeX8ZwH0y9MNTlmhbQE3Oo9MgcMVN-C1oX4oa857yArRWooNjifdWPIXtkk73PGuVALBIggsWtojvjKh63MHMEzK9vuiRMJys3_VsjOdi5eefmRdPiXXCcW7jTcCt2T/s1600/darryl+strawberry+(14).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqxEbBVb4JN8GxpeX8ZwH0y9MNTlmhbQE3Oo9MgcMVN-C1oX4oa857yArRWooNjifdWPIXtkk73PGuVALBIggsWtojvjKh63MHMEzK9vuiRMJys3_VsjOdi5eefmRdPiXXCcW7jTcCt2T/w308-h400/darryl+strawberry+(14).jpg" width="308" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>On September 5th he hit a solo HR off Fernando Valenzuela in a 4-3 in Los Angeles. </b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><i>Multi HR Game:</i></span><span style="color: blue;"><b> On September 9th, he had his fourth multi-HR game of the year. Hitting HRs off Shane Rawley & Tom Newell while driving in four runs in an 11-5 win over the Phillies at Shea Stadium. </b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>The next day he hit a two run HR off the Cardinals, Ken Dayley in a crucial series taking a 6-4, loss. The Mets were 2.5 games behind the Cards & got as close as 1.5 games. They would lose six of their last 12 finishing three games back of St. Louis. It was very disappointing after there being high expectations of a Dynasty after the </b></span><span style="color: blue;"><b>Championship.</b></span></div><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>From September 14th through the 18th Darryl drove in runs, in four straight games. </b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Multi RBI Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On September 18th, he hit a three run HR off the Pirates Brian Fisher, his 37th HR of the season. He later had an RBI double, while droving in four runs against the Pirates in a Mets heart breaking 10-9 loss to the Pirates. </span></b></span><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQnhqUyKa9KX_ib7adZ7gczPnO10Vr2vvdK3FdZon7O-AWpB86DUEuVnYUi6n4oDlHf0xmxCyuY-mgT9zWoC1FCKH0EQHQwH24wTvJ9HJZrPlO_74FWaLoVyh-Z7-7oNBkFIrw6MFDHo0hsXJaqieX4QVSIKR1nUTHvsr0uvNZMgbSUnwgRmWaV-kZioL/s472/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="309" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQnhqUyKa9KX_ib7adZ7gczPnO10Vr2vvdK3FdZon7O-AWpB86DUEuVnYUi6n4oDlHf0xmxCyuY-mgT9zWoC1FCKH0EQHQwH24wTvJ9HJZrPlO_74FWaLoVyh-Z7-7oNBkFIrw6MFDHo0hsXJaqieX4QVSIKR1nUTHvsr0uvNZMgbSUnwgRmWaV-kZioL/s320/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" width="209" /></a></div>Straw finished the year (as one of ten players up until that point) joining the 30/30 club; hitting 39 HRs (3rd in the NL) & stealing 36 bases. </b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Mets HR Mark:</i></span><span style="color: blue;"> His 39 HRs was a career high as well as a Mets single season record passing Dave Kingman's 37 in 1976.</span></b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>1987 In he drove in 104 runs (7th in the NL) hit 32 doubles with 151 hits, 108 runs scored (7th in the NL) 97 walks (4th in the NL) stole 36 bases, batted .284 was hit by a team leading seven hit by pitches & posted a career high .398 on base %. </b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>In the outfield he posted a .972 fielding % with six assists, three double plays & eight errors in 151 games.</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: black;">1988 NL Eastern Champion Mets Season:</span></i> </span>In 1988, Strawberry became the first Met since Dave Kingman to lead the league in HRs with 39. </b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlnKmJtgNgVbhih7nvEA7XNZeFczAWqxDptCTpo8qwl6vxNNr62OL5TnonVNRbNBv8Hyuzmw7b-DbZNXlcQQFD-G6xZ7vhRw37LjNCgL-5grcD3KQp-xOXDBsorNf2fP7J7-IHbpYB0NlfxOCSGXc_50CkMLrJXJ0qu3LnkuCfwazLU6yUiTSk_d30Xbl/s542/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="421" data-original-width="542" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlnKmJtgNgVbhih7nvEA7XNZeFczAWqxDptCTpo8qwl6vxNNr62OL5TnonVNRbNBv8Hyuzmw7b-DbZNXlcQQFD-G6xZ7vhRw37LjNCgL-5grcD3KQp-xOXDBsorNf2fP7J7-IHbpYB0NlfxOCSGXc_50CkMLrJXJ0qu3LnkuCfwazLU6yUiTSk_d30Xbl/w640-h498/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCmb75EbBlPuXTlIdrug_xVVpj27IKlun1JmBjxcYVBxPbpYCZXCX8UNW9rDSalL998AcRaqG2qOEuy3VxYKE72mLehjgRb-HiiaSYjfcKX0HQyNZSCFjyoh39OtZ8pvKsZln5P5rIft95MVSZPAnZQ9SLCj5vvoepQ9TzuApczVHSjJHDxKGuKpn_s_l/s584/darryl%20strawberry5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="584" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCmb75EbBlPuXTlIdrug_xVVpj27IKlun1JmBjxcYVBxPbpYCZXCX8UNW9rDSalL998AcRaqG2qOEuy3VxYKE72mLehjgRb-HiiaSYjfcKX0HQyNZSCFjyoh39OtZ8pvKsZln5P5rIft95MVSZPAnZQ9SLCj5vvoepQ9TzuApczVHSjJHDxKGuKpn_s_l/s320/darryl%20strawberry5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Multi HR Opener:</span></i> <span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>On Opening Day in Montreal Darryl hit a HR in off Dennis Martinez in his first at bat of the year. He added another HR later, with the blast hitting off the roof at Olympic Stadium off pitcher Randy St. Claire. New teammate Kevin McReynolds had just homered in the previous at bat helping Dwight Gooden in the 10-6 win over the Expos. </b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>Two games later he hit his third HR of the season in the 8-5 win at Montreal. On April 12th, Ron Darling shut out the Expos at Shea with Straw hitting his fourth HR of the season in the 3-0 win. </b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>From April 12 - April 18th, he drew Nine walks in a six-game span. </b></span></span></span></span></span><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #000025;"><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">In April, Darryl hit six HRs with 10 RBIs while batting .361.</span></span></span></b></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #000025;"></span></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DM2C73LynjPTcibRh5vNKYsWqbiZZh3JduxTZWssNb9NG3z0k6FVNcr-yJsS9DVSTgfNrNaEjjGNrzoQBWBC9WAZmKjoqWhCUS-Y9mDi28SNa2LLXC1nk6SKmqCTZjaH489cOUQz6yWG/s1600/darryl-strawberry.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DM2C73LynjPTcibRh5vNKYsWqbiZZh3JduxTZWssNb9NG3z0k6FVNcr-yJsS9DVSTgfNrNaEjjGNrzoQBWBC9WAZmKjoqWhCUS-Y9mDi28SNa2LLXC1nk6SKmqCTZjaH489cOUQz6yWG/s400/darryl-strawberry.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Walk Off HR</span></i><span style="color: blue;">: On May 6th, in a 4-3 win over the Reds at Shea Stadium, Darryl had a 1st inning RBI sac fly & added an 5th inning RBI single. </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>The Reds tied the game & took the lead with a 10th inning HR from Chris Sabo. </b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>In the bottom of the 10th, Strawberry hit a two run, walk off game winning HR off closer John Franco. It was his second career walk off HR off Joh Franco.</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>On May 22nd, in Los Angeles, Darryl hit a 1st inning two run HR off Fernando Valenzuela, he later added an RBI single, driving in three in the 5-2 win at Dodger Stadium. </b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVa91UeUGoa6KXeGWdr9BbYDc-PSFV0162eii77gPCAMaamVgGBfdRgyysTUKHT3ZgdBT-J58FN1ixHdDGwP27NbRUaCBbJ5-1L6XWARtyNiPDHgsuUmDKlLeFawk-npg2q22KhGLFP5pxJ9Kjl9y1HpUvg6qJdOs0Y_ADtphV30ndRFxElwGis0ntD9iD/s360/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVa91UeUGoa6KXeGWdr9BbYDc-PSFV0162eii77gPCAMaamVgGBfdRgyysTUKHT3ZgdBT-J58FN1ixHdDGwP27NbRUaCBbJ5-1L6XWARtyNiPDHgsuUmDKlLeFawk-npg2q22KhGLFP5pxJ9Kjl9y1HpUvg6qJdOs0Y_ADtphV30ndRFxElwGis0ntD9iD/w174-h200/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" width="174" /></a></div>Mets / Dodger Trivia:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> The Mets would beat the Dodgers ten times in eleven games played that regular season. In the NLCS the Dodgers took the series in seven games eliminating he Mets chances of another Championship.</span></b></span></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: blue;">On May 11th, in a wild 9-8 win at the Astrodome, Straw hit a 4th inning two run HR off Mike Scott. The Astros went ahead, then Tim Teufel's three run HR tied the game. In the 10th, Kevin McReynolds HR ended up being the game winning run.</b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Big Games vs Cardinals:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> In June Darryl would have some big moments against the rival St. Louis Cardinals.</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3Hfe6-k4tUMxLUKH9ESphtzMIAvNBlXt8OkodImbtc5YozfoxFK32bfv1vLMmCyUk8qQOmbZWdGY8q94WLWW4sMStULe9yXrnquip8BLQd54CVRYOr5UrXZwZbuQe1tB7e38SUwuPDM9/s1600/darryl+strawberry+(29).JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3Hfe6-k4tUMxLUKH9ESphtzMIAvNBlXt8OkodImbtc5YozfoxFK32bfv1vLMmCyUk8qQOmbZWdGY8q94WLWW4sMStULe9yXrnquip8BLQd54CVRYOr5UrXZwZbuQe1tB7e38SUwuPDM9/w215-h320/darryl+strawberry+(29).JPG" width="215" /></a><span><span style="color: blue;"><b>On June 6th in St. Louis, he hit a two run HR off Larry McWilliams then a two run double off Steve Peters driving in four runs in the 6-4 Mets win. </b></span></span></div><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>On June 13th with the teams playing a series in New York, his 4th inning HR of Ken Dayley tied the game up at one. The score stayed that way going to extra innings where Lee Mazzilli won it with a walk off base hit off Ken Dayley. </b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Multi HR Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> On June 15th he had his second multi HR game of the year, hit two off St. Louis' Chris Carpenter, bringing in three of the Mets six runs, in the 6-4 win. The Mets swept that series, dropping the reigning NL Champion Cards to fourth place nine games back of the Mets. </b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b>On June 19 & 20th, he hit HRs in back-to-back games. </b></span></span><b style="color: blue;">Darryl had hit well enough to stay over .300 steadily until July. </b><b style="color: blue;">On July 2nd, he hit his 20th HR of the season, in a 7-2 win at Shea over Houston. </b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1_JEzDccxIwZjqq3zOTjenmH7GtJZILotzbQJPss2d_xXmNmPnGyUOFOwbrDXkIAaWfh8Z-jyMHU8zDkEkgfHsRkNXgYna9dMHB4bikzbQ4e2w-DZUaKF_QcqZcO-vILdKnvThh1loHMYQQu5AQv7GVzTT6yGDOcoZW4GCyi_FMxm11g_L0hyphenhyphenCWQJPZ0/s834/darryl%20strawberry2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="834" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1_JEzDccxIwZjqq3zOTjenmH7GtJZILotzbQJPss2d_xXmNmPnGyUOFOwbrDXkIAaWfh8Z-jyMHU8zDkEkgfHsRkNXgYna9dMHB4bikzbQ4e2w-DZUaKF_QcqZcO-vILdKnvThh1loHMYQQu5AQv7GVzTT6yGDOcoZW4GCyi_FMxm11g_L0hyphenhyphenCWQJPZ0/w400-h268/darryl%20strawberry2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>1988 All Star:</span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b> </b></span></span><b style="color: blue;">In the first half of the season, he hit 21 HRs with 55 RBIs & was batting .284.</b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: blue;">Strawberry was elected to his fifth straight All-Star game, starting in rightfield for the NL. His Mets teammate Dwight Gooden was the NL's starting pitcher. David Cone also represented the Mets staff making the team. </b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: blue;">Cardinal manager Whitey Herzog let Darryl play the </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>entire All-Star Game, game</b></span><b style="color: blue;">, </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>going 1</b></span><b style="color: blue;">-4 with a single off Mark Gubicza in</b><b style="color: blue;"> the NL's 2-1 loss </b><b style="color: blue;">at Riverfront Stadium, in Cincinnati.</b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-hwRXGk2ga453xehms9MEW4zSSx9jwKxnVULr1UIGbI6Yq9tnWPPQi6EfN0K_3Scpbas6moy8BcfgZerP67guO03pVCV90j7Ga8BJpI9XWVKa72tLENjqsFgM5gfNKTW9LxA9FwUJ6oU35V9XF6iC59p7XKO1uUKdhO3VSDsYXTT05kuhLYtDv_TWuCq/s859/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="859" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-hwRXGk2ga453xehms9MEW4zSSx9jwKxnVULr1UIGbI6Yq9tnWPPQi6EfN0K_3Scpbas6moy8BcfgZerP67guO03pVCV90j7Ga8BJpI9XWVKa72tLENjqsFgM5gfNKTW9LxA9FwUJ6oU35V9XF6iC59p7XKO1uUKdhO3VSDsYXTT05kuhLYtDv_TWuCq/w640-h406/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><div><br /></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGAUCvmJVUUQok0i1yB85WNqzXAY8HQRR7SlH0TI8STvVbsvvsSsA6jUb4_oLy2fcAerbtlVIR8ijernn-nmGDuLT9IjXLbTywmO529fbeifHQE-JHIYGIHaZSPnF3Xf5XKXRohSQ5skucBQHTsU7BK8owUhMjPfkWbIuaZEQ_s3E4zdY1NRuWCni3w/s318/!!daaaryl.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="226" data-original-width="318" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGAUCvmJVUUQok0i1yB85WNqzXAY8HQRR7SlH0TI8STvVbsvvsSsA6jUb4_oLy2fcAerbtlVIR8ijernn-nmGDuLT9IjXLbTywmO529fbeifHQE-JHIYGIHaZSPnF3Xf5XKXRohSQ5skucBQHTsU7BK8owUhMjPfkWbIuaZEQ_s3E4zdY1NRuWCni3w/w400-h284/!!daaaryl.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Returning from the break, Darryl hit HRs in three straight games on road trip to Atlanta& Cincinatti. On</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b> July 24th-25th, he hit HRs in consecutive games at Shea Stadium. In that ten game span he hit five HRs with seven RBIs.</b></span></span></div><div><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Five RBI Game: </span></i><span style="color: blue;">On July 27th, he had a season high five RBI Day, with three hits in a 10-2 win at Veterans Stadium, in Philadelphia. <br /></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><b>In the 3rd inning he collected a two-run single off David Palmer. In the 7th inning, he cleared the bases with a three run double off Bill Scherrer.</b></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdaaEA_cqoJe-wOKgLRZ2vCMNPASREpmu4IQbxbPfpUAOg3jp6WELAgYoPeAw50cUEMvmyVajLVjc9k0S5mPBlS-ctvyJtiDNOGCe8N-UhRNdDbiCQwfh63Ol7xLcVLmivAkT0qdbRCanuRDXOhcQNWyI4JidvU87zJ8rg57Ypj4I7XlT9Qk8axa-R_U9F/s736/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="736" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdaaEA_cqoJe-wOKgLRZ2vCMNPASREpmu4IQbxbPfpUAOg3jp6WELAgYoPeAw50cUEMvmyVajLVjc9k0S5mPBlS-ctvyJtiDNOGCe8N-UhRNdDbiCQwfh63Ol7xLcVLmivAkT0qdbRCanuRDXOhcQNWyI4JidvU87zJ8rg57Ypj4I7XlT9Qk8axa-R_U9F/w400-h260/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><b>On July 31st, Strawberry's 1st inning HR off the Pirates Bob Walk, was all the offense as Ron Darling & Walk went at it in a 2-1 Mets win.</b></span></span></span></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: blue;">In August Darryl started the month with HRs in back-to-back games, but then a slump had him his just one more HR until September 5th as his average fell from 290 to .263.</b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">30th HR:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> On August 16th Darryl hit his 30th HR, a two-run blast off Craig Lefferts in San Francisco. It marked the second straight season he passed the 30 plus HR mark.</b></span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHpS__kGpETq5jhl7bWKyYfOvl-zI10vmLTC4MaoE6pPwail0CwOctmuT2GuBaLVJjFa2nWJiJdYiOjrAkA1IU9ZEYfIlMsa2KE5xAMCQeeX-QdFCnq5NrVEMKhQVJT4zZhq0W-nEBJjz81jiaTUJc7k_rlt5Qu2mLcP7UOzrlyg5Thfq4Cm9JCFkHdHi/s696/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="696" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHpS__kGpETq5jhl7bWKyYfOvl-zI10vmLTC4MaoE6pPwail0CwOctmuT2GuBaLVJjFa2nWJiJdYiOjrAkA1IU9ZEYfIlMsa2KE5xAMCQeeX-QdFCnq5NrVEMKhQVJT4zZhq0W-nEBJjz81jiaTUJc7k_rlt5Qu2mLcP7UOzrlyg5Thfq4Cm9JCFkHdHi/w400-h288/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>At the start of September, the Mets had an 8.5 game lead & would easily win the NL East title. </b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>In<br /> the month Strawberry hit nine HRs, had four multi-RBI games, including a stretch of five straight games where he drove in at least one run. </b></span></span><b style="color: blue;">On September 7th & 8th he hit HRs in </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>back-to-back</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> games at Wrigley Field.</b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>From September 18th-20th, he hit HRs in three straight games driving in six runs, helping the Mets in three close wins. </b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Multi HR Game</span></i><span style="color: blue;">: On October 2nd, </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>Strawberry closed out the year with his third multi-HR game of the season in 1 7-5 win over the Cards. In the first inning he it a two run HR off Larry Williams & then in the 5th a solo HR off Steve Peters. </b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgny6_2YdEFrxSzmRLpujTv9e_ZXT_Pae3FMD7Daax4dQRbQxTXUt6CrCHM-LzqO2-EtVksSRlrUlFlbMnTQ4c8Vf1P96KgKWDxL4r8cHSSUutXMYLXkCbhbnOWme6HhSmp5WCjwi9So0IQE4aUKF50eIESbiWrRa1LTxrhwD9hDCwTrqPeeqoOqePjwNs2/s469/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="293" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgny6_2YdEFrxSzmRLpujTv9e_ZXT_Pae3FMD7Daax4dQRbQxTXUt6CrCHM-LzqO2-EtVksSRlrUlFlbMnTQ4c8Vf1P96KgKWDxL4r8cHSSUutXMYLXkCbhbnOWme6HhSmp5WCjwi9So0IQE4aUKF50eIESbiWrRa1LTxrhwD9hDCwTrqPeeqoOqePjwNs2/s320/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>He reached 39 HRs & became the first Mets since Dave Kingman to win a HR title.</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>Darryl lost out to the Dodgers Kirk Gibson for the MVP award but clearly should have won it. Gibson hit 26 HRs with 76 RBIs hitting .290 with a .377 on base % & .860 OPS in 150 games.</b></span></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: blue;">Straw led the Mets in </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>games</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> played (150) HRs (39) RBIs (101) runs (101- 4th in the NL) sac flies (9) slugging which as also </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>tops</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> in the NL (.545%) OPS (.911) & strike outs (127) He was second in doubles (27) stolen bases (27) walks (86) & triples (3)/ He batted .269 with </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>a .</b></span><b style="color: blue;">366 on base %.</b><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>He won his first Silver Slugger Award & was a</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> poster boy </b><b style="color: blue;">for Kenner’s Starting Line Up action figures. More pressure was getting put on him as people were saying he could possibly be a candidate to break Hank Aaron's </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>all-time</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> home run record. </b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4k9ld9TJHAqqujuGNcfYqvkAMBleBHz_7IfHuuEw173Gb0T36oxU-60ijnV2smse-1rdVucnV3dHgqooJUTeAAqGnDsoIxrx9wNm1Zkl08fXGNHblnkTI1uok2NvYaYmjONrQnlyd-J2OMW5j1uKiPowvj1-k_xJQ6CK9vHLYS2l7MdcVRoJ_c-Khbyjo/s837/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="837" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4k9ld9TJHAqqujuGNcfYqvkAMBleBHz_7IfHuuEw173Gb0T36oxU-60ijnV2smse-1rdVucnV3dHgqooJUTeAAqGnDsoIxrx9wNm1Zkl08fXGNHblnkTI1uok2NvYaYmjONrQnlyd-J2OMW5j1uKiPowvj1-k_xJQ6CK9vHLYS2l7MdcVRoJ_c-Khbyjo/w640-h430/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>1988 Post Season- NLCS</span>:</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> </span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">The Mets went into the post season as heavy favorites over the Dodgers in the NLCS. The Mets had taken ten of the eleven games between the two in the regular season. </span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>In Game #1 of the NLCS at Dodger Stadium, the Mets were down 2-0 to Orel Hershiser in the 9th inning. In the top of the 9th, Strawberry doubled bringing in Gerg Jeffries with the Mets first run.</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>He scored the game's tying run on Gary Carter's two run double, as the Mets went on to win it 3-2.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b></b></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><b>In the Mets 6-3 Game #2 loss, Darryl collected two hits going 2-4.<br /></b></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5SwSwh6ngvNQdpaivIJsuZG8FbM-daCCOR9QhtEtXeWNfMjMCim5o-9Z-zA4qRovrLCXK8dTQQJV-wH1SdZXZCbK_tnIQYoyUH27PAOON-pgJsDrQrqtdAk-K5oyLaRzctxi5pqLURF_4/s1600/%2521%2521.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5SwSwh6ngvNQdpaivIJsuZG8FbM-daCCOR9QhtEtXeWNfMjMCim5o-9Z-zA4qRovrLCXK8dTQQJV-wH1SdZXZCbK_tnIQYoyUH27PAOON-pgJsDrQrqtdAk-K5oyLaRzctxi5pqLURF_4/w399-h400/%2521%2521.jpg" width="399" /></a>In Game #3 at Shea Stadium, Straw had three hits, driving in three runs in the 8-4 Mets win.</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">In the home 3rd inning with the Mets down 3-0, Straw doubled off Orel Hershiser driving in Mookie Wilson with the Mets first run. </span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">In the 6th inning, Keith Hernandez led off with a base hit. Darryl then singled & scored on Gary Carter's RBI single. </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">The Mets tied up the game but lost the lead in the 8th when Randy Meyers walked Mike Sharperson with the bases loaded.</span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>In the bottom of the 8th, the Mets scored five runs with Straw contributing a two-run single capping off the Mets 8-4 win. The Mets now took two games to one lead in the series.</b></span></span><br /><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHfhuw4fC3Lxhw92DWElYrckrISU5n0S_iWOya08XBWojJUeMSJNu56lisLU4GQNgMltxdWsuq45Gx5pbEenrsCccS5AJlhDkrGcahVsG4IEtjnna0n4Aau6Fj7uKzWkImRb2bWxetbs8/s1600/straw8.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="457" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHfhuw4fC3Lxhw92DWElYrckrISU5n0S_iWOya08XBWojJUeMSJNu56lisLU4GQNgMltxdWsuq45Gx5pbEenrsCccS5AJlhDkrGcahVsG4IEtjnna0n4Aau6Fj7uKzWkImRb2bWxetbs8/w400-h265/straw8.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>In Game #4 at Shea, Darryl hit a 4th inning HR off John Tudor. But the Mets took a series turning, heart breaking loss when Mike Scioscia hit a 9th inning HR off Dwight Gooden to tie the game. Then in the top of the 12th, Kirk Gibson homered off Roger McDowell in what was the game winner. The Mets lost Game #5 at home as well with Straw going 1-4.</b></span></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Back in LA for Game #6 with their backs up against the wall, the Mets came to life. Straw was 1-2 with two walks & two runs scored in the Mets 5-1, win.</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAlPDiuluWGpZujXV4938N9xnC4jEDMuH9hujsq3a6mUCLippBatQMNhqdJr_YnsP-21z4USZ5fdDsG_RfhB-0Jyk28KofjM31g1x3R2ZLadaRvFmnzaz1BlnpCDX7h0SOefwtitANuMdGxMvaOoMAAQ2Q4pw1wVyy7eo6KZm5cd5RUF8v-imH7DrY41m9/s410/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="410" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAlPDiuluWGpZujXV4938N9xnC4jEDMuH9hujsq3a6mUCLippBatQMNhqdJr_YnsP-21z4USZ5fdDsG_RfhB-0Jyk28KofjM31g1x3R2ZLadaRvFmnzaz1BlnpCDX7h0SOefwtitANuMdGxMvaOoMAAQ2Q4pw1wVyy7eo6KZm5cd5RUF8v-imH7DrY41m9/s320/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>In game #7, it was all Orel Hershiser & L.A. Hershiser pitched a five-hit shutout as the Dodgers scored six runs off Ron Darling (four earned) in the 1st inning. They went on to the 6-0 win & the World Series where they beat the favored Oakland Athletics.</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>The Mets were shocked & devastated, they never recovered as it was the beginning of the end of their winning 1980's era.</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">In the NLCS, Darryl batted .300 (9-30) with two doubles a HR & six RBIs. </span></b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i>1989- </i></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Spring Training Scuffle with Keith Hernandez:</span><b> </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>In the off season, the NL's reigning HR champion was going into the final year of his </b></span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><b>contract. Darryl & the Mets got into a highly publicized negotiation where the two were far apart. He wanted an extension thru 1992, his agent suggested he walk out of camp.</b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDfDSXikk6ENxxUQr27pRT0MFkNkIGTz5wFVawwoS5ApqpfdPWj2YWBZOgnHX7X9aDLg6QCJs-6eMp8HP5ZzHdm8I4k1hlq8EjI90BxwAaHn3MuaMNYl9l71DE9ytA4ZZ9tTRhZrr4dBDYRuVKDKBzmOxFxGAg4IZqFiRiPrnDWBRrHyJuUp6It6rvdX3/s720/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="720" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDfDSXikk6ENxxUQr27pRT0MFkNkIGTz5wFVawwoS5ApqpfdPWj2YWBZOgnHX7X9aDLg6QCJs-6eMp8HP5ZzHdm8I4k1hlq8EjI90BxwAaHn3MuaMNYl9l71DE9ytA4ZZ9tTRhZrr4dBDYRuVKDKBzmOxFxGAg4IZqFiRiPrnDWBRrHyJuUp6It6rvdX3/w400-h246/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>This didn't sit well with Keith Hernandez who was quoted in the Port St. Lucie papers as saying </b><b>"a deal is a deal. If Darryl wants an extension, he should keep it out of the press." </b></span><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Even Gary Carter mentioned that nobody put a gun to Strawberry's head four years ago, to sign the deal.</span></b><p><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">For the 1988 team picture, Jay Horowitz, put Hernandez & Strawberry next to each other. Strawberry refused to kneel or sit next to Hernandez saying, "I'd rather sit next to my friends".</span></b></p></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe;"><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEf4L5vT4lXxNR9vkLl-W3fotxPmuykC0ejLRLcyqc4DF-Bkm0x5wmgo-eEiIfTrDvp2atMpYZ6I-AWf_FoLgSMoTR4N1g6L0eSnExXoUz07oMF_9_OqyW-dMSrwUHBDzLxihQ1jBj9DeobwU4VtTulpIEu8Cfvxa3kB3JfNE1CNeKbFmlFCYF1D0h2Ml/s715/darryl%20strawberry5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="715" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEf4L5vT4lXxNR9vkLl-W3fotxPmuykC0ejLRLcyqc4DF-Bkm0x5wmgo-eEiIfTrDvp2atMpYZ6I-AWf_FoLgSMoTR4N1g6L0eSnExXoUz07oMF_9_OqyW-dMSrwUHBDzLxihQ1jBj9DeobwU4VtTulpIEu8Cfvxa3kB3JfNE1CNeKbFmlFCYF1D0h2Ml/w400-h288/darryl%20strawberry5.JPG" width="400" /></a></b></div><b>Hernandez responded: "Why don't you grow up, you big baby". </b><b>Then Straw said to both Keith & Carter: "Why do you have to be saying those things about me. Why would I want to take a picture with you two overpaid guys who do nothing"?</b><p></p><p></p><p><b>Strawberry then shouted at Hernandez " I've been tired of you for years". Straw then went to punch Hernandez but missed. He had to be restrained by Terry Leach & Bobby Ojeda. Meanwhile Gary Carter held back Hernandez. Strawberry then shouted at Gary Carter "Your next". Eventually order was restored & the two met privately in the clubhouse to make peace.</b></p></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HnHJJoMihDrO9FH7iAiWsugghCXkY4DjwaP7cWQC3axLCJdrE5GSq8kfekD8WWrxbHU0dtCitnU2d6wMxz7vVVhpQNvkRr1RZLkHQsAaptb-gahrvhoqwRpjP9weKPTwzP5uVQ01oiLl/s1600/straw+12.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="256" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HnHJJoMihDrO9FH7iAiWsugghCXkY4DjwaP7cWQC3axLCJdrE5GSq8kfekD8WWrxbHU0dtCitnU2d6wMxz7vVVhpQNvkRr1RZLkHQsAaptb-gahrvhoqwRpjP9weKPTwzP5uVQ01oiLl/s400/straw+12.JPG" width="225" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>1989:</i></span><span style="color: blue;"> Strawberry's offensive numbers declined a bit. He batted a career low up to that point .225. His 77 RBIs were his lowest total since his rookie season & he hit ten less HRs missing almost thirty games of action. </span></span></b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>The fans & the media wanted more, especially after all his talk about raises & extensions. They also put much of the blame on him for the Mets not winning another Championship. Looking back, he may have unfairly taken most of the heat for the many of the underachieving Mets. At that point age &injuries were catching up with Keith Hernandez & Gary Carter, two more key parts of the team.</b></span></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>Gary Carter played in just 50 games & Keith Hernandez was limited to 75 games. Howard Johnson emerged as the team's latest power hitter, but he & Straw could not carry the team alone.</b></span></span><br />
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><br /></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Personal Dramas:</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b> Darryl's personal dramas continued when he was arrested for slapping his wife around & pulling a gun on her. He checked into rehab for substance abuse. Also, a blood test proved positive of him fathering a child in Missouri.</b></span></span></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></b></div>On Opening Day he collected two doubles & two RBIs in the Mets 8-4 win over the Cardinals at Shea. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></b></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMCfnqEngHBwcGpiklEpJrQEHxStmoF18a0HIjKNb13zgYvbS_fJUWSNeADpeH6mY906gdzhrCeV3BGyuWLHVuD12lGqZowtmFvAcmUXcVBKNDF1JruH4yhXW_3EbRAsLFd2OG59YLDQfp/s1600/2016.04.22-03.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMCfnqEngHBwcGpiklEpJrQEHxStmoF18a0HIjKNb13zgYvbS_fJUWSNeADpeH6mY906gdzhrCeV3BGyuWLHVuD12lGqZowtmFvAcmUXcVBKNDF1JruH4yhXW_3EbRAsLFd2OG59YLDQfp/s400/2016.04.22-03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>HRs In Straight Games: </i></span></b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>On April 15th, he homered in a loss to the Cardinals in St. Louis. The next day he homered twice off the Cards Jose DeLeon in another loss. Then at home the next day he hit a HR off the Phillies Don Carmen in a 5-2 win. From April 30th to May 3rd, he hit HRs in three of four games, reaching seven HRs & batting .299.</b></span></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="color: #2b00fe;">From May 15th to May 19th, the streaky Strawberry hit HRs in three of four games while driving in six runs. </b></div><div><b style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghAtTHF76baH6uDPyE4-jqSUKRusAvwwepSTN-gqTFuYyCVtHxtSQlkoKiQOg2LEabhG5Fr9eO8mjGmEgxCArmwohsl9y4ccPLWIihy1dl1GlsRhbFflOMMGeywUCEbaj3WrxJRSPZcHGJwvkymemRLjtkFoLPVic3y9bCE3Rz1OhkUrHW7pBKbpyVIIYC/s431/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="337" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghAtTHF76baH6uDPyE4-jqSUKRusAvwwepSTN-gqTFuYyCVtHxtSQlkoKiQOg2LEabhG5Fr9eO8mjGmEgxCArmwohsl9y4ccPLWIihy1dl1GlsRhbFflOMMGeywUCEbaj3WrxJRSPZcHGJwvkymemRLjtkFoLPVic3y9bCE3Rz1OhkUrHW7pBKbpyVIIYC/s320/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" width="250" /></a></div><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Walk Off Walk:</span></i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> On May 19th, with the Mets down 2-1 to the Giants in the bottom of the 6th<br /> inning, Darryl hit his 10th HR of the year, coming off Don Robinson. In the bottom of the 10th, with the score still tied, Rich Gossage walked him with the bases loaded bringing in the game winning run.</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Multi RBI Game:</span></i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b> On May 26th, Darryl had the first of his eight multi-RBI games where he drove in a season high three runs each time. He collected a two run double with three hits in the 8-2 win.</b></span></span></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">On June 15th, with the Mets down 3-0 at Shea Stadium, he began an 8th inning Mets come back with a HR off the Cubs Steve Wilson. It was his 15th of the season. The Mets would win the game on Gregg Jefferies walk off single in the 12th inning. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">From July 8th thru July 21st, in a stretch of eleven games, Darryl hit six HRs with 13 RBIs batting .325 with 13 hits.</span></b></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b></b></span></span><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhog1fA66LczJB4ReEiVz2k5FriCXGq4N0f2pqdKTOLefjdWJb39Je-UHFCuc6oeFeKE2II5rul739x9N58cBT562W93VtAjopsH8DFQMFA7qAMsYLANSaomv3Lgwld_vwmVTtNhbh2F9RXLEWDF9WJiDGbLtMFX2KzufdSLnFtDcdxi38g9pZIX_vqXD_j/s494/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="471" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhog1fA66LczJB4ReEiVz2k5FriCXGq4N0f2pqdKTOLefjdWJb39Je-UHFCuc6oeFeKE2II5rul739x9N58cBT562W93VtAjopsH8DFQMFA7qAMsYLANSaomv3Lgwld_vwmVTtNhbh2F9RXLEWDF9WJiDGbLtMFX2KzufdSLnFtDcdxi38g9pZIX_vqXD_j/s320/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" width="305" /></a></div>1989 All Star Game: </span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b>Darryl made his sixth NL All-Star team but did not get a start for the first time since his rookie year. He did not play in the AL's 5-3 win in Anaheim.</b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Mets Second Place Season:</span><span style="color: blue;"> At the All Star break the Mets were in third place just 2.5 games back. They would get as close as 1.5 games behind the Cubs in late August but finish the year six games out.</span></b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b>On August 8th & 9th, Darryl homered in back-to-back shutouts over the Phillies, reaching the 25 HR mark. David Cone & Bobby Ojeda were the two winning pitchers in those games.</b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Multi HR Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On August 16th in a 7-2 Mets win over the Padres at Shea Stadium, Darryl hit HRs off Padre pitchers Don Schulze & Dan Murphy. It was his second & only multi-HR game of the season. The first coming on April 16th. Darryl would get into a funk, not hitting another HR until September 18th & hit just two more the rest of the way. </span></b></span></div><div><span><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span><span style="color: blue;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6rkNS807fvySwFMLpWv_PISOlvh8MHjMOOyjsg-alBjW3pQeVkH8-5bKm3JHTSEbJrUXEJu_e2NpjhDfU5GfUMFDyUE-oq1re572UqgluWS5x9A_UQBXBbnieIeIK5_p5G_i725QZeSjg16jcdSNh8aIqi5hyjiV2oH_vN3vbSWJBacHq5dRUZ8DuHa4/s596/darryl%20strawberry5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="384" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6rkNS807fvySwFMLpWv_PISOlvh8MHjMOOyjsg-alBjW3pQeVkH8-5bKm3JHTSEbJrUXEJu_e2NpjhDfU5GfUMFDyUE-oq1re572UqgluWS5x9A_UQBXBbnieIeIK5_p5G_i725QZeSjg16jcdSNh8aIqi5hyjiV2oH_vN3vbSWJBacHq5dRUZ8DuHa4/s320/darryl%20strawberry5.JPG" width="206" /></a></div>In 1989 Darryl batted .225 with 29 HRs 26 doubles 69 runs scored 11 stolen bases & 77 RBIs. He struck out 105 times, going down on strikes over 100 times for the fourth straight season. He walked 61 times with a .312 on base % & .779 OPS. </b></span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: blue;"><b>In the outfield he posted a .989 fielding%, with 10 assists & four double plays, making ten errors.</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><i>1990:</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b> In 1990, there was more change in the air for the Mets. It was clear as the nineties began the Mets hey-day of the 1980's were over. Manager Davey Johnson was fired & legendary Met Bud Harrelson took over the position, but never fared as well as he had in his playing days. </b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>Keith Hernandez & Gary Carter were both gone. The young players never blossomed into stars they had hoped. Although they did win 91 games, the team once again finished in second place at a time where there was no wild card spot.</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPAV66EUXMkWftLp8VnL_r5odDvGXuRRwCEGbKX814IhREi9ErSNoDWzGsYqfUOrGn642JSsaOR9fRWrDGAnOh2gEPPBv7CGB4DgO7fq_sDyDpXli4kqXcLdkYbVKFIWdSivy5nzXnqCO/s1600/darryl+strawberry+(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPAV66EUXMkWftLp8VnL_r5odDvGXuRRwCEGbKX814IhREi9ErSNoDWzGsYqfUOrGn642JSsaOR9fRWrDGAnOh2gEPPBv7CGB4DgO7fq_sDyDpXli4kqXcLdkYbVKFIWdSivy5nzXnqCO/s400/darryl+strawberry+(1).jpg" width="306" /></a>Darryl once again opened his mouth making things worse for himself. After Davey Johnson was fired he said he was going to leave via free agency at the end of the season.</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>In April Darryl hit two HRs with nine RBIs but was hitting .288. Things got better in May, from May 21st to June 2nd, in a nine-game span he collected ten hits with four HRs & eight RBIs.</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i>Player of the Week Award:</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>In June, Strawberry won his fourth Player of the Week award hitting five HRs with twelve RBIs in the middle of a seventeen-game hit streak. </b></span></span><b style="color: blue;">From June 7th-June10th in a four-game set with the Pirates, Darryl hit four HRs & drove in eight runs while collecting five hits batting .357.</b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b> </b></span></span></div><div><span><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Multi HR Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On June 8th, he began the series with HRs off Bob Walk & (future Met) Rick Reed in a 7-1 Mets win. On June 10th, he hit a three-run HR & RBI base hit off (former Met) Walt Terrell in an 8-3 Mets win in Pittsburgh. </span></b></span><b><span style="color: blue;">Straw homered the next day as well in a Mets loss. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: blue;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWKTSlctJqO3ZW4hPanlYmG_PRIb6IQxjOVUspb8x6Pb15exOUslZCMueukN38Cjn7WyQB7c7hoDS7tWpJlbvAuVGF32AP40tI1xIMmJLmOlQ3jwUPiGxMhKAe400yWE7mg6mCEq3Afc9MZI5tqWX2wBciOW4y3KVPmheHIm0_EvLun_Ghyphenhyphent7BjU5HYAZ/s593/darryl%20strawberry5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="593" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWKTSlctJqO3ZW4hPanlYmG_PRIb6IQxjOVUspb8x6Pb15exOUslZCMueukN38Cjn7WyQB7c7hoDS7tWpJlbvAuVGF32AP40tI1xIMmJLmOlQ3jwUPiGxMhKAe400yWE7mg6mCEq3Afc9MZI5tqWX2wBciOW4y3KVPmheHIm0_EvLun_Ghyphenhyphent7BjU5HYAZ/w400-h297/darryl%20strawberry5.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>He would hit three more HRs before the months end, finishing up June batting .376 with 10 HRs & 27 RBIs, with 35 hits & 17 walks. </span></b></div><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Multi HR Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> On July 3rd, Straw had his second & only other multi-HR game of the season, hitting a pair off Houston's Mark Portugal in a 12-0 Frank Viola Mets shutout.</b></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span style="color: blue;">From there Darryl homered in the next two games as well, driving in three runs in both games. On July 5th, in Atlanta with the Mets down 7-4 Darryl hit a three run HR off Joe Hesketh putting the Mets ahead, in a game they'd win 9-8.</span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">1990 All Star:</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> At the break he had 21 HRs with 55 RBIs & was batting .306. That year Straw played in his final All Star Game in a Mets uniform, going 0-1 as a reserve player in the AL's 2-0 win at Wrigley Field. </span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOb3ZD2ubWCOpVL_fJcDjlb-dqDQK1a30zdJdA6upbSlG8I6Vn3tCSW7ErGXXu7U7sQrLxztr5DFAW3SrUfJqcxN1KNck7P-3_PwVIMI5Ork5lWSWm1tTwLDx0c4dmAa-nIGdZXOBnp1ALHxVVmQqao2p54CDPIoBcU2syG6ZMThmY5L0AYOIv21XpUg/s831/straw%201990.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="831" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOb3ZD2ubWCOpVL_fJcDjlb-dqDQK1a30zdJdA6upbSlG8I6Vn3tCSW7ErGXXu7U7sQrLxztr5DFAW3SrUfJqcxN1KNck7P-3_PwVIMI5Ork5lWSWm1tTwLDx0c4dmAa-nIGdZXOBnp1ALHxVVmQqao2p54CDPIoBcU2syG6ZMThmY5L0AYOIv21XpUg/w640-h422/straw%201990.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1UhrDO4Ieu8jVmDBVxNvDW0Wn3g9fXseae8O6DyWHGEtuRisa1HwimS_pBD8NJEqAbobELtFb_DVzNCjNwlT77t9YDtMYZQjq_NTsY2ZXZNNwOWjP7gwlc6p345UjOJu8ooP4D6A0zF9zmvvgsac8HCTMIsjvNpLMjX27JHrtzvgYFe0Otq2RyDWqrZp/s585/darryl%20strawberry5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="483" data-original-width="585" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1UhrDO4Ieu8jVmDBVxNvDW0Wn3g9fXseae8O6DyWHGEtuRisa1HwimS_pBD8NJEqAbobELtFb_DVzNCjNwlT77t9YDtMYZQjq_NTsY2ZXZNNwOWjP7gwlc6p345UjOJu8ooP4D6A0zF9zmvvgsac8HCTMIsjvNpLMjX27JHrtzvgYFe0Otq2RyDWqrZp/s320/darryl%20strawberry5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Grand Slam & Five RBI Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On August 30th he belted his fourth career grand slam HR,<br /> coming off the Giants Francisco Oliveras. In the 1st inning, he had added an RBI single masking it a season high five RBI game in the 12-2 win at Shea Stadium. </span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><b>On September 1st, Darryl hit his 30th HR of the season, making it the third time he reached that feat. From September 10th-13th, Darryl hit three HRs in the four-game stretch, with HRs in back-to-back games with the Cardinals where the Mets put up ten runs each time.</b></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Walk Off HR: </span></i><span style="color: blue;">On September 11, the Mets went into the 9th inning with a 8-6 lead over the Cardinals. But John Franco could not hold the lead. In the bottom of the 9th, Strawberry came to bat in the 8-8 tie facing star reliever Lee Smith. </span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qRkC24cG-PHJipxsDxHHrXx_omkpeumKOBzEDayRMuIN2XRouYxGNLl8a4p5JVJYds1nhWpRDDhzZn9Hrjsn1CFfDmg9APsfWBayL11QKFdiWpHV0ogOfgNdrbcSe4dasWyWHnKX9pX9u82pMG4y5-CrMppkJh2fDmAmEWpb5ke6oYSVKnLHvnK5ox-1/s856/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="856" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qRkC24cG-PHJipxsDxHHrXx_omkpeumKOBzEDayRMuIN2XRouYxGNLl8a4p5JVJYds1nhWpRDDhzZn9Hrjsn1CFfDmg9APsfWBayL11QKFdiWpHV0ogOfgNdrbcSe4dasWyWHnKX9pX9u82pMG4y5-CrMppkJh2fDmAmEWpb5ke6oYSVKnLHvnK5ox-1/w400-h254/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>He hit a walk off two run HR to win the game in one of his last exciting moments as a New York Mets player. </span></span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Final Mets Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> O</span></b></span></span><b style="color: blue;">n September 27th he played </b><b style="color: blue;">his last Mets game, going 0-3 in a 6-0 win over Expos in Montreal. </b></span></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: blue;">Darryl had another good month in September driving in twenty-three runs while hitting eight HRs.</b></div><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">In his last Mets season, Strawberry put up strong numbers in the last year of his contract. He led the team again with 37 HRs (2nd in the NL) with 108 RBIs (5th best in the NL) tops on the Mets with Howard Johnson's 90 RBIs a distant second. </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6aMyGmjio7DOu9DBVzdqHwKIGnwiXyx_xl_Yw-e0fAOXOlf_4jFZYNopJOWd72msUgePzkE9qGZeFnPxtoZMLV-DdfNA9VpEcolEHSAvCwx3la3r0aVQKG4wkm9RRwGnHBPlpCM2VpXpkLpThq4R5Qitd3pPJs2ETb0pJCTEhUCZRHklhjRsbNTgdXOoI/s507/darryl%20strawberry12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="421" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6aMyGmjio7DOu9DBVzdqHwKIGnwiXyx_xl_Yw-e0fAOXOlf_4jFZYNopJOWd72msUgePzkE9qGZeFnPxtoZMLV-DdfNA9VpEcolEHSAvCwx3la3r0aVQKG4wkm9RRwGnHBPlpCM2VpXpkLpThq4R5Qitd3pPJs2ETb0pJCTEhUCZRHklhjRsbNTgdXOoI/w333-h400/darryl%20strawberry12.JPG" width="333" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Straw had 150 hits, batting .277 with </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>18 doubles & 10 stolen bases, both the lowest totals up to<br /> that point of his career. He had 92 runs scored, with </b></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">70 walks posting a .361 on base % & .879 OPS. </span></b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div>
<b style="color: blue;">In the 1990 off season as was excepted Darryl left the Mets & signed on with the Los Angeles Dodgers as baseball's highest paid player with a $23 million contract.</b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><em><br /></em></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><em>All Time Mets Leaderboard:</em></span><b> In his eight-year Mets playing career he ranks among the best in most Mets all time offensive categories. </b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>Straw is first on the Mets all-time HR list with 252 HRs. </b></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">He is second to David Wright in RBIs (733) in walks (580) & in strikeouts (960). He is third in runs scored (662) fifth all time in stolen bases (191) sixth in triples (30) eighth in games played (1109) ninth in doubles (187) & in in hits (1025). </span></b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FYNjNARsyBjoT-h5dZbPOlXG-XA7gTzEaS9KiwkKJOzCAh3PQZvkuOothLFER2pwwM2Y_bfx3zs8G30ZgJ5A73PGFrUZRdaRq2rk2TThemDtiCJbRsg5aFWb6VPPUdQ0GI2FSN4oqEGL/s1600/straw2006.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="377" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FYNjNARsyBjoT-h5dZbPOlXG-XA7gTzEaS9KiwkKJOzCAh3PQZvkuOothLFER2pwwM2Y_bfx3zs8G30ZgJ5A73PGFrUZRdaRq2rk2TThemDtiCJbRsg5aFWb6VPPUdQ0GI2FSN4oqEGL/w400-h359/straw2006.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><i>Honors:</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> In 2010 he was inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame. In 2023 the Mets will retire his #18.</span></b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></i></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Post Mets Career:</span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b> In California, he became a West Coast star & was named Big Brother of The Year. In 1991 he hit 28 HRs with 22 doubles & 99 RBIs batting .265. It was his first & only full season as a Dodger player. </b></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>Injuries & more personal problems sidelined for much of the next two seasons, hitting only five HRs in each season. </b></span></span><br />
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><br /></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Darryl Dramas:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> He got arrested for hitting his new pregnant girlfriend, then announced he had a substance abuse problem. He then did six months house arrest for failing to pay $450,000 in past income taxes. </span></b></span></span><b style="color: blue;">He got suspended for violating the substance abuse program, coming up dirty for cocaine use. </b><br /></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0wGfABf0xa9DwiJGLdfV5sDdzGuwrsYXf5RfBTQr3s8nLkqMs0rWonlNIdty30BZMzXHCAhSQYn4sxwK2VTRj4bnKdP9BOhR9Pkzxg9II-Jby6BODjwypLC4BNQRtT6_u0OGNhGmtev4/s1600/darryl+strawberry+(23).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0wGfABf0xa9DwiJGLdfV5sDdzGuwrsYXf5RfBTQr3s8nLkqMs0rWonlNIdty30BZMzXHCAhSQYn4sxwK2VTRj4bnKdP9BOhR9Pkzxg9II-Jby6BODjwypLC4BNQRtT6_u0OGNhGmtev4/s400/darryl+strawberry+(23).jpg" width="283" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>In 1994 he was released by the Dodgers. </b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>In 1996 he was then signed by the AL New York team hitting 11 HRs with 36 RBIs batting .262. He went to the World Series that season with old teammate Dwight Gooden. Darryl hit three HRs in the ALCS against the Baltimore Orioles, including two in Game #4 at Camden Yards.</b></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /><b>In 1998 he hit 24 HRs making a big comeback but was soon diagnosed with colon cancer. He had surgery to have 24" inches of his colon removed. He also needed chemotherapy because cancer had been found in a lymph node. </b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">He would need another treatment two years later. </span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">In 1999 Darryl rebounded from that as well hitting three HRs playing in 24 regular season games. He appeared in two more post season games driving in four runs that October. Overall he played parts of five seasons with the AL New York team playing in 231 games batting .255 with 41 HRs & 114 RBIs.</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZiAk9kH_3K6zvMZCH73xTTZ7sh4_vTo-fDvRW07s0RGu6sOB5uEf74JLV9YAsNMkEKXTa7ocrs-T2jWxjszGEie7kUpJF2ncuppI4KjMcnSzqUilBW0EcR4brSUT2ySgb3HpkVDVXGL1MzSFlYqoaOTyhsbX1se0WJ6hf-RUQm6gPnwo2mZOqF1UeTTm5/s548/darryl%20strawberry1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="385" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZiAk9kH_3K6zvMZCH73xTTZ7sh4_vTo-fDvRW07s0RGu6sOB5uEf74JLV9YAsNMkEKXTa7ocrs-T2jWxjszGEie7kUpJF2ncuppI4KjMcnSzqUilBW0EcR4brSUT2ySgb3HpkVDVXGL1MzSFlYqoaOTyhsbX1se0WJ6hf-RUQm6gPnwo2mZOqF1UeTTm5/w281-h400/darryl%20strawberry1.JPG" width="281" /></a></div>Then there was more negative drama when Strawberry got arrested for trying to pick up an undercover cop disguised as a hooker. He eventually did jail time and then got divorced from his second wife before finally cleaning up his act in the new millennium. </b></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Career Stats</span>: </i><span style="color: blue;"><b>In his 17-year career Straw was an eight time All Star, an NL Rookie of the Year, one time Player of the Month & six-time Player of the Week</b></span><b style="color: blue;">.</b></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>In 1583 career games, he batted .259 with 1401 hits, hitting 335 HRs (107th all time) with 1000 RBIs. His 16.2 AB per HR ratio is 35th best all time. Darryl has 256 doubles, 38 triples, with 898 runs scored. He had 816 walks, with 31 Intentional walks (78th all time) a .357 on base % a .505 slugging % & .862 OPS. </b></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">He struck out 1352 times (125th all time) with eight seasons of 100 or more strike outs. </span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>In </b><span><b>right field</b></span><b> he played 1309 games (43rd all time) with 2337 put outs (47th all time) 58 errors (53rd all time) with 23 double plays turned (61st all time) & 76 assists.</b></span><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2MyfxANCV6SWTPh6PZiPOUXlJmb9S6xzeZx5uGZAROmJXyfbn-zmJHrqCP5o-6sSFM_6WMQ1J6vXvwEMQeLjwuP5Cy1OeOBLUyGin1RYdNMG_1iyKU7ydGv8qqcY7gc8NSDPfBcz5VCTJeYbxYpg3QM5vuTvN_WQ-BPefmmbS2ScYk5-wNneKVYUcA/s228/Capture.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="228" data-original-width="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2MyfxANCV6SWTPh6PZiPOUXlJmb9S6xzeZx5uGZAROmJXyfbn-zmJHrqCP5o-6sSFM_6WMQ1J6vXvwEMQeLjwuP5Cy1OeOBLUyGin1RYdNMG_1iyKU7ydGv8qqcY7gc8NSDPfBcz5VCTJeYbxYpg3QM5vuTvN_WQ-BPefmmbS2ScYk5-wNneKVYUcA/s16000/Capture.JPG" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Post Season Stats:</i></span><span style="color: blue;"> Strawberry played in 40 postseason games, belting 9 HRs, with 22 RBIs and 20 runs scored. He played in five All Star games, making eight All Star teams with 12 All Star at bats batting .333 with two stolen bases. </span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i style="font-size: large;">Prison: </i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">In 2000 while going to see his probation officer he was under the influence of pain killers, crashed his car & was arrested. </span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Later that year he left a Tampa drug treatment center to get high with a female friend. He was arrested & lost his will to live stopping his chemo treatments. </span></b></span></span><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Darryl would get arrested again for leaving his home under house arrest & disappearing from drug treatment center in Tampa. </span></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBa1eJJFJuodbT47N9QaXoWdS_W5pB5Y4wPtYVi7VzxveWO_NrzLfPkVpPQdwUlXtml6Gmj2NFKKsmT6wPlISNjmSHsq6Uhaoj07iwk8Vbo2jA23RH5kN05AHToapZIjokDlRmtHizUQP/s1600/%2521%2521alg-mets-hallfame-jpg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBa1eJJFJuodbT47N9QaXoWdS_W5pB5Y4wPtYVi7VzxveWO_NrzLfPkVpPQdwUlXtml6Gmj2NFKKsmT6wPlISNjmSHsq6Uhaoj07iwk8Vbo2jA23RH5kN05AHToapZIjokDlRmtHizUQP/w640-h378/%2521%2521alg-mets-hallfame-jpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZ6IS6KGpO9BFtg8kAJ1pWCIx46A0MN4-Et96COfaNW7Uh-7-fv_FLbcIsC7Y6b0bKQ4Pi8FoW8Xnllq8m2FN1t2BDu-b-wBb_MAv9aQDd7imWGKmsflGaNnH4B_vAmMLHYmrYw58_hMB6hIUEFueXFvS40zx90pq-DCFfR_6cIyHEnmjdyBh3p2nGWjZ/s876/darryl%20strawberry8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="876" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZ6IS6KGpO9BFtg8kAJ1pWCIx46A0MN4-Et96COfaNW7Uh-7-fv_FLbcIsC7Y6b0bKQ4Pi8FoW8Xnllq8m2FN1t2BDu-b-wBb_MAv9aQDd7imWGKmsflGaNnH4B_vAmMLHYmrYw58_hMB6hIUEFueXFvS40zx90pq-DCFfR_6cIyHEnmjdyBh3p2nGWjZ/w400-h280/darryl%20strawberry8.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>In 2002 Straw served a 22-month term in prison for these & other violations. Mets P.R. man Jay Horowitz visited him in jail to which Darryl was most grateful.</span></b></span></span></div><div><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Gary Carter's Passing:</span></i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> In 2012 Strawberry was very upset at the death of teammate Gary Carter who passed away at age 57. Darryl said Gary was a big inspiration in his life. </span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Quotes- Darryl Strawberry:</i></span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> "He was sincere. I admired what he had in his life. I wasn't jealous or envious of him, why would I be? </span></span></b></span></span><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">I thought he lived life with love in his heart. He displayed it & made sure everybody he knew he loved & cared for them regardless of if you didn't love him or not. I learned some valuable things from him that made me spring forth in life".</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7Kwks_WHERSCzgnP-QCzin_iRBsG0Cco2P9SBcYEVdcVhgtD_IFvaIA_lX6lhtJldOx_vxQuTXvUDeev7Up14TXsFKCgom4zmUW7ow-W-DibdhTCBiZomaKhDEd_PepcLCEQx9eD1yv6/s1600/535114116.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7Kwks_WHERSCzgnP-QCzin_iRBsG0Cco2P9SBcYEVdcVhgtD_IFvaIA_lX6lhtJldOx_vxQuTXvUDeev7Up14TXsFKCgom4zmUW7ow-W-DibdhTCBiZomaKhDEd_PepcLCEQx9eD1yv6/w400-h205/535114116.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size: medium; font-style: italic;">Retirement & Return to Mets:</span><i> </i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">In 1986 <span class="Apple-style-span">Strawberry attended the Mets' 20th Anniversary of the World Championship team. He attended the 30th Anniversary at Citi Field in 2016. </span></span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i>2006:</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> In Game #2 of the 2006 NLCS he threw out the ceremonial first pitch.</span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> </span></b></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">In 2008 he was at the closing ceremonies of Shea Stadium. </span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEird9eN81yNCYTEe5zplQ6lDSA2aN7lO6p0vnYBB3APa1Il6P7aOSfNoF-vJ0Nml9UEKZEHOPiHC66m4Y73yJEXgU-z7GcHZDqzVdlN3mxNDx8qJGr9j1Ld0qvUxwvi6404TO7FM1O1ZzR_-A-wvgO9-td_g3xKzbSamQxmj-LYmCGJ0gKpSKfxUn-8JIyr/s400/darryl%20strawberry50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="400" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEird9eN81yNCYTEe5zplQ6lDSA2aN7lO6p0vnYBB3APa1Il6P7aOSfNoF-vJ0Nml9UEKZEHOPiHC66m4Y73yJEXgU-z7GcHZDqzVdlN3mxNDx8qJGr9j1Ld0qvUxwvi6404TO7FM1O1ZzR_-A-wvgO9-td_g3xKzbSamQxmj-LYmCGJ0gKpSKfxUn-8JIyr/w640-h542/darryl%20strawberry50.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIs3_FGT0p-0_R_I2WUAWbSYBpA3OyyT4ctEIEs-JiSZMXH1wi5dF1rAyV8rMVmNfgH3vL4CeFctMEsbBuRmxDsFFp04isI5EpskjJrYRYhQvokrzOO0SrW_lxR_RKcvEiSPART8UFYb-h/s320/%2521%2521Darryl%252520Strawberry%252520and%252520wife%252C%252520Tracy-SGY-010870.jpg" width="217" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Strawberry has worked as an instructor for the Mets at many Spring Training camps over the years as well. </span></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Author:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> In 2009 he wrote his controversial Autobiography “Straw: Finding My Way”. In that book he told of his own & his 1986 teammates wild escapades. </span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Quotes- Darryl Strawberry:</span></b></i><b style="color: blue;"> "We hauled around more Bud than the Clydesdales. The beer was just to get the party started and maybe take the edge off the speed and coke." </b></span></span><br />
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><br /></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">"On the road, the modo was tear up your best bars and nightclubs and take your finest women". The only hard part for us was choosing which hottie to take back to your hotel room. Lots of times you picked two or three a night." </span></b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">2010:</span> </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">In 2010 Straw threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Citi field. </span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">That year he was honored along with Dwight Gooden, Davey Johnson & Frank Cashen getting inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame.</span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4jkvNamVuEkAOO7G70C0WoQXvVQzA9AHsjnXIiDVW3eUD6dyhtUDrlYA_liZUT6YDqPr47BdBqHoliK61SfJlhGBwnwMgjYRSjJ7rEKepcnoNivfbUfvgMe5BHtB00kG-hldLsFbVUli/s1600/straw20.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="622" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4jkvNamVuEkAOO7G70C0WoQXvVQzA9AHsjnXIiDVW3eUD6dyhtUDrlYA_liZUT6YDqPr47BdBqHoliK61SfJlhGBwnwMgjYRSjJ7rEKepcnoNivfbUfvgMe5BHtB00kG-hldLsFbVUli/w320-h196/straw20.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Later in the year appeared on future President of the United States- Donald Trump’s show “The Apprentice”. Other celebs included Sharon Osbourne, Cyndi Lauper & Bret Michaels.</span></b></span><br /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i>Restaurant:</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> That same year he & his brother opened up a restaurant in Douglaston, Queens called Strawberry's. It closed in October 2012.</span></b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQUpRm6JX3L6CiECXQFJEIFVvqT3MlFviVg8PqON5X2trVbGcYgHGuTBQ0ZslQC9vZJwMD912EJ1ESIO5jMWk99nO_lh_KDohUznzHw7Ci235FT_E4UEW7kzYVp3OunnVBNL8eEAvldYU/s1600/straw2015.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="255" data-original-width="446" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQUpRm6JX3L6CiECXQFJEIFVvqT3MlFviVg8PqON5X2trVbGcYgHGuTBQ0ZslQC9vZJwMD912EJ1ESIO5jMWk99nO_lh_KDohUznzHw7Ci235FT_E4UEW7kzYVp3OunnVBNL8eEAvldYU/w400-h227/straw2015.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">2013 All Star Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> In 2013 he participated in the Charity celebrity softball game at Citi Field during the All-Star Weekend. Starw was also on hand around the city for many of the 2013 All-Star Game events around New York.</span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><i>2015 Mets NL Champs Season:</i></span><span style="color: blue;"> </span></b></span><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">In the 2015 World Series at Shea Stadium, Darryl, Mookie Wilson & Cleon Jones, all threw out the ceremonial first pitches.</b></div><div><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuxHbGio2rkfbgka_SoUSBQSBgvDUPlANGf2UYi0-D7sM-ez7iqlSwdEJJRKukHZg56mZ8LmSzWA9eCRABkhJ2n_awvMzgTZ2O8SLAgTsz1v0f2H7-a5xfQ-sl8Q3pMzn8V8p3C2m_QANe6r-VL03L6CiXrfU66q23HLmf812b5v35GszufsmuQx6mEVF/s834/2015%20world%20series.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="834" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuxHbGio2rkfbgka_SoUSBQSBgvDUPlANGf2UYi0-D7sM-ez7iqlSwdEJJRKukHZg56mZ8LmSzWA9eCRABkhJ2n_awvMzgTZ2O8SLAgTsz1v0f2H7-a5xfQ-sl8Q3pMzn8V8p3C2m_QANe6r-VL03L6CiXrfU66q23HLmf812b5v35GszufsmuQx6mEVF/w640-h432/2015%20world%20series.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></b></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uMInobDceEuYQM6jzLkJBvJueBJ4S56VcWRBwANSWIz2yc2NsBxMNoeH2OVK23VJKEjNDuRaAN7X2aBXqM5wdr0MQUHeFYwDT6DwCI4Smtf6TjuZSytg1hspk11x_60tgu2YyWg57D5KMiWjzn1tn6DWOlHuoezFghIr8Cc2dpw8TKtmeCXuB9zl1Amj/s486/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="486" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uMInobDceEuYQM6jzLkJBvJueBJ4S56VcWRBwANSWIz2yc2NsBxMNoeH2OVK23VJKEjNDuRaAN7X2aBXqM5wdr0MQUHeFYwDT6DwCI4Smtf6TjuZSytg1hspk11x_60tgu2YyWg57D5KMiWjzn1tn6DWOlHuoezFghIr8Cc2dpw8TKtmeCXuB9zl1Amj/s320/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>ESPN 30/30:</i></span><span style="color: blue;"> In 2015 he & Dwight Gooden were subjects of an ESPN 30/30 special taken place at the same diner Goodfella's Movie was filmed in Maspeth, Queens.</span></b><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Charities:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span>His charity the Darryl Strawberry Foundation supports children with Autism.
Straw also has worked as a studio analyst for the SNY network before & after Mets games. </span></span></b></span><br />
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzAsU7_A3o0CCxzD73yqmQNgP2r6peUgOEGLSu2PI91FLNFnUpafwRR7F030y6iayxZ94Bl1lHBs13OJDuw84Dg1t0cSHgCnco0Lt_GoJWY4eePP5XGd3J_AyFcjTwvY68jTXFqstyYTEA/s1600/%2521amd-tracy-darryl-jpg.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br />
<strong><em><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;">Family:</span></em></strong> <span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>Darryl was married three times & has three children</b>.</span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b> He & his first wife Lisa were married in 1985. She first filed for divorce in 1987, the two were married until 1993. Together they had two children.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVo7ftaMfvsPE5z9UvTQ7eTgHa7PM6I9-wFHaQD8LFfMjmilb-8-A1KSpKD3jL_Dls2Ze39qV4hLNwwQhBDT_5wd8nF5yz88GWCog8vfmdch_GLylYVzVxGsv7gJ1AhS3jlcW9MSeTLJSW_eNXHtQVRUu6HrGzplcP2XO9MT7FYQO3L_QpkR-_JW81Md-/s687/darryl%20strawberry%20wife.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="687" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVo7ftaMfvsPE5z9UvTQ7eTgHa7PM6I9-wFHaQD8LFfMjmilb-8-A1KSpKD3jL_Dls2Ze39qV4hLNwwQhBDT_5wd8nF5yz88GWCog8vfmdch_GLylYVzVxGsv7gJ1AhS3jlcW9MSeTLJSW_eNXHtQVRUu6HrGzplcP2XO9MT7FYQO3L_QpkR-_JW81Md-/s320/darryl%20strawberry%20wife.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>His son Daryl Jr. played pro basketball in the NBA for the Phoenix Suns in 2007-2008. He also played in the NBA development league for the Albuquerque Thunderbirds, then in Italy for Bologna before he needed knee surgery. </b></span></span></span><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">In 2011 he played pro basketball in Israel.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">Darryl's second wife was Charisse Strawberry they were married in 1993 until 2006. He is now married to his third wife Tracy since 2006.</b></div><div><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black; font-weight: bold;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Born Again Christian: </span></i></span></span><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">Darryl is an evangelical born-again Christian. He & his wife Tracy are<br /> pastors & have started Strawberry
Ministries. The Strawberry Christian Recovery Program is dedicated to restoring lives & relationships.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlxOV7MvEud1wg1fCgEPWLvmFM3VBR34AER0MtMJ_SjYaTHnPd6UrsKMlA5yg_U7nXVO8wuRqFdfh2-S4LdjjPCa9xuZsjHnfvyMUBSE5TJgVKaxHCiRR4Rdg7Uuz-PD9Dp1qkPx3yaGbPnxP6w4DwmdpbL6TbPi8wbUHBtUKHHXyW4bWmrGmvXzJ5qbl/s224/18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="197" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlxOV7MvEud1wg1fCgEPWLvmFM3VBR34AER0MtMJ_SjYaTHnPd6UrsKMlA5yg_U7nXVO8wuRqFdfh2-S4LdjjPCa9xuZsjHnfvyMUBSE5TJgVKaxHCiRR4Rdg7Uuz-PD9Dp1qkPx3yaGbPnxP6w4DwmdpbL6TbPi8wbUHBtUKHHXyW4bWmrGmvXzJ5qbl/w176-h200/18.JPG" width="176" /></a></div>A HealthCare Company helped the couple run The Darryl Strawberry Recovery Center for drug & alcohol recovery, in Florida, Texas, Ohio & Louisiana. </span></b></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>In 2017 he wrote a book about recovery & addiction, "Don't Give Up on Me".</b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>In 2022 he took his ministries to state penitentiaries in New Jersey & other prisons in order to pay it forward.</b></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">
<br /></span></span></b></span><span style="color: #000025; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">#18: </span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>In 2023 the Mets plan to retire his uniform #18 at a Ceremony at Citi Field.</b></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</span></b></span></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879473706233234375.post-72011429884402388902024-03-10T23:30:00.001-04:002024-03-10T23:30:00.132-04:00Darryl Strawberry (Part One) Rookie of the Year to World Champion (1983 - 1986)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fTJ_pjg5uKdKJbYp5cdn7h1xP8Jt_tp2UKPl2DCtwjnvYmkCRft8H0C7uc0qC5yYGQuA0R9NOcMV4goX1_sp99kfpCM2Qz8tQk1KbY7J5DlF5jgto8F2nr9alz4tjhEvPVYDMmS7V2nE/s1600/darryl+strawberry+(32).JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fTJ_pjg5uKdKJbYp5cdn7h1xP8Jt_tp2UKPl2DCtwjnvYmkCRft8H0C7uc0qC5yYGQuA0R9NOcMV4goX1_sp99kfpCM2Qz8tQk1KbY7J5DlF5jgto8F2nr9alz4tjhEvPVYDMmS7V2nE/s400/darryl+strawberry+(32).JPG" width="283" /></a></div>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">D</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">arryl Eugene Strawberry</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b> was born March 12, 1962, in the Crenshaw area of Los Angeles, California. He has an older brother & two sisters as well.</b></span></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Family Drama:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> Darryl's mother Ruby was married to his father Henry until he was ten years old. His father was an alcoholic, wife & child beater. When Darryl was ten, the police were called to the house after anther domestic dispute & he never returned. It was a relief as Darryl wouldn't have to worry about him or his mother getting beaten again.</span></b></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>Henry Strawberry was good softball player & did pass on the love of the game to his son. The sport was an escape for the troubled young Darryl & Darryl he excelled in the sport he now fell in love with.</b></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>Darryl became a star baseball player as early as in grade school. By high school baseball he was a local star in Crenshaw high on a good ball club. </b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUyISOx4OfeEQ2TlWteCM4BjiOR0gaOPNjJms_8AV7X16kU_RMvA0NAemHJLfko4wgq7AW7k3W4o-32ZVFeimg4MXF1PyCzLxhGjM9nhdyIEP31rZ2TlxGyup4B9fdTDrKbtr0vmYD8QO_MRp_gcFjj35nuSZsYhCqbcKxx6NTDwb-JXVfEiRnkqy4LHTZ/s893/darryl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="893" data-original-width="644" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUyISOx4OfeEQ2TlWteCM4BjiOR0gaOPNjJms_8AV7X16kU_RMvA0NAemHJLfko4wgq7AW7k3W4o-32ZVFeimg4MXF1PyCzLxhGjM9nhdyIEP31rZ2TlxGyup4B9fdTDrKbtr0vmYD8QO_MRp_gcFjj35nuSZsYhCqbcKxx6NTDwb-JXVfEiRnkqy4LHTZ/w289-h400/darryl.JPG" width="289" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>By this time he became a highly touted MLB prospect. All of sudden his long-lost father<br /> reappeared & so did other relatives that he had not seen in years. In Strawberry's junior year of high school his team played the L.A. City Championship in Dodgers Stadium, they lost the game Granda Hills, whose third baseman was future Bronco's quarterback, John Elway.</b></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>By Darryl's senior year, Sports Illustrated magazine did an article on him. They raved how the ball flew off his bat & compared his body build to a young Ted Williams. Darryl's famous batting stance had him stand tall as his long arms stroked a powerful</b></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> looping swing with power from a high leg kick, made him one of the most feared sluggers of his era.</span></b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">#1 Draft Pick:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> In 1980 the tall six foot six left-handed hitting Strawberry was signed by the New York Mets in the first round, as the number one draft overall pick. </span></b><b style="color: blue;">The Mets gave him a $200,000 signing bonus to pass up college. They got him to New York to promote him at a press conference. The team was in bad shape & the new ownership needed to promote something good right away. The Darryl Strawberry hype was just beginning.</b></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span><b style="color: blue;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGSI-Vk31VC3Jv6OJBl0PBlVQa0TTlT3JVnzsd6nZrpkS-MSkkTIV_2th1-KG3T5SIM2YSOIjCvqkeKTK9DPZM_YpO6hCJykqxJzXdWRWEqrYUYh60_9vntLSDtSkUnTlQVOh5CkMMKsy/s1600/darryl+strawberry+(13).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="445" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGSI-Vk31VC3Jv6OJBl0PBlVQa0TTlT3JVnzsd6nZrpkS-MSkkTIV_2th1-KG3T5SIM2YSOIjCvqkeKTK9DPZM_YpO6hCJykqxJzXdWRWEqrYUYh60_9vntLSDtSkUnTlQVOh5CkMMKsy/w640-h445/darryl+strawberry+(13).jpg" width="640" /></a></div></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGSI-Vk31VC3Jv6OJBl0PBlVQa0TTlT3JVnzsd6nZrpkS-MSkkTIV_2th1-KG3T5SIM2YSOIjCvqkeKTK9DPZM_YpO6hCJykqxJzXdWRWEqrYUYh60_9vntLSDtSkUnTlQVOh5CkMMKsy/s1600/darryl+strawberry+(13).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGSI-Vk31VC3Jv6OJBl0PBlVQa0TTlT3JVnzsd6nZrpkS-MSkkTIV_2th1-KG3T5SIM2YSOIjCvqkeKTK9DPZM_YpO6hCJykqxJzXdWRWEqrYUYh60_9vntLSDtSkUnTlQVOh5CkMMKsy/s1600/darryl+strawberry+(13).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> </span></b></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5Uqv4x50B2mvU18xIHdkXV73l_CD5gp45psXA3ac0z0BVmmHZvgH_b0ojYAbu2F6e4_3OZjBq1lRAPujc24otmf459N1QGVwIg0Io_WASJrwnSHLDAy0yyQYfzUc8FyDVGvo_WRfwodt/s1600/darryl+strawberry+(28).JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5Uqv4x50B2mvU18xIHdkXV73l_CD5gp45psXA3ac0z0BVmmHZvgH_b0ojYAbu2F6e4_3OZjBq1lRAPujc24otmf459N1QGVwIg0Io_WASJrwnSHLDAy0yyQYfzUc8FyDVGvo_WRfwodt/s320/darryl+strawberry+(28).JPG" width="231" /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">In 1981 he began at A ball Lynchburg hitting 13 HRs, with 31 stolen bases & 78 RBIs in 105 games played. Even in the early stages of his career, he would show up late & had a poor work ethic. These things would haunt him his entire career & life.</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>In 1982 as AA Jackson, he was the Texas League MVP hitting 34 HRs with 45 stolen bases, 97 RBIs batting .283. In 1983, he was promoted to AAA Tidewater after 16 games he was hitting .333 & was promoted to the Mets big league team in May. The promotion received lots of attention & media coverage. At this point The Mets were slowly improving & were desperate for Strawberry's debut.</b></span></div><div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGSI-Vk31VC3Jv6OJBl0PBlVQa0TTlT3JVnzsd6nZrpkS-MSkkTIV_2th1-KG3T5SIM2YSOIjCvqkeKTK9DPZM_YpO6hCJykqxJzXdWRWEqrYUYh60_9vntLSDtSkUnTlQVOh5CkMMKsy/s1600/darryl+strawberry+(13).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mets Career:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> Strawberry debuted on May 6th, 1983, at Shea Stadium in front of 15,916 fans in a 7-4 win against the Cincinnati Reds. He batted third in the line up in front of Dave Kingman. </b></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Although he struck out three times, he also dew a pair of walks & scored his first career run. </span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4HQGGjjSC3UweFd99G_kPDOT_ofgPkzMV3JwCtTjeoGpTI5ouu7XCLrItEz3RHyUYZgeNd7XsCyysZc4cX16nTXRWgz6CR3WQX4lWZ43fpMfLgEcDa_RuCRoqHZ6tckMRSsvgKnxj8cq/s1600/straw1.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="460" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4HQGGjjSC3UweFd99G_kPDOT_ofgPkzMV3JwCtTjeoGpTI5ouu7XCLrItEz3RHyUYZgeNd7XsCyysZc4cX16nTXRWgz6CR3WQX4lWZ43fpMfLgEcDa_RuCRoqHZ6tckMRSsvgKnxj8cq/s400/straw1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Two nights later in a 10-5 Mets win over Cincinnati at Shea, he got his first career hit, a single off the Reds Ben Hayes driving in Danny Heep for his first career RBI. </span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">First Career HR:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On May 16th, Strawberry hit his first career HR, it came in Pittsburgh off of the Pirates Lee Tunnell in an 11-4 Mets win. </span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><b>He hit another the next day, his first at home in Shea Stadium a three-run shot coming off the Padres Tim Lollar, in a Mets 6-3 win over San Diego. Two games later he hit his third HR & was gaining positive reviews.</b></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /><b>In June manager George Bamberger resigned & big Frank Howard took over. A former slugger himself, Howard pushed for Strawberry to produce more. Strawberry didn't get over the .200 mark until late June. Howard had Mets coach Jim Frey work with him on his hitting. </b><br /><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">On June 12th he drove in three runs in a 9-1 win over the Expos. </span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzUTQCd5dnCMjSgFigV_4DpwaOZRydwiu7pc11oByKO3gHkXMz7Q_Zn9Gcs5Xj2NPejhq4SIx-2hUKlXmD1Wis9U0QqlOlYhlOF-DeNM1HdyB_kn8lIznGt58dQkCH5NUCqkKunBH8bIl0q9Hzm_4nLWlIzEx7VSDM-JG8vTwDulU22kxjmAD3g3eGgQy/s631/darryl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="422" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzUTQCd5dnCMjSgFigV_4DpwaOZRydwiu7pc11oByKO3gHkXMz7Q_Zn9Gcs5Xj2NPejhq4SIx-2hUKlXmD1Wis9U0QqlOlYhlOF-DeNM1HdyB_kn8lIznGt58dQkCH5NUCqkKunBH8bIl0q9Hzm_4nLWlIzEx7VSDM-JG8vTwDulU22kxjmAD3g3eGgQy/w268-h400/darryl.JPG" width="268" /></a></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Four RBI Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On June 22nd, in the first game of a double header with the Cardinals at Shea, Darryl hit a three run HR off Bob Forsch, then an RBI double off Jim Kaat as he drove in four runs in a game for the first time in his career, leading Tom Seaver & the Mets to a 6-4 win. </span></span></b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b>At the trade deadline the Mets pulled off a huge deal that brought Keith Hernandez to New York. With Hernandez, George Foster & lots of young talent behind Strawberry on the horizon, the Mets future was bright as things got better.</b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b>On June 26th in the second game of a twin bill with the Phillies, Darryl hit a solo HR off & a two run triple off Ed Farmer, leading the Mets to a 6-4 victory & a double header sweep.</b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Five RBI Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On June 28th, as Keith Hernandez returned to St. Louis in a Mets uniform the Mets beat up the Cards at Bush Stadium 10-1. Darryl enjoyed a big game, hitting two HRs off Bob Forsch, a 5th inning three run shot & a solo shot. He added an RBI to have a season high five RBI game.</span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOVUJjrEaaNKK4C0laUjdrOepjLkanptP_CJ4GO7uqgSPTKTXXZA_eqIgOEO1VQm4vnJ-8m5CYP2mScSP3d5Wu7V7UUwtmhrDAWi_vbSJy_7fMFfU7Zbf0ve2XlvYmrC0Iyigy7uil46D/s1600/straw23.JPG" style="clear: right; color: blue; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="236" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOVUJjrEaaNKK4C0laUjdrOepjLkanptP_CJ4GO7uqgSPTKTXXZA_eqIgOEO1VQm4vnJ-8m5CYP2mScSP3d5Wu7V7UUwtmhrDAWi_vbSJy_7fMFfU7Zbf0ve2XlvYmrC0Iyigy7uil46D/s400/straw23.JPG" width="242" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Multi RBI Games:</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b> Darryl would have 18 multi-RBI games on the season, with ten games where he drove in three or more runs. He was quickly becoming a fan favorite at Shea Stadium & seeing all New York had to offer a young star. He was the new face of the organization & had a lot of pressure put on the young man. </b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">By the All Star break he was struggling in batting average, hitting just above the .200 mark although he had already hit ten HRs. </span></b></span></div><div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">On July 10th, his 8th inning two run HR off The Astros Bill Dawley led to a 7-5 win over in Houston. </span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i>Multi HR Game:</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> On July 19th, he had his second multi-HR game, with a pair off the Braves Pasqual Perez in a 7-4 Met loss. </span></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">On July 22nd in Cincinnati, with the Mets were down 2-1 to the Reds in the 9th inning, Keith Hernandez tied the game with a HR. Straw followed going back-to-back to give the Mets the 3-2 after Jesse Orosco came in for the save.</span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR00NR5j751jWM8XV7DRKHn__dqztHpDgLrG-vTJIQsuUSbK1Ze05MBQMlhmxJyru9oXV5qpJ7PHBC6ls-4UC7wvKFGT13fk_UU7xt0OzWC-q5htvw84abufu3eB3c-fEFauTAy-gpHFwIMfpmNg7zcF5ItVM6-EFm2CkfnecaMscLfJ1NXMP1YoKs_HqB/s477/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="333" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR00NR5j751jWM8XV7DRKHn__dqztHpDgLrG-vTJIQsuUSbK1Ze05MBQMlhmxJyru9oXV5qpJ7PHBC6ls-4UC7wvKFGT13fk_UU7xt0OzWC-q5htvw84abufu3eB3c-fEFauTAy-gpHFwIMfpmNg7zcF5ItVM6-EFm2CkfnecaMscLfJ1NXMP1YoKs_HqB/w279-h400/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" width="279" /></a></div>Multi HR Games:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> </span></b></span></span><b style="color: blue;">In August Darryl opened the month with three HRs in his first four games. </b><b><span style="color: blue;">During the last nine days of the month, he had two separate multi-HR games. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: blue;">On August 23rd in San Diego, he hit two off Eric Show in a 4-3 Met win. On August 27th at Shea, he hit HRs off the Giants Atlee Hammaker & Greg Minton in a 6-3 Mets victory. The HRs had him reach 20 on the season. That August he hit 9 HRs& had 17 RBIs in the month. </span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>In September he hit five more HRs & drove in another 17 runs. </b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Multi RBI Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On September 1st, in a 7-3 win over the Padres, Darryl hit a 3rd inning RBI triple to put the Mets on the board. In the 7th inning he hit a three run HR off Sid Monge to have his third four RBI Game of the season.</span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>From the September 9th through September 13th, he hit three HRs with six RBIs on a road trip at Montreal & Philadelphia. </b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEViobPxr_bXUiXdSlYV7GQQbSJ4rNbvpwKtfowu8fRI4fa2f1wDNfQOGpHY_T8xVzF4sQwTomlAQ6kEI4ih4A5FyjqjTZEFgF7YXJuxcmeeqLz5Jhu0K_LpmeQ2MY6xVPlAmTruKbluxk/s1600/straw+mays.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="535" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEViobPxr_bXUiXdSlYV7GQQbSJ4rNbvpwKtfowu8fRI4fa2f1wDNfQOGpHY_T8xVzF4sQwTomlAQ6kEI4ih4A5FyjqjTZEFgF7YXJuxcmeeqLz5Jhu0K_LpmeQ2MY6xVPlAmTruKbluxk/w400-h296/straw+mays.JPG" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>On September 12th & 13th, he hit HRs in back-to-back games at Philadelphia. </b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>On September 28th, he hit his last HR of the season, a two-run shot off the Pirates Lee Tunnel, he added another to lead the Mets to a 4-2 win at Pittsburgh. </b></span></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">1983 Rookie of the Year Award:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> Darryl became the second Met to win the NL ROY Award. He also made the Topps All Star Rookie team hitting 26 HRs (7th in the NL) with seven triples, 15 doubles, 19 stolen bases, 63 runs scored & 74 RBIs while hitting .257. </span></b></span></span></div><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNoDwzx41RcIK2gyg1coRYvoI-OK12JUoPgftQpAAhDltPlTiLl5B8Vw97yeLSPtK5qGsx7EY9uGbKi-CoKzDqEhW9Ky6lBrsvq8LHzjQ5HrmgDkYSg30oYug0ewYQGP3aREe0nfwsX1SuyqbwA-UguK143OdPP1EYhQkiLhA8Mp8ODJSfyqEQHS0tgrJ/s247/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="247" data-original-width="240" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNoDwzx41RcIK2gyg1coRYvoI-OK12JUoPgftQpAAhDltPlTiLl5B8Vw97yeLSPtK5qGsx7EY9uGbKi-CoKzDqEhW9Ky6lBrsvq8LHzjQ5HrmgDkYSg30oYug0ewYQGP3aREe0nfwsX1SuyqbwA-UguK143OdPP1EYhQkiLhA8Mp8ODJSfyqEQHS0tgrJ/s1600/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>He struck out the second most times in the NL (128) walked 47 times, posted a .336 on base5 & .848 OPS. He also posted the league's ninth best slugging % (.512%). </span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">In the right field he was third in fielding (983%) & had nine assists (4th in the NL). </span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Drug Use: </span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b>That year Darryl said he began to use cocaine, it was widespread throughout baseball as well as everywhere else at the tie. The next year he said he began using amphetamines as well. Darryl began to enjoy all the pleasures, good & bad, hat New York stardom brought to him. Women, drugs & alcohol all became an addiction.</b></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZNkL93gkipUL6yrpCjlWya_BD28Q4GTrdqkJEVVhsHwKcN3nsWUwXbcPrt317YOj_C-zyu2m03LJ75k-2JF_ufdtHxV1BUdTszkfozZJYDAKsjK16JaWBKQnuyBIImdu6IRxeLFJP_YhK2K7E_q_d7RfCQXlvSH1l4jooW2maTyeqe2VyCfMjyHHS1fc/s497/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="497" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZNkL93gkipUL6yrpCjlWya_BD28Q4GTrdqkJEVVhsHwKcN3nsWUwXbcPrt317YOj_C-zyu2m03LJ75k-2JF_ufdtHxV1BUdTszkfozZJYDAKsjK16JaWBKQnuyBIImdu6IRxeLFJP_YhK2K7E_q_d7RfCQXlvSH1l4jooW2maTyeqe2VyCfMjyHHS1fc/w640-h568/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span></span></span></div><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1984:</i></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> <b>This season with a mix of veterans & good young players, under new manager Davey Johnson, the Mets had a solid ball club contending for the NL East title. The enjoyed their first winning season since 1976. </b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscSY-wNC0WiTq_Dt5J1u9AUV4eafoxMWAp9U53GV10939egj_IhEuhsofERlrhDx-dL5OdfwwkKp_ZE5DfiN76d1q13Hg1fv7V3fM-zK8Y9Ugay9MlX6RmIoKumwwvIUktXCBAykNsx63/s1600/straw1984.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="581" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscSY-wNC0WiTq_Dt5J1u9AUV4eafoxMWAp9U53GV10939egj_IhEuhsofERlrhDx-dL5OdfwwkKp_ZE5DfiN76d1q13Hg1fv7V3fM-zK8Y9Ugay9MlX6RmIoKumwwvIUktXCBAykNsx63/w400-h283/straw1984.JPG" width="400" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>Strawberry was a big part of the success as well as his new teammates Keith Hernandez & 18-year-old rookie phenom pitcher Dwight Gooden. It was an exciting year at Shea Stadium, the start of a winning way that would last into the 90's.</b></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Three HRs Opening Week:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> Darryl began the year with an Opening Day HR, the only run the Mets scored in an 8-1 loss to the Reds at Cincinnati. </span></b></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">On April 7th, Darryl's solo HR off the Astros Bob Knepper helped the Mets in a 3-2 win at Houston. Three days later his solo HR in Montreal off Craig McMurty helped in a 4-2 Mets win. Straw hit .375 with three HRs that first week of the season.</span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKmgF_QjG6lghw8zaXqZfTbWdmDlbWoB6kyX2DOKCUEUQq2DzGF6GTD3nzc2jl1DgCErW5pw98y_1kPZjA27dRxcOr0yI4ifK3dsrzy0WgHT8CAk-VXi623asBnnRDgTj1WwDeDlmQIDObprKoEtwjWyIcZ4l6HONJWSn6CfZD53DovNVIAy-09nf_Z9K/s363/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="363" data-original-width="260" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKmgF_QjG6lghw8zaXqZfTbWdmDlbWoB6kyX2DOKCUEUQq2DzGF6GTD3nzc2jl1DgCErW5pw98y_1kPZjA27dRxcOr0yI4ifK3dsrzy0WgHT8CAk-VXi623asBnnRDgTj1WwDeDlmQIDObprKoEtwjWyIcZ4l6HONJWSn6CfZD53DovNVIAy-09nf_Z9K/s320/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" width="229" /></a></div>Four Hit- Multi RBI Game: </span></i></b></span><b style="color: blue;">On April 22nd, had had four hit-four RBI Day at Philadelphia, led by a three run HR, although the Mets lost the game 12-5. It was the first of six games where he would drive in four or more runs.</b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: blue;">The next day he drove in two more runs in a loss in Montreal. On April 28th, as the Phillies came to Shea, Darryl tied up the game, with an 9th inning HR off Charlie Hudson. New York went on to win it in the 9th on a walk off double from short timer, Ross Jones. </b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Strawberry Sunday:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> The next day the Mets celebrated Strawberry in an event called Strawberry Sunday. Sunday. The fans </b></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><b>received free</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> strawberry ice cream sundae's as he was presented his </b><b style="color: blue;">1983 Rookie of the Year Award in a pregame event. The Mets beat the Phillies that day, as former Mets legend Jerry Koosman pitched for the Phillies. Strawberry collected two hits & a </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>walk while</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> scoring a run.</b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWu2dVefVHhsHhGWMe16CXpbwwKW8S-4mkVGeJ1Od0oCnzMQH0wTKd4ZmS_pehJ4kUDjZ1YXsTj5WSHiWs2KJ2yzT-E55R5SJpWYagY3Z-5q0SggBNVlEvVHf_hstruMkKNVnM1gj_rc45VDjwCRPrlXlKAtARyiVldeRs_aUJr945Fo2BTY0cPo6ikKMZ/s585/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="585" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWu2dVefVHhsHhGWMe16CXpbwwKW8S-4mkVGeJ1Od0oCnzMQH0wTKd4ZmS_pehJ4kUDjZ1YXsTj5WSHiWs2KJ2yzT-E55R5SJpWYagY3Z-5q0SggBNVlEvVHf_hstruMkKNVnM1gj_rc45VDjwCRPrlXlKAtARyiVldeRs_aUJr945Fo2BTY0cPo6ikKMZ/w640-h434/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVgn2zUNpjwL87EHCfgFBuidnNFXGpMa_icPR1CCX4GpFRfRvqYdyY2lHcbKBZjTTwt5YLcVyTbEC3lZybEhhEHExyxgd2PEpx-hArVIilZ20aemxCco_gv6lraCXFFTcczZUkJK6qFKo/s1600/straw1984d.JPG" style="clear: left; color: blue; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="317" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVgn2zUNpjwL87EHCfgFBuidnNFXGpMa_icPR1CCX4GpFRfRvqYdyY2lHcbKBZjTTwt5YLcVyTbEC3lZybEhhEHExyxgd2PEpx-hArVIilZ20aemxCco_gv6lraCXFFTcczZUkJK6qFKo/w315-h400/straw1984d.JPG" width="315" /></a><b style="color: blue;">In April Strawberry would bat .324 with 5 HRs & 12 RBIs. But i</b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">n May he fell into a slump where he did not hit any HRs driving in just six runs. In June the slump continued, he batted just .221 but did hit 4 HRs with 14 RBIs.</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">On June 4th, in Pittsburgh, he hit 1st inning two run HR off Don Robinson & then added an RBI hit later leading Ron Darling to a 4-2 victory. </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Two days later on June 6th, his top of the 13th inning single off the Pirates Rod Scurry won the 2-1 squeaker for New York. </span></b></span></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Multi HR Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On June 17th in a loss to the Cardinals at Busch Stadium, he hit a pair of solo HRs off Ricky Horton & Bruce</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b> Sutter. </b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><b style="color: blue;">Two games later, on June 20th, with the score tied at 2-2 in the 3rd inning at Shea, he hit a three-run HR off Hall of Fame veteran Steve Carlton leading Ron Darling to a 7-4 win over Philadelphia.</b></div><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiW0O-utgZ3ICnklH5SF7538tgToiO-qj9hdM0gpig-p1zrF5-eNUQQJ2diRpceGSyGkyjnvZN8lvlLNn3BbUVG33yw6rSjhljycdv1Xi5jBXQw4OKunjqwDuJ-3U9J1EOdqQ72OKSIMM6Zepkh-BZYZhNkSw6yPw1yG5gMp6gzvHRLSweDzrlLjCV5w/s614/1984%20mets.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="469" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiW0O-utgZ3ICnklH5SF7538tgToiO-qj9hdM0gpig-p1zrF5-eNUQQJ2diRpceGSyGkyjnvZN8lvlLNn3BbUVG33yw6rSjhljycdv1Xi5jBXQw4OKunjqwDuJ-3U9J1EOdqQ72OKSIMM6Zepkh-BZYZhNkSw6yPw1yG5gMp6gzvHRLSweDzrlLjCV5w/w305-h400/1984%20mets.JPG" width="305" /></a></div>On July 1st, in the first game of a double header, he drove in both Mets runs in a 2-1 win over Atlanta. </b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>On July 5th the Mets began a five-game series with the Reds at home. They swept all five games with Darryl collecting seven hits, five extra base hits, two HRs & 8 RBIs. </b></span></span><b><span style="color: blue;">In the first game, a 4-3 win over the Red at Shea Stadium, Straw hit a two-</span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">run 1st inning HR off Joe Price to lead the way. </span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Four RBI Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On July 7th, he hit his 11th HR of the year, it came off Mario Soto. He added an RBI single, </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>bases loaded walk & fielder's choice driving</b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> in four runs in the Mets 14-4 win. </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">The next day he collected two more hits with two more RBIs in the Mets 7-3 win.</span></b></div><div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">1984 All Star Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> That summer he made the first of his eight All Star appearances, representing the Mets along with Keith Hernandez, Jesse Orosco & Dwight Gooden at the Mid-Summer Classic in San Francisco latest phenom of the league. </b></span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Straw got the start in right field & got a hit going 1-3, in the National League's 3-1 win at San Francisco's Candlestick Park. </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;">In that game Gooden struck out the side of American Leaguers in the 5th inning.</span></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIkNePeZkqcdPqq8SvRHpdOrrFmBXRqrJvukjsUcc7msTQVzzVrsXWA4cwdF8tdqC1uJLZwnm-IUYJrSprCPdJwUGqIHOuugJg0LAR2PXrtPCwjTb7HaBokZa_rXBLin72FdhrbZb5cHT/s1600/straw1985a.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="307" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIkNePeZkqcdPqq8SvRHpdOrrFmBXRqrJvukjsUcc7msTQVzzVrsXWA4cwdF8tdqC1uJLZwnm-IUYJrSprCPdJwUGqIHOuugJg0LAR2PXrtPCwjTb7HaBokZa_rXBLin72FdhrbZb5cHT/s400/straw1985a.JPG" width="352" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Player of the Week Award:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> Toward the end of July Daryl had a stretch hitting four HRs with four straight multi-hit games driving in 11 runs winning the Player of the Week award. </b></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>On July 19th & 20th, he hit HRs in back-to-back games at Cincinnati, continuing his bashing of Reds pitching. </b></span></span><b style="color: blue;">On July 22nd, his 8th inning, two run HR off the Reds Keefe Cato broke the 5-5 tie & led to the Mets final win. </b><b style="color: blue;">In the four-game series he helped the Mets take three of four, with eight hits, three HRs & six RBIs in the series. </b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Trivia:</span></i></b><b style="color: blue;"> That year in 12 games against the Reds, he batted .367 with nine extra base hits, six HRs 15 RBIs & three stolen bases.</b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b>When the Mets returned home, he added an RBI in a win over the Cardinals where Wally Backman provided the walk off hit. On July 25th he hit a three run HR off the Cardinals' Kurt Kepshire & added another RBI in a 9-3 win. </b></span><span style="color: blue;"><b>Overall, in July he had 30 hits with 8 HRs & 28 RBIs, hitting safely in 21 of 29 games. </b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOz4h1s4BOAOskYmANRVoVAMN9tJD6VpOD5awCbcJ_HWWHrAHb7UfJIaWO14DUQcHPFiwxMTbm7_W0UQv5CClvRoyiOPRjMQAoyqOlg3c1e-vuGBcJO8XfEntahnV2oF1-L4HkAHl69ZW/s1600/straw1984a.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="467" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOz4h1s4BOAOskYmANRVoVAMN9tJD6VpOD5awCbcJ_HWWHrAHb7UfJIaWO14DUQcHPFiwxMTbm7_W0UQv5CClvRoyiOPRjMQAoyqOlg3c1e-vuGBcJO8XfEntahnV2oF1-L4HkAHl69ZW/s400/straw1984a.JPG" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>In August he went into a HR drought where he didn't hit ay HRs & a slump saw his average fell to .247. </b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>The Mets started September 75-59, five games in back of the Cubs. </b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Six RBI Double Header</span></i><span style="color: blue;">: On September 1st, Strawberry started the month hitting HRs in both ends of a double header sweep of the Padres at Shea Stadium. He collected four hits & six RBIs in the two games. </span></b></span></span><b style="color: blue;">In the night cap he had his fourth game where he drove in four runs on the season, leading to the 10-6 win. </b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>Straw would then hit two more HRs that same week as well. </b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b>On September 7th, in the heat of a pennant race, in one of the most exciting games at Shea Stadium in an exciting season, 46,301 fans including </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">centerfieldmaz </i><b>watched Dwight Gooden toss a 10-0 one hit shut out over the first place Cubs. The only hit coming on a controversial call on a Ray Knight boot at third base. </b></span><b style="color: blue;">In the 6th inning, Straw hit his 21st HR of the season, coming off veteran Rick Reuschel.</b></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b>The Mets took two of three in the series but were still six games back & eventually fell out of the race as they lost five of their next six games. </b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvFaEXJ08cfNxA-FtdMDetxQHXtPSdP3vit_Gwla45x3IgIQReMU5BOnpYIfQA5Fhe3Nn8KIveT6x5pOi_t5wgj_4eb137B10St3ZUgePNOVpotLaVEDGQNghdJRmxSLmf0o431D1PDYY0LRgWEciAvEwMlOleKynlKD2nqw7LxWoqJrXMMF6GGtnBQ/s280/darryl1.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="263" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvFaEXJ08cfNxA-FtdMDetxQHXtPSdP3vit_Gwla45x3IgIQReMU5BOnpYIfQA5Fhe3Nn8KIveT6x5pOi_t5wgj_4eb137B10St3ZUgePNOVpotLaVEDGQNghdJRmxSLmf0o431D1PDYY0LRgWEciAvEwMlOleKynlKD2nqw7LxWoqJrXMMF6GGtnBQ/w376-h400/darryl1.JPG" width="376" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Five RBI Day:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> Straw had nine muti RBI games in September. On September 16th at Wrigley Field he had three hits, with a season high five RBIs. In the 7th inning he hit a three run HR off Ron Meredith, for his 22nd HR of the year. He added a two-run single off Steve Trout in the 6th inning.</b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Four RBI Game Winning HR Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> On September 18th, two days later in Philadelphia, he faced Al Holland in the 9th inning with the score tied at five. Darryl hit was the game winner, a three-run shot scoring Mookie Wilson & Ron Gardenhire.</b></span></div><div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>Darryl would finish the 1984 season leading the team in HRs (26) & RBIs (97) -fourth most in the NL. He batted .251, stole 27 bases with 131 hits 27 doubles 4 triples &75 runs scored. He walked 75 times, posted a .354 on base % & .810 OPS. Darryl struck out often, going down on strikes 131 times.</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>In right field he had nine assists with eleven total outfield assists on the year, posting a .980 fielding %.</b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #000025;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #000025;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMaIC4eyJ53DkNPjHFf8x_Jt_kvA2SfQOnswF6Q4_o-mTduVDMC2H2sqi4MRXojDtMrFz-juqh2g7IrxTI0xgMqt9rOGkD0NcqH4TixHGqDIjRHI3jrW5n1om7ZK8Y38znOFZkc44iC0_bEri2dFvfpJSWNbwDfWDHpvi25y0jDvEj9iIvaLnDs2dFkPR/s667/strawberry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="667" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMaIC4eyJ53DkNPjHFf8x_Jt_kvA2SfQOnswF6Q4_o-mTduVDMC2H2sqi4MRXojDtMrFz-juqh2g7IrxTI0xgMqt9rOGkD0NcqH4TixHGqDIjRHI3jrW5n1om7ZK8Y38znOFZkc44iC0_bEri2dFvfpJSWNbwDfWDHpvi25y0jDvEj9iIvaLnDs2dFkPR/w400-h254/strawberry.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>1985:</span></i> </span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">I</span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">n the off season the Mets acquired All Star catcher Gary Carter to top off their team with one of the final pieces of the puzzle for a championship. The Mets now had developed into one of the best teams in the league & the expectations were high. </span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">The fans were filling Shea Stadium every game as it was an electrifying experience at that time. There were high fives, curtain calls, the wave & the K Korner on night Dwight Gooden "Dr. K" pitched in his Cy Young season. </span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXV6qAvdFbruWyHN58QV2S-9Bij2tsTGwAgwiUJKM7tA49M3KO8woqfC67hyphenhyphen8kaAll4WaCrqcFxN242XNIXHHqQe1m1BaWdM0gsf_0DE5Ri1-RP1a0pSuwLQ84-Vpj_Ev-W7MKGJVAug4_8GbSQ8OSEicg1M7_5wiNPhDzf6zB1FWYXzB94qqekgSLWQ8v/s826/darryl%20strawberry3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="826" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXV6qAvdFbruWyHN58QV2S-9Bij2tsTGwAgwiUJKM7tA49M3KO8woqfC67hyphenhyphen8kaAll4WaCrqcFxN242XNIXHHqQe1m1BaWdM0gsf_0DE5Ri1-RP1a0pSuwLQ84-Vpj_Ev-W7MKGJVAug4_8GbSQ8OSEicg1M7_5wiNPhDzf6zB1FWYXzB94qqekgSLWQ8v/w400-h220/darryl%20strawberry3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>By 1985, Strawberry developed into one of the league's best sluggers getting known for his monstrous long HRs, run production & base stealing. </b></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"></span><br /></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Walk Off HR: </span></i><span style="color: blue;">On April 13th, in the third game of the season, Straw came to bat in </span></b></span></span><b><span style="color: blue;">the bottom of<br /> the 9th inning of </span></b><span style="color: blue;"><b>a 1-1 tie with Reds. Facing future Met & one of the game's best relievers, John Franco, Darryl hit a walk off HR for his first career walk off game winner. </b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Sq1RCdh90ss" width="320" youtube-src-id="Sq1RCdh90ss"></iframe></div></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><b><span style="color: blue;">That April he hit six HRs in the month of April, while driving in 12 runs. </span></b></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0oY4o9NmH46A_d1KWiGrtx7P3a9tAnwVnqmOqGeCwhVhuAdDdYELGFhnDPbnDUj05Joxi3TTHRdXSlBaxo2Uhapp6Fk-Tmiw1qY5HA3KnG18LNnhGHBRcrndhmGAb4ZI2nD-GpS6N52wSQnIrsd4QAhYHgaxT28igc0O41cBM5KTh3qYadXMk_1zRHkzA/s883/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="883" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0oY4o9NmH46A_d1KWiGrtx7P3a9tAnwVnqmOqGeCwhVhuAdDdYELGFhnDPbnDUj05Joxi3TTHRdXSlBaxo2Uhapp6Fk-Tmiw1qY5HA3KnG18LNnhGHBRcrndhmGAb4ZI2nD-GpS6N52wSQnIrsd4QAhYHgaxT28igc0O41cBM5KTh3qYadXMk_1zRHkzA/w640-h362/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWQOO20oteZF4G6kCCEnEDqy-_7dQlJwQKVuTGSNdZdN3uzoEH-sL9z-q-dnPIjMxY2ZDCVK6GsgxsZo1pjXleGRTjPOJqzcLY-OyVtYXtRBurIpt2mdHWE0FErsvycqw0TR0kWM4Adb60DMKDOJxboHAX5b5mXP965a561tLP7zM3jgqKVI-R-TpYzEG/s339/darryl%20strawberry2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="309" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWQOO20oteZF4G6kCCEnEDqy-_7dQlJwQKVuTGSNdZdN3uzoEH-sL9z-q-dnPIjMxY2ZDCVK6GsgxsZo1pjXleGRTjPOJqzcLY-OyVtYXtRBurIpt2mdHWE0FErsvycqw0TR0kWM4Adb60DMKDOJxboHAX5b5mXP965a561tLP7zM3jgqKVI-R-TpYzEG/s320/darryl%20strawberry2.JPG" width="292" /></a></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Grand Slam: </span></i><span style="color: blue;">On April 28th he hit his first career grand slam HR, coming off Pittsburgh's Mike<br /> Bielecki, leading the team to 5-4 win over the Pirates. </span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">On May 11th, he injured his thumb & missed 40 games until the end of June. </span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>When he returned, he returned he was batting just .208 & dropped to .200 by July 1st. But </b></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">he raised his average fifty points during the month batting .303 with 27 hits, 6 HRs & 23 RBIs. He also drew 21 walks & stole nine bases in the month.</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium; font-style: italic;">1985 All Star Game: </span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Darryl made his second All Star start in right field for the NL at the 6-1 win in the Metrodome at Minnesota. He went 1-2 with a single & a walk off the Tigers Jack Morris while scoring two runs.</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7EYeuvS7itB92TUZ1693yLaTj9b9mpC8DYPZyCyQROUiqV4Hqoxz_o288zWoQy4U0Ts3R92fdFqt1jzDLYMOx17U99bL5ifENY6JUw_Rk0qLTKbWth67s-oFR0QcqH56GywFbQrPnRiXOQdHWMmy4nqwQGE8DKx0lUW34Er6XCcBr4WhhE_lfeNfD1w8/s632/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="632" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7EYeuvS7itB92TUZ1693yLaTj9b9mpC8DYPZyCyQROUiqV4Hqoxz_o288zWoQy4U0Ts3R92fdFqt1jzDLYMOx17U99bL5ifENY6JUw_Rk0qLTKbWth67s-oFR0QcqH56GywFbQrPnRiXOQdHWMmy4nqwQGE8DKx0lUW34Er6XCcBr4WhhE_lfeNfD1w8/w400-h305/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Grand Slam HR & 7 RBI Day:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> On July 20th he had a huge day in Atlanta, hitting a 1st inning<br /> grand slam off the Braves, Steve Bedrosian. Daryl added a three run HR off Len Barker in the fourth inning, giving him a season best seven RBI game in the Mets 16-4 win. </b></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Multi HR Game</i></span><span style="color: blue;">: Later that week he had his second multi-HR of the season, hitting two HRs off the Astros Joe Niekro & driving in all four Mets runs, in a 12-4 loss at Shea. </span></span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Player of the Week Awards:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> That week he won the Player of the Week Award & then would earn the same honor two weeks later. </span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXyy75Qdp2Lj_rebfGtIqni-9hMfjaKFLiGXOBv2wjxzLGQ81wAwflS4qx52nz8kwmcyDbP7PXE3kZd698QloqS2kXCnR5B3IA5UlnK0GzXvKKOoCRRZpdBajK6qxnHaD0wBXGqRIiuQk/s1600/straw1985.JPG" style="clear: left; color: blue; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="419" data-original-width="635" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXyy75Qdp2Lj_rebfGtIqni-9hMfjaKFLiGXOBv2wjxzLGQ81wAwflS4qx52nz8kwmcyDbP7PXE3kZd698QloqS2kXCnR5B3IA5UlnK0GzXvKKOoCRRZpdBajK6qxnHaD0wBXGqRIiuQk/w400-h263/straw1985.JPG" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Three HR Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> On August 5th, he had this third & final multi-HR game of the year. Strawberry hit a season high three HRs in a 7-2 win at Wrigley Field. Darryl took Derek Botelho deep twice, first with a three-run 1st inning shot & a 3rd inning solo shot. </b></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><b>In the 7th inning, hit added a solo blast off Ron Meredith. Darryl drove in five runs & reached 15 HRs on the season, while leading Ed Lynch to the victory. That day the Mets took over first place in the NL East.</b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNYB2tZputqtvJUzLJ3SI0Yx9-gtSE9bskK7OWZ8HdKk2wpDIs9OudZhxX7TvlDeJZYOIWfCZWyO18_JLgKMvs3ZfKvyjDMC1VQccT95PAAJHi9-aMtd4HoKEWICevLyCzk3V-ZNEDk2CTtW1hHVeJNelVEutKWVl7PimRK0E9ATu2QQrM5wW7Cmh8cpO/s849/darryl%20strawberry2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="849" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNYB2tZputqtvJUzLJ3SI0Yx9-gtSE9bskK7OWZ8HdKk2wpDIs9OudZhxX7TvlDeJZYOIWfCZWyO18_JLgKMvs3ZfKvyjDMC1VQccT95PAAJHi9-aMtd4HoKEWICevLyCzk3V-ZNEDk2CTtW1hHVeJNelVEutKWVl7PimRK0E9ATu2QQrM5wW7Cmh8cpO/w640-h454/darryl%20strawberry2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20CBZyRyi9yJpR0Qw7WacAYH1S7rMUb3bc1Bvsv7KnvSKP5EmG5K8w_-xwNWl9mZtpRSFD3wI_A505UFOBnk7taFtwyX2SV2m7t6Jg4BwA7-GWbMAm-xoJVTw8vBsVfC-Dc1BrpLXSZFrPWotsBxFd92rtujXbYgoT2bZZ2NchOxhSZS5NNrxjXDDwA/s499/darryl2.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="345" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20CBZyRyi9yJpR0Qw7WacAYH1S7rMUb3bc1Bvsv7KnvSKP5EmG5K8w_-xwNWl9mZtpRSFD3wI_A505UFOBnk7taFtwyX2SV2m7t6Jg4BwA7-GWbMAm-xoJVTw8vBsVfC-Dc1BrpLXSZFrPWotsBxFd92rtujXbYgoT2bZZ2NchOxhSZS5NNrxjXDDwA/w221-h320/darryl2.JPG" width="221" /></a></div>The next day he hit his 16th HR of the year in a 14-7 win at Montreal. That week, Darryl would drive in runs in four straight games & collected nine hits. </span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i style="font-size: large;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i style="font-size: large;"><br /></i></b></span></span></div>Multi RBI Games: </i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">From August 22nd to August 25th,</span><i style="font-size: large;"> </i><span style="color: blue;">he had two more multi-RBI games where he drove in four runs. On August 22nd he hit a two run HR off the Giants veteran Vida Blue, plus a two-run single off Mike Jeffcoat helping Terry Leach in a 7-0 shut out at Shea Stadium. </span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>On August 25th, in an exciting game at Shea where Dwight Gooden won his 29th game, Straw had a big day on offense. He had a three game, hitting his 20th HR of the season, coming off the Padres Eric Show. Overall, he drove in four runs in the 9-3 Mets win. </b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span><b style="color: blue;">That August he would bat .313, hit nine HRs & drive in 22 runs. </b></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQK0sryhL9HmkKdDRxnOTApkJ32DGoTMSjtXpyJS0_tAEMpjId-iV7zKcl0osTAoW1OLH7RxMLbduuDF-gAhSSeyUyWjY6pj_7GWM0ODB_-tsPoxrz1C1ZwdbhlvWm1R96FnQagf9aBmj/s1600/STRAW+LASORDA.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="520" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQK0sryhL9HmkKdDRxnOTApkJ32DGoTMSjtXpyJS0_tAEMpjId-iV7zKcl0osTAoW1OLH7RxMLbduuDF-gAhSSeyUyWjY6pj_7GWM0ODB_-tsPoxrz1C1ZwdbhlvWm1R96FnQagf9aBmj/s400/STRAW+LASORDA.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b style="color: blue;">The Mets began September two games in back of the rival, St. Louis Cardinals. On</b><b style="color: blue;"> September 2nd Darryl hit a triple & drove in three runs in the 12-4 win at San Diego. The next day he homered off the Padres Dave Dravecky, in an 8-3 win over San Diego.</b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div></div><div><b style="color: blue;">On September 6th in a classic pitching matchup of Dwight Gooden & the Dodgers Fernando Valenzuela in L.A. Daryll drove in both Mets runs of the 2-0 Mets win. </b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><b>Dwight Gooden shut out the Dodgers for nine innings & Fernando Valenzuela blanked the Mets for 11 innings. </b></b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju63IQtKtSFTYcseDPBaUJAAn3L6tD1S-TXc6TBItm7s5H6v3PYAcCC6Q-XKB-48m3xbFAesyTbW5LEXVXTeAgeeWvJDyk2fATag77R9lMaCxJ4Z06rRO2zqsuVDUyAIxJxFlZkSVR-vchl-ov59DqAIhPOlRzv3XhFAEhfv8KpAdvWJL7qwxNIQtdgxgn/s454/darryl%20strawberry2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="454" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju63IQtKtSFTYcseDPBaUJAAn3L6tD1S-TXc6TBItm7s5H6v3PYAcCC6Q-XKB-48m3xbFAesyTbW5LEXVXTeAgeeWvJDyk2fATag77R9lMaCxJ4Z06rRO2zqsuVDUyAIxJxFlZkSVR-vchl-ov59DqAIhPOlRzv3XhFAEhfv8KpAdvWJL7qwxNIQtdgxgn/w400-h319/darryl%20strawberry2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><b style="color: blue;"><b>In the top of the </b>13 inning, his ground rule double off Tom Niedenfuer scored Rafael Santana & Wally Backman for the only runs of the game. Jesse Orosco completed the combined Mets shut out in the bottom frame.</b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: blue;">On September 12th the Mets took two of three in a big series with the Cardinals at Shea Stadium,</b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"> to put them back in first place, up by one game in the NL East. </b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: blue;">In the four-run 1st inning, Darryl hit one of three straight Mets doubles off Joquin Andujar. Keith Hernandez won the game with a walk off hit off Ken Dayley. In the next two games Darryl had two hits two walks & a run scored.</b></div><div>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">During the pennant race of September, Strawberry he hit eight HRs driving in 22 runs. <br /></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="color: black;"><br /></b></span></i></span></span></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhM_I5p5FIkJt8gwdohshCG70M3kKFoTlcsAhxbMeOAK7nqavRRoieDWXS-pTRbSkro5M2nKpea6bczgPqNoKbwHf7gXGNLcsjBHwWaWDykp1oiMP_OGbLNitB5MfPHgL6ewguPUyIUrl7rvwbW0ef413JrZ8hCxEB7gjjciaQ0M8rHqW6UNh31uEYI8m/s370/darryl%20strawberry2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="370" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhM_I5p5FIkJt8gwdohshCG70M3kKFoTlcsAhxbMeOAK7nqavRRoieDWXS-pTRbSkro5M2nKpea6bczgPqNoKbwHf7gXGNLcsjBHwWaWDykp1oiMP_OGbLNitB5MfPHgL6ewguPUyIUrl7rvwbW0ef413JrZ8hCxEB7gjjciaQ0M8rHqW6UNh31uEYI8m/s320/darryl%20strawberry2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="color: black;">Classic HR off the Clock </b><b>in</b><b style="color: black;"> St. Louis:</b></span><b style="color: black;"> </b></i></span></span><b style="color: blue;">On October 1st the Mets came to St Louis for a huge series against the first place Cardinals trailing by three games. </b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><b style="color: blue;">In the first game, Rn Darling & Jesse Orosco shut out the Cards for ten innings. John Tudor did the same to the Mets. In the top of the 11th inning, Strawberry he hit a memorable mammoth HR off the clock tower at Busch Stadium off reliever Ken Dayley. It led the Mets to the 1-0 win.</b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>Darryl was held hitless the next night as the Mets took the first two games; they won two of three in the series & left St. Louis two games back with three left to play.</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1iM6RWwM5tc" width="320" youtube-src-id="1iM6RWwM5tc"></iframe></div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTUpjyMg-1YyUXB2txK36d5xB3BtAMMb5T3rlD67LTUYFUrLiVSqUCCGlFKG-a_iFhL0SfBBEA-1mrsakgiN6vkInj50NIfNiVx1FNpJQszG50roUkVlVxIW0cHmnmIHUdTeIe-IYDFYlqMOjFppdBH7YqXODavOnqhNf6HyYsnzSxbWHyTs-zmoaPQ/s319/straw1.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="319" data-original-width="202" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTUpjyMg-1YyUXB2txK36d5xB3BtAMMb5T3rlD67LTUYFUrLiVSqUCCGlFKG-a_iFhL0SfBBEA-1mrsakgiN6vkInj50NIfNiVx1FNpJQszG50roUkVlVxIW0cHmnmIHUdTeIe-IYDFYlqMOjFppdBH7YqXODavOnqhNf6HyYsnzSxbWHyTs-zmoaPQ/s1600/straw1.JPG" width="202" /></a></div>Strawberry would help the Mets with three RBIs in their 9-4 win against the Expos. But they lost their last two games & were not able to catch the Cardinals.</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br />Strawberry finished the year with 29 HRs (6th in the NL). He batted .277 with 109 hits 15 doubles 4 triples & 79 RBIs. s Straw stole 26 bases walked </span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">73 times with</span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> a .389 on base %& 947 OPS. </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">He also struck out 96 times.</span></b></div><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><i>Trivia: </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>It was the only year in an eleven-year stretch when he struck out less than 100 times or more. </b></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">In right field he posted a .994 fielding % which was second in the league.</span></b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span><span><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Marriage: </span></i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>In 1985 Strawberry married Lisa Andrews, together they would have two children with. Thier marriage would also be filled with Darryl drama.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBUEebi_rTAYei170v9ikPSjlFUEDAVPyTULPgDLV3VVGKrH9sJ39lwmD4ECs79f4Ojx31VIQ-xV-vuSs9Co1b4ZsGpfrO8o2n5A6Qqhpb0kGqDhU-UUzdziBLKV3k4szO-luz0dhzlppi/s1600/metspng-e57b087f480d8613.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1031" data-original-width="1280" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBUEebi_rTAYei170v9ikPSjlFUEDAVPyTULPgDLV3VVGKrH9sJ39lwmD4ECs79f4Ojx31VIQ-xV-vuSs9Co1b4ZsGpfrO8o2n5A6Qqhpb0kGqDhU-UUzdziBLKV3k4szO-luz0dhzlppi/s400/metspng-e57b087f480d8613.png" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><i><span style="color: black;">1986 Championship Season:</span></i></span><b> In the 1986 Mets championship season, it was almost a given that the Mets would dominate the league. Even Cardinals manager </b></span></span><b style="color: blue;">Whitey Herzog </b><b style="color: blue;">conceded the NL East to the Mets early on in the season.</b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Partying, Girls & Drugs:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> It was a wild year for the Mets off the field as well. The tales became legendary for partying hard, womanizing, drinking, drugs, fights, night club antics & destruction on team flights. </span></b></span></span><b><span style="color: blue;">In later years Darryl said he would choose a girl in the crowd & have a clubhouse attendant go escort her into the clubhouse where he would have sex between innings.</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="color: blue;">Through it all the team was cocky, confidant & won a lot of games as well as a World Series. The home fans loved </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>them,</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> but it seemed everyone else in the league hated them.</b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_xULq6spfIfeU4TXfH3yQSAcT8mWkKSXlSxUJuijKMj0ANgOSOmOSQDiIFrk9cWalyB-Ihs_veFlBgbl0K5bb2NND5tWS772kOkZEYJI1Ypb1lQOWkQBDOWSuZ61a9oDFjn2qmkAmbq7/s1600/straw1986.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="553" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_xULq6spfIfeU4TXfH3yQSAcT8mWkKSXlSxUJuijKMj0ANgOSOmOSQDiIFrk9cWalyB-Ihs_veFlBgbl0K5bb2NND5tWS772kOkZEYJI1Ypb1lQOWkQBDOWSuZ61a9oDFjn2qmkAmbq7/s400/straw1986.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Shaving His Head: </span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b>Strawberry started out the year losing a bet to Kevin Mitchell & had Mitchell shave his head bald. It was highly publicized & the antic were just beginning.</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>On Opening Day, Straw went 1-1 with a double & three walks, as Dwight Gooden beat the Pirates 4-2 at Pittsburgh. </b></span></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Just as the Mets team did that season, Straw got off to a good start in April by hitting safely in 20 of his first 25 games, raising his average to .313.</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNEc01_9beM7pNU6UNokBDfbiV07X0qYIagaW6mjuCzrEn8B3-ui5uv1UCIbNbaViExLe_DO0lFstsJZeM_PZ5jqUyAXYHOLyJCdrBfWrLx15MiBeeNemBn2iyR7bcOlpXO5MPkXx9vBbj/s1600/1.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="456" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNEc01_9beM7pNU6UNokBDfbiV07X0qYIagaW6mjuCzrEn8B3-ui5uv1UCIbNbaViExLe_DO0lFstsJZeM_PZ5jqUyAXYHOLyJCdrBfWrLx15MiBeeNemBn2iyR7bcOlpXO5MPkXx9vBbj/s400/1.JPG" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Multi RBI Games:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> At the end of the month, he had a huge series in Atlanta. On April 29th he had the first of four-four RBI games on the season. After driving in a run early on, he hit a three run HR Craig McMurty in the 10-5 victory.</span></b></span></span></div><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Five Hit Day:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On April 30th, in an 8-1 win he had his season best five-hit game. </span></b></span></span><b style="color: blue;">Straw hit a two run HR off Joe Johnson, with an RBI base hit. Overall, he had three singles, a double & the HR. </b></div><div><b style="color: blue;">In that </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>three-game</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> series he had </b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: blue;">On May 4th, on that same road trip the hit two HRs in a 7-2 win at Cincinnati.</b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhLA0zKO6cLTfk0_DiotMeKjW1P6OFtMWHAOiEUwjFZ0ktUTK_x8_em4fSmRck8kAcoKTbcAqd1JTGcBA7hgwb5K9mlx5g-qbSqYrEt5R2wll1ij-FQnFq40SEisqGfORM-X9ns2O8-LLx4EJ73p9bb3ARjiXfge0_m-nfsGTUmWq53xRLLp6yAlJaw8q/s513/darryl%20strawberry3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="369" data-original-width="513" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhLA0zKO6cLTfk0_DiotMeKjW1P6OFtMWHAOiEUwjFZ0ktUTK_x8_em4fSmRck8kAcoKTbcAqd1JTGcBA7hgwb5K9mlx5g-qbSqYrEt5R2wll1ij-FQnFq40SEisqGfORM-X9ns2O8-LLx4EJ73p9bb3ARjiXfge0_m-nfsGTUmWq53xRLLp6yAlJaw8q/s320/darryl%20strawberry3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Strawberry</i></b></span><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Drama:</span> </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b> With all the fame & glory, there came lots of drama. At times Darryl would show up late or never arrive for work outs. He disrupted team meetings had infamous arguments & fights with his teammates. </b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>Like many superstars, Straw would produce & had things overlooked. He was still popular & a key figure in the Mets Championship season, as well as their success in the eighties. </b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">After a HR in early May, he went into a rut, he didn't hit another HR for a month & batted just .208 in the month. </span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">In June he hit picked things up, batting .352 with four HRs 7 doubles 12 RBIs & nine stolen bases. </span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Walk Off Hit: </span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b>On June 13th he<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7GFhLUeAWavX7e-flUrJjKqjDOqupN-Jw8mW81xEiVl60JHACFK0HJMebNFS3_S75TDu04uisldMj5v9bDUet8PgjcDd-wMw8TGMR_TdJ4tNj8E_c1z4n0r8euD3QS1R0_ZFdtkxRO4L/s1600/straw1.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="289" data-original-width="449" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7GFhLUeAWavX7e-flUrJjKqjDOqupN-Jw8mW81xEiVl60JHACFK0HJMebNFS3_S75TDu04uisldMj5v9bDUet8PgjcDd-wMw8TGMR_TdJ4tNj8E_c1z4n0r8euD3QS1R0_ZFdtkxRO4L/w400-h256/straw1.JPG" width="400" /></a></b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b>came to bat in the bottom of the 9th inning in a 5-5 tie with the Pittsburgh Pirates. After walking Keith Hernandez intentionally to get to Straw, he singled off Pat Clements bringing home the game winning walk off run, for a 6-5 win. </b></span></div><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Multi HR Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On July 3rd, he hit two HRs against the Astros at Shea, in a preview of that years the NLCS. </span></span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;">In the 5th inning, he tied the game with a two run HR off Jim Deshaises. </span></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"> In the top of the 10th, t</span></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;">he Astros went ahead with a Phil Garner HR off Jesse Orosco. </span></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht57l0L5I3G1j5Mlxr_FIGQKNyBLYuYhMZAaP5Izl-Xv_MT18ANG6AP-o_5GA3vHbEvYgClNqfymP31e6MCnKszHR_Hn5FMrYF0vWxAmKO-4s5hvamnCrPFkzOFQ_0abIVXl281fVSfTxfPiSqwqFH06YCNSooTZ21ODhZD7J59pi-Cp2JG7ezoEIY8O4W/s643/mets%20brawl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="643" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht57l0L5I3G1j5Mlxr_FIGQKNyBLYuYhMZAaP5Izl-Xv_MT18ANG6AP-o_5GA3vHbEvYgClNqfymP31e6MCnKszHR_Hn5FMrYF0vWxAmKO-4s5hvamnCrPFkzOFQ_0abIVXl281fVSfTxfPiSqwqFH06YCNSooTZ21ODhZD7J59pi-Cp2JG7ezoEIY8O4W/w400-h314/mets%20brawl.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"> In the bottom of the </span></span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;">10th inning Darryl tied it back up with a two run HR off Frank Dipino. Ray Knight would win the game with a walk off HR three at bats later. </span></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">When the Mets went to Houston, Strawberry would drive in runs in three of the four games at the Astrodome, although the Mets lost three of four as the rivalry heated up. </span></b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bench Clearing Brawl: </span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b>On July 11th, in a home game against the Braves, Gary Carter hit a grand slam HR off David Palmer putting the Mets up 7-0. Strawberry was the next batter, Palmer hit him with the pitch & Darryl charged the mound. Palmer eluded Strawberry as the benches cleared & all out brawl endued.</b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMUyMKnZUf8XhmL6zqJz99VdJn4E1mAlX7toyzf_QrFxUujKiPQQ67cZZ_QRFws-PW1wTkAutDiZBy48s2r_195vaH4nqQRroqxJRWOsUaBGQsQ3oL9cr3YX8JcXUfLwykJDLBcWWZWe-5/s1600/image.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="768" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMUyMKnZUf8XhmL6zqJz99VdJn4E1mAlX7toyzf_QrFxUujKiPQQ67cZZ_QRFws-PW1wTkAutDiZBy48s2r_195vaH4nqQRroqxJRWOsUaBGQsQ3oL9cr3YX8JcXUfLwykJDLBcWWZWe-5/w640-h357/image.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><i>1</i></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><i>986 All Star:</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVHa5ncjBfQad7HfKH9LXpvKXDtJ8khgQpomeAD0e6Tv9gCGWpDKY6FykyhyphenhyphenG7mWpn6szOx0_TzP_7mGYz9_jLUAoRfWBIu_edQ9S7FZkg77FN9MMq1G4xpmyrKnLl-4Rw3_fRm7ly5Ya/s1600/2.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="411" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVHa5ncjBfQad7HfKH9LXpvKXDtJ8khgQpomeAD0e6Tv9gCGWpDKY6FykyhyphenhyphenG7mWpn6szOx0_TzP_7mGYz9_jLUAoRfWBIu_edQ9S7FZkg77FN9MMq1G4xpmyrKnLl-4Rw3_fRm7ly5Ya/w394-h400/2.JPG" width="394" /></a><b>At the All-Star break Strawberry had 13 HRs and made another start for the NL in right field. </b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>In the 1986 All Star Game he, Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter & Dwight Gooden all got the start & Sid Fernandez was in the bullpen for the game held in the Houston Astrodome, Straw went 1-2 in the National Leagues 3-2 loss singling off Teddy Higuera in the 5th inning.</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b> </b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Mets Team Drama in Houston:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> After the break, the Mets went on a road trip landing in Houston from July 17th thru the 20th. Four Mets players, Ron Darling, Tim Teufel, Rick Aguilera & Bobby Ojeda were arrested after being involved in a brawl with off duty police officers posing as security guards at a Houston night club. </span></b></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLAy8cSYW1SnlhUlk18-Jzx6dAmLIpE4beA8HbQhn7Pd-iSL-CS7UARzhyeFupsZWPNFaTqHLIU7yBdjHqKMQ-EFluKmgZyyrLWdQn-LBO2cd5CapGQXNA1kdJ6p7j4rMYX5sZu3vKHbikDBxp-YwAtMe0d8R5n2HPv6KMjLpFCC4wAZPcUBFGkCd0QK9/s667/darryl%20strawberry2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="638" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLAy8cSYW1SnlhUlk18-Jzx6dAmLIpE4beA8HbQhn7Pd-iSL-CS7UARzhyeFupsZWPNFaTqHLIU7yBdjHqKMQ-EFluKmgZyyrLWdQn-LBO2cd5CapGQXNA1kdJ6p7j4rMYX5sZu3vKHbikDBxp-YwAtMe0d8R5n2HPv6KMjLpFCC4wAZPcUBFGkCd0QK9/s320/darryl%20strawberry2.JPG" width="306" /></a></div>On July 17th, in the first game of the series, Straw had a three RBI game in the Mets big 13-2 win.<br /> Two days later, he came back with a two run HR off Dave Smith in the 5-4 loss. </span></b></span><b style="color: blue;">On July 27th-28th he would hit HRs in back-to-back games reaching 16 for the year & was batting a strong .285. </b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>At the start of August, Darryl drove in runs in four straight games which the Mets won all four. </b></span></span><b style="color: blue;">On August 18th in Los Angles Straw hit a two run HR off Orel Hershiser & drove in another run with an RBI single leading to a 5-4 win. He went on to drive in runs in the next three games as well, </b></div><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>On August 27th, he drove in two runs with a single in the 1st inning & then added a two run HR off the Padres Ed Whitson, as the Mets beat San Diego 6-5 to complete a sweep of their entire West Coast Road trip. </b></span></span><b style="color: blue;">It was part of an eleven-game win streak that gave them a twenty-game lead of first place.</b></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4YPoqXajiZhiXJl8cE9eNrH0pGpDFAs9oZ21Rcjhc3BOjd3L2M5SYhp5ti7Fp8R24HJ2eCDsiAXqQZr6CvAlEGtesmNtm1AJlGz1Ra32SP3aiQJqSgcmQVgOpfnJAKmFqMgr9RcloSyWvjMBJ7am5cKtby3Vh4lSX1JGBb3PdJRSbu4E86LqkkZ7lg/s755/Capture.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="755" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4YPoqXajiZhiXJl8cE9eNrH0pGpDFAs9oZ21Rcjhc3BOjd3L2M5SYhp5ti7Fp8R24HJ2eCDsiAXqQZr6CvAlEGtesmNtm1AJlGz1Ra32SP3aiQJqSgcmQVgOpfnJAKmFqMgr9RcloSyWvjMBJ7am5cKtby3Vh4lSX1JGBb3PdJRSbu4E86LqkkZ7lg/w640-h418/Capture.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUl8XBIJZhxRtijKXVS-FedUj0eZA-zzfmbH5EahFKU3zpxaYGGBwTMs59TwhjqbJk_x67GMZclmSETbpfyFJpGyRQVm158E-HjEMFFyF0KeJll27epL2n5Whq8p30skbzUg5WY7_SQ-mq/s1600/image.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="419" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUl8XBIJZhxRtijKXVS-FedUj0eZA-zzfmbH5EahFKU3zpxaYGGBwTMs59TwhjqbJk_x67GMZclmSETbpfyFJpGyRQVm158E-HjEMFFyF0KeJll27epL2n5Whq8p30skbzUg5WY7_SQ-mq/s400/image.jpg" width="250" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">NL East Clincher:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On September 17th, <i>centerfieldmaz</i> & a full house at Shea Stadium, was on hand to witness the Mets capture their first NL east title since 1973. </span></span></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">After a young Dave Magadan who was playing for an injured Keith Hernandez at first base, drove in the first run of the game, Straw followed with another RBI single, putting the Mets up 2-0 over the Chicago Cubs. </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">That night the Mets won the game 4-2 & clinched the East. Doc Gooden won his 15th game of the year & pitched the complete game. The Mets fans celebrated by taking over the field. </span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">In the final eleven games of the year, Strawberry hit six HRs & drove in 15 runs. </span></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Four RBI games:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> On September 28th, Darryl drove in all four Met runs in a 4-1 win over the Pirates in Pittsburgh. He started out with an RBI single, then in the top of the 11th, he won the game with a three run HR off Bob Walk.</span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">He closed out the last four games of the regular season with three HRs & nine RBIs.</span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu6XDEKzmW_jGyFGtpBvmYY1BEo1cKPCa30TXjYbAUxb-INudGsPDnjtlYQrlNmMI1_2p4C-ri_LCWSgxS8GBnwLBVxVxH1Kx3cm9OJo48qhqapC0Ge9BOdJX_uNsQp8tKxepbNa4VdXIvJ0zbq1Vr_muKi_KJ_Xv7pdZJUu0rq9br_LMn95zIVXfaX_0k/s615/darryl%20strawberry2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="421" data-original-width="615" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu6XDEKzmW_jGyFGtpBvmYY1BEo1cKPCa30TXjYbAUxb-INudGsPDnjtlYQrlNmMI1_2p4C-ri_LCWSgxS8GBnwLBVxVxH1Kx3cm9OJo48qhqapC0Ge9BOdJX_uNsQp8tKxepbNa4VdXIvJ0zbq1Vr_muKi_KJ_Xv7pdZJUu0rq9br_LMn95zIVXfaX_0k/w400-h274/darryl%20strawberry2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Grand Slam HR:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> On October 5th, in a 9-0 shut out over Pittsburgh, the final game of the regular season, he hit his second career grand slam, a 5th inning shot off the Pirates Ray Krawczyk. It was Darryl's 27th HR of the season. It was his 20th multi-RBI game of the year, the fifth game where he drove in four runs. </b></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">On the 1986 Championship season he would lead the club, with 27 HRs (5th in the NL) 93 RBIs (7th in the league) 27 doubles & five triples. He would steal 26 bases (second on the club to Len Dykstra) bat .259 & </span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">score 76 runs. He struck out a career high 141 times, while walking 72 times </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">posting a .358 on base % & .865 OPS. </span></b></div><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">In right field he had ten assists (5th most in the league) posting a .975 fielding %. </span></b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhGGWxNM9ChEoYuvNJzxZQHE2iIwnayaLP4eMp4N5nPDYq2rD_mrD_D4aTX6ozV6h0Tpvn63N0udyX8bwK-LWOobtYbARnXtg-ow9NWSlcGgGmlKx02v_Ggn1maDhxjvNQ4eKuJ0HnamWVf2e4BFcirt4t9sIYzcWDyWBkt-147Her5pQKNgEdnm5_yuv/s960/1986%20nlcd.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="960" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhGGWxNM9ChEoYuvNJzxZQHE2iIwnayaLP4eMp4N5nPDYq2rD_mrD_D4aTX6ozV6h0Tpvn63N0udyX8bwK-LWOobtYbARnXtg-ow9NWSlcGgGmlKx02v_Ggn1maDhxjvNQ4eKuJ0HnamWVf2e4BFcirt4t9sIYzcWDyWBkt-147Her5pQKNgEdnm5_yuv/w640-h392/1986%20nlcd.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGg9Nxp8zfzi1HipsAk74I4lKb4Tyr1Nwpn1b9goSVdz_mF0o81DlvqzXN1cue_yFqYMrQLAgUIHc9Xe7jSJyO2_3sQ4D56-B38KDgdV1HQzrlyfQ2a2o4ubN1kmrgrAwI6qI0aHLb86A4/s1600/darryl+strawberry+(31).JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGg9Nxp8zfzi1HipsAk74I4lKb4Tyr1Nwpn1b9goSVdz_mF0o81DlvqzXN1cue_yFqYMrQLAgUIHc9Xe7jSJyO2_3sQ4D56-B38KDgdV1HQzrlyfQ2a2o4ubN1kmrgrAwI6qI0aHLb86A4/s400/darryl+strawberry+(31).JPG" width="366" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>1986 Post Season- NLCS</span>:</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> In the NLCS against the Houston Astros, Strawberry went 1-4 in Game #1 at the Astrodome, striking out twice against Mike Scott in the 1-0 loss.</span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">In Game #2 he went 0-3 with a 4th inning sac fly RBI off Nolan Ryan in the Mets 5-1 win, evening the series.</span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Game # 3</b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> was the first playoff game played at Shea Stadium in 13 years. In the 6th inning the Mets were down 4-0, they got lead off singles from Kevin Mitchell & Keith Hernandez. After Gary Carter reached on an error, scoring Mitchell, Strawberry blasted a three run HR off Bob Knepper tying the game. Straw would go 2-4 in the game.</span></b></span></div><div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">He went hitless in Game #4 then had another memorable HR in Game #5. After the rain stopped & the sun began to break through the Shea skies, Strawberry came to bat in the 5th inning down 1-0. He hit a Nolan Ryan pitch with a long shot down the left field line that cleared the foul pole, tying the score 1-1.</span></b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDR-u6tXoCQhOixmBibKpBEHZVCrgXB92q2JxDwGJCamq0eviz76UPeXiY7CeF4IPMiap_FRr5m8WlYtwYvxCPiNPZ8fiwkL33Yx5G4ChWucoshAUlPHYuzv1pFRRrfd2ORy7DL2PHpoVRYd3DzXcvtXUKJHUsNi-pIY9EksKT6CB1THT95pegiV3UlWr/s862/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="862" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDR-u6tXoCQhOixmBibKpBEHZVCrgXB92q2JxDwGJCamq0eviz76UPeXiY7CeF4IPMiap_FRr5m8WlYtwYvxCPiNPZ8fiwkL33Yx5G4ChWucoshAUlPHYuzv1pFRRrfd2ORy7DL2PHpoVRYd3DzXcvtXUKJHUsNi-pIY9EksKT6CB1THT95pegiV3UlWr/w640-h356/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhiq7DtHxQ7OIioiL07o0KwO52mhw8Gh3DHJkpjq7Ot1wfqEVtf8IZcR6WrB170cbVHoRhuJlew9useev5GRhTzkXj9-qmBNm1M0MtwXSrNRY7NLXWRvCS_aTtdNukW7FiKIFNfA6OBBn/s1600/darryl+strawberry+%252820%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="279" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhiq7DtHxQ7OIioiL07o0KwO52mhw8Gh3DHJkpjq7Ot1wfqEVtf8IZcR6WrB170cbVHoRhuJlew9useev5GRhTzkXj9-qmBNm1M0MtwXSrNRY7NLXWRvCS_aTtdNukW7FiKIFNfA6OBBn/s400/darryl+strawberry+%252820%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> It was a classic among classics, one of the best games centerfieldmaz ever had the pleasure to attend. Dwight Gooden pitched ten innings holding down Hoston to a run. Nolan Ryan pitched nine innings allowing just the Strawberry the HR. The Mets went on to win the game on Gary Carters walk off RBI single in the 12th inning. </span></b></span><br /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>In the epic Game # 6 back at the Astrodome, Daryl went 1- 5 but scored two very important late runs. </b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>In the 14th inning he drew a walk off Aurelio Lopez, then advanced to second then scored the go-<br />ahead run-on Wally Backman's base hit. The Astros tied the game in the bottom of the 14th on Bill Hatcher's HR.</b></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnc7E3tBPNU1KLFQBUSHIA0rF4-gTKQQbdtIFUmFTGu1vz98DvZlI6M6FCkr_CLQhkHj3kpSKGLya4Cp66JO6GUYo3J4r5wfw99-HYEvUk1JECaAVmgPAsOaJQ3g-hLwYHpmmWuSWOtpVSmKttWqVDEuPqD2YQfOsfAXZk9J2Nb_mbCksu3QruyZLQg/s406/1986%20houston.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="244" data-original-width="406" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnc7E3tBPNU1KLFQBUSHIA0rF4-gTKQQbdtIFUmFTGu1vz98DvZlI6M6FCkr_CLQhkHj3kpSKGLya4Cp66JO6GUYo3J4r5wfw99-HYEvUk1JECaAVmgPAsOaJQ3g-hLwYHpmmWuSWOtpVSmKttWqVDEuPqD2YQfOsfAXZk9J2Nb_mbCksu3QruyZLQg/w400-h240/1986%20houston.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>Strawberry doubled to lead off the 16th inning & scored the go-ahead run-on Ray Knights base hit. The Mets put up three runs in the inning. Jesse Orosco gave up two more runs in the 16th but the Mets held on to win the game 7-4, win the pennant & advance to the World Series.</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>Overall, Straw hit .227 (5-22) with two HRs five RBIs three walks in the Series with four runs scored & 12 strikeouts.</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><i><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><i><br /></i></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTTd-YO6EmflGSSpF8APoM-IA5QP4VjVEpAyNV9CeNa6kP11pgcq99-a5Sz2Cq0SvJENj-fKxqsJ3l67Et7o8iOMWsxQPEv1M1PCYF1U1l-nCDinDDJU0l5eqjS9bgEBqtx5MIRA4lcQlJ/s1600/ws.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="619" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTTd-YO6EmflGSSpF8APoM-IA5QP4VjVEpAyNV9CeNa6kP11pgcq99-a5Sz2Cq0SvJENj-fKxqsJ3l67Et7o8iOMWsxQPEv1M1PCYF1U1l-nCDinDDJU0l5eqjS9bgEBqtx5MIRA4lcQlJ/w640-h336/ws.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSO1ON5mxI86X0R0DO7GLdRMsyjK71I3CwY53dF3tey3ehqflZM_II70vNLMZk6ViAp9dCVvxCQIaFzbE1ZcSrc0GqSd_ajOzoXGqfYSm_bNugRoZC_2SmCoYEkR4_ETPtal05ZYBzIjHKv6KjIjxUtbN643A9voGjpjGGfSdoTTRL1W-V9MSnvDDLTuyU/s786/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="786" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSO1ON5mxI86X0R0DO7GLdRMsyjK71I3CwY53dF3tey3ehqflZM_II70vNLMZk6ViAp9dCVvxCQIaFzbE1ZcSrc0GqSd_ajOzoXGqfYSm_bNugRoZC_2SmCoYEkR4_ETPtal05ZYBzIjHKv6KjIjxUtbN643A9voGjpjGGfSdoTTRL1W-V9MSnvDDLTuyU/w400-h225/darryl%20strawberry.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>1986 World Series:</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b> In the 1986 World Series against the Boston Red Sox, Daryl began by struggling at the plate. </b></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">The Mets lost the first two games & Darryl went hitless in both of the games at Shea. </span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i>"Daaaarryl":</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> By the time the Mets & Strawberry got to Fenway Park for Game #3, the Red Sox fans let him have it. </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>As he was standing in his position in right field the Boston fans began to taunt him with the chants of “Daaaarryl”"Daaaaarryl". </b></span></span></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br />In response he jokingly tipped his hat to the Fenway Faithful. </b><b style="color: blue;">That chant would become<br /> legendary, soon being heard both on the road & at home in Shea Stadium for years to come. </b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpID6XT0Jap2f31IO4xYOuqRtQk2f3nfn5IiysKuxUxPis3LrQmOS1yArcKJ2veTY3-uzHAZPEjHGuBBYNy49WsbO9tm2c15xk0oU6mVSZ_8YvDUAlT05F8Hg8HOWQv-FJRJsXMLURnLAiareFdRLObIO6a_PM6b0KyT6BecBWeybhdAkKBukHLLcpZIQ/s673/darryl%20strawberry3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="673" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpID6XT0Jap2f31IO4xYOuqRtQk2f3nfn5IiysKuxUxPis3LrQmOS1yArcKJ2veTY3-uzHAZPEjHGuBBYNy49WsbO9tm2c15xk0oU6mVSZ_8YvDUAlT05F8Hg8HOWQv-FJRJsXMLURnLAiareFdRLObIO6a_PM6b0KyT6BecBWeybhdAkKBukHLLcpZIQ/w400-h271/darryl%20strawberry3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>This incident led to the Mets fans returning taunts, as they would chant “Caaaalvin” "Caaaalvin" toward Red Sox relief pitcher Calvin Schiraldi at Shea Stadium in Games six & seven. Calvin was a Mets pitcher in the early 1980's.</b></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br />In Game #3 with the Mets ahead 6-1, Darryl got his first hit of the Series, a single off native New Yorker Joe Sambito of Long Island. Straw scored on Ray Knight's double.</span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">In Game #4 Straw doubled in the 4th inning after Gary Carter hit a two run HR. He scored on Ray Knights single making it 3-0 Mets. </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>In the 8th, Straw would single again. The Mets went on to a 6-2-win, evening the series at two games each. He collected another hit in the Game #5 loss.</b></span></div><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"></span></span><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">In the classic "</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFWGToj4V3NNyMKzY5IoZuRAydqu04sHUafLue60ZIAavMo8499KRA0BBucHJHDuzc2Ym_XzCiM_LcorCA7AIp9PL5OjGcVZL9IITIe5A7Nyy_WIe9Nc0D9nC6T76pgng_ns7bcW7Rjcv/s1600/ws1.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="331" data-original-width="328" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFWGToj4V3NNyMKzY5IoZuRAydqu04sHUafLue60ZIAavMo8499KRA0BBucHJHDuzc2Ym_XzCiM_LcorCA7AIp9PL5OjGcVZL9IITIe5A7Nyy_WIe9Nc0D9nC6T76pgng_ns7bcW7Rjcv/w396-h400/ws1.JPG" width="396" /></a>Game #6" Straw went 0-2 with a pair of walks. In the 5th inning he scored again on another Ray Knight hit with the Mets first run. </b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>In the 9th inning with the score tied at 3-3, Manager Davey Johnson made a double switch putting Lee Mazzilli in right field & bringing in Rick Aguilera to pitch. </b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Game Six Drama:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> Straw was upset that Johnson had pulled him out of the game. In the dugout he complained to his manager, then went off to pout in the locker room. </span></b></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>Although the move ended up working well for the Mets as they had one of the best World Series comebacks in history, Straw was still upset & missed the celebration on the field after the game since he was already out of uniform.</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUcihd14HIMPJLVuIOxqslNiCaH1-jgGw8EuNaMjMLd89T9uyNmiHZ0Tnn_7LM_r9NbPTBrx2Q0T0RttwIIKIGEc0kjErjOlhk_YyKkBK7_oKNbvPqkmNZQjVwrIKfjBmy6aA2BZamUOrfzjELXOItkRj6WTNDV65C3wxFtH2ObLlOO07OOGy3OoLc5D_/s747/darryl%20strawberry2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="747" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUcihd14HIMPJLVuIOxqslNiCaH1-jgGw8EuNaMjMLd89T9uyNmiHZ0Tnn_7LM_r9NbPTBrx2Q0T0RttwIIKIGEc0kjErjOlhk_YyKkBK7_oKNbvPqkmNZQjVwrIKfjBmy6aA2BZamUOrfzjELXOItkRj6WTNDV65C3wxFtH2ObLlOO07OOGy3OoLc5D_/w640-h340/darryl%20strawberry2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqqAHkCpibNoOdQeWuO8VOLVXa5_hlIx-8qfkktCcd6lxV0PBOsPfBO98YRquvesHX7I4c5LjeHEb7YSKWHZJXS9GUCkbc47xhtoPAJX9SADKjW-Y_GQ0AqXTjkVMMwLSRPmp7naX2hPA/s1600/%2521%2521straw+hr.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqqAHkCpibNoOdQeWuO8VOLVXa5_hlIx-8qfkktCcd6lxV0PBOsPfBO98YRquvesHX7I4c5LjeHEb7YSKWHZJXS9GUCkbc47xhtoPAJX9SADKjW-Y_GQ0AqXTjkVMMwLSRPmp7naX2hPA/s1600/%2521%2521straw+hr.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">In Game #7 he had perhaps his biggest hit, it came on the bottom of the 8th inning. The Mets were ahead 5-3 after a Ray Knight HR off Calvin Schiraldi, then a Rafael Santana RBI single in the 7th. </span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Strawberry sealed the victory with a solo HR to lead off the 8th inning off reliever Al Nipper. After striking out Marty Barrett for the final out of the 9th inning, the Mets were World Champions.</span></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Strawberry celebrated with the team on the field & in the clubhouse afterwards. He made it to the celebration victory Parade in New York City the next day as well. It was a great time to be a Met even with all that drama that surrounded it, they were World Champions.</span></b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><br /></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">World Series Stats:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> In the World Series he batted just .208 going 5-2 with four walks & three stolen bases. He a double a HR drove in a run & scored four runs.</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWPls0L7Nmw2heTMrHR8pVHZuIMNXJkwNhkjq1YBVgJwbje5woS3ZYF7OISv1GpwJmRLqDEX7MiI0J5pRB3IHXnK7O13yOlkPn_llaSzzcuzrHjeGj0ROECEKY6ofBh1d1kf4XxMFkMZnbx7C96uakG-mkkbInQ1AE_uBuaLnUjK2qEq-hjGK3QGoyl-iI/s897/darryl%20strawberry2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="897" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWPls0L7Nmw2heTMrHR8pVHZuIMNXJkwNhkjq1YBVgJwbje5woS3ZYF7OISv1GpwJmRLqDEX7MiI0J5pRB3IHXnK7O13yOlkPn_llaSzzcuzrHjeGj0ROECEKY6ofBh1d1kf4XxMFkMZnbx7C96uakG-mkkbInQ1AE_uBuaLnUjK2qEq-hjGK3QGoyl-iI/w640-h382/darryl%20strawberry2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></span></b></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879473706233234375.post-82793016975855857902024-03-09T23:30:00.001-05:002024-03-09T23:30:00.123-05:00 Jeremy Hefner: Mets Pitching Coach (2020 - 2024) & Former Mets Pitcher (2012 - 2014)<b><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNh_cFmY-w0XmLWTSLyrJ_81w1sXR9gRGaVuMfzh0lUDWvtUUjHhiYXtiYTapQyIjW1WeNR-EhnrVUYcXYeOn28feX3mz_JRYVYihbh-FAPv1XFqbdLqehNcisJtRssGiQsj_G1HkUI3IN6fXpuy2Cu6Nc6SnaoPqUDoX3_QvZVCZpRVo9Gj7kRZkX2w/s661/jeremy%20hefner.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="394" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNh_cFmY-w0XmLWTSLyrJ_81w1sXR9gRGaVuMfzh0lUDWvtUUjHhiYXtiYTapQyIjW1WeNR-EhnrVUYcXYeOn28feX3mz_JRYVYihbh-FAPv1XFqbdLqehNcisJtRssGiQsj_G1HkUI3IN6fXpuy2Cu6Nc6SnaoPqUDoX3_QvZVCZpRVo9Gj7kRZkX2w/w239-h400/jeremy%20hefner.JPG" width="239" /></a></div></div>Jeremy Scott Hefner</span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> was born on March 11, 1986, in Perkins, Oklahoma. The six-foot four right hander attended Oral Roberts University & Seminole State Colleges.</span></b><div><div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Hefner was drafted twice by the New York Mets in 2004 & again 2005. Each time it was way down near the 50th rounds but he did not sign neither time. </b></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><b>In 2007 he was the fifth-round pick of the San Diego Padres & he did sign.
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<strong style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">He put up double figures in wins his first three minor league seasons, with impressive strike out totals to match. </span></strong><strong style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></strong><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br />In 2011 he made it to AAA with Tucson, where he went 9-7 and a high 4.98 ERA. In the winter he was placed on waivers & was picked up by the Pittsburgh Pirates. A month later he was placed on waivers once again, this time getting picked up by the New York Mets. </span></strong><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black; font-weight: bold;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Mets Career-2012</span>:</i></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b> Hefner began 2012 with the AAA Buffalo Bisons but was called up at the end of April replacing an injured Ronny Cedeno on the Met roster. </b></span><br />
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDS-0m9dRUPiX2G2fHFSKwJIdU1r-n3IeiSAWozPN50oxffripk-Dg6O63KzpD4MBHbT8YBpsLo40fvjrhyphenhyphenivBZc3to9kIgNRwJppNyOLQq87mgCSiEJHsJdI8VOrSDVYJFA4S9eQwdA/s1600/Jeremy+Hefner+6.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-c-j7jvHwTWLFucIJuK9qaKpgVBvRK6EaiJuekPY1t5ym0UbypFMEhh0C8DvH8zbKYIqDbBKCLsSuyHKvjQRU1EPaU43BntbQsr0fRcjl9pWCKDHS2bo-pArK8XmV09EyqunMGOU-iQ-SzPVJl_pycOScjt2MO-qmXOGu_qlz7VL7wAuFsBWq8xx5QA/s400/Jeremy%20Hefner%206.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="400" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-c-j7jvHwTWLFucIJuK9qaKpgVBvRK6EaiJuekPY1t5ym0UbypFMEhh0C8DvH8zbKYIqDbBKCLsSuyHKvjQRU1EPaU43BntbQsr0fRcjl9pWCKDHS2bo-pArK8XmV09EyqunMGOU-iQ-SzPVJl_pycOScjt2MO-qmXOGu_qlz7VL7wAuFsBWq8xx5QA/w400-h275/Jeremy%20Hefner%206.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>On April 23rd, he made his MLB debut pitching in relief of Miguel Batista in a 6-1 loss </span></strong></span><strong style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">to the Giants </span></strong><strong style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">at</span></strong></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b> Citi Field. </b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>Jeremy was sent back to AAA Buffalo but returned on May 19th he pitched in relief at Toronto, where he earned a loss to the Blue Jays. </b></span><br />
<strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;">On May 24th, he made his first start, coming against the Padres at Citi Field. He gave up six runs on nine hits leaving the game in the 4th inning, taking a loss in the 11-5 Mets loss.</span></span></strong></span><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></strong></span></div><div><strong style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NfyBTj9mEMLaNo4mpUN2bcifV3UqytAJ4PHoltopaoMVHEcksW4A5BVxdMQDcIg_U3VTJQNnmnjWt3cAtfGVg1yUpyDBz7YNyFa-2x1-MgbyQLezHDR0TDSYg8xtVHhej0v2JSA94li1Y5euw48NTPOuukwmzVUU-kozVTwgh4jWldzgnd9lGlYGpMdH/s490/jeremy%20hefner.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="490" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NfyBTj9mEMLaNo4mpUN2bcifV3UqytAJ4PHoltopaoMVHEcksW4A5BVxdMQDcIg_U3VTJQNnmnjWt3cAtfGVg1yUpyDBz7YNyFa-2x1-MgbyQLezHDR0TDSYg8xtVHhej0v2JSA94li1Y5euw48NTPOuukwmzVUU-kozVTwgh4jWldzgnd9lGlYGpMdH/s320/jeremy%20hefner.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>First Career Win & HR: </span></i></span></strong><strong style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">On May 29th, </span></strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Jeremy took the mound at Citi Field, facing the Philadelphia Phillies in what was a big game for him. He collected his first career win, pitching six innings, allowing three runs, on six hits striking out four. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>In the bottom of the 4th, with the Mets up 3-2, Hefner hit a HR off Joe Blanton. It was his first career hit, one of just two he would have in 52 at bats.</b></span></span><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"></span></strong><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Trivia:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> Hefner became the 13th Mets player in team history to hit a HR for his first MLB hit. </span></b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><b><br /></b></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5E9F3yk7i5_3G8mocuqEWB9PR4wHnOTEB-cZZTSCgKQtoLkgGZXRghMKFh02uWqplHCyRTOPzuxaPdLDfOK-Yg8p_cZjIXEH2GISNR8ng79JYxFJo22LuBt7rNxl5EsEIHSStacT7uPwpI51J28e-tNF6OrYVV6MfyENgOX8n1BF3SrKHQIUZ6dLzEX9I/s724/jeremy%20hefner%20HR.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="724" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5E9F3yk7i5_3G8mocuqEWB9PR4wHnOTEB-cZZTSCgKQtoLkgGZXRghMKFh02uWqplHCyRTOPzuxaPdLDfOK-Yg8p_cZjIXEH2GISNR8ng79JYxFJo22LuBt7rNxl5EsEIHSStacT7uPwpI51J28e-tNF6OrYVV6MfyENgOX8n1BF3SrKHQIUZ6dLzEX9I/w640-h344/jeremy%20hefner%20HR.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>It would take ten years for the next Met to accomplish the feat, when Nick Plummer would do it in 2022. Hefner was the Mets pitching coach at the time.</b></span><br />
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBsBUtvcMOA4dyjAmIGFrf20hS6WvzcgrK_v0hJBVG-qHuDkLGSyR4tuBeucT7aVfQkOT0nDbuTLIEXg4BfrdEnz3TgddhMIHo6QPZpOCY3GFil-c1tVQKt7jH88HGbsYRl1KuaTRng7z/s1600/New%252BYork%252BMets.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNUL28A0uhMW2TJ_qn7D4E7ynCgiDizfHkjv2ugxmTj94pfUv1hOzcDhSXXyo4lQKGO4f5p0k1RiPWm6eCgZFSC5VgCkZGUscgOimoj8iv4U_gSFn0jBhhj2Zp1ME-FuHJiONdpiyTLlYm6xAbrQJt5EhiBAWV5vqYbHK_leoewoHPaw3swmjXWaBcwxY/s506/jeremy%20hefner.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="506" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNUL28A0uhMW2TJ_qn7D4E7ynCgiDizfHkjv2ugxmTj94pfUv1hOzcDhSXXyo4lQKGO4f5p0k1RiPWm6eCgZFSC5VgCkZGUscgOimoj8iv4U_gSFn0jBhhj2Zp1ME-FuHJiONdpiyTLlYm6xAbrQJt5EhiBAWV5vqYbHK_leoewoHPaw3swmjXWaBcwxY/s320/jeremy%20hefner.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Hefner was back & forth between the Mets & AAA Buffalo that season. With the Bisons he was 5-2 with a 2.77 ERA on the season. With the Mets he was used both as a starter & reliever as needed.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">On June 6th he made another start & took a loss at Washington D.C. He then pitched seven relief outings finishing off two games. On July 25th he made another start, giving up three runs to the Nationals getting tagged with his fourth loss. </span></b><br /><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>On August 4th, he pitched six innings in San Diego allowing just a run to earn his second win of the year. </b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="594" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBsBUtvcMOA4dyjAmIGFrf20hS6WvzcgrK_v0hJBVG-qHuDkLGSyR4tuBeucT7aVfQkOT0nDbuTLIEXg4BfrdEnz3TgddhMIHo6QPZpOCY3GFil-c1tVQKt7jH88HGbsYRl1KuaTRng7z/s400/New%252BYork%252BMets.jpg" width="400" /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>By the end of August, he was seeing more time as a starter. In the final two months he made eight starts going 3-3. In the three losses he allowed five runs or more each time. On September 20th, he gave up a season high seven runs, in a terrible 16-1 Mets loss. </b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Combined Shut Out:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> On September 26th, Jeremy pitched his best game, shutting out the Pirates for seven innings, striking out a season high seven, combining in a three-hit shutout with Jeurys Familia. </b></span></span></span><strong style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">That was the same night David Wright broke the Mets all time club hits record. </span></strong></div><div><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></b></div><div><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="828" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjyCpBgdol4QFs8irK3GwEtP8sZBPSp86gQouvvTBYoxZE5iU9l65i1CFCGfR0BTp8_aW21i0EW6nWquk6OhIs5KZBFuIVo7clsXIi5TA_xZb6GdYsBrVhAVXGbFu_itxNEVqCay2LC9rt/s400/jeremy+hefner.jpg" width="322" /></span><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">Hefner reached the seven strike out mark, four times on the year, including in his last start on October 3rd, in a 4-2 win in Miami.</b></div><div><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">On the year Hefner was 4-7 with a 5.09 ERA, he collected 62 strike outs with 18 walks in 93.2 innings pitched in 26 appearances (13 starts).
</span></strong><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><i>2013: </i></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">Hefner made Terry Collins pitching staff but had a rough start. On April 5th he pitched well, allowing one run in five innings to the Miami Marlins but got the loss. Next the Phillies bashed him for five runs in three innings at Philadelphia, as he fell to 0-2. </span></strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">In his first four appearances he served up seven HRs & eleven runs in 14 innings, as his ERA went over seven.
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<strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">In May he pitched better but took losses to the White Sox & Cubs falling to 0-5.</span></strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>On May 29th, he earned his first win of the year, coming in that year's subway series. It came during the Mets series sweep against the A.L. New York team. </b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGzR6VHx1JSLg3uICpeDGNtHhPa9xFcQRjAMkFu6xoAxURuyMb7iB_FdokEP8upu7GX2iPHoxgiFi4EeQ7z9VJ1-v6KaOTFiladCHyV0aa-3ONLyMsWKr4sDJz8LHdlgTU8MvWkAIauIx/s400/20130529_jla_ag9_363.0.jpg" width="400" /></span>The Mets gave Hefner a five-run lead in the 1st inning, with RBI hits from Daniel Murphy, John Buck & Ike Davis.</b></span><br />
<strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>After a loss to the Cardinals, he pitched well enough to earn three straight </b></span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><b>victories & a no decision where he allowed just one earned run. </b></span></div><div><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">On June 21st he struck out six Phillies taking a 4-3 victory over Cole Hamels who fell to 2-11. </b><strong style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">On July 2nd, Hefner allowed just one run over seven innings, striking out six to beat Arizona 9-1 at Citi Field. </span></strong><strong style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">On July 7th, he won a close 2-1 game in Milwaukee, allowing just one run in seven innings. </span></strong></div><div><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkskDb3_cQYbWKMTtZHJ-OSof_OIMwe5KdCCmAS3Yea-iLezM2k23Su45L2S9oeWu-ydx_TQPhyphenhyphen2db0q3MU8cHU1jMWdtWlfBMiC_UHo8cfxQ4WnFA3fr9oejvXq2rrujLg4wO2I3fFcOx/s320/metsrunweb20s-web.jpg" width="270" /></span>In those four starts opposing batters hit just .217 against him. </b><strong style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">By now, Hefner was on a stretch where he was having one of the best months of any pitcher in the league. </span></strong></div><div><strong style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></strong></div><div><strong style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">After a no decision in Pittsburgh, where he gave up just two runs in seven innings, he came back to have two very rough starts at the end of July.</span></strong></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">On July 19th, the Phillies bashed him for eight runs & ten hits in just two innings. The Mets were down 11-0 but fought losing 13-8. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">On July 24th, Hefner got to the 5th inning. but the Atlanta Braves hit him for six runs on six hits , including three HRs. Hefner had allowed HRs in five straight games up to that point.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">On July 29th, he allowed five runs to the Marlins in Miami but no decision as the Mets came up with a 6-5 win. </span></strong></span><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">In August, Hefner had a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament & underwent surgery at the end of the month.</b></div><div><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBe7_IvpHbaenffdNMRZKlqPf5TMOA9TYlPNOO4mQuI4iyHOg2ubuKgEtGqyQh5Hp4rvrhC9CwUxXJMcNBDk5Qushhk4lJkd-E8jOZbZnNbOHFA27X6NylUVqlgaIOPMqslNjGvgh3sq-ybZgsMcI4jfMBwq0z09t1B_1tZppO0mrn4ZCFSxCjoc871id6/s460/jeremy%20hefner.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="460" height="574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBe7_IvpHbaenffdNMRZKlqPf5TMOA9TYlPNOO4mQuI4iyHOg2ubuKgEtGqyQh5Hp4rvrhC9CwUxXJMcNBDk5Qushhk4lJkd-E8jOZbZnNbOHFA27X6NylUVqlgaIOPMqslNjGvgh3sq-ybZgsMcI4jfMBwq0z09t1B_1tZppO0mrn4ZCFSxCjoc871id6/w640-h574/jeremy%20hefner.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYXcuKXDR02k74q3P5JD9xDy1pLsp1f0i8-QUAWbhLEZmXksh08HmcDg74UsQ9XapuBJg7ymfOklfjUDCvRkbw2wgQKptQsy-JV-gk0zX_wEVUE76OsDtdb20l9BCHyHZAFKBBspUe5ZfNtyGvSqOsZAozusCge6ICKRUet7nAvD3CGUoIj8IV7LlBRHl/s418/jeremy%20hefner2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="418" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYXcuKXDR02k74q3P5JD9xDy1pLsp1f0i8-QUAWbhLEZmXksh08HmcDg74UsQ9XapuBJg7ymfOklfjUDCvRkbw2wgQKptQsy-JV-gk0zX_wEVUE76OsDtdb20l9BCHyHZAFKBBspUe5ZfNtyGvSqOsZAozusCge6ICKRUet7nAvD3CGUoIj8IV7LlBRHl/s320/jeremy%20hefner2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>He finished the year at 4-8 with a 4.34 ERA. He struck out 99 batters & walked 37, allowing 20<br /> HRs in 130 innings in 24 appearances (23 starts).</span></strong><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>In December, the Mets let him go to free agency, but they resigned him in January 2014. </b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">2014:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> At Spring Training, he began to toss lightly. Later that year he pitched six games between A ball St. Lucie & the Gulf Coast Mets. </b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>But things didn't work out & that </b></span></span><strong style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;">October he announced he needed a second Tommy John surgery. </span></strong></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><span style="color: blue;">In November he was granted free agency & his Mets pitching career ended.</span></strong><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span><span><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBiWPaEAWneBbYakE2RRHqopU0y0ShCoPtSztQ7QZbyPxeWbeQTOyL1BdWbMSGZcqTkGFUEzhaQkP0MSuWJFUKIdtEDqeyxVHBSGpAPvZiLYNDrZ2nT5HHu4NvXcd4KzZ2Pcaf-f5s5xn1iJPbSuVQkdkTy28Cgfs57C3pD7KuXWVj_kkwhYUpp4ZA1Q/s528/hefner%20jeremy.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="528" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBiWPaEAWneBbYakE2RRHqopU0y0ShCoPtSztQ7QZbyPxeWbeQTOyL1BdWbMSGZcqTkGFUEzhaQkP0MSuWJFUKIdtEDqeyxVHBSGpAPvZiLYNDrZ2nT5HHu4NvXcd4KzZ2Pcaf-f5s5xn1iJPbSuVQkdkTy28Cgfs57C3pD7KuXWVj_kkwhYUpp4ZA1Q/w400-h340/hefner%20jeremy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Post Mets Career:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> Hefner was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals & spent the year at AAA Memphis but retired from pitching in 2017.</b></span></span><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif" style="color: black;"><div style="font-size: large; font-style: italic;"></div><div><b><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: medium; font-style: italic;"><i>Coaching Career:</i></span><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><span> In 2017-208 </span>Hefner began as an advanced scout in the Minnesota Twins</span></b></div></span><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif" style="color: blue;"> organization. In 2019 he was named the Twins assistant pitching coach. </span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif" style="color: blue;">His Twins staff was third in wins (101) & first in saves (50) in the AL. But they also served up 198 HRs (second in the AL) & 452 walks (third). </span></b>
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<b><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><i>Mets Pitching Coach:</i></span><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif" style="color: blue;"> In December of 2019 he was named the 2020 Mets pitching coach under new manager, Carlos Beltran. Beltran never got the job due to the Houston Astros scandal. But Hefner worked under manager Luis Rojas.</span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvq44xaZq-CaDfOyaMzRzhuNjNbjIWwrGfi2i0fktfikkjHfXUdW_vZVEG8c6T_e83S5N8EFpuPF8XwDbPWw4NFyq5FQ-9zDgWgkrUPJkGcj8DmpVOoomKtWZO2eJTPgtwyJ4QoeQ6NhjydTiaUQ28HALC8V52vRLIdWZnKhIZ85GbrzEvLGoxromwfw/s655/hefner%20degrom.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="655" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvq44xaZq-CaDfOyaMzRzhuNjNbjIWwrGfi2i0fktfikkjHfXUdW_vZVEG8c6T_e83S5N8EFpuPF8XwDbPWw4NFyq5FQ-9zDgWgkrUPJkGcj8DmpVOoomKtWZO2eJTPgtwyJ4QoeQ6NhjydTiaUQ28HALC8V52vRLIdWZnKhIZ85GbrzEvLGoxromwfw/w400-h334/hefner%20degrom.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>He replaced 82-year-old baseball legend, Phil Regan. Regan would later file an age discrimination case against the Mets.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>Hefner was just 33 years old & not much older than some of the guys on his staff.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>In 2021 his staff was fifth in the NL in ERA (3.90) sixth in saves (41) & ninth in wins (77). </b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>In 2022 the Mets got rid of Rojas & hired a quality manager in veteran Buck Schowalter. </b></span></span><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">Hefner was the only coach to remain on the staff from previous season. That year the </b><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">team added Max Scherzer to a staff that already included Jacob deGrom. </b></div><div><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYBJexdEbXIxYEpmtqCnRnrqgU3Sqsfv9lP-drJ6D7XnoghdlOI7MIfD4m7L-niFmMqIb6tw5ZBrMpyjTFU6wgxaihped-LpuaqitZlqn3TGuQJKv6YUrIwarZvl6_jbJk-D4dpjK_zrhh1W6yVjFusscU1eVllSPl3dNRdzC-SsbdA7lGZWAIwBbYkQ/s612/jeremy%20hefner.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="612" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYBJexdEbXIxYEpmtqCnRnrqgU3Sqsfv9lP-drJ6D7XnoghdlOI7MIfD4m7L-niFmMqIb6tw5ZBrMpyjTFU6wgxaihped-LpuaqitZlqn3TGuQJKv6YUrIwarZvl6_jbJk-D4dpjK_zrhh1W6yVjFusscU1eVllSPl3dNRdzC-SsbdA7lGZWAIwBbYkQ/w320-h187/jeremy%20hefner.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">Jeremy's staff were first in the NL in strike outs (1565) finished second best in wins (101) &</b><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"> third best in ERA (3.57). The Mets had a </b><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><b>first-place</b></span><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"> lead most of the season then lost it in late September. They made the playoffs but lost in the first round.</b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>In 2023 Jacob deGrom left via free agency, the Mets signed Justin Verlander, but he & Max Scherzer were both traded at the deadline. By that time the Mets season was already a done deal. Hefner's staff only won 75 games with a 4.30 ERA.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-vFklj3BWmfaAZPZXfA1kqitIUAcUtuDqs0gnllDBQcx1obGmzUg47HMBAbdPS8ta-q-yCPcETl4FGOwfpl7Pd_oAl0xM0ztwbfh3FqYO2nKucWqy5BqFuKxmBfvTlaenRcnyR4KwfWWvyaS-Brtv8GUm8B60W__NV_W9Faaj3Xujun9--UwjyG4yMw/s421/hefner%20foleys.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="421" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-vFklj3BWmfaAZPZXfA1kqitIUAcUtuDqs0gnllDBQcx1obGmzUg47HMBAbdPS8ta-q-yCPcETl4FGOwfpl7Pd_oAl0xM0ztwbfh3FqYO2nKucWqy5BqFuKxmBfvTlaenRcnyR4KwfWWvyaS-Brtv8GUm8B60W__NV_W9Faaj3Xujun9--UwjyG4yMw/w400-h240/hefner%20foleys.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Quotes- Jeremy Hefner:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> "I'm extremely excited to continue working with this group & build on the systems & practices we've implemented. I saw a lot of development from the rotation & the bullpen & am very optimistic for even more success from the pitching staff moving forward".</span></b><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong><span style="color: black;"><em><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Trivia:</span></em></span> Hefner is originally from Moore, Oklahoma where a 2013 Tornado killed 24 people. He teamed up with Foleys Pub in Manhattan, where a 405 Burger, was named after the towns area code. </strong></span><strong style="color: blue;">Proceeds went to the relief effort.</strong><br />
<b><span style="color: #000025;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryR7wXB1D7Z_KYX9RLr6sS2qNM11VIU4oUOtbveZ8TNDaKejSB5xBCI-fNrqUKeRKjJn5_7whWWm8f4iIE21Qd-G_HARe-H48cuTjJEvlBZEbafjtn0_vjs9w8jOlRa0e3l5dhKPmueISpfK4i3on35mNNQCr56IAJIc-hWpLEu5XbmXy6Kxwf1x26Q/s441/HEFNER'S.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="441" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryR7wXB1D7Z_KYX9RLr6sS2qNM11VIU4oUOtbveZ8TNDaKejSB5xBCI-fNrqUKeRKjJn5_7whWWm8f4iIE21Qd-G_HARe-H48cuTjJEvlBZEbafjtn0_vjs9w8jOlRa0e3l5dhKPmueISpfK4i3on35mNNQCr56IAJIc-hWpLEu5XbmXy6Kxwf1x26Q/w400-h345/HEFNER'S.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Quotes- Jeremy Hefner:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> "</span></strong><span style="color: black;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>The first ten years of my life, I grew up in Moore, where the tornadoes hit. It's very close to my heart & I'm trying to do everything possible to help them out.”</strong></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></span></span></span>
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><em><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;">Family:</span></em> Jeremy is married to Sarah Grace Hefner. She is a personal trainer. Together they have four children, three daughters & one son. </span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></strong></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Faith:</i></span><span style="color: blue;"> Jeremy grew up in a household of strong Faith going to Church every Sunday. He & his family are strong practicing Christians.</span></b></span></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879473706233234375.post-74962766245400705552024-03-09T23:10:00.000-05:002024-03-09T23:10:00.122-05:00John Stephenson: Former Mets Catcher Who Caught Nolan Ryan's First Game (1964-1966)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjplTBymb8I9RFl_gsC319Q_WQFEqJzjLCTliXE_4p2C22cO1OxrHKYLxwQ_c04rjNOdrff3q6j-FyTuSCGFxDzOJHOa3yk_XB-AfBNb3MEs6bTGbRt0Uz3BTpNLJqrfuqOiJdMRwFxmfY/s1600/stephenson+(5).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjplTBymb8I9RFl_gsC319Q_WQFEqJzjLCTliXE_4p2C22cO1OxrHKYLxwQ_c04rjNOdrff3q6j-FyTuSCGFxDzOJHOa3yk_XB-AfBNb3MEs6bTGbRt0Uz3BTpNLJqrfuqOiJdMRwFxmfY/s400/stephenson+(5).jpg" width="281" /></a></div>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">John Herman Stephenson</span><b> was born on April 13, 1941, in South Portsmouth, Kentucky. The educated Stephenson earned a degree at William Carey College, in Mississippi. </b></span><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>In 1963 the five foot eleven left-handed hitting catcher went from A ball right up to the Mets big league team in 1964. </b></span><br />
<br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mets Career- 1964</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b>: Stephenson made the club out of Spring Training and appeared as a pinch hitter in the 5-3 Opening Day loss. </b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b>On April 17th, in the first game ever played at Shea Stadium John struck out as a pinch hitter in the 9t inning of the 4-3 loss to the Pirates. </b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b> Stephenson would appear mostly as a pinch hitter & in 14 games at third base, but he didn’t hit much. On Father’s Day 1964 he was the final out of Jim Bunnings's perfect game pitched against the Mets at Shea Stadium.</b></span></span><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD8aZWa8BrqIGdJKt4hAoF_QN6mAzWb2Wkzv2pyIKzBbl99tPw2nx3pCGm-9iprmmZFyUiaq3cFvuYsTcksrezCoFdZW6897MYs5XkmaJuqO46HtILpr8HxmksDO1O8AF2PEQSJHPWknc/s1600/stephenson.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD8aZWa8BrqIGdJKt4hAoF_QN6mAzWb2Wkzv2pyIKzBbl99tPw2nx3pCGm-9iprmmZFyUiaq3cFvuYsTcksrezCoFdZW6897MYs5XkmaJuqO46HtILpr8HxmksDO1O8AF2PEQSJHPWknc/s400/stephenson.jpg" width="325" /></a></div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">First Career HR:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> On June 29th, Stephenson's was playing at third base & batting in the leadoff spot in a game in San Franciso. He led off the game with a lead off HR off the Giants Bobby Bolin in a 4-3 Mets victory.</b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>By July he was batting .158 & was sent back to AAA Buffalo where he hit .298 the rest of the season, playing at catcher, outfield & at third base. </strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">1965:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> Stephenson batted .235 at AAA Buffalo & was brought up to the Mets in late June. He was used as one of six catchers' managers Casey Stengle & later Wes Westrum used for the ’65 Mets. </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>The cast of catchers that were used at one time or another were Cris Cannizzaro, Jesse Gonder, Jimmy Schaffer, Greg Gossen & player/coach Yogi Berra in a brief come back out of retirement. </b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWY94QoKBWl9H8MIACTnOUE2eUe75BPZPoDgqSR49zalF36R6qb7eCaZhiOH6T25UvC7UZLPxjf85S50nyVnHKbfUNDdjtJIkW0X9Ivvb-6MJMfuML-9wmL95SLiAMsux15gJu9Oh2O_xpSMPoU_3VA7xKwSHI_0AalF3VhjtQkCoN67h2KOJyhl8j1fl/s430/john%20stephenson2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="390" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWY94QoKBWl9H8MIACTnOUE2eUe75BPZPoDgqSR49zalF36R6qb7eCaZhiOH6T25UvC7UZLPxjf85S50nyVnHKbfUNDdjtJIkW0X9Ivvb-6MJMfuML-9wmL95SLiAMsux15gJu9Oh2O_xpSMPoU_3VA7xKwSHI_0AalF3VhjtQkCoN67h2KOJyhl8j1fl/s320/john%20stephenson2.JPG" width="290" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><i>Walk Off Hit:</i></span><span style="color: blue;"><b> On July 23rd, in the bottom of the 10th inning, Stephenson hit a walk off RBI single off the Phillies Jack Baldschun to beat Philadelphia 3-2. </b></span></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Walk Off Hit #2: </span></i><span style="color: blue;">On August 24th, in the bottom of the 9th inning of a 3-3 tie with the Dodgers, Stephenson came in pitch hit with the bases loaded. He cleared the bases with a three run double off former Met Bob Miller for the exciting walk off win.</span></span></span></b><br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Multi HR Game:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> On September 16th, John hit two HRs off the Reds John Tsitouris in an 7-3 Mets win in Cincinnati for his only multi-HR game.</b></span><br /></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b>For the last place 1965 Mets, John played in 62 games, batting .215 with 26 hits 5 doubles 4 HRs & 15 RBIs. He struck out 19 times walked 8 times with a .264 on base % & .619 OPS. He caught 47 games behind the plate, throwing out 29% of would-be base stealers. </b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><i style="color: blue; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;">1966: </span></i><b style="color: blue;">John spent the </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>entire</b></span><b style="color: blue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6k3nFsk7mEw4WTOWpld9kagUlXi31zLyVR0foljNxkqP2YXggXGu5-ns5kfcabkFj97pvNEktkZ9QlrdLegNjMRCLcnd4qeuPA3jdEMxWm1Zv1rsvqMnvAGXMySFQEV3jJfEFm8KfU8/s1600/stephenson+(1).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6k3nFsk7mEw4WTOWpld9kagUlXi31zLyVR0foljNxkqP2YXggXGu5-ns5kfcabkFj97pvNEktkZ9QlrdLegNjMRCLcnd4qeuPA3jdEMxWm1Zv1rsvqMnvAGXMySFQEV3jJfEFm8KfU8/s1600/stephenson+(1).jpg" /></a> season with the Mets playing in 66 games, 52 at catcher & one in the outfield.</b></div><div><i style="color: blue; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>On August 4th, with the Mets down 6-1 to the Giants at Shea Stadium, Stephenson hit an 8th inning two run HR off the Juan Marichal. He began a comeback rally in the game that the Mets eventually won on a three-run </b></span><b style="color: blue;">walk off </b><b style="color: blue;">HR by on Swoboda. It was a big game for the Mets as it was almost impossible for them </b><b style="color: blue;">to beat Marichal </b><b style="color: blue;">in their early </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>years.</b></span></div><div><i style="color: blue; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;">Nolan Ryan's Debut:</span></i><b> On September 11th, 1966, Stephenson entered a game against the Braves in the 5th inning, as a pinch hitter for Dick Selma. He remained in the game replacing Jerry Grote at catcher. In the top of the 6th inning, a young rookie pitcher named Nolan Ryan took the mound in his MLB debut with Stephenson behind the plate.</b></span><br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>Stephenson made history catching the first strike out of Ryan’s career, as pitcher Pat Jarvis was the first of a record 5714 K's. Two batters later, Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews struck out looking at a blazing fastball as the second K of Ryan's career. </b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVRdth9Ya6jvmuNLZQV2qJmojpAHVpsk-qNyCr3_hZSn75GnsxtJmiBQQCH81oRdChUvznOytJoqb44aGzxtN-wVq18DYuDR1l_Z6FA3-fn6gxRU7JggT6louSDMZivI49yhxdlb5-K4/s1600/nolan+ryan+(2).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVRdth9Ya6jvmuNLZQV2qJmojpAHVpsk-qNyCr3_hZSn75GnsxtJmiBQQCH81oRdChUvznOytJoqb44aGzxtN-wVq18DYuDR1l_Z6FA3-fn6gxRU7JggT6louSDMZivI49yhxdlb5-K4/w288-h320/nolan+ryan+(2).jpg" width="288" /></a>Legend has it that Mathews turned to Stephenson saying, “what the hell was that!” </b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b></b></span><span style="color: blue;"><b>At a practice, Stephenson recalls another early Nolan Ryan story.<br /></b></span>
<br /></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Quotes- John Stephenson:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> "It was me, Yogi Berra, Warren Spahn, scout Red Murff & Ryan. They told him to throw a fastball, but he didn't tell me. He hit me on the left side of my collarbone, and I had to miss a week of play."</span></b></span><br /></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>In 1966 Stephenson hit just .196 with three extra base hits a HR & 11 RBIs.</strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong> </strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>In June he was traded to the Chicago Cubs to complete an earlier trade. </strong></span><div><br /></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;">P</span></i></strong></span><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;">ost Mets Career:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> Over the next seven years he would spend time between the minors & majors playing with the Chicago Cubs (1967-1968) San Francisco Giants (1969-1970) & California Angels (1971-1973). </span></strong></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NpzlLLGI0O3VPTm4-jaHDaDJqdvbwyyH8w3MsocgcGhW1-SUAPcO2_MOtJd3X2lPIF8vnMQWRo_53_MLYSz3BXJesmqmZ5cTq2_n5WZ9tp2UHpRlLxyptcTOBn1mRiYQxAn_vq4b7CZJw3UoVFufHidlLHjFmpMAhduC8OgNHHJTpzfH4rMBerOFCMaI/s490/john%20stephenson1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="270" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NpzlLLGI0O3VPTm4-jaHDaDJqdvbwyyH8w3MsocgcGhW1-SUAPcO2_MOtJd3X2lPIF8vnMQWRo_53_MLYSz3BXJesmqmZ5cTq2_n5WZ9tp2UHpRlLxyptcTOBn1mRiYQxAn_vq4b7CZJw3UoVFufHidlLHjFmpMAhduC8OgNHHJTpzfH4rMBerOFCMaI/s320/john%20stephenson1.JPG" width="176" /></a></div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Angels Career:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> In 1971 he played in a career high 90 games, batting .219 with three HRs & 25 RBIs for the Angels. </span></strong></span><br />
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><br /></span></b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Reunion With Nolan Ryan:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> In 1972 he was once again reunited with Nolan Ryan after the Mets traded him to the Angels. & was a battery mate for Ryan at various times throughout the season.</span></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><span style="color: blue;"></span></strong></span><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b> On May 30th in their first game back together, Ryan threw a seven-hit shutout over the White Sox striking out ten. </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>On July 9th, he was behind the plate in Anaheim as Ryan threw a one hitter, striking out 16 Red Sox in a 3-0 win over Boston. On July 27th, Ryan struck out 14 Texas Rangers pitching a two-hit shutout in Anaheim, with Stephenson once again behind the plate. </b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>In 1973, Stephenson's final season, he & Ryan were team mates once again. </b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><strong><i><br /></i></strong></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiieHoAa2RXpmRpIhnolhC6a-ZgAZ09z_2rvOocr_v-FcWy42CW6t7TdfImX8lx3Gb5dowbW-BlEKA5_O4ukJa-QFX5f5_kDoJ9SL3sc4Zfc8JwTRhSoBM8CJlLSEnZgXr-y76kMnGcjIM3/s1600/62143-28Fr.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiieHoAa2RXpmRpIhnolhC6a-ZgAZ09z_2rvOocr_v-FcWy42CW6t7TdfImX8lx3Gb5dowbW-BlEKA5_O4ukJa-QFX5f5_kDoJ9SL3sc4Zfc8JwTRhSoBM8CJlLSEnZgXr-y76kMnGcjIM3/w233-h320/62143-28Fr.jpg" width="233" /></a><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Career Stats:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> In his ten-season career he batted .216 with 214 hits 37 doubles 3 triples 12 HRs & 93 RBIs He struck out 118 times with 63 walks, a 271 on base % & .567 OPS.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b>He caught 330 games with a .986 fielding %, 116 assists 14 double plays, making 21 errors & throwing out 29% of base stealers.</b></span></div><div><br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;"><em>Retirement:</em></span> </span><b>After his playing days he became a long-time coach, At first, he coached in college baseball, at his alma mater, William Carey College (1974-1985). He then moved on to Southeastern Louisiana University (1985-1990). </b></span><br />
<br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>John then came back to the New York Mets organization, managing the A ball Gulf Coast Mets (1995/ 1998-1999) & then the Kingsport Mets where he finished in first place (1996). He then moved on to the Capitol City Bombers (1997 & 2000).</strong></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879473706233234375.post-9239007980074313842024-03-08T23:30:00.001-05:002024-03-08T23:30:00.173-05:00Remembering Mets History (1979) SNL's Chico Escuela Visits Mets Spring Training & Attempts a Career Comeback<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIWE4M7f2j_IelqGBxjr_mt2sVxyAFI2AFrvRpQP_GD12T7IJ0tthJQK6SG11jRuRK98TnHcWVq2H4be5rxyRgJe4MIrhAxS-Nan3_vdIPG_1O0Umk_GqPMvbup8mg_OPANRLtMl780ub/s1600/chico+escuela.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIWE4M7f2j_IelqGBxjr_mt2sVxyAFI2AFrvRpQP_GD12T7IJ0tthJQK6SG11jRuRK98TnHcWVq2H4be5rxyRgJe4MIrhAxS-Nan3_vdIPG_1O0Umk_GqPMvbup8mg_OPANRLtMl780ub/s1600/chico+escuela.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i>Bill Murray interviews (Garrett Morris) Chico Escuela</i></span></strong></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b>In March 1979, original Saturday Night Live cast member; Garrett Morris joined the Mets at Miller Huggins Field for Spring Training. At the time the Mets were still holding Spring Training in St. Petersburg Florida. </b></span><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong></strong></span><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong>Garrett Morris was posing as </strong><strong>the fictional Mets player, Chico Escuela who wore uniform #5 (cinque). </strong></span><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Escuela was doing his famous spoof of the Latin players of the time, posing as a popular infielder from the Dominican Republic that didn't speak much English. His legendary catch phrase was "baseball been berry- berry good to me".</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQh34XiYfvxF_mLF_W1UnUSuNdxMnbpEUunj6am_9706euI2uryuDilN6TUxa2w3tyZtxCCMGRz984PSr2oKdJRW5KEwkghcVvaT0iANUTP6s7yMGFPpRZkSRJiaqYCCaOrrRp-qcKYPToelWJPREXY6GvEGYO-p6H7kR2yvBO9a5fTpfG-beoHEP42icX/s372/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="287" data-original-width="372" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQh34XiYfvxF_mLF_W1UnUSuNdxMnbpEUunj6am_9706euI2uryuDilN6TUxa2w3tyZtxCCMGRz984PSr2oKdJRW5KEwkghcVvaT0iANUTP6s7yMGFPpRZkSRJiaqYCCaOrrRp-qcKYPToelWJPREXY6GvEGYO-p6H7kR2yvBO9a5fTpfG-beoHEP42icX/w640-h494/2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjL4KMhHFFZcdqFWnHvEDGqnh2yaHIhTQUKugn15i-dDELSfLnYMEv2DD5tZytS4Xm3Mek2o84u4DZufE89WMfC7fjBJiYm4rw_MSrx53L0gvIGzIXzgjLrAUYmG9cIrWtKYDwiISyTQs/s1600/Chico-Escuela.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjL4KMhHFFZcdqFWnHvEDGqnh2yaHIhTQUKugn15i-dDELSfLnYMEv2DD5tZytS4Xm3Mek2o84u4DZufE89WMfC7fjBJiYm4rw_MSrx53L0gvIGzIXzgjLrAUYmG9cIrWtKYDwiISyTQs/w400-h278/Chico-Escuela.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><strong><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i>"baseball been berry-berry good... to me"</i></span></strong></td></tr></tbody></table><b>The Chico Escuela character appeared nine times during on SNL's fourth & fifth seasons. He debuted on December 9th, 1978, in a Knight of Columbus sketch as a guest speaker. He then became the Weekend Update Sports reporter, where after being introduced by Jane Curtain, he would reply "tank you Hane".</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Chico would comment by using his phrase "baseball been berry-berry good to me". On one Weekend Update segment Chico mentions that "baseball been berry-berry good to Pete Rose". At the time Rose had signed one of baseball biggest multi- million-dollar deals. On another of his sports reports, Escuela admits he don't know about Football or Hockey so he can't comment.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhok950ZkjKBfgIRJ5ydCSxYMNVIlPFlkN_fJun9UhQ1855knt-0A2CntvzJvX3xwpWlEPNYpGif0AmvPYw1CpLMgwsQ0-N_a2xdmOz-AXFPdGWNRSsfe3mBR57QGiFQ__IXWMIZvQIcyLN/s1600/Chico-Escuela0.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhok950ZkjKBfgIRJ5ydCSxYMNVIlPFlkN_fJun9UhQ1855knt-0A2CntvzJvX3xwpWlEPNYpGif0AmvPYw1CpLMgwsQ0-N_a2xdmOz-AXFPdGWNRSsfe3mBR57QGiFQ__IXWMIZvQIcyLN/s1600/Chico-Escuela0.jpg" width="400" /></a><b>When he does his last broadcast before his attempted baseball comeback, he states Bill Murray was berry-berry good to him but not Hayne.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><strong>SNL ran a three-part series aired from April to May 1979 on the comeback attempt of Chico Escuela. Morris (Escuela) was</strong><strong> interviewed by his SNL cast mate, the Weekend Update reporter Bill Murray.</strong></div><div><div><br /></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong>During the mock 1979 Spring Training segments we learn that Chico had been a nine time All Star, as well as a member of the 1969 Amazing Mets & 1973 NL Champions. </strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxAdIdIduG1F5abTtZ9D7br0gp-iOtYRmyIZvWvjjp6F1SMEMC5kNoNBKmLat2nq00HM4b2tWKWObzTgjpcST3uys_OApR-vjHRZF3WZsMMyOB36xQH1A8lkfW3o1nukiSfKPj34bLiJXvftF-_IVMWYniijpkp2k6ocadjrE7Jkgxq28LiF_s4ikX9TB/s505/3.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="343" data-original-width="505" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxAdIdIduG1F5abTtZ9D7br0gp-iOtYRmyIZvWvjjp6F1SMEMC5kNoNBKmLat2nq00HM4b2tWKWObzTgjpcST3uys_OApR-vjHRZF3WZsMMyOB36xQH1A8lkfW3o1nukiSfKPj34bLiJXvftF-_IVMWYniijpkp2k6ocadjrE7Jkgxq28LiF_s4ikX9TB/w400-h271/3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong>In retirement he became the Weekend Update Sports reporter but gave up his job at the sports<br /> desk to make a comeback with the Mets at age 41. </strong></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b>Chico had also fictionally written a tell all baseball book; "Bad Stuff About the Mets" which ticked off some of the Mets Players.</b></span><br /><strong><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"></span></strong><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong>In good fun, many Mets players are seen in the locker room greeting Chico Escuela at his locker. </strong></span><b>Short time Met & veteran pitcher Nellie Briles who did not make the club out of Spring Training was interviewed about the fake book, as was Steve Henderson who said, "As far as I am concerned Chico can pack his bags now." </b><strong>Other Mets visible in the clip are Joel Youngblood, Bruce Boisclair, Dan Norman, Pat Zachary & pitching coach Rube Walker.</strong></div><div><b><br /></b><strong><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCBjDUfd7JvpnUQzwBcmYlHEm4FcesI9CXSY78SE5uyt64BzoZmRs0_N_1_T48lqud7WtuuoBumNQNcv7Io2d94kfMCa0PsrGsnwhsefKmhU6zPDgD2iGnfyPrXaVsFCKI-VWLKhRek7z/s1600/bill+murray+ed+kranepool.png" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCBjDUfd7JvpnUQzwBcmYlHEm4FcesI9CXSY78SE5uyt64BzoZmRs0_N_1_T48lqud7WtuuoBumNQNcv7Io2d94kfMCa0PsrGsnwhsefKmhU6zPDgD2iGnfyPrXaVsFCKI-VWLKhRek7z/w640-h512/bill+murray+ed+kranepool.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><strong><i>Bill Murray & Ed Kranepool</i></strong></span></td></tr></tbody></table></strong></div><div><br /></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekR1xKIg3mzkXcb4L6Z1sRwHTmhA3AyENu-hO2WYt3khCYwmQK1zDTh27PrdO4ttJl501zUAFxKLY3zU7iYs4S3IiTg4Pfvi_eFN_3hSub3PmvBk218V0PE2WyS-7EJuGOdXIGqGnhliH/s1600/Chico-Escuela4.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekR1xKIg3mzkXcb4L6Z1sRwHTmhA3AyENu-hO2WYt3khCYwmQK1zDTh27PrdO4ttJl501zUAFxKLY3zU7iYs4S3IiTg4Pfvi_eFN_3hSub3PmvBk218V0PE2WyS-7EJuGOdXIGqGnhliH/w400-h300/Chico-Escuela4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i>Bruce Boisclair Chico Escuela & Ed Kranepool</i></span></strong></td></tr></tbody></table>Ed Kranepool does the biggest interview with Murray, after he grabs a throw meant for Chico, he turns his back on him. Murray comments that in the book Escuela accuses Kranepool of borrowing his soap & never returning it.</strong></span><br /><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong>Murray also reads from the book saying, Tom Seaver took up two parking spaces, to which Kranepool replies not true.</strong></span><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong></strong></span><br /><b>On April 14th, 1979, Part Two of his comeback was aired. Murray comments if Chico doesn't make it back in baseball his only options are going back to the SNL sports desk or smuggle drugs out of the Dominican Republic. </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrs5Do6LIGQHIx6glEXU20D4MfBLvl2HGDFXzNwbq29vP5hyphenhyphenjjj5C94RJKVThFImdwhuT-R8CI5jlR4kRlzSejcp3_f8rmkfv9xeY2Os-qIOzMA86BsZ4ENc2H_4DC-bB4dTV_b1CQxSG4L4TJscWr6cSSARPmtL1wwzCbZvi6ykTU4Mc6ZFq9XjTzMl8G/s450/7.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="344" data-original-width="450" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrs5Do6LIGQHIx6glEXU20D4MfBLvl2HGDFXzNwbq29vP5hyphenhyphenjjj5C94RJKVThFImdwhuT-R8CI5jlR4kRlzSejcp3_f8rmkfv9xeY2Os-qIOzMA86BsZ4ENc2H_4DC-bB4dTV_b1CQxSG4L4TJscWr6cSSARPmtL1wwzCbZvi6ykTU4Mc6ZFq9XjTzMl8G/s320/7.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>During this night game, we see Escuela playing in a simulated game with the AL New York team. Escuela is a big hit with the fans. not only steals home on a suicide squeeze & makes an outstanding play on the infield but also hits the game winning walk off grand slam HR.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>The actual at bats are clips of Steve Henderson. Bobby Valentine can be seen as the runner on third base coming to score on the game winning HR.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>After the game he receives congratulations & an oil painting as a gift from non-other than Hall of Famer Willie Mays. Mays was a coach with the Mets at the times.</b></div><div><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjvPh7kFXD1rDyWyhALaKvAEM0euhwUKn6FBOZR3c1hwrMZjZ_NaiJB9XC-3JPqmPNWgO7TXM-_Z8Kkry76SNJQASUMua9HvjkcEdJ2ghnEItDjFRnWKE3f860pEk4MNdqNwiwizOx2driizDbeTSGr2mHS6ynTnXUYVOC5852SpK-M-XIv24karL9qkH/s456/2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="456" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjvPh7kFXD1rDyWyhALaKvAEM0euhwUKn6FBOZR3c1hwrMZjZ_NaiJB9XC-3JPqmPNWgO7TXM-_Z8Kkry76SNJQASUMua9HvjkcEdJ2ghnEItDjFRnWKE3f860pEk4MNdqNwiwizOx2driizDbeTSGr2mHS6ynTnXUYVOC5852SpK-M-XIv24karL9qkH/w640-h464/2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></b><br /><b>In the final segment aired May 12th, 1979, Bill Murray reports age finally caught up with Escuela as he is seen making errors on the field. </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivp6R2sYxlg2JJiMr2OF-NMT70KR8NtlYTvKyqg8LAteSlxbMO6ms4aOMHeXqMp5hsGRP1MLMiUySFS28o7ZQnPM5NfWBlCVY6kccyQ8Zcd-LoyFv8BLrGfGVHp50R5Jzl_chXcF0rPtBd-ADBewP0y51rIvxQt-Dj1CPHJAIJmxBN9j_6U-7KUBNzUztw/s474/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="474" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivp6R2sYxlg2JJiMr2OF-NMT70KR8NtlYTvKyqg8LAteSlxbMO6ms4aOMHeXqMp5hsGRP1MLMiUySFS28o7ZQnPM5NfWBlCVY6kccyQ8Zcd-LoyFv8BLrGfGVHp50R5Jzl_chXcF0rPtBd-ADBewP0y51rIvxQt-Dj1CPHJAIJmxBN9j_6U-7KUBNzUztw/w400-h256/Capture.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><b>The final blow to his career literally came when a Steve Garvey liner hit him below the belt causing him to lose his breath & eventually ending his career. </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Garrett Morris would play Chico Escuela in three more episodes of SNL during Season #5.</b></div></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Years later, Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa would reference Escuela's catch phrase during an interview.</b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879473706233234375.post-60049419469737690472024-03-08T23:10:00.000-05:002024-03-08T23:10:00.129-05:00Bob Myrick: Former 1970's Mets Relief Pitcher (1976 - 1978)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyR1YObYYFhirJmakMs65iPoFhHwKRreSb1MY6WUepP_NMp-PbmhySRR41Eb5iIaDRuylySLnjYQcb4oLd50DC-AN3u73FqUWEzQwJAbR2jWqmpxBqJn3GpFpER2WYtURanqJ9NZ6pSEjhdsFYUQe2hysSEJzlJfblq8A5f55X-4ZyjVvOnF62YYIo7Q/s544/myrick1.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="538" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyR1YObYYFhirJmakMs65iPoFhHwKRreSb1MY6WUepP_NMp-PbmhySRR41Eb5iIaDRuylySLnjYQcb4oLd50DC-AN3u73FqUWEzQwJAbR2jWqmpxBqJn3GpFpER2WYtURanqJ9NZ6pSEjhdsFYUQe2hysSEJzlJfblq8A5f55X-4ZyjVvOnF62YYIo7Q/w395-h400/myrick1.JPG" width="395" /></a></div>Robert Howard Myrick </span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">was born October 1, 1952, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.</span></b><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b></b></span><span style="color: blue;"><b>In high school Myrick was a star athlete in baseball, basketball & football. He received pro attention & turned down offers as well as one from the 1970 Baltimore Orioles.</b><br /></span>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong></strong></span><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>The six-foot left-hander chose to attend Mississippi State University on a baseball scholarship.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>He was eventually drafted by the New York Mets in the 24th round of the 1974 draft. </b></span><br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>In his second year in the minors, he went a combined 10-4 with a 2.98 ERA between AA & AAA Tidewater. Myrick started to become a full-time relief pitcher at the AAA level. That year the Tides finished first under manager Joe Frazier who would become the Mets manager the next year. He would bring up many of his players from Tidewater, Myrick included.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="463" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOEjuhhfsx2er0mtgIOzMpxlObR2DrOvnL8QRPn1yg41YsJ_GKOZXB2rIGe_UlQ79z_CZ4JnJDD84CSkHNisjyl3Af2UgVhOvwBOUjXfuHsBLBKjZ4B0ykAbQbL08Qtu0lJmphZ8s_rB6/s320/1978+myric.jpg" width="225" /></span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>In the bicentennial year, Myrick started out the year 2-0 at Tidewater before getting the bog league promotion.</b></span></div><div><i style="font-family: trebuchet; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div><i style="font-family: trebuchet; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">MLB Career:</span></i><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet; text-align: center;"><b> Myrick made his big-league debut at Shea Stadium, pitching to one batter on May 28th, 1976, in a 6-0 Mets loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. He appeared in 21 games as middle reliever for New York the rest of the bicentennial year.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>On July 27th, he pitched three scoreless relief innings against the Philadelphia Phillies, earning his first career win. </b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>In that game he came to bat against the Phillies Tom Underwood in the 5th inning with two men on. Underwood threw a wild pitch scoring a run, then Myrick grounded to third baseman Mike Schimdt scoring Bud Harrelson with the go ahead run.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0l7ARR8ctZiUjTYinaFSip2U0UeG5WDLNnMFQ_2Fz392XaNwrMIoMELH6YBhA3AaTt1rUChOBdbL2JPkmP35iRvOC7HmhfyS2FbsEkAmoSZIVDnpmjJK8PYtL9jyLm_jI0JttX5Sh7SI/w400-h263/joe+pignatano+(7).jpg" width="400" /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b> On September 28th, the Montreal Expos beat him up for four runs (two earned) & five hits in the 4th inning of a 4-2 Mets loss. Overall, he made 29 appearances posting a 3.25 ERA in 27 innings with 11 strike outs, finishing off four games. His control was an issue as he issued 13 walks. </b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><span style="color: black;"><div><strong style="color: blue;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></i></strong></div><div><strong style="color: blue;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Trivia:</span> </span></i>Myrick helped Mets coach Joe Pignatano tender his tomato plants in the Met bullpen for the most part of his three years at Shea Stadium.</strong></div></span></strong></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></strong></span></span></div><div><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbDCqcgFn5ztSuCHc5TegdhWgUB006GRudcTz0l5S2CTjTmQDdlRt_ALFgz-Rp3xFuxoN1zrcauqGmTdENLsx0cMBsfGzozNQMLP_Tzw3WM0Ezq43aDD3jMwNr9v_0ODLQWY5z3xPMKA/s320/bob+myrick+(4).jpg" width="320" /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;">1977:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> Myrick saw a career high 44 appearances. He wet going 2-2 with a 3.61 ERA in 87 innings.</span></strong></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>On August 5th, he earned his first win when Lenny Randle doubled home Doug Flynn in the 8th inning, for the Mets winning run. He earned his next victory on September 11th, pitching 3.2 innings at Wrigley Field in Chicago. During the final two weeks of the season, he earned two saves, in games against the Chicago Cubs & St. Louis Cardinals. </b></span></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong></strong></span><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">1978:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> Myrick began the season with the dismal Mets, he went 0-3 </b></span></span></span><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">getting credit for two holds, finishing up seven games, posting a 3.28 ERA . He allowed nine earned runs & issued 13 walks in 24.2 innings. </b></div><div><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFFtV_UEGQKzuAAyDAMI004cgA2JncPMpIF3JngXYt8ZYy5RO8_a2uAVRd-llJS5v_Yhaqj6h4IJO2Cc7z8oHCZYYAnFagXXkAVvIyMIElPjmkq8bGiy29OjbiZ1_1arCBeaUwPiwX4Z2nYuwG9l00-_-ES9Ge8Ob8YCjB1wnVMLNSjfhalBggFqT9Q/s326/myrick1.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="260" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFFtV_UEGQKzuAAyDAMI004cgA2JncPMpIF3JngXYt8ZYy5RO8_a2uAVRd-llJS5v_Yhaqj6h4IJO2Cc7z8oHCZYYAnFagXXkAVvIyMIElPjmkq8bGiy29OjbiZ1_1arCBeaUwPiwX4Z2nYuwG9l00-_-ES9Ge8Ob8YCjB1wnVMLNSjfhalBggFqT9Q/s320/myrick1.JPG" width="255" /></a></div><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">In</b><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"> mid-</b><span style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><b>May, he</b></span><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"> was sent back to AAA Tidewater. Myrick never resurfaced at the major league level, pitching in the minors through 1981.</b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>In 1979 he & Mike Bruhert were traded to the Texas Rangers for veteran Doc Ellis, who's best days were way behind him. </strong></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>In three MLB seasons, Bob Myrick was 3-6 with two saves and a 3.48 ERA, he walked 59 & struck out 73 in 139 innings pitched over 82 appearances. </strong></span><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><em><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></em></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><em><span style="color: black;">Retirement:</span></em> </span><b>After baseball, he returned to his hometown in Mississippi. There he helped run a family building supply business with his brother & some cousins. </b></span><br />
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<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #000025;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Passing:</span> </i><span style="color: blue;">I<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">n August of 2012 he suffered a heart attack & passed away at age 59.</span></span></span></span></b></span><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><i><span style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></i></strong></span></div><div><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="286" data-original-width="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-VE7IJcXikx83sgpljlRsQY4__jy0uS8v2BjetcvtfF07uOIG6s41T-uw3nCySvG_-SlB-BigkrlPZEfKtSCJocvSqH5kRPdlmXRN7oG7m-4AEZIXkoZVQ_aD0PT84n_KuN3Biy5nUYK/s1600/72876.jpg" /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><i>Family: </i></span><span style="color: blue;"><b>Bob Myrick’s great uncle was two-time A.L. All Star & former batting champion, Buddy Meyer. Myer played 17 MLB seasons, as an infielder, mostly at second base. He spent 15 seasons with the Washington Senators & two with the Boston Red Sox. </b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>In 1928 Meyer won the stolen base crown, swiping 30 bases while with the Boston Red Sox. In 1935 he won the A.L. batting title batting .349 with 215 hits.</strong></span><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong></strong></span><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>Meyer hit over .300 eight times in his career & was a lifetime .303 hitter with a .389 on base percentage. </strong></span></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>At second base Meyer twice led the league in fielding. </strong></span></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879473706233234375.post-50359720602689180002024-03-08T23:00:00.001-05:002024-03-08T23:00:00.249-05:00Junior Ortiz: Early Eighties Mets Backup Catcher (1983 - 1984)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesHYUcxoZH0LFXa6N2j6FDI6U6OMM-oF-81bOdYVKq_fbXVw6uRjuK66UqRMNjNGwCsPw1d-HfaEcqzwVvXJS_EUDsqVmQ6moWrUKVD1o4YENGfgK96OstvgKSeghUixWzeiB3uY5QBc/s1600/junior+ortiz++(5).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesHYUcxoZH0LFXa6N2j6FDI6U6OMM-oF-81bOdYVKq_fbXVw6uRjuK66UqRMNjNGwCsPw1d-HfaEcqzwVvXJS_EUDsqVmQ6moWrUKVD1o4YENGfgK96OstvgKSeghUixWzeiB3uY5QBc/w321-h400/junior+ortiz++(5).jpg" width="321" /></a></div>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Adalberto Colon Ortiz</span><b> was born October 24, 1959, in Humacao, Puerto Rico. The five-foot eleven catcher was originally signed as a teenager by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1977. </b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>In 1980 Otiz had a good year at AA Buffalo hitting 12 HRs while batting .334. Unfortunately, he never matched those numbers again. </b></span><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">MLB Career:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> Ortiz debuted for the Pirates in seven games of the 1982 season. In 1983 he began the year in Pittsburgh as a backup to catcher Tony Pena but after just five games played by June, he was traded to the New York Mets for Marvell Wynne.
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<strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Mets Career:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> For the remainder of the 1983 season, Ortiz spent his time in New York backing up Ron Hodges. That season saw big changes for the Mets as the team improved with Rookie of the Year Darryl Strawberry & the arrival of Keith Hernandez. </span></span></strong></div><div><strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></strong></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZoT3NuFlpgKp3zdoTi818cZUDwYoBnGVX7tytpzTuitV6eQ_rHfKIeP3J9kyRNJCnCbZ8bPAUUdcmT3kzYyIE8nc2DbzlgfNrOlHfHoW9u-T2sd3nntHNB2NrFDvsL51r3NPNp4pYTY/s1600/junior+ortiz++(2).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZoT3NuFlpgKp3zdoTi818cZUDwYoBnGVX7tytpzTuitV6eQ_rHfKIeP3J9kyRNJCnCbZ8bPAUUdcmT3kzYyIE8nc2DbzlgfNrOlHfHoW9u-T2sd3nntHNB2NrFDvsL51r3NPNp4pYTY/s400/junior+ortiz++(2).jpg" width="400" /></a><strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;">In 68 games Ortiz batted .254 with five doubles & 12 RBIs. </span></span></strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Behind the plate he threw out 25% of would-be base stealers & posted a .965 on base %.</b></span></span></div><div><strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></strong></div><div><strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">1984:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> This season, the Mets contended for the NL East under new manager Davey Johnson. Ortiz was the back up to Mike Fitzgerad as the team’s catcher in 32 games. </span></span></strong></div><div><strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></strong></div><div><strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;">The young Mets staff now had phenom Dwight Gooden, with a young Ron Darling & Sid Fernandez.</span></span></strong></div><div><br /></div><div><strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxzTx0adol_CtlJOHmaIPrAjksxy4NjxElOqOp2gFXIoNabgBcA5K8gOR2DzApvjwNdYxLpvJi_8dh6eLUtaqnqhPU_-6y0kffftpRSJQEe9P_XzJ-NMxvlpgy9Z3Pe5ep8pnbJ896Os/s1600/junior+ortiz++(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxzTx0adol_CtlJOHmaIPrAjksxy4NjxElOqOp2gFXIoNabgBcA5K8gOR2DzApvjwNdYxLpvJi_8dh6eLUtaqnqhPU_-6y0kffftpRSJQEe9P_XzJ-NMxvlpgy9Z3Pe5ep8pnbJ896Os/s320/junior+ortiz++(1).jpg" width="222" /></a>Junior got the start in the second game of the season & drove in a run in the Mets Ron Darling, Doug Sisk combined 2-0 shut out at Wrigley Field in Chicago.</span></strong></div><div>
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<strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">On April 6th, he drove in two more runs in the Mets 8-1 win against the Astros in Houston. On July 6th, Ortiz drove in a pair of runs helping the Mets in a comeback 6-5 win over the Reds at Shea Stadium.</span></strong></div><div><strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></strong></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b>Overall,</b></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b> he was good defensively, but struggled at the plate not hitting over .200 until August but finishing the year up with a .198 average, collecting three doubles & 11 RBIs in 40 games played. </b></span></div><div><strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></strong></div><div><strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">That season the Mets traded for All Star catcher Gary Carter, there were also high expectations for rookie catcher Mike Gibbons. In December Ortiz returned to Pittsburgh as a Rule V draft player.</span></strong></div><div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Post Mets Career:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPg1Wu72zo9Q-yR9HyRnZ3pmviQfwJbbKblo-XEyNgQjOkvyXJtnyM-s2eZso4vcCtv7asWblaBowcGz-TGJPJUeHsjouOocMH7TFG2EJWNg_BKZWmmzeRjLsY_DIPChDlHMLnc-Ym4I/s1600/1988+junior-ortiz+pirates-.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPg1Wu72zo9Q-yR9HyRnZ3pmviQfwJbbKblo-XEyNgQjOkvyXJtnyM-s2eZso4vcCtv7asWblaBowcGz-TGJPJUeHsjouOocMH7TFG2EJWNg_BKZWmmzeRjLsY_DIPChDlHMLnc-Ym4I/w218-h320/1988+junior-ortiz+pirates-.jpg" width="218" /></a><b> Ortiz spent five seasons in Pittsburgh from 1985 thru 1989. There he was a backup up to Tony Pena & then Mike Lavalliere. In his first year in Pittsburgh, he batted .292 but only had 72 at bats. That year he threw out 36% of would-be base stealers 6% higher than the league average. In 1988 he hit .280 in 118 at bats, both career best.</b></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b>In 1990 he was traded to the Minnesota Twins who would finish last but the next year would win the World Series. In 1990 he hit an incredible .335 in 71 games.</b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b>In 1991 his average fell off to .209 but his defense was superb, in 41 games he threw out 46% of would-be base stealers catching 13 of 28 runners.</b></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">1991 Post Season: </i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>In the NLCS win over Toronto he appeared in three games, playing the entire Game #3 extra inning victory going 0-3.</b></span></span></div><div><strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></strong></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNS5_HaZymziqoVvUziLXjoTSSzseTM0L27GUaPs-R0hGHkvZ5HuHh564UF1ggyGSGnsG6CXufEG_VLoGWZcRzPwnPIXBKQW07wtiwrwly_KWx5Lm0nlqTkGLu-v3hg87xtwxsagM4rFa5l97iNqassarneVzYZYpA7mDnfjbT-7kGJZwELu4KuRkhDSGd/s800/s-l1600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="800" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNS5_HaZymziqoVvUziLXjoTSSzseTM0L27GUaPs-R0hGHkvZ5HuHh564UF1ggyGSGnsG6CXufEG_VLoGWZcRzPwnPIXBKQW07wtiwrwly_KWx5Lm0nlqTkGLu-v3hg87xtwxsagM4rFa5l97iNqassarneVzYZYpA7mDnfjbT-7kGJZwELu4KuRkhDSGd/w400-h256/s-l1600.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>1991 World Series:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> In the Championship victory over the Atlanta Braves, he in three games getting two starts & once as a late inning defensive replacement. In Game #3 he collected a single off Steve Avery & in Game #5 he drove in a run in the 14-5 Twins loss.</b></span></span><br />
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<strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">He was granted free agency & signed with the Cleveland Indians. He then spent two years in Cleveland playing in a career high 95 games in 1993 when main catcher Sandy Alomar went down with injury. In 1994 Ortiz went to the Texas Rangers playing behind Ivan Pudge Rodriguez in his final season. </span></strong><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NYgDpd19GQvtli-YdRG7U2GdNS7DErN_eY-Dfh150D9opgbg6KGeweI3QUHxbs3f2nqATrrOfc5jUtfdVmEZtlqPy1ZpeYuxl9e7yHCsUim99JowDEVHm-8qgNpvTv78Pyaoe0uGVm9RYNzXKXANul4LO3M1S5odZ4gBuSja4C9AOIXyDszXTh6_fFHX/s485/ortiz.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="357" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NYgDpd19GQvtli-YdRG7U2GdNS7DErN_eY-Dfh150D9opgbg6KGeweI3QUHxbs3f2nqATrrOfc5jUtfdVmEZtlqPy1ZpeYuxl9e7yHCsUim99JowDEVHm-8qgNpvTv78Pyaoe0uGVm9RYNzXKXANul4LO3M1S5odZ4gBuSja4C9AOIXyDszXTh6_fFHX/s320/ortiz.JPG" width="236" /></a></div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Career Stats:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> In his 13-year career, Ortiz was a lifetime .256 hitter, with 484 hits, 5 HRs, 71<br /> doubles, 5 triples & 186 RBIs. He struck out 222 times walked 121 times with a .305 on base % in 1894 at bats in 749 games. </span></b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>Behind the plate he threw out 32% of would-be base stealers, making 45 errors in 3303 chances posting a .986 fielding % in 702 games.
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<strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><em>Trivia:</em></span> During his career he suffered one of the strangest injuries in baseball history, having to sit out a game because he stepped on a papaya. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Family:</span> </i></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;">Junior named his son Junior & he is known as Junior JR.</span></strong>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879473706233234375.post-54034197063494283022024-03-07T23:25:00.000-05:002024-03-07T23:25:00.126-05:00Remembering Mets History (1962) The Mets First Two Walk Off HRs & The First Pitcher to Win Both Ends of a Double Header<div><div><div><b><i><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YT-GNS4N4TV1vx3lJZ7tBEP1m4vv05wDYKaWYxsv8kSnQul5a0MeccM3ZzxSmcBQiM59r6jInqqlHy0FB-IdAH2Of1uw-HEGYMWRidU58zm5omxI0IchKCV27hM3nXR9MeGCFN2HOkAggkaWcvrcok7h7vrWT2Fe0OhIVOV1byb1EGqI3lej-sm1bl9r/s495/casey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="495" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YT-GNS4N4TV1vx3lJZ7tBEP1m4vv05wDYKaWYxsv8kSnQul5a0MeccM3ZzxSmcBQiM59r6jInqqlHy0FB-IdAH2Of1uw-HEGYMWRidU58zm5omxI0IchKCV27hM3nXR9MeGCFN2HOkAggkaWcvrcok7h7vrWT2Fe0OhIVOV1byb1EGqI3lej-sm1bl9r/w400-h328/casey.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Saturday May 12th, 1962:</span></i> The expansion New York Mets were in their infancy just into the second month of the teams start. </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>On this Saturday afternoon </b><b>a good crowd of 19,748 came out to</b><b> the Polo Grounds as Casey Stengel's New York Mets (6-17) hosted Manager Birdie Tibbets, Milwaukee Braves (13-15) in a double header. </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>It was the Mets second double header, on April 29th they split a twin bill with the Phillies in the Polo Grounds.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCzVvUNXLYo21_q5KBWmMChg43948z7hrLMWTtDSuYdOfI7zboYeExtUfVMYioxkqY1oHCL2UMB4lFbc5rq8oTnyGdGGaXdQjHZerQvW_NKoY6VpH4rAYxRcdJ0uImGpVu-_OWFHZmIYDDVH0ypnMEunuVWMprDYs8yxn8pb-0-EVm2wpVUAalzWsn5K5/s403/0.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="403" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCzVvUNXLYo21_q5KBWmMChg43948z7hrLMWTtDSuYdOfI7zboYeExtUfVMYioxkqY1oHCL2UMB4lFbc5rq8oTnyGdGGaXdQjHZerQvW_NKoY6VpH4rAYxRcdJ0uImGpVu-_OWFHZmIYDDVH0ypnMEunuVWMprDYs8yxn8pb-0-EVm2wpVUAalzWsn5K5/s320/0.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOI0TcX_tsVfxTQjSU37F8MMGEQNRjNCpXUjLyb9wfcUjrLT8V58CHnIO_QoM4xXfLZv8oeaviAwPysHVuhRcgu9u8VDOdCpmJxkTU9Fy2eoFLrRBSHL-mxl0Xk1N5bJeLlPOUObY5_uCkqcZFZZp1evPWwXL8_yI-Mvgfq-YdyTifhN-DoMb1OlLrXhH/s438/hobie%20landrith.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="315" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOI0TcX_tsVfxTQjSU37F8MMGEQNRjNCpXUjLyb9wfcUjrLT8V58CHnIO_QoM4xXfLZv8oeaviAwPysHVuhRcgu9u8VDOdCpmJxkTU9Fy2eoFLrRBSHL-mxl0Xk1N5bJeLlPOUObY5_uCkqcZFZZp1evPWwXL8_yI-Mvgfq-YdyTifhN-DoMb1OlLrXhH/w144-h200/hobie%20landrith.JPG" width="144" /></a></div></b><b>In the first game Roger Craig (1-3) got the start for the Mets going up against the Braves future Hall of Fame pitcher, Warren Spahn (3-3). </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>In the top of the 2nd, Del Crandall homered to put the Braves on the board 1-0. In the top of the 5th, the Braves Frank Bolling led off with a base hit, he stole second & advanced to third on a throwing error. The pitcher, Spahn singled bringing in the Braves second run.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Warren Spahn shut the Mets out for the first five innings. In the bottom of the 6th, Elio Chacon singled & advanced on a fielder's choice. Frank Thomas then doubled to left field bringing in the Mets first run.</b><br /><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNve2yLPVE6WrtPpPe4phHCAARf4gQC7TywFgTASdcsfcaEQuKNVRnVKcvwU4yXdO13bcY3mCFT3ZGLssMU7UD90RJoWr5tbm4KA-codDf1-08sVgDeRXgvhxIoCpAo60CpDkbDtIKHqmKjyX3yJsOjmq8JPpJqS623F8Pv3u6CLfIZB95yoQDGE5jCzK8/s373/craig%20anderson.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="373" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNve2yLPVE6WrtPpPe4phHCAARf4gQC7TywFgTASdcsfcaEQuKNVRnVKcvwU4yXdO13bcY3mCFT3ZGLssMU7UD90RJoWr5tbm4KA-codDf1-08sVgDeRXgvhxIoCpAo60CpDkbDtIKHqmKjyX3yJsOjmq8JPpJqS623F8Pv3u6CLfIZB95yoQDGE5jCzK8/s320/craig%20anderson.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Craig Anderson</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b>In the 8th inning, Mets Reliever Craig Anderson came in to pitch with the Mets still down 2-1. Warren Spahn led off with his second hit of the game, a double to left center field. But Anderson retired the next three batters to keep the game at 2-1.</b><br /> <br /><b> The score remained until the bottom of the 9th, as Spahn was looking to end the game. Gil Hodges got aboard with an infield single to third base. Casey Stengle made a few moves, putting in "Hot Rod" Kanehl to run for Hodges & Cliff Cook to pinch hit. Cook struck out & Stengel sent in Gus Bell to pinch hit with two outs.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Hobie Landrith then came up & blasted Spahn's pitch for & a two run walk off HR, giving the Mets an exciting 3-2 win. It was the very first walk off HR in the team's history, as the Polo Grounds fans went crazy. </b><b>Craig Anderson was credited with the victory.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHepf1I9qQQkSukpmgPSvlhnmgvkaXxXTSROFB5fd5q1apsfj8s0X0MtjiiMd7coBKkMs7WMOrR_QRI5nov_J5pdMnnWK12UxXhBjgMzBmYiQSplsh8wh-MxPJWbAOxWj_bjj3amGQoeM_S5TojM_-2fj4XVgRNk51EaC9VBBPtS-zqq10AgwxyBKtg8ud/s400/1962%20Mets%20PoloGrounds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="400" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHepf1I9qQQkSukpmgPSvlhnmgvkaXxXTSROFB5fd5q1apsfj8s0X0MtjiiMd7coBKkMs7WMOrR_QRI5nov_J5pdMnnWK12UxXhBjgMzBmYiQSplsh8wh-MxPJWbAOxWj_bjj3amGQoeM_S5TojM_-2fj4XVgRNk51EaC9VBBPtS-zqq10AgwxyBKtg8ud/w640-h414/1962%20Mets%20PoloGrounds.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><em><span style="color: blue; font-size: medium;">Second Game:</span></em> In the nightcap the Mets Bob Moorhead (0-0) got his second start for the Mets, going against a future Met pitcher, Carlton Willey (0-2). </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4q58WNet1tqmZqXwBQS3fEguLuScQzFjhFpbKKuXwo7bK2PJN3dM_ufhrePCbbP3ASS9u2RC7-QgNkrf_OUWebKOii0RhAItJAsDutDs7VL6nXV_ZVFSd9H3HNm64TUuS8_m81yuP5x5cKTGDAl3zh34w1Cu4n7awW3UHlTTL4cYGNDP-9vWX0DO25TW/s445/0.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="363" data-original-width="445" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4q58WNet1tqmZqXwBQS3fEguLuScQzFjhFpbKKuXwo7bK2PJN3dM_ufhrePCbbP3ASS9u2RC7-QgNkrf_OUWebKOii0RhAItJAsDutDs7VL6nXV_ZVFSd9H3HNm64TUuS8_m81yuP5x5cKTGDAl3zh34w1Cu4n7awW3UHlTTL4cYGNDP-9vWX0DO25TW/s320/0.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><em><span style="color: blue; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjsOF7ZWjvPXc63ZVOinXd4u831A8GM37-7VNKdyiDbI6L8a1iP7e9uKG5r4XYhaGo76G4yV5sr2VAzZeisrjtjkN-BrX9NHwm_iU7x3zu7SUohEzpQpUUGgRNHfuyHjPq9ov8lHYlAnEoQQz3EJ5fy2zcgC01LUu_EQJWq54rLRfoNGAFgHtUhla91gu/s400/1962%20Mets%20at%20Polo%20Grounds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="400" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjsOF7ZWjvPXc63ZVOinXd4u831A8GM37-7VNKdyiDbI6L8a1iP7e9uKG5r4XYhaGo76G4yV5sr2VAzZeisrjtjkN-BrX9NHwm_iU7x3zu7SUohEzpQpUUGgRNHfuyHjPq9ov8lHYlAnEoQQz3EJ5fy2zcgC01LUu_EQJWq54rLRfoNGAFgHtUhla91gu/w400-h278/1962%20Mets%20at%20Polo%20Grounds.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></em></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Moorhead gave up five runs through five innings, HR king, Hank Aaron blasted one out & drove in four of the runs. </b></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b> </b></span></div><div><strong style="font-family: trebuchet; text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></strong></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><span><b style="font-family: trebuchet;">In the bottom of the 1st, Jim Hickman led off with a HR putting </b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>the Mets</b></span><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"> on top. In the bottom of the 2</b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>nd, Charlie</b></span><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"> Neal singled & was caught stealing. Hobie Landrith drew a walk & advanced on a </b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>fielder's</b></span><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"> choice. Elio Chacon then singled in Landrith for the Mets second run.</b></span></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span><b><br /></b></span></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">
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<strong><span>In the top of the 4th, Henry Aaron brought in a run with a sac fly. In the bottom of the 4th, Hobie Landrith singled but was forced on Bob Moorhead's ground out. Elio Chacon then drew a walk to put two men on. Felix Mantilla then hit a two run double giving the Mets a 4-1 lead.</span></strong></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zk1Fa9meb0OlW1k04V5Fl516tSVRO3cQnz9oRNBfdgKAIrLNTwnch60xZizKhUV0IqJNhN73h4I6L7S59vnrJMkfXwxOg8SbmISmZtV4TS_FXKoqfRIklhTJW2tpvGNo0jzfDvhIxVWFhd4MiZMEGwjTpRgtBNAshLy26XEQcE5cMIok-6EXGBzcI1b4/s273/elio%20chacon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="273" data-original-width="250" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zk1Fa9meb0OlW1k04V5Fl516tSVRO3cQnz9oRNBfdgKAIrLNTwnch60xZizKhUV0IqJNhN73h4I6L7S59vnrJMkfXwxOg8SbmISmZtV4TS_FXKoqfRIklhTJW2tpvGNo0jzfDvhIxVWFhd4MiZMEGwjTpRgtBNAshLy26XEQcE5cMIok-6EXGBzcI1b4/w183-h200/elio%20chacon.JPG" width="183" /></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span><b>In the top of the 5th, Moorhead gave up a pair of singles & a sac fly to Tommie Aaron, Hank's brother. Then, Mack Jones tripled in a run & Hank Aaron blasted a two run HR putting the Braves ahead 5-4. Moorhead was done for the day & one of the two Bob Miller's on the staff came in to pitch, five Mets pitchers would pitch in the game.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><span><br /></span></strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><span>In the 6th inning, with Jack Curtis pitching for Milwaukee, Elio Chacon tripled into the left center gap. Frank Thomas singled bringing in Chacon putting the Mets back on top 6-5.</span></strong></span></div><div><br /></div><div><b>In the top of the 8th, with Ken Mackenzie pitching for the Mets, Mack Jones & Henry Aaron hit back-to-back doubles, knocking him out as Dave Hillman came in to pitch. Frank Bolling hit a sac fly putting the Braves back on top.</b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLqdKJyNFaOIWjyPhjD5BXH2OovlkDgB1FrWbj2YcIp8LIwIk-e1F6klXaojmZaacD6tIzbpTGRma8XO2HXOCak17qMXaAzamLFwxUm4FxylCY2Uk5SzR6JDpZ9z0IhIKzx_KM90wnNo5/s1600/gil+hodges+mets+player.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">
<span><b><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLqdKJyNFaOIWjyPhjD5BXH2OovlkDgB1FrWbj2YcIp8LIwIk-e1F6klXaojmZaacD6tIzbpTGRma8XO2HXOCak17qMXaAzamLFwxUm4FxylCY2Uk5SzR6JDpZ9z0IhIKzx_KM90wnNo5/s1600/gil+hodges+mets+player.jpg" /></span>Then it was Craig Anderson time once again. Anderson retired all three batters he faced, Del Crandel, Hank's brother, Tommie Aaron & Mack Jones. </b></span><br />
<span><b></b></span><br />
<b>In the bottom of the 8th, pinch hitter Ed Bouchee drew a walk off Don Nottebart."Hot Rod" Kanehl came in to pinch run & was sacrificed over by Jim Hickman. Elio Chacon having the biggest day of his career, collected his third hit & drove in his third run tying up the game at seven.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>In the top of the 9th, Vinegar Bend Mizell started the inning for the Mets but walked the leadoff batter. Casey Stengel went right to Craig Anderson in the bullpen. He threw a wild pitch, but a sacrifice & two ground outs ended the inning.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br />
<span><b>In the bottom of the 9th, Hank Fischer was pitching for Milwaukee & got Frank Thomas for the first out. Next up was New York's beloved former Brooklyn Dodger, Gil Hodges who had come into the game in the 5th inning as a pinch hitter. </b></span></span><b style="font-family: trebuchet;">Gil Hodges delighted the fans hitting his third HR of the year, the Mets second walk off HR in as many games, to win it 8-7.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="772" data-original-width="478" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_aifSvNcyygsN6vQSqP7VH-b6gNZhRCBl-Qe-1wj4l6amqvafi518ZyCgMNCMh4YlLAlYyQjEd-0b62kBE-uYU5iOHYxv71Gmc8UdWOtrjXwholn49C0wz57yyGNkmWk4zOcbg2PIfaK/s400/s-l1000.jpg" width="247" /></span><b style="font-family: trebuchet;">The winning pitcher was Craig Anderson, as he became the first Mets pitcher to win both ends of a double header. He looked up into stands above the Mets dugout after </b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>congratulating</b></span><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"> Hodges with his teammates on the field & saw his wife. She put up two fingers smiling at him & returned the glance holding up two fingers as well. Two wins in the same day.</b></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;">It was like a World Series victory for the ecstatic fans in attendance that day at the Polo Grounds. </b><b>The twin bill sweep accounted for two of the teams forty victories that the season.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Overall,</b></span><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"> Casey Stengle used 18 roster players in the second game & a total of 34 in both games.</b></div><div><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></b></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">Trivia:</span></i><b> Unfortunately, Anderson would never win another big-league game. Strangely, Anderson had three wins in that week but would lose his next 16 games that season & the next 19 decisions of his career. Another crazy story from the 1962 Mets.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Craig Anderson & Gil Hodges were good friends Sixty years later, Hodges' daughter & granddaughter escorted Anderson onto the field at the 2022 Mets Old Timers Day.</b></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjditEKPTVOk0Qk2f9dSaVTERhzLuDI_8WpXdi8odKzzrx2xhwKVgOKcvIWc8ZivPk5BklcLMcPtwZZXgfyMGjDx6RvxHKW1Tykd6oSRT7LsB-3o-nQF-BYJKiFQYtwIBtxf-3BkZsdQIXynnYht2u8Zaj5lDYVgoxY0-zMELvLsRchWx4gUYaoDeiDqUY1/s508/craig%20anderson%20OT.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="508" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjditEKPTVOk0Qk2f9dSaVTERhzLuDI_8WpXdi8odKzzrx2xhwKVgOKcvIWc8ZivPk5BklcLMcPtwZZXgfyMGjDx6RvxHKW1Tykd6oSRT7LsB-3o-nQF-BYJKiFQYtwIBtxf-3BkZsdQIXynnYht2u8Zaj5lDYVgoxY0-zMELvLsRchWx4gUYaoDeiDqUY1/w640-h376/craig%20anderson%20OT.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879473706233234375.post-85565530986773839202024-03-07T23:20:00.028-05:002024-03-07T23:20:00.136-05:00Remembering Mets History (1964) Willard Hunter Earns Victories in Both Ends of Double Header Walk Off Wins<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMFW-h80sJavFI2P-eZTX5kKPYs-Tx_w4Er5vXb5N4lqonco7gualZzfZFoYUooH6f1GbkBa08iuQNROkrSZonj9O6rMj3p_u9-jFP_JVLQrZR3jsIy29TLKzIukdJO8dC_K-2Hr9ouH3iwGFTNkTNjvaliHI-ZLJEzrFVKWbZJ1rODzG_NW8iruPUw/s315/world%20fair.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="263" data-original-width="315" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMFW-h80sJavFI2P-eZTX5kKPYs-Tx_w4Er5vXb5N4lqonco7gualZzfZFoYUooH6f1GbkBa08iuQNROkrSZonj9O6rMj3p_u9-jFP_JVLQrZR3jsIy29TLKzIukdJO8dC_K-2Hr9ouH3iwGFTNkTNjvaliHI-ZLJEzrFVKWbZJ1rODzG_NW8iruPUw/w400-h334/world%20fair.JPG" width="400" /></a> <b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Sunday August 23rd, 1964:</span></i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> Casey Stengel's New York Mets (42-83) were at the bottom of the ten team National League's standings. On this day Casey's Mets hosted manager Bob Kennedy's Chicago Cubs (57-65). The Cubs were in eighth place not faring much better.</span></b></p><p></p><p><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">This was a traditional Sunday afternoon double header played at the new Shea Stadium, located in Flushing Meadows just across the grounds of the 1964 World's Fair. It was an exciting & beautiful time in Queens.</span></b></p><p><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Fans could attend the World's Fair & walk over to the new ballpark which was considered one of the most beautiful & grandest in baseball.</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikeMj4horsun-sbGTydzdpcE0hauPKo9OnoAnhC2AXGg6zpJZiQmsjrO9KAe5P7jWqJkhzQcrz1LpT0B4ltGrvIffl7ZznafMmUGdsZU-CUCfNz4Bp7deaiDA-HwW4zvk8HbJzBsFlPzj5tvcaDqM3XeeCP1PdYGvrNpvr1kuIUI5Yr9XfmwRMKzU5lg/s388/0.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="388" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikeMj4horsun-sbGTydzdpcE0hauPKo9OnoAnhC2AXGg6zpJZiQmsjrO9KAe5P7jWqJkhzQcrz1LpT0B4ltGrvIffl7ZznafMmUGdsZU-CUCfNz4Bp7deaiDA-HwW4zvk8HbJzBsFlPzj5tvcaDqM3XeeCP1PdYGvrNpvr1kuIUI5Yr9XfmwRMKzU5lg/s320/0.JPG" width="320" /></span></b></a></div><p><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b></b></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNKS8xazySDRFlvey9lan1DZKlr8FYntWv71Fz3Wcp24Y_TVj6-lVKPHSkfcJeUSSDAeJdkHe3sO3hILSgzEOfE-XDQOXyuZDWwG2evfuJZXbitmeaYQzOR1JErCyKl7Spxrm2HKfOv0E2Yd8c0lhqBbRjfyU3z5on9IGQDnb2uu5fl8rdF5-LrcGxMhG/s378/galencisco.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="263" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNKS8xazySDRFlvey9lan1DZKlr8FYntWv71Fz3Wcp24Y_TVj6-lVKPHSkfcJeUSSDAeJdkHe3sO3hILSgzEOfE-XDQOXyuZDWwG2evfuJZXbitmeaYQzOR1JErCyKl7Spxrm2HKfOv0E2Yd8c0lhqBbRjfyU3z5on9IGQDnb2uu5fl8rdF5-LrcGxMhG/w139-h200/galencisco.JPG" width="139" /></a></div>The starting pitchers for the first game were Galen Cisco for the Mets & Bob Buhl for the Cubs. </b></span><b style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;">In the bottom of the 3rd inning, the Mets Bobby Klaus & Ron Hunt both reached with base hits. Then Joe Christopher hit a sac fly, scoring Klaus making it 1-0 Mets. </b><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Galen Cisco held that one run lead until the 7th inning, as Len Gabrielson led off with a double, advanced on a grounder, then scored on Jimmy Stewart's sac fly tying up the game.</b></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Galen Cisco would pitch eight strong innings, allowing just a run on eight hits, walking three & striking out two. In the 9th inning, Larry Bearnarth came on & retired the side after a lead off Mets error put Ron Santo on base.</b></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsWlIhKKPJYbrdpUntX4l5rmT42fxy9E8-XTAwgLJeF9kWJdlVKTt6P9mZLw-n7uGH-xZMaG2ofeXzayNtQD-IINtz527BHMajIcEnm5rkkoHI6KgP55Z7delRBMrDfrJSRnqmRcLoq_l_Z9mL6JB6CKOidtaHUXsOIyXcZCb9mO9JJt5Hfu9-sPduA/s219/willard%20hunter.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="199" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsWlIhKKPJYbrdpUntX4l5rmT42fxy9E8-XTAwgLJeF9kWJdlVKTt6P9mZLw-n7uGH-xZMaG2ofeXzayNtQD-IINtz527BHMajIcEnm5rkkoHI6KgP55Z7delRBMrDfrJSRnqmRcLoq_l_Z9mL6JB6CKOidtaHUXsOIyXcZCb9mO9JJt5Hfu9-sPduA/s1600/willard%20hunter.JPG" width="199" /></a><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;"></span><b style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;">In the bottom of the 9th, Jum Hickman led off with a base hit but Bob Buhl retired the next three batters to send the game to extra innings.</b></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;"><b>In the top of the 10th, Bill Wakefield came in for the Mets. He struck out Jimmy Stewart then gave up a single to the pitcher Buhl, who was still in the game. Wakefield then walked Joey Amalfitano. </b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Manager </b></span><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;">Casey Stengel went to the bullpen & brought in Willard Hunter to pitch to pinch hitter Leo Burke. Hunter got Burke to pop out to third base for the second out. Hunter then got future Hall of Famer Billy Williams to ground out to Ron Hunt at second to end the inning.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b></b></div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;">In the bottom of the 10th, the Cubs still had Bob Buhl on the mound. He had held the Mets to one run on five hits thru nine innings.</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1y5hNSR8vN976XChUt_g-oHTPCpxl5v43KF7Q8OSM1NfeZ19Dd2caEt45Ee_-JCGf-XlWbFBySYZzmJGI_WC8v64iV8CfchlDjjuSd0pe0D8AQayAchNZQAbaSa84tszAUnFawulaHPI4KX4JxKBgU0f8w_zIlUA1zUP0S35ns9PDIXjgWauUMI6YA/s595/ED%20KRANEPOOL.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="498" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1y5hNSR8vN976XChUt_g-oHTPCpxl5v43KF7Q8OSM1NfeZ19Dd2caEt45Ee_-JCGf-XlWbFBySYZzmJGI_WC8v64iV8CfchlDjjuSd0pe0D8AQayAchNZQAbaSa84tszAUnFawulaHPI4KX4JxKBgU0f8w_zIlUA1zUP0S35ns9PDIXjgWauUMI6YA/s320/ED%20KRANEPOOL.JPG" width="268" /></a></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;"><b>George Altman led off with a double off the right field wall. Next, Bobby Klaus grounded out advancing Altman to third base. Cubs' manager Bob Kennedy then removed Bob Buhl bringing in Lee Gregory. </b></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Ron Hunt & Joe Christopher both received intentional walks, bringing up 19-year-old Ed Kranepool. </b></span></p><p><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;">"Kid" Kranepool delivered with a bloop base hit to left field that scored Altman with the game winning walk off run.</span></b></p><p></p><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Trivia:</span></i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> In 1964 Ed Kranepool was in his first full season<br />with the Mets. He began his MLB career at 17 years old, a bonus baby signed out of high school in the Bronx, playing three games with the Mets in their inaugural 1962 season. Kranepool would spend 18 years as a Met & is still the all-time leader in games played.</span></span></b><p></p><p><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;">The victory went to pitcher Willard Hunter (2-2) as he recorded the last two outs of the top of the 10th inning.</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDEy5swJwsw2tHJa0o-8VE6ugNJWCS0fYlXr1cXVsdzLKNKuHLKb70S4ds-uLkdB1CGY9x5AGSUOcqOn5SNMBjaXcrz5ZQa9n_CVTiNIwDAjnnNCIR3HibaR_UnJ-jR7USF81UK827LhwA_mdLk2KkTyZUPeIXL6QBu2l5lz5or3iM-_K6ydMlPqsYoA/s391/casey%20stengle%20ed%20kranepool.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="391" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDEy5swJwsw2tHJa0o-8VE6ugNJWCS0fYlXr1cXVsdzLKNKuHLKb70S4ds-uLkdB1CGY9x5AGSUOcqOn5SNMBjaXcrz5ZQa9n_CVTiNIwDAjnnNCIR3HibaR_UnJ-jR7USF81UK827LhwA_mdLk2KkTyZUPeIXL6QBu2l5lz5or3iM-_K6ydMlPqsYoA/w640-h456/casey%20stengle%20ed%20kranepool.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRqfbYz1VRWhmsZgk8IJMz2sK0PaPgoMPN5iEhaYAmgRzTmgm1-CSdJSIQg2qairUMaBJJKGyYZXi92ctxuIQPgpHdMMm-HXNfd43mhU3CGYJmY5G1KgoWIBB8nQrRS6mrm7_HzwJJURpFVdMabXjmqKQByQI8TqAIVJ2YZI-cbPHC2ss_1HcsPxC8qXe/s366/ribant.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="275" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRqfbYz1VRWhmsZgk8IJMz2sK0PaPgoMPN5iEhaYAmgRzTmgm1-CSdJSIQg2qairUMaBJJKGyYZXi92ctxuIQPgpHdMMm-HXNfd43mhU3CGYJmY5G1KgoWIBB8nQrRS6mrm7_HzwJJURpFVdMabXjmqKQByQI8TqAIVJ2YZI-cbPHC2ss_1HcsPxC8qXe/w150-h200/ribant.JPG" width="150" /></a></span></i></span></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">NIGHT CAP:</span></i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b> In the second game the Mets sent 23 year 23-year-old Dennis Ribant (1-1) to the mound. This was just his fourth game in the big leagues, the rookie had just thrown a four-hit shut over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Shea Stadium in his last start. </b></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>Ribant would spend three seasons with the Mets having his best year in 1966 going 11-9 with three saves & a 3.20 ERA.</b></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Ribant's opponent on this day was Dick Ellsworth. Ellsworth was a twenty-two-game winner (22-10) the previous year but would lose 18 games (14-18) that season. In 1966, Ellsworth would lead the NL with 22 losses. </b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UCOapYkmtHbdFOFCF2Bg1H0LHY6HGW0Gj2R0WBvmyo-35qXV-xO1rxPmh7IRuTqIJ5fILwlCcKEgNwOJCiNOCszhMqkipjJQOLhUCR453TPYtaKeu6imnRA6RnWMVkW1vYnto42gdvKJaH3hMKpBzKlzs76wYMBXHTI7zG3xhriz04qeifX_HKq3YQ/s381/0.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="331" data-original-width="381" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UCOapYkmtHbdFOFCF2Bg1H0LHY6HGW0Gj2R0WBvmyo-35qXV-xO1rxPmh7IRuTqIJ5fILwlCcKEgNwOJCiNOCszhMqkipjJQOLhUCR453TPYtaKeu6imnRA6RnWMVkW1vYnto42gdvKJaH3hMKpBzKlzs76wYMBXHTI7zG3xhriz04qeifX_HKq3YQ/s320/0.JPG" width="320" /></span></b></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></b></div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjom5sarPqcZWXNFF48FmD2duXeFNDTXxBLoi_BGR13Z3EkA9_OpW9IAan-BIDLu71a3zF6AS4xRBbCB3TjDxGu8x0A9iFbvSvQLnLwG_OuscYHm7TWD1UkZJN36v90zVlbOxEqM0Im65zoBbuJPlfJqLJQvTUYiYjRgCBaGjYhUbsLHjKseuRSMe_Zq5t9/s200/GEORGE%20ALTMAN.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="146" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjom5sarPqcZWXNFF48FmD2duXeFNDTXxBLoi_BGR13Z3EkA9_OpW9IAan-BIDLu71a3zF6AS4xRBbCB3TjDxGu8x0A9iFbvSvQLnLwG_OuscYHm7TWD1UkZJN36v90zVlbOxEqM0Im65zoBbuJPlfJqLJQvTUYiYjRgCBaGjYhUbsLHjKseuRSMe_Zq5t9/s1600/GEORGE%20ALTMAN.JPG" width="146" /></a></div>The game was scoreless over the first three innings. In the bottom of the 4th, consecutive base hits from George Altman, Jim Hickman & Charley Smith gave the Mets a 1-0 lead.<br /><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">In the bottom of the 6th, George Altman led off with his sixth HR of the year, making it 2-0 Mets. Jim Hickman then singled & Charley Smith drew a walk. Ed Kranepool's grounder moved Hickman to third base. Next, catcher Chris Cannizzaro hit a sac fly bringing in Hickman for a 3-0 Mets lead. <br /><br />In the top of the 7th, Ribant blew the lead, first serving up a HR to Hall of Famer Billy Williams & then a two-run HR to Len Gabrielson tying up the game.</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPrt-4ORxzhdrSsNnk7UPPtKKZUsMH1mkMniOTP8vHIySEf0v8A_N_Rv1KCx1woJSIqzcroH7BedNrFI5emOhXOBfUvmYU7NQc0FJ3ZiLONNisWhxxhoTuWf8xvvEvaDa-M8hEQDx9u-2UFthQQVA1ztQaHUKD53n6kTpYVjYc7Tgm14m-VRwilw_C9oA/s200/BOBBY%20KLAUS.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="137" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPrt-4ORxzhdrSsNnk7UPPtKKZUsMH1mkMniOTP8vHIySEf0v8A_N_Rv1KCx1woJSIqzcroH7BedNrFI5emOhXOBfUvmYU7NQc0FJ3ZiLONNisWhxxhoTuWf8xvvEvaDa-M8hEQDx9u-2UFthQQVA1ztQaHUKD53n6kTpYVjYc7Tgm14m-VRwilw_C9oA/s1600/BOBBY%20KLAUS.JPG" width="137" /></a></div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">In the bottom of the 7th, the Mets Bobby Klause led off the inning with his third HR of the year, putting the Mets ahead 4-3. Ellsworth was relieved by Cubs pitcher Don Elston.<br /><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">In the top of the 8th, Larry Bearnarth came in for the Mets & gave up two straight base hits. Casey Stengle immediately went to Al Jackson in the bullpen. Billy WIlliams hit a grounder to the right-side allowing Jimmy Stewart to score from third & it was all tied up once again.<br /><br />In the 9th inning, with the score still tied, Casey brought in Willard Hunter once again to pitch. Hunter retired the side in order with two fly balls & a ground out.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioB4z0gnV3x9YZZFS2agVwxZpO348tgAEAyhzx4fTcdhC58ARI-Ac8n3jpIBLXL-u0LXBCEOkpU3TBk0bgytHMQMq4m4J5bEesTL5uiALG_jyKtQyElWZA3_OvaWS9JTIak3sEN8WENk11p5ZnesV_r04Vt5AqG8-BXr0gDfPTbqwp2RRHE9YK15qZXyOl/s320/charley%20smith.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="218" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioB4z0gnV3x9YZZFS2agVwxZpO348tgAEAyhzx4fTcdhC58ARI-Ac8n3jpIBLXL-u0LXBCEOkpU3TBk0bgytHMQMq4m4J5bEesTL5uiALG_jyKtQyElWZA3_OvaWS9JTIak3sEN8WENk11p5ZnesV_r04Vt5AqG8-BXr0gDfPTbqwp2RRHE9YK15qZXyOl/w136-h200/charley%20smith.JPG" width="136" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Charlie Smith</b></td></tr></tbody></table>In the bottom of the 9th, Bobby Klaus led off with a base hit. Ron Hunt moved him over with a sacrifice bunt. Cubs' pitcher Don Elston then threw a wild pitch advancing Klaus to third base.<br /><br />Then the Cubs decided to walk the next two Mets batters intentionally, just as they did in the first game. The bases were loaded for Charley Smith who poked a single to left field scoring Klaus with the second walk win of the day for the Mets. It was the first of two career Mets walk off hits for Charley Smith.</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>The victory once again went to Willard Hunter, as he became the second Mets pitcher in the short team's history to win both ends of a double header. Craig Anderson had done in in 1962.</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MG3KsQ7aRxiNy3DtIs0UDS79q7_L6DqyZjnWk583EPD2zMmbSLbQMLPProZoE2wihPuUDeLssgeFRnYWPSIA3kTkE7ck9D1F8hLFZVlNPtr2vn9kr2TX1j2uygkgzwjDsK3vZhElrJG1C8G5FxUsb2LuN81jZbzUIGu8YD7A3oj8NSmxR3Ctr3eIXAU3/s310/willard%20hunter6.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="217" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MG3KsQ7aRxiNy3DtIs0UDS79q7_L6DqyZjnWk583EPD2zMmbSLbQMLPProZoE2wihPuUDeLssgeFRnYWPSIA3kTkE7ck9D1F8hLFZVlNPtr2vn9kr2TX1j2uygkgzwjDsK3vZhElrJG1C8G5FxUsb2LuN81jZbzUIGu8YD7A3oj8NSmxR3Ctr3eIXAU3/w224-h320/willard%20hunter6.JPG" width="224" /></a></div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">The 1964 Mets won just 53 games, but that Sunday afternoon, they gave some excitement to the 27,008 fans that came to Shea Stadium to root them on.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Trivia:</i></span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> In 1964, the Mets would have six walk off victories. They played 22 double headers that season, getting swept ten times, winning both ends four times & splitting the two games seven times. One doubleheader's nightcap even ended up in a tie.</span></b><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">New Jersey native, </span>Willard Hunter <span style="color: #2b00fe;">spent two seasons with the Mets, leading the team with five saves in 1964. That year he saw the most action appearing in 41 games finishing off 27 games. Overall, he was 4-9 with five saves & a 5.06 ERA. After earning wins in both ends of the double header, he never won another career game.</span></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3OOkJBZn5zQbcAZ4naYuqdPgxYuW_m95DEI8h9RQFKgs-eQ_hF6JUu9iib7Cl_gKanrmz9YX6BGM3fGxBjTuEmrdCjVfX7ZV_TtZGSw4gh_Ycoub9Y39GU02ArihsnCJpb25z5wJBPIbywZzdoCtV0qaqQtkIsGcWaXtfkT8DoPQNn9xmZc-QfH7vHLsj/s960/1964%20mets.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="960" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3OOkJBZn5zQbcAZ4naYuqdPgxYuW_m95DEI8h9RQFKgs-eQ_hF6JUu9iib7Cl_gKanrmz9YX6BGM3fGxBjTuEmrdCjVfX7ZV_TtZGSw4gh_Ycoub9Y39GU02ArihsnCJpb25z5wJBPIbywZzdoCtV0qaqQtkIsGcWaXtfkT8DoPQNn9xmZc-QfH7vHLsj/w640-h296/1964%20mets.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879473706233234375.post-58187993607284820222024-03-07T23:00:00.020-05:002024-03-07T23:00:00.138-05:00Willard Hunter: 1960's Mets Pitcher Who Once Won Both Ends of a Double Header (1962 - 1964)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBr6-q6E_5XsDSrVzDh1UF_2AisvWoLxYx0m-VAnP_P5oDR9P3sYw1i9W764gJbnK_qxo0TZzLQy4ELFvIr6G3qnLyQxZ7hDFlXlY5EBw8haDbSj4EMAOF_7DAmfCdsmUSaY3V0d0IMx5pDyC_3eIrcsGmAQuaAO1mXvOo5gIJ0RdGyxq9y7JGNFPYAMyh/s320/willard%20hunter.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="212" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBr6-q6E_5XsDSrVzDh1UF_2AisvWoLxYx0m-VAnP_P5oDR9P3sYw1i9W764gJbnK_qxo0TZzLQy4ELFvIr6G3qnLyQxZ7hDFlXlY5EBw8haDbSj4EMAOF_7DAmfCdsmUSaY3V0d0IMx5pDyC_3eIrcsGmAQuaAO1mXvOo5gIJ0RdGyxq9y7JGNFPYAMyh/w265-h400/willard%20hunter.JPG" width="265" /></a></div> <b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;">Willard Mitchell Hunter</span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> was born March 8th, 1935, in Newark New Jersey. Hunter attended high school at a New Jersey Prep School & Glen Falls, New York where he was a star pitcher.</span></span></b><div><p></p><p></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span><b>The six foot-two left-handed pitcher later attended Wake Forest University & getting signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954. Hunter had control issues early on & spent seven years in the minor leagues.</b></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">MLB Debut:</span></i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> On April 16th, Scott was given a start making his only Dodger appearance. It was a nightmare outing, as he gave up ten runs in San Francisco, including a three run HR to Willie Mays </span></b></span></span><b style="color: #2b00fe;">taking the loss.</b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Mets Career:</span></i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> Less than a month later, the Dodgers sent Hunter to the New York Mets to complete the Charlie Neal deal made in 1961.</span></span></b></p><p><b style="color: #2b00fe;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Hunter found a spot right away on the Mets bad pitching staff. On June 1st he debuted at the Polo Grounds in front of 43,742 fans, many of them former NY Giants fans, facing those Giants. He gave up a grand slam HR to Jim Davenport, five runs in all in the 9-6 loss. Willie Mays & Willie McCovey also homered in that game.</span></b></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPhTAwhrJ_0QpLfICgeb0SVsQeXqNQAqHj-Io6RY6xBPOc6l10AfGYscMzBo29tXkiAihnHnsGwe3MHw7KqTnQnv0u8QFXQAmOpwXIl9-67PqDM7JDv2-A1FYW6_NgSF4fru34PxFHoE7hP9OmrmfmtX9R_D2GfM9mZyBbTHMGeHFKhyphenhypheneQYjs9FHq7C3s/s513/willard%20hunter4.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPhTAwhrJ_0QpLfICgeb0SVsQeXqNQAqHj-Io6RY6xBPOc6l10AfGYscMzBo29tXkiAihnHnsGwe3MHw7KqTnQnv0u8QFXQAmOpwXIl9-67PqDM7JDv2-A1FYW6_NgSF4fru34PxFHoE7hP9OmrmfmtX9R_D2GfM9mZyBbTHMGeHFKhyphenhypheneQYjs9FHq7C3s/w200-h320/willard%20hunter4.JPG" width="200" /></a></b></span></div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>The Giants were certainly his nemesis, in five games against them he gave up an incredible 25 runs, 17 extra base hits, 5 HRs & he issued 14 walks, as they batted .410 against Hunter.</b></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>Two days later on June 3rd, he amazingly got by pitching a scoreless inning against the Giants.</b></span></p><p><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">First Career Victory:</span></i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> On June 9th, in a rare Mets offensive outburst that year, they put up 11 runs at Wrigley Field, as Hunter pitched six innings giving up three runs, earning his first career win. It was his only win of the year.</span></b></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>Over the next month from June 16th to July15th made five starts & lost all five decisions. In six games in that time, he allowed 23 earned runs in 27.2 innings including eight HRs.</b></span></p><p></p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>Hunter ended the season at 1-6 with a 6.65 ERA. He gave up 10 HRs & 48 earned runs in 65 innings pitched. He struck out 41 & walked 38 in28 appearances, making six starts.</b></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOr8zUew1AhF0w0Ru1onOrfVsonzYyvmvyX4AwPpwYqYUi2PIXVOWcNDl771pkd_CudjLCodaWbs6D0oqflOwjRzSswk3xLDnzBlAz6roek1gV8Lbj3ZN0HGsbHlwEqokW_3Q-L3Y2LpdJ5ewHQ6QzACZ8O8eIcmo8_SGAcIDmGABJeIT5lZQMsKZ18dR/s487/willard%20hunter1.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="487" data-original-width="372" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOr8zUew1AhF0w0Ru1onOrfVsonzYyvmvyX4AwPpwYqYUi2PIXVOWcNDl771pkd_CudjLCodaWbs6D0oqflOwjRzSswk3xLDnzBlAz6roek1gV8Lbj3ZN0HGsbHlwEqokW_3Q-L3Y2LpdJ5ewHQ6QzACZ8O8eIcmo8_SGAcIDmGABJeIT5lZQMsKZ18dR/w244-h320/willard%20hunter1.JPG" width="244" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Quotes- Willard Hunter:</i></span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> "This is the greatest team to work with. The guys are terrific, the pitching coaches are more helpful than any I've encountered & that Casey! Well let me just say everything you've read about his way of talking & working with the players is true. Plus, he's the g</span></b>r<b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">eatest & the fellows love him. They'd do anything for him anytime, I know".</span></b><p></p><p><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">1963:</span></i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> Hunter spent the year at AAA Buffalo going 10-5. </span></b></p><p><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>1964:</b></span></i><b style="color: #2b00fe;"> In June of 1964 he was back with the </b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>big-league</b></span><b style="color: #2b00fe;"> club. On July 1st he earned a save in a 8-6 win at Houston & on July 22nd finished off a 4-3 win at Cincinnati earning the win. </b></p><p><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Victories In Both Ends of a Double Header:</b></span></i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b> His biggest day of glory came on an August 23rd Sunday double header with the Cubs at Shea Stadium. </b></span></p><p><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2Uh2pg-FhOEfTRk1hgQMgbdTpitQlkpDm_sPH6mD2aW6pLCpa5SSfkbvQ9IXsdL1Mo_K6W5WKlU3XnoYPVLMODWyZ_WA8zcgquuzW9xTdR0R1Qbtpxdmp0SklRJsUZOwWiFFD-QCfoeNpqM77MBDQwhl85uD12yBKPIvUOWxoyIxR-fiEDJnx5uoXeMy/s409/willard%20hunter3.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="301" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2Uh2pg-FhOEfTRk1hgQMgbdTpitQlkpDm_sPH6mD2aW6pLCpa5SSfkbvQ9IXsdL1Mo_K6W5WKlU3XnoYPVLMODWyZ_WA8zcgquuzW9xTdR0R1Qbtpxdmp0SklRJsUZOwWiFFD-QCfoeNpqM77MBDQwhl85uD12yBKPIvUOWxoyIxR-fiEDJnx5uoXeMy/s320/willard%20hunter3.JPG" width="236" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">In the first game, Hunter came in the game in the<br /> top of the 10th inning with two on & one out in a 1-1 tie. He got Leo Burke to pop up & Hall of Famer Billy Williams to ground out to Ron Hunt at second. In the bottom of the inning 19-year-old Ed Kranepool hit a walk off single to win the game giving Hunter the win.<br /></span></b><p></p><p></p><p><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">In the night cap, Casey Stengle brought Hunter in to pitch in the top of the 9th in a 4-4 tie. He retired the side in order. In the bottom of the 9th, Bobby Klaus singled advanced & scored on Charlie Smith's walk off base hit. The Shea fans went wild with the rare wins in such dramatic style.<br /></span></b></p><p><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Trivia: </span></i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Hunter was the second Mets pitcher to earn wins in both ends of a double header as Craig Anderson had done it in 1962.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #2b00fe;">After Willard's two victories in that doubleheader, he would not win another game. He finished the season at 3-3 with a 4.41 ERA. Hunter did lead the team with five saves & finishing up 26 games. He struck out 22 & walked 9 in 49 innings in 41 appearances, all in relief. </span></b></p><p><b style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAVBHJ__VKRkHCN-h_3OI6QUYY2zUHv5gRyglUW762kvtbdwRbkSzzy5If5QoXdAvt0KJSVoUl0U5YEVQKVmjnEZ5DszBaSPh6FgRpOUVSJ__T52ot-dX2xENwQnbeAUDwV32ohFWbZay-b4CdDFgJ9uYyWDX1F64xijxbvbE69QS2vLM59uHp74-FwQg/s128/willard%20hunter7.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="128" data-original-width="117" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAVBHJ__VKRkHCN-h_3OI6QUYY2zUHv5gRyglUW762kvtbdwRbkSzzy5If5QoXdAvt0KJSVoUl0U5YEVQKVmjnEZ5DszBaSPh6FgRpOUVSJ__T52ot-dX2xENwQnbeAUDwV32ohFWbZay-b4CdDFgJ9uYyWDX1F64xijxbvbE69QS2vLM59uHp74-FwQg/w183-h200/willard%20hunter7.JPG" width="183" /></a></b><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">That year, Casey Stengle kept him far away from the Giants as he only pitched one inning against them, without giving up any runs. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">In the off season he had shoulder surgery & lost his effectiveness. </span></b><b style="color: #2b00fe;">In 1965 he pitched in 26 games at AAA Buffalo finishing up his baseball career. </b></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><i>Family:</i></span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b> Willard was married to his long-time wife Delores, together they had children & many </b></span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>grandchildren.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>P</i><span style="font-style: italic;">assing:</span></span></span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b> In February of 2021, Hunter passed away in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 87.</b></span></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879473706233234375.post-79604248252426765572024-03-06T23:25:00.001-05:002024-03-06T23:25:00.137-05:00Jeff Kent: Mid Nineties One Time Mets Second Base Slugger (1992 - 1996)
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAEGdDgio7Ja7KpsdIHt-bZCsfF_E2VgNjPUj265P0-lZsIMuX-wZ1-XABhdRkGqUiFjqHt6P2VyZk1q5-4vD2kS41t9Answ_aaSkv2HsZuJ1GQJrsyd5ZrTX7Q5Ax2qSn7SIakq68emibFItjRL61Kw0sCNaQg_ti3YmkbOa_VpeqpRGLQe5yEwqDtQ/s300/jeff%20kent2.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="289" data-original-width="300" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAEGdDgio7Ja7KpsdIHt-bZCsfF_E2VgNjPUj265P0-lZsIMuX-wZ1-XABhdRkGqUiFjqHt6P2VyZk1q5-4vD2kS41t9Answ_aaSkv2HsZuJ1GQJrsyd5ZrTX7Q5Ax2qSn7SIakq68emibFItjRL61Kw0sCNaQg_ti3YmkbOa_VpeqpRGLQe5yEwqDtQ/w400-h385/jeff%20kent2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Jeffrey Franklin Kent</span><b> was born on March 7, 1968, in Bellflower, California a suburb of Los Angeles. His father was a motorcycle cop who didn't stand for nonsense or small talk.</b></span><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>As a kid Kent was into motor cross & surfing, not watching baseball on TV because he later said it was too boring. His father did take him & his brother to baseball games.</strong></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>Kent did play baseball in little league & in school. At high school Kent & his attitude problem caused a serious run in with his baseball coach which got him removed from the team. He attended the University of California at Berkley, playing for the Golden Bears.</b></span><br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>The six foot one right hand hitter, was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 20th round of the 1988 draft. He played three brief seasons in the minors, showing power hitting 16 HRs in 1990 at AA ball.</strong></span><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ghUPlvFu70VJ1CRblKDL7JlBRdkRGjj8H6UWLuK5V2XxKdA_StSoRog-xO8laeCdui1khuRB7Z5XA0FsCvN2Hjz0oeUlYp0jaUzPufVKsEieycurXxB-ncDRktyGLx_LJZRfCIOjKL8S/s1600/jeff+kent+%25281%2529.gif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ghUPlvFu70VJ1CRblKDL7JlBRdkRGjj8H6UWLuK5V2XxKdA_StSoRog-xO8laeCdui1khuRB7Z5XA0FsCvN2Hjz0oeUlYp0jaUzPufVKsEieycurXxB-ncDRktyGLx_LJZRfCIOjKL8S/s320/jeff+kent+%25281%2529.gif" width="213" /></a><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">MLB Career: </span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b>He got onto the Blue Jays Opening Day roster in 1992 debuting on April 12th getting his first career hit that day, a 6th inning double in a 3-1 win over the Orioles. Two days later he hit his first career HR off Lee Gutterman in a 12-6 win over the A.L. New York club. </b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b>For the eventual World Champion Blue Jays, he played 65 games for Toronto hitting 8 HRs with 35 RBIs and batting .240, through the end of August. On August 27, 1992, Kent & Ryan Thompson were traded to the New York Mets in the trade for pitcher David Cone.</b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>M</i><i>ets Career:</i></span><span style="color: blue;"> Kent debuted at Shea Stadium on August 28th in a double header sweep over the Cincinnati Reds. He went hitless in the first game, then in the second game had two hits & drove in three runs. Three days later he hit his first Mets HR, coming off the Braves Pete Smith while playing both ends of a losing double header against Atlanta.</span></strong></span><br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGfxo1oOZSYf9aYzTTiJihrFVINfPIABC0SJdVrNdYKaxxGY6Zx1-1gC7s4dcfXoc8RTM-mpXa9sKl68o7uSO7RsM8xhxLXBBnyWZNFaQEfWDJ_FEYUbrNLLAIaegJ-DhS86FXswYoIqQ/s1600/jeff+kent+(4).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGfxo1oOZSYf9aYzTTiJihrFVINfPIABC0SJdVrNdYKaxxGY6Zx1-1gC7s4dcfXoc8RTM-mpXa9sKl68o7uSO7RsM8xhxLXBBnyWZNFaQEfWDJ_FEYUbrNLLAIaegJ-DhS86FXswYoIqQ/w266-h400/jeff+kent+(4).jpg" width="266" /></a>Kent refused to be treated as rookie when arriving in New York, not participating in any hazing that went on to initiate rookies. He insisted his rookie status was left behind in Toronto.</strong></span></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: blue;">Although he angered some of his teammates with those & many other actions, he did show class by moving over to short stop at the end of the season, allowing Willie Randolph to play his final career game at second base.</b></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b></b></span><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Never the Most Popular Guy- Anywhere:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> But in Kent's career he was never a popular player with fans or other baseball players, even his own teammates. Some knew him as having a giant ego, others said he was just not a nice guy. He was known to be very aloof with a terrible attitude. So was the drama & career of Jeff Kent.</span></b><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>In 37 games for the fifth place Mets, he would hit .239 with 3 HRs 8 doubles & 13 RBIs. Kent would become the Mets primary second baseman for the next three & a half losing seasons, through 1996.</strong></span><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLr7MQyRHPwb6AItvMFpjuiWj6Wxj5_rIu0VQAWBavmPqTTkhVo9RK1EjtfsCjjIYde5N9A95ScMbMSGFL8uGl3GAt-AniSGTqXzg7IiEpRdNCG66IOQEY-0BzzVdZrGgBvsZR1zj2MNJ5/s1600/jeff+kent+(16).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLr7MQyRHPwb6AItvMFpjuiWj6Wxj5_rIu0VQAWBavmPqTTkhVo9RK1EjtfsCjjIYde5N9A95ScMbMSGFL8uGl3GAt-AniSGTqXzg7IiEpRdNCG66IOQEY-0BzzVdZrGgBvsZR1zj2MNJ5/s320/jeff+kent+(16).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">1993:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> He started the season slow, hitting just .213 in April & having hit just two HRs through the month of May. He didn't hit for a high average & manager Jeff Torborg put him on the bench. Torborg was replaced by Dallas Green who put Kent back in the lineup. His power numbers & run production picked up in the summer months.</span></b></span><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>On June 29th, his 8th inning HR off the Marlins Bryan Harvey tied up the game, on their way to a 10-9 Met win. On July 6th, he broke up a 5-5 tie with the Padres, hitting an 8th inning HR off Tim Mauser. In the 9th John Franco gave up two more runs with Kent's HR making the difference in the 9-8 win.</strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>Two days later he had another multi-RBI game, driving in three runs with three hits in a loss to the Dodgers. From July 17th through the 27th, Kent drove in runs in eight of ten games. On July 18th he had his first multi-HR game, hitting two in San Francisco in a 12-6 Met win. </b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMB1pAKQxDW-5nNs4SdVgkMh9WxGfTg7f03awqv0yuX6KgJvsk8uBS38D2bVEsGWVlcVEfoiIPtO32u01zdeB0-sRIIqVaYJ_KrPVT4dk-gOQ4b4IwZlaYEKGwEz8s_PHSODQReS8ss3mFYd9s545x1un-rViLmu15H0o0gJ-gY7tN3CwV9p8Q9lZ0Q/s314/jeff%20kent3.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="314" data-original-width="265" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMB1pAKQxDW-5nNs4SdVgkMh9WxGfTg7f03awqv0yuX6KgJvsk8uBS38D2bVEsGWVlcVEfoiIPtO32u01zdeB0-sRIIqVaYJ_KrPVT4dk-gOQ4b4IwZlaYEKGwEz8s_PHSODQReS8ss3mFYd9s545x1un-rViLmu15H0o0gJ-gY7tN3CwV9p8Q9lZ0Q/s1600/jeff%20kent3.JPG" width="265" /></a></div>On July 27th he had another multi-HR game, hitting two HRs off the Marlins Pat Rapp driving in all four runs in the Mets 4-3 win. In the month he hit 6 HRs & drove in 19 runs while batting .323.</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>In late August Kent drove in nine runs in five games over an eight-game span. On August 21 & 22 he homered in back-to-back games at Colorado Coors Field. On August 28th his bottom of the 8th single tied up a game with the Reds. After Mike Maddux blew the lead, the Mets won it on wild pitch from Kevin Wicklander scoring the winning run. For August he batted .330 collecting 32 hits in 97 at bats.</b></span><br />
<br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong> On September 10th, Kent drove in four runs in a 12-10 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Shea, he had three hits & hits a two run HR off Mike Morgan. </strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4XzMCOt5W5LiitHTZsJzip8wLKHN3sdSG_xrZbwcM4O4xQzEoegi6gHHsvzB7UjZC8dyellIyE44nsWx2bR8OEAFyWHkagJnXFrp1Kup6i2E9NHDu8RzdlGQscR6nzPHzx6et5ATl6a4w97d2G6sD6lSQxc2UEMD1-6x4g_s5Lf2_ZsHsiNzyJXg5_g/s241/jeff%20kent6.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="241" data-original-width="184" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4XzMCOt5W5LiitHTZsJzip8wLKHN3sdSG_xrZbwcM4O4xQzEoegi6gHHsvzB7UjZC8dyellIyE44nsWx2bR8OEAFyWHkagJnXFrp1Kup6i2E9NHDu8RzdlGQscR6nzPHzx6et5ATl6a4w97d2G6sD6lSQxc2UEMD1-6x4g_s5Lf2_ZsHsiNzyJXg5_g/w244-h320/jeff%20kent6.JPG" width="244" /></a></div></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Grand Slam HR:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> On September 26th, in a 9-3 win over the Expos, he hit a grand slam HR off Ken Hill in the 5th inning, driving in a season high five runs in a three-hit game.</b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Walk Off Hit:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> Three days later on September 29th, the Mets & Cardinals had an epic 17 inning<br /> pitcher's duel. The Mets Bobby Jones pitched ten shutout innings, then Jeff Innis & Mauro Gozzo pitched three innings each, followed by one from Kenny Gear. </b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><span style="color: blue;">In the bottom of the 17th. Kents walk off double off the St. Louis' pitcher Les Lancaster, </span></strong></span><strong><span style="color: blue;">won it for the Mets</span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue;">. </span></strong></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>In his first full season with the Mets, he hit 21 HRs with 80 RBIs both third on the club to Bobby Bonilla & Eddie Murray. Kent batted .270 with 134 hits 24 doubles, 65 runs scored & 17 multi-RBI games. He struck out 88 times walked 30 times posted a .320 on base % & a .765 OPS. </b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetmDTunQ0jjoboBLq1vbTBsVy0kqKJ4kD9yRVS3lrgyJ2TyUnKIFA-BtP-btz9mW-mHfs3mGrbg-REPY4Y1sdNXb2KOg4CrlZlsGX8lLOSxj2HE6LzhTheXiE9NCsolrOT1WJnfADCUjv/s1600/jeff+kent+(12).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetmDTunQ0jjoboBLq1vbTBsVy0kqKJ4kD9yRVS3lrgyJ2TyUnKIFA-BtP-btz9mW-mHfs3mGrbg-REPY4Y1sdNXb2KOg4CrlZlsGX8lLOSxj2HE6LzhTheXiE9NCsolrOT1WJnfADCUjv/s320/jeff+kent+(12).jpg" width="229" /></a><span style="color: blue;"><b>At second base he led the league with his 18 errors.<br /></b></span>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Strike Shortened 1994</span></i><span style="color: blue;">: On Opening Day he had four hits, including a three run HR at Wrigley Field helping the Mets to a 12-8 victory over the Cubs. He drove in a pair of runs in his first three games of the year.</span></strong></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Player of the Week Award:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> On April 11th he hit his second HR of the year, driving in three runs in a loss to the Cubs. The next day at Shea, he hit two HRs & drove in a season high five RBIs in a 10-9 Mets win. Kent homered in three straight games, as he hit another the next day in a loss to Houston. </b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b>On April 17th he then hit two more HR, coming off the Astros Darryl Kile & Todd Jones, during in three of the Mets four runs in the 4-2 win. As the Mets went west to San Diego, he hit a HR in the series opened. From April 11th to April 18th, he hit 8 HRs driving in 17 runs earning him the Player of the Week Award.</b></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr1Tkp5J9IzSe54_ckRpqJtDQW_kFqaKA1hcnmn9tkwsDQw_GXhAJGvIn1rSE4ES1qWwEahJ_0ROIlndWNDlyOzhSlM20VwAklxfHXuHLIM1gVci7WODwez0zkdchHPfzhKai7sgkOfOSy/s1600/jeff+kent+(10).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr1Tkp5J9IzSe54_ckRpqJtDQW_kFqaKA1hcnmn9tkwsDQw_GXhAJGvIn1rSE4ES1qWwEahJ_0ROIlndWNDlyOzhSlM20VwAklxfHXuHLIM1gVci7WODwez0zkdchHPfzhKai7sgkOfOSy/s320/jeff+kent+(10).jpg" width="228" /></a><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Overall,</b></span><strong><span style="color: blue;"> he had a huge April with 8 HRs 26 RBIs, finishing the month batting .375 placing him amongst the tops in the N.L. </span></strong></span><br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>In May he remained hot, from May 25th thru May 29th, Kent drove in seven more runs going into the first week of June batting .323 with 11 HRs & 39 RBIs. </strong></span><b style="color: blue;">In June he hit safely in 17 of 20 games but only hit 2 HRs & drove in 9 runs.</b></div><div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Grand Slam HR:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> After a HR drought that lasted a month, he finally connected on July 22nd at Shea Stadium. In the bottom of the 1st, he hit a grand slam HR off the Giants Bill Swift, leading the Mets to a 6-3 win. It was his second career grand slam & his 13th HR of the year. </b></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b>From July 17th to July 29th, he had 12 RBI's while driving in runs in eight of ten games.</b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><span style="color: blue;">That year the seasons ended in early August due to a baseball strike.</span></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></strong></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEkpR8fBAezc5n0p7oHkaZWnyJhmg_oLGQldxcTcROaaNfbimIHxdv11Fhl-CHp9cRr_5FhpSnUm6EPOVe9KcEPJPN3mYj-5xfNRTttmecuUUB7-NWlB-fxRW_czES_Xhjfdwkz921JZy/s1600/468155938.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="311" data-original-width="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEkpR8fBAezc5n0p7oHkaZWnyJhmg_oLGQldxcTcROaaNfbimIHxdv11Fhl-CHp9cRr_5FhpSnUm6EPOVe9KcEPJPN3mYj-5xfNRTttmecuUUB7-NWlB-fxRW_czES_Xhjfdwkz921JZy/s1600/468155938.jpg" /></a><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><span style="color: blue;">Kent finished as the team’s offensive leader, leading them in batting (.292) RBIs (68) hits (121) doubles (24) & triples (5). He hit 14 HRs with 121 hits walked 23 times struck out 84 times posted a 341 on base % & a .816 OPS. </span></strong></span><strong><span style="color: blue;">He helped the Mets climb out of the cellar to third place.</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></strong></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b>At second base he was terrible defensively once again making 14 errors in 107 games.</b></span></div><div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">1995: </span></i><span style="color: blue;">As play finally resumed in late April, Kent started the new season struggling out of the gate. Although he hit five HRs in May he was batting just .202 in the middle of the month. </span></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>In June he began to get hit, having eleven multi-hit games. In mid-month he drove in runs in four straight games. After a July 5th HR in a 5-4 Mets win at Wrigley Field, where Bobby Bonilla drove in the walk off run, Kent went down with an injury for the next three weeks.</b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1CwQM1RGUO5s4s9QJbN1ssYg6CvRD_xPUeFpHnc1PYqmh4Vkskzy2qSqnJ8V_Jrtn_-iElfWIsP3BUlpQYcSilu-LaTGXA73QxGQRjfII1g04cD8Mvv1Amd_3xL-UQn-aCIM-W8cA-dfNNJWLzVNEe9Rfq0Rfzb6fF3Sv8yEB-pXJBwl_OL9H090TQ/s311/jeff%20kent5.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="311" data-original-width="230" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1CwQM1RGUO5s4s9QJbN1ssYg6CvRD_xPUeFpHnc1PYqmh4Vkskzy2qSqnJ8V_Jrtn_-iElfWIsP3BUlpQYcSilu-LaTGXA73QxGQRjfII1g04cD8Mvv1Amd_3xL-UQn-aCIM-W8cA-dfNNJWLzVNEe9Rfq0Rfzb6fF3Sv8yEB-pXJBwl_OL9H090TQ/w296-h400/jeff%20kent5.JPG" width="296" /></a></div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>When he returned, he hit safely in 17 of 19 games bringing </b></span><b style="color: blue;">his average up to just under .290. On July 25th he had a </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>four-hit</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> game, highlighted by a 2nd inning HR off the Cardinals Mike Morgan in a loss at St. Louis.</b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: blue;">In </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>September</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> he hit just four HRs but drove in 21 runs, nine more than he had in any other month. On September 14th he had a </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>multi-RBI</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> game driving in a season high four runs in a 10-3 win at Atlanta. The next day he drove in two more runs in a 8-4 Mets win & had seven hits in the </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>four-game</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> set where the Mets took three of four from the eventual world champs. </b><b style="color: blue;">He finished the year out hitting safely in 20 of 25 games.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b style="color: blue;">On the season Kent hit 20 HRs with 65 RBIs second best on the club to Rico Brogna. Kent hit .278 </b><b style="color: blue;">with 131 hits with 22 doubles 3 triples & 6 runs scored. He struck out 89 times walked 29 times, posted a .327 on base % & a .791 OPS.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDO2DJaBUPdazTqZE0m9n5qqCBzeYQJbauUrTh9BfQOZ25folV8jUier9hFYfZemHzhFlHiX0nig3VcSL5VXILVWP9BLUsJzgFIdHCNxVrpEsEzuFdmJ_13TWWCXxw-iNYBqU7NHgypdFyfxHJA6re39CgCXAlWC_W-V6OLoLgZpDeai7PmiLlzy8VQ/s379/jeff%20kent.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="379" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDO2DJaBUPdazTqZE0m9n5qqCBzeYQJbauUrTh9BfQOZ25folV8jUier9hFYfZemHzhFlHiX0nig3VcSL5VXILVWP9BLUsJzgFIdHCNxVrpEsEzuFdmJ_13TWWCXxw-iNYBqU7NHgypdFyfxHJA6re39CgCXAlWC_W-V6OLoLgZpDeai7PmiLlzy8VQ/w400-h304/jeff%20kent.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>The Mets finished second but were still under .500 with a 69-75 record under manager Dallas Green.</b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Drama in NY:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> Although his numbers were good, Kent was not a good fit in New York. Here he earned the reputation as being difficult in the club house & not getting along with teammates. He was very isolated keeping to himself while not participating with the team in off the field activities. </span></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;">He had a quick temper which presented a whole bunch of other issues with the large media presence in New York. The fans didn't like him much either making him very un</span></b></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>popular around Shea Stadium.</strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK974ix7g6zT9bx0-uVbjFqXShrIUNp2V_uKmu0GDmSjJRnjeedzcoETuSGCiSrJMIWZtjm9RlUD8CLkw4dMutXxzDYKf-elEErg_-N5yHEZGENlHNuzhCqJSzVhYrNR8q5mlABjLAI93X/s1600/jeff+kent.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK974ix7g6zT9bx0-uVbjFqXShrIUNp2V_uKmu0GDmSjJRnjeedzcoETuSGCiSrJMIWZtjm9RlUD8CLkw4dMutXxzDYKf-elEErg_-N5yHEZGENlHNuzhCqJSzVhYrNR8q5mlABjLAI93X/w320-h305/jeff+kent.png" width="320" /></a><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">1996:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> The Mets had had enough of his poor attitude & they began to shop him throughout the season. </span></b></span><b style="color: blue;">By July he was hitting .290 with 9 HRs 20 doubles & 39 RBIs when he was traded along with Jose Vizcaino to the Cleveland Indians for Carlos Baerga. It looked like a good deal at the </b><span style="color: blue;"><b>time,</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> but this did not turn out to be a good deal for New York as Baerga bombed & Kent's production got better.</b></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Mets Career:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> In his </span></b><span style="color: blue;"><b>five-year</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> career he played 498 Mets games batting .279 with 510 hits 98 doubles 10 triples 67 HRs 267 RBIs. He struck out 346 times walked 110 times posted a .327 on base % & .780 OPS.</b></div><div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Post Mets Career:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> Kent was out of Cleveland after the season ended, getting traded to San Francisco for Matt Williams. </span></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Giants Career:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> In San Francisco he became one of the game’s best run producers & power hitters of his era. In the next decade he would hit over .290 eight times, drive in over 100 runs eight times, hit 30 or more HRs three times & 40 or more doubles four times.</span></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GU3UyyGnBR4av6-brhwdBbE4AvmTk-PpF6PfxZ308m9H1CudLYIFkoSATk6pzx8dutXbQ7JCRvvLi-6q_VvQkpO9yTPg39737jUPX8nB2D67BTXtEhEctiJ18a8MDL0fXqO17AgBjz1BFbKrTcFiqxwqrq5GNw2f-WrcdUJmkXJLwiGi5d0s5jIyyw/s392/jeff%20kent9.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="392" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GU3UyyGnBR4av6-brhwdBbE4AvmTk-PpF6PfxZ308m9H1CudLYIFkoSATk6pzx8dutXbQ7JCRvvLi-6q_VvQkpO9yTPg39737jUPX8nB2D67BTXtEhEctiJ18a8MDL0fXqO17AgBjz1BFbKrTcFiqxwqrq5GNw2f-WrcdUJmkXJLwiGi5d0s5jIyyw/w400-h275/jeff%20kent9.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>He would get elected to five All Star teams and win the 2000 NL MVP Award putting up 33 HRs 41 doubles 125 RBIs & bat a career high .334. Although teammate Barry Bonds had better numbers on the year, Kent was often intentionally walked as well.</b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>He came up big in clutch situations & the fact that Barry Bonds was always on base ahead of him added to his RBI production. </strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>Kent was at his best in his career during his Giants years (1997-2002) batting behind Barry Bonds</b><br /><b> & Playing for manager Dusty Baker. There he got to the post season three times, including a 2002 NL Pennant.</b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjCfTs5j2Tk6-aSUT0OnVYKWj_k8SCFoqFouMXzpcpE96CSEad_rRVXYEa5_ji_A9AoBLwxNp3VoOHTAN6WZfmPAkotA12C4RxIVvsA6Sl3DV4fCAm7eZrMOZULCEc6lbi7VvHu4M_wSjTBVFV1GIe1sBWiyKvzh9r1r88nJNHHJaN4SQmb5-24tgVw/s334/jeff%20kent11.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="334" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjCfTs5j2Tk6-aSUT0OnVYKWj_k8SCFoqFouMXzpcpE96CSEad_rRVXYEa5_ji_A9AoBLwxNp3VoOHTAN6WZfmPAkotA12C4RxIVvsA6Sl3DV4fCAm7eZrMOZULCEc6lbi7VvHu4M_wSjTBVFV1GIe1sBWiyKvzh9r1r88nJNHHJaN4SQmb5-24tgVw/w400-h310/jeff%20kent11.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Drama:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> But Drama & controversy still surrounded him even at his best. </span></strong></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>His relationship with </strong></span><strong style="color: blue;">Barry Bonds was constantly filled with tension and came to a head in a dugout shoving match in 2002. </strong><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>During one injury he told the Giants he had broken his wrist while washing his truck, but reports said he was doing stunts on his motorcycle, which violated his contract. </strong></span></div><div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><em>1997 Post Season:</em></span> He got to his first post season with the Giants in 1997. He hit two HRs in the NLDS loss to the eventual World Champion Florida Marlins.</strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dQw-Nf1VpEAjWfXCplprNVAwZ0B5-ZbuVLvq9A6LY_t7SlMOVeIy4ljPWK9dXBR_OXI5X_PYQQFJjuPstt3aq5LxuIudCpN5Lpy-fkw6H76cTXHk-lBJxpO8nz1aHX2iDc9PaJ9jb9qQNPkRn-AO7Inl-ShAcvCQ5fqfDRQJ76iAhU4aWW8m0YQH_Q/s389/jeff%20kent.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="274" data-original-width="389" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dQw-Nf1VpEAjWfXCplprNVAwZ0B5-ZbuVLvq9A6LY_t7SlMOVeIy4ljPWK9dXBR_OXI5X_PYQQFJjuPstt3aq5LxuIudCpN5Lpy-fkw6H76cTXHk-lBJxpO8nz1aHX2iDc9PaJ9jb9qQNPkRn-AO7Inl-ShAcvCQ5fqfDRQJ76iAhU4aWW8m0YQH_Q/w400-h281/jeff%20kent.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>In 1998 he won the August Player of the Month award after returning from an injury. That year the Giants lost a one game playoff to the Cubs. He batted. 297 with 31 HRs & 128 RBIs. In 1999 Kent he was the Giants only player to make the All-Star team & also hit for the cycle that May. That year he drove in a career high 128 runs batting .297 with 31 HRs.</b></span></div><div><strong style="color: blue;"><br /></strong></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b>In 2000 the Giants began play in their new ballpark - Pac Bell Stadium. Kent hit 33 HRs with a career best 1.021 OPS. He drove in over 100 runs (125) for the fourth straight season, joining Giants legends Mel Ott, Bill Terry, Irish Meusel & George High Pockets Kelly, all New York Giants in accomplishing that feat.</b></span></div><div><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGgejDMwQZs3wMDZmWofbYlfZ4XjkkHNYRrjBI3MijTLthR9n27iYmBbW2q-mzW9BMwjkQkcGbW2QcHJDsQvxPyg481ajXmTA1FeQr5QPX3UtJYOZySv6nlGQRWK6dlDF4Qm2eH6iGDyG/s320/Jeff-Kent-Hall-of-Fame-debate-122613.jpg" width="320" /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-style: italic;">2000 NLDS: </span></span><span style="color: blue; font-weight: bold;"> The Giants won the West, & in the NLDS against his old Mets team, he batted .375 (6-16) but drove in just one run in the </span><span style="color: blue;"><b>four-game</b></span><b style="color: blue;"> series loss to the NL Champion Mets.</b></div><div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">2002 Post Season:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> In 2002 his Giants won the NL pennant, in the NLDS win over Atlanta he drove in a run in the Game # 3, batting .263 in the series. </span></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: blue;">In the NLCS win over the Cardinals he didn't fare much better, hitting .263 with no HRs or any RBIs.</span></b></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB52-Rq0vk90lml95jXsA4YKH_FelHs7PoxI8_tyICO_ICxkTWnvNy61djygH1xnmyo4MfxGYDOabJbaMyxR8jDnUj4541h78pznJH6j-bv2_vFpqKW68lxT9yHd8RuEWjqUsXOgS2BSOqsDnCtFCzyc0P_O80sKusr3Hp8CZY92xTTTGhO2iHOg-Cdw/s400/jeff%20kent8.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="400" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB52-Rq0vk90lml95jXsA4YKH_FelHs7PoxI8_tyICO_ICxkTWnvNy61djygH1xnmyo4MfxGYDOabJbaMyxR8jDnUj4541h78pznJH6j-bv2_vFpqKW68lxT9yHd8RuEWjqUsXOgS2BSOqsDnCtFCzyc0P_O80sKusr3Hp8CZY92xTTTGhO2iHOg-Cdw/w400-h294/jeff%20kent8.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">2002 World Series</span></i><span style="color: blue;">: Kent woke up hitting 3 HRs with 7 RBIs batting .276 (8-29). In Game #5 at Pac Bell Park, he hit two HRs off the Angels Ben Webber & Scott Shields in the Giants 16-4 victory giving the m three games to two lead. They would lose the next two games in Anaheim.</span></b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Astros Career:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> After six years left the team for free agency going to Houston after Dusty Baker was gone as manager. He spent two seasons in Houston putting up good numbers. In 2003 he batted .297 hit 22 HRs with 93 RBIs breaking his stretch of six straight seasons with over 100+ RBIs. He followed up with another 100+ RBI season (107) hitting 27 HRs batting .289 for the 2004 wild card Astros.</span></strong></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRsKx9tNjnfVUj5iXzapx5fdUxcqKDjlr9QIWYfhuTP3-OGAQFQkOeyLVCbD4cYw1R1KKJY3WJItoIepYbHHovKA0DVQSQSmn6ZWSa4nbIRIPnMyLGl-Qg9iVRcFQGFmW7-CClMDYYPGO7nDaW0ZyWhlGRy52TYRR9Am5zV5T65oK_sWqz2JrmegDEkQ/s318/jeffkent%20asto.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="318" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRsKx9tNjnfVUj5iXzapx5fdUxcqKDjlr9QIWYfhuTP3-OGAQFQkOeyLVCbD4cYw1R1KKJY3WJItoIepYbHHovKA0DVQSQSmn6ZWSa4nbIRIPnMyLGl-Qg9iVRcFQGFmW7-CClMDYYPGO7nDaW0ZyWhlGRy52TYRR9Am5zV5T65oK_sWqz2JrmegDEkQ/w400-h352/jeffkent%20asto.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">2004 Post Season:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> In the 2004 NLDS win over Atlanta he drove in three runs. In the NLCS loss<br /> to the Cardinals he hit a one of four Astros HRs in the Game #1 loss. He returned to hit another in the bottom of the 1st of Game #3 in another Giants loss. </b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Walk Off HR:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> In Game #5, he hit a 9th inning walk off three run HR off Jason Isringhausen in what was a scoreless game, leading the Giants to a 3-0 win, giving Houston a three game to two lead in the series. They would lose the next two games. Overall, he drove in seven runs in that series & hit .236.</span></b></span><br />
<br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Dodgers Career:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> In 2004 he signed a four-year deal to play in Los Angeles with the Dodgers. His first season there was his best batting .289 with 29 HRs 36 doubles & 105 RBIs (8th in the league). </span></b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>Now in his late thirties he began to slow down, </strong></span><strong style="color: blue;">having his last good year in 2006 hitting .302 with 20 HRs & 79 RBIs.</strong></div><div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQs2YYmh4F9htagXCa6SPv-NG0OsUtjtUg579x0hnRvl_2elv37ZCrgxufmXqn9wf4G_-z8fDP4iT_jh0p3Iydu0OhrSmGdPEO64VolM8EiIYqgHLmlNE4IXBGdmUso1TOLhsS6x9sf0T/s1600/jeff+kent+(13).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQs2YYmh4F9htagXCa6SPv-NG0OsUtjtUg579x0hnRvl_2elv37ZCrgxufmXqn9wf4G_-z8fDP4iT_jh0p3Iydu0OhrSmGdPEO64VolM8EiIYqgHLmlNE4IXBGdmUso1TOLhsS6x9sf0T/w400-h291/jeff+kent+(13).jpg" width="400" /></a><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><strong><i><span style="font-size: medium;">2006 NLDS: </span></i><span style="color: blue;">Kent made two more post seasons with the Dodgers. I</span></strong></span><strong><span style="color: blue;">n the 2nd inning of Game #1 at Shea Stadium, Kent attempted to score on a fly ball that went over Shaw Greens head. Green threw to cut off man Jose Valentin who fired home, Kent was tagged out by catcher Paul LoDuca. JD Drew was right behind Kent trying to score as well but LoDuca out the tag on him too for a strange double play. </span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color: blue;">Kent had a big series batting .615 (8-13) with a HR off Darren Oliver in the Game #3 loss at LA. The Mets swept the series in three.</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></strong></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFv5iDyTZmUzAhI6Tdok5KEDduzfnOlX4G2lzAzQ-5iBVrStUCxL9eusb_F7zKGttb1DoWCxUflL6gxvdrQkPGH2aIyzDKYByy0biZgaw0HY4F_ovIy5AS8vLY-wgdr-HmFeoX-XjVT-IX/s1600/jeff_kent_2008_06_02.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="736" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFv5iDyTZmUzAhI6Tdok5KEDduzfnOlX4G2lzAzQ-5iBVrStUCxL9eusb_F7zKGttb1DoWCxUflL6gxvdrQkPGH2aIyzDKYByy0biZgaw0HY4F_ovIy5AS8vLY-wgdr-HmFeoX-XjVT-IX/s400/jeff_kent_2008_06_02.jpg" width="400" /></a><strong><span style="color: blue;">Kent played two more season making another post season in 2008. In the post season he was 0-9. He played his final career game in the 2008 NLCS against the Philadelphia Phillies. </span></strong><strong style="color: blue;">He played in seven post season Series batting .276 overall with 9 HRs 23 RBIs 11 doubles in 49 games.</strong></div><div>
<br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Career Highlights:</span> </i><span style="color: blue;"> In his 17-season career he played in five All Star Games & won the 2000 NL MVP Award. Unfortunately, he is remembered as one of the most unpopular players during his time. To his credit he did have some difficult teammates as well. He also played in the shadows of Bobby Bonilla in New York & Barry Bonds in San Francisco during his historic time. </span></b></span></div><div><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4MXUeyyk6EHOhLTRbOB-j5G2L4tIZ81a5vNK_Crxr_Ir91p8YOrhdQCdw-Zk7XMK2qH6Cn8-mI_bFh8rJQoDns8IsZVV9qMZf7c5atWa-6lqHF_fSVddC9ZjOUBw_rR_2hHo162llZQi/s1600/jeff+kent+(11).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4MXUeyyk6EHOhLTRbOB-j5G2L4tIZ81a5vNK_Crxr_Ir91p8YOrhdQCdw-Zk7XMK2qH6Cn8-mI_bFh8rJQoDns8IsZVV9qMZf7c5atWa-6lqHF_fSVddC9ZjOUBw_rR_2hHo162llZQi/s1600/jeff+kent+(11).jpg" /></a></div><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">No Hall of Fame:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> After a decade of being on the Hall of Fame ballot he has not been inducted. After 2023's denial, he said that the HOF voting is a joke. Kent certainly has a point as players with a less production numbers have been elected for the wrong reasons. Although defensively he was a poor second baseman which hurts his cause as well.</b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Career Stats:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"><b> Kent retired as the all-time HR leader among second baseman with 377 (77th all time overall). </b></span></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>Kent had 2161 hits (111th all time) 1518 RBIs (54th all time) 560 doubles (30th all time) 1320 runs scored (121st all time) 103 sac flies (25th all time) </strong></span><strong style="color: blue;">& 125 hit by pitches (48th all time). </strong></div><div><strong style="color: blue;"><br /></strong></div><div><strong style="color: blue;"><br /></strong></div><div><strong style="color: blue;"><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="205" data-original-width="300" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Z-H4DA-tOjp4uim3Ah356ppe5gRNpOV2Kt7pYtwFpY_dzUEN5TmohYuSBrFIX11E0FqU9NXfcggS1pevsqbsaHNl3Vphp7qZKrGRtgNOAtIQ5XP3oktglSsPJiTQ1FFCdi68ZjezPK_1/s400/20120913_012130_jeffkent_300listing.jpg" width="400" /></span>He played in 2298 games played (115th all time). </strong></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>Kent struck out 1522 times (62nd all time) & drew 801 walks.</strong></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><strong>Defensively at second base, he led the league in errors four times making 194 in his career (67th all) posting a .980 %.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong style="color: blue;">At second base he played 2034 games played (12th most all time). </strong><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><b>He made 4016 put outs (19th all time) with 1261 double plays turned (13th all time). </b></span><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><span style="color: blue;"><em><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></em></span></strong></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkDfpSy4N3zkzqHG_wmv9YmXCLXUJtjDQdRbhDpwtMIJeoEAMGwOt9HW6DLeCpDyvvjV-8-Icpz9Sk0_VwtV0pMlfpq_F4ic6TmsKV3fPrQKfZHextZkJDY10oVoCRtQE_JS1C0gTunGCrwvfdawv_19lSlEhp77f2JvbMX3hWVasmmg2zm9g-fxEjg/s428/jeff%20kent.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="243" data-original-width="428" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkDfpSy4N3zkzqHG_wmv9YmXCLXUJtjDQdRbhDpwtMIJeoEAMGwOt9HW6DLeCpDyvvjV-8-Icpz9Sk0_VwtV0pMlfpq_F4ic6TmsKV3fPrQKfZHextZkJDY10oVoCRtQE_JS1C0gTunGCrwvfdawv_19lSlEhp77f2JvbMX3hWVasmmg2zm9g-fxEjg/w400-h228/jeff%20kent.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><span style="color: blue;"><em><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;">Retirement & TV:</span></em> In 2009 he appeared on the TV series Superstars & teamed up with actress Ali Landry. </span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue;">In 2012 he was a contestant on Survivor: Philippines. He came the 9th contestant voted off.</span></strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><strong><span style="color: blue;">He commented the $1 million dollar prize would only be worth $600,000 after then president obama takes it. </span></strong></span><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">Kent has also donated $15,000 to the campaign to ban gay marriage in California.<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"> </span></b></div><div><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><br /></span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMyZLh50wQRV-a2KfYpy2196-K24iEYNNt9n-L9fvemX-L3dJeuY9ObBtAov7BSNzxULnrzhZrA6V5EGe0Q1nhFpYlHGkvWMSQvzQc7okYfj-T0YNvDDLquxHC5eMPaXBgoy6rkb34NpCmA_pFKomIFGtTGvvkEpIB-C4DeTXwZPkqHfyAIBGYZYipCxS/s501/kent.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="438" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMyZLh50wQRV-a2KfYpy2196-K24iEYNNt9n-L9fvemX-L3dJeuY9ObBtAov7BSNzxULnrzhZrA6V5EGe0Q1nhFpYlHGkvWMSQvzQc7okYfj-T0YNvDDLquxHC5eMPaXBgoy6rkb34NpCmA_pFKomIFGtTGvvkEpIB-C4DeTXwZPkqHfyAIBGYZYipCxS/s320/kent.JPG" width="280" /></a></div><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">Kent is an advocate for MLB testing for HGH. </b><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">These are probably more reasons people discriminate against his election to the Hall of Fame, no doubt.</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; display: inline; float: none; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 22.28px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Charity:</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> In 2014, Kent & his wife announced</span></span></span></span></b><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; display: inline; float: none; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 22.28px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: blue;"> the creation of the Jeff Kent Women Driven<br /> Scholarship Endowment to provide a full scholarship each year to one female student-athlete at UC Berkeley in perpetuity. </span></span></span></span></b><b style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet;">He has served as a Giants Spring Training instructor & donated time a Southwestern University coaching baseball.</b></div><div><span><span style="color: blue;"><b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: trebuchet; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.28px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></b></span></span></div><div><span><span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-size: medium; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.28px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i>Family:</i></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: blue; display: inline; float: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 22.28px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;"><b> Jeff & his wife Dana have four children, one daughter & three sons. They live in the Austin, Texas area. Dana was an elementary school teacher.</b></span></span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0