Rod Kanehl scored from second base on a wild pitch and the Mets picked up their first-ever home win after seven losses at the Polo Grounds.

This was also the first win ever by a Met reliever as Roger Craig threw three scoreless innings to record the victory. Craig normally started but had been knocked out early the day before, so Casey brought him back in relief the next day.

Being a youth, this was the first game I ever attended as my uncle (George Fanelli) took me. He had access to corporate first row field level seats at third base in the Polo Grounds. The night before the game I was in bed and I overheard him tell my parents that he had two tickets, and his friend might not be able to attend the game so he might take me. Being a good Catholic boy I said a rosary that his friend could not make it - and my prayers were answered. What a great game and day! It was a sunny and mild spring day. Home runs galore, nine between the two teams and the Mets also nailed three in a row. And of course the Mets first home victory. Even though it took place 49 years ago, I remember the day like it was yesterday, and I have never had better seats since. Truly great memories!

We should add that Dave Hillman probably should have gotten this first-ever Met relief win. He left the game with a lead but the official scorer ruled that giving up one run in one inning constituted pitching briefly and ineffectively and instead gave the win to Roger Craig who pitched 3 scoreless innings to finish the game. Today, almost cetainly Craig would merely get a save.

It was Hillman's first of thirteen games as a Met to finish his MLB career. He never got a win or a loss as a Met.

I'm an original Met fan -- never had any allegiance to prior New York teams. This was my first game ever to see the Mets and I went by myself from Brooklyn on the BMT for 15 cents. I remember that they won of course. (You see I saw 20 games that year and saw 10 victories so I thought the Mets were a very good team.) Most of them at double headers on Sundays. Little would I know that I saw half of all the wins at home that year. What was particular in my mind was the back-back- back home runs by Neal, Hodges and Thomas. I just assumed that 3 in a row was a common thing to happen. Was I ever shocked years later to realize what I had just experienced in my first New York Met home game! Now I have a Citi Field brick to denote my originality.

This was the first MLB game I ever attended. I was 7 years old and had watched the Yankees on TV during the historic 1961 season. I had wanted to go to a Yankee game but they were out of town. My dad had been a life-long Brooklyn Dodgers fan and was thrilled to see a National League game in NY once again. We schlepped from Long Island to a decrepit stadium in upper Manhattan and it was love at first sight. I loved the aromas and the surreal green of the field. I was in awe of the orange and blue of the Mets uniforms and the gray and brilliant red of the Phillies road uniform. The feelings I had that day became a permanent part of me and I experience them today every time I enter a baseball park. I become 7 years old again every time I enter a baseball park. I saw the Mets win a rare game that season. I saw them lose many more over the next seven years but was amply rewarded when I went to the '69 Series.

This was my first baseball game and I went with my dad. I remember taking the subway from Brooklyn. I was 7 years old. My first memory was how green the grass was after watching games on a black and white TV. My favorite player was Gil Hodges so I played first base in the Little League. So exciting that I got to see him hit a home run. This was the first Met home victory. Will never forget this game.

Great site. I was at this game 40 years ago. I saw something I have never seen since. Met pitcher Al Jackson picked off a runner at second base. The second base umpire didn't make the call even though he was only a few feet away. He must have fell asleep! The first base umpire made the correct call.

My dad took me to the doubleheader when I was 11 years old. We lived on Sedgwick Avenue so dad parked the car along Kingsbride Road and we took the D train to the Polo Grounds. We sat in the upper deck grandstand behind home plate and I remember Al Jackson pitching that 8-0 shutout. We moved to the first base side for game two and while the Mets took an early lead I remember them being bombed and we left during the middle of the nightcap. Dad was a softee so I ate plenty of ice cream and popcorn, a lot more than I would have if mom had been with us!

We got back on the train and I remember dad taking me to a toy store near the Kingsbridge Armory before going home. It was already dark and I think he bought me a picture puzzle.

My dad is now 87 years old and I'll turn 51 in June but it's little memories like these that make me smile and cry at the same time.

In the first game of this doubleheader at the Polo Grounds, Al Jackson pitches a shutout and Frank Thomas is hit by a pitch twice in the fourth inning as the Mets score seven times.

Phils starter Art Mahaffey hit Frank the first time up in the inning. The second pitcher to hit him was Frank Sullivan, probably best known for giving up a twelfth inning game-winning HR to Stan Musial in the 1955 All-Star Game.

I was in fifth grade, less than a month away from my 11th birthday, when my Dad took me to my first Mets game at the Polo Grounds. It was a double header against Philadelphia. We saw the entire opener, which the Mets won 8-0 over the Phillies behind the pitching of little Al Jackson, and left midway through the nightcap. We sat out in right field, near the foul pole, and I remember one of the fans leading the rest of us in what was a brand new chant for me, "Let's Go Mets."

About three weeks ago, my 24 year old son, Josh, and I went down to Port St. Lucie to see a couple of spring training games. Gary Carter was there, along with Tim Teufel, Lenny Dykstra, Howard Johnson and Mookie Wilson, but the biggest thrill for me was seeing Al Jackson, nearly 42 years after that game at the Polo Grounds, still wearing a Mets uniform.

This was actually the first game of the first Met doubleheader in history. Jackson pitched the first Met shutout in history and it was his first win as a Met.

Also, as mentioned above, Frank Thomas got hit by a pitch twice in an inning which was only the second time in MLB history that had happened.

I was 11 years old and living near Monticello, NY (100 mi from NYC.) Four of my friends and I were allowed by our parents to take a bus to Port Authority in New York and then get a bus to the Polo Grounds. (Imagine five 11-year-olds being allowed unescorted on a bus to NYC TODAY!) We were able to see the first shoutout in Mets history by Li'l Al Jackson. What a thrill. Couldn't see the whole second game of DH because we had to catch the bus back to Monticello. Just an aside...last year I found the program for that game on eBay and of course HAD to win it. Getting it was almost as thrilling as the game. Then last month I went to Mets exhibition game in Florida and got "Li'l" Al to sign a baseball for me after telling him the story. (He is a special coach and was told he still can throw great at 78 years old.) The circle of life is complete!

Jean Shepherd, the famous WOR radio raconteur, attended this double-header and did a very extended and humorous take on his observations of the proceedings on his program the next day. The recording of this program survives and is great listening for Mets fans and anyone interested in very early Mets history and the atmosphere of a Mets game at the Polo Grounds in the first weeks of the team's existence. He has some great vignettes of the incompetence of two very bad ball clubs fighting it out, and of Roadblock Jones and some very funny comments about Don Zimmer. I don't know if you can post direct links here, but if you type "jean shepherd a day at the Mets april 30 1962" into google, a link will come up. I highly recommend it.

The nightcap of the first doubleheader in Met history and the Phils got the split in the Polo Grounds after losing the first game to an Al Jackson shutout. In the nightcap, they knocked out Sherman Roadblock Jones after 4 innings.

It was the last start as a Met for Jones. In the Mets next game on May 1st, he pitched an inning of relief, got bombed and was dropped from the team. He never made it back to the majors.

The DH nitecap would featuring the very last MLB appearance of wayward pitcher Herb Moford.

This was the first major league game I ever went to. I was 11 years old. It was going to be a doubleheader but there was a rain delay during the first game and the game went extra innings. Because there was something called the blue laws at the time, and the second game would have started after 6 pm on a Sunday, it was postponed because the second game would have started too late. Boy have the times changed!!

This doubleheader was the first major league games I ever attended. I was 12 and had become a Met fan early this first season because of their name. It amused me because it seemed so silly. What on earth was a "Met"!? Little did I realize then I was attending history. The games were losses 16 and 17 in a row, still a club record 48 years later at this time. They sank this day to 12-36 for the season to attain the .250 WL percentage they were to fill out the season with at 40-120.

I do remember Richie Ashburn just standing at home plate, not arguing but just staring in disgust at an umpire for a long 10 seconds or so after he was called out on a pitch that seemed actually to bounce off the plate. He gave his bat a long low heave that made it skid nearly to the dugout.

This was the first of three straight game in which Frank Thomas hit two homers in each game. He sure loved hitting in the Polo Grounds.

The story Thomas tells is that after one of the homers during these three games, he returned to the dugout and Casey asked about the new yellow glasses he was wearing. Thomas said that the trainer had given them to him. Casey said to tell the trainer to buy a gross of them.

Of course, the Mets lost all three games.

This was the first Mets game I ever attended. I was 12 years old when my parents took me to the Polo Grounds and bought me my first yearbook which I still have today. You know,the one with the baby on the cover and Miss Rheingold on the back cover. What I remembered most about this game was Frank Thomas hitting those two home runs and I remembered the final score, but to actually see the box score at this site was a real thrill. This is my first visit to this site and have added it to my favorites. Life Long Mets fan from the beginning.

I'm pretty sure this is the game started by Art Mahaffey for the Phils where Frank Thomas and Marv Throneberry each hit 2 solo HRs for all the Mets' runs, but the Phils' lead was never in jeopardy.

Chris, you are correct...and not only that, Mahaffey himself hit a grand slam in the third inning. Craig Anderson was the starter for the Mets.

I remember this game for two reasons: I think it was the first time my friends and I were allowed to travel to the Polo Grounds by ourselves. But it was also because Rick Herrscher started at 3rd base. I think that this was his first start in the majors. Unlike the old Dodger and Giant fans who became Met backers, my friends and I were partial to the younger Mets and were pretty excited about seeing the new 3rd baseman. But I think we must have had an inkling even then about how hard it was going to be for the Mets to find a good one. It turned out it wasn't going to be Rick and it took another 40 years or so before they found a real one. Right? To this day, I test anyone's so-called Mets devotee's bona fides by asking if they remember Rick Herrscher. I've stumped most everyone so far.

Al, I remember Rick Herrscher because the following Sunday he hit his only MLB homer and I was there to witness it at my first Met win in person.

This was the middle game of the three games in which Frank Thomas hit a total of six home runs - two in each of the games. And the Mets lost all three games. After that, the Mets won three in a row when Thomas hit no homers. Go figure.

I remember watching this game on television 40 years ago like it was yesterday. Al Jackson pitched all 15 innings almost perfectly. The game was won on a single by Mel Roach(that was his real name!)

Dallas Green started for Phils and Jackson was great for all 15 innings. Mets had numerous chances to win including bases loaded no-outs in extra innings but Pignatano grounded into double play to kill it.

Jackson threw 215 pitches according to a book I have. Can you imagine any pitcher with a pitch count like that today? Apparently, the Mets were going to remove him after 11 innings but he wanted to stay in and try to win it because the Mets kept getting runners on base and he thought they would eventually score.

I came home that day from my summer office job at about 6 pm, I just wished I could see the Mets on TV, but figured the game was long over. Just for fun, I turned on the TV and to my amazement the game was still on. Al Jackson was one of my favorite original Mets. His efforts that day help explain why.

I watched that game from the bleachers in center field a very hot day and a gutty Al Jackson wasn't enough. The Met offense was anemic that day.

This was first game I ever attended and still have the scorecard. My father let us stay for whole game. Al Jackson was one of my all-time favorite players.

Pinch-hit home runs by the Mets Choo Choo Coleman (6th inning) and Jim Hickman (8th) tie the major-league record for pinch home runs by one club in one game, but the Mets still lose to the Phils, 8–7, in 13 innings. Winning pitcher Chris Short singles and scores the winning run. The Phils cop the opener, 9–3 behind a Callison homer and two by Demeter.

Al Jackson's fourth and final shutout of the 1962 season. All four shutouts happened during the first game of a doubleheader and the Mets lost the second game each time!

The last of Al Jackson's four shutouts in 1962. All were pitched during the first game of a doubleheader and the Mets lost the second game each time!

It was my dad's 33rd birthday and we were visiting relatives who lived in Philly. My first Mets game ever in person....didn't go to the Polo Grounds until July of '63. Not sure how he got them but our tickets were right next to the right side of the Mets dugout, so we could see everything going on. Two memories stick out - one was how nice Joe Christopher was to us before the game. Came over and talked and I remember him wiggling his hat at us to make us smile. And then I remember Gene Woodling hitting a home run far over the right field wall. I believe it was the last homer of his career. Had to be reminded by this boxscore that the Mets lost the game in the 10th.

Charlie Neal hit the third and final Mets inside- the-park homer in the Polo Grounds. Gil Hodges and Richie Ashburn had hit the other two in 1962.

My very first game, age 8. I asked if we'd see Babe Ruth play, the adults laughed.Stared out at CF all day, looked like another galaxy away....Ate peanuts, shells and all....Don Demeter hit a HR....

Another famous day in early Mets history---Jimmy Piersall hits his 100th career home run off Dallas Green in the first game of this doubleheader, and Jimmy runs the bases backwards. This was the only homer Piersall hit in the National League.

A few weeks later the Mets release Piersall, who goes on to play sporadically with the Angels until 1967.

Piersall did run the bases counterclockwise. He just back pedaled as he did it. It did not endear him to Casey. He lasted less than two months as a Met.

MLB rules at that time required that a hitter MUST run straight and directly to first base after putting the ball in play, but rules were vague after touching first. Piersall knew that, which is why he ran backwards after touching first. I was at that game too, one of six I attended in 63 (had a 4-2 record too).

I actually recorded Willey's pitch count for that game and it was either 85 or 86 pitches. He was absolutely brilliant for the Mets that year.

I was a young kid 12 years old and don’t remember much about the games. I do remember the Mets played the Phillies and I was there. Years later I read Piersall had hit his 100 th home run off Dallas Green.

I remember this game as one of a double header that the Mets took from the Phillies that day. This may have been a high point for the Mets that year, but it certainly was the low point of the season for the Phillies, who went on to play pretty terrific baseball for the rest of the season, finishing in fourth place.

I remember this game as one of a double header that the Mets took from the Phillies that day. This may have been a high point for the Mets that year, but it certainly was the low point of the season for the Phillies, who went on to play pretty terrific baseball for the rest of the season, finishing in fourth place, blowing a chance to finish as high as second when they lost a tough game in Houston, which was followed by manager Gene Mauch's infamous temper tantrum, in which he tipped over the post-game buffet, propelling barbecue sauce onto many players' street clothes. The momentum of the Phillies' strong finish in 1963 carried over into 1964, up to about September 21, when the Phillies, 6 1/2 games ahead with 12 to play, lost ten straight and finished in a tie for second behind the Cardinals, who went on to defeat the Yankees in a classic 7 game World Series, dominated by the pitching of Bob Gibson. From a Phillies fan.

Roger Craig takes a 1-0 lead to the bottom of the ninth, but with one out and a runner on, Roy Sievers hits the 300th home run of his career to give the Phillies a 2-1 win.

Ther loss is Craig's 13th consective loss, on the way to a 5-22 season.

Just picked up a really nice scorecard from this game. Signed by very tough autographers such as Choo Choo Coleman, Grover Powell, Carl Willey, Duke Snider (who had a triple and HR in the game) and also the first Met appearance by Dick Smith. This is quite possibly Dick Smith's FIRST MLB autograph as a New York Met as July 20, 1963 was his very first game.

Mets 22-year-old rookie Grover Powell beats the Phils with a 4–0 shutout in his first ML start. In his next start he'll be hit on the cheek by a line drive off the bat of Pittsburgh's Donn Clendenon and never win another game.

For his first major league start, Grover Powell blanked the Phillies with a four-hitter in the opener of a doubleheader at Connie Mack Stadium. Powell was in a mound duel with the Phils' Cal McLish, who had allowed just one hit and retired twenty straight batters over seven scoreless innings. The Mets then broke through with four runs in the eighth and ninth to give Powell his lone major league win. Powell's shutout was also the only complete game ever for a Mets pitcher who wore uniform #41 that wasn't named Tom Seaver.

Grover was at the age of 22 at the time of this game. He would live only 22 more years before his death from leukemia.

I was ten years old, and got my hopes way up that the Mets would actually win a doubleheader! When the game went into extra innings, I wanted the Mets to win so bad I actually started praying for victory. Alas, it was not to be.

Tim Harkness became the first Mets player ever to steal three bases in a game at this game.

The last Baseball game ever played in the Polo Grounds!

I recall after the game instead of putting the full tarp over the infield, they just put a small circular tarp covering the pitcher's mound. The television announcers said that an amateur game was still to be played at the Polo Grounds before it got torn down.

Only 1,752 fans showed up for the final game. Mets drew just over 1 million at home that year. Dodgers and Giants were the big draws, not the Phils.

My dad loved the NY GIANTS, hated the NY METS. Took me to a game in this vast ballfield earlier in the year, it was my first game!

On this sad day, the last ML game at the Polo Grounds draws 1,752 fans to see Philadelphia beat New York 5–1. Jim Hickman hits the final New York home run in the historic park, and Chris Short beats Craig Anderson.

As others have said, this was the final game in the history of the Polo Grounds. Here are some "final finals" from the great old ballpark:

Last pitch: by Chris Short. Last at bat: Ted Schreiber (pinch-GIDP to end the game). Last hit: Chico Fernandez (single to left). Last home run: Jim Hickman. Last run scored: Wes Covington. Last RBI: Clay Dalrymple. Last Mets run scored and RBI: Jim Hickman. Last error: Ron Hunt.

Rest in peace Polo Grounds.

May the Mets honor their first home in some fashion, maybe not the all out fashion they will for their home of 44 years, but sadly since this day the Echoing Greens of Polo Grounds has existed in books and faded memories.

Note also that this game was the 7th straight loss for the Mets at the Polo Grounds. Not so fine memories to close the place out!

To CGD this was NOT the last baseball game at the Polo Grounds. A recent N.Y. Daily News article uncovered a Latin All-Star game played in October 1963 (A week after the Dodgers won the World Series over the Stankees). FYI, the last sporting event played at the PG was an American Football Game between the Jets and the Buffalo Bills which was won by the Bills 19-10 in front of a small gathering of over 6,000. The date was Saturday December 14, 1963, 3 weeks after the death of President Kennedy!

Phillies starter Dennis Bennett is knocked around and leaves the game in the third inning. His brother, Dave Bennett, comes in to pitch the top of the ninth and faces five batters, allowing one run, two hits, and a wild pitch while striking out one. It is the only major league appearance for Dave Bennett.

My recollection (40 years ago) is that this was the first game of a Sunday double-header, and that a prodigious home run to centerfield in maybe the 5th inning by Richie (later Dick) Allen, then a rookie, broke the game open. The shot hit the light standard in old Connie Mack Stadium to the left of the scoreboard above the top of the 32 foot fence, and bounced back well toward the infield. Outfielders, baserunners, and umpires were running in circles trying to figure out what had happened, and the crowd buzzed.

I was 16, from exurban Philadelphia, neither a Phillies nor a Mets fan, but got both teams' radio and TV broadcasts. Game was sold out, stood behind the last row of seats behind third base. The Phillies were unexpectedly in contention in June, and the Mets were a novelty who drew from New York. Don't specifically know if this was that game, but I think it was. Allen was the scariest hitter of that (60s) generation.

I attended a doubleheader at the Phillies Connie Mack Stadium 6/14/64. With all that must have gone on, I strangely have only one memory of the whole twin bill - Amado Samuel punching a single into RF in game 2. I can still picture his jammed looping uppercut swing and the precise arc of the ball as it softly dropped in. Looking the game up on this site, I don't even remember at all the Jim Hickman homer that soon followed to give the Mets a rally in the 7th, though they lost 4-2.

Weird, how memory can be so selective and particular. I think it was because I didn't think # 8 hitter Amado would hit at all, and because I thought Amado was a neat name.

He is after all the best player named Amado who ever played in the Majors. Just like Andruw Jones is the best Andruw ever. And he seems to be the most well liked player ever for the Mets surnamed Samuel.

Actually I have one other memory, and only this one -Al Jackson warming up for his start, near the dugout those days. I though - man - is he little!

This is the season the Phillies blew the pennant in the most infamous collapse in MLB history (that 6 1/2 game lead with 12 to go - 10 losses in a row thing). It was hardly the fault of the Mets, who gave the Phillies both games of this doubleheader, and 15 of the 18 games for the season, including a perfect game by Jim Bunning a week after this game.

I went to this game. I was in High School and it was the first game of a twi night double header. It was also Carl Willey's first start after being hit with that line drive in spring training. (I did not recall that he had made a couple of relief appearances prior to this start, but I just looked it up). He pitched pretty well, no runs in 5 innings, but he never really recovered. It was a shame, because he was supposed to be their #1 starter after his great run for the Mets in 1963 after coming over from the Braves.

This was the second game of a twi-night doubleheader and my first major league baseball games ever. Of course, the Mets lost both ends but I was in seventh heaven. I vaguely remember Ed Kranepools home run, everything else about these games are a complete blur (Thank Christ!).

My first game at Shea, a Saturday afternoon game. If I remember Hawk Taylor and Frank Thomas each hit two home runs. What a great historic day for the Mets, I said. Little did I realize I missed Jim Bunning's perfecto by one day.

Actually, Rich, it was Joe Christopher and Hawk Taylor who each hit two homers in this one. Frank Thomas did not play in this game, he was on the DL.

Hawk wasn't even in the starting lineup, he replaced Chris Cannizzaro at the start of the second inning. But he went 4-for-5 with two singles and two homers!

Jim Bunning of the Phillies pitched a perfect game in this game, which I attended with my dad (I was 12 at the time.) The Mets had 2 really good chances at getting a hit. Ed Kranepool hit a line shot down the rightfield line that hit the wall foul by about a foot or so. Met catcher Jesse Gonder hit a ground ball in the hole between 2nd and 1st that Phils 2b Tony Taylor made a great play on to nab the slow-footed Gonder at first. Outside of those, Bunning mowed the Mets down with ease. I was keeping a scorecard, but did not realize it was a perfect game until the 9th inning when the partisan Mets fans started cheering when the Mets hitters made an out. I think pinch-hitter John Stephenson made the last out.

Unhappily, it was a doubleheader and the Mets got bombed in the 2nd game also (par for the course in those days.)

I was Jr. high age, and had tuned into this horror on TV at my cousin's place to hear that Bunning had just retired his 13th straight batter. I knew what could happen, especially with Bunning who was merciless against the Mets (5-0 that season, 5 complete games, ERA 1.00). I watched and nervously kept chomping down stacks of cheap generic chocolate sandwich cookies, the kind you'd get 200 of for $0.99 (maybe even $0.49 those days), hoping the spell would be broken. Not only was I a Mets fan, but I lived in Reading, PA, a snakepit of Phillie fans who would never let me alone if this went down. But it did, and I was not then even the least bit happy, after all, that I had seen History.

To this day the cheap plasticky taste of those kind of cookies can remind me of that thing.

Besides jim bunning throwing a perfecto in game 1, the Mets did not get a base runner until the 5th inning of the second game. Rick Wise was the pitcher and when he walked the batter the Mets got a standing ovation. Wise had no idea what the commotion was until Tony Taylor told him!

Further to Orange and Blue's post above, the walk actually came in the second inning of game two. In fact, the Mets scored a run in the bottom of the second without a base hit thanks to a walk, wild pitch, and an error.

Joe Christopher singled in the bottom of the third for the first Met hit of the day.

People forget that there was a second game of a doubleheader after Jim Bunning's perfect game on Father's Day. The Mets got all of three hits in their nightcap loss. Three hits in 18 innings! Quite an offense in those days.

As an encore to Jim Bunning's perfect game in the opener of the doubleheader, Rick Wise pitches three-hit ball over six innings to record his first major league win. It turned out to be an interesting segue because seven years later, Wise would pitch a no-hitter of his own in which he slugged a pair of home runs. Later in '71, he hurled a twelve-inning complete game during which he retired 32 straight batters! Wise's own walk-off single got him and the Phils the victory in that game.

Frank Thomas rode with the Mets to Philadelphia for this game, and then when the Mets got to Connie Mack Stadium, they told Frank he'd been traded to the Phillies.

Thomas drove in two runs for the Phils in the game to help them to a 9-4 win.

Jim Bunning makes his first start against the Mets since pitching the perfect game in June...and the Mets get no hits until Joe Christopher's two-out bunt single in the fifth inning.

Mets hit into their first triple play at Shea Stadium in this game (They had only previously hit into a triple play in Chicago in 1962.)

Bobby Klaus hit a line drive back to the pitcher John Boozer in the 2nd inning. He threw to SS Ruben Amaro who caught Roy McMillan off 2B, and Amaro threw to Frank Thomas who caught Jack Fisher off 1B.

(Of course, it was the second triple play ever to take place at Shea because the Mets MADE a triple play earlier in 1964 in the 23 inning game.)

This was my first baseball game and the game that made me into a Mets fan. In the midst of a dreadful season I went to a game and they won! I remember that it was blisteringly hot, we had box seats (how'd we get them anyway?) and I remember being very happy that I got the Mets yearbook (long gone). Can't wait for the box score but I'm happy to know at least who the winning pitcher was.

This was also my first baseball game. I was 9, and went with my father, grandfather and uncle. We had mezzanine seats directly behind home plate. Vivid memories of the green grass and how well all who sat around us treated me upon learning it was my first game.

My second Mets game. A sunny Sunday afternoon at Shea. Art Mahaffey started for the Phils. Bobby Klaus hammered his first pitch into left for a single, and the rout was on. Phils botched a double play ball in the first. Mahaffey never survived the inning. It was 7-0 after two. Galen Cisco retired the first nine Phils. Richie Allen hit a 2-run homer in the 4th but the Mets hit the ball all over the lot. Klaus I think had 5 hits. George Altman had 3 or 4. Phils were never in it. John Herrnstein hit a 2 run pinch homer in the eighth but Cisco cruised to a complete game 12-4 win.

This was one of the best games Warren Spahn pitched as a Met and the only run came on an opposite field home run by his opponent that night Jim Bunning. Spahn also doubled as the pitching coach and critics felt he left himself in games too long for the short period of time he spent in New York.

At New York, the Phillies Jim Bunning hits a home run and beats Warren Spahn, 1–0. For Bunning, it is his 6th complete game victory against the Mets in six starts, three of them shutouts. Yogi pinch hits late in the game and somewhere there is a self-created score sheet that I had authored while watching on Channel 9.

A cold night in the upper deck of Shea, but what a game to watch. 2 hall of famers going at it, with the junior Bunning providing the margin with a home run over the right field wall. We got in through Borden milk coupons, so how much better could it be? If only Spahn had hit the homer.

What a forgotten Met classic! Two Hall of Fame pitchers hooked up in a 1-0 double complete game with Bunning nailing Warren Spahn with a solo home run. Yogi also makes one of his 4 appearances for Mets.

What a forgotten Met classic! Two Hall-of-Fame pitchers hooked up in a 1-0 double complete game with Bunning nailing Warren Spahn with a solo home run...Yogi also makes one of his 4 appearances for the Mets.

I was at this game on my 15th birthday - 55 years ago today. So memorable because of the 2 hall of fame pitchers- Spahn and Bunning in a classic duel- final 1-0 on Bunning's home run. Also Yogi Berra pinch hitting for the Mets in the 9th- he only played 1 more game after this.

I attended this game at Shea Stadium, like many with the Borden coupons. What's better than 2 great pitchers, Spahn as a Met and Bunning of the Phillies? I had also attended Bunning's perfect game on Father's Day 1964. The match-up was undeniable, the outcome was unpredictable, winning hit was a home run by Bunning, in a 1-0 final score. The only disappointment was it wasn't a home run by Warren Spahn himself. But, you know that's baseball. Memorable and precious when you focus on the experience.

Warren Spahn pitched a complete game for his 360th career win in this doubleheader opener at Philadelphia. Spahn would collect three more wins with the Giants later in the season for a left-handers record of 363. No pitcher, either lefty of righty, has reached that total since then.

Thomas' infield hit off Lary in 6th was viewed as an error by many. If it had been ruled as an error Lary would have had a no hitter going into the 9th. Many felt he grooved one to the leadoff batter in the 9th (HR) to get the official scorer off the hook.

Gary, it was Tony Gonzalez who got the single off Frank Lary in the sixth inning and not Frank Thomas. Lary still had a one-hit shutout going until Gonzalez homered to begin the bottom of the ninth. Whatever the facts were in regard to the official scorer over Gonzalez's two hits didn't matter. Lary still got his well-deserved win.

After Gonzalez's home run, Dick Allen singled and Tug McGraw came in relieve Lary. McGraw retired three of the next four batters to finish off a doubleheader sweep for the Mets. This was Tug's first save of his major league career.

This was Casey Stengel's final win as a major league manager. The game had the bizarre feature of Phillies players colliding with each other on pop-ups three times in the eighth and ninth innings. A total of seven Philadelphia guys, two of whom got hurt and had to leave, were involved in the collisions. John Stephenson got an RBI single in the 10th to win it for the Mets, but Stengel would not see victory again. He suffered his own injury in a fall one night later and was forced into retirement immediately.

This was the first MLB game I attended. I was nine. As I dimly recall, Bunning started and won for PHI, there were no home runs, and the game was preceded by an Oldtimers' game between '55 Dodgers and Giants in which Bobby Thomson again homered down the left-field line.

JG, I was at this game also, mainly to see the old timers. Thompson did indeed hit a homer off Branca. They actually brought Branca to pitch especially to him. I'm sure he just lobbed it right in. The real game was almost deja-vu as Bunning retired the first 13 or so batters until Johnny Lewis got an infield single.

This was Old Timer's Day 1965, and it turned out to be Casey Stengel's final game as Mets manager. After the game Casey, perhaps enjoying the company of his old friends a little too much, had a nasty fall and broke his hip. The Mets were 31- 64 following the loss.

First MLB game I ever attended, was soon to turn 7. Went with my Dad and his friend whose cigarette butt dropped on my knee leaving my first Mets scar. Roy Campanella got a standing O during the old timers introduction. The other old timers name that struck me was Van Lingo Mungo. We sat near Bobby Thomson on the train ride home to NJ.

My dad had been a diehard Brooklyn fan growing up. He took me to this game and to a few other Old timers games over the years. I remember how his face lit up as they announced each former Brooklyn Dodger and I remember the standing ovation for Roy Campanella. Of course the Mets didn't have any old timers of their own yet but it was nostalgic for so many in attendance.

The very first game I ever went to! A doubleheader (we stayed only for the first game) my father took me to Shea for the first time ever. We had terrific box seats near the first base dugout. The Mets won the first game beating Bo Belinksy. I think (I might be wrong) that the very first major league batter I ever saw- Cookie Rojas - hit a lead off HR for the Phillies in this game.

This was Wes Westrum's first game as Mets "interim" manager while Casey recovererd from his broken hip.

If I recall correctly, Wes was very well liked, but many people were surprised that he got the job over Yogi, who of course had played for Casey, and who had joined the Mets the past winter after being fired by the Yankees.

Carl Willey's last major league game and he ended up a winner. It was a shame that the 1963 ace of the Mets pitching staff was never the same after taking a line drive to his jaw during 1964 spring training.

This was Willey's last appearance and he played on a Met team that had on their infield and catcher a group that was anywhere from 19-24 years old.. The old pro showed the new people how to win.

Another Mets' marathon twin bill features an 18- inning scoreless tie in which Philadelphia's Chris Short (18–11) fans 18 batters in the 15 innings he pitches. In ML history there has been one other 18-inning scoreless tie and a record 19- inning scoreless tie. New York loses the first game 6–0 to Jim Bunning (19–9), setting ML records with 27 scoreless innings and 31 strikeouts in an overtime twin bill. Bunning's win is his 7th shutout of the year, the most by a Phillie

Next to last day of the season and the Mets got shut out for an entire doubleheader that lasted 27 innings. Bunning won the opening game shutout and Chris Short pitched the nightcap and struck out an incredible number of Mets (about 18?) in his 15 innings of work. The 0-0 tie forced the two teams to finish the season the next day with another doubleheader and they lost both games but at least scored a run each game.

I used to score all games while sitting in front of the TV (OK, I was a nerd back then.) I remember Rob Gardner fanning a bunch of Phillies and going 15 innings or so. Chris Short was unhittable but then again, against this porous lineup, even Buster Narum would dominate!

I recall watching the game on television and seem to remember that both starting pitchers, Chris Short and Rob Gardner, pitched 15 innings, a feat that would be unheard of in this day and age.

Do anyone remember why the game was halted after 18 innings? I don't believe that the National League had a curfew rule at that time, unlike the American League.

I have been a lifelong Mets fan and this particular game sticks in my mind as one of the most fascinating that I can remember.

In this article by ESPN Senior Writer David Schoenfield, he declared this pitching performance by Rob Gardner to be the best pitching performance in a single game in Mets' history:

Last game of the season, cap day. I went to the first game with two friends of mine. I remember that the Mets had two 20 game losers starting in both games.

I went to this doubleheader in my sophomore year of high school with my friends Jack & Karl. We were sitting in the Mezzanine Reserve section off first base and I don’t remember a thing about either ball game, except for the fan sitting next to me. Every time Tony Taylor of the Phillies got up or caught a ball, this fan (probably in his mid-twenties) shouted over and over again “Tony Tony Two By Four, Can’t Fit Through The Bathroom Door, Makes A Puddle On The Floor, Licks It Up And Does Some More. You Stink Phillies” The three of us made a pact to switch seats every three innings to share this embarrassment. I did the first three innings, then Jack switched with me. After Jack did his three innings, Karl refused to switch seats --- and Jack was stuck with the chanting fan for the rest of the first game and all of the second. Somehow I don’t think Jack ever forgave us but the three of us can still recite that chant after forty years.

This was the very first Major League game I attended. Toured the city earlier in the day with my Dad. Went to a Horn & Hardart to eat. Then, went to the ballpark. It was a day I'll NEVER forget. Ron Swoboda hit a home run on the roof in left and Richie "Call me Dick" Allen hit one over the left field roof and out of the ball park.

Note from a Phillies fan: I was also at this game at Connie Mack Stadium-- I was 10 years old. The think that made it stick in my memory was that right before Dick Allen hit that mammoth home run, a loud firecracker went off just as the pitch was released!

Andy ... you are absolutely right. After you mentioned it, I too recall the loud firecracker right before Dick Allen hit the home run on the roof in left field.

My first Mets game! A Saturday afternoon, in enemy territory. I remember a long home run over the high right field wall by Larry Elliot, and a sensational catch by Billy Murphy as he crashed against the wall in left-center. He was hurt on the play and wound up out of action for a while. Mets had the lead late, but couldn't hold on, and lost in 11.

I attended this doubleheader at Connie Mack Stadium when I was 16. In this second game I believe Tug threw a 2-hitter or so for one of his 5 complete games of his Met career.

No two or so-hitter can ever be bad, but this was possibly one of the worst in major league history. Line shot after ungodly shot by the Phillies, but always at someone. Tug packed 6 starts worth of sighs of relief into this one.

Jim Bunning makes his eighth career start against the Mets. When the game ends, he has his eighth complete game against the Mets, with five of them being shutouts including the 1964 Father's Day perfect game.

At this point the Mets have scored four runs off Bunning in 72 innings.

This was the first Mets game I ever attended. I was 8 years old. I'd love to see a box score to confirm my 37-year old memories, but I recall Bob Shaw started and took a tumble at some point in the game that dirtied his uniform. I think I recall Rob Gardner pitching in relief, and Ed Kranepool hitting a home run.

William Ortenberg, if you are still out there....Bob Shaw did indeed start this game for the Mets. Rob Gardner relieved him in the seventh with the Mets down 3-2 and gave up two walks and a single, plus a batter reached on an error by Ed Bressoud. Kranepool's homer came in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and a runner on and made the score 8-4.

My first Met game on a cold chilly April afternoon. A day I will never forget, even though the Mets lost both games. I remember Richie Allen hit a monster hr in game 2. I think it landed in the Parking lot.

Three things I remember about this doubleheader: Tommy Davis fell flat on his back after misplaying a fly to right, Don Bosch stood at the plate after taking a called third strike with the expression "I could have hit that" on his face, and me and my friends successfully sneaking into field level seats behind first base for the entire two games.

I was with Joe Dubin for this twin bill. It was a raw day only made bearable because we snuck down to field level and the ushers didn’t mind. Dick Allen absolutely mashed the ball. His homer a line drive over the left field wall, a clothesline!

In the bottom of the sixth, Bud Harrelson led off the inning with an infield hit to short, bringing Met starter Bill Denehy to the plate. Mgr Gene Mauch obviously figured the Mets were going to bunt, since the Phillies were leading 2-1. Mauch swapped third baseman Dick Allen with ss Bobby Wine and put the rotation play on. Denehy's bunt was fielded by Clay Dalrymple, who threw to 2b Tony Taylor, covering at first. Harrelson kept running to 3b where... nobody was covering! So much for that idea. Wine and Allen swapped back after the play.

Tommy Davis has a second inning double for the only Mets hit of the game as Larry Jackson pitches a shutout.

The Mets finally beat Jim Bunning in this game after Bunning had pitched eight straight complete game victories over the Mets, including five shutouts and a perfect game.

It was the fifth consecutive win for the Mets, marking only the fourth time in their six seasons that they had won as many as five in a row.

Bob P, the losing pitcher for the Phillies in this game was not Jim Bunning. It was Larry Jackson, who had a record of 18 wins and no defeats against the Mets before taking the loss here. This streak began with the Mets' inaugural game in 1962 at St. Louis when Jackson was with the Cardinals.

Jackson lasted six innings, which was his shortest stint ever against the Mets up to that time. Ed Kranepool's two-run double put the Mets ahead to stay and they had a 5-2 lead when Jackson departed. Meanwhile, Jack Fisher pitched a complete game for the win and hit a run-scoring single of his own against Jackson.

The Mets would pin the loss on Jackson once more in 1968, his final season.

Mr. Harmonica Phil Linz hit the first GITP (Grounded into Triple Play) in Met history in 2nd inning of this nightcap to the doubleheader. He hit a grounder to Dick Allen who tagged 3B to force Greg Goosen and flipped to Cookie Rojas who tagged 2B to force Tommie Reynolds and then the throw to Bill White at 1B still got Linz. Linz was some speedy SS!

A funny thing happened in the middle of the seventh inning here. It had nothing to do with the famous seventh-inning stretch, but home plate umpire Ed Vargo did try to stretch the rules a little. He called three balls as Phillies' reliever John Boozer was warming up. Boozer had put his hand to his mouth before a practice toss and Vargo made the call even before the inning had actually begun. Phils' angry manager Gene Mauch told Boozer to do it two more times and Vargo responded the same way for an immediate 3-and-0 count. Both Boozer and Mauch got ejected by Vargo after arguing over this crazy incident.

Even with the count heavily in his favor as he came up to lead off the inning, Bud Harrelson still grounded back to the mound. It was reliever Dick Hall (and not Boozer) who threw him out at first base.

Phil Linz only got 54 hits for the Mets in the 1968 season and almost ten percent of them were on this day as he became one of the first Mets to get five hits in a game.

I was at this game with my dad and uncles. It was my first baseball game and I was 9 years old. I was in awe.

Seaver's only save as a Met!

Johnny Briggs, a Jersey boy, destroyed the Mets all day (double dip loss) on Mets "Bat Day." Richie ("before" Dick) Allen didn't have a bad day either. At least I did get a Yogi Berra bat that day.

I was 8 years old and this was my first Mets game. I went with my father, my brother, my brother's friend and his father. Got a Jerry Grote bat, making him my first favorite Met. This game caused me to become a life-long Mets fan. I still have the bat!

Bat day with real H&B bats! Our family of six spent the day at Shea. I was nine. We were in the left field upper deck. Disappointing day. We dropped both games. Richie Allen had a good day. Whenever the “Let’s go Mets” chant occurred, we’d all pound the bats against the concrete floor. If you were in the vending area while that happened, it sounded like thunder.

I was at this game. Richie Allen hit three home runs all to different fields in an awsome display of power! I got a hat because it was fan appreciation day!

I was 6 years old, a Phillies fan and Richie Allen was my favorite player. Richie Allen hit 3 consecutive home runs including a grand slam with 2 out in the 9th inning. He drove in 7 runs in the Phillies 10-3 win. It was the only game I ever saw him play in person, and it was the only game in his career where he hit 3 home runs.

I was sitting behind 3rd base about 25 rows up when I saw Richie Allen hit 3 consecutive home runs, including a grand slam off of Ron Taylor, who had just entered the game. The ball went about halfway up the light pole in left center field. It was the longest home run I've ever seen at Shea in the 41 years I've been going there! The crowd was absolutely stunned! We were actually applauding Allen's effort as he was rounding 3rd base.

This was the last game of the 1968 season, The Mets lost a lot of one run games in 1968.

It was Fan Appreciation Day and they gave out an orange and blue Mets winter hat. It had a small bill at the front and a small round Mets patch stitched to the front.

Gary Gentry became the second pitcher in Mets history to win his first two major league starts. The Mets rallied for three runs in the top of the eighth to break a 3-3 tie as Gentry was removed for pinch-hitter Ed Kranepool.

Bud Harrelson had singled in the go-ahead run with the bases loaded and two outs, then Kranepool delivered a double to score two more.

Cal Koonce retired the last six Philles without the ball leaving the infield.

Until Mike Pelfrey started his major league career with two wins in his first two starts in July 2006, this was the last time any Mets pitcher had accomplished that feat.

Steady Eddie singled to right scoring Cleon from third (after Jones double and a ground out.) Earlier in game Art Shamsky had been thrown out at home.

This was the first game of a twi-night doubleheader and also the first major league game I ever saw, just about one month before my seventh birthday.

My father and I drove down from Connecticut, before we left he told my mother that we'd stay for the first game, and then if I was tired we'd leave. For years afterward he loved to tell the story of how when the first game ended he asked me if I wanted to go home and I said "no". He then proceeded to ask me the same question after every inning of the SECOND game, and I kept saying "no". So we stayed for both games!

I remember nothing about the games themselves except that the Mets won both, it was nice to be able to look at the scorecards here and get the details. This is a great website.

This was the second game of a twi-night doubleheader. I went with my Dad and two uncles...

See that run in the bottom of the 8th? That's Tommie Agee hitting one over the wall. We heard the roar of the crowd as we road down one of those giant escalators from the upper deck at Shea.

This was my first-ever lesson in the perils of leaving early. HRs by the Mets were so rare in those days, and it was a real disappointment to miss one b/c we were trying to beat traffic.

Anyway, the sweep of the doubleheader is a nicer memory than the missed HR!

LenDog, I don't know if you remember this about the twi-nighter this night, but the Phillies' Richie Allen failed to show up for the doubleheader. Gene Stone played first base in both games for the Phils.

Allen was fined $2,500 and suspended indefinitely (which turned out to be until July 20). He later explained that he had gone to New Jersey in the morning to see some horse racing and got caught in traffic on the way to Shea.

Jim McAndrew had a perfect game in the second game of the doubleheader until light-hitting shortstop Terry Harmon singled with one out in the sixth inning. The next batter was pinch- hitter Vic Roznovsky and he also singled. Then McAndrew retired the next eight batters before Ron Taylor came in to pitch the ninth. Jim had also driven in a run with a bases loaded walk in the four-run fourth inning.

Hey Bob P. - thanks for filliing in some blanks.

I barely remember this twi-nighter. I do remember McAndrew throwing a great game but details are fuzzy. I recall a beautiful night, lots of peanuts, and a Mets sweep - i.e., a dream night for a kid.

This was my 18th birthday. My father and a friend took me for my first trip to Shea and my first legal night out drinking. I remember the great time I had but few details. I still have my giant Mr Mets, and You have to believe buttons. And baseball was great then.

The Mets (14) and Phillies (13) set a National League record for ineptitude by striking out 27 times in the first nine innings of a 10-inning game. The Phils win 6–5 when rookie Dave Watkins triples and scores in the 10th. Watkins, who replaced Cookie Rojas when he was thumbed in the 5th, hits his first ML homer as well. Palmer strikes out nine in four 1/3 innings for Philley, while Nolan Ryan K's 10 in six 1/3 innings.

The Mets blew a 5-0 lead and lost in ten innings, 6-5. Rookie Dave Watkins tripled with two outs in the tenth and scored on a single by Johnny Briggs. Watkins had also hit his first major league homer off Cal Koonce to tie the game in the eighth inning. The only reason Watkins was in the game was because Phillies 2B Cookie Rojas had been ejected in the fifth inning.

Ed Kranepool had a chance to be a hero but grounded out in the bottom of the tenth with the bases loaded and two outs.

The two teams combined to strike out 27 times in the game...all in the first nine innings, setting an NL record. So half of the outs in the game through nine innings were strikeouts. Nolan Ryan started for the Mets and struck out ten in 6.1 innings; Lowell Palmer was the Phils' starter and he fanned nine in just 4.1 innings

Actually the other reason Watkins was in the game was because Dick Allen was a no-show...he went to the horse track in the afternoon and got stuck in traffic and never made it to the game. Bob Skinner had to start Ed Joseph at third and when Rojas got tossed he had to move Joseph to 2B and put Watkins in at 3B...Watkins was a third string catcher...LOL and he ends up being the hero....classic

My dad took me to this game. It was on a Friday evening, if I remember correctly and it was thrilling to see him become the first Met pitcher to reach 20 wins in a season! (I also seem to recall that Richie Allen, the Phillies' first baseman, had his first game back after being suspended (yet again) by Philadelphia management!)

My father took me. It was definitely a day game (which were not unusual on weekdays in April and September then). Agee and Shamsky both hit home runs into the Mezzanine in the first inning.

The game was indeed a Friday night at Shea. The game where Agee and Shamsky hit first inning homers was two days later, Sunday afternoon September 7.

Funny how we have different memories. This was a 1 of 2 games the Mets played that night. It was the first baseball game I ever attended, part of a twi-night doubleheader. It was windy in the upper deck and we had blankets. I remember Jerry Grote hitting a home run. I also have a vague recollection of fly-fishermen demonstrating how far they could cast their lines between games. I've been to 60 or 70 games since then but I'll never forget my first night at Shea!

My Mom and Dad took me to Shea for my first big league games on this day. This was the first game of a twi-night doubleheader, and Tom Seaver got his twentieth win to become the first to achieve that mark in Mets' history, although I was not aware of it at the time. I was six years old and remember the excitement I felt as the train got closer to the Willets Point station on our trip from Long Island and first caught a glimpse of the inside of the left field side of the stadium. It still gives me chills. Remarkably, I cannot remember anything specific from either game, but I do recall we sat in the mezzanine just beyond first base and I do have a distinct memory of a girl gymnast jumping on a trampoline set up on the infield for between games entertainment. My Mom took me to a souvenir stand during the game and bought me a copy of the 1969 yearbook, which was only fifty cents, a badge with Cleon Jones on it, and a replica batting helmet, which I broke the next day. However, I still have the Jones badge. What a great time!

My first Mets game at age 10. Brought by my Uncle Frank and Aunt Evelyn. It was Camera Day and we were supposed to be able to go on the field and take pictures with the players. But it absolutely poured all morning so no one was allowed on the field. Major disappointment. A Mets win soon cured that!

My first Mets game. Rained before game thus cancelling camera day event.

I was 8 years old and it was the first game I ever attended. My Dad took me. We sat on the first base side at the mezzanine level at Shea stadium. I remember I was very excited. I brought my glove with me just in case a ball came our way. I was a beautiful Sunday afternoon and the grass was so green. I was so happy that day. I remember cheering on the Mets as only an 8 year old could. My Dad bought me a hot dog, soda and an ice cream. We also had a Mets program that cost about 20 cents. That was one of the nicest days of my life, just me and my Dad at a ball game. I sure miss my Dad. The world was so young and full of promise then.

On the same night that The Brady Bunch first appeared on television, this game's story was of a man named Koosman - Jerry, that is. The Mets' top left-hander pitched a four-hit shutout against the Phillies as a sequel to Gary Gentry's blanking of the Cardinals to clinch the division two nights earlier. The Mets then kept the Phils scoreless over the rest of the weekend for four consecutive shutout victories.

This was a great day for Bud Harrelson. He hit a home run in the first inning to give the Mets a 1-0 lead. The homer was his first one that ever went out of the park (he had an inside-the- parker a few years earlier) and the only one of his six as a Met that he ever hit at Shea Stadium.

Buddy didn't stop there. In the third, he hit a triple that scored Tommie Agee, then scored himself when Joe Foy doubled. The Mets got three runs in the inning.

Tom Seaver, pretty much, took care of the rest. He pitched a shutout, scattering eight hits, but the day really belonged to Buddy. He provided the offensive charge with some slugging, which didn't come from him too often.

First MLB game I ever attended. Sat in nosebleeds behind the plate and could still hear Nolan Ryan warming up in the bullpen before the game. BANG! Struck out 17. Only hit by Johnny Briggs, a flare in the fourth. No one else even got good wood on a foul ball. After game stopped with wife and signed about 200 autographs including my glove. Duffy Dyer,who caught game also autographed glove. To this day he was the nicest pro athlete I have ever met. His wife who stood and waited smiling patiently was just as nice (and a major hottie!)

This was also my first game. I remember walking into the stadium even before the game began, with the whole croud cheering "Lets go Mets." I rember being upset because my father made us leave early to beat the traffic and the Mets scored another run!

Hey anyone else remember this? After about 1,500 AB's, Derrell McKinley Harrelson hits his first HR over the fence. He had one in '67, but it was an inside the parker as Al Luplow (just sold by the Mets to the Pirates) argued that the ball was foul. Buddy would use this as springboard to go on and blast 4 more as a Met. His total of 6 lifetime Mets HR's matched Seaver's 6, except Seaver hit 6 more with the Reds and Harrelson hit only one more (forgot with who). Can someone confirm this event?

Fan, you're off by one day. The home run Buddy hit was the previous day. It was the only one he ever hit at Shea Stadium. His lone non-Mets homer came as a Texas Ranger in 1980.

This day belonged to Nolan Ryan. He struck out 15 batters and pitched a one-hitter for his first major league shutout. It was as a sign of things to come. It's too bad those things didn't come with Nolan in a Mets' uniform.

This was Nolan Ryan's "No-Hitter That Wasn't a No-Hitter". The very first batter of the game (Denny Doyle) hit a little dribbler down toward third base. Joy Foy, playing third, charged it like a bunt, barehanded it, but decided not to make the off balance throw. A good throw would have likely gotten the runner out, but Foy decided that since it was only the start of the game he didn't want to risk throwing the ball away and creating trouble. (He said so himself.) Starting from the next batter, Ryan recorded 27 outs without allowing a hit, for a complete game "No-Hitter That Wasn't a No-Hitter". There were baserunners, because he walked six batters. But he also struck out 15!

I have this game on audio disk I attended. Sat way upstairs behind home with my godfather and cousin who was a big McCarver fan mostly from his Cards days. Didn't appreciate Ryan's performance since I was only eight until I heard it. I wore a little league outfit with a windbreaker, and it must've been 50 degrees up there. Ah parenting in the 70's lol!

Tom Seaver pitched another near-masterpiece this night at Connie Mack Stadium as he allowed just one hit, a third inning single to right by Phils' catcher Mike Compton, and struck out 15 batters.

An oddity in the game: in the top of the second, with one out and Ron Swoboda on first, Joe Foy hit a fly ball to center field, but Oscar Gamble dropped the ball. However, Swoboda went back to first thinking the ball was caught, and Foy passed him between first and second. Foy was called out and Swoboda returned to first.

One footnote on Compton: he was the Jimmy Qualls of 1970. Qualls, who broke up Seaver's perfecto on July 9, 1969, finished his major league career with 31 base hits. Compton finished his career with 18.

What do you think I would remember most?

--That the Mets won 13 to 3? NO. --That TWO great pitchers started the game Jim Bunning and Tom Seaver? NO. --That Seaver struck out 11 and walked NONE! NO. --That Wayne Garrett almost hit for the cycle (he needed a double)? NO. (I had to look this up...I don't have that good a memory!)

What I remember most is hearing MY name announced as a batter in a major league game!

Scott Reid played (barely) for the Phillies and as a matter of fact I didn't even know "I" was a player until this day at Shea.

All of a sudden Reid is in the game replacing Larry Hisle in RF. When he came to bat later and "my" name was announced, my friend said to "get up" (meaning get up to bat). I still didn't get it until he said look in your program and sure enough...there "I" was.

I was only 7 at the time, so this was a major thrill and the only time (until I became an adult and the Mets pissed me off later [but that's another story]) that I rooted for an enemy of the Mets to do well. Well..."I" went 0-4, reaching on an error...but it was a thrill never the less.

Years later friends of mine who were baseball card collectors game me a copy of "my" card (worth about .01 today I guess!). I tracked down the "real" Scott and sent him a letter with my story. He was nice enough to autograph the card for me and send me a picture.

So...that's my story about June 19, 1970...just another ordinary day at Shea...except for me and my namesake!

This particular game date is very memorable to me because I was hit with a foul ball off the bat of Wayne Garrett (the same Wayne Garrett who almost hit for the cycle that day as previously mentioned). I was not seriously hurt but I did receive a bat (curiously, it was a Duffy Dyer bat - I guess the equipment person just grabbed whatever was available). The bruises were gone quickly but I still have the bat!

I remember being at this game 11 days before I turned 10. It was so much fun to see the Mets score so many runs and I thought at the time every game was like that.

This was my 1st game ever. My dad took me and we had upper deck seats. I remember Oscar Gamble dropping a fly ball and almost dropping another which was the last out of the game. I'm trying to find a boxscore of this game. I was 7 years old.

Dave, the boxscore and play-by-play for the game are on www.retrosheet.org. Please e-mail me if you need help.

Gamble dropped a fly ball hit by Al Weis in the bottom of the fifth with two outs and Ron Swoboda on first base. Swoboda came around to score the only Mets run of the game.

The last out of the game is listed as "Swoboda lined to Browne." Byron Browne was playing RF in the game while Oscar Gamble played center. Cleon Jones made the second out of the ninth inning by flying to Gamble, so it could have been the second out you are thinking of, unless it was Browne instead of Gamble who almost dropped the ball.

You have a great memory! Thanks for sharing!

In the 6,000th game played at Connie Mack Stadium, the Phils score six runs in the eighth off Gary Gentry, Ron Taylor, and Tug McGraw. The six run inning stops a scoreless streak of 53 consecutive innings for the Phillies. Jim Bunning gets the win, and the Phils also win game two of the doubleheader, dropping the Mets into a first place tie with the idle Pirates.

Saturday night, July 4 in Philadelphia...the fourth game of a five-game series. Tom Seaver and Grant Jackson were the starters, and both gave up two runs in the first inning. The Mets runs came on a two run homer by Donn Clendenon, and the Phils tied it up on a two-run double by Don Money.

The Mets regained the lead for good in the fourth when Jerry Grote singled to drive in two runs, and they added three more in the sixth on RBI singles by Seaver, Agee, and Harrelson.

Meanwhile, Seaver allowed just one hit after the first inning, and that was a third inning single by Oscar Gamble. Tom retired 19 of the last 21 batters he faced, with the only two baserunners coming on walks.

Seaver improved to 13-5 with the win but went just 5-7 the rest of the season.

Grant Jackson fell to 1-7 with the loss on his way to a 5-15 season. At this point in his young career, Jackson had a record of 19-35. When he retired after the 1982 season his career record was 86-75.

This is my first Met game I don't remember much about it. I was 10 years old. I read about it and found out the winning run scored in the fourteenth inning on a Cleon Jones triple I am a big time Mets fan. I have been to so many other games since then.

The Mets first Game ever at the Vet and they lost it just as they lost their last game there at the end of the 2003 season. All told, they were 121- 151 at the Vet.

In June of 1971, my dad took me to Shea for a weeknight game against the Phils. It was the first game I ever attended, and I wore a full Mets uniform to the game (I was nine). I remember that Gentry started against a pitcher named Ken Reynolds, that the Mets won, 2-0, that my favorite player, Tommie Agee, did not play (I was very disappointed), but that my second-favorite player, Donn Clendenon, DID play, and he smacked a slicing foul ball toward us in the field boxes halfway between first base and the right field wall. The ball looked as big as a softball as it headed for us. I have no idea how the Mets scored, but I do remember that it was pleasant weather, and we took the subway home. A fine way to start my Shea pilgramages!

Donn Clendenon singled, then Ken Singleton homered in the second inning for the only two runs of the game. In fact, those were the only two hits starter Ken Reynolds allowed in seven innings of work.

Gary Gentry did even better, pitching one of his best games as a Met that night. He retired the first ten batters of the game before Tim McCarver singled and Willie Montanez walked.

Gentry then retired 17 of the last 20 batters to finish the game with a two-hit shutout. He walked three and struck out seven.

This was also the very first Met game I ever attended. I was 10 years old. Ironically, my dad was a big Yankee fan and didn't like the Mets! But he took me anyway, along with another dad and his kid. We all drove out from NJ to Shea.

We sat very close, just about behind home plate. I remember Gentry looking kinda small and skinny on the mound, while Ken Singleton looked about 7 feet tall! I recall Gentry throwing very hard, hearing the catcher's glove snap. And the moment Singleton connected, everyone seemed to know the ball was gone as it disappeared into the beautiful June evening.

I instantly fell in love with Shea: the lights, the open sky in the outfield, the huge scoreboard with the old round Mets logo on top in that big square box. I felt so at home there - and I still do!

I believe I attended this game as a child. It was helmet day. The Mets won in the bottom of the 15th on a Clendenon home run. Have a got the facts right?

In the top of the 14th at Shea Stadium, Larry Bowa was on 2b and Oscar Gamble on 1b for the Phillies. On a double steal attempt, Bowa reaches 3b and Gamble is caught in a rundown. Bowa continues on to score and draws a throw while Gamble reaches 2b. NL president Chub Feeney ruled that Bowa should be credited with 2 stolen bases on the play and Gamble 1.

I also attended this game as a child. It was helmet day. The thing I remember more than even Clendenon's home run was an earlier shot by Ken Singleton that could have been the longest home one ever hit had it not hit the high, white Mets sign in centerfield. (It's been a long time since I've been to Shea). Unless my childhood memory deceived me, I was in the right field bleachers and the ball was like a rocket. It took off from the bat and hit the sign in about two seconds still going straight up.

Laurence, I can't vouch for your memory of Singleton's shot hitting the scoreboard, but he did hit a homer in the bottom of the 14th inning. That tied the score 5-5 after the Phils had taken the lead in the top of the 14th on the double (triple?) steal described above by Feat Fan in March of 2004.

The Mets won it on a Clendenon homer off RHP Bill Wilson in the bottom of the 15th with two outs and nobody on.

Tom Seaver started the game for the Mets but this was one of those rare 1971 starts where he just didn't have it. Tom, who led the league in ERA that year with a 1.76 mark, gave up four runs and twelve hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out just three batters.

Former World Champion Met Bobby Pfiel played in this game for the Phillies. He had a pinch single in the top of the 13th but was caught stealing.

It was helmet day and my first Mets game. I went with my Cub Scout pack and we set in the upper deck near the left field foul pole. We left sometime in extra innings and filed onto a school bus to take us back to East Hampton. The bus driver put the game on the radio. Every one of us sat rapt to the voice of Bob Murphy. The Phillies scored to go ahead, but the Mets tied it. Then Clendenon launched one and Murphy was shouting "The Mets win. The Mets win the ball game!" and we were all cheering like crazy in the bus and waiving our batting helmets. I am writing this the night after coming back from seeing the Mets lose to the Giants in San Francisco. It was my first Mets game of the year and the 33rd consecutive year I have seen the Mets live at least once, starting with Helmet Day, 1971. My wife can't understand why I care about the Mets, or why I am pissed they lost tonight. She also doesn't understand why I got teary eyed when Murphy called his last game last year (thank God for the Internet, as I am in California), or when he died. But she wasn't on the bus on Helmet Day, when Murphy called Clendenon's high fly ball to right field.....

I remember this as the first major league game I ever attended. I was a seven year old living in Wantagh and I went with my father.

I remember three things from this game: it was Helmet Day, I wore my first Mets' uniform with number 2 (Bob Aspromonte's number, I still don't know why I chose it) and the Mets beat the Phillies in 15 innings. We stayed for the entire game that ended with Donn Clendennon's home run.

I also recall Ken Singleton hitting a home run, but could not remember the inning in which he hit it. Thank you, Bob P.

Helmet day!! Seaver didn't have it that day, but the Mets stayed in it. My mother made us leave in the 11th inning (I seem to remember a Clendenon double wasted?), and we got home in time to see Clendenon's game winning HR in the 15th. I remember being pretty sore at my parents for making us leave!

This was the first of many Mets games my father took me to. God rest his soul; what a wonderful man. He served almost 40 years on the N.Y.P.D. It was Helmet Day and the Mets won. We were there for all 15 innings in the Mezzanine section. What a great day!

It was my first game also. I was six years old, but I did remember Singleton having a big day.

This was only the second game I attended. I was 11 years old. It was a Father's Day doubleheader which was also Mets Straw Hat Day.

The two most outstanding memories on the day were seeing Nolan Ryan, a relative unknown at the time, walk the first three hitters he faced, then promptly struck out the next three to end the first inning.

I hadn't realized until looking at the box score that the Mets actually made a fantastic comeback in the bottom of the ninth of the first game.

The second memory took place in the second game which was a long home run hit out of the park in right field clearing the second bullpen wall and into the parking lot by Ken Singleton. The second game also was won by a Darren Johnson grand slam in extra innings. Mets also attempted another comeback but fell short.

Our seats were first row Mezzanine section which my hncle bought from a scalper for $10 each. What a classic day it was!

Michael, a couple of follow-up points to your excellent post:

Ryan actually gave up a bunt single and two walks in the top of the first before striking out Willie Montanez, Oscar Gamble, and Ron Stone.

After being given a 4-0 lead thanks to two run homers by Mike Jorgensen and Art Shamsky, Ryan gave up six runs and six hits and two walks (one intentional) in the sixth. In the first five innings Nolan had allowed just that one bunt hit.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Mets loaded the bases with nobody out, and back-to-back singles by Don Hahn and Duffy Dyer gave the Mets the win, 7-6.

The Ken Singleton homer in game two gave the Mets a 5-1 lead in the fourth inning, but Ray Sadecki couldn't hold it and the Mets lost in 11 innings.

This was the first game I ever attended at Shea. I was six years old; we arrived during the top of the 9th inning and so the first Shea experience I ever had was a 3 run comeback. I was hooked!

I was at this game with my dad and little sister. I remember it was early in the day, and my dad (an ex-Brooklyn Dodger fan who had become a Mets fan) said to us, "Would you guys like to go to the Mets doubleheader in Philadelphia today?" We lived just outside of Princeton, NJ, and Philly was an easy 50-minute drive. Anyway, of course Amy and I agreed immediately (both being voracious Mets fans), and a few hours later we were at lovely, brand-spanking-new Veterans Stadium, with its plastic seats (the upper two decks were yellow and orange), state-of-the-art scoreboard and artificial turf.

Outside of sweeping the doubleheader, I don't recall much about the day, outside of the wonderful surprise Dad gave us!

First road game I ever saw the Mets play. My folks had helped me move into my freshman dorm at Penn and we had some free time, so we went over to the Vet. The only time I ever saw Nolan pitch in person and he lost. The Phils gave out Phillies rulers and book covers for back to school day and my sisters hung on to the rulers (which included Mike Schmidt's picture on it) for years.

I saw a bunch of Met games at the Vet over the next four years because they were always scheduled for a trip to Philly in April before the spring semester was over and in September after the fall semester had started. Of course, I most remember 1973. I went to a Phils-Pirates game that September to root against the Pirates.

Nolan Ryan walked five, hit a batter and gave up three hits in just two innings (plus three batters in the third) as the Mets got creamed by the Phils.

Don Hahn had a fifth inning inside-the-park homer for the Mets off Woody Fryman. It was Hahn's first career home run.

This is a game I watched on TV as a kid. For some reason, it comes back into my mind from time to time. I recall that Gary Gentry hurt his arm and got taken out before a huge rainstorm held things up about an inning or two later. With the score tied in the ninth, reliever Danny Frisella drew a walk and moved to third base on an error. Mike Jorgensen singled to drive home Frisella and the Mets won. It ended with a walk-off run being scored by the winning pitcher himself, which doesn’t happen too often.

I'm not positive of this, but I think Jim Beauchamp hit a homer (or maybe 2?) off Steve Carlton as the Mets defeated the Phillies. It was one of only 10 losses Carlton had on the season as he won the Cy Young with a 27-10 record.

I stand corrected! In the bottom of the 8th, Beauchamp pinch-hit for Seaver and singled. Mays, batting leadoff that day, hit a 2-run homer off Carlton as the Mets won their 11th in a row.

Tommy Hutton homered off Seaver earlier in the game, as he used to own Seaver in those days...

This was the game...The Zenith. On the morning of May 22, the Mets awoke and found themselves sitting at 25-7. They had completed an 11-game winning streak and the news media were hailing them as invincible. With Rusty, Seaver, Agee etc all of us kid-types were not only getting ready for the inevitable World Championship but debated whether the Mets would also smash the all-time records for wins in a season (at that time 111). Then a funny thing happened: Rusty got in the way of a George Stone fastball and the injuries began accumulating. By August, Duffy Dyer found himself in RF. The Met leader in HR was Staub with 9 until September (he went out June 9) a feat that was not matched until the pathetic 2009 edition of the team.

The suffering lasted until September 1973 and then... well that is another story.

This was one of the first games I ever attended. I remember being excited about seeing "Super Stever Carlton," pitch. He had been traded to the Phillies in the off-season for a very popular pitcher in Philadelphia, Rick Wise (who had no-hit the "Big Red Machine," the previous year, including hitting two home runs in the game).

Carlton was five-and-0 to start the 1972 season and Willie Mays had recently been traded to the Mets from the Giants. Late in the game, Mays hit a long drive off Carlton which sailed into the "dancing waters" fountains beyond the center field fence at Veterans Stadium, which turned out to be the winning run.

Three future Hall-of-Famers all figuring in the decision of the game, Seaver got the win; Willie Mays the GW hit, home run #648 for him and the GW RBI; Carlton took the loss, one of only ten he had in a Cy Young award winning season for him. I was hooked on baseball after that game.

The Mets were the only team that beat Steve Carlton more than once in 1972.

Jon Matlack pitched a three-hitter for his first career shutout on this night. He got all the support he would need on Rusty Staub's two-run double in the bottom of the first inning. The double came on a fly ball down the right field line that hit the orange stripe above the wall. It should have been ruled a three-run homer, but it wasn't and Staub argued about the call. Rusty followed up with a pair of RBI singles and another double for a 4-for-4 game. Also, Bud Harrelson reached base four times and scored three runs. A night to remember for Matlack and the Mets.

Banner day twi-night doubleheader,also the first time I sat below the Upper Deck at Shea (loge Sec 3 Row 3). The players looked almost like they did on TV rather than those distant specks darting in all directions I was used to. First game goes 18 innings thanks to a HR by Don Money. The fans in left field left the game to assemble outside the centerfield wall in the 7th inning. Where they waited...and waited...and waited. Lasting memory other than Money's HR was Dave Schneck's triple in the 1st. I told everyone within earshot that Schneck was going to be the Met's CF of the future, and would possibly be in the HOF: predictions I later made about Dan Norman and Gregg Jeffries . What do I know, I'm the only investor to LOSE money in the late 90's market.

Second game was a treat watching true HOFers Steve Carlton and Willie Mays face off. Carlton his 21st of 27 victories in his incredible season.

It was a twi-night doubleheader and my brother Tom and friend Frank DiCola and I made a banner and had great seats down the left field line with my sister Kathy and my Dad. We went outside after the 7th inning and the Phillies tied it up and it went 18 innings. We finally went back inside to see the last inning. The Mets won and we got to parade on the field. My Dad made us leave after the 2nd inning of the 2nd game and I only got to see Willie Mays get up once. The Mets sent all the people involved in banner night free tickets for a game against the Expos in September.

I was at this game as well with my sister and our proud banner! They held Banner Night between games of a "scheduled" twilight doubleheader against the Phils (ah, remember those?). The first game lasted 18 innings, the Mets winning 3-2. What was funny was that we were told to huddle under the stands leading to the outfield with our banners sometime around the 7th inning, but we couldn't see the game!! We were way back in line and didn't want to lose our place, so we missed the ending. When we heard a huge roar echo through the stadium, we knew the Mets had won. Very funny night. I was 11 years old.

We had Loge seats overlooking the Phillies bullpen so I watched Carlton warm up for game 2. I was absolutely amazed how loud he popped the catcher's glove!

And yes, I also remember getting those freebies for a Mets- Expos in September.

I was seven years old. My grandfather took me and a buddy, with our ready gloves in hand. We lasted the whole first game, but not into the Banner Day festivities.

I was a one man banner that read "The best banner is a Mets Pennant" I was the first one on the field for the parade. During the second game they announced the winners on the scoreboard. My banner was one of the winners. My father and I rushed down the ramp to claim our prize. My father thought we had won the first prize which was a trip to California. I told him it was actually 5th prize which was a radio and 2 free box seat tickets. Didn't really matter. It was a thrill I will never forget.Thanks dad for making the banner even though the bathtub was sprayed with orange and blue paint.

I went to the game with my sister and parents. I carried a banner that said, "Remember the champs of 69 in 72 it would be sublime!" It was tiring but exciting.

I was 13 years old. A friend's family took us to the Banner Day Twilight Double Header. Our banner read

"The Mets R Grand, we must admit, but they need a basketball to get a hit"!

Spent 11 innings outside the stadium, then watched game 2. Got home around 5 AM.

I remember this game very clearly though we did not participate in the banner parade. I was 12 at the time and my Dad would always get Mets tickets for my Mom as a present. She was a lifelong Mets fan and taught us to be the same. The first game was great in the stands to see 18 innings!! Like an extra game for free! I did feel bad for the Banner Parade participants as they were standing outside the field in the heat forever! One of the first banners was a large, hooked rug that must have been very heavy. I can't remember who won as top banner. We stayed for part of the second game and were very disappointed, including my Mom, when my Dad said we had to leave around midnight as he had to work the next day even if we didn't! It's a great memory today even with both Mom and Dad gone. Thank you Mets!

I was 6 months pregnant at this game. First game went 18 innings then came the banners and then another game. Could not go to work the next day but that is why my son who will be 50 this year has always been and still is a Met fan. He must have loved “being” at Shea this incredible night.

We brought our banner “The Universe Revolves Around Our Mets”. They told banner holders to lineup in the parking lot in the 7th inning. We figured we could hop on the end of the line so stayed in our seats. The game goes 18 innings so we made the right decision. Poor folks were visible waiting in line beyond the outfield.

I had just turned 13, and I was at Shea Stadium with my best friend. We had a banner for Banner Day, and went down to line up around the 7th inning. But we were listening to the game on a transistor radio (remember those?) and when it went into extra innings, we went back up to our seats. Plenty of time, even if we stayed in our upper deck seats, to get down in time to be part of the parade. When Game 1 ended we went back down for the parade, and of course we stayed for the entire second game as well. I imagine I called home from a pay phone (remember those?) so my parents wouldn't worry about me coming home late. Too many years have gone by, so I don't recall any other details.

My brother and I got tickets to this game, realizing neither that it was part of a double header nor that it was banner day. We were 10 and 12 years old at the time. Mom dropped us off and promised to pick us up after the game. Remember, this was before cell phones! When game 1 ended after 18 innings, it was already long after we expected mom to pick us up. We thought we might get in trouble with her, but were willing to take our licks! We certainly didn’t want to miss banner day or the second game! So we took our chances and stayed through everything. Luckily Mom had been watching on TV so she knew not to come until quite a bit later than the original plan. We really felt like we got our money’s worth!

This is my first game ever! My mother, brother and I sat in $2.75 seats on the 3rd base Mezz. My mother bought the tixx the week prior at Manufacturers Hanover. I'll never forget the anticipation. I'll never forget walking up the ramp and seeing the field for first time. Seaver's HS friend and former Met teammate Dick Selma got the win. I can remember Deron Johnson's HR in the 10th. And Willie Mays played too!

The ending of this game was a disaster! Having the lead in the ninth inning with Tom Seaver on the mound usually meant victory. Not on this night. Instead, we got Larry Bowa scoring all the way from first on a double by Tommy Hutton (who was a Seaver tormenter) and a pinch-hit 2- run homer by Deron Johnson to left-center field. The Phillies took it right away from us.

The next morning, I saw my friend Glenn, who was the biggest Mets' fan I ever knew. He said to me,"That game they should have won!" I agreed, and ever since then, I've always believed that any game in which the Mets have the lead entering the ninth is one they should win!

One note about Hutton. He was a musician and on Kiner's Korner after the game, Ralph asked him a few questions about his guitar playing. About a year later, Tommy gave a performance on "The Mike Douglas Show."

This was the first baseball game I ever attended. I was 8 years old. Don't remember much, but I was disappointed that Bud Harrelson was not playing. I know Willie Mays had an at bat, but I just don't know if I was still at the game when he came to the plate. Sitting at the top of the stadium behind home plate seemed like miles from the field. I bought a Mets ring. Lost it quickly.

This was the first game I ever went to. I seem to remember that it had rained like hell the night before, but it turned out to be a clear crisp early autumn day. I wore one of those old baseball jackets that had logos of select teams on them--remember those? My mom took a picture of my older brother and I outside the old house in Yorktown Heights before we left, gloves in tow. The picture is dated on the back and it said the score of the game.

Anyway, I was only 7 years old and I went with my brother and my father, who has recently passed on. I remember a few things about the game. The Phillies had those toxic blue uniforms and I kind of thought they were cool. Another thing that stands out clearly is that the crowd was really getting on Bob Boone, the Phillies catcher. I can recall when he got up to the plate everyone in my section going BA-BOOOOOONE!! BA- BOOOOONE!!

I think it was because there were a couple of Met beanings in this game. I'm certain that Rusty Staub hit the deck (maybe twice). I don't know if there were words with he and Boone, but I think that's why everyone got on Boone.

I also remember that Dave Schneck hit a triple. Why I remember that I have no idea, but I am certain that it happened. One thing also, I think that Willie Mays pinch hit in that game. I'm not sure.

If he did, I don't know why I remember the beanings, the Schneck triple, and Ba-Boooooone! so clearly instead of that.

Further to Ralph's comments on this game from Feb. 2003:

The boxscore shows that Duffy Dyer was the only player hit by a pitch in the game. Phils starter Jim Nash hit Duffy in the fourth inning. It certainly is possible that Rusty got brushed back once or twice in the game, but he didn't get hit.

Willie Mays did not get into this game. He was not in the starting lineup and the Mets made no substitutions.

Dave Schneck's triple came in the bottom of the eighth after Cleon Jones had led off with a double. Schneck then scored on a sac fly. In fact, four of the five Mets runs in this game crossed the plate on sac flies!

Jon Matlack pitched a five-hitter to improve to 14-9, and all three Phillies' runs were unearned.

I recall seeing this game at Shea Stadium with my family, when I was eight years old. The game matched up Tom Seaver vs. Steve Carlton, the two best National League pitchers of the 1970's. This was the season where Carlton had one of the greatest seasons ever for a pitcher, when he went 27-10 pitching for a last-place team. However, Seaver bested Carlton on this day. I recall that the Phillies got their only run on a home run, but I do not remember who hit it.

Ken, thanks to the spectauclar website retrosheet.com, the answer to your question is: Future Mets coach Bill Robinson hit the homer off Seaver.

Agee led off the bottom of the first with a home run off Carlton, and the game went along 1-0 until Robinson came up with one out in the 7th and hit his 6th homer of the season. The Mets regained the lead on an unearned run in the bottom of the 8th when Lute Barnes (there's a name for those of us old enough to remember!) grounded out. Tug came in to pitch get the last two outs for the save.

Carlton allowed 1 earned run and 7 hits, no walks, and struck out 9 in 8 innings. Seaver allowed five hits and two walks, and struck out six for his 19th win of the year.

The game was played in a brisk one hour and fifty three minutes. Those were the days.

Thanks Bob, for the information. The box scores for 1972 weren't up here the last time I checked this site.

Somehow I recall the Phillies home run because my father took some home movies at the game, and I recall seeing that he recorded the Phillies player hitting the ball over the wall and rounding the bases. I don't think he recorded the Agee home run, probably because the game was starting and we had just gotten into our seats.

It was Fan Appreciation Day because it was the Mets' last home game of the season, and I recall that the Mets gave away ceramic mugs to fans. I remember seeing lots of broken mugs on the concrete floors and ramps at Shea because some people had dropped them. Didn't they have (unbreakable) plastic mugs and cups back then, which would have been better to give away to fans?

According to the box score, the Mets must have scored their second run on a sacrifice fly by Lute Barnes, not a groundout.

The Mets were the only team that beat Steve Carlton more than once in 1972.

I'd like to clarify some earlier postings on this game. As Ken described, it was Fan Appreciation Day and all who attended were handed a special item on their way into Shea Stadium. But I recall getting a winter ski cap in Mets colors on this day. The ceramic mug giveaway must have been in another season.

I remember Tommie Agee hitting a leadoff home run against Steve Carlton in the first inning. It would be Agee's last homer as a Met. Tommie was also connected with the play that produced the winning run. With the score tied in the eighth inning, Lute Barnes hit a sacrifice fly that drove home Ted Martinez. Agee tried to advance from second base as Martinez scored but was thrown out at third to end the inning. Since Martinez touched the plate before Agee was tagged, the run counted and put the Mets ahead to stay.

This was one of my favorite games in Met history.....Cleon Jones slammed 2 home runs.....it was Opening Day.....Seaver and McGraw combined on a shutout.....and they defeated the hated Phillies (a very bitter rivalry back then.)! It provided a lot of optimism for the season ahead, and each of the stars of this game played pivotal roles in the incredible pennant run that lay ahead. It was a nervous time in the country (Watergate was beginning to get serious, Vietnam was still ongoing) and the Mets were still dazed by what had happened in 1972, losing Gil Hodges, perhaps the most respected manager at the time, the two week strike which saw regular season games cancelled for the first time. They had a great start in 1972 under Yogi, going 30-10, and of course had begun aquiring some great talent in Staub and Mays....but the Ryan trade would haunt them all year and see Fregosi being traded to Texas in June....for....nobody! But Opening Day planted a seed of hope in this ten year old!

I remember this Opening Day game. I had just gotten home from school and the Mets already had a 2-0 lead on Cleon Jones' first home run. Later on in the game, a preview of what was to come took place. I don't remember in which inning it happened, but Rusty Staub made a great catch in right field for the third out. He crashed into the wall and lay flat on his back. After Channel 9 showed a replay of the catch, he was seen running, uninjured, to the dugout.

Rusty would make the same kind of play in Game 4 of that year's National League Championship Series against the Reds. He injured his right shoulder on that one, though, affecting his performance in what would be his only World Series.

Except for the injury, the catch he made on Opening Day was a carbon copy of the one he made in the NLCS. It preserved a shutout for Tom Seaver, but also served as an omen for October.

I remember being home sick from school with the flu or a bad cold (how convenient) and watching this game. I even made an audio tape of the opening ceremonies and the first inning or two. It's probably around somewhere. Does anyone remember the former P.O.W.s throwing out the first pitch? I have an image of 7 of them throwing balls at Duffy Dyer all at once, but I may be wrong. I also remember a blurb on the screen announcing Ron Bloomberg had become the first DH in Major league history. I occassionally would flip to Channel 11 where the Yankees were getting drubbed in Boston.

If you watch this game and others on the 1973 Met Highlight Film, the Mets get the benefit of around 5 bad calls at first base, and 1 at the plate.

Ron Hodges tagging out Richie Zisk in the ball-off-the-top-of-the-wall play still sends shivers down my spine.

I guess this is a forgotten game from the 1973 season. No comments yet. For the first time in Mets history they began the season with a four game winning streak. I was at the game as a kid, which was the second game of the season. A pitcher's duel between Jon Matlack and former Cy Young winner Jim Lonborg. Ed Kranepool pinch-hit for Matlack in the ninth, walked, and Teddy Martinez came in to pinch-run. Willie Mays hit the game-winning single up the middle as Martinez came home with the winning run. A magical start and a magical finish to the 1973 season.

After winning five in a row at Shea, the Mets start a road trip with this 9-6 loss to the Phillies. The Mets would be swept in this series and go on to lose eleven of their next seventeen games.

Each team scored three runs in the first inning, with the three for New York coming on Rusty Staub's sixth homer of the year. But LHP Ken Brett settled down and pitched a complete game despite giving up six runs.

Brett also helped himself with a sac fly in the second inning and a leadoff homer in the fourth off Ray Sadecki. It was the third consecutive start for Brett where he hit a home run. Ken would also homer in his next start at Montreal on June 23 to make it four straight games with a dinger.

Ken Brett was a terrific hitter (not as good as his brother, of course) who batted .250 in 1973 with five doubles, four homers, 16 RBIs, and a .463 slugging percentage. Brett finished his carrer with a .262 batting average and 18 doubles, 10 homers, and 44 RBIs in just 347 at bats.

In the first game of a doubleheader, the Mets jumped on Phillies starter Barry Lersch with seven runs and nine hits in the bottom of the first inning. The Mets had eight singles and a double, with Ron Hodges and starter George Stone each driving in two runs.

The Mets had just four more hits the rest of the game while letting the Phils get back in it. The Phillies scored two in the second and then three more in the third on a three-run homer by Mike Anderson.

Philadelphia closed the gap to 7-6 with an unearned run in the top of the fifth, but that was all the scoring for the game. Buzz Capra came in to pitch the last four innings, allowing no hits and retiring twelve of the fourteen batters he faced (he walked the other two).

Teddy Martinez went 4-for-4 in the game for the Mets. Teddy had just two four-hit games in his Mets career, and both of them were in 1973, against the Phillies, and in the first game of a doubleheader! Teddy also had a four-hit game for the Dodgers in 1977.

I went this game as a 14-year-old boy with my little brother. It was Senior Citizens Day and my grandparents took us. We have a famous (unflattering) picture that I took that day of my grandmother. My bro was and still is a big Phils fan so he went home happy.

My first Mets game!!!! A mere 6-year-old at the time. Koosman, one of my favorite pitchers, pitched a gem. I also seem to recall light- hitting infielder Teddy Martinez putting one over the wall! The second game saw Craig Swan's debut, I believe. He did not have his stuff this day, but he turned out to be a pretty good pitcher for the Mets, unfortunately during some of the real lean years. What is Bruce Boisclair up to?

This was the second game of a doubleheader and, if I'm not mistaken, it was Craig Swan's major league debut. I was 10 at the time and I remember Swan looking very nervous. I was unhappy because the Mets were starting to play well and were within striking distance of Pittsburgh -- so why were they starting a rookie with stage fright? Yogi would do the same thing with Bob Apodaca in relief against the Pirates later in September -- and that almost backfired too.

Funny how two guys who got their ML debuts for the Mets in the heat of the '73 pennant race ended up becoming quality ML pitchers for them -- even though they started out terribly.

Yes, it was Swan's major league debut, and unfortunately for Craig, he started it off by loading the bases with nobody out on a single and two walks. Luckily the Phillies got just one run in the top of the first, and in fact, the Mets came back with three in the bottom of the first and hoped that would help Craig settle down.

He didn't. He wound up pitching to 22 batters and 11 of them reached base safely. It could have been a lot worse for Swan if Greg Luzinski hadn't been thrown out stealing (what?!?!?) in the first inning and if LF John Milner hadn't thrown Mike Schmidt out at the plate to end the fourth inning.

One oddity in this game: in the bottom of the third with two outs and runners at first and second, Don Hahn hit a ground ball to the right side and Ron Hodges, the runner at first, was hit by the batted ball for the third out of the inning.

Opening Day, 1974 at the Vet...this was the first sign that 1974 would resemble the first five months of the 1973 season rather than the last month.

The Mets took a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the 9th with Tug on the mound. A single and a sac bunt brought the Phils' #8 hitter to the plate, a guy who had hit .196 in his rookie season the year before. The batter hit a 2-run homer and the Phillies won the game, 5-4.

The batter was Mike Schmidt.

The Mets had the lead into the 9th and Tug McGraw gave a home run to Mike Schmidt to lose 4-3. I knew this was a game with bad times ahead for the next 8 or 9 years.

Adding to the overall misery of the day was the constant drizzle, 40 degree temperature, and a grotesque streaker who jumped out of the seats behind first base.

One of Harrelson's hits, however, was a double off the very top of the left field fence in front of the Mets' bullpen (batting righthanded). It was the longest fly ball I ever saw Buddy hit!

This game was very disappointing. The Mets had a 9th inning lead and let it get away. Mike Schmidt hit a home run off Tug McGraw to pull one out for the Phillies. It was a tough start to a season that didn't get a whole lot better.

Schmidt's homer was significant in more ways than one. It was the only thing that prevented the Mets from having a perfect record in season opening games in the 1970s. They won their other nine openers during the decade. For Schmidt, it marked the beginning of the first of his seven seasons as the National League home run leader. Also, there was irony in that the next season, Tug and Schmidt would become teammates with the Phils, leading them to a great deal of success over a ten-year span.

More than anything else, though, it was the start of a dismal Mets' season after one that produced a pennant.

This was the first Mets ROAD game I ever attended...well, actually it was the SECOND Mets road game, because this was the second game of a doubleheader and I was at the first game too! As I recall, this was a twi-nighter (remember those!) I remember sitting out in the outfield stands somewhere and looking down at Don Hahn in CF. Towards the end of game two we moved down to the lower level behind home plate on the first base side. Overall though, it was not a very successful night for the Mets. They lost both ends of the twinbill and the undefeated Mets wives softball team lost their first game to the Phillie wives! All part of a disappointing 1974 season.

A group of friends drove south to attend this twin bill (plus Mets vs Phils wife's softball game between games). Mets ended up 0-3 for the day! We sat in the upper deck behind home plate. During the game, some of our group paraded a "Far Rockaway Loves the Mets" banner around the circular stadium. For their troulbe, they were pelted with all kinds of objects!! I expected nothing less from the Phillies fans.

I was at that game as a young kid..... I remember that they dedicated a moment of silence before the game to the victims of the tragic club fire in Portchester that killed 24 people. This memory came back to me after hearing about the Rhode Island fire.

I went to this game with my entire family. All seven of us were at Shea on a hot Wednesday afternoon. Before the game, we were treated to a 2-inning softball game (or was it 3 innings?) played between the wives of the Mets and Phillies players. I remember Angela Jones (Cleon's wife) hitting the ball all the way to the outfield grass in left.

In the regular game, Cleon had a shot of his own - a home run over the 410-foot mark in dead center field! Rusty Staub also homered and Ted Martinez had a run-scoring double.

Harry Parker, who was having a rough season, shut out the Phillies for eight innings. A Dave Cash triple in the ninth led to two runs and Parker's being taken out. He still got a well- deserved win, though.

Was Belt Day at the Vet. Game 1 of double header. Seaver pitched well. Tommy Hutton had good luck against him.

This was the game Seaver needed 13 K's to keep his streak of consecutive seasons with 200 strikeouts goings. He did it with one to spare - but lost the game 2-1 anyway, so typical of the Mets offense in the early 1970's.

Seaver outduels Carlton on opening day. I went to this game with my dad. It was cloudy. That's about all I remember.

In January 1975 I had met a wonderful girl on a ski trip, and being the romantic that I am, I told her that I would take her to Opening Day at Shea. We went, and Tom Seaver won as usual. We went to six more games that year, and the Mets won them all. I could not let this beautiful woman get away! We were married in September 1978 and are the proud parents of four lovely Met fans.

Hey Dennis (the poster above me): that may be the best post I've seen on the UMD.

Hey Jon (also a poster above: I too attended this game with my Dad. Can still see Kingman's bomb as it appeared from our upper deck seats. What a drive.

Can also see Torre's basehit to win it in the ninth.

What a great box score - Seaver and Carlton pitching cowboy-style before the days of slavish devotion to pitch counts.

If I'm not mistaken, Joe Torre had the game winning hit in this one, the only good thing he did as a Met.

The first Met game I ever went to see. It was cold. I got into trouble next day in school because I skipped school to go to the game.

I played hooky from 8th grade on this very cold Opening Day afternoon game. In Kingman's first game as a Met, he homers to tie it. In Torre's first game as a Met, he wins it with a single in the bottom of the ninth off Carlton. Gene Clines, in his first game as a Met, starts in left field for the injured Cleon Jones, giving Seaver the win. Seaver would win his third Cy Young this year; Torre would be washed up; Cleon would barely return this season, in what proved to be his final year as a Met. And Rusty Staub would play his last game as a Met (though they got him back six years later). Lots of off-season moves before this year, resulting in a mediocre 82-80 record.

Frank, the off-season moves you mentioned actually improved the Mets' record by eleven games from what it was the previous year. Two of the players acquired provided all the scoring needed in support of Tom Seaver. Dave Kingman slugged a solo homer and Joe Torre hit a run-scoring single in the bottom of the ninth inning for the win. It would be the first of nine consecutive Opening Day victories for the Mets.

My last visit to the Vet to see the Mets play before I graduated from college in Philly and returned home to the Metropolitan area. And the Mets lost, unfortunately. But what I most remember is looking at the scorecard and seeing one or two Met rookies were younger than me. That made me feel really old for the first time. It wasn't until Dave Winfield retired over two decades later that every major leaguer was younger than me

My husband was at this game (6/28/75) and I am attempting to get a copy of the news article which featured him streaking in his wilder more crazy days. I thought it would be a nice Christmas present since the original article from the Daily News is quite faded.

I believe this was Tug's first appearance at Shea after the Mets let him go. So sad. I remember after the first inning he pitched he mistakenly took two or three steps towards the Mets dugout before realizing his mistake and turning back toward the Phillies dugout. So sad.

I attended this doubleheader as part of a trip with my Boy Scout troup. What I remembered the most about these games was that Tug McGraw, who had been traded by the Mets to the Phillies during the off-season, made his first appearances for the Phillies against the Mets at Shea Stadium. Tug had been one of the Mets' most popular players when he was with the Mets, so he received a warm reception from the fans when he made his first Phillies appearance at Shea Stadium.

Tug must have been relishing his first chance to pitch against his former team in their home ballpark. In the first game, Tug pitched three innings to earn a save, and in the second game he pitched four innings to earn the win in extra innings. During the day, Tug gave up no runs and one hits in seven innings, earning a win and a save. Tug earned a measure of revenge against his former team in front of their home fans that day. Clearly, there have been few relief pitchers who had a better single day of relief work than Tug did that day.

I remember Jerry Grote hit a homer off Tug McGraw in the top of the 9th, I think, to win this game for the Mets.

This is the first game I ever attended in person, at age 9. My dad (who was and still is indifferent to baseball) nevertheless took me to abide my screeching wishes. We sat in Section 13 (how apropos) in the mezzanine section. I believe Schmidt and Luzinski went back-to-back for the Phils, and Rusty Staub homered for the Mets. Tug McGraw pitched for the Phils in relief at one point. I remember the game dragging back and forth as I breathlessly followed it like it was game 7 of the World Series. Finally Ron Hodges sailed one into the right field bullpen in the bottom of the 11th. I remember hugging my dad for dear life as I looked down as the sphere sailed toward Pignatano's veggie garden. How sad it is that before long I'll have to remember the last game I went to...since if they strike, I will have been to my last game.

This was the first baseball game I ever attended. My Uncle brought me, and I remember Rusty Staub went 5 for 5 with a HR. And I remember Schmidt & Luzinski going back to back. And of course Ron Hodges hit a 2-run HR to win the game in 11 innings. I remeber throwing paper air planes on the field.

As of the night I write this, my dad who took me to this game will have been gone from us for exactly one year. If there was one personality he loved about baseball, it was that of Tug McGraw (who, as mentioned above, pitched for the Phils in this one) - and he's gone as well.

Missing you still, dad -- and Tug. Now, and ever.

Strangely, the thing I remember most about this game is not how entertaining,albeit meaningless a game it was, but rather that Mason Reese, that little redheaded kid who used to hawk Underwood sandwich spread in tv ads of the time threw out the first pitch. Maybe not so much that he threw out the pitch, but rather that a couple of innings into the game he and his mother wound up seated right behind my Grandfather and myself in the mezzanine reserve section. Our seats were ok but not great, certainly not where you would expect a guest of the club given that honor to be seated. Anyway, I remember him signing his name for a long line of autograph seekers for an innng or two before his mother asked security to disperse the crowd.

I remember the Ron Hodges walk off home run and the old Shea Stadium scoreboard posting ‘“RON” after it was over. My favorite player at the time, Rusty Staub has 5 hits that day and I was so happy. I do remember how upset I was when he was traded to the Tigers after the season ended. A great day at Shea!

This was the 1st Mets game I ever attended. It was Fan Appreciation Day and I got a nice little Mets bag that I still have somewhere. I particularly remember 1) how dead the Mets offense was that day and 2) how I had to seriously go take a leak from the 3rd inning onwards. I was only 7 years old and at the game with a friend and his dad, so I kept my mouth shut about my beckoning tinkle urge.

The game was going by pretty fast though, and as the bottom of the 9th approached, with the Mets hopelessly down 4-0, my friend's dad said "Let's leave early and beat the crowd to the subway. Anyone need to go to the bathroom?" WHEW!

As we left the restroom and made our way down from our nosebleed level, we heard a tremendous roar. We rushed back through a tunnel to the stands, maybe it was the loge or mezzanine level, to find the fans on their feet celebrating. "What happened, what happened?" we asked. "Hodges hit a home run!" somebody replied. I remember my friend saying "We miss the only excitement in the whole game because we went to the bathroom."

It seemed terrible then to have missed a homer, but little did I realize this would be just the first of a mountain of disappointments to come in being a Mets fan.

I attended this game with my best friend. What an eventful day.

We met Dave Cash's mom and chatted with her for a while. Really nice lady.

I dropped a foul ball hit to me by Ed Kranepool. It was a high popup, a spinner, and it spun out of my hands. Some kid got my easy bounce and my hand hurt for a week.

Thank God for second chances: caught a foul ball in Oakland, 16 or 18 years later, despite a ferocious beer buzz. Tumbled into the row behind me and got a nice ovation. I still have the ball.

I remember the Ron Hodges HR - a high drive cutting through the rain.

Finally, my friend and I missed Roy Staiger's only MLB triple in his career because we were in the food line.

I remember it was fan appreciation day. Also a very dreary day weather wise.

When the game ended there was message on the scoreboard saying thank you to the fans and wishing the Jets AND Giants good luck. The Giants played their 1975 home games at Shea, a few of them on Saturday afternoons because of conflicts with the Jets schedule.

Also, the Yankees were completing their second season in Flushing. The Shea field certainly got a workout that year.

This was not my first time at Shea but it was the first I had watched the Mets at Shea. Before 1975 I had no interest and I have no memories of being at Shea except at being at a bar with my dad and him talking about Willie Mays. My dad put me in little league and despite the fact I was inept on the field I fell in love with baseball and the Mets.

I wanted so bad to go to a game at Shea. I had a chance earlier in the year to see Old Timer's Game but my dad only had two tickets and I lost a game of Bingo to my brother.

I don't remember much about the game except the Phillies beat the Mets 4-2 and I got a little cooler that I had until the 80's. (Actually I think the one that lasted until the 80's was my Dad's and the one I had was lost much earlier than that.)

I have been thinking about this game; I recently purchased on eBay a filled out program for this game (not received yet) and it was interesting reading the box score of the game on this awesome site just now.

I attended this day game with my Dad. We were situated in the nose-bleed seats right over the right field wall by the foul pole. I was a little dizzy from the height. But we had a perfect view of Ron Hodges ninth-inning two-run home run since it landed right below us. Hodges had hit a game-winning extra-inning home run the previous day. He seemed red-hot at the time.

Skippy Lockwood in his autobiography “ Insight Pitch” highlights in detail this save on the last day of the season for Tom Seaver.

I watched this on TV. I think the game had been delayed because of rain as there were puddles in the outfield.

Wayne Garret comes up in the top of the ninth with two outs, the bases loaded, and down by one and strokes a two-strike pitch off of Tug McGraw for a bases-clearing triple in the gap. Roy Staiger follows with an RBI double to polish off the inning. I think this was the first time Tug blew a save against the Mets.

The only thing that really impressed us was Johnny Oates. I was 11 and my brother was 9. We were sitting on the Phillies side getting autographs. Johnny came over, signed our Mets yearbooks, talked to us. He let us try on his catcher's mitt. That was the coolest. God bless you, Johnny Oates. A little thing like that left a great memory.

I was 11 years old and attended this game. I remember Milner's home run was just inside the right field foul pole in the first. I also remember that after Tug McGraw finished his first inning of relief he started to walk toward the Mets dugout instead of the Phillies. The media made a big deal about it.

This was Banner Day at Shea! My friends and I made a banner saying how great Dave Kingman was (I was nine and naive). The first game went into extra innings and we had to wait for what felt like eternity to get on the field. As we were parading, some one asked us for our number. I thought we were going to win a prize. The man took our number, handed it to another man, who handed it to someone else who subsequently threw it in the trash with the rest of the losers. We then walked through the Mets bullpen (saw Bob Apodaca up close) and through the tunnel connecting the dugout and the bullpen, Jerry Grote ran past me, prompting me to yell "Hey Jerry!" raising my hand for a High Five (if that's what they called it then). With eyes fixed straight ahead, he kept running, leaving my high five suspended in mid air. Mets were swept in the double header, but that didn't matter. I was on the field.

This was my first Mets game. I believe it was Seaver beating Carlton. Can someone out there confirm? Thanks.

Friz, if you are still reading this board, I can confirm that at your first Mets game Seaver beat Carlton, 1-0. The Mets scored the only run of the game in the 4th inning on an RBI single by the legendary Roy Staiger. Seaver pitched a 4-hitter and struck out 8, and allowed just one hit after the third inning. Carlton wasn't too shabby either: he allowed five hits and struck out six in six innings. The only reason he came out so early was that the Phils had first and third and two out in the top of the seventh, and Danny Ozark sent up Seaver's nemesis, Tommy Hutton, to bat for Carlton. Seaver struck him out.

Bob P., you forgot to mention the most important thing about Seaver's strikeout of Hutton in the seventh. It was Tom's 200th of the year, giving him that total for nine consecutive seasons.

I remember Seaver striking out Hutton in the 7th, his 200th of the season. It broke record for consecutive seasons with 200 Strikeouts. 9 straight years. I also remember Greg Luzinski hitting a few hard line drives in 3rd base seats. The fans were electrified. Seaver was special to watch.

The Phils won this Labor Day weekend game thanks to Larry Christenson, who gave up hits to the first three Mets batters in the game then settled down to allow just five more hits. He also hit two home runs in the game. Christenson finished his career with 11 home runs.

If Kooz would have won this game he would've had more wins than Randy Jones and thus Kooz would've won the 1976 Cy Young Award, not Jones.

Jerry got credit for a CG in defeat, #17 forthe year. - both unthinkable today. Actually, Randy Jones won 22 to JK’s 21, and 25 CGs. After awarding Tom Seaver with the CY in 1975 over Randy, the BBWAA were intent on avoiding to appear biased in favor of NY against the same man. While RJ may have deserved it, it’s Kooz who will be remembered as the most respected LHP of his generation. Sorry, Silent Steve.

Crushing defeat - Richie Hebner's 2 run HR sends everyone home. They didn't call them walkoffs back then.

This is why this site is so amazing. I recalled going to this DH as an 11 year old, and the only thing I really remembered was that the Mets swept, despite Tim McCarver hitting a pinch-hit solo homer to tie the opener in the ninth inning.

I was at this DH as a 10-year-old, my first ever DH. The Mets had 2nd and 3rd in the bottom of the 10th of game 1 when Joe Torre came up to pinch-hit. Everyone booed when the Phils walked him to load the bases. Gene Garber then uncorked a wild pitch to let the winning run score. In between games they had some remote-controlled WWI planes with Snoopy and the Red Baron fighting it out over the stadium. You can see it in the '77 Mets highlight film. In Game 2 Kingman belted a 3-run HR in the first and that was it. I did not see another Mets' DH sweep until my last DH--in 2000 against Colorado! Nothing but splits or the visiting team sweeping for 23 years.

Torre had just been named manager. Sunday doubleheader was with the first place Phils. Even though the Mets won both games and the fans were hoping that this Met team could build on these wins, you could see and feel that my hero's from 1969 had grown old. Even at 17 years old, I knew that this team was heading in the wrong direction because baseball had changed. Free agency had been born in 1977 and Donald Grant was wrong. Seaver was gone 10 days later.

(Long live The little Blue and Orange Machine.)

I was at this game. I remember this was right after the mets traded tom seaver, I went with my father, my sister and our friends son and his friends.

This was the first game I ever attended. I was an 8 yr old Mets fanatic. I would get up extra early in the morning just to read the yearbook and look at the pics and imagine what it would be like to play for the Mets.

Anyway, because of transportation issues, my father and I arrived in around the 2nd or 3rd inning. We had tremendous seats - 1st row 3b, right behind Lenny Randle. AMAZIN'.

My most glaring receollections are as follows:

There was a drunk guy sitting next to us verbally abusing Greg Luzinski. Ever time THE BULL ran by, the guy would heckle him. Luzinski had to be restrained from coming into the seats.

2nd: Bob Boone hit a home run late in the game. It was a shot to center. Mazzilli had just come in the game. He was my favorite Met at the time. Anyway, Mazzilli leaped up to try to catch the ball, but somehow his glove came off and fell over the cf fence. I kept bugging my dad to please, let's go, I think I can reach his glove. It's probably in the parking lot.

As with most people, my first game was a day (evening) I'll never forget. The Mets were horrible those years. It didn't matter. I was at REAL game, I was with my dad and life couldn't be better.

This was the first grand slam I ever saw the Mets hit. Lee Mazzilli hit one in the bottom of the 8th on a 3-2 pitch. I was 9.

It was a very chilly night for July 4. It was a twi-night double-header, my Uncle Pete and I (he who gave me the gift of being a Mets fan) attended the game together. We sat in out usual seats, Section 3, mezzanine, behind the plate. I bet you they cost no more than seven bucks at the time.

I remember the first game vividly. The Mets loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth and the count went to 3-0 on Mazzilli. I remember turning to my Uncle and saying, "C'mon Maz, just take a pitch here." I'm cloudy as to if it was the 3-0 pitch he pulled out to Rightfield, but I am quite sure it was on a 3 ball count. It was always so vital to the psyche, to win the first game of a doubleheader. I can still see Lee Mazzilli with his fist up in the air as he circled the bases.

The second game the Mets lost late 3-2, and once again if memory serves correctly, none other than Tim McCarver had a big hit; I want to say a two run homer that was the difference in that game.

There were no fireworks after the game, I don't think the Grucci tradition had stsrted yet and or they had the fireworks on a different night.

Tim Cronin, the earlier memory of this game by Jim Konopacki is correct. It was actually the bottom of the eighth when Mazz hit the grand slam.

As for game two, it was Jose Cardenal--pinch hitting for Bud Harrelson--who hit a 2-run homer in the top of the ninth off Craig Swan to give the Phils the split.

My most notable memory of the first game of this July 4 (Independence Day) twi-night DH in the 1978 season was at its outset when a lady named Kathy Krems sang the "Star-Spangled Banner" at the outset, and boy, did she sing a high note late in the performance. She would also sing the "S.S.B." at the outset of the 1st game of the N.L.C.S. between the Astros and Phillies in Philadelphia at the conclusion of the 1980 season as she also delivered that same high note late in that performance. The Phillies would would that nail-biting N.L.C.S. 3 games to 2 and would go on the beat the Royals 4 games to 2 in the 77th World Series to become Major Leasgue Baseball's world champions for that 1980 season.

I remember this game was featured on ABC's Monday Night Baseball with Howard Cosell and Keith Jackson calling the game. Seemed so weird to see the Mets featured in a nationally televised game during those days. Another night another loss but at 12 years old I remained ever faithful.

This was the first baseball game my dad took me to when I was nine years old. I still have the ticket stub in a photo album. We were up in the loge section, and all the pics I took show the Mets and Phils as different colored ants. Bake McBride hit a lead off homer and I spent the remainder of the game watching the scoreboard and looking for the WOR-TV cameras.

Listened to this game on the car radio as our family was driving thru CT on the first day of Easter break. Chapman -- my new favorite player -- contributed a sac fly and a triple. Unfortunately, he then went into a 19 AB swoon and never became a regular again.

I will never forget this game. It was the one where Richie Hebner was thrown out at the plate, and argued with the umpire. He was ejected.

So he tossed dirt all over home plate and stumped off to the dugout. Joel Youngblood came in from right field to play third base, and Bruce Boisclair (Andrew and I always called him Bruce Boys-clare) jogged out to play right field. The Mets lost anyway.

I guess Hebner was happy to get the game off.

This was an Easter Sunday DH. My friend and I took the bus and walked over the Roosevelt Ave. Bridge as usual. In the upper deck a Phillies fan named Howie started talking to us. And he never stopped talking for 2 games. He was nuts but knew a lot about the Philly sports scene. He did a great Harry Kalas imitation. He really entertained us. We always looked for him again but never met up "Howie Phillie" again.

This was "Pete Rose Day" They gave out pictures of his record breaking hitting streak swing from the prior year at Shea.

This time the disgraced Rose was taunted by the Shea crowd. Most of the pictures got torn up and scattered on the field. There were loud chants of "Pete Rose Sucks"!!.

Easter Sunday. Cold drizzle through the whole doubleheader - Phillies in control the whole day. My brother and a friend of ours sat in the upper deck freezing until the last inning - naturally we missed 3 run homers by Schmidt and Mazzilli...also missed Easter Sunday dinner with the family, who forgave me. My friend I believe caught whoopass bronchitis or pneumonia and missed the next week of school - I think he also forgave me...don't know what happened to the Rose photos - but honoring an opposing player (a mere 6 years after he fisted Bud in the playoffs) while his team is sweeping a doubleheader, well, that just typified the late 70s era

My Dad, sister and I attended the double header. After the miserable conditions, Dad and I were ready to leave, but my sister insisted we stay until they announced the winner of the 60-pound Fanny Farmer chocolate bunny rabbit. Dad and I were not happy, but we stayed. Lo and behold my sister won that rabbit! Mom was watching the game and couldn't believe when she heard my sister's name called. Mom partitioned off that rabbit for my entire freshman year of baseball! Needless to say, we didn't stick around for the second game. We had to get the bunny home.

Having watched most of the first game of this doubleheader while relaxing in the whirlpool, a refreshed Richie Hebner started game two. He got a huge ovation for his "toughness" before his first atbat, and a huge round of boos after going 0-for-3.

He should have stood in bed.

This was my first baseball game. I was 8 years old and devoured every moment.

I remember listening to this game on the radio and hearing Bob Murphy tell the listeners that Thurman Munson had been killed that day. A few minutes later they posted it on the scoreboard. Murph described how the next Met batter, Lee Mazzilli, turned back towards the dugout to gain his composure, and Pete Rose turned around and stared up at the message on the scoreboard in disbelief. I'll never forget that.

I just turned 13 and had sent away enough Dairylea milk red caps (4 points) and cut out half gallons (2 points) so that I could see the Mets and Phillies at Shea. Game was not originally a doubleheader, so I was thrilled that this became a 5:35 p.m. twin-bill. Awesome. Unfortunately, that would be the day Thurman Munson was killed.

As Lee Mazzilli stepped to the plate I remember that the letters on the "Big" scoreboard were slowly coming up stating something about All-Star Yankee catcher... Thurman Munson.. was killed in a plane crash in Ohio... I remember thinking what the heck was he doing in Ohio? Wow. I mean I hated the Yankees and really disliked the arrogant Munson but the silence and shock was real. I remember that Mazzilli stepped out of the box to sort of catch his breath.

The game continued and Greg Luzinski pounded a HR and the Phillies won the first game. Dan Norman, the overrated prospect we received for Seaver, hit a HR for the Mets. Maybe the only good thing he ever did for us. The second game was delayed by rain but the Mets mercifully won that game. Unfortunately, I didn't see a lot of the second game because of the rain delays since I was due home, baseball or no baseball.

I'm a Yankee fan, but my best friend was a diehard Mets fan. He told me he attended this game, and witnessed a stunned silence as the scoreboard posted news about the death of Thurman Munson on the giant scoreboard.

I'm actually a Phillies fan and I stumbled across this site through a link from a discussion board while talking about the Bo Diaz grand slam game from 1983. Since this game was one of the most memorable from my youth I decided to share, though considering it's coming from a Phils fan perspective I'm hoping it won't offend anyone.

I was 12 years old when I attended this game at the Vet with my dad. As luck would have it, we ended up sitting right in front of 2 Mets fans who had made the trip down for the game. The Mets exploded for 6 runs very early and by the 4th inning were ahead 8-3. I remember feeling about as low as possible about the game and in my ears was the constant chatter of the Mets fans behind us. "See, that's why the Phillies always choke. They have no pitching. They have a fat leftfielder. Their third baseman is overrated" and so on and so on.

When the Phils scored 4 in the fifth to tie the game at 8 they had basically quieted down other than the occasional derisive comment about the Mets bullpen. Keith Moreland put the Phils in front 10-8 with a pinch hit 2 run double in the 8th and later that same inning Mike Schmidt, the overrated third baseman, iced the game with a grand slam, his second homer of the game.

As that homer cleared the fence our Met fan friends were up and on their way to the tunnel and my dad and I only stopped screaming at the top of our lungs long enough to wish them a nice trip home. Times like that are what makes you love sports. Again, great site and thanks for letting me share my memory.

Mark Bomback picked up his first major league win in this game. It was his first start for the Mets and his second major league start overall (he had started one game in September 1979 for the Brewers). Mark had also relieved in three games for the Mets before making this start.

Bomback allowed one run and eight hits over seven innings at the Vet against the soon-to-be World Champion Phillies. Mike Schmidt had two hits and a walk off Bomback.

The Phils had two outs and nobody on in the bottom of the ninth with Ed Glynn on the mound for New York but then Garry Maddox doubled and Schmidt walked. Jeff Reardon came in to try to get the save but first he walked Greg Luzinski to load the bases. The Phillies had no bench players left so they sent up pitcher Randy Lerch to bat for pitcher Dickie Noles. Lerch at that point in his career had a lifetime average of .199 with nine doubles and four home runs in less than 200 at bats. But Reardon struck him out and the Mets, despite being outhit 12-7, won the game, 3-2.

In his third major league start--and second for the Mets--Mark Bomback pitched a two-hit shutout against the eventual World Champion Phillies. It was the only shutout of Bomback's career.

Mike Schmidt had a leadoff single in the second for the Phils, and Garry Maddox had a leadoff single in the seventh. Bomback also walked six batters in the game.

Randy Lerch gave up just one run and four hits in seven innings but was tagged with the loss. Dan Norman had an RBI single in the fourth, and the second Mets run scored on a Larry Bowa error in the eighth.

Pete Falcone struck out the first six batters in this game, which tied a major league record at the time. He handled the Phillies' big hitters with ease, but lost on a home run by light-hitting Luis Aguayo.

I was at this game, and I remember Aguayo's home run. It barely made it over the left field fence. Dan Norman leaped but he couldn't catch it.

I remember this year well, I thought the Mets had finally turned the corner, they came into the game with a 56 - 57 record. The Phillies demolished the Mets and the team was'nt the same all year, finishing 11 - 38.

My first Mets game ever. I got Bob Apodaca's autograph.

I recall being so excited that they could be a ahead of the Phillies after this series... and then, not so much.

We went to this game for Marc's 12th birthday with Matthew Hershkowitz, he now lives in FLA. Manny Trillo hit a HR and it took a long time to get out of parking lot that night.

I was 17 at Shea and the Mets could pull ahead of the Phillies with a sweep. There was this feeling that we had finally turned the corner and were going to be competitive again. New owners too! Well... I remember watching John Pacella get completely rocked and his hat would fall off on almost every follow through. We completely fell apart as a team. Another one of those sad Mets fans moments - thinking....our pitcher not only is awful but he can't even keep his hat on his head! Dream over again.

After flirting with .500 and maybe even competitiveness if not actual contention for most of the season, the Mets drop both ends of a double-header to the Phillies capping a five game sweep. I was there, in the upper deck with my pal Eddie, where we drowned our sorrows in a box full of Twinkies. The magic was gone.

After staying within 1 game of .500 into mid- August and still within striking distance, they got clobbered 5 straight by the eventual champs, the Phillies, thereby putting the nails into their coffin and ending any hope they had for 1980. But after 3 miserable seasons in the late 70s, this stretch during June through mid-August under new ownership was a glimmer of hope for the future.

God, I remember this game well. It was memorial day, 1981. I was 8. I remember Kong hitting a grand slam and the Mets jumping out early. I remember the 13-3 final. It was the first time I was really aware of what was going on at a baseball game. The sights, sounds, the scoreboard, and yes, the Grand Slam, all made for a great afternoon at Shea.

Not only was it a great Memorial day win for the Mets with a Dave Kingman grand slam, but while sitting on the first base side in the mezzanine, I caught my first (and only) foul ball. It was off the bat of future hall-of-famer Mike Schmidt.

My son, Neil, was born near the end of the game on May 25, 1981. I was watching the game with the delivering doctor in the doctor waiting room in the maternity ward. The doctor tried to delay the delivery until the end of the game, but finally had to do it during the 7th inning sretch. I guess Neil, an avid Mets fan, wanted to watch the Mets win in person.

Watched the game in my family's apartment on a black and white tv (we didn't have the money for a color set) on a sunny Memorial Day off from school as we ordered pizza and watched Kingman hit a grand salami off the defending world champions.

After this game, Doug Flynn was still hitting .300 on the season! He would proceed to go 9-100, which has to be one of the most epic streaks of hitting futility by a position player. Ever. Seriously, how many non-pitchers have had fewer hits over a 100-AB span? But dude hit .300 for two months from the 8-hole. You try it.

Mike Schmidt's third inning home run off Mike Scott was the 300th of Schmidt's career. Schmidt wound up hitting 31 homers and driving in 91 runs in just 102 games in the strike shortened 1981 season. At that pace he would have finished with close to 50 homers and 150 RBIs had the season been 162 games long.

Schmidt also led the league in runs scored, walks, on base percentage, and slugging percentage as he won his second straight MVP award.

It was my first game ever. I was 11 years old. I myself was not a Met fan but my dad was a die hard Met fan, I guess left over from the Brooklyn Dodgers... I wanted to go to a Yankees game, but no way would my father be caught dead at Yankee Stadium, "So if you wanted to see a game up close it has to be the Mets" so we went. However I wore my Yankees uniform but wore a Met hat it was cap day. Yes my dad and his friend were steaming mad and somewhere in the box seats behind 3rd base sat a little boy in a Yankees uniform and Mets cap #goNY. NY.

This was supposed to be a 3-game opening series but because of the freak April blizzard that hit the Northeast and Midwest; it became a one-game series and the temperature that Holy Thursday Afternoon at the Vet was more fitting for Christmas Caroling than playing the Summer Game. The game was on Ch. 9 and I stayed home from school to watch the game. Because Mother Nature threw a curveball at us, we had to make up the games in late June henceforth the lost weekend when the Phillies swept a 5-game series from us and turned a promising season into a train wreck.

I remember watching this game before I went to a Rangers/Flyers playoff game at the Garden. I remember one of the ushers there was excited that the Mets won.

The home opener. George Foster's debut in NYC. Joining forces with Kong and Rusty. There was real excitement in the stadium. It drizzled the whole day. The game wasn't very memorable. I'm shocked to see that Randy Jones actually WON a game while with the Mets!

This was a memorable sports day. Not only was it my first time attending a home opener. The same night, I am glued to the radio (no cable) as my 2-time Stanley Cup Champions narrowly avoid first round elimination to the Penguins, thanks to the heroics of John Tonneli.

After the Mets scored in the eighth to tie the game at 3-3, Charlie Puleo gave up the go-ahead run in the twelfth. But a John Stearns double, an infield out, and a Sid Monge wild pitch gave the Mets new life in the bottom of the twelfth.

Unfortunately, Puleo ran out of gas in the thirteenth and loaded the bases with one out. A force play got the lead run home and then Luis Aguayo put the game out of reach with a three-run homer.

The start of a series the Phillies were calling "Challenge Weekend", featuring 2 doubleheaders, 5 games in all. Pete Falcone pitches great but walks Bill Robinson with the bases loaded in the Phillies' final turn at bat in the first game to lose 1-0, and the overmatched Mets go on to lose all 5 games of the series. Veterans Stadium was always a house of horrors for the Mets, and this weekend may have been right at the top of the list.

It was my first date with my future wife, I’m so happy she said yes when I asked her to go... still together 37 years later and still big Phillies fans.

This was awful. I remember being completely sick with a virus, in misery on the couch watching the equally ill Mets lose five games in 48 hours to the Phillies, which effectively wrecked our season. Closer Neil Allen hurt himself afterwards and it was all downhill from here.

I am stunned that no one commented on this game. This is Terry Leach's finest moment. He pitched subpar all year that year but showed us how good he can pitch by pitching a 10 inning 1 hitter. This may never be done again the way baseball is currently. Pete Rose called Terry Leach one of the toughest pitchers he has ever faced and we gave him away twice.

I used to go to the Mets home opener every year. In 1983, there were some ominous weather forecasts, but on the morning of the game the sky was bright blue over Manhattan. I was very relieved, because this was an Opening Day that I was especially looking forward to. It was the day that Tom Seaver returned to the Mets after 5½ years in Cincinnati.

It was a duel of future Hall of Famers. Steve Carlton was pitching for the Phillies. And Pete Rose was in the starting lineup for the Phils as well. I remember when Seaver came in from the bullpen to start the game, the crowd was going absolutely wild. I had field level seats on the first base side, and Seaver jogged right past me. He didn't acknowledge the crowd. He was focused, as he always was, on the game ahead of him. He didn't give up a run in the game, but he was no longer in the game when the winning run scored, so a then-obscure pitcher named Doug Sisk ended up getting the win. It was a great day at Shea. Too bad Seaver's return only lasted one season.

I remember being a senior in high school and my friend, Eric and I cut class and went to the game. We had to buy general admission tickets and sat in the upper deck. I still remember the huge Welcome Home, Tom! banner. What a great day!

This was Tom Seaver's return to the Mets. I was in the Mezzanine level out in left field. When Seaver walked from the bullpen to the dugout through rightfield after warming up, the stadium erupted like I had never heard before. That moment is in my top three Mets moments. Then.. when he struck out Pete Rose to start the game...you just had to be there.

What a glorious day. The weather was beautiful and it was a chance for all of us to feel like kids again having Tom Seaver start on Opening Day. And no movie could have had a better script than to have Seaver fan Rose (swinging) to start the game.

Just a young teen at the time, I was sitting down the right field line in pretty good seats. Neil Allen threw a batting practice ball to us in the stands, and my friend James caught it. When Seaver walked in from the bullpen, we went wild. Great day for baseball, and a Mets win. What a game to be at for a kid- Seaver's return, Carlton going for the Phils, and numerous 'Rose Sucks' chants from the crowd in the honor of Buddy H.

I was at the game and remember Seaver walking from the pen to the dugout and the crowd going wild and the "Rose Blows" chants. I also recall Mike Schmidt getting hurt running to first that afternoon.

The Franchise came home at last!! I was way out in right in the field boxes. When Seaver walked in from the bullpen it sent chills up my spine. The place went nuts, obviously, and no one felt the cold. The only topper would have been for Seaver to get the W, which went to Dangerous Doug Sisk instead (although, to be fair, Mr. Sisk had not yet earned the wrath of the Shea faithful and pitched well for two years).

Tom Seaver's return to the Mets in this game was a little reminiscent of his first appearance as a rookie. He pitched six innings and got a no-decision in a victory over the Phillies with the pitcher of record being reliever Doug Sisk. In Seaver's debut back in 1967, he also lasted into the sixth inning of a Mets victory with the win going to someone out of the bullpen. Chuck Estrada was the beneficiary as the Mets defeated the Pirates that day. The win for Sisk here was his first one as a major leaguer. For Estrada, it was his final major league win that he got when he took over for Tom in the game from sixteen years earlier. Also, both games were played at Shea Stadium against Pennsylvania-based teams. It was quite a case of deja vu with Seaver reaching the top of the sixth and relief pitchers getting the first and last wins of their own respective careers.

Oh, and let's not forget about Mike Howard! He got the run-scoring single that put the Mets ahead to stay. This turned out to be Howard's final major league game.

Born in Easton, Pa as was Frank Pulli the umpire. Got a call from a friend he had two tickets for opening day at Shea. He said don't worry about money, as long as we get Frank to the game on time we're good. I was like what? I never met Frank before but as I remember the car ride and conversation on the way up to New York and back it was like talking to your uncle. What a great guy. Frank got us parking right next to the stadium and seats behind home plate! I'll never forget that! Thanks to my good friend Dave and Frank.

My friend Darren and I attended this game. We paid general admission, only $2.00 if memory serves me right.

My friend Lenny and I went to John Adams H.S. in Queens, we bought field box tickets from a classmate that couldn't go to the game. Lenny and I cut class and hopped the E and 7 trains to Shea. I remember Danny Heep hitting a home run and thinking this guy may be a steal for the Mets. We dealt them the dime a dozen Mike Scott. Little did we know.

I will never forget this game. I didn't have cable TV back then. I was 13 years old listening on an old crummy radio 1050 WHN New York Mets country. I went to bed at 10 pm because I had school the next day. The Mets were up 9-3 then next day when I snuck out of St. Luke's School on lunch time to buy my onion rings snacks at the corner store I will never forget the back page of the New York Post "Disaster in Philly." I was shocked stunned and in disbelief even at that young age, a sign of things to come.

This was an unforgettable game for me as well. I too, was 13 and listening on the radio, except I stayed up until the bitter end.

For some reason my favorite Mets have always been the unsung utility players. Imagine my delirium when Bob Bailor hit a rare home run, followed by Kingman going deep! Of course Neil Allen blew it, giving up a grand slam to Bo Diaz in the ninth.

Eight years later I was an aspiring sportscaster at Syracuse University and the manager of the Syracuse Chiefs (Toronto AAA) was none other than Bob Bailor. I was doing a feature on the team, but at the end couldn't resist asking him about the game. I brought it up by saying something like "I don't know if you remember this game against the Phillies, you and Kingman--" when he blurted out "BO DIAZ!" Guess a lot of folks remember this one.

This game will probably be remembered by many New York Mets fans as the worst loss in Mets history. It could easily be compared to the 1978 Philadelphia Eagles-New York Giants football game , a.k.a. "THE FUMBLE". But Neil Allen, blowing a 3 run lead in the 9th, set the stage for one of the greatest trades in Mets history. Can you guess?

That's right! Keith Hernandez was acquired a two months later for Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey. Just think, if Neil Allen never gave up that grand slam to Bo Diaz, who knows! Thanks Neil!

I remember this game like it was only yesterday. I was there that day in Philly, sitting in the right field area where the bullpen is. Almost caught Kingman's home run ball; it fell only inches short of my outstreched arms. Bob Bailor hit one right before Kingman's in the same area. Mike Schmidt hammered one way over my head into the lower deck.

I myself take blame for this loss and I'll tell you why: it was about the 7th inning and Neil Allen starts to throw in the Mets bullpen. So I am sitting right over the area where the bullpen is. I start yelling to Neil to throw the ball up. "Hey Neil, throw the ball up!" I kept yelling this at him for like twenty minutes; I wanted him to look up and throw the ball to me. "Hey Neil, throw the ball up! Throw it up!

Then he gets in the game and gives up grand slam to Bo Diaz. A Philly fan runs up to me and says, "Yeah, dude, he threw the ball up as in grand-slam!"

I will never forget this game as long as I live.

A footnote in this game is that future Met first base coach and hitting instructor, Bill Robinson walked in a run against Jesse Orosco, before they brought in Neil Allen to face Diaz.

In the first game of a Sunday doubleheader at Shea, Rusty Staub leads off the ninth inning batting for Junior Ortiz and singles to center. It is Staub's eighth straight base hit as a pinch- hitter...a streak that negan June 11 against Montreal.

That streak tied Dave Philley for the all-time record. Philley actually had nine stright pinch hits but the first eight were at the end of the 1958 season and the ninth was on Opening Day of 1959.

I attend this game with my buddy Eric. This was a twi-night and we drove from my Grandmother's house, where we spending the weekend. I clearly remember the Mets rallying to tie the game at 5, only to lose in bottom of ninth on a botched rundown play after Bob Dernier led off with a triple and the Phils tried to squeeze. Junior Ortiz or Ron Hodges threw the ball over Hubie Brooks' head.

The Mets lost game one of theis doubleheader when Bob Dernier led off the ninth with a single, went to second on a sac bunt by Pete Rose, and then with two outs after Mike Schmidt was intentionally walked, Schmidt was caught off first base. But Keith Hernandez threw the ball away trying to get Dernier and the Phillies won it, 6-5.

Also in this game, Dave Kingman, who all but disappeared and became just an occasional pinch-hitter once the Mets got Keith Hernandez in June, hit a pinch 2-run homer late in the game. It was his last home run as a Met. He would barely play the rest of the season.

Ron Darling's major league debut. He gave up only one run on a walk, groundout and two balks!

I went to this game because I had heard about Ronnie. There was maybe 5000 fans there and he didn't pitch a bad game.

Mike Fitzgerald got his first major league home run off Tony Ghelfi. I remember watching and thinking what hopes we had for him. And it kinda worked out, since he was part of the Gary Carter package.

If memory serves me right, this was the night I was at Shea when Dick Tidrow received a standing ovation - for throwing a strike after two consecutive four-pitch walks.

A great walk-off victory for the Mets. The winning run was scored on Ross Jones' double in the bottom of the ninth inning that drove home Hubie Brooks. This was Jones' first hit of his major league career. It was also his only hit as a Met.

It was "Strawberry Sunday." I was at this game with my step-son. Darryl received his Rookie of the Year award and the Phillies made about 6 errors.

This game marked Jerry Koosman's return to the mound at Shea Stadium for the first time since 1978. The crowd went nuts at his introduction, but the Mets beat the 42-year old southpaw.

It was Strawberry Sunday and Darryl thanked 'my 25 teammates' which I thought was funny because he had just 24.

The New York Post compared Walt Terrell's stats to Tom Seaver's after this game thinking that Walt was an ace after his 3-1 start.

Dwight Gooden struck out 16 batters in this game giving him 32 strikeouts in his last two starts, tying a major league record. It was also his fifth consecutive start with ten or more strikeouts.

Unfortunately Doc lost this game when he gave up a single to Phillies pitcher Shane Rawley in the bottom of the eighth and then two batters later with Rawley at third, Gooden balked him home.

The Mets had just five hits and a walk in the game, and three Mets runners were caught stealing.

I remember my dad and I absolutely steaming after this game. Gooden was pitching one of the best games of his career and to lose a game as such.

I was a senior in H.S. that year living in the Philly 'burbs and "called in sick" for school that day. My incredible dad came home with two tickets for this game and lo and behold, I felt much better! We both donned Mets caps and settled in down the third base line, in between third and left field. Philly fans were giving LF Jerry Martin a hard time for his off field indiscretions and I had to yell at Jerry to not listen. I forget if it was the sixth or seventh inning when Darryl Strawberry stepped up to bat and I looked over to dad and said, "It'd be nice if he hit a homer right about now." Next pitch, as if on cue, Darryl hit one of the most titanic moon shots I've ever seen. One of the best memories of that year for me.

Actually, Zososcott, you memory left out one little detail: the home run by Straw came in the TOP OF THE NINTH WITH TWO OUTS...and it broke a 5- 5 tie to give the Mets an 8-5 win!

The Mets were down 5-2 in this game but scored three in the top of the seventh on a bases- clearing double by Mookie.

Then in the ninth, Rusty Staub singled to lead off. Wally Backman bunted pinch-runner Ron Gardenhire to second, and Mookie was intentionally walked. Lefty Al Holland came in and got Keith Hernandez to ground out as the runners moved up. Strawberry homered, his 23rd of the year, to give the Mets the win. The Cubs lost that night but the Mets were eight games out with just ten to play.

Rusty Staub became the only player besides Ty Cobb to have homered as a teenager and after the age of 40 this night when he connected for the game-ending pinch home run off Larry Anderson.

This game is the reason I became a Met fan. My father came home from work and said he got tickets to the Met game. We were about three rows from thrid base. I remember Rusty Staub coming to the plate as a pinch hitter and hitting this monster shot over the right field wall to win the game. It was my first Major Leauge Baseball game and I have been a Met fan ever since. I was 9 years old.

This was the game that clinched second place. I remember leaving Shea chanting "we're no. 2" which felt pretty cool given the previous 11 seasons. Staub and Kranepool remain my favorite Met position players.

After being eliminated from the divisional race one night earlier, the Mets clinched second place in the National League East with their win in this game. It was the first time the team ever finished a season in that position in the standings. Rusty Staub's pinch-hit homer capped off a four-run ninth inning for the victory.

The Mets' first run in the ninth came on Mookie Wilson's triple off Tug McGraw that drove home Hubie Brooks. This was the last pitch that Tug ever threw in his major league career.

I was there, it was something of an interesting game because the opposing pitcher was Jerry Koosman. But if anyone remembers, some of the players came on the field before the game holding signs. I could not see what was on them. Does anyone know?

On a Friday night at the Vet, Dwight Gooden and Steve Carlton give vintage performances. Carlton pitches seven innings of two-hit ball and is perfect for the first four innings. Doc goes eight innings, giving up just three hits. The Mets finally break through with two outs in the ninth when Keith Hernandez singles home pinch- hitter Wally Backman, and Jesse Orosco pitches a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth for the save.

All eight hits in this game were singles, and Doc improves to 2-0 at the start of his signature season.

I drove from Long Island to Philly for this game and had to pick someone up after work on Friday in Jersey City. I got lost so we got a late start down the Turnpike. The game went so fast we couldn't believe it. We got there in the bottom of the 8th inning. We saw Gooden pitch the 8th and got the win. We saw Orosco pitch the 9th and get the save. And we saw the Mets get the only run in the 9th to win 1-0. So in the 15 minutes were were there, we saw everything we had hoped to see. Then turned around and drove home.

Gooden was absolutely dominant in this game. He made a hall of fame 3rd baseman look completely lost and helpless at the plate in one particular at bat in the middle innings I believe.

This was the first game I ever went to -- ok, the first Mets game. The previous month my Dad had taken me to Yankee Stadium to see the Yanks play Texas; this, at the age of 5, was my first of many visits to Shea. Before the game Juan Samuel of the Phillies signed an autograph for me, and I remember my Dad's excitement after the game at the young combination of Fernandez and McDowell combining for the shutout. Of course, what I remember most was my hero, Strawberry, breaking his thumb making a sliding catch in rightfield.

This game, arguably, cost the Mets the division in 1985. Losing Darryl Strawberry for 6 weeks let the Cardinals right back in the race.

Sadly, the game that probably cost the Mets a playoff spot in 1985, despite the win. Straw breaks his thumb diving for a ball and the Mets play very average-below average ball for the next 6 weeks in his absence. (Though to his credit, Danny Heep did not play badly while filling in.) But the absence of Straw was a huge blow.

I remember Von Hayes hitting 2 homers in the 1st inning, one of them off Tom Gorman. That was miserable. 9 runs in the 1st and 7 in the 2nd innings. I remember the announcers, I believe Tim McCarver, talked about how important it was for the Mets to come back the next day, and forget about this disaster. The next day, they won 7-3. I will never forget that....Von Hayes!

All I can remember is it was 16-0 after two innings and Von Hayes had hit two home runs in one inning. Amazing that this, the worst defeat in Mets history (I think), came only one year prior to a championship.

Unforgettable game, for the wrong reasons. Tom Gorman was an emergency starter...someone else (Darling?) couldn't go at the last minute. Gorman didn't last long, and neither did the Mets.

The next day, Jeff Herbst, a Yankees fan, said to me, "Twenty-six to seven?" I said, "Shut up. They're going to win the World Series next year." Herbst said, "No way. They'd need someone to make a really bonehead error for that to happen."

strange but true trivia: both Schiraldi and Sambito who each gave up double-digit runs in this game, would pitch against the Mets for the Red Sox in game #7 of the '86 World Series.

Von Hayes this night became the first player in major league history to hit two home runs in the first inning.

I've always remembered this game, and it came back in my memory after reading about the Marlins' huge loss to the Red Sox, where Boston scored 14 runs in the first inning and won 25-8.

Back in 1985, I remember reading the stories about the game, and the Mets players talking about it being the worst loss they experienced since Little League, and the like. Unlike today, they didn't whine about Philadelphia running up the score. I mean, 26-7 wasn't just a whuppin', it was a bad whuppin'.

It could happen to any team, I guess, and it just goes to show what a weird game baseball is. The next game starts at 0-0, and you just go out there and play again.

1985 was a good year for the Mets, and 1986 was better. Bad games happen, but in a 162-game season, you just have to put it behind you.

Tom Gorman - a lefty who had "nothing". He was so bad the players sarcastically nicknamed him Gorfax, as in Koufax. Gorman gave up the incredible tying homer to pitcher Rick Camp of the Braves less than a month later in extra innings of the memorable July 4th-5th game the Mets eventually won 16-13.

Von Hayes was nicknamed "5 for 1". The Phillies sent five prospects including a young Julio Franco (yes, the very same) to the Tribe for this talented outfielder. Hayes had himself quite the night blasting a few first inning home runs and passing for 235 yards in the 26-7 win. Guess the Philly placekicker missed 2 extra points. What a blowout.

I was at the Vet. Life-long Mets fans, we had graduated college a few weeks before, and stayed in town. We were thrilled to get field box seats, too; 200 level on the first base side, a few rows behind the dugout. Hostile crowd; Phillies were a shadow of their pennant winners in 1980 and 1983; Mets were putting together a winning team and were up in the standings.

A couple Mets runners in the first with no results. Von Hayes leads off the bottom of the first with a home run and bats again in the inning, hitting a grand slam. 16-0 after 2 innings and it was over; Hernandez and Carter were pulled in the third. Phils pitcher Charlie Hayes barely lasts the minimum 5 innings to get the win, getting booed off the mound as he closes out the 5th having given up 7 runs with the hugest of cushions. Phils add another 10 in the late innings for good measure.

We stayed proud in our seats until the last out, with more than a few empty beer cups at our feet. The game still holds Mets records for earned runs (24) and hits allowed (27), in a game of any duration.

My area didn't have cable in '85 so I had to listen to this disaster on WHN 1050. A Mets game that was Marcia Brady smiling with Braces "UGLY"!

A bunch of friends joined me on a trip to Philly to celebrate my 21st Birthday! Gee thanks, Mets. Schiraldi and Sambito each giving up 10 runs as a reliever? That can't happen again in ML history.

The weirdest thing is that every year on my birthday, I have to read in the paper "This date in baseball history", and its always 1985 and Von Hayes and 26-7. Always makes the cake taste sour!!!

Brutal, just brutal.

I recall Bob Murphy ending his call of the game by saying "The damn game is over!" Everybody remembers his "They win the damn thing" comment but not this one, perhaps because I may have been the only person still listening on radio.

At the end of the game the Met announcers had to state the turning point of the game as part of a radio contest. Gary Thorrne said the turning point of the game was the "National Anthem". Sad but true.

The Daily News headline the next day was: PHILS DESTROY METS. That's a rare verb to put into a headline, even for the News.

Thankfully for myself, I did not tune in to this horrifying event. It was played on the same night as the championship game of the College World Series in Omaha, which is what I chose to see instead. But right after the University of Miami defeated Texas to clinch the national title, I switched channels to check in on the Mets. The sixth inning had just been completed and a 22-7 score in favor of the Phillies appeared on the screen. I decided to just head off to bed and call it a night.

The leading Met killer in the game was Von Hayes, who homered twice in the first inning. Hayes' second home run was a grand slam off Calvin Schiraldi, who would give up a total of ten runs in an inning and a third! Schiraldi was a Texas pitcher who led his team to the CWS crown two years earlier. It was a bad night for both the Mets and the Longhorns.

This was a very frustrating loss on a hot, humid, breezeless Wednesday night at Shea. I was in my regular seat in Loge section six, row E.

Kevin Gross and Ron Darling were locked in a 0-0 pitcher's duel through six innings. Rick Schu drove in a run with a single in the seventh and then Kevin Gross drove in the insurance run in the ninth. The Mets came back to score one in the ninth but they should have at least tied it, and probably should have won it in their last at bat.

Gross walked Howard Johnson and pinch-hitter Rusty Staub to start the inning. Don Carman relieved Gross and pinch-hitter Ron Gardenhire bunted. Carman threw the ball away and a run scored. The tying run was at third and the winning run at second with nobody out. Tom Paciorek batted for Dykstra and was intentionally walked. But Wally Backman, who finished 1985 with a .122 batting average and a .212 on base percentage vs LHP, grounded into a force play at the plate, and then Keith Hernandez grounded into a 4-6-3 DP.

The Mets left eleven runners on base in the game. Eight Mets walked to go along with their six hits, but they only got the one run, and that was because of an error. The Mets had at least one baserunner in every inning except the fourth. They grounded into two double plays and also might have run themselves out of a big inning in the bottom of the first when Lenny Dykstra was caught stealing third base as Keith Hernandez struck out.

This was my first Met game. Carter went yard, Doc started out strong, but struggled in the later innings.

This was a Thursday afternoon game I attended with my two sisters. We sat in the back row of the loge level along the right field line. There was a guy in front of us who was celebrating his birthday - and he let everyone in that section know it, too.

In the first inning, the Mets got three home runs from Tom Paciorek, Gary Carter and Ray Knight. They all came off, of all people, Jerry Koosman. For Paciorek, it was his only homer as a Met.

Unfortunately, Dwight Gooden was not having one of his usual stellar '85 performances on this day. He gave up a long home run to Mike Schmidt that landed underneath the main scoreboard behind the right-center field wall. The Phillies were scoring in every inning against him. Doc lasted for only half the game and got a no-decision. Still, the Mets won with three runs in the eighth.

I remember getting very disgusted with the Phils' Glenn Wilson. In '85, he was a nemesis to the Mets with his continuous hot hitting against them. He was no different in this game, collecting three more hits.

One more thing I recall from this day is that it was the 20th anniversary of the famous Beatles concert at Shea. This event was commemorated on the DiamondVision screen between innings.

This game was the first date I ever had with a woman who is now my wife. I remember that before the game I told her how great this young pitcher for the Mets was.....his name was Dwight Gooden. We'll the game starts and the Mets hit 3 home runs in the first inning. Gooden has his worst start of the season and barely makes it through 5 innings. The Mets score late and eventually win. I also remember it was brutally hot that day and we had seats in the sun in right field. Walking to car after the game we were dying of thirst and I bought 2 freezing cold beers from some guys tailgating in the area. Still the best beer I ever drank. Still the favorite game I ever attended. Got my first kiss from my future wife later that day.

Doc was in complete control in this game, giving up only 2 hits, right in the middle of a month in which he didn't give up an earned run.

After a snowout in Pittsburgh, Darling had what was probably his worst start of the year in the 2nd game of the season. Though, we were able to see very early that Bobby Ojeda's stuff worked much better in the NL than against the AL teams, as he got his first win, this one in relief, as the offense scored 9 runs After this game, the Mets would lose 3 in a row, setting off a local firestorm with media and fans alike asking "what's wrong with the Mets". Certainly very funny to look back at that craziness.

After seeing Kiss at the Meadowlands the night before, I went to my first ever Mets game on the road. Yeah the Mets lost a tough one that day but as it turns out they were not going to lose a lot of them this year.

An NBC game of the week and probably the toughest loss the team would suffer all season. The Mets blew a 3 run 9th inning lead and a lead in the 14th to finally lose after a long afternoon as Randy Niemann couldn't seem to get anyone out. Also a sad note that this was the only game that Ed Lynch would appear in for the Mets in 1986, and he was eventually traded later in the season. After the game, a few Mets were quoted as saying that they hoped a loss like this won't come back to haunt them in September. Another one of those funny notes, looking back at a season like they had.

It was a cold April night. We needed a few hot chocolates to stay warm as we watched Carlton unravel in one of his last starts as a Phil.

Remember Milt Thompson hitting a liner that left the park within seconds.

Watched this one recently on the old tape. It's insane to think about now, but after Darling gave up 2 runs in the 1st inning, the Shea crowd booed the team off the field pretty loudly (the team was 2-3, and lost a very sloppy home opener just days before).

In the end, the guys scored 3 times off an aging Steve Carlton in the bottom of the 1st, the 1986 Mets never looked back and those boos minutes earlier are just a humorous footnote in Mets history.

I went to this game after suddenly deciding to go that morning. It was Calender Weekend at Shea and the weather was on the cool side.

When I got to the stadium, I bought my ticket (for the regular $8 value) from some people whose friend hadn't shown up. I sat with them in the back row of the loge level on the third base side - where the mezzanine overhang obstructed our view of the scoreboard!

Thankfully, the field was visable. We saw Dwight Gooden pitch a complete game. Gary Carter, who played left field for the first eight innings, drove home Kevin Mitchell with an RBI single that put the Mets ahead to stay. The win gave our guys a 4-3 record, putting them over .500 for good in a World Championship season.

My friend Joe convinced me to join with him and get a Saturday ticket plan. Our first game and a good omen. Enjoyed the championship season and 30 years later continue with the ticket plan. Hope this year will be a repeat.

Gary Carter made a rare start in LF on this afternoon as Barry Lyons made his big league debut, even drove in a run with a grounder.

The Mets would go over .500 with this win, and obviously never had to worry about that again. A note about this game, a number of highlights from this game later made their way into the "Year to Remember" season highlight video that so many fans bought after the year.

Sid Fernandez's only stolen base came in this game, a blowout of the Phillies in which he was in complete control.

This was an awsome game. Tim Tuefel just needed to hit a fly ball to win in the 11th and hits a Grand Slam! I remember the energy walking out of the stadium; we knew this was our year!

I was never a Tim Teufel fan...I'm still not sure he was that much of an upgrade over Kelvin Chapman. But Tim came through that night. I can remember McCarver's call "Fly ball...deep left field...its outta here...pinch-hit, grand-slam home run for Tim Teufel."

I watched this game on channel 9 and my only memory of it is what happened the next morning because I made a mistake I was never to repeat again. I went to bed before the game was over.

I look back on that and think, "What a stupid kid." What can I say? I was tired. I don't know why, but for some reason I went to bed and didn't listen to the game on the radio, which is what I usually did when my mom made me go to bed. But as I remember it, on June 10, 1986, I voluntarily went to bed and fell right asleep. Thrilling memory, I know.

But the thing is, the next morning, the moment I saw my dad, he said something like, "The Mets won! You missed a grand slam!" and I asked, "Who hit it?" and he said, "Tim Teufel!" and honestly, I had to think for a moment- trying to remember who Tim Teufel was because I didn't remember him since he never played, but then I remembered he was number 11, and I shocked because I considered him one of the worst Mets (along Randy Neimann and Doug Sisk) so I was shocked and I said "TIM TEUFEL?!" and he was like, "Yeah. You missed a great game," really rubbing it in that his son was a little pansy and went to bed early when he didn't have to.

I love any memory of my dad, so thank you Tim Teufel.

I never posted that memory before because it's not really about the game, but since only two people have posted about it (and no one since 2003), I decided to finally share a memory that has been burned into my brain since the morning of June 11, 1986.

Oh, and I did finally see the grand slam: on the 1986 Mets highlight film: A Year to Remember. I got the VHS for Christmas that year and played it so much I wore it out, so I've actually seen Tim Teufel hitting that grand slam about 275 times.

Steve Carlton's last game against the Mets. He lost and finished 30-36 against the Amazings.

I will always remember this game, because I was able to talk my wife into driving down to Philadelphia to see the Mets clinch. At first she resisted, until I promised her dinner at a fancy restaurant. (We ended up eating hot dogs at the Vet.) As it turned out most of the fans came down from NY, and my wife was interviewed by Ch 7 newsman John Johnson as to what made her come down to Philly. Her answer was (as she pointed at me) him in the METS shirt and cap. Because we did not clinch, I tried to talk her into staying over and going to the Sunday game. I struck out this time!

It was the only Mets game I EVER attended that the Mets was the visiting team. Veterans Stadium was 15 years old at the time; it looked like it was 150 and the turf had the color of a worn out billards table. Me, my cousin and my late brother (who was a fan of the Bronx team) drove down to Philly, got there 1 1/2 hours before game time and sat in the upper deck in right field (not too high up though). I remember all the Mets fans being there and knowing the reputation of Philly sports fans. During the game, the Philly PD started harassing Mets fans (this was the year after they bombed the MOVE HQ's) and my brother who had some adult liquid in him wanted to take on Philly's finest but I told him to sit down. After the game, which we lost 6-5 and didn't clinch, we're getting out of the parking lot which took forever, when all of a sudden right next to us were 2 gorgeous blondes in a Camaro with Delaware plates. I asked my cousin to dump my brother in Philly and we were gonna follow those ladies to Delaware. My bro overheard this and was pissed; we headed back to North Jersey anyway.

I remember buying tickets at the Ticketmaster in Macy’s the morning of the game. A Mets win would clinch the pennant, the Mets first in 13 years after many years of abject failure. This was the first time I ever drove a long distance and I very excited driving on Jersey Turnpike and seeing all that Met regalia worn by occupants of neighboring cars.

I had great seats right behind the plate in the 700 level. Watching the game in a park so different from Shea was a new experience for me and I actually was impressed with The Vet. The open air 700 level concourses were a lot less dirty, grimy and smelly than the lower concourses. Future Phil Lenny Dykstra knocked the first pitch of the game over the wall against future Met Mike Maddux, however the Mets would lose and wound up clinching several days later at Shea.

I do remember watching with binoculars scary activity in the right field seats. I was not just a regular ballpark fight; it was downright mini-riot pitting Mets fans with the Philadelphia Police.

My enduring memory of this game (I would have been 11 at the time) will always be the wild melee that broke out in the upper deck between a big group of Mets fans and a column of helmeted Philly PD officers. The crowd in the Vet that day had been pretty rowdy as I remember, and this one section of Mets fans started breaking seats and throwing the pieces onto the field. I’ll never forget watching a long column of cops emerge from the tunnel, clubs drawn, and head up into the offending section where they proceeded to beat those idiots from pillar to post. Particularly vivid to me is the image of one guy tumbling down the concrete steps. Wild scene, man.

My dad and uncle took me to this game, the only time I saw the Mets lose in person that year. In games I saw at Shea in 1986, they were 7-1. We sat in the mezzanine section along the right field foul line.

I was upset that the backups were playing and I clearly remember angrily booing Dave Magadan when he came up to bat. My uncle turned to me while I was booing and asked, seemingly annoyed, "Why are you booing?" I said "Because he's playing instead of Keith Hernandez," and he said something like, "That's not his fault." I understood my uncle's sentiment (he's only a rookie, give him a chance, blah blah blah), but I just HAD to voice my displeasure.

I always felt some kind of visceral discomfort every time Davey started the backups in 1986, especially if it was a game I attended. I felt cheated when Lenny, Wally, Keith, Gary, or Darryl didn't start. In this game, none of them started. It was kind of like the feeling when you're in the fourth grade, and you realize the girl you have a crush on is absent for the day.

This game's starting lineup had me really upset. Stan Jefferson batted first, followed by Tim Teufel and Dave Magadan. Danny Heep batted 5th, followed by Howard Johnson, Ed Hearn and Kevin Elster. At least Kevin Mitchell batted cleanup (starting in RF), but it wasn't enough and the Mets lost 4-3.

A quick look at the box score reveals that former Met Ronn Reynolds, one of the worst-hitting catchers of all time, started this game for the Phillies and got the game-winning RBI (a sixth inning single). That hit may be Ronn's career highlight, and I was there.

Besides booing Magadan from my seat in the mezzanine, I vaguely remember the aftermath. Walking down the exit ramp at Shea, I was stunned and silent after seeing the 1986 Mets lose in person.

It was a disorienting experience, especially since I didn't know about the concept of managers resting their regulars after clinching the division. I just thought Davey Johnson was being too nice by letting his benchwarmers play.

In one of only eight games he played with the 1986 Mets, John Gibbons was the starting catcher this day. He went 4-for-4: a single, two doubles, and the only homer of his 50-at-bat career.

Gibbons finished his career with eleven hits, and 36 percent of them came in this game!

My dad and uncle took me to this game, my 9th birthday.

John Gibbons and Stan Jefferson both hit their first major league home runs, and the future was looking bright indeed.

I was at this game sitting with my Dad near the right field foul pole in the Loge section (blue colored seats). Very chilly night!

The Von Hayes HR landed a few feet from me, never had a home run ball land that close to me.

Remembered the Jefferson HR as well; thought he and Shawn Abner would be our future fixtures in the outfield.

Five days after the Mets clinch the NL East, they are beaten by Phillies RHP Marvin Freeman, 7-1. Freeman allows just one hit in seven innings, a second inning triple by Darryl Strawberry, who scores the only Met run of the game on a passed ball.

It is the first of 35 career wins for Freeman, but the day is even more memorable for him because his daughter Paris was born on this day.

Betcha thought I'd mention my buddy David but at this point I'm 32, married and at the game with my third wife. (Don't ask.) Don Carman is throwing whiffle balls all night and a few rockets left the park. This was the first big year of the home run with 31 guys (or so) drilling 30 or more dingers. Guys like Wade Boggs (24) Larry Sheets (31) were hitting them out at will. At any rate, Ralphy Santana gets up late in the game and I said to my wife, "If he hits one out, we're outta here." Sure enough, the powerful Santana slams one into the night as we begin our exit to return home to Kew Garden Hills.

My 1st Mets game. Our school band director (a Mets fans since '62) surprised both me and my friend with tickets for that night's game. Don't even remember asking parents if it was OK to go.... :)

Great game to attend (almost 50,000 in attendance) for your 1st ever. Gooden pitched the whole game - coming off the WS win last year- I never thought for a second that the Mets wouldn't win.

Game was close all the way though - and when Gary Carter singles in the 9th and Dysktra (who pinch ran for him so I got to see him too - as well as Hernandez who also singled earlier in the game) got to 3rd base with 1 out...and just waited for McReynolds to come up and to hit a fly ball so he could tag up and win the game - I will always remember thinking "So this is how every game should be"

- 32 years later; I learned long ago; and after many games attended since; how genuinely youthful that feeling was.... and what I wouldn't give to feel that way again about our beloved Mets.

Great site here - thank you for allowing me to share.

Sports Illustrated did an issue called "One Day In Baseball" where they covered every MLB game played on June 21, 1987. They did a profile of Gary Carter from waking up to going to Shea (he didn't play) to having dinner with wife Sandy and the kids. I still have that issue and it covers everyone from Wally the Beerman at the Metrodome to then Orioles announcer Jon Miller to umpire Frank Pulli behind the plate for the Dodgers- Astros to the famous Fenway Park scoreboard.

Terry Leach continued his amazing 1987 season, improving to 6-0 on this NBC game of the week. He was in complete control all afternoon, with Philly barely hitting any balls hard. Orosco and McDowell were not at their best in relief, but held on for the win after a major rally fell short

This game was a true indicator of how this frustrating season would go.

The Mets had a 4-0 lead going to the bottom of the eighth at the Vet and Ron Darling had not allowed a hit through seven innings. But Greg Gross led off with a triple followed by a single by Juan Samuel, and by the time the Phillies were retired it was 4-3 Mets and Darling was out of the game.

In the ninth with one out, Roger McDowell gave up three straight singles to tie the game and then with two outs, Mike Schmidt singled in the winning run and the Mets lost 5-4.

The loss dropped the Mets to 39-34 and they trailed the first place Cardinals by 6.5 games.

Darryl Strawberry, if my research is correct, won this game by hitting a titanic homer off Kent Tekulve that hit high on the NL out of town scoreboard at Shea.

I remember the home run because it was a rocket, hit with a chillingly perfect swing. Tekulve was a couple of years removed from his days as a top notch closer and the side-arming righty vs. the power hitting lefty was a bad matchup for the Phillies.

Can't find another instance where Straw homered in a post-Pirates Tekulve appearance, so this must be the place.

Andy from Chicago......I'm sorry but Keith's homer won this game in extra innings, not Strawberry's. It was Keith's only game ending homer as a Met.

Looking back, probably the high point of the 1987 season. As the Mets scored 11 times in the last 3 innings to beat the Phillies. Strawberry was on fire with 2 homers and the team was red hot going into the biggest series of the season with the Cardinals...

I was listening on the radio and tearing my hair out. This, I believe, was the game in which the Mets were oficially eliminated, thanks to a 10th inning HR by the immortal LUIS %$^@#$^!^AGUAYO!!!

After I got home from school this day I saw a certified US Mail envelope sitting on the table. What was in this envelope-1987 Mets playoffs and World Series tickets that I sent in money for at the beginning of September.

After Luis Aquayo went deep in the 10th for a walk off home run, I knew those tickets would never be used. The Cardinals had to lose the next night and we then had to sweep the final weekend series to force a 1 game playoff which would have been at Shea. Mets had won the coin toss for that. That never happened, so the tickets became phantom souveniers.

If there were wild cards then, this game would have just been a tune up for the playoffs. Mets would have clinched already under that format.

I am so happy I found this site. This game still tears at after all these years. I think this loss may have been just as bad for me to swallow as the infamous Terry Pendelton HR game that same year.

Just watched this one recently. In the 6th inning, Strawberry almost hit his 2nd homer of the game. A shot down the left field line that went foul by about an inch and a half, at worst.

Strange to think if that ball had just stayed fair, the Mets win this game (it would have put them ahead 5-3, and Aguayo's homer never gets a chance to happen in extras. Then, the last series in St Louis becomes as meaningful as possible, as the Mets would have gone into Friday being only 3 games back with 3 to play. (I know they lost the Friday Cardinals game, but they played almost all backups since the game meant nothing).

Baseball truly is a game of inches sometimes.

It was Gary Carter's 34th birthday. He was 3-for- 3...a single, double, and a homer, plus a walk. Then to top it off, Carter was tagged out for the last out of the game by Phillies SS Steve Jeltz on a hidden ball trick!

The only time Mookie hit two home runs in a game with the Mets.

I remember going to this game with my parents and best friend Jimmy. We had box seats from our friend Murray, right along the first base line. I was 7 years old and began learning how to keep score for the first time that night. Jimmy was already a pro thanks to his Strat-O-Matic baseball games with his dad, so he was teaching me how to do it.

My clearest memories of Shea that night are that Terry Leach got rocked so bad that he threw his glove into the crowd in frustration when he was pulled from the game, and it was extremely cold in the later innings. People around us had blankets, but my mom was freezing and lamenting the fact that she only brought a denim jacket.

I was also fairly confident that Bob Ojeda pitched. By searching this outstanding database with the few clues I had (e.g., night game early in the '88 season), I was able to pinpoint this specific game. Thanks so much UltimateMets.com for providing such a wonderful resource for true Met fans!

Mike Schmidt slugged a solo homer against Dwight Gooden with one out in the top of the fourth inning of this game. It was Schmidt's 536th career home run, tying him with Mickey Mantle on the all-time list. Schmidt would go nearly a month before passing Mantle with a homer off ex-Met Mike Scott on July 14th at Philadelphia.

I belong to an a capella singing group, The Metrognomes, and we sang the national anthem before this game; this would be a huge thrill for any Mets fan. David Cone went on to toss 7 2/3 perfect innings before yielding an infield hit on a slow roller up the 3B line.

Just an addendum to Stu's earlier note on this game: Cone had a no-hitter for 7.2 innings, but it was not a perfect game. He walked Steve Jeltz in the third inning, and he hit Phil Bradley with a pitch in the top of the eighth. Two batters later, Jeltz broke up the no-hitter with a clean single to center.

Milt Thompson then singled with one out in the ninth to turn the one-hitter into a two-hitter. Coney struck out seven and improved to 8-1.

This was one of David Cone's finest games in his best season as a Met. He just stifled the Phillies all day, not allowing a hit until the eighth inning and fanning leadoff hitter Juan Samuel for three of his seven strikeouts. Home runs by Kevin McReynolds and Darryl Strawberry gave Cone more than enough run support for his eighth victory of the year. In the 21st century, this game would acquire a bit of historical significance for the Mets. It was played on the same day that Jacob deGrom was born.

Gooden missed out on a complete game in this game due to a sudden rain delay in the 9th inning. As it is, he only went 8 but the Mets had a comfortable win against Philly.

Went to the game hoping the Mets would clinch as I did in 86. The Mets needed to win and the Pirates lose to clinch. However, no one knew in the stadium what the Pirates were doing because the out of town games were not listed on scoreboard and the radio broadcast would not announce the score of the Pirate game.

There was a riot cop in every aisle and mounted police came on to the field as soon as the game was over.

My brother and I got tickets for this game at the last minute. I remember our seats were in the upper deck, and all through the top of the 9th inning, people were stomping and chanting "BEAT L.A.!!! BEAT L.A.!!!" so hard that the stadium was shaking.

This was an awesome game as the Mets clinched the NL East. I took my girlfriend (now wife) to a few games that season and she had never seen a major league game before 1988. She was with me to witness the clincher. Fans DID chant "beat LA" and "SWEEP" as we walked down the ramp from the Mezzanine and out in the parking lot where it was crazy! Fans were on top of cars and a few had crushed roofs. We drank Champagne and snapped photos with other MET fans and had a blast. With all the celebrating I only remember Darling pitched a complete game gem but not too much else about the game. Too much Andre Brut!

I was at this game in my season seat Field Box 163G and it was a special night as the Mets would clinch the NL East once again. When Ron Darling struck out Lance Parrish we all went crazy and nuts as the Mets were back in the playoffs. No one rushed the field like we all did in 1986 as the NYC Police was all prepared this time with officers along the baselines and on horses.

The merchandise stands already had the NL East Champs items such as t-shirts, pins and pennants at the stands sitting in boxes during the game. They could not sell them until the Mets officially won the NL East as I did try to buy them during the game. After we were finished celebrating after the game I bought the button and pennant and I still have them in my house with my Mets collection.

Been to a lot of Met games in my life but will NEVER forget this one. A bunch of guys from my job decided to go on a whim. Thursday night, pay day and here comes this big pack of crazy 20-somethings with their soon-to-be-spent paychecks. The Bud guy in our section had a good night. I remember the chants of BEAT L. A. BEAT L.A! Darling pitched a gem and I somehow fit 10 guys in my car to get them home from the train. Great night, great memory.

I caught a foul ball off the bat of Mark Ryal of the Phillies. I was sitting 4 rows behind the 3rd base dugout with my wife and my father-in-law. It was a line drive that I caught with one hand while I had my beer in the other hand. When we got home we had three messages on our answering machine and one was from my friend who lives in Philadelphia and happened to be watching the game and saw me on TV. I would love to get a tape of this game as I heard that even Fran Healy commented on what a great catch a fan made!

I was waiting for the right moment to ask my fiance to marry me, when the Mets hit 3 consecutive home runs! Its was amazing! Everyone in our section was cheering even more after they noticed what happened. We left and returned shortly after to more cheers! One of the best days ever..!

The Mets hit 3 homers in a row in this game, as Keith, Straw and McReynolds all went deep in the 3rd inning. I don't believe a Mets team would accomplish this feat again until 2007.

One of the worst in injuries in the history of Shea unfortunately occurred during this game. Phillies RF Ron Jones crashed into the plywood wall and severely tore a knee ligament. A promising career was derailed. The outfield wall was padded the next year. Mr. Jones passed away in 2006 from "natural causes," may he rest in peace.

John Updike references this game in his novel "Rabbit at Rest" on page 184. He mentions a third inning three-run home run by Mike Schmidt, his fourth of "the young season" and the five-hundred-forty-sixth of his career, putting the Phillies up 5-0.

Went with this kid from work Dave and his father. Sat field level down the first base side. The game was unremarkable for the most part. Remember late in the game getting some ice cream from the concession stand in rightfield and yelling at Darryl Strawberry to demonstrate some leadership.

Lee Mazzilli hit the game winning 3-run homer in the 8th inning in this one to win it. One of his last real big hits as a Met.

My family and I came to this game on a bus trip through my mother's work from about two hours north in NJ. There was a two- to three-hour rain delay after the first inning and since we were dependent upon a bus, we had to leave at a specified time, which was during the delay. Anyway, we got to see a whole game's worth of scoring in the one inning we were there for. The Mets jumped out to a 8-0 lead in the top half and the Phils responded with 5 of their own in their frame. I remember still getting home in time to see the end of the game.

One of the forgotten craziest games in Mets history. The Mets scored 8 times in the 1st inning, only to watch Cone give 5 of those back as he continued his terrible start to the 1989 season. The Mets finally ended things by scoring 5 times in the last 2 innings to take back the blown lead and put it away.

Also, the last appearance of Roger McDowell in a Mets uniform. As he'd be traded to these same Phillies just 48 hours later in the now infamous deal.

Naturally, a day after one of the craziest games in Mets history, both offenses go dormant less than 24 hours later. Bobby Ojeda went the distance in a 1-0 win. Amazingly, this was the 4th 1-0 complete game shutout for Ojeda in just about a year's span, as he had 3 in 1988.

Better remembered as the day of the second Massacre. Mets fans never forget...

I'll never forget sitting in the car listening to the game with my grandparents. Von Hayes won the game with a home run. All through the game, the announcers said the Mets and Phillies had made a trade, to be disclosed after the game. We were trying to guess who it was.

I remember the Mets "Dynasty" as we knew it then, took the biggest hit at the end of the game when they traded Lenny Dykstra and Roger McDowell to the Phillies for Juan Samuel. That trade WAS the beginning of the end of that great team. Davey Johnson ruined ANY talk of Dynasty when he endorsed that trade DURING the game.

My father drove us to Veteran's Stadium from Queens. The game was close. For some strange reason they pinch hit for Nails in the middle of the game. We had no idea. After the Mets lost we turned on the radio in the car to hear that the Mets made one of the dumbest trades they ever made. Lenny Dykstra for whiff machine Juan Samuel. Sure Dykstra tried to hit too many HR's but he really was the CF of the future at the time. Mookie was aging and would be gone a year or so later. Juan Samuel in CF. Ugh. The Horror.

Ron Darling connected for his first major league home run in this game!

The Mets beat the Phillies 5-1 behind Sid Fernandez, and the Mets set a National League record by having no assists in the game. It was only the second time in history that a team did that. The only other time was on July 4, 1945 by the Yankees in Cleveland.

Sid struck out nine in seven innings of work ,and Rick Aguilera struck out four more in two innings. The other fourteen Phillies outs came on 12 fly balls/popups and two ground balls to first base.

This was the game in which Kevin McReynolds left early since his wife went into labor (perfectly acceptable), but sadly his replacement, Mark Carreon, misplayed a ball in left field horribly, leading to a 1 run Philly win.

Just watched this one. Gary Carter's last 4-hit game as a Met (and really one of his last productive games as a Met in general). Darryl Strawberry hit an absolute moonshot that hit the facade of the upper deck at Veterans Stadium off of future Met Dennis Cook. Also Juan Samuel's 3rd and final Mets homer, even though the season still had 7 weeks left and he played regularly.

I can't believe nobody mentioned this game. Dickie Thon with a walk-off home run. God, 1989 sucked!

This was my first game at Veteran's Stadium. I was 8. All I remember is talking junk to the kids behind me about how the Phillies sucked.

Lenny pinch hit in the ninth before the Thon-Bomb off of Aase. I booed as loud as I could. For some reason, I had a lot of hate towards Dykstra at that time. Probably because Samuel stunk up the place.

I watched this game from the front row at Veterans Stadium. My sister was working in Philadelphia and got tickets from her employer, which owned a box along the left field foul line. Before the game, Ron Darling came down to our area and signed autographs.

The game was close for a while, but the Mets then won easily. Gregg Jefferies and Howard Johnson hit homers. Tom O'Malley got a 2-run single in the ninth.

There was one pleasant surprise for us on this night. I looked in front of me and I saw Number 16 walking to the mound. Dwight Gooden was making a relief appearance! He pitched three shutout innings, holding the Phillies down as the Mets slowly piled up runs. What a treat this was!

A Mets' win on the road, Doc in relief and seeing it from a front row seat. Great night!

This loss officially eliminated the Mets from playoff contenion for the 1989 season. Another year the Mets should have won!

Yes, the loss did eliminate the Mets from contention under the 2 division winner format but not the case if there were wild cards then. There would have a tight race for 2 spots between the Mets, Padres, Cardinals and Astros. Mets and Padres would have been the winners as the 2 best records of teams not to win division. 1989 NLDS would have been Mets vs Cubs and Giants vs Padres.

My first game at Shea. It was one of those nights when El Sid was "on". He threw a complete game shutout and only allowed three hits over the nine innings. On top of this, he ended up providing offense also! A wonderfully pitched game.

I remember it was tough to see Lenny Dykstra in Phillies pinstripes when we had Juan Samuel. . . it just seemed wrong. Funny - it still does.

A fun note about this game, Mark Carreon made a catch in left field where the ball bounced off his glove while it hit the top of the wall to take a homer away, and he caught it in the air on the way down. The 2nd time he made a catch exactly like that at Shea, as he did it in pretty much the same exact fashion in a game earlier in the summer.

The last home game of the 89 season, Gary Carter and Keith Hernandez pinch hit and get a standing O. I remember the line when Carter hit a double down the left field line and I liked the call Bob Murphy made: Gary Carter ripped it!

How about the fight between Roger McDowell and Gregg Jefferies after the last out. I never saw Darryl run as fast while playing in a game than he ran toward the mound that night, wearing a winter-like parka, I might add.

Another disappointing finish of the late '80s.

Was watching this game on Channel 9 and then all of a sudden all heck breaks loose when McDowell and Jefferies start to rumble. I'll never forget Roger's post-game comment: "Gregg's been through some tough times this season. There's been a lot of pressure on him and maybe it all got to him. I never disliked him, but I don't think we'll be exchanging Christmas cards this year."

Dave Liddell gets a hit and scores a run in his only major-league at-bat in his only major- league game!

The Mets started a 3-game sweep of the Phillies with this win, in which Viola became the NL's first 10-game winner. After a rare dud his last time out at Pittsburgh, Viola was much more vintage here, allowing just a first-inning run and fanning 8. His biggest out came in the fourth inning facing Lenny Dykstra, who was leading the league in batting average at the time, with 2 outs and the bases loaded. On the ninth pitch of the at-bat, Lenny lined one just foul outside the first base line, which almost certainly would have made it a 5-4 game. On the next pitch, he lined out to right to end the threat, and the Phils did very little fighting after that.

This was Ken Howell's shortest start of his career, and he made just 4 more appearances in 1990 before his major league career was over. After scoring all 5 runs off him, the Mets offense went to sleep, managing just 2 hits against the Phils' bullpen over the remaining 6.1 innings.

Couple other things I noticed during this game: 1. After flying out in the 6th, Charlie Hayes jogged back to the dugout by crossing over the pitching mound and even kicking the rosin bag. No one seemed to notice or care, but isn't this bad baseball etiquette? I bet if someone more fiery than Viola were pitching, like Cone, Hayes would have gotten plunked his next AB. 2. It annoyed me to see Jefferies throw a mini temper tantrum by slamming his batting gloves and helmet to the ground in the dugout after flying out in the 7th. He had gone 3-for-3 in his first three ABs and the Mets were coasting to an easy win, and yet this guy's gotta make a scene like he just stranded the bases loaded in a tie game. Chill out bro! 3. I know I have my criticisms of McCarver and Kiner, but they are like listening to a symphony compared to the Phillies broadcast team. Harry Kalas was so dry and boring and Richie Ashburn, despite a Hall of Fame playing career, contributed absolutely nothing to the booth. I got the sense neither one was interested in being there and would have been perfectly content to not say a word and just let the game play out in silence.

The one that started it all for me. I was eight years old, and my dad finagled two box seats by the first base dugout for this gem, a three-hit shutout by Dwight Gooden over Pat Combs. I was too young to appreciate Gooden's overwhelming power pitching, and actually at one point was whining, "Why won't the Phillies score runs?" Or so I'm told.

Darryl Strawberry hit a monstrous home run to right field that I never actually saw leave the yard, my vision blocked by all those standing adults.

Lenny Dykstra played in this one for the Phillies and received a warm ovation from the Shea crowd. Except from me, who didn't understand why Dykstra's '89 Topps card showed him with the Mets, and now he wasn't. I booed the "traitor", only to be quietly informed of the Juan Samuel trade and the way baseball worked.

Everyone's gotta start somewhere.

I remember this one well. In his second at-bat, Von Hayes was way late on a Gooden fastball and struck a screaming liner into the loge off the third baseline. I caught it. The first and only foul ball I've ever caught (or even had the chance to catch). That Gooden went on to pitch the complete game shutout just made it that much more special.

What great stories, thanks Bryan and Mark! That home run you mentioned Strawberry hit was a 425-foot moonshot that hit the scoreboard, and also extended his hitting streak to 12 games. He ended up hitting safely in 18 straight, which held up as the longest streak of his career.

Remember this one well...sitting in upper deck near foul pole in right (very high seats) on a hot, sunny day.

Two outs, bases loaded and Tim Teufel whacks two- strike pitch to right-center for game-winning two-run single off Roger McDowell.

I also remember Bobby O didn't have it that day, getting pulled in the fifth.

Jefferies played well that day, with two-run homer and RBI in ninth.

I think this was a Sunday afternoon game if i'm not mistaken. The Mets were the hottest team in baseball and Timmy Teuful won it off our old friend McDowell with a 2 run single. Probably the most exciting win of the 1990 season.

After some lengthy research this morning, mostly involving a picture of the Shea Stadium scoreboard with my name on it, I determined that this game was actually the first one I ever attended.

I barely remember it; I was approaching my fifth birthday, but it sounds like I wound up at a great one.

Hey alleydally, it might have been hot but at least it was sunglasses day at Shea so hopefully you were able to see the action without the sun getting in your eyes!

This game was crazy exciting, with lots of runners on base and double switches and managerial strategy getting involved. Credit the Mets bullpen for throwing 4.1 innings of hitless relief after Ojeda got the hook. Jefferies’ ninth-inning RBI single off McDowell must have felt extra nice for him, as the previous year McDowell got him to ground out to end a game, then talked some trash and ignited a bench-clearing brawl.

Mike Marshall got booed mercilessly during his pinch-hitting appearance. Despite playing awfully, he apparently demanded a trade. He could have gotten himself back into the fans’ good graces when he came up with 2 on and 1 out in the 6th facing the left-handed Dennis Cook, but he struck out swinging and the boos kept on coming. What a bum.

Dickie Thon's only career grand slam wiped out a Met lead and did the Mets in on this occasion.

Sort of forgotton now but after Roger McDowell was traded from the Mets, he tended to pitch his worst against his former team. This game was just one example of him getting hit around, as the Mets came back from a 4-0 hole, scoring 7 times in the final 3 innings. Mackey Sasser hit 2 homers as he continued the best season of his career.

The world famous Bob Murphy call of "they win the damn thing" was at the end of this game. The Mets took a 10-3 lead into the 9th and watched the lead shrink to 10-9 before Franco got the last out of the game on a line drive to Mario Diaz.

This game was unbelievable. The Phillies kept getting hit after hit in the bottom of the 9th inning. They had 5 runs in and the bases were loaded with no one out. Then John Franco came in and got the next batter to ground into a double play. The next hitter was Tommy Herr, who lined out to Mario Diaz to end the game.

The Mets had a seven-run lead entering the bottom of the ninth, but just barely held on to win. The Phillies started the inning with seven singles and a walk before an out was made. John Franco had to come in and shut the door.

Bob Murphy's "win the damn thing" quote on radio right after the final out is well-known. But just prior to the Phils' comeback effort, another set of words (since forgotten) was said on television. Fran Healy made a comment that he would walk back to New York if the Mets lost this game. As the ninth inning wore on, it looked as if Fran was going to have a very long, tiring trip home. Thankfully, for Mets' fans and, especially, for Healy, he didn't have to make that 100+ mile journey on foot!

How many of us are going to come to this page and post a memory today? Let me be the first (or fifth or tenth).

As soon as Werth hit his flyball last night (July 7th) for the final out, the irony of the opponent, score and near comeback flashed my mind back to 1990 and, I must admit, I uttered the famous quote to myself. I was lucky enough to be in my car listening to Murph at the end of this game. After I parked, the comeback mounted, so I waited until the end to get out, which, thankfully allowed me to hear the famous lines, live and in person.

With all due respect to Mike Vacarro, who I know has posted on this site occasionally (see Jon Matlack's one hitter in 1974), here is the exact quote copied from his column in today's NY Post:

"Here's the pitch on the way. Line drive - caught! The game is over! The Mets win it! A line drive to Mario Diaz and the Mets win the ballgame! They win the damn thing by a score of 10-9!"

[full disclosure: when it flashed through my head last night, I thought Backman was the second baseman, how could I forget the immortal Mario Diaz??]

This game was eerily similar to that of 7/7/08, which the Mets also won, 10-9, in Philly.

I watched both games, and I started thinking about this game when the score of the 2008 game was 10-3, and looked up the box score on here when it was 10-5.

Amazing how Mets history can repeat itself!

A rare mid-series afternoon game at Shea. A funny moment in the mid innings when Von Hayes fell flat on his face while trying to score on a single, making it easy for the Mets to throw him out at the plate. Though it was nothing compared to the next night's famous brawl with Gooden. In this game, David Cone and Don Carmen almost came to blows early in the game on some close pitches before umpires quickly got involved. Seems that it set the tempers in place for the next night's all out fight between the teams.

Gotta be the wackiest game I've ever been to. During an era where there was a lot of bad blood between the Mets and Phils, things seemed to reach a head tonight. Gooden started, and was pretty wild. He had hit 2 or 3 Phils and was trailing 3-1 when he stepped to the plate leading off the 5th vs Pat Combs. And Combs plunks Doc in the leg with his first pitch. And Doc goes after him, and pops him one in the face before Darren Daulton caught him from behind, and rained some punches on the back of his head. And chaos ensued. Then-Phillie Dennis Cook got body slammed by Umpire Country Joe West. Mackey Sasser landed someone on the ground--don't know who--but Mackey was beating him mercilessly. And just when it looked like order might be restored, Darryl decides to take on John Kruk, and all hell broke loose again. All told, this was about 15 minutes of solid beatings, and 7 ejections--Gooden, Strawberry, Teufel, Combs, Daulton, Cook and if memory serves, the Philly bullpen coach got tossed. Left shorthanded, the Mets then came back in the 6th. HoJo hit a 2-run HR, and then Kelvin Torve, in his lone appearance wearing #24, belted a 2-run double off the wall for a 5-3 lead. The Phils were relentless this game, though, and cut the lead to 5-4 before Franco closed it out. Philly, I believe, had 16 hits this game to the Mets 7--Dykstra alone had 5 hits. But all for naught as the Mets won an unforgettable affair.

My grandfather and I were sitting next to this kid and his father. The kid had binoculars. The Mets were trailing 3-1. The kid said, "The Mets need a home run and a miracle." Then Gooden got hit with a pitch and charged the mound. The place went bedlam. The kid was going crazy looking into the binoculars, giving the play-by-play. "Strawberry got punched in the face!" The noise was insane.

I wondered what my grandfather must've thought. He was buying hotdogs for us when it happened. When he came out, he said he thought someone had hit a grand slam. There was a special kind of noise in Shea Stadium in those Strawberry, Gooden, Hernandez, Carter years.

I went to an off-Broadway called "Quiet On The Set" with my brother and mom; I had 2 disappointments that night: 1) Cady McClain, who I had a huge crush on,she played Dixie on All My Children, was SICK and didn't appear in the play. 2) I wish that I had brought my radio because that was the night of the brawl. After the play ends, my sister and her then-hubby pick us up in front of the theatre and he's telling me about the brawl. He drives me and my mom home and I rush into the house to put on the Ch. 7 news and the brawl was the top story of the night instead of Saddam Hussein, who had just invaded Kuwait. Outside of the '73 NLCS & '86 brawls; this one was the most violent brawl ever. Still remember Country Joe West slamming then-Phillie Dennis Cook to the ground on the highlights.

That's crazy some of you actually went to this game. Just to clean up some of what Mets2Moon wrote, the Mets actually had 8 hits (not 7) and Dykstra only had 4 hits (not 5), and I believe Strawberry was going after Daulton and not Kruk as retribution for the sucker punches Daulton landed on Gooden at the start of the fracas. Other than that, great synopsis, and I'm super jealous as you probably went to the most exciting and newsworthy game of the season.

The last time Gooden faced Philly he fired a complete game 2-hitter on June 23; the Phils matched that hit total in this game after their first two at-bats when Dykstra and Daulton led off the game with singles. And talk about the fight all you want, but I question what Gooden was doing batting during the 5th inning in the first place. He was 98 pitches into arguably a clunker of a start, and with the Mets down 2, I don't know why he was left in to bat. Maybe Buddy wanted the brawl to take place to fire up his troops? Cause Doc knew the beaning was coming, as he was practically charging the mound before the pitch even hit him. And for as violent and elongated as the fight was, I can't find any evidence anyone was suspended. Gooden made his next start and all his remaining starts over the rest of the season, and if anyone was going to be suspended, it would have been him. 1990 was just a different time, evidently.

If Buddy used this as a spark, it worked. The Mets batted around in the 6th, with the big hits being Hojo's game-tying 2-run homer, and Torve's go-ahead 2-run double, which marked his first hit as a Met. Franco netted yet another 2-inning save, though in typical fashion he made things interesting, allowing a run in the 8th and then starting the 9th allowing back-to-back singles by Von Hayes and Dale Murphy. But in a head-scratcher, the Phils pinch-hit for Kruk with the scrubby Sil Campusano, who struck out. Herr and Charlie Hayes followed with groundouts and that was that.

No memories of this game at all, but posting here to implore Dave VW to share all his VHS tape collection with "This is Where You Find Baseball" or "Phenia Films" on YouTube. Please do so for the sake of the UltimateMets.com community and all Mets fans in general.

Since I feel obliged to write something about this game here, John Franco got a two inning save, but gave up 5 hits and a run. Shockingly, he didn't walk one batter. One of his best outings as a Met.

On a 5-game losing streak coming into the game, the Mets were in one of the biggest offensive slumps that I've ever seen. Scoring a combined 3 runs in their last 5 games. Even a bad team would have been overdo to break out, but with the offense the 1990 Mets had, they were long overdue.

Although held scoreless for the first 3 innings of this one, they finally broke through and ended up with a 12-2 victory. Jefferies and McReynolds both went deep. At the time, this was probably the most needed win of the year, coming in the middle of the pennant race.

Overdue for sure, as they collected 12 hits and also walked 11 times (every Mets starter walked at least once). The flyball McReynolds hit in the fourth really opened the flood gates, as Dale Murphy overran the ball and it dropped in for an RBI double. That was actually the Mets’ first hit of the game, and it was on from there.

However, I can’t help but wonder why Gooden had to pitch a complete game here. Shows you how much the game has changed in terms of starting pitchers. Cruising 11-2 in the 8th, Harrelson let Gooden hit despite being at 97 pitches. With the pennant on the line, would it not have been best to have given Doc the rest of the night off and save some bullets? What if he got plunked and broke a finger, or pulled a hammy running to first? This happened 32 years ago but I was still yelling at Bud to get Gooden out of the game!

Finally, here's a gem from Ralph Kiner that was said during the telecast: “Statistics are a lot like a girl in a bikini. It shows a lot but it doesn’t show everything.”

This was my first-ever MLB game I attended. To my not-so-much joy, my favorite player, Kevin McReynolds, was ejected after arguing balls and strikes. But we won.

During the pre-game warmups, I called out to one of the Phillies players and he tossed me a baseball. Both Dave Cone and John Franco signed this ball the same day as they were out signing for the fans. Years later, I added both Doc Gooden and Frank Viola (who got his 19th win that day).

For a brief period of time during this game the Mets actually went back into first, as the Pirates lost to the Expos and the Mets held the edge due to percentage points. But they dropped back to a half game out once this loss became official. Cone didn't have it here, no big shocker since he was working on 3 days rest after having thrown 131 pitches against the Pirates his previous start. John Kruk struck two triples in this game, a feat he would accomplish again in a game against the Reds the following year. Something about Jose de Jesus the Mets just couldn't figure out in 1990. The Brooklyn native was 3-0 with a 1.07 ERA against the Mets that year.

I remember the Doc had it going this game. The only run he gave up was a solo homer to Kruk over the right field fence. Things were looking up after this one.

The first home opener I ever attended and instead of spring (or winter) like conditions; It was 90 degrees at game time. Nails and Wally were in the lineup for the Phils and Hubie Brooks played at RF. The place was rocking after this game and it shoulda been a harbinger of things to come but it was NOT to be.

I don't have any memories of this game, but I did find a scorecard from this game that I apparently went to a day before I turned 13. Looks like it was a good one, better than the previous years opening day loss to the Pirates.

Gooden's 4th straight Opening Day start is a success as he and Franco combine to all but shut down Philly, aside from Kruk's 5th-inning bomb of a homer. Doc made 8 Opening Day starts for the Mets, second-most among pitchers to Tom Seaver's 11. Coleman and Jefferies began the season banging back-to-back doubles off the wall to give the Mets a quick 1-0 lead in the first, and then Herr and Brooks pull off a double steal of second and home in the 4th. Terry Mulholland also stole second for the Phillies, making him the first pitcher to steal a base on Opening Day since Joaquin Andujar in 1985 ... who also did it against the Mets.

Some rare good defense also helped preserve the win. With 2 runners on, Carreon made a nice catch on a ball hit over his head to end the 6th, and then Coleman caught a Daulton drive right at the wall to end the 8th. Carreon had actually just replaced McReynolds in LF. Kevin jammed his knee on the first-base bag trying to beat out a grounder in the 4th, and he'd miss the next 7 games. That was likely the source of his poor start to the season.

To date, this is the sixth-fastest Opening Day game in Mets history, clocking in at 2 hours 13 minutes. The win improved the Mets record on Opening Day to 19-3 since 1970!

I was at this game, watching from the loge level along the right field line. It was 1-0 Phillies in the bottom of the ninth inning. Rick Cerone came up and slugged one over the left-center field wall off Roger McDowell to tie it up. Len Dykstra just turned and watched it go out.

In the tenth, Hubie Brooks batted against Joe Boever. He hit a long, high drive down the left field line. I followed the ball and when I saw the people seated above the scoreboard all standing up in unison, I knew the game was over. It was coming down right into their section. Hubie had a game-winning home run! It was his first homer since his return to the Mets.

Also in this game, Pete Schourek and Doug Simons both made their major league debuts. Simons finished it and got credit for the win.

Later, I went out behind the bullpen near the players' parking area. When Hubie came driving out, the crowd there gave him a huge cheer. It was a wonderful early-season afternoon at Shea.

Cool story, Hank, thanks for sharing! I recently watched this game back but my broadcast got cut off in the bottom of the seventh inning so I didn't get to see any of the exciting parts. It seemed like fans were overjoyed with Brooks' return, as I heard several "HUUUUUUBIE"'s during the game. Didn't hurt that he won the season opener as well on a steal of home. Too bad his great start in 1991 would end in a terrible finish.

Jason Grimsley really had his curveball working. The Mets couldn't hit it at all, allowing him to tally a career-high nine strikeouts. I thought for sure the Phillies left him in too long when he put two men on base with one out in the 7th, but Mitch Williams relieved him and induced a pop fly out of Coleman that Dykstra caught and then nailed Miller at the plate attempting to score to end the inning. Phillies had no one else to blame but themselves for the loss, as they stranded 11 runners on base and constantly had Viola on the ropes but couldn't deliver the big hit.

Upon rewatching this season, Rick Cerone is becoming one of my favorites players on the team. He's gritty and clutch and was quite underrated. The broadcast also caught Tim McCarver puffing on a cigar during the game -- all this time I had no idea he did that! He hid it quite well.

One of the more memorable Mets broadcast moments over the years happened on this afternoon. In the 9th, with the Mets trailing by 1, Buddy let Rick Cerone hit against a RHP, and Tim McCarver immediately questioned the decision. With Mackey Sasser in the dugout with good power, and Cerone, who was a part time vet with little power, in a spot where a homer or extra base hit was prudent in a 1 run game....I did understand what McCarver was getting at....but all of that changed when Cerone hit a homer to tie to game , with Tim proclaiming "Now I understand it!", on WWOR.

An inning later, Hubie Brooks ended the classic game. If this game happened just one day earlier on opening day, it would be remembered a lot more.

April 10, 1991 was a beautiful spring day. In the early afternoon, my Dad, Louis, joined his friends and co-workers for their local team practice... With all intentions to come home and watch the game...

My Dad, 32 years of age, carrying the bases in at the end of the practice, fell to the ground and died on April 10, 1991.

As my sister and I sat home and waited to hear from the hospital we had the game on. But after we received the news I don't remember anything after that. I was sixteen.

I am so grateful that the game was on even though I don't recall any of it.

He raised me, a Mets fan. And proud to be!

The definition of an ugly win. Mets strand nine runners on base, don't get a hit in between a two-out double by Darling in the second and a two-out single by O'Brien in the ninth, but still come out on top. Already notoriously wild, Phillies pitcher Jason Grimsley isn't helped by John McSherry's microscopic strike zone, leading to six walks in what's otherwise a solid start. But much like his last start against the Mets on April 9, his Phillies lose 2-1.

This was Jim Fregosi's first game managing the Phillies. He replaced Nick Leyva in a rare managerial change in April. Fregosi -- the same guy the Mets traded Nolan Ryan AND three others for in 1971 in one of the worst trades in baseball history -- served as Philly skipper for six seasons, notably bringing the team from worst to first in 1993, but ultimately losing to the Blue Jays in the World Series.

As for the Mets, Darling left after six scoreless innings with shoulder stiffness but proved to be ok. This was my first time seeing Doug Simons in action. He was a Rule 5 draft pick from the Twins and had to stay on the big league roster all season or be returned to Minnesota. Stay he did, but perhaps not to the Mets' benefit -- he started the year hot but saw his ERA balloon up into the 5.00s for most of the year. On the other hand, Kevin McReynolds started the year ice cold. He entered this game hitting 1-for-21 with 0 RBI to begin the season, and put up an 0-for-4 here. The Mets also might have had a shutout if he caught a ball that was in his glove but he dropped on a jumping play at the wall that instead went for an RBI double for Charlie Hayes in the eighth. However, the next game Kev hit a double and a homer with 4 RBI to finally break out of his slump.

It was my ninth birthday and as I remember, my family took me to see this game and the fireworks afterward as a celebration. Do not remember anything about the game. I was not yet the big fan I am today.

This Sunday afternoon game was played on a day that Mike Tyson celebrated his 25th birthday. Doc got shelled early-possibly riding a hangover resulting from a long New York City Saturday summer night-but who knew at the time. With the Mets loss in this one I suffered my largest defecit ever to the "boys" as I had dropped 2 dimes on Doc with the hope of breaking even (was down a grand and they were laying 2-1). The Metties battled back from the wrong side of a 9-2 score and scored twice amid a ferocious rally in the bottom of the ninth. With the bases loaded the always selective Dave Magadan stepped to the plate from the left side. On a 3-2 pitch he took an inside pitch for strike 3 and the game was over. Ouch babe!!

Dave Magadan actually led off the bottom of the ninth by grounding out. Kevin McReynolds followed with a double and Howard Johnson homered to make it 10-9. Hubie Brooks walked to put the tying run on but Rick Cerone lined out and Mark Carreon struck out for the final out of the game.

The teams combined for 27 hits, and Doc gave up three home runs in 4.1 innings, including the only homers of the 1991 season by Steve Lake and Sil Campusano. It was also the last homer of Campusano's career. The Phillies sent him down about a week later and he never played in the majors again.

A very odd boxscore, seeing Wally Backman leading off and playing third base for the Phils, Roger McDowell pitching in relief for the Phils (he had to leave the game with a pulled side muscle), and Tommy Herr, Rick Cerone, and Garry Templeton playing for the Mets.

I just found a program and scorecard of this game while cleaning stuff out of my former room in my parents house, so I apparently was at this game but I don't have any memory of it as I was 11 years old at the time. According to the scorecard it also appears I left during the 8th inning.

As mentioned on my post about Hubie Brooks, I'm almost certain that this is the game he hit the upper deck HR.

Other memory of this game as a spectator was the Phillie Phanatic hassling Charles Barkley of the 76'ers behind the Phillie dugout.

Attended this game against the awful Phillies in Philly. The Mets won easily 8-2 as I watched with quiet contentment. You don't make joyful Met noises in Philly. I'm yet alive to this day because I understood that.

Regrettably it was heading into the all star break as the Mets extended to a 7-game winning streak. But for a bit more they didn't cool, they picked up after the break to make it 10 in a row. They were making their run and were going to finally steamroll past the Pirates! They reached 53-38.

Then the wheels fell off and the engine dropped out, worse than in 1977. How can a 53-38 (94-68 season equivalent) team end by going 24-46 (56- 106 season equivalent). Can anyone explain how this happened?, I forget, probably because I tried hard to. Even the "awful" Phillies, 14 games behind the Mets after this game, finished a half game ahead of them. A dark era had come, anti-climaxed, of course by 1993, the worst Met season in context ever.

Bud's last game as manager and another loss.

Mike Cubbage's first game of his short managerial stint with the Mets.

For about a month and a half I had tuned out the Mets after their 10 game losing streak in august and their flat play to finish up the season in september. Then I turn on the TV and David Cone strikes out 19 and gets arrested for sexual abuse the same day. I really felt like this game optimized what was a rather grim season. A season that would replicate itself in one way or another five more times until a guy named Piazza came around.

Like so many loyal Shea fans we took the trip down the Jersey Turnpike every time the orange and blue played in cheesesteak land. I believe that this was the last game of the year. Some time in late summer, the short-term 80's dynasty ended, although no one realized it at the time.

Cone had a slew of K's through the first 6 and I realized that he might reach 20 or 21 at that pace. In the top of the 7th, he walked and was out on the bases the whole inning. The bottom of the inning, he had no K's.

It was still exciting to see him get close and eventually tie the record that Seaver set one warm spring day in 1970. The writers, however, downplayed the feat as many of the players in the Phillies lineup were really Scranton-Wilkes Barre Red Barons that year.

The other night SNY showed this game and it featured the broadcast team of Ralph Kiner and Frank Cashen. (Tim was getting ready for the post-season for CBS.) I remember watching the game and the weather was rather dreary and many of the Phillies were swinging and missing like they had one foot out of the Vet. After the game, Ralph and Frank talked about the hopes of 1992 which turned out to be a long nightmare until Metal Mike Piazza arrived on the scene in May of 1998.

Cone's best start in his career. Although you could never tell if the Phillies had one step on the plane; 18 of the k's were swinging if I remember. =

The 1991 Mets seem to be a largely forgotten team among fans. Probably because it was the team right between the Strawberry era and the "worst team money can buy" 1992 Mets. But this team was just as disappointing. Channel 9 showed a stat on one of the last games of the '91 season, and it said no team in HISTORY had ever finished below .500 after being at least 14 games above .500 after at least 90 games. Except the 1991 Mets.

The Phillies starting catcher that day was Doug Lindsey, who was making his Major League debut. He went 0 for 3 with 3 Ks and never started another MLB game (although he did get into four more games with three more at-bats with the Cubs and Phillies in 1993).

I hate to take anything away from Cone, but it really is true that the Phillies practically had a spring training lineup this game. Three guys combined for 10 of Cone's 19 Ks: Kim Batiste, Wes Chamberlain and Doug Lindsey. A real murderer's row. But a record is a record. His 19 Ks are still tied with Tom Seaver for most in a game in Mets history, and at the time tied the NL record for a 9-inning game, since topped by Kerry Wood, Randy Johnson and Max Scherzer (all with 20). However, the Mets remain the only ML team to have two different pitchers get 19 Ks in a game. The 19 Ks also allowed Cone to tie Roger Clemens for the ML lead in 1991 with 241.

As the previous commenter All-time Metfan alluded to, Cone was under investigation for rape allegations during this game, though I don't believe he was ever arrested, and the charges were later dropped due to lack of evidence. At the same time, he was also being sued for $8 million by three different women over alleged threats he made against them while they were accosting Sid Fernandez' wife after a game. That claim was also later dropped. But Cone admitted to looking into the stands every so often during this game, keeping an eye out to see if the cops were on their way to put him in handcuffs. What a story.

Outside of Cone, the other big story was Howard Johnson, whose RBI single in the seventh inning allowed him to overtake Will Clark for the NL lead, making him the first switch-hitter to ever lead the NL in RBI. He also led the NL with 38 HRs. He hit .285 with 10 HRs and 11 SBs in September to win Player of the Month honors, making him the last Mets player to win that award until David Wright in 2006. But this was it for HoJo. He completely forgot how to hit in 1992 and never regained his old form. He had more home runs in 1991 than he did over the remaining four seasons of his career, during which time he hit just .219. So sad. He also stated in a postgame interview he wanted to remain in the outfield in 1992, as he had become the Mets' regular right fielder in September. I wonder if changing positions might have had any effect on his sudden career downslide?

I also noted that the Mets announced lineup was completely different than their actual lineup, as they had made several last-second changes. I bet it had something to do with the alleged all-night party they threw prior to the game, causing some guys to not be able to play as planned (Templeton and Carreon were in the initial lineup but replaced with Boston and Gardner). Didn't affect Boston any -- he led off the game with a first-pitch triple, then hit one of only four career home runs off a left-handed pitcher in the ninth. Keith Miller also went 4-for-5 with a homer and two doubles in his last game as a Met -- even though Cashen said during the game, "...we always have plans for Keith Miller." I guess those plans included trading him, along with Jefferies and McReynolds, to Kansas City for Bret Saberhagen and Bill Pecota during the offseason. The times were definitely a-changin' for Mets fans in the very near future, and not for the better.

I remeber it being a day game. My friend and I drove down to the Vet from Staten Island just so we can get an idea how to get there since I had Eagles tickets that October. Anyway I remember that it was Todd Pratts major league debut. Before the game along the left field line we were jawing at Bret Saberhagen a little and he semmed to be a good sport about it. Dave Hollins hit a home run late and this beautiful Phillies fan girl who had a Hollins jersey on wouldnt stop jumping up and down. That was the best part of the game

At the Vet, Sid Fernandez allows just two runs and five hits while striking out nine, but it's not good enough.

The Phils' Curt Schilling pitches a one-hitter, with the only hit a fifth inning leadoff homer by Bobby Bonilla. Schilling does not walk anyone and the only other Met batter to reach base was Chico Walker, who was awarded first base on catcher's interference with two outs in the fourth inning.

John Kruk drove in both Phillie runs with an infield out and a single.

My major takeaway from watching this game was being amazed at how many scrubs had career years for the Phillies in 1993, which ultimately helped them get to the World Series. This game encapsulated that idea perfectly. Tommy Greene, in the middle of a 16-4 season, goes the distance to pick up his third of what will be 5 straight complete games. After the season, he only won 2 more games the rest of his career. Pete Incaviglia belts 2 home runs, bringing his total to 5 in his last 5 games. He hits .274 in 1993 and ties for the Philly lead with 24 homers as a part time player. He hits .233 with just 36 HRs the rest of his career. Dave Hollins also hit a 3-run homer and made the All-Star team the only time of his career in 1993. It's just crazy how many bad-to-mediocre players performed so well for Philadelphia this year.

Dallas Green, in just his fourth game managing the Mets, gets the same level of productivity out of his squad as his predecessor. They scratch out just 5 hits and go 0-for-10 to end the game. This was my first time watching Tanana on the hill for NY. He reminded me of what Rich Hill is today: a crafty, soft-tossing lefty who may fool an opponent one time through a lineup but is bound to get beat up if left out there much longer. Of interesting note, while watching this game I learned Tanana's catcher during his big-league debut in 1973 was none other than his former manager, Jeff Torborg.

This game also represented the 5,000th in Mets history. Fittingly, the Mets lost all their other previous 1,000-game milestones as well.

Perhaps the most improbable win of the 1993 season for the Mets. Dominated by Danny Jackson all game and losing 4-1 entering the 9th, Bonilla led off with a single that chased Jackson and brought in closer Mitch Williams. "Wild Thing" didn't help much, though. After HoJo popped out, Kent singled and Fernandez walked to load the bases. Gallagher, who homered in the 3rd for the only Mets run so far, followed with a 2-run single, making it 4-3 and forcing Philly to take out Williams and bring in former Met David West. West induced a double play grounder from pinch-hitter Chico Walker, but shortstop Juan Bell booted it for his second error of the game, reloading the bases for Coleman. Vince hit a check-swing liner to first that also could have been a double play but Kruk dropped the ball, though he was still able to get Fernandez out on a force play at home.

So with the bases loaded and 2 out, up comes Charlie O'Brien, who was starting just his second game ever in the #2 hole. With 2 strikes O'Brien did the miraculous, lining a double down the left field line to score 2, though Coleman was thrown out at home as he neglected to slide and just accepted getting tagged out. Now up 5-4, the Mets turned to Jeff Innis to preserve the win as Franco was used in the 8th and pinch-hit for in the 9th. But Innis got the job done, getting two ground outs and Dykstra to fly out to end the game. It's his first save of the season and third of his career. The previous inning Philly fans were marching around the stadium with brooms anticipating the series sweep, but it turned out their celebrations were a bit premature.

It was odd that this game featured 7 different pitchers, and all but 1 was left-handed. The 6-foot-10 Eric Hillman -- the tallest LHP in Mets history -- wiggled out of serious trouble a few times. In the 3rd, his own throwing error allowed 2 runs to score, but then Duncan, Kruk and Hollins all hit laserbeams for outs to limit the damage. In the 5th, Hillman loaded the bases with 2 out and Hollins hit a grounder to SS that Fernandez got Kruk out on a force at second but replays showed Kruk was safe. That erased at least 1 more run for the Phillies.

After the game, Juan Bell was waived by the Phillies, likely a direct result of his 2 errors in this game and overall .200 batting average. He was booed relentlessly by Philly fans (perhaps deservedly so), and when he was claimed off waivers by the Brewers he was asked how he felt about the fans in Philly, to which he replied, "What fans?" Ouch. Unfortunately, Bell died in 2016 from kidney failure at the tender age of 48.

This is the Mets second straight painful loss. After blowing a 5-run lead the night before, here the Mets can't hold a 2-run lead. A Kim Batiste home run ties the game in the 8th, and Franco implodes trying to keep things tied in the 9th, with some bad defense as assistance.

Schourek was pitching a gem, actually perfect through 4.2 innings until Wes Chamberlain clobbered a home run. Despite losing the lead in the top of the 8th, Dallas Green opted to let Schourek hit in the bottom of the frame with 1 out instead of going to a pinch hitter (Jeff Kent was available). But then, after Schourek allowed Dykstra to lead off the 9th with a single, Green quickly yanked his pitcher in lieu of Franco. If he was on that short of a leash, why let him hit in the 8th? Those decisions made absolutely no sense. Perhaps Green went to the same bullpen mismanagement school as Buddy Harrelson.

Anyway, Mariano Duncan sacrificed Dykstra to second and Kruk grounded out to move Lenny to third with 2 down. But then Franco doomed himself by walking Darren Daulton, who was 0-for-10 lifetime vs. Franco at that point, on 4 pitches. Lefty masher Pete Incaviglia was next, who grounded what could have been the final out of the inning to third, but Chico Walker (starting in place of Howard Johnson) mishandled the ball and threw late to first, allowing the go-ahead run to score. A walk to Chamberlain brought up Batiste, who came through again by lining a 2-run single into left to put the icing on the cake. To my eyes, Batiste looked like a really good prospect at the time and his playing style and body type reminded me a lot of former Met Juan Uribe.

With Tony Fernandez traded earlier in the day, HoJo sick and Kent benched for a third straight game due to both hitting and fielding struggles, it left the Mets with an infield of Walker, Bogar and McKnight. Gross.

This may have been way before Curt Schilling reached his peak, but he was already fully dominant vs. the Mets, as this was his fourth straight complete game he threw against them. Meanwhile, though Schourek really struggled in 1993, this was definitely one of his better performances. Still, this marked his fourth straight start taking a loss.

The Phillies broadcast had this trivia question during the game: Who were the 6 Mets managers to also play for the team? In order, they were Gil Hodges, Yogi Berra, Roy McMillan, Joe Torre, Bud Harrelson and Dallas Green. However, they forgot one: Mike Cubbage, who played for the Mets in 1981 and managed them for 7 games after Harrelson was fired in 1991. Can you name the 2 others who've joined the club since 1993?

Dave VW, the answer to the question at the end of your previous entry is Bobby Valentine and Willie Randolph. But why are you writing about so many Mets games from the early 1990s when the team was so unenjoyable to watch? Seems kind of depressing to me.

Correct you are, NYB Buff. I guess my reasoning for watching and reviewing these games is threefold:

1. I'm a glutton for punishment, apparently. 2. During the early 1990s I was a preteen, and so I don't remember very much from this era. I'm mostly eager to learn how it all went so wrong. 3. It'll make watching and reviewing the successful years of the late 90s and early 2000s that much sweeter in comparison.

This game can be viewed as the first after the Mets decided to pull the plug on the 1993 season. The previous day, the team traded Tony Fernandez to Toronto for Darrin Jackson. In other moves, they released Paul Gibson (for the second time, this time for good) and called up Dave Telgheder, traded Wayne Housie for future setup man Josias Manzanillo, and placed Howard Johnson on the disabled list with “acute viral syndrome” (another way of saying, "he's so bad let's make something up to get him off the roster") and called up Doug Saunders. All these moves meant many on-the-field changes, which included Jeff Kent starting his first game at 3B for the Mets, Jeff McKnight taking over 2B, and Jackson getting the start in CF.

Trading Fernandez made plenty of sense, but I'm not sure what the Mets saw in Jackson. He had some decent but blemished seasons in San Diego, hitting for good power but doing little else. And he wasn't hitting at all for the Blue Jays. On top of that, the Mets already had Bonilla, Coleman, Orsulak and Gallagher having good years in the outfield, plus Ryan Thompson and Jeromy Burnitz waiting in the wings. What did they need another OF for? Even with Fernandez's struggles, I find it hard to believe the Mets couldn't have at least gotten a low-level prospect or two for him instead of this bum. Quite fittingly, Jackson made the last out in this game, while Fernandez went 2-for-4 with an RBI triple in his first game for Toronto, and hit safely in 13 of his first 14 games with his new team.

Despite going 0-for-2, Gooden finished the game with a .282 average, which was the highest in the lineup. Eddie Murray's .268 was the next highest. Pretty sad. Believe it or not, the Mets and Phillies were actually the last two teams in the NL not to get shutout in 1993. Obviously, the Mets' streak ended here, while the Phillies went all the way until their 4th-to-last game of the season until they were finally goose egged. Gooden also pitched well but was doomed by a couple of 2-out rallies: in the 3rd when Dykstra stole second and scored on a Mariano Duncan single, and in the 4th when he hit Milt Thompson on an 0-2 pitch and Kim Batiste and Mickey Morandini followed with RBI extra-base hits. Philly starting pitcher Danny Jackson continued his brilliance vs. NY, recording his first shutout since 1988 (though he did record the dreaded golden sombrero by striking out 4 times in the game). Jackson held an impressive 2.22 ERA in 18 career starts against the Mets, though somehow he only went 6-6.

Along with Darrin Jackson, the aforementioned Telgheder also made his Mets debut in this game pitching the 9th inning. He looked great, striking out his first two batters and then getting Dykstra to foul out on a play I have no idea how Coleman made. Pulling his head away as he neared the stands, Coleman just stuck his glove out and somehow made a backhanded, no-look catch that you have to see to believe. But he also dropped Batiste's RBI double earlier in the game, so you always get the good with the bad when it came to Vince Coleman.

Along with the regular game on this day, this was also Old Timers Day at Shea, as the '73 Mets and '73 A's were introduced and played a few innings, unfortunately to a crowd that you could count on only a couple of hands.

Sadly, by the time the 90's came around, this day had lost all its luster and was attended by only hundreds of fans.

Anthony Young took his 21st consecutive loss in this game, putting him two away from tying the ML record. He left the game with the Mets trailing 3-1, and the team made it 3-2 on a Jeff Kent homer in the 7th, but Jeff Innis uncharacteristically gave up back-to-back home runs to right-handed hitters in the 8th to spoil any chance of Young ending his streak.

The Phillies were almost trying to give this game away, with #5 starter Ben Rivera on the mound and Kruk, Daulton, and Hollins all out of the lineup. But the Mets would not be denied their losses in 1993, and this one put the cap on the Phillies' first four-game sweep at Shea Stadium since 1980.

Doug Saunders made his major-league debut, starting at 2B and batting second. He singled in his first AB -- on the first pitch, no less -- and went 2-for-4, but also committed what I thought should have been an error on a Pete Incaviglia grounder in the second. Incaviglia ended up scoring on a Kim Batiste single later in the inning. Saunders really had no business being in the majors but with HoJo out, Fernandez traded and no one else stepping up, the Mets gave him a shot. Maybe the only real highlight for the Mets in this game was Eddie Murray collecting his 1,595th career RBI, tying him with Mike Schmidt for 23rd all-time (at the time). The Philly broadcast team made a big deal about how Baltimore already had retired his number 33 -- which was odd considering Murray was still an active player. But it must have been in an unofficial capacity because everything I can find shows his number wasn't retired until 1998.

The Mets attempted a 9th inning rally, as Kent doubled off Dykstra's glove to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out against closer Mitch Williams -- who blew a devastating save against the Mets less than a month earlier. After a Hundley pop out, Bogar singled to get the Mets within 2. With Charlie O'Brien and Vince Coleman left on the bench, Dallas Green opted for O'Brien, which I found quite telling how highly the Mets thought of Coleman. Unfortunately, Charlie flew out to Dykstra to end the game, making the Mets losers of 6 in a row and 10 of their first 12 games in June.

At the Vet, Kim Batiste hits a walk-off grand slam off Anthony Young to win this exercise in humiliatiation.

Let's see... 15 years old... I was in Center City Philadelphia that night with a group of kids at an Easter trip reunion. Game was on at this restaurant where we ate. Kept looking backwards from my seat to see Phils winning, then losing, thinking the Mets had it sown up in the 8th, when we all left to cruise around to kill time. Knew the game was over soon after, but couldn't find a store window with a TV tuned to ESPN to get final score. Finally got home around midnight and caught the late Sportscenter with highlights of the Mets' and Anthony Young's meltdown...then heard Harry Kalas' emotional call on Batiste's grand slam, and went to bed laughing and smiling. That was the game I finally knew the Phils had the "team of destiny" tag, and that Dallas Green was no antidote for a truly awful Mets squad.

I was 10 years old and my family had scored free tickets to this game because my sister's gymnastics team participated in this little event between a few innings. The seats sucked, way upper deck, first base side, and I was the only Mets fan surrounded by a bunch of rabid Phillies fan hell bent on a championship caliber year. Bobby Bonilla's two HRs that day was pretty much all the offense the Mets could muster in the game. Gooden started the game. He had okay stuff, kept the game tied at 5. In the 9th, still tied at 5, Anthony Young was brought in from the pen. Kim Batiste drills an opposite field walk off Grand Slam HR. It was the most devastating Mets loss I remember, even though the team lost 103 games that year. To lose it in a style like that, it was heartbreaking. Those were the truly dark days of Mets baseball.

Somehow I keep watching these games in reverse chronological order. Even though I knew what the outcome of this game would be, I still found it fascinating to see how it got there.

First, I hate to constantly be that guy, but not all of what Jared wrote is accurate. Tanana started this game, not Gooden. He pitched fairly well, only giving up a 3-run homer to Wes Chamberlain in the 2nd inning. The game wasn't actually tied until the 9th when Kevin Baez had the final out in his glove but threw wildly to Dave Gallagher at first (maybe a player more suited to the position makes the play?) for an error that scored Kruk. And Batiste's homer actually wasn't to the opposite field but a line drive no-doubter to left.

A heartbreaking loss to be sure. It seemed like some good fortune was finally headed our way in the top of the 8th when the Mets put together a 2-out rally. Murray singled and was pinch-run for by Ced Landrum, and Bonilla followed with a walk on a borderline ball call, bringing up Gallagher. The Phils could have brought in the newly acquired Bobby Thigpen here to face the righty, but they knew the Mets would have countered with Orsulak, and Gallagher had gone 0-3 vs. Mulholland in the game, so they stuck with their starter. However, Gallagher came through, roping a single to right. Landrum scored easily and Jim Eisenreich's throw was cut off by Kruk, who threw to third to try and nail Bonilla. But the throw was up the line, allowing both Bobby Bo and Gallagher to score. So a bleak 3-2 deficit turned into a 5-3 lead just like that.

Mike Maddux, who had pitched the bottom of the 7th, stayed in for the 8th. Kevin Stocker led off with a double and consecutive groundouts scored him to cut the lead to 5-4. The Mets went down 1-2-3 in the 9th, setting the stage for the Phillies' comeback. With John Franco hurt and Kruk, the pitcher's spot and Daulton due up, the Mets brought in Pete Schourek to take advantage of the lefty-on-lefty matchups. It was so odd the Phillies chose to put Thigpen 4th in the lineup when they brought him in for the top of the 9th, knowing he'd have to bat. But, living up to their "team of destiny" nickname, the move still worked out. Schourek didn't do himself any favors by walking Kruk, but pinch-hitter Mickey Morandini failed in bunting him over and instead flew out to right, and then Daulton struck out looking. One out away from victory, Dallas Green took out Schourek and went to Anthony Young in a move that I agreed with, as Pete Incaviglia was up next and he loved hitting off lefties. But, like Schourek ahead of him, Young lost Incaviglia to a walk on 8 pitches, now putting a runner in scoring position for Eisenreich. He hit a grounder far to Baez's right but the shortstop gloved it. Unfortunately, he rushed the throw to first and bounced it in the dirt, which Gallagher got leather on but it skipped past him anyway. Kruk scored, and the runners moved up to 2nd and 3rd. With the switch-hitting Stocker due up and Batiste on deck, the Mets chose to intentionally load the bases to get the righty-vs.-righty matchup. Whereas any normal manager would have had Batiste hitting 4th in the lineup instead of 9th, it all worked out in the end for Philly as Batiste smacks Young's second offering over the wall for a walkoff grand slam. Young drops to 1-14 and the Phillies score 5 runs in the inning despite getting just 1 hit. The turn of events sums up the Mets/Phillies rivalry in 1993 perfectly.

This was Thigpen's Phillies debut and he walked away with the win. He was 3 years removed from setting the single-season save record of 57 at the time but had lost his closing job to Roberto Hernandez with the White Sox. He looked good in this game but continued to struggle with Philly for the rest of 1993. Meanwhile, Young's struggles continued as well. In retrospect, the Mets should have gone with anyone but AY vs. the Phillies in 1993. During the year, he went 0-3 with 2 blown saves and a 6.23 ERA vs. Philly. And then there was Batiste, who turned into Sammy Sosa against the Mets. He hit .476 vs. NY with 2 homers and 11 RBI in just 21 at-bats.

In parting, here are some quotes I found from after this game. Batiste: "That's the first grand slam I've ever hit, anywhere. I didn't even have one when I was five in pee wee ball. Man!" Dallas Green: "The Phillies never quit. I hope some of our people can learn from a game like that."

In this game Tim Bogar hit two homers, one over the fence and one inside the park. It was the only two-homer game of Tim's Met career, and the only four-hit game of his Met career. He also had two doubles in the game and wound up driving in four runs and scoring four.

The starter and winner in the game was Bobby Jones, who was making his major league debut. Jones allowed 5 runs and 7 hits in six innings, but just one of the runs was earned.

(Note: sarcasm ahead) The victory improved the Mets record to 40-76 and brought them within 33.5 games of the first place (and eventual World Series losing) Phils.

Bob is right on the money on his accounts of this game. This was my first away Mets game. lt felt weird rooting for the Mets in someone else's house, especially in '93 when the Mets REALLY REALLY sucked. 0ne of the few bright spots for that game was seeing Bobby Jones' major league debut and seeing Tim Bogar hit an inside the parker. He broke his hand sliding in to home on that play and ended his impressive rookie season. Literally another bad break in that horrendous season.

According to the game log, this is the last game that Tim played in 1993 for the Mets but he was back on the team in 1994. Did he get hurt or something else happen?

Tim Bogar plays the game of his life, helping Bobby Jones win his Major League debut. As alluded to by previous commenters, Bogar swats two home runs in the game, in the process becoming (what I believe to be) the only player in Mets history with an inside-the-park HR and regular HR in the same game. He also doubles twice (both times off the wall, so he came mere inches away from a 4-homer game in theory), giving him 12 total bases for the contest. At the time, that was one off the Mets record, but it did set the record by a second baseman (Edgardo Alfonzo beat it when he set the team record with 16 in a game at Houston in 1999). He also became the third of four (as of 2023) in Mets history with two doubles and 2 homers in a game, joining Tim Teufel (1987), Gregg Jefferies (1989) and Rickey Henderson (1999). But to answer Ed, and to reiterate what Phil wrote, Bogar hurt his hand sliding into home on the inside-the-parker during his final at-bat, causing him to miss the remainder of the season.

What makes Bogar's performance even more remarkable is the fact that he wasn't even in the original starting lineup. He was only inserted when Jeff Kent was scratched prior to game start with sore ribs. Speaking of injuries, Bonilla was playing with a sore thumb that bothered him most batting right-handed -- though you never would have known it as he hit two homers from that side of the plate the previous game. But on a swing and miss in the first inning, Bonilla really seemed to aggravate it and decided to bat lefty vs. the southpaw Danny Jackson. That went as well as you could have expected, as he struck out swinging a few pitches later. But I give kudos to Bobby for staying in the game and gutting it out. With the season all but over, he easily could have decided to call it a day (and a year), but at the time he was one of (I believe) only 4 to have played in every game in 1993, along with Dykstra, Jeff Bagwell and Jeff Conine. However, that thumb probably didn't help him in the field, as he committed a couple of errors. In fact, the Mets had 4 errors in the game, making Jones' job even tougher in his debut.

Jones certainly wasn't overpowering, but got strikeouts when he needed it most. He made Mariano Duncan his first ever strikeout victim on one of his patented 12-to-6 curveballs to end the 3rd, and, in the 5th, a Bonilla error and a Kevin Stocker single put runners on first and second with no one out, but Jones came back to get pinch-hitter Ricky Jordan looking and then Dysktra swinging on three pitches. Unfortunately, another Bonilla error and a John Kruk double followed, cutting the Mets lead to 5-4. As the previous game told us, no lead was safe, so it was nice to see Bogar get those three runs back with a bomb of a home run in the top of the 6th. The Phils tacked on another run in the bottom of the 6th on yet another RBI hit from Kim Batiste, but the combination of Dave Telgheder, Pete Schourek and Jeff Innis shut the Phillies out over the final 3 innings to give Jones a win in his debut.

Meanwhile, Phillies' starter Jackson was renowned for his success against the Mets, but was battling sore ribs himself and wound up giving up 5 runs, the most he gave up in 18 career starts vs. the Mets. Some of that damage he only had himself to blame for, as in the 3rd inning he had a chance to escape a jam but dropped a throw from Kruk while covering 1st base on a Bonilla grounder. That allowed Bogar to score, and then he walked Gallagher and gave up a 2-run double to O'Brien, who was consequently thrown out at third trying to stretch it into a triple. That gave the Mets a 4-0 lead they'd never relinquish. And though the Mets made their fair share of miscues in the game as well, they also flashed some nice leather. Kevin Baez, who committed the tide-turning error the previous night, made some really nice plays at shortstop to make up for it, and Bogar made a tough catch in foul ground on a Dykstra popup in the 3rd where he came real close to an ugly collision with Burnitz.

Though these were dark days, it was at least nice to see the young guys making an impact and showing maybe there was a shimmer of hope for better days ahead.

I was at this game in Philly. Anthony Young had just snapped his historic losing streak, but pitching in relief, gave up a 9th-inning HR (3-run or grand slam?) to Kim Freakin' Batiste as those fightin' Phils won another thriller en route to the World Series.

I swear I'm not doing this on purpose, but I feel obliged to clean up another comment by Jon. Though Young did blow this game for the Mets, he didn't give up a home run, Kim Batiste did not homer in this game, and the Phils' rally did not occur in the 9th inning. Maybe getting another game confused with this one?

Anyway, here's how things really happened. The Mets jumped out to a surprising 4-0 lead in the first off Curt Schilling, who had tallied four straight complete game wins against the Mets dating back to 1992. Eric Hillman then dominated the Phillies over 7 innings, allowing just one run on a Mariano Duncan 2-out single in the 3rd. But, eclipsing 100 pitches in the 8th, Hillman walked Dykstra to lead off the inning and then struck out Duncan. John Kruk was next up, and he swung at the first pitch and hit a bomb out to left-center field, the only HR Hillman would surrender to a left-hand batter all season. Dallas Green then brought in Anthony Young with the score 4-3. AY got Pete Incaviglia to ground out, but then Darren Daulton doubled, Wes Chamberlain singled home Daulton and reached second on the throw home by Orsulak, and Met-killer Kim Batiste hit a bloop single that scored Chamberlain, giving Philly a 5-4 lead. Young just couldn't get that elusive final out before giving up the lead, and sure wasn't helped by home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi. The rookie ump had an inconsistent strike zone all day, and when Young appeared to throw a pitch right over the heart of the plate against Daulton but had it called a ball, Green erupted in the dugout, prompting Cuzzi to yell back at him to cut it out. But Green persisted, and he got tossed. The skipper got his money's worth, though, throwing his cap a couple times and getting right up in Cuzzi's face. But I felt for Dallas -- it was easy enough for teams to beat the Mets in 1993; they certainly didn't need any additional help from the boys in blue.

The Mets attempted another rally off Philly closer Mitch Williams in the 9th, as Chico Walker reached on an error (which I though should have been a hit as Batiste had dove for the ball and made a great play but threw wildly to first) with 1 out, and Kevin Baez (who was only allowed to hit in such a big spot due to a rash of injuries to Kent, Bogar and Darrin Jackson at the time) walked with 2 out, but Charlie O'Brien flew out pinch-hitting to end the game. And thus, not only did AY blow his second save of the year, he also dropped his record to 1-15.

The Mets first inning was so promising, as Thompson scored on a wild pitch, Bonilla knocked in Hundley with a single, and Burnitz blooped a double down the LF line that wound up squirting away from Incaviglia, leading to an error-assisted inside-the-park home run. More than likely, if Incaviglia had just let the ball go, it would have settled in the stands for a ground-rule double, perhaps putting runners on 2nd and 3rd instead of 2 runs scoring. The crowd booed loudly during the inning, which I thought was pretty uncalled for considering the type of season the Phillies were having. Typical Philadelphia for you.

But after that 1st inning, the Mets managed just 3 more hits, sleepwalking their way through Hillman's performance. The left-hander even struck out a career-high 6 in the game. It was all for naught, though, as the Mets dropped another 1-run game. For the year, they finished 19-35 in 1-run contests. Only the Padres at 18-34 were worse by fractions of a percentage.

I was in fifth grade and went to this game with my folks and my best friend who now absolutely hates baseball. I got Curt Schilling's autograph at this game. That was pretty much the only highlight being how sorry the Mets were in 1993.

Tanana tied his season high with 8 strikeouts and wins his final start as a Met. The left-hander would be traded to the Yankees 3 days later for minor league pitcher Kenny Greer. He also allowed a 2-run homer to Ricky Jordan, the 26th longball he allowed during the season. That was the most by a Mets pitcher since Jack Fisher gave up 26 gopherballs in 1966.

The big hit in the game came courtesy of Jeff Kent. With the Phillies up 2-1 in the 6th, the Mets staged a 2-out rally, starting with Eddie Murray reaching safely on an error by shortstop Kevin Stocker. Dave Gallagher followed with a single and Chico Walker walked, bringing up Kent. Though you would think a right-hand hitter like Kent would have feasted off left-hand pitching (Danny Jackson, a lefty, was on the mound), in 1993 it was quite the contrary: Jeff hit just .230 vs. southpaws and did not collect any of his 21 home runs that season vs. LHP. First-pitch swinging, he dunks a single just in front of Dykstra, who then lets the in-between hop skip past him for a bases-clearing error. The Mets never lost the lead after that.

Giving credit where credit is due, I thought Dallas Green managed his bullpen well in this game. He took Tanana out after he had eclipsed 100 pitches and gave up back-to-back singles to start the 7th. Dallas brought in Mike Maddux despite Philly countering with John Kruk as a pinch-hitter, and though Kruk hit an RBI sac fly, Maddux didn't allow another run. In the 8th, he walked Dave Hollins with 1 out and Green turned to John Franco for a 5-out save. Though Darren Daulton greeted him with a ringing double down the RF line (his only hit in 14 career ABs vs. Franco), Franco induced an RBI groundout out of Milt Thompson and a popout from Wes Chamberlain to end the inning. John then worked a 1-2-3 9th (highlighted by Philly manager Jim Fregosi getting thrown out for yelling at home plate umpire Harry Wendelstedt over a called strike) for his final save of 1993. He'd finish the year with a whopping 10 saves to his credit.

Eric Hillman arguably outpitches Curt Schilling but Pete Schourek continues his horrible season by giving up 3 runs in the 8th inning as the Phillies win their final game against the Mets in 1993.

Staked to a 2-1 lead in the 7th, Hillman gives up RBI hits to Mariano Duncan (who extended his career-long 18 game hitting streak to 15) and John Kruk, but the Mets battle right back in the bottom of the inning thanks to a 2-out RBI single by the red-hot Todd Hundley. However, Hillman was pinch-hit for during the rally, so Dallas Green turned to Schourek to keep things tied in the 8th. After allowing a 1-out single to Wes Chamberlain, a 35-minute rain delay ensued. In a logical move, Dallas decided to stick with Pete, though that decision ended up haunting him in hindsight. Once play resumed, Milt Thompson hit a seeing-eye single and Kevin Stocker bounced a grounder that Kent made a nice play on, diving for the ball to keep it on the infield to prevent a run from scoring. But now the bases are loaded with 1 out for pinch-hitter Ricky Jordan, who on the first pitch delivers a sac fly to put Philly up 4-3. Dykstra follows by winning an 8-pitch battle against Schourek and collects 2 more RBI on a single, though the second run was more on Kent than anyone as he lollygagged the throw back into the infield after getting it from Jeromy Burnitz. That was it for Schourek, as Jeff Innis came in to strike out Duncan for the last out. The damage done, the Mets go down easy against David West in the 8th and Mitch Williams in the 9th, securing their 97th loss of the season.

Not much else to say about this one. Eddie Murray did finally collect his first hit in 23 career at-bats against Schilling with a first-inning single. But the feeling was pretty palpable that people just wanted 1993 to be over with already.

Mauro Gozzo loses for the first time in his Major League career as a starter (dating back to 1989) and had his shortest outing as a starter as a Met, lasting just 4.1 innings as the Mets get downed by the Phillies to commence a 3-game sweep in Philadelphia. He was mostly doomed by a 4-run 4th inning during which the Phils hit 3 doubles -- the biggest one by opposing pitcher Mike Williams, which was the first extra-base hit of his career and drove in 2 runs. Meanwhile, Mets hitters did next to nothing, getting just 5 hits -- all singles except for Ryan Thompson's bloop RBI double to RF in the 7th. His hit closed the gap to 4-3, but Joe Orsulak grounded out to end the inning, and the Mets didn't get a hit the rest of the way.

One other thing I came across during my research into this game: while the Mets led the NL with a .277 pinch-hitting batting average in 1993, in 1994 that mark plummeted to .212, which was second-worst in the NL to Montreal's .209. Go figure.

After the first inning and a half of this game, with the Mets jumping out to a 4-0 lead and Saberhagen on the mound, I thought there was no way they were possibly losing. But with baseball, you just never know. Alas, the Phillies would hang up a 6-spot in the 2nd inning, highlighted by a 3-run opposite-field blast my the light-hitting Milt Thompson, a double off the top of the wall by opposing pitcher Shawn Boskie, and a throwing error by Bobby Bonilla, along with RBI hits by Lenny Dykstra and Dave Hollins. Saberhagen allowed another run in the 4th before getting pinch-hit for during a Mets rally in the 5th, ending what was arguably his worst start of an otherwise terrific 1994 season.

In that 5th inning the Mets did manage to tie the game at 7-7, with Todd Hundley getting the big 2-run double to knot things up. But the Phils came right back with two runs off Doug Linton and never lost the lead again. From what I've seen so far from Linton, it boggles my mind how he stayed on the team for the entire season (outside of a brief demotion to AAA in July). He was awful, and it's painful knowing the Mets likely chose to keep him over Pete Schourek when spring training ended, which led to Schourek getting waived and signing with Cincinnati, where he had two really good years.

Down by 2, the Mets made things interesting in the 7th, as Bonilla led off with a double off southpaw reliever Andy Carter. After an out and a walk, Hundley was due up. Though the catcher was notoriously bad vs. LHP, the Phillies still countered by bringing in RHP Larry Andersen, a move the Mets must have welcomed. Hundley drilled the 7th pitch of the at-bat over the RF wall -- but foul by about 10 feet, just missing a 3-run homer. On the next pitch he popped out to second. David Segui followed with an RBI single off first baseman Ricky Jordan's mitt, but then John Cangelosi struck out looking on 3 pitches as a pinch hitter to end the inning. That was pretty much that.

Bob Wells picked up his first win in just his third big-league appearance by getting 2 outs in relief in the 5th inning, and Carter notched his first and only hold of his career. For the Mets, Josias Manzanillo looked incredible, getting 4 of his 6 outs via strikeout -- including fanning the side during the 8th inning. Josias did, however, comically walk Andersen in his final career plate appearance, even though Andersen was standing at the very edge of the batter's box with no intent to swing at all. On offense, Ryan Thompson was the only starter on either side not to get a hit. After he began May with a .279 batting average, his average stood at .219 following this loss -- and would bottom out at .211 after going 0-for-4 the next day. Meanwhile, Jim Lindeman received his first start for the Mets and responded by going 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles. He and Jeromy Burnitz probably would have made for a nice OF platoon in 1994 but the Mets evidently had other plans.

I made the 100-mile trip from my home in northern New Jersey to Philadelphia to see this game. I sat in the upper deck along the first base line behind the Phillies' dugout at the now (thankfully) defunct Veterans Stadium. The game was a hitting battle over the first five innings in which both the Mets and Phils fell behind and then caught up to tie or go ahead. Solid relief pitching then took over on both sides and it ended when Todd Hundley struck out after not quite checking his swing in time.

On Milt Thompson's home run during the Phillies' six-run second inning, the ball seemed to have a mind of its own and wanted to get over the fence. It looked like it was going to be a shallow fly ball that left fielder Jim Lindeman would catch easily. However, it kept rising until it somehow found its way into the Mets bullpen. I had never seen a baseball travel like that before.

I also remember the double hit by Phils' pitcher Shawn Boskie in the bottom of the fifth. It was a high drive that caromed off the top of the center field wall. There was a dispute between Phillies' manager Jim Fregosi and the umpires about whether the ball hit the wall itself or the backdrop behind it and, therefore, should've been ruled a home run. Boskie wound up with a two-base hit after things were settled. This was the closest that a pitcher would come to hitting a homer in any major league game I ever attended.

After arriving back home very late that night, I watched a few innings of the game's rebroadcast on the SportsChannel cable station. I stayed up just long enough to see Hundley's two-run double in the top of the fifth for the second time. Knowing how the game turned out after that point, I then shut off the TV and went to sleep.

Pete Smith gives up a season-high 4 home runs as the Mets get swept by the Phillies. It's the most given up by any Mets pitcher in 1994, as well as the most the Phillies would hit in a game all year. Smith wound up allowing 25 gopherballs in 1994 to lead the NL. The Phillies actually got a hit in every inning but one and had a hit or walk to lead off an inning 7 of 8 times -- including 3 leadoff dingers.

Interestingly, Smith and Phillies starter Tommy Greene were teammates for the Braves in 1989 and 1990. Greene made it into the 6th inning but had to be removed after walking back-to-back batters. Turns out, his arm was hurt and he'd consequently miss over a year of action before finally returning to the mound, although he was never the same. Dave Hollins also got hurt in this game while sliding head first into first base as Smith accidentally stepped on his hand. See kids, this is why you don't slide head first into first! Hollins missed 2 months, came back for 1 game, and was then shutdown for the remainder of the season as well.

For the Mets, Luis Rivera homered in his first start of the season. The Phillies broadcast said it was the first HR given up by a Philly starter in 81 innings. I also researched to find that Lenny Dykstra was in the midst of a 15-game streak with a walk, which is the longest in Phillies history.

I remember going to this game with my dad, cousin Dan and my Uncle Dave. I was in fifth grade and my cousin was in fourth. It was a good game during the horrible pre-Valentine 90's. Bret Saberhagen pitched a good game in his only solid season as a Met. John Franco looked like he was going to blow it in the ninth. With runners on and two outs, a flyball was hit to center. It looked like it was going to fall in, but Ryan Thompson made a diving catch to put the finishing touches on a 4-3 Mets win. My cousin and I shouted with joy. Awesome memory.

Cool story, Anthony. Glad you were able to get such an awesome memory with your family. I, too, thought Franco was bound to blow this one. He got the first 2 batters out, then gave up 3 straight singles to Pete Incaviglia, Lenny Dykstra and Mariano Duncan, even though he was a strike away from ending the game with all of them. As you mentioned, Ricky Jordan then plunked a soft flyball to CF that Thompson dove for and caught for the last out. Thompson also drove in what was ultimately the deciding run with a 2-out single in the 8th.

The Mets managed just one extra-base hit in the game, that a David Segui double in the 8th. Half their runs were scored thanks to Philly errors: one on a throwing error by Kim Batiste in the 5th, and one when Jeff Kent reached on another error by Batiste in the 7th and then scored when Joe Orsulak grounded into a double play.

As Anthony mentioned, Saberhagen was really sharp but labored through his final 2 innings. He would load the bases in the 7th on his first walk in 47.2 innings, but get pinch-hitter Tony Longmire to ground out to end the threat. The Phillies loaded the bases again in the 8th but failed to score against Josias Manzanillo, who otherwise struck out the side and continued his fantastic season as the new Mets setup man.

Kevin McReynolds left the game after straining his groin running out a groundball in the 1st and would miss close to a month of action. In reality, he only had 10 games left in his major league career before he'd retire. Also of note, this was the day Ryne Sandberg abruptly announced his retirement. He did so knowingly giving up $16 million in salary, which was quite the sum back in the day.

Ahh the night the Rangers won the Stanley Cup!! Remember reading in the paper the next morning that Gooden had lost. The stadium was probably dead that night because everyone was partying on 34th street.

With the strike looming, the Mets looked like a team with no interest in the season any more, going through the motions in losing 5-1. They put 8 first-pitch swings in play, including Bonilla and Kent in the 9th. Can't say I blame them for the mentality, but it sucks watching a team you have a rooting interest in just not care at all.

Curt Schilling had a stinker of a year but ended it on a high note by recording a complete game -- his 5th in his first 7 career starts against the Mets. The Mets just couldn't solve him in the early 1990s, and they actually wouldn't get their first win against Schilling until 1996. He only allowed 5 singles and 1 walk, and even snapped Rico Brogna's 15-game hitting streak, which wound up being the longest of his career.

On the other hand, Mike Remlinger was terrible and probably cost himself a shot at being considered for a spot in the starting rotation in 1995 with this performance. He gave up 11 hits, which tied a career high. I believe this was also the last WWOR telecast of the year.

The final win for the 1994 Mets, and Bret Saberhagen. It was a typical outing for him that season, as he only allowed 1 run and 1 walk. Amazingly, he had more wins (14) than walks that year (13). If it wasn't a for guy named Maddux, Bret would have gotten some serious consideration for the Cy Young.

Listening to this game on the radio, knowing that the strike was on as soon as the game ended, was one of the most interminable experiences ever. And the game simply wouldn't end. I don't even remember how it ended, only that when it did, I glumly tossed my walkman aside and went to sleep.

I went down to Philly that night thinking that it would be the last game of the year. By the 12th inning everyone in the stadium, both Mets and Phils fans were saying that if the negotiators tried this hard to save the season the strike would've been averted. We were also hoping that if this game went long enough it would be the last game of the year. Turns out a game in Seattle ended about 45 minutes after this one did. This was also the last time I saw Fernando Valenzuela pitch.

One more bit of trivia about this game...it was the final major league game for Kevin McReynolds, Jeff McKnight, Jim Lindeman, Mauro Gozzo, and Roger Mason. All of those players got into tonight's game for the Mets.

Also, former Mets Daryl Boston (Yanks), Bill Pecota (Braves), and Randy Milligan (Expos) played their final games on this date.

After the game, this is where Bobby Bum told Ch. 7's Art McFarland (I always felt sorry for Art) to "Make His Move". Yet another "feel good" moment in Mets Misery er I mean History.

This game was the last game before the players turned their backs on the fans and went on strike and wiped out the rest of the season as well as all of the postseason. It was on my 23rd birthday as well. Nice birthday present to go on strike. Since I now live in South Florida, I did go to the Marlins-Cardinals game that night knowing it might be the last of baseball for 1994 and it was.

Also the Mets did finish at 55-58 which to me was not too bad of a record considering how disastrous it was the last year in 1993.

The Mets go out with a whimper, able to scratch out just one run against the Phillies in a 15-inning loss. I love reading these comments, everyone had such great anecdotes. I didn't even realize so many Mets were playing in their last games, thanks for sharing Bob. And who can forget Bonilla's epic rant. Couldn't blame Bonilla for being grumpy -- after all, he just played 14 innings in a stinker of a loss (he was lifted in the 15th for Luis Rivera), had a bum shoulder he needed to get surgery on, and Art certainly hit a nerve with the question. But he should have just walked away or kept quiet. That just wasn't the Bobby Bo way.

This was the first time the Mets faced Valenzuela since 1990, and their unfamiliarity sure showed, as he tallied his highest strikeout total (7) in a game since also 1990. Lindeman touched him for his only run, a solo homer in the 4th. The Mets had a couple other chances, like in the 7th when Kent's double put runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out, but Segui popped out and then Ryan Thompson was intentionally walked to bring up Brogna for the lefty/lefty matchup, and he flew out to left to end the inning. They also put 2 runners on base in the 9th and 11th but couldn't get the big hit.

Getting the start in RF, Lindeman helped cut down a runner at the plate in the 2nd, but his misjudge of a line drive in the 5th allowed the Phillies to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with no one out. Jason Jacome, who continued his great pitching since getting called up, induced Billy Hatcher to ground out to 2nd, but that allowed Randy Ready to score for the Phils' only run until the 15th. That's when the Mets intentionally walked the bases loaded, not wanting Mauro Gozzo to face either John Kruk or Lenny Dykstra and instead go after Kim Batiste and Ricky Jordan. Batiste, who developed a bit of a reputation as a Met killer and just missed a game-winning hit that went foul in the 13th, struck out, but Jordan came through with a first-pitch single to end the game and the season for both teams.

Former Met Tom Edens got the win and Gozzo wound up taking the loss in his last ever ML game. I was surprised in such a long game Dallas Green never turned to Jose Vizcaino, Fernando Vina or Jeromy Burnitz, who all stayed on the bench until the very end. Finally, there's Tim Bogar, who ended his awful season going 0-for-7. I looked up to see who the last Met was to go hitless in at least 7 ABs in a game: Todd Frazier, 0-for-7 with 4 strikeouts in a 16-inning loss at San Francisco in 2019.

I was at this night game with my dad, mom, and grandma (dad's mother). I believe it was the same day as my sixth grade class graduation. It was an awful game.

I remember I got Phillies outfielder Tom Marsh's autograph, and he hit two homers in the game. That has happened before with me, such as when I got Moises Alou's autograph at a game in 1994. He ended up whacking two homers in that game, including a bomb that I believe went as high as the upper deck. Bobby Jones started this game, and did not do bad. He only gave up a total of four runs in seven innings. They were not all earned.

My grandma said how she remembers me trying to auction off our season tickets during the game because of how they had been playing. What a graduation gift for the Mets to give me that night, LOL! This was the third game of a four-game series in which the Mets would be swept. The Phillies had been playing awesome baseball.

As for the Mets, this was one of the seasons Dallas Green was managing. Need I say more? But, the game was still fun in a way.

Anthony, look at it this way...you were there for 40% of Tom Marsh's career home runs! Marsh finished his career with five homers in 93 career games, all with the Phillies.

How on Earth the Phillies had the best record in the National League on this date I'll never know. Their lineup looked more suited for a spring training game than a contest in late June. I can honestly say, even as a pretty astute baseball fan, I've never heard of a bunch of these guys. Tom Marsh? Gene Schall? Lenny Webster? Mike Mimbs? And yet, the offense pounded out 19 hits and Mimbs went the distance in an easy Philly win, completing a 4-game sweep at Shea. It's the second year in a row they've swept the Mets in 4 games in NY -- but, as of this writing, is the last time it's ever occurred.

Perhaps it wasn't that the Phillies were so dominant, but more the Mets were so inept. Bill Pulsipher, making his second big league start, had to deal with at least 2 base runners in every one of the 7 innings he pitched. He wound up giving up 14 hits, which would go on to be the most he ever allowed in a game in his career. Even after surrendering 7 runs in his debut, I'd still say his first start was better than this one, as the Phillies teed off against him from start to finish. Not that Jerry DiPoto or Pete Walker were any better.

Meanwhile, the entirety of the Mets scoring came in the 2nd inning, thanks to an opposite-field solo homer run by Jeff Kent and a 2-out RBI single by Jose Vizcaino. There wasn't much else besides that, as they squandered 4 lead-off singles and hit into 3 double plays. The bottom has completely fallen out on a Mets team that looked poised to start contending again in 1994, and I would very much be a part of the bandwagon arguing to sell off everything and dump Dallas Green if taken back to that time period.

This was the first game I attended after the strike (I had intended to sit out the entire '95 season but didn't quite make it). Back then, Juden v. Pulsipher promised a match-up of Future All-Stars, not of Future Washed-Up Nut-Jobs.

Jose Vizcaino had the big hit when the Mets batted around against Heathcliffe Slocumb in the 10th.