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Late-Season Transactions

Edgy MD Mar 11 2013 02:32 PM

Today would have been Doc Ellis's 68th birthday. I had forgotten that the Mets sold Doc back to his old Bucco team with less than two weeks to go in 1979 (on September 21). Somehow, he cleared waivers and got into three games, starting one, with the "Family" Pirates. Although he was effective, the Bucs lost all three of those games, but he can perhaps be credited with helping the team in his own way, taking a handful of innings down the stretch so the Tekulves and Bibbys could be used more effectively in other winning efforts. Wonder if he got a ring or a post-season share. Only other team transaction I can remember happening that late was with Frank Tanana, traded on September 17, 1993 by the Mets (for Kenny Greer) to a Yankees team barely hanging on in the pennant race but out of pitching. Tanana obliged by pitching well but not well enough to get his team off the hook, going 1-2 with a 3.20 ERA in three starts, and then retiring. Greer, of course, would go on to win three MVPs for the Mets before having his number 35 permanently retired the day he hung up his cleats. Any other deals you remember happening that late?

dinosaur jesus Mar 11 2013 04:09 PM Re: Late-Season Transactions

There was Candelaria in 1987, traded by the Angels to the Mets for a couple of minor leaguers on September 15, in time to make three starts. The deal almost paid off, too: he stunk it up in the first one but the Mets almost pulled it anyway (would have been half a game out if they had), won the next two (the last one keeping them two games out with five to play).

G-Fafif Mar 12 2013 02:47 AM Re: Late-Season Transactions

Truly weird and truly late: Doc Medich taken off waivers from Seattle on September 26, 1977. Made one start for the last-place Mets (which he lost) and that was that. I vaguely recall some talk that bringing him in would somehow give the Mets a leg up when he entered the free agent market...which it didn't, in case the Mets were thinking of signing him, as he went to Texas. Medich pitched for the A's, M's and Mets in '77, three 98-loss teams. If that's not a record of some sort, they shouldn't start now, 'cause it's just too depressing.

RealityChuck Mar 12 2013 06:21 AM Re: Late-Season Transactions

Bob Miller, purchased by the Mets from the Tigers on September 23, 1973. Appeared in one game and pitched a perfect inning. Not sure if he got a World Series share, but it made him one of three 1962 NY Mets who played on pennant winning teams for the Mets.

Edgy MD Mar 12 2013 07:41 AM Re: Late-Season Transactions

That's some late-dealing. Makes the Kelly Shoppach deal look positively proleptical.

G-Fafif Mar 12 2013 03:01 PM Re: Late-Season Transactions

Whereas Candelaria and Medich would be here and gone, Miller stuck around in 1974 and led the staff in appearances. He got his first win in April, a far cry from his experience in 1962, when he had to endure a dozen losses and a second Bob Miller before chalking up a W on the second-to-last day of the season. The World Series share question is usually answered with everybody gets something, even if it's not a lot. In days of yore, the "first division" clubs each got something to divide. Not sure if they still do or, with five teams in the playoffs, they're the only ones. The Sporting News used to print the divvying up of shares, and you'd see $8.29 awarded to some September callup on a team that finished third.

seawolf17 Mar 12 2013 03:06 PM Re: Late-Season Transactions

Wasn't there talk a year or two ago about the Red Sox acquiring a starter from us just to make the start in a potential play-in tiebreaker game?

G-Fafif Mar 12 2013 03:07 PM Re: Late-Season Transactions

seawolf17 wrote: Wasn't there talk a year or two ago about the Red Sox acquiring a starter from us just to make the start in a potential play-in tiebreaker game? Capuano, the day Chris started the game in St. Louis that became a monumental comeback from him starting.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 12 2013 03:07 PM Re: Late-Season Transactions

Capuano, right? Fred was too scared to give him up.

RealityChuck Mar 12 2013 04:29 PM Re: Late-Season Transactions

G-Fafif wrote: The World Series share question is usually answered with everybody gets something, even if it's not a lot. In days of yore, the "first division" clubs each got something to divide. Not sure if they still do or, with five teams in the playoffs, they're the only ones. The Sporting News used to print the divvying up of shares, and you'd see $8.29 awarded to some September callup on a team that finished third. Not necessarily. In the early 60s, the MFYs were criticized for being stingy about their World Series money, only giving full shares to people who were on the playoff roster (IIRC). The '69 Mets, OTOH, were generous, giving shares to anyone who played for them (though not necessarily full shares).

G-Fafif Mar 12 2013 04:50 PM Re: Late-Season Transactions

Couldn't find 1973 (so much for Mr. Miller), but here, from the December 6, 1975, issue of The Sporting News is the 1975 breakdown of how the tied-for-third place Mets divided their approximately $5,700, including what they voted their partial-season teammates. A full share for those 82-win fellows was $136.70. Jerry Moses, who never played but was on the roster for a spell, got a one-fifth share.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 12 2013 05:37 PM Re: Late-Season Transactions

Here are some that I pulled out of the UMDB: September 9, 1969 New York Mets purchased Jim Gosger from the Pittsburgh Pirates. September 18, 1970 New York Mets purchased Dean Chance from the Cleveland Indians. September 13, 1972 New York Mets sold Chuck Taylor to the Milwaukee Brewers. September 17, 1976 New York Mets sold Ken Sanders to the Kansas City Royals. September 26, 1977 New York Mets purchased Doc Medich from the Seattle Mariners. September 10, 1982 New York Mets traded Tom Hausman to the Atlanta Braves for Carlos Diaz. September 10, 1990 New York Mets traded Steve LaRose and Nicky Davis to the Houston Astros for Dan Schatzeder. September 17, 1993 New York Mets traded Frank Tanana to the New York Yankees for Kenny Greer. September 14, 1999 New York Mets traded Dan Murray to the Kansas City Royals for Glendon Rusch.

Edgy MD Mar 12 2013 05:46 PM Re: Late-Season Transactions

Those shares hardly seem worth the time it took to vote them, much less the paper they were printed on.

RealityChuck Mar 12 2013 06:26 PM Re: Late-Season Transactions

Edgy MD wrote: Those shares hardly seem worth the time it took to vote them, much less the paper they were printed on. Adjusted for inflation, they were $700. And players made far less in the pre-free-agent days. Jack Heidemann, for instance, only made about $12,000 ($64,000 today). And extra few hundred was certainly appreciated.

Edgy MD Mar 12 2013 07:46 PM Re: Late-Season Transactions

I know there was a conflict once or twice between Seaver and his lower-profile teammets, when he opted not to take his last start in a season when a win might have meant the difference between perhaps second and third place, which would have meant a meaningful bonus for the borderline players.

G-Fafif Mar 13 2013 07:31 AM Re: Late-Season Transactions

Edgy MD wrote: I know there was a conflict once or twice between Seaver and his lower-profile teammets, when he opted not to take his last start in a season when a win might have meant the difference between perhaps second and third place, which would have meant a meaningful bonus for the borderline players. Seaver passed up a start on the last day of 1970 when he was 18-12 and not feeling all that great. His teammates reportedly grumbled that his not going (against Ferguson Jenkins, the winning team finishing second) could have cost them at least a thousand bucks per man, even though Seaver was in a miserable slump as the season wound down; Jim McAndrew started and the Mets finished third. A year later Tom was 19-10 and went for No. 20 on the final day of the season. There were some whispers that, oh sure, with 20 wins on the line he's going for it. Then again, Tom winning that last game ensured the Mets a third-place tie and some of that sweet Jack Heidemann cash.

seawolf17 Mar 13 2013 08:17 AM Re: Late-Season Transactions

Never heard of Jerry Moses. I need to add these phantom Mets to my card collection.

Chad Ochoseis Mar 13 2013 08:20 AM Re: Late-Season Transactions

Mike Vail. 23 game hitting streak. $34.17 share.

Ashie62 Mar 14 2013 10:14 PM Re: Late-Season Transactions

seawolf17 wrote: Never heard of Jerry Moses. I need to add these phantom Mets to my card collection. Yankee?