with SAM, RICH & MIKE
GUEST
120 minutes
Spring Training ~ Starting Pitching ~ Contract Negotiations
MLB Rules ~ Mets Board of Directors ~ The 1975 Mets
and much more!
#LGM
Showing posts with label Rusty Staub. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rusty Staub. Show all posts
Monday, March 22, 2021
The Metsian Podcast Begins the Countdown to Opening Day with Mets Rewind's John Strubel
From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
Sunday, February 28, 2021
Grapefruit League Preview, Sky King, and "Ya Gotta Believe" on Another Metsian Podcast
From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
with SAM, RICH & MIKE
Opening Day in the Grapefruit League
Mets Roster Projections
Bullpen - Third Base - Luis Rojas
Pete Alonso > Social Media < Steve Cohen
The 1973 National League Champion New York Mets
and so much more!
ninety-five minutes
#LGM
Sunday, March 15, 2020
A Metsian Podcast Quarantine Book Review Party: The New York Mets All-Time All-Stars by Brian Wright
From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
A METSIAN PODCAST
with SAM, RICH, and MIKE
GUEST
author
THE NEW YORK METS ALL-TIME ALL STARS
The Best Players At Each Position For The Amazin's
100 minutes
Thirty Players
58 Years of Memories
A Romp Through Mets History
Thursday, September 26, 2019
N.Y. Mets: The Great Jerry Koosman To Receive Long Overdue Tribute
From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
With Tuesday's announcement begins the long overdue recognition and commemoration of one of the greatest and most beloved pitchers to ever don Flushing's orange and blue. The New York Mets will be retiring Jerry Koosman's #36 in a ceremony planned for next season.
Where it concerns my preteen years and baseball heroes, Jerry Koosman, Rusty Staub, and Tug McGraw are my Mets Rushmore of Three. It's rather impossible for me to differentiate one from the other, and I refuse to include a fourth.
But, Mike, what about Tom Seaver?
What about him ... he was a god to me ... I worshiped him. He and Koosman formed one of the game's most formidable one-two punches of their era. But The Franchise inspired in me a somewhat different emotion than did the aforementioned three. With Seaver it was more a matter of respect, watching with great amazement and admiration as he went about his craft, and understanding that I was witnessing greatness. He was elite, and therefore I made an unconscious differentiation. Like most, if not all fans, I was greatly angered when the Mets traded him. But I didn't love him the way a kid loves his dog. When the Mets traded Staub and McGraw I felt nothing but sadness and pain. They traded away two of my three best friends. By the time it came for setting Koosman free the Mets were a badly deteriorated club. Therefore I was relieved and happy for Koosman, but at the same time saddened again to see him go.
That being said I just can't bring myself to place a fourth Met on my Rushmore for fear of leaving someone out. And so Seaver leads my best of the rest list. He along with John Milner, John Stearns, and Keith Hernandez, David Wright, and, you get the picture ...
With great certainty I say the methodical deconstruction of the 1969/1973 Mets initiated in the mid-1970's effectively cost Jerry Koosman a golden opportunity for bettering his Hall of Fame credentials as he was one of the last of the Amazin's to be let go. In 1976 Koosman posts a 21-10 record with 2.69 ERA. Seaver gets traded the following summer and Koosman is left behind to lose 35 games over the next two seasons pitching for a last place club. In 1979, his first season with the Minnesota Twins, 36-year old Jerry Koosman posts a 20-13 record with an American League grade 3.38 ERA.
He wins 147 games in a Mets uniform, but none bigger than game five of the 1969 World Series against the Orioles at Shea Stadium. However, his 1976 campaign is one of my grandest memories as a young Mets fan. He never won the Rookie of the Year or a Cy Young award, but forever earned a place in my heart.
Today, I'm very, very happy for Jerry Koosman, a great, great New York Met.
JERRY KOOSMAN
#36
With Tuesday's announcement begins the long overdue recognition and commemoration of one of the greatest and most beloved pitchers to ever don Flushing's orange and blue. The New York Mets will be retiring Jerry Koosman's #36 in a ceremony planned for next season.
Where it concerns my preteen years and baseball heroes, Jerry Koosman, Rusty Staub, and Tug McGraw are my Mets Rushmore of Three. It's rather impossible for me to differentiate one from the other, and I refuse to include a fourth.
But, Mike, what about Tom Seaver?
What about him ... he was a god to me ... I worshiped him. He and Koosman formed one of the game's most formidable one-two punches of their era. But The Franchise inspired in me a somewhat different emotion than did the aforementioned three. With Seaver it was more a matter of respect, watching with great amazement and admiration as he went about his craft, and understanding that I was witnessing greatness. He was elite, and therefore I made an unconscious differentiation. Like most, if not all fans, I was greatly angered when the Mets traded him. But I didn't love him the way a kid loves his dog. When the Mets traded Staub and McGraw I felt nothing but sadness and pain. They traded away two of my three best friends. By the time it came for setting Koosman free the Mets were a badly deteriorated club. Therefore I was relieved and happy for Koosman, but at the same time saddened again to see him go.
That being said I just can't bring myself to place a fourth Met on my Rushmore for fear of leaving someone out. And so Seaver leads my best of the rest list. He along with John Milner, John Stearns, and Keith Hernandez, David Wright, and, you get the picture ...
With great certainty I say the methodical deconstruction of the 1969/1973 Mets initiated in the mid-1970's effectively cost Jerry Koosman a golden opportunity for bettering his Hall of Fame credentials as he was one of the last of the Amazin's to be let go. In 1976 Koosman posts a 21-10 record with 2.69 ERA. Seaver gets traded the following summer and Koosman is left behind to lose 35 games over the next two seasons pitching for a last place club. In 1979, his first season with the Minnesota Twins, 36-year old Jerry Koosman posts a 20-13 record with an American League grade 3.38 ERA.
He wins 147 games in a Mets uniform, but none bigger than game five of the 1969 World Series against the Orioles at Shea Stadium. However, his 1976 campaign is one of my grandest memories as a young Mets fan. He never won the Rookie of the Year or a Cy Young award, but forever earned a place in my heart.
Today, I'm very, very happy for Jerry Koosman, a great, great New York Met.
Wednesday, May 01, 2019
Amazin' Date 5/1/1969: Expos Foil Mets Bid For Sweep
From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
Game #21 Thursday, May 1, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ Montreal Expos
Parc Jarry
Manager Gil Hodges Called to Carpet for His Handling of Ninth Inning.
Montreal starter Bill Stoneman wasted little time creating trouble for himself in the second. After yielding consecutive singles to Cleon Jones and Ed Kranepool, Stoneman caught Ron Swoboda looking at strike three, but walked Kevin Collins to load the bases. He then issued a second straight walk to Jerry Grote forcing in Jones from third.
Leading off the bottom of the second, Expos first baseman Donn Clendenon immediately came to the aid of his starter with a home run off Mets starter Don Cardwell. Cleon Jones answered right back with a solo home run in the top of the third. But left fielder Mack Jones would likewise connect off Cardwell in the fourth tying the game again at two.
Bill Stoneman pitched himself into another jam by walking the bases loaded in the seventh. With two outs, Montreal manager Gene Mauch pulled Stoneman in favor of long time relief specialist Roy Face, whom induced Ed Kranepool in to an inning ending ground ball to second.
Into the ninth inning they would go with the game knotted at two.
With Don Cardwell set to lead-off the top half of the frame, manger Gil Hodges elected to not pinch hit for his pitcher, whom wound up grounding out to third. Roy Face would then retire the next two batters extending his streak to seven straight Mets batters in a row.
Maury Wills leading off the home ninth singled off Don Cardwell. After inducing Rusty Staub into a fielder's choice, Cardwell surrendered another single to Mack Jones. Manager Hodges then ordered his battery intentionally walk Donn Clendenon thus setting up a force at any base. However, the plan backfired when third baseman Coco Laboy lofted a fly to center field. Ron Brand, pinch running for Staub, tagged up from third to score the winning run.
Roy Face earned the victory with 2.1 innings of scoreless no-hit ball. The game also marks the 101st win of Face's long 16 year career spent near exclusively as a reliever.
Don Cardwell again labors through another a hard luck loss, and is now 0-4 for the season despite his 2.89 ERA. He allowed the Expos three runs in seven hits and two walks with one strikeout through 8.2 innings of work.
Cleon Jones was 3 for 3, with his third home run of the season. His 15 RBI tie him for team lead with Ed Kranepool. Cleon is batting .348 through the Mets first 21 games of the season. Kranepool went 2 for 4, elevating his average to .323 through his 19 games played.
The Expos avoid a sweep, but the Mets win the series - their second series win over Montreal this season. The loss, however, drops the Mets back down to fourth place, six game behind the first place Cubs, with whom they'll begin a weekend series tomorrow at Wrigley Field.
AMAZIN'
THE MIRACLE METS
50th ANNIVERSARY
Game #21 Thursday, May 1, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ Montreal Expos
Parc Jarry
Manager Gil Hodges Called to Carpet for His Handling of Ninth Inning.
Montreal starter Bill Stoneman wasted little time creating trouble for himself in the second. After yielding consecutive singles to Cleon Jones and Ed Kranepool, Stoneman caught Ron Swoboda looking at strike three, but walked Kevin Collins to load the bases. He then issued a second straight walk to Jerry Grote forcing in Jones from third.
Leading off the bottom of the second, Expos first baseman Donn Clendenon immediately came to the aid of his starter with a home run off Mets starter Don Cardwell. Cleon Jones answered right back with a solo home run in the top of the third. But left fielder Mack Jones would likewise connect off Cardwell in the fourth tying the game again at two.
Bill Stoneman pitched himself into another jam by walking the bases loaded in the seventh. With two outs, Montreal manager Gene Mauch pulled Stoneman in favor of long time relief specialist Roy Face, whom induced Ed Kranepool in to an inning ending ground ball to second.
Into the ninth inning they would go with the game knotted at two.
With Don Cardwell set to lead-off the top half of the frame, manger Gil Hodges elected to not pinch hit for his pitcher, whom wound up grounding out to third. Roy Face would then retire the next two batters extending his streak to seven straight Mets batters in a row.
Maury Wills leading off the home ninth singled off Don Cardwell. After inducing Rusty Staub into a fielder's choice, Cardwell surrendered another single to Mack Jones. Manager Hodges then ordered his battery intentionally walk Donn Clendenon thus setting up a force at any base. However, the plan backfired when third baseman Coco Laboy lofted a fly to center field. Ron Brand, pinch running for Staub, tagged up from third to score the winning run.
FINAL
Mets 2
Expos 3
Roy Face earned the victory with 2.1 innings of scoreless no-hit ball. The game also marks the 101st win of Face's long 16 year career spent near exclusively as a reliever.
Don Cardwell again labors through another a hard luck loss, and is now 0-4 for the season despite his 2.89 ERA. He allowed the Expos three runs in seven hits and two walks with one strikeout through 8.2 innings of work.
Cleon Jones was 3 for 3, with his third home run of the season. His 15 RBI tie him for team lead with Ed Kranepool. Cleon is batting .348 through the Mets first 21 games of the season. Kranepool went 2 for 4, elevating his average to .323 through his 19 games played.
The Expos avoid a sweep, but the Mets win the series - their second series win over Montreal this season. The loss, however, drops the Mets back down to fourth place, six game behind the first place Cubs, with whom they'll begin a weekend series tomorrow at Wrigley Field.
- Mets Record: 9-12 (.428)
- N.L. East: 4th; 6 GB
Sunday, May 20, 2012
N.Y. Mets ~ My Favorite 50 Mets of All-Time
From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
NEW YORK METS: My All-Time FAVORITE Fifty Players in Mets' History.
Last Thursday, as part of the Mets' 50th Anniversary celebration, SNY premiered the 50 Greatest Players in Mets History. Their list is as follows:
NEW YORK METS: My All-Time FAVORITE Fifty Players in Mets' History.
Last Thursday, as part of the Mets' 50th Anniversary celebration, SNY premiered the 50 Greatest Players in Mets History. Their list is as follows:
1-Tom Seaver
2-Dwight Gooden
3-Keith Hernandez
4-Jerry Koosman
5-Darryl Strawberry
6-Mike Piazza 7-Carlos Beltran 8-David Wright 9-Jose Reyes
10-Gary Carter 11-Cleon Jones 12-Ron Darling 13-Edgardo Alfonzo
14-John Franco 15-Mookie Wilson 16-David Cone 17-Al Leiter
18-Jerry Grote 19-Howard Johnson 20-Buddy Harrelson 21-Tommy Agee
22-Rusty Staub 23-Sid Fernandez 24-Jon Matlack 25-Jesse Orosco
26-Tug McGraw 27-Lenny Dykstra 28-Johan Santana 29-John Olerud
30-Todd Hundley 31-Robin Ventura 32-Lee Mazzilli 33-Felix Millan
34-Kevin McReynolds 35-Carlos Delgado 36-Ed Kranepool 37-Bob Ojeda
38-Frank Viola 39-Dave Kingman 40-Ron Swaboda 41-John Stearns
42-Wally Backman 43-Rick Reed 44-Roger McDowell 45-Hubie Brooks
46-Ray Knight 47-Ron Hunt 48-John Milner 49-Bobby Bonilla
50-Wayne Garrett
I would omit a few names from this list and add others. I would also tinker with the order of some players too. But instead, I thought it more fun to just go with my own Favorites List. This is harder than you think, because of the level of attachment one has with favorite Mets as a child, versus the more jaded affections we might develop as fully mature adults.
The Mets became a full time part of my life by the 1974-1975 seasons. And the guys from that era will always mean a little more to me than say, other Mets of different eras. For the purposes of this list, if I didn't see them play, they are omitted. So right off the bat, exclude Donn Clendenon, Tommy Agee, Nolan Ryan, Ron Hunt, and the rest of the earlier era Mets.
MY All-Time 50 Most Favorite Mets
1-Jerry Koosman
2-Tug McGraw
3-Rusty Staub
4-Tom Seaver
5-Keith Hernandez
6-John Stearns 7-Darryl Strawberry 8-Joel Youngblood 9-Felix Millan
10-Doc Gooden 11-John Milner 12-Jose Reyes 13-Lenny Dykstra
14-Lee Mazzilli 15-Skip Lockwood 16-Gary Carter 17-Todd Hundley
18-David Wright 19-Hubie Brooks 20-Jerry Grote 21-Dave Kingman
22-Bud Harrelson 23-Carlos Delgado 24-Ron Darling 25-Mike Piazza
26-Mookie Wilson 27-Cleon Jones 28-Edgardo Alfonzo 29-Carlos Beltran
30-Sid Fernandez 31-Ed Kranepool 32-John Franco 33-Jon Matlack
34-John Olerud 35-David Cone 36-Eddie Murray 37-Neil Allen
38-Jesse Orosco 39-Lance Johnson 40-Roger McDowell 41-Bobby Ojeda
42-Cliff Floyd 43-Howard Johnson 44-Robin Ventura 45-Craig Swan
46-Wally Backman 47-Willie Montanez 48-Bobby Jones 49-Ed Lynch
50-Mike Fitzgerald
My newest favorite player = Josh Thole.
Let's Go Mets!
Mike.BTB
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
N.Y. Mets ~ State of METropolis Report; Part V
From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
PART IV - Fans and Tradition
If you follow my blog then you know what's coming. If you're new to my site and Head-Butting Mr. Met; the Mets portion of my blog; then allow me to explain first.
THE SAUL B. KATZ DILEMMA - is the catch-phrase I've given to the continuing folly emanating from the local Roosevelt Avenue Mets-R-Us, which is the direct result of sole ownership under Fred and Lil' Jeffery Wilpon; or just the Wilpons if you will; since 2003. Poor Saul Katz sits idly-by while his in-laws flush his investment into the Mets down the toilet, while at the same time disenfranchising a Fan Base, and running our beloved Metropolitan BBC into the ground - ...Just like Nelson Doubleday said Wilpon would do upon his own exit from the Mets' hierarchy. You may now consider yourself updated. So with that said.....,
HAPPY GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY MET FANS!! You're owner basically jettisoned one of this organization's best players in all it's fifty year history because (see above) ...because he couldn't afford it even if he wanted to. I myself am not mad Jose Reyes is gone. I have a problem with not trading him last season. But if I may, I think I can speak somewhat for my fellow Met Fans who are furious our beloved shortstop is no longer a Met. And we are equals in that respect; I loved Reyes too. But my particular frustration lies with this organization's impotence and it's inability to operate like a large market team.
Nolan Ryan was traded from the Mets before he became Nolan Ryan. No foul there. Tom Seaver and the organization grew to hate each other. So Seaver demanded a trade....and got it. That remains to this day the single most incredulous gaffe in Mets' history. We did it to Jerry Koosman too. And now the fact that the Mets effectually sent Jose Reyes packing for South Beach most certainly earns a spot in the conversation regarding Met stars who for one reason or another, never get to stay.
Let's see.... Darryl Strawberry said, "I wanna be the richest!" - and decided to play before the home crowds in Los Angeles. Doc Gooden forced his exit out of Flushing by sticking his career up his nose. Mr. Wilpon was quite sympathetic towards Dwight the first time around when he came up "hot". Not so much the second time however. Strike two resulted in Mr. Wilpon suggesting it was perhaps better if Dwight and the Mets parted ways. That was fair. Just for fun - David Cone was the victim of a rebuilding effort. And for Mike Piazza, his time had come. For me personally, trading Rusty Staub and Tug McGraw were killers. And I know Lenny Dykstra was a biggie for many fans too.
Again, as to not mislead you, I would have traded Jose Reyes last season. And if you really, really follow Head-Butting Mr. Met, you'd know I would have traded Jose Reyes back in 2007, along with everyone else. Yes, I would have gutted this team then. But that's for another day. You're welcome to question me about that. But forget about what I want, or what I would have done. Forget me. For there are still matters of "state" to be addressed in this now YEAR NINE of WILPONianism. Let's figure out why Jose Reyes is not a Met today for all METropolis to know.
With even a fraction more success between the years 2007 through 2009, it's safe to say Omar Minaya would still be here and Reyes would have been locked up long term. I think we can assume Omar would have pushed for that (then). And with just one more win in 2007 or 2008; with just a smidgen of more luck; with one more playoff appearance, the Wilpons would have most certainly agreed on the spot.
After several stints on the DL since then with bad hamstrings, then add the Madoff mess into the equation and what you have is a quandary. Sandy Alderson has been trying to make it clear his intention to scale down payroll is independent of Wilpon's financial situation and pending litigation in the Madoff case. Not signing Reyes he reasoned, wasn't necessarily worth the monetary risk based on dollars, years, and Jose's compromised lower appendages. The GM also points directly at ticket sales and fan dollars not being spent at the park recently, or anticipated to not be spent next season as salary trimming factors.
In this case, the singing of Jose Reyes by the Miami Marlins was precipitated by no action taken by the Mets. They never offered Reyes a contract extension prior to this winter. And without any sense of want, the Mets did not make their former shortstop a free-agent offer. That, in itself, is not perturbing to me. The fact that the pilot light on the Mets' Hot Stove is out and the owner of a major league baseball team in New York City couldn't foot the bill.....is!
And so Jose Reyes has gone FISHing.
I just hope.... I hope! ...Sandy Alderson did not come here to be Fred Wilpon's spin-doctor. Because that's what it's starting to sound like around here; at least to my ears. I have no reservations regarding Sandy Alderson's ability to point this organization in the right direction. In that regard, I still believe there are still more player purgings to be made. Yes, I believe David Wright should be next. That's for a follow-up posting. But for right this minute, I'm not appreciating the "Spin-Control" I'm getting from the Front Office. Met Fans have gotten their full share of spin over the years from the former Day Manager of Mets-R-Us; Lil Jeff Wilpon...thank you.
METropolis: Year Nine A.D. - (After Doubleday)
"THE AGE of WILPONianism"
State of METropolis Report:
PART IV - Fans and Tradition
PART III - Positional Players
PART II - Pitching Staff
PART I - Ownership; Front Office
PART V - The Saul B. Katz Dilemma...continued.
If you follow my blog then you know what's coming. If you're new to my site and Head-Butting Mr. Met; the Mets portion of my blog; then allow me to explain first.
THE SAUL B. KATZ DILEMMA - is the catch-phrase I've given to the continuing folly emanating from the local Roosevelt Avenue Mets-R-Us, which is the direct result of sole ownership under Fred and Lil' Jeffery Wilpon; or just the Wilpons if you will; since 2003. Poor Saul Katz sits idly-by while his in-laws flush his investment into the Mets down the toilet, while at the same time disenfranchising a Fan Base, and running our beloved Metropolitan BBC into the ground - ...Just like Nelson Doubleday said Wilpon would do upon his own exit from the Mets' hierarchy. You may now consider yourself updated. So with that said.....,
HAPPY GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY MET FANS!! You're owner basically jettisoned one of this organization's best players in all it's fifty year history because (see above) ...because he couldn't afford it even if he wanted to. I myself am not mad Jose Reyes is gone. I have a problem with not trading him last season. But if I may, I think I can speak somewhat for my fellow Met Fans who are furious our beloved shortstop is no longer a Met. And we are equals in that respect; I loved Reyes too. But my particular frustration lies with this organization's impotence and it's inability to operate like a large market team.
* * *
Nolan Ryan was traded from the Mets before he became Nolan Ryan. No foul there. Tom Seaver and the organization grew to hate each other. So Seaver demanded a trade....and got it. That remains to this day the single most incredulous gaffe in Mets' history. We did it to Jerry Koosman too. And now the fact that the Mets effectually sent Jose Reyes packing for South Beach most certainly earns a spot in the conversation regarding Met stars who for one reason or another, never get to stay.
Let's see.... Darryl Strawberry said, "I wanna be the richest!" - and decided to play before the home crowds in Los Angeles. Doc Gooden forced his exit out of Flushing by sticking his career up his nose. Mr. Wilpon was quite sympathetic towards Dwight the first time around when he came up "hot". Not so much the second time however. Strike two resulted in Mr. Wilpon suggesting it was perhaps better if Dwight and the Mets parted ways. That was fair. Just for fun - David Cone was the victim of a rebuilding effort. And for Mike Piazza, his time had come. For me personally, trading Rusty Staub and Tug McGraw were killers. And I know Lenny Dykstra was a biggie for many fans too.
Again, as to not mislead you, I would have traded Jose Reyes last season. And if you really, really follow Head-Butting Mr. Met, you'd know I would have traded Jose Reyes back in 2007, along with everyone else. Yes, I would have gutted this team then. But that's for another day. You're welcome to question me about that. But forget about what I want, or what I would have done. Forget me. For there are still matters of "state" to be addressed in this now YEAR NINE of WILPONianism. Let's figure out why Jose Reyes is not a Met today for all METropolis to know.
With even a fraction more success between the years 2007 through 2009, it's safe to say Omar Minaya would still be here and Reyes would have been locked up long term. I think we can assume Omar would have pushed for that (then). And with just one more win in 2007 or 2008; with just a smidgen of more luck; with one more playoff appearance, the Wilpons would have most certainly agreed on the spot.
After several stints on the DL since then with bad hamstrings, then add the Madoff mess into the equation and what you have is a quandary. Sandy Alderson has been trying to make it clear his intention to scale down payroll is independent of Wilpon's financial situation and pending litigation in the Madoff case. Not signing Reyes he reasoned, wasn't necessarily worth the monetary risk based on dollars, years, and Jose's compromised lower appendages. The GM also points directly at ticket sales and fan dollars not being spent at the park recently, or anticipated to not be spent next season as salary trimming factors.
In this case, the singing of Jose Reyes by the Miami Marlins was precipitated by no action taken by the Mets. They never offered Reyes a contract extension prior to this winter. And without any sense of want, the Mets did not make their former shortstop a free-agent offer. That, in itself, is not perturbing to me. The fact that the pilot light on the Mets' Hot Stove is out and the owner of a major league baseball team in New York City couldn't foot the bill.....is!
And so Jose Reyes has gone FISHing.
I just hope.... I hope! ...Sandy Alderson did not come here to be Fred Wilpon's spin-doctor. Because that's what it's starting to sound like around here; at least to my ears. I have no reservations regarding Sandy Alderson's ability to point this organization in the right direction. In that regard, I still believe there are still more player purgings to be made. Yes, I believe David Wright should be next. That's for a follow-up posting. But for right this minute, I'm not appreciating the "Spin-Control" I'm getting from the Front Office. Met Fans have gotten their full share of spin over the years from the former Day Manager of Mets-R-Us; Lil Jeff Wilpon...thank you.
Mike.BTB
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
N.Y. METS ~ The Night The Impossible Happened; Seaver Traded
From the Desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
NEW YORK METS: June 15, 1977; the Day The Mets Traded Tom Seaver.
The memory of that day is still too painful; even now, a full 34 years after the fact. I was 11 years old.
More so than the trades of Rusty Staub and Tug McGraw, the trade of Tom Seaver wounded me like no other occurrence in Mets' history. That, and having to endure my favorite Met; Jerry Koosman; suffer through a 20-loss season were more than an 11 year old should have been made to suffer.
Oh the pain!
When the Mets announced they'd let Met fans purchase bricks to be placed in front of Citi Field, my wife the Yankee fan, wanted to get me one. As a joke I told her to get "1977 Still Hurts!" inscribed on it. But the more I thought about what I had actually said, the quicker I came to the decision to let it rip! I may have been mad at the time about Fred Wilpon's shrine to the Dodgers. But something during those days triggered that 1977 response from me.
It might stand as the only negative speaking brick in the lot, but I do not regret my decision to let it fly. I'd even bet that many Met fans my age or there abouts, stumbles across it from time to time and nods quietly to him/herself in acknowledgement of not only the trade, but that whole season; and the ensuing era.
NEW YORK METS: June 15, 1977; the Day The Mets Traded Tom Seaver.
The memory of that day is still too painful; even now, a full 34 years after the fact. I was 11 years old.
More so than the trades of Rusty Staub and Tug McGraw, the trade of Tom Seaver wounded me like no other occurrence in Mets' history. That, and having to endure my favorite Met; Jerry Koosman; suffer through a 20-loss season were more than an 11 year old should have been made to suffer.
Oh the pain!
When the Mets announced they'd let Met fans purchase bricks to be placed in front of Citi Field, my wife the Yankee fan, wanted to get me one. As a joke I told her to get "1977 Still Hurts!" inscribed on it. But the more I thought about what I had actually said, the quicker I came to the decision to let it rip! I may have been mad at the time about Fred Wilpon's shrine to the Dodgers. But something during those days triggered that 1977 response from me.
It might stand as the only negative speaking brick in the lot, but I do not regret my decision to let it fly. I'd even bet that many Met fans my age or there abouts, stumbles across it from time to time and nods quietly to him/herself in acknowledgement of not only the trade, but that whole season; and the ensuing era.
If you're a glutton for punishment, (like I am), and want to see and relive parts of that Summer of '77 - Visit:
Mets Police and
They are the leads in today's commemoration of this fateful anniversary in Mets' history. And having been reminded of that day, instead of throwing my brick through my TV, I figured I show it to you first.
Let's Go Mets!!
Mike.BTB
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