centerfield maz

Thursday, June 17th 1976 : It was just three weeks away from America's 200th birthday, during the bicentennial year of 1976 and all of the nation was feeling good. The National League was celebrating it's 100th centennial Anniversary that year as well. On this night, Walter Alston's second place Los Angeles Dodgers (36-27) were in town to face Joe Frazier's third place Mets (32-33).  A crowd of 20,268 came out to Shea Stadium as New Yorks; Craig Swan went up against the Dodgers future Hall of Famer; Don Sutton.  Starting Lineups Los Angeles Dodgers         New York Mets 1 Bill Buckner LF 1 Bud Harrelson SS 2 Ted Sizemore 2B 2 John Milner LF 3 Steve Garvey 1B 3 Dave Kingman RF 4 Ron Cey 3B 4 Ed Kranepool 1B 5 Dusty Baker CF 5 Wayne Garrett 3B 6 Bill Russell SS 6 Del Unser CF 7 Steve Yeager C 7 Jerry Grote C 8 Joe Simpson RF 8 Felix Millan 2B 9 Don Sutton P 9 Craig Swan P  It was a classic pitche...

Tuesday April 18th 1978: This one is a blast from the past to honor Bobby Valentine as  a player. Remembering a game winning hit he had in the late seventies having his moment in the sun...... Early on in this season the Joe Torre's New York Mets (7-5) were in first place as they visited St. Louis to play Vern Rapp's Cardinals (5-6). A small crowd of 5,728 showed up at Bush Stadium to see the Mets Mike Bruhert go against Eric Rasmussen. Starting Lineups New York Mets         St. Louis Cardinals 1 Lenny Randle 3B 1 Jim Dwyer RF 2 Doug Flynn 2B 2 Garry Templeton SS 3 Bruce Boisclair RF 3 Jerry Morales CF 4 Steve Henderson LF 4 Ted Simmons C 5 Willie Montanez 1B 5 Keith Hernandez 1B 6 Lee Mazzilli CF 6 Ken Reitz 3B 7 John Stearns C 7 Dane Iorg LF 8 Tim Foli SS 8 Mike Tyson 2B 9 Mike Bruhert P 9 Eric Rasmussen P The Cards struck first as the pitcher Eric Rasmussen singled & moved on to second after a base hit by Jim...

Scott Michael Strickland was born April 26, 1976 in Houston, Texas. The right handed fastball pitcher was drafted out of the University of New Mexico by the Montreal Expos in the 10th round in 1997. After a brief two year period in the minors, Strickland made his debut with the Expos, in 1999 going 0-1 in 17 games. In 2000, the Expos only won 67 games and Steve Kline was their main closer with 14 saves. Strickland would eventually take over that closer role, posting a 3.00 ERA and finishing up 4-3 with nine saves. The next year he lost that job to Uqueth Urbina, but he still saved nine games with a 3.21 ERA but posted a 2-6 record. During the first week of the 2002 season he was traded to the New York Mets for pitcher Bruce Chen.  At the time it was believed Scott could help a weak Mets bullpen and possibly even be their future closer. He’ll always be remembered for wearing that thick silver chair around his neck, while on the mound. He made his Mets debut on April ...

Wednesday April 23rd, 1969: On this cool night at Shea Stadium, Gil Hodges Mets (6-8) hosted Larry Shepard's Pittsburgh Pirates (10-5) in front of just 7274 fans.  Tonight Veteran pitcher, Jim Bunning who had thrown his famous 1964 Fathers Day no hitter against the Mets, when he was with the Phillies was on the mound for the Pirates this evening. Bunning won 17 or more games eight times in his 17 year career. He won 19 games five times & was a twenty game winner once in his career, he made the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996 thru the Veterans Committee. Gild Hodges sent a winless Jerry Koosman to the mound. Koosman was in his third season, his second as a dominant left hand starter behind Tom Seaver. Koos won 19 games in 1968 (4th in the NL) with a 2.08 ERA (4th best in the NL) & would win 17 games in 1969, striking out 180 batters while posting a 2.28 ERA (5th best in the NL). Koosman was a vital part of the 1969 Mets success, he also would go 2-0 in the 1969 World Seri...