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Blasts from the Past

Benjamin Grimm Oct 02 2020 05:35 AM

Lorinda deRoulet wrote: Our policy remains the same on big money and long term contracts, but we might make an exception in the case of Pete Rose. We would like Pete Rose to play for the Mets and we will pursue him and try to persuade him to join us. I have a feeling it's not gonna happen. http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00002.jpg>

Benjamin Grimm Oct 02 2020 05:39 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

I notice that Lorinda deRoulet gets the title of "Mrs." before her name, but the men don't get a "Mr." Now that would be seen as sexist and condescending. I wonder when they stopped doing that?

whippoorwill Oct 02 2020 06:19 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

I don't remember any Pete Rose rumors (but I'm from out of town) and I would not have welcomed them.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 02 2020 06:29 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

I do remember that. I recall talking with my friends about how Pete wouldn't be able to wear number 14 with the Mets and I suggested that he could wear uniform number 1.4 instead. I'm sure that, looking back, Rose regrets that he was on the Phillies in 1980 instead of the Mets.

Edgy MD Oct 02 2020 10:21 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

Bobby Orr looks positively Seaverian in that shot. Amazing that he was as good as anybody in the league from 19 on, but he was done at 26. Also pretty cool that the two greatest Orrs both brought glory to Boston, though neither was from there. Benjamin took over just as Bobby's knees broke down.

Edgy MD Oct 02 2020 10:29 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

They also have in their possession a later from from Rose, who advised the Mets not to waste a draft choice by selecting him in the re-entry draft last week. This would totally be on exhibit if I curated the Mets Hall of Fame and Museum.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 02 2020 03:34 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00003.jpg> I remember this column by Lupica. I cut it out and saved it on the bulletin board in my bedroom. From that point, I was a big fan of Mike Lupica. (That fandom has long since expired.) After it was published, Lorinda deRoulet refused to talk with Daily News reporters. She was offended by Lupica's "vituperative" column. It seems somewhat appropriate to read a column about the dying days of the Payson/deRoulet era now in the final days of the Wilpon era. There certainly are parallels.

Frayed Knot Oct 02 2020 03:43 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

Benjamin Grimm wrote: She was offended by Lupica's "vituperative" column. But not by his haircut?!?

Johnny Lunchbucket Oct 02 2020 07:31 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

Yeah it takes some bravery to come out as strong as Lupica did in the moment, and the record shows he got a lot of this take right, including Torres managing career. Come out firing and being dead wrong, like Dick Young often did, is far easier it seems.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 04 2020 08:59 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00004.jpg> This isn't the column that led to Seaver's demand to be traded -- we'll see that next. This is the preliminary round, published on May 8, 1977. Interesting that the three-year contact that Seaver signed for 1976 through 1978 includes "possibility penalties for poor performance". (It's the four P's!) I don't think I've ever heard of an MLB contract (at least, since the players unionized) that would allow a player to make less than his base salary if his performance suffered. Especially for a player of Seaver's stature. In the time before free agency, holdouts only offered so much leverage.

Edgy MD Oct 04 2020 12:31 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

Absolute news to me is that Ray Sadecki had retired and was staying with the team under a "quasi-coaching status."

Benjamin Grimm Oct 06 2020 06:45 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00005.jpg> Here it is: The Dick Young column that chased Tom Seaver out of New York. Chances are, Seaver probably would have opted for free agency after the 1978 season (or would he have had to "play out his option" in 1979?) and might very well have been scooped up by George Steinbrenner.

Johnny Lunchbucket Oct 06 2020 07:56 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

I mean that was the thing Seaver said was the last straw, I'm pretty sure he would have been traded anyway

G-Fafif Oct 06 2020 08:17 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

Two weeks to go to the deadline. Perhaps bringing Nancy Seaver into the discussion can calm things down.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 09 2020 02:38 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00008.jpg> http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00007.jpg> http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00006.jpg>

G-Fafif Oct 09 2020 03:19 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

These News clips remind me of 1) their shoddy to nonexistent proofreading in the 1970s (N. Donald Grant); 2) the habitual smudging out of cap logos for players no longer with the team indicated by their head shots.

Edgy MD Oct 09 2020 03:37 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

My big takeaway is "Norman, like Henderson, is black." Thanks for that scoop, Jack Lang.

whippoorwill Oct 09 2020 06:06 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

Who is that stupid plaid dressed hillbilly woman supposed to be?

Benjamin Grimm Oct 09 2020 06:45 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

It's Basement Bertha. Bill Gallo'd long running character.

MFS62 Oct 11 2020 07:02 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

Some dynamite from the past. Adam Wainwright is trying to mend fences with New York fans: https://sports.yahoo.com/cardinals-adam-wainwright-shares-message-190542133.html Later

Benjamin Grimm Oct 12 2020 08:56 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

[YOUTUBE]gjgIiUzmix0[/YOUTUBE]

Benjamin Grimm Oct 31 2020 06:11 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00009.jpg> http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00010.jpg> http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00011.jpg> Jack Lang wrote: The subject of the club's image and tight-fisted dollar policy was put to Wilpon and he had a ready reply without indicting the previous owners. "I think the image will be reversed when the fans know we are willing to spend large sums of money. The fans will then say, 'These people care.'" Joe Torre wrote: "The future of this ballclub is (Frank) Taveras and (Doug) Flynn. I know Joe Morgan can hit but unless he could play third base or somewhere else I don't know if he could help us."

Edgy MD Oct 31 2020 07:17 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

Man, that's a strange quote from Torre.

MFS62 Oct 31 2020 07:38 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

Edgy MD wrote: Man, that's a strange quote from Torre. Mariano Rivera raised Torre's baseball I.Q. by 40 points. Later

Edgy MD Oct 31 2020 08:13 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

It's really interesting that a guy who spent his career as a heavy hitter but a defensive liability at three different positions went for defense over offense almost every chance he got.

G-Fafif Oct 31 2020 08:40 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

The Daily News needs to flip that apostrophe from January 26.

Frayed Knot Oct 31 2020 02:36 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

Edgy MD wrote: It's really interesting that a guy who spent his career as a heavy hitter but a defensive liability at three different positions went for defense over offense almost every chance he got. One of the first moves Torre advocated for as Yanqui manager was swapping out the fan favorite and offensively-minded [OPS's of 151, 144, 118 in '93-'95] catcher Mike Stanley for Joe Girardi. Fans tended to hate the move (why is Torre bringing in all these 'Nashional Leagahs'?!?!) but Torre claimed to know how much a defensive catcher was worth to a team. Then Posada showed up and the team began doing what they did with him: taking every minor league slugger they could find and try to teach him to catch. Jesus Montero was the next model though he was eventually traded to Seattle in a huge challenge deal for Michael Pineda (both teams wound up losers in that one). Gary Sanchez was essentially the next Jesus Montero and there were others of that same type in between, just none who made it.

Edgy MD Oct 31 2020 09:40 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

I tend to think that Joe Girardi has kept Jorge Posada out of the Hall of Fame — or at least any serious consideration — by starting ahead of Posada at the beginning of his career and by relegating Posada to a time-share role in the last years of his career.

Frayed Knot Nov 01 2020 10:51 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

Edgy MD wrote: I tend to think that Joe Girardi has kept Jorge Posada out of the Hall of Fame — or at least any serious consideration — by starting ahead of Posada at the beginning of his career and by relegating Posada to a time-share role in the last years of his career. I was thinking about answering you until I had to use the search function to remember what thread this comment was in. As a result of that search I found that you said this a year and a week ago [10/23/19]: "I always thought that Girardi kept Posada from getting serious Hall of Fame consideration, by playing ahead of him at the front end of Posada's career and by benching him at the end." So instead of writing up an reply, I'll just cut and paste what I said in response back then: "Posada had his only real injury season during Girardi's first year as skipper, but after that still averaged over 400 PAs per year even at ages 37, 38, 39 - so he wasn't exactly being benched. Mainly he didn't like that Girardi started to slot him lower and lower in the lineup including, at least once, 9th at which point Posada refused to play for a couple days. Reportedly things were never real warm and fuzzy between those two when they played either, but Posada was a 24th round draft pick and a converted IF'er trying to learn to catch (some claimed he never did) so it was more than just Girardi's presence that kept him from establishing himself until age 26 or so. And I look forward to talking about his topic in October of next year.

Edgy MD Nov 01 2020 12:22 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

Well, it was relevant to the strain of the conversation, so I found no problem with repeating it. Also, Torre and Staub. That's different. More importantly, as the world's biggest Doug Flynn fan, it's stunning to see Torre endorsing Tavaras and Flynn as "the future" as late as 1980. Morgan would go on to lead the league in walks that year (Mazzilli was seventh), while Tavaras and Flynn helped Torre achieve the dubious distinction of skippering a club that would produce exactly zero home runs at three different offensive positions — second base, shortstop, and catcher. (No Mets pitchers homered either.) Torre was a filthy glove-lover and he wasn't ashamed of it. He also moved Todd Zeile out of the catcher position, reducing the stature of his offensive profile.

Frayed Knot Nov 01 2020 01:22 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

Oh I just found it funny that this near exact conversation occurred 53 weeks ago and that I accidently stumbled across the old one while looking to add to the current one. Torre was definitely a glove lover, although I'm not sure I see the Morgan/Flynn/Tavares comments as much more than a new manager not wanting to trash existing players prior to even donning the uniform for the first time.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 01 2020 02:14 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

Torre had already been managing the Mets for two and a half years at the time of that quote.

Frayed Knot Nov 01 2020 02:19 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

Ahh, I'm mixing up my blasts and my pasts.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 07 2021 04:01 PM Mets pick a Strawberry in draft

http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00012.jpg> When I saw the photo that accompanies this article, I noticed Ruby before I noticed Darryl and thought it was Darryl in a silly wig. He really does look like his mom. So it was essentially a toss-up about whether or not the Mets would take Strawberry or Billy Beane with their first draft pick? Wow... That was a dodged bullet. The fact that nobody else took him shows that the Mets evaluated Beane a lot higher than the other teams.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 25 2021 06:59 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/Daily_News_Wed__Oct_15__1969_.jpg> http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00013.jpg> http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00014.jpg> This Blast From the Past is about Tommie Agee, inspired by a recent UMDB fan post about Rich Chiles. We see Dick Young being Dick Young, and a very odd column by Casey Stengel. (I'm pretty sure someone just transcribed his ramblings. I doubt that he sat down and typed that.)

Johnny Lunchbucket Mar 25 2021 07:55 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

The 73 Mets never really had a center fielder. They tried Chiles, Mays, Theodore, Gosger, Ted Martinez and Hahn. Interestingly when Chiles went away he didn't go to Tidewater but was loaned out to Tucson which I suppose was a signal that he was hopeless and the Mets already were moving to other options. He and Theodore were spring training roomies, according to this piece and enjoyed applesauce-marshmallow milkshakes together. http://www.beta.mbtn.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/clip_74323094.jpg>

G-Fafif Mar 25 2021 08:07 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

Dave Schneck started 12 of the 17 final (pressure-packed) games in 1973 in center, platooning with Hahn, but no postseason action awaited the September callup.

kcmets Mar 25 2021 09:25 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

http://thecranepool.net/images/strawscout.png>

Edgy MD Mar 25 2021 09:33 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

I appreciate any scout granular enough not to round off his ratings to the nearest five. Interesting how close he places Strawb's current ratings to his future ratings, as if he could have been an MLB All-Star in high school.

kcmets Mar 25 2021 09:39 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

I should note where I borrowed this from... Dollar Sign on the Muscle, page 48

Edgy MD Mar 25 2021 10:20 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

Terrific book.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 25 2021 11:43 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

I believe Schneck holds the Mets record for most years on the MLB roster without ever getting his own Topps baseball card.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 29 2021 05:58 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00015.jpg>

Benjamin Grimm Apr 10 2021 06:54 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00016.jpg> http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00017.jpg>

Benjamin Grimm May 27 2021 06:19 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

Joe Torre wrote: Richie has to be delighted to come here. Hebner, on arriving to the Mets was quoted in the next day's paper: Richie Hebner wrote: The thing I'll miss most is the winning. It's going to be a long September." At least he came to the club with a good attitude! http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00018.jpg> I dug these out because Gary mentioned Hebner on the Mets broadcast the other night. I remembered, and wanted to find, the headline that said "Meet Richie, A Met Well Met". I didn't recall if it was from the Daily News or from Newsday, but here it is in the News. In this photo he seems happy enough... http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00019.jpg>

G-Fafif May 27 2021 06:38 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

Gads, I (like Stearns and Apodaca) was excited by this acquisition...yet mortified he didn't want to be here. I'd learned through free agency that players the Mets might have wanted maybe didn't want to be Mets, but showing up less than ecstatic once you were a Met seemed less than optimal. At least Dick Young considered his agent a gentleman. I know comportment was important to Dick. The News spelled Espinosa's name wrong in the second-day caption.

Edgy MD May 27 2021 07:07 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

Dick Young wrote: It's a good deal. Any time you can trade a starting pitcher for an everyday player, it's a good deal. Dick Young, still trying to carry water to justify a trade made a year and a half earlier.

Benjamin Grimm May 27 2021 07:25 AM Re: Mets pick a Strawberry in draft

http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00020.jpg> Looks like the Richie Hebner Era didn't work out so well.

Edgy MD May 27 2021 07:52 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

I hadn't known Jerry Morales had been originally signed by the Mets — lost to the Padres in the 1968 Expansion Draft. Hmmm. What was the "High Court ruling" that was going to put a "damper on hustle"? That sounds serious!

Benjamin Grimm May 27 2021 01:02 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

YOUNG IDEAS DICK YOUNG High Court ruling puts damper on hustle THEY‘RE LOOKING AT the films from last Sunday's game, and this NFL coach turns to the man on special teams and says “Why didn't you block that guy?" and the player says “Are you crazy? Not me!“ "What are you talking about?” says the coach remembering that there is a players‘ union so he had better not raise his voice. “Suppose he turns as I throw the block and I get called for clipping. and suppose I broke the guy's leg, or worse yet. his spine. He‘ll sue me for my lungs. Hey. man. I ain‘t making enough money to take chances like that." This is the sort of thing that could be an offshoot of the decision the Supreme Court of the United States came up with the other day. It could touch all pro sports. and some not so pro. TAKE BASKETBALL. The big guy goes up for a defensive rebound, and comes down with the pointed elbows flying, and takes out this other cat's eye. The guy with the elbow gets a personal, while the other guy feels his way to a phone and calls his lawyer. For the rest of the season there is very little rebounding. Why take chances? Says Simon Gourdine, deputy commissioner of the NBA. and a man with legal training: “We would be concerned with anything that has a chilling effect on the competive spirit of the players. The fans are entitled to see hustle. Rather than go to court for such things. we‘d like to meet with the union and set up some alternative remedy, perhaps an arbitration machinery.” The Supreme Court ruling said, in effect, that a player is entitled to sue another player for injuries received during a game. The Supreme Court issued the ruling “without comment,” which is always the best way to do something when you don‘t know much about what you‘re doing. Without comment. it is difficult to determine if the Supreme Court meant that the player was violating a rule when he caused the injury. Ironically. in the specific case involved, no penalty was assessed by the game officials. The game was played six years ago, which shows you that things are moving at just about the proper pace for our courts. It was between the Bengals and the Broncos. Boobie Clark of Cincy hit from behind Dale Hackbart of Denver, who alleges he sustained a neck-fracture, although he remained in that game and played two others. The Supreme Court did not rule on innocence or guilt. It ruled that the case should go to trial in the District Court of Colorado. The Bengals originally claimed that such matters are not the concern of the courts. Baseball exec Lee MacPhail concurs. “Anything connected with the game in which a player gets hurt should be left to league discipline," says the AL prez. He cites the case of a pitcher throwing at a batter. The umpire is authorized to warn him, then throw him out on a second offense. “If such cases go to court, you‘ll find the umpires will never warn a pitcher. That defeats our ability to police our game on the field,” says MacPhail. It should be emphasized that this case does not involve a fight between players. There have been many cases, in all sports, where fights have resulted in legal suits. This was part of the game's action which the plaintiff contends was “negligent and reckless.” If such thinking be upheld, you can expect Phil Esposito. after being banged into the boards, to turn to Mike Bossy and say. “You‘ll be hearing from my solicitor in the morning.“ Which reminds me, Howard Cosell may be hearing from Bob Arum's attorney. “I hate to bring lawsuits." says the fight promoter. who also happens to be an attorney, “but this is going too far." There was a recent appearance in Knoxville by Howard Cosell, wherein he referred to Arum as "The Apostle of Apartheid.“ “That,” says Arum. “is malicious. Everybody knows I fought apartheid in South Africa. My every action has proven that. I insisted upon integration of Loftus Versfield in South Africa for the Tate-Coetzee fight. Not only that, I got promises that other apartheid stadiums would be integrated." ARUM ALSO IS UPSET over an incident involving Cosell during the World Series. Cosell, in the cocktail lounge of the Cross Key's Hotel, Baltimore, engaged in one of his loud tirades against the press. He accused Red Smith of NY. Times of leaving the World Series to cover the Tate-Coetzee fight in Africa, because he must be on the take from Arum. It never occurred to Howard that a heavyweight title fight between a black and a white, in a nation that is rife with racial issues, is a valuable first-hand experience for a newsman. Such judgment is the difference between a good newsman and a TV man like Cosell. Pete Axthelm of Newsweek, resentful of '. Cosell's remarks, almost popped Howie in the snoot. ‘ Arum says he is asking Roone Arledge to remove Cosell from the mike for the Nov. 30 fight card in Vegas. Arum's Top Rank is promoting Sugar Ray Leonard vs Benitez that night, plus Antuofermo vs. Hagler. ABC has the rights. , “I'm putting Roone Arledge on notice to take Cosell off,” says Arum, who just might be named Promoter of the Year if he‘s not careful.

Edgy MD May 27 2021 01:42 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

Cancel culture!

duan May 27 2021 04:34 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

Edgy MD wrote: My big takeaway is "Norman, like Henderson, is black." Thanks for that scoop, Jack Lang. My big take on it is that the Irish election was front page news in Ohio! Who knew!!!

Benjamin Grimm May 31 2021 09:10 AM Re: Mets pick a Strawberry in draft

Let's take a moment to remember Danny Frisella. http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00021.jpg>

Edgy MD May 31 2021 09:45 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

Not to knock Red Foley, but that's some kind of forced lede.

Johnny Lunchbucket Jun 01 2021 11:03 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

There's like 10 typos in that article too. Felox Millan

Johnny Lunchbucket Jun 01 2021 11:07 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

Good night

Edgy MD Jun 02 2021 07:13 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

"I'm dumbfounded, this is a shcoker."

Marshmallowmilkshake Jun 02 2021 07:19 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

I bet they were still using linotype machines at that time. Tough to make changes on the fly with those machines!

Edgy MD Jun 02 2021 07:53 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

And I'm totally taking Oakland to beat that spread.

Benjamin Grimm Jun 05 2021 07:29 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

This deal was truly a turning point in Mets history. I remember learning about it while listening to the game on the radio. Bob Murphy said, "The Mets have made a deal, and it is a blockbusterrrrrrr." I still find it hard to believe that the Cardinals made this trade. They traded Hernandez within their division and got so little in return. I almost think that Samantha Stephens must have wriggled her nose and mind-controlled Joe McDonald. These articles make it clear that Keith really didn't want to be a Met. (Much like Richie Hebner!) I've learned that sometimes when the worst thing happens, it can turn out to be the best thing. Keith probably knows that feeling. "I'm stunned and disappointed. I'm going home to check my contract to see if I can veto the deal." Apparently he couldn't. Good for him, and for us. http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00023.jpg> http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00022.jpg>

stevejrogers Jun 06 2021 12:37 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

I saw METSPOLICE on Twitter (there BatMags, no vagueness of where this came from) suggest that Hernandez was not really on the Met fan radar, in terms of being a top tier superstar to consider it on the levels of Mike Piazza or Francisco Lindor in terms of bringing in a big name talent. Yes, despite after a share of an MVP, several years after that SI cover heralding his arrival on the scene, amassing a decent collection of Gold Gloves and ASG appearances by that point, and to say nothing about a key figure in the previous October run for the World Champion Cardinals! Is there anything to this? Or is this opinion that he was a regular decent name player more on whatever fan base social circles Shannon was running in back in June of 1983 not being “aware” of Hernandez' star power?

Benjamin Grimm Jun 06 2021 01:00 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

I was twenty years old when the trade was made, and I knew very well who Keith Hernandez was. I don't think I thought of him as a future Hall-of-Famer (if I did, I apparently would have been wrong) but I knew he was an All-Star, a Gold Glove, and a former MVP. He played in the same division as the Mets. Even now, when I pay much less attention than I did in 1983, I still know the names of the star players on the other teams in the NL East.

batmagadanleadoff Jun 06 2021 01:03 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I was twenty years old when the trade was made, and I knew very well who Keith Hernandez was. I don't think I thought of him as a future Hall-of-Famer (if I did, I apparently would have been wrong) but I knew he was an All-Star, a Gold Glove, and a former MVP. He played in the same division as the Mets. Even now, when I pay much less attention than I did in 1983, I still know the names of the star players on the other teams in the NL East. This is pretty much me, too, all the way down the line. I damn sure knew who Keith Hernandez was in June of '83 and I thought he was a star back then.

Frayed Knot Jun 06 2021 01:06 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I still find it hard to believe that the Cardinals made this trade. They traded Hernandez within their division and got so little in return. One of the secondary articles there mentions the reason: thin pitching on the StL end. These articles make it clear that Keith really didn't want to be a Met. I've learned that sometimes when the worst thing happens, it can turn out to be the best thing. Keith probably knows that feeling. "I'm stunned and disappointed. I'm going home to check my contract to see if I can veto the deal." Apparently he couldn't. Good for him, and for us. Keith made it clear in his book, IF AT FIRST, that he didn't want to be a Met. He went crying to his agent wanting to retire but was told he lacked the finances to do so. He could have left after the season (another reason for the lesser haul in return) but by then had started to change his mind and, in his own words, 'took a chance' at least in part based on his father calling some scouting connections who told him that the Mets had some good young players on the way.

Frayed Knot Jun 06 2021 01:13 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

I have no idea who METPOLICE or 'Shannon' are (and frankly don't care) but the way I remember the story was that Cashen & Herzog were casually tossing around other names, probably based on the Cards looking for pitching, when Whitey first mentioned Hernandez ('Always have the other side bring up the name of the guy you want first' said Cashen later on). I don't think it was a case of the Mets not valuing Keith so much as it didn't occur to them that he'd be available. Cashen, a bit stunned but probably trying not to sound it, said he'd get right back to him with some names and the deal came together quickly after that.

G-Fafif Jun 06 2021 01:37 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

=stevejrogers post_id=67049 time=1623004634 user_id=57] Is there anything to this?

No.

Edgy MD Jun 06 2021 01:41 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

Allen was a good athlete with a tight little motion, and Herzog considered him and Stearns the toughest battery to run on, and putting together the runningest offense anyone had seen in decades, had perhaps an outsized opinion of Neil. It seems uncharacteristically shortsighted for Herzog, but that's the kind of mistake you might make when you're trying to run a player out of town. It also speaks to what can happen when a manager runs the organization and the GM is just a figurehead. His heart got ahead of his head. Hernandez, to his credit, despite being famously loose-lipped, never really comes close to running Herzog down in the booth, despite being in a good position to do so. And I imagine that's because he knows his side of the truth, and that's that he developed a drug problem and it cost him his job. A pretty good job at that. Cocaine can cloud your judgment, but fear of it can do that as well. Herzog was trying to protect the rest of his team, committed to acting fast, and sold his player short. It blew up on him, but even a long, Hall of Fame career characterized by forward thinking and sound judgment is going to include a couple of gaffes along the way. Good for the Mets for being on the right side of history when he did. Maybe someday Frank Cashen gets in the Hall of Fame as well.

G-Fafif Jun 06 2021 01:46 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

Jack Lang's lede that Dave Kingman's days are numbered is classic forest for the franchise-altering trees stuff. Then again, when my friend called me to tell me we'd just gotten KEITH HERNANDEZ, my companion reaction, besides some variation on exultation, was fretting that the additional player being cleared from the roster amid the flurry of deadline moves, might be Bob Bailor (it was Mike Jorgensen).

Edgy MD Jun 06 2021 03:40 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

"Mex, you're my ticket out of here." — Dave Kingman, greeting Keith Hernandez in the Mets' clubhouse

Johnny Lunchbucket Jun 06 2021 05:13 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

I recall listening to the game on the radio that evening and being shocked and excited that the Mets would get a guy from the cover of SI, and a legit All-Star, to play for them. I recall thinking that Ownbey might be a star but then again the Mets yearbook made a lot of org prospects look that way

Benjamin Grimm Jun 06 2021 07:29 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

https://www.tcdb.com/Images/Cards/Baseball/70/70-192Fr.jpg> https://www.tcdb.com/Images/Cards/Baseball/70/70-192Bk.jpg> http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/Daily_News_Thu__Jul_10__1969_1.jpg> http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/Daily_News_Thu__Jul_10__1969_2.jpg>

Johnny Lunchbucket Jun 07 2021 09:13 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

That was an unforgettable Astoria Stakes, that's for sure

Benjamin Grimm Jun 07 2021 09:35 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

"I jes' close my ears to it."

Edgy MD Jun 07 2021 09:47 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

Sadie F. and Box the Compass — a pair of fillies running in the 1969 Astoria Stakes or briefly massive 1983 synthpop acts with legendary hairstyles?

Benjamin Grimm Jun 07 2021 09:51 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

This really wasn't supposed to be about the race at Aqueduct, but whatever! I have to wonder, though, what's the deal with Basement Bertha demanding to watch the Yankee game? Is she just being a troll?

batmagadanleadoff Jun 07 2021 10:01 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

Benjamin Grimm wrote: This really wasn't supposed to be about the race at Aqueduct, but whatever! I have to wonder, though, what's the deal with Basement Bertha demanding to watch the Yankee game? Is she just being a troll? I also kept wondering about that joke. I'm not sure I get it, either. Is the gag that she's Basement Bertha and that she prefers rooting for last place teams, which the Mets, historically, usually were?

Johnny Lunchbucket Jun 07 2021 11:08 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

Yeah I think that's it

batmagadanleadoff Jun 07 2021 11:16 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: Yeah I think that's it Not much of a funny joke then, d'ya agree?

G-Fafif Jun 07 2021 11:24 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

Gallo was too upset about Box the Compass to make any sense or decent jokes that day.

batmagadanleadoff Jun 07 2021 11:24 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: Yeah I think that's it Not much of a funny joke then, d'ya agree? I think that the problem with Gallo's cartoon, for me anyways, is that when I first saw it, my Mets-centric perspective kicked in and I saw Bertha as a Mets fan only. So I wondered why she'd wanna watch the Yanks. But then I remembered that Bertha is a fan of both NY teams (I think).

Johnny Lunchbucket Jun 07 2021 12:14 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

I think Bertha was regularly not that funny. To me the charm was in the effort to do it, and that it spoke to a certain NYC sports fan of the distant past.

G-Fafif Jun 07 2021 12:21 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

Bertha was pro-local teams in general. Gallo's cartoons seemed funny when I was a kid versus having been funny.

Benjamin Grimm Jun 11 2021 02:10 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00024.jpg> http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00025.jpg> http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00026.jpg>

Edgy MD Jun 11 2021 03:04 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

What the hell, Sadecki? They give you a four run lead and you walk Fran X. Healy? It was 1972. Healy was pretty much the weakest hitter in the league, and you walk him twice?

Frayed Knot Jun 11 2021 03:19 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

Edgy MD wrote: What the hell, Sadecki? They give you a four run lead and you walk Fran X. Healy? It was 1972. Healy was pretty much the weakest hitter in the league, and you walk him twice? Sadecki probably got distracted because Healy was yapping so much and wouldn't shut up during the whole AB

dinosaur jesus Jun 11 2021 03:30 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

That's quite a Metly picture. Mays in his first game as a Met, Staub in his first season, Series hero Agee in his last, eternal Met Buddy Harrelson . . . And a nice sample of New York baseball history, with 1951 shaking hands with 1985. And the team they beat was the Giants!

Edgy MD Jun 11 2021 03:39 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

Frayed Knot wrote: Edgy MD wrote: What the hell, Sadecki? They give you a four run lead and you walk Fran X. Healy? It was 1972. Healy was pretty much the weakest hitter in the league, and you walk him twice? Sadecki probably got distracted because Healy was yapping so much and wouldn't shut up during the whole AB Healy sure came away from that trip to the plate with CAHNFIDENCE.

Frayed Knot Jun 11 2021 04:16 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

I was at the game for one of Mays' early NYM HRs, but I don't remember if it was this one or slightly later.

Benjamin Grimm Jun 11 2021 04:32 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

I remember watching this game on TV. It was Mothers Day and my grandparents were visiting. I remember the first inning grand slam and thinking that the Mets had a sure win. Except that David Peterson was pitching...

Benjamin Grimm Jun 11 2021 04:55 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00027.jpg> http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00028.jpg> The childhood sweetheart who moved out of the neighborhood remains young and beautiful, dog that she may now be. Dick Young always keeps it classy.

stevejrogers Jun 13 2021 10:31 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

=batmagadanleadoff post_id=58645 time=1616694200 user_id=68] I believe Schneck holds the Mets record for most years on the MLB roster without ever getting his own Topps baseball card.

If you are just counting the base set, Pedro Feliciano's 9 Metly seasons is probably the record. But he wound up in the 2010 Topps update set, and as a bonus card in a special Met box set that came out in 2008.



I'm surprised he didn't rate a few inclusions in a Bowman, or Total, where the bulk of players not represented in the base set tend to find themselves over the years.

batmagadanleadoff Jun 13 2021 11:01 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

=stevejrogers post_id=67761 time=1623601903 user_id=57] =batmagadanleadoff post_id=58645 time=1616694200 user_id=68] I believe Schneck holds the Mets record for most years on the MLB roster without ever getting his own Topps baseball card.

If you are just counting the base set, Pedro Feliciano's 9 Metly seasons is probably the record. But he wound up in the 2010 Topps update set, and as a bonus card in a special Met box set that came out in 2008.



I'm surprised he didn't rate a few inclusions in a Bowman, or Total, where the bulk of players not represented in the base set tend to find themselves over the years.

Updates count. Those are part of the base set. No surprise on Feliciano.

He played during the era of smaller sets. And he was a reliever. In his day, it was tough for a reliever that wasn't the closer or #2 guy to get a card. But didn't Feliciano once lead the league or come close in the category of reliever innings pitched?

Benjamin Grimm Jun 14 2021 08:51 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

The Mets just won the 1969 World Series! The Daily News gets it right. Newsday gets it... weird. http://ultimatemets.com/covers/1969/19691017_NYDN_01.jpg> http://ultimatemets.com/covers/1969/19691017_NYDN_02.jpg> http://ultimatemets.com/covers/1969/19691017_NSD_01.jpg>

Marshmallowmilkshake Jun 14 2021 09:32 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

Just getting to read the Mays stories. A couple random thoughts: -- Dick Young was already kissing up to M. Donald Grant. Executive of the year? Foreshadowing. -- Jim Beauchamp was the last to wear 24 before Willie, and Don Hahn apparently was sent to Tidewater. My memories of Hahn are forever linked to the staged yearbook photo of him making an above the wall catch!

Benjamin Grimm Jun 14 2021 10:01 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

http://www.ultimatemets.com/jpeg/hahn_wall.jpg>

Marshmallowmilkshake Jun 14 2021 10:12 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

Benjamin Grimm wrote: http://www.ultimatemets.com/jpeg/hahn_wall.jpg> That's it! Eight-year-old me was in awe of that photo!

Frayed Knot Jun 14 2021 10:39 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

=Marshmallowmilkshake post_id=67845 time=1623687149 user_id=119] That's it! Eight-year-old me was in awe of that photo!

Before you found out that the adult world was lying to you at every turn.

Benjamin Grimm Jun 17 2021 02:55 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00029.jpg>

Edgy MD Jun 17 2021 03:59 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

Sad to hear of the injury to teenaged New Jersey jockey Steve Plomchok, I looked him up, and learned he was convicted and sent up the river in the late seventies following a conviction in a big race fixing scandal that made a little bit of news at the time (sort of rings a bell to me, anyhow). Apparently, the jig was up when Big Tony squealed, which, I'm sorry, but who couldn't see that coming?

Benjamin Grimm Jul 01 2021 12:43 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00031.jpg> http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00032.jpg> http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00033.jpg> http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00030.jpg>

Benjamin Grimm Jul 04 2021 04:29 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

https://ultimatemets.com/covers/1986/19861026_NSD_01.jpg> https://ultimatemets.com/covers/1986/19861026_NSD_02.jpg> https://ultimatemets.com/covers/1986/19861026_NYDN_01.jpg> https://ultimatemets.com/covers/1986/19861026_NYDN_02a.jpg> Is it possible that Mookie's grounder was only an iconic moment in hindsight? I was at Shea that night and I knew how special that grounder was, but here we have four covers, and none of them include a photo of Mookie and Buckner. (Maybe the Post got it right? I don't have access to their covers from October 1986.)

G-Fafif Jul 04 2021 06:02 PM Re: Blasts from the Past Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jul 05 2021 01:00 PM

I believe it's a function of deadlines. The game ended around 12:30 AM. The News pictured is a Racing Final, not a Sports Final. New York Newsday tended to be an earlier edition than LI. I know the later News had a photo of Marv Albert interviewing Ray Knight, leading me to infer they went with whatever they could get amid the time crunch. Also: no Sunday NY Post in 1986.

Edgy MD Jul 04 2021 07:49 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

Amazin' how we've forgotten how indifferent the morning edition could be, and even when the early edition that hit the stoop had the headline right and the leded paragraph, paragraphs underneath that were written while the outcome of the game was still unknown. And the lead photo would suggest that the big story was this amazing bubble Gary Carter blew while sitting next to Bob Ojeda. By the 2000 World Series, we not only got full coverage the next morning, but a ghostwritten column under Mike Piazza's name, as if the game ended at 12:30 and everybody was packing it in and maybe grabbing a quick drink before dropping dead on their beds and he was all, "Ah shit, I've got a deadline."

DocTee Jul 05 2021 06:21 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

Lupica is right, they play ball too late, even on a weekend. Like someone said elsewhere: more day games, especially in the playoffs, please.

Edgy MD Jul 05 2021 07:04 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

It was definitely related to being young and the Mets being on top of the world, but I confess a sweet fondness for the Friday night 8:00 starts. By the way, does anybody still do the ghostwritten-column-by-the-superstar thing during the World Series? Those go all the way back to Babe Ruth and probably further.

Benjamin Grimm Jul 05 2021 07:41 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

An example of a player-bylined column from the 1986 postseason: http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00034.jpg>

batmagadanleadoff Jul 05 2021 12:47 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

I believe it's a function of deadlines. The game ended around 12:30 AM. The News pictured is a Racing Final, not a Sports Final. New York Newsday tended to be an earlier edition than LI. I know the later News had a photo of Marv Albert interview ping Ray Knight, leading me to infer they went with whatever they could get amid the time crunch. Also: no Sunday NY Post in 1986. I remember that. I have specific memories of "getting the papers" the next day -- or next morning, really -- and being very dissatisfied with the tabloid covers not really capturing the enormity of what transpired in game six. I realized it was probably the deadlines. Here's a Boston Herald cover. [FIMG=555]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51292137211_1e9df0271e_h.jpg[/FIMG]

Edgy MD Jul 05 2021 12:54 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

Man, that looks like Carter is about to have a bite taken out of his ass by a sick, sick man.

batmagadanleadoff Jul 05 2021 12:58 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

Edgy MD wrote: Man, that looks like Carter is about to have a bite taken out of his ass by a sick, sick man. Is that two Wally Backmans surrounding Carter? (One's probably the batboy, I think).

Edgy MD Jul 05 2021 01:13 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

That's definitely Backman behind him. Batboy Mike is doing his best Wally impression as he runs in front. [FIMG=600]https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/members-of-the-new-york-mets-baseball-team-celebrate-their-victory-in-picture-id71583129?s=594x594[/FIMG] He and Paul sport matching Adidas.

Benjamin Grimm Jul 06 2021 10:30 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

The thing that I had totally forgotten is that there were no digital photos in 1986. It's been so long since I've dealt with "film" that it had completely slipped my mind. I'm used to being able to see the photo immediately after it's been taken. But the photos of Mookie's grounder had to go to a darkroom, film had to be converted to negative and then printed. The earlier photos of Gary Carter and his bubble gum, while less compelling, were ready when the edition went to press.

seawolf17 Jul 06 2021 11:04 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

I was thinking about that recently as I was musing about how awful some of the photography is on some of the 1970s Topps cards. They probably only shot one or two games, tops, and they're not going to take more than a few photos of each guy. So I guess you get what you get once you get it back to the lab and developed.

Edgy MD Jul 06 2021 11:29 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

And that's the best part. You don't know what you've got until you get there.

Benjamin Grimm Jul 06 2021 11:47 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

This one isn't about the Mets, but it's just a great back page. (Marred only by the spelling of "foto") http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00035.jpg>

stevejrogers Jul 06 2021 12:53 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

I was thinking about that recently as I was musing about how awful some of the photography is on some of the 1970s Topps cards. They probably only shot one or two games, tops, and they're not going to take more than a few photos of each guy. So I guess you get what you get once you get it back to the lab and developed. Here are some fun examples [url] https://www.tcdb.com/List.cfm/lid/7242/Where's-Waldo??C=3

Benjamin Grimm Jul 22 2021 01:20 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

This is a blast from a more recent past than we usually see. I had forgotten all about the Mets interest in Michael Bourn going into the 2013 season. I had forgotten all about Michael Bourn. As it turns out, if the Mets had signed Bourn they probably would not currently have Dominic Smith. Bourn signed a four-year $48 million contract with the Indians. Cleveland traded him to the Braves in August of 2015, and the Braves released him in April of 2016. While he spent some time in the organizations of the Blue Jays and Angels, he never played a big league game for either team. MICHAEL BOURN'S CAREER AFTER HE SIGNED WITH CLEVELAND February 15, 2013: Signed as a Free Agent with the Cleveland Indians. August 7, 2015: Traded by the Cleveland Indians with Nick Swisher and cash to the Atlanta Braves for Chris Johnson. April 9, 2016: Released by the Atlanta Braves. April 22, 2016: Signed as a Free Agent with the Toronto Blue Jays. May 7, 2016: Released by the Toronto Blue Jays. May 10, 2016: Signed as a Free Agent with the Arizona Diamondbacks. August 31, 2016: Traded by the Arizona Diamondbacks to the Baltimore Orioles for Jason Heinrich (minors). November 3, 2016: Granted Free Agency. February 22, 2017: Signed as a Free Agent with the Baltimore Orioles. March 27, 2017: Released by the Baltimore Orioles. April 11, 2017: Signed as a Free Agent with the Baltimore Orioles. May 24, 2017: Released by the Baltimore Orioles. June 1, 2017: Signed as a Free Agent with the Los Angeles Angels. July 2, 2017: Released by the Los Angeles Angels. THE CRANE POOL FORUM DISCUSSES MICHAEL BOURN The Bourn Compensation Bourn to Indians !! OUR FIRST LOOK AT DOMINIC SMITH (I don't know why he's pictured wearing a Marlins uniform.) http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00036.jpg>

Johnny Lunchbucket Jul 22 2021 01:37 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

I only vaguely recall that whole sitch. We all like Dom, but he's neither Will the Thrill nor Palmeiro yet

Benjamin Grimm Jul 22 2021 01:41 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

Despite Andy Martino's prediction, I doubt that Dom Smith has ever felt an ounce of pressure from being the guy the Mets got instead of Michael Bourn.

ashie62 Jul 22 2021 01:43 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

Love Dom even if he is a few happy meals away from trouble.

Johnny Lunchbucket Jul 22 2021 01:45 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

That Daily News preview box in the Harvey story is all whacky. Games Friday, Saturday... and Thursday (it was Sunday). Tom "Stupid" Koehler pitched, ND, we lost it on 4 in the 11th off Bobby Pee and Robert Carson

Benjamin Grimm Jul 22 2021 01:45 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

That page also has a reference to Tom Koehler. I think the 3.70 under his name is his IQ.

Benjamin Grimm Aug 01 2021 09:23 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

BLASTS FROM THE PAST, METS HALL OF FAME EDITION http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00037.jpg> http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00039.jpg> http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00038.jpg> http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00040.jpg> Yesterday they talked about Darling's win in World Series Game Four, but my lasting memory of Ron Darling is that October game he pitched in St. Louis against John Tudor. I remember watching that at my grandmother's house because I had a power failure at home because of Hurricane Gloria. Glad it wasn't a SportsChannel game! In the Matlack article from 1973, I like how they had to explain that "stats" means "statistics".

batmagadanleadoff Aug 01 2021 09:56 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

That's some collection of old newspapers you have. Tell us all.about Harrelson's advice to the Reds (page 65) just before "Game Three " of that playoffs series.

Benjamin Grimm Aug 01 2021 10:12 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00041.jpg> Apparently Rose and Harrelson had a war of words leading up to their legendary on-the-field dustup. Meanwhile, that photo of Felix Millan and Johnny Bench really brings me back. Before the Internet, if we didn't watch the game we'd only be able to see one or perhaps a handful of grainy black-and-white shots of game action. That's the kind of photo I might have clipped from the newspaper and pasted in a scrapbook.

Edgy MD Aug 01 2021 07:46 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

That's a fantastic job collecting quotes by Joe Donnelly.

Benjamin Grimm Jul 07 2022 10:48 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

Wow, it's been a while since I've posted in this thread. Here's Bill Gallo, from August 5, 1962. This may be before Basement Bertha burst upon the scene. http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00042.jpg>

Edgy MD Jul 07 2022 11:40 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

The gag is ... that the Mets were so bad that Frank "Kiss It Goodbye" Thomas was the only Met worth including in the team picture?

Benjamin Grimm Jul 07 2022 11:43 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

That's pretty much my interpretation too. It took me a while to notice that Phil Silvers was also in the "photo".

Johnny Lunchbucket Jul 08 2022 11:03 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

My initial thought was -- that the "team photo" thing was somehow done before the Mets had secured Thomas, who, though closely resembling the fella front left, wasn't in the original? Then again, I don;t even think a Thomas-less Met team would have possible as he was "day 1 get" I think, but could have been left off? What I saw was that "retouched" the hat logos in the pic aren't "Mets" logos, only a guess that cartoonists before visual identity was known would make (why the Met logo had that off "NY" odd for decades) and one thing is the Thomas portrait has a correct Mets NY logo and the team pic doesn't (I get it, doing that in detail for 18 guys is a lot on deadline these guys had!)

Benjamin Grimm Jul 08 2022 11:49 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

Another Bill Gallo take on Frank Thomas, this time from May 2, 1962. Interesting use of the word "nasally" in the adjoining article by Dick Young. http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00043.jpg>

batmagadanleadoff Jul 08 2022 11:50 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

My take on the first cartoon was not so much that the other Mets weren't worthy of inclusion, but that Gallo was wishing that all of the other Mets could be more like Thomas.

Benjamin Grimm Jul 08 2022 11:54 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

What was the "May 10 cutdown date"? Did seasons start with larger rosters back then?

G-Fafif Jul 08 2022 11:57 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

Seasons used to start with 28 on the roster.

Benjamin Grimm Jul 08 2022 12:09 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

You're saying that "nasally", aren't you?

MFS62 Jul 08 2022 12:14 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

My take on the first cartoon was not so much that the other Mets weren't worthy of inclusion, but that Gallo was wishing that all of the other Mets could be more like Thomas. Thomas nickname was "Donkey". He used to catch fastballs thrown at him barehanded. I don't remember any of his Mets teammates being able to catch anything(with the exception of Richie Ashburn). Later

Benjamin Grimm Jul 21 2022 08:12 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

Blasts From the Past: Special "Mettle" Edition! The winner of the "Name the Mule" contest was to be awarded a week at spring training the following year. However, by spring of 1980 the deRoulet family was out of the picture and the club was owned by Nelson Doubleday and Fred Wilpon. I hope they honored the commitment made by the previous owners. http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00044.jpg> http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00045.jpg> http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00046.jpg> http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00047.jpg> http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00048.jpg> http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00049.jpg>

stevejrogers Jul 21 2022 08:32 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

THE MASCOT WAS A JACKASS!!! -Quip during a #LOL1970sCrappyMets rant from an ESPN NY Radio host telling listeners how long he'd been a long suffering Met fan.

roger_that Jul 21 2022 08:37 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

I'll never get over the irony of a column entitled "Young Ideas" being filled daily with some of the most objectionably reactionary ideas in the history of MLB.

Edgy MD Jul 21 2022 10:52 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

The funny thing is that Young had hit the scene twenty years earlier making his mark with exactly the reputation that the column's title suggested. A lot of things flip-flopped between the fifties and the eighties. I like that Jesse Orosco made his debut as a LOOGy in the most literal sense, decades before he would pioneer the role that led to the coining of the term.

seawolf17 Jul 21 2022 10:56 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

I hadn't realized that Orosco and Buckner were linked from day one. Neat.

Benjamin Grimm Jul 21 2022 10:57 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

I was a little weirded out by how frequently Joe McDonald referred to Orosco as "the boy".

batmagadanleadoff Jul 21 2022 10:59 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

=seawolf17 post_id=100498 time=1658422566 user_id=91] I hadn't realized that Orosco and Buckner were linked from day one. Neat.

Check out JCL's avatar.

seawolf17 Jul 21 2022 11:00 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

=batmagadanleadoff post_id=100500 time=1658422750 user_id=68] =seawolf17 post_id=100498 time=1658422566 user_id=91] I hadn't realized that Orosco and Buckner were linked from day one. Neat.

Check out JCL's avatar.


I'd seen that a million times but never made the connection because Jesse isn't linked to 61 in my head at all.

batmagadanleadoff Jul 21 2022 11:01 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I was a little weirded out by how frequently Joe McDonald referred to Orosco as "the boy". Yeah, I just finished reading the Orosco piece and that's what struck me about the article more than anything else. I was still thinking about that even for a few seconds after I finished reading the article.

batmagadanleadoff Jul 21 2022 11:01 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

=seawolf17 post_id=100501 time=1658422835 user_id=91] =batmagadanleadoff post_id=100500 time=1658422750 user_id=68] =seawolf17 post_id=100498 time=1658422566 user_id=91] I hadn't realized that Orosco and Buckner were linked from day one. Neat.

Check out JCL's avatar.


I'd seen that a million times but never made the connection because Jesse isn't linked to 61 in my head at all.


That's a whole story in and of itself.

Edgy MD Jul 21 2022 11:08 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

=batmagadanleadoff post_id=100500 time=1658422750 user_id=68] =seawolf17 post_id=100498 time=1658422566 user_id=91] I hadn't realized that Orosco and Buckner were linked from day one. Neat.

Check out JCL's avatar.


That's what she said.

Benjamin Grimm Jul 26 2022 12:22 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

Remember when Barry Larkin almost became a Met? This is from July 23, 2000. Larkin's 2000 season would end on August 27. He came out of the game after dislocating a joint in his left middle finger while striking out against Atlana's Ryan Dempster. He was initially listed as day-to-day (happens a lot, huh?) but he actually was done for the season. http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00050.jpg>

Benjamin Grimm Sep 16 2022 08:12 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

Remembering the Bad Dude... http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00051.jpg> http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00052.jpg>

Benjamin Grimm Sep 18 2022 09:29 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

I don't think we'll ever see a complete game like this one again. Juan Marichal went the distance even though he gave up five runs and sixteen hits. http://www.ultimatemets.com/scorecard_graph.php?game=1031&font=17>

Edgy MD Sep 18 2022 09:37 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

I don't know. Trends change.

Willets Point Sep 19 2022 09:04 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

Marichal vs. Seaver is not a game you'd go into expecting a 9-5 final score.

Benjamin Grimm Sep 19 2022 09:15 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

http://ultimatemets.com/clippings/00053.jpg>

Edgy MD Sep 19 2022 10:03 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

Why does that Gallo tie illustration have a fat guy running the bases with the head of a long-necked woman growing out of his arm?

MFS62 Sep 19 2022 10:33 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

In those days that was only two or three weeks to the end of the regular season. Grote was batting .317 on that day. While that was his best BA year, he must have gone into a horrendous slump at the end of the year. He finished at .282. Later

whippoorwill Sep 19 2022 10:35 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

Edgy MD wrote: Why does that Gallo tie illustration have a fat guy running the bases with the head of a long-necked woman growing out of his arm? Lolololol

Benjamin Grimm Sep 19 2022 10:48 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

=MFS62 post_id=107880 time=1663605213 user_id=60] In those days that was only two or three weeks to the end of the regular season.

June 16????

MFS62 Sep 19 2022 11:03 AM Re: Blasts from the Past

Benjamin Grimm wrote: =MFS62 post_id=107880 time=1663605213 user_id=60] In those days that was only two or three weeks to the end of the regular season. June 16????

I was thinking it was an anniversary September 19th game.

Later

Lefty Specialist Sep 19 2022 05:07 PM Re: Blasts from the Past

Willie McCovey was hitting .134? He finished at .293 in 1968, so that's either a typo or he went on one of the all-time great tears.