Ultimate Mets Database: Game of June 30, 1978

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Previous Game:
June 29, 1978
Pirates 4, Mets 3 1978 Regular Season Game 78
June 30, 1978
Mets 6, Pirates 5 Next Game:
July 1, 1978
Pirates 1, Mets 0

Click to view scorecard

National League Standings, June 30, 1978

Box Score Game Memories Scorecard Mets Stats
Thru This Game

METS FANS SHARE THEIR MEMORIES OF THE JUNE 30, 1978 GAME:

Joe Figliola
March 28, 2005
This probably was the best game the Mets played in '78, purely based on one play—Pirates outfielder Dave Parker colliding with John Stearns at home plate. From what I recall, I think Parker was trying to tag up on a fly ball and that the out-calling collision ended the game. I'm sure Bob P. or someone can check that one out on Retrosheet or something.

I wish I saw/scored this one, but I didn't. I did, however, see the replay of the collision that Sunday. Wow! According to my memory, Stearns basically was the Rock of Gibraltar in that he didn't waver during contact.

Hope Channel 9 or the Mets still have the complete game of this. Would like to see it in its entirety one day!

Bob P
March 30, 2005
Joe, thanks for the introduction!

Yes, this was the game, and yes, it was the final out of the game.

Going to the ninth on this Friday night in Pittsburgh, the Mets were down, 3-2. John Stearns led off with a double and one out later pinch- hitter Ed Kranepool singled to tie it up. After Pirates catcher Ed Ott dropped a foul pop by Len Randle, Len tripled to right field to give the Mets a 4-3 lead. Joel Youngblood singled to make it 5-3, and a Steve Henderson single plus an error by Dave Parker made it 6-3.

In the bottom of the ninth, Frank Taveras and Omar Moreno singled with one out, and Dave Parker followed with a triple. Parker represented the tying run with future Met coach Bill Robinson at the plate. Robinson hit one to RF Joel Youngblood, who made the catch and threw home where the collision happened. Stearns held the ball and Parker fractured his cheeckbone. Game over!

Kaptain Kevin
October 7, 2008
I was thinking about this game the other day. I was a senior in high school in '78 and John Stearns was by far my favorite Met. Dave Parker was probably the most feared guy in the Majors that year and had previously run over a couple of other catchers. He tagged at third base and took aim at Stearns. I guess he didn't know that John was a Star defensive back at The University of Colorado who had been drafted by the Bills. So here comes Parker and John has the ball, gets low, and just explodes into Parker! Parker ended up with a broken jaw or cheekbone and Stearns was standing up, the "Bad Dude" had given me a little redemption in an otherwise dreadful season.

Raymond Malcuit Jr.
October 5, 2018
I tried to find the John Stearns/Dave Parker play on YouTube, but so far no luck.

Jim Rodgers
February 1, 2022
Like Raymond I have been searching for a video of the Stearns-Parker collision for years and years. My recollection is that I listened to this on the radio but I'm not sure.

I'm encouraged by Joe's recollection of seeing a "replay of the collision that Sunday". I'm holding out hope that there may yet be footage of that amazing play somewhere after all.

Cheers,

Jim

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The Mets suck! They need to trade Smith and get somebody like Jones.
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The Mets suck! Smith made three errors in this game, and hit into a double play, and the Mets blew a 5-0 lead. They need to get rid of Smith and get somebody like Jones.
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