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Joe Christopher

Joe Christopher
Ultimate Mets Database popularity ranking: 177 of 1218 players
Christopher
Joseph O'Neal Christopher
Born: December 13, 1935 at Frederiksted, U.S. Virgin Islands
Died: October 3, 2023 at Edgewood, Md.
Throws: Right Bats: Right
Height: 5.10 Weight: 175

Joe Christopher was the most popular Ultimate Mets Database daily lookup on July 20, 2015, October 12, 2018, February 12, 2019, December 13, 2020, August 20, 2021, December 13, 2021, and October 4, 2023.

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First Mets game: May 21, 1962
Last Mets game: October 3, 1965

Share your memories of Joe Christopher

HERE IS WHAT OTHER METS FANS HAVE TO SAY:

Bob Koenig
January 23, 2001
I saw Joe Christopher hit a home run into the bleachers at the old Polo Grounds, the longest homer I've ever seen. Up until then, only one man - Joe Adcock, had reached the bleachers in the Polo Grounds (475 feet) in dead center.

harvey k
January 29, 2002
joe would actually wiggle his ears in left field at home games to entertain the met fans.

Alan
March 16, 2002
He used to wheel his bat around in a circle when he was at bat, an unusual stance for a guy who was a better then average hitter

Bob Sohm
July 16, 2002
I have fond memories of "Joltin' Joe." In addition to his hidden talents of wiggling his ears for the fans, who could forget his dancing talents? Every fly ball was an adventure for Joe as it was neccesary for him to do the cha-cha as he camped under the ball.

Ken Morrison
October 13, 2003
I remember seeing Joe hit a home run at Candlestick Park that hit on top of the chain link fence (they had the fences "moved in" that season) and bounced over.

Feat Fan
February 23, 2004
Always smiling! I remember a picture of him in the '65 yearbook sliding into third base with one of his team leading 9 triples. A .300 16-76 season in '64, gone in '66. Played for the WS winners of 1960, The Pirates. Had that unique stance with bat held high. Could run, hit, but fielding was not a strong point. Wore number 23.

Nancy Kelley
October 18, 2004
I remember fond memories of Joe in the Red Sox dugout and looking at my brother, Arthur and I and wiggling his ears.

I also remember the day Joe was walking down Jersey Street at Fenway and my friends and I asked Joe for his autograph. I was probably 12 or 13 years old at the time and gave Joe the reverse side of my dance studio ticket. When Joe turned the ticket over he asked what this was and I told him it was a dance show at Kennedy Jr. High in Natick and could he make it. He said he would if the Sox were playing at home that April 30th Saturday.

Well sure enough that memorable April 30th night at the show, Joe showed up. My father jumped on the stage to announce a Red Sox celebrity had just arrived. Joe was so great. He borrowed Chuck Schilling's (2nd baseman for Red Sox) car to get to the show and then went out to eat with us. What player would do that today? I think none or then again maybe some for a price.

If anyone knows how to contact Joe, either by e-mail or regular mail please e-mail me. I'd love to tell him, as an adult, how he made a lot of people very happy and what a great person he is.

Feat Fan
March 22, 2006
At Shea, Jim Maloney fires a one-hitter in the Reds, 3–0, win over the Mets. Joe Christopher's 2nd-inning single is the only hit. Earlier, on August 9th, Joe's 5th inning single breaks up Jim Bunning's attempt at a 2nd no hitter!

He was to the Mets what Horace Clarke was to the Yankees in the early 70's, a no-hit spoiling specialist!

Michael Feldman
August 9, 2019
My best memory of Joe Christopher was that he tied up the 2nd game of the longest doubleheader in baseball history with a 3-run homer. It was my first visit to Shes Stadium. I was already on the train when I heard the homer on my transistor radio. I got home and listened to the end of the second game which lasted 23 innings. A young Gaylord Perry was in that game in relief. Mets lost.

JEFF GOLD
June 8, 2020
I was at the Memorial Day DH in 1964 at the 23-inning 2nd game when Joe hit a 3-run HR to tie game at 6. Rookie Gaylord Perry pitched I think 9 or 10 inn of no-hit ball in relief. Ed Kranepool was called up that day and played in the 2nd game. Mets turned triple play and lost game on Del Crandall’s rbi hit which I missed standing on line at pay phone calling my mom. I was 14 years old and she was worried.

Craig Watanabe
December 22, 2020
It was the last double header at the Polo Grounds, I believe Sept or Oct, 1963. My two friends and I brought our gloves (of course) and sat in the highest bleachers in foul territory in left field. Joe was taking batting practice. We were sitting in the last row or so when Joe hit what looked like a low liner to where we were were, and for some reason I got up and started racing towards the ball that kept on rising. Almost running out of room before hitting the railing I caught the ball in the webbing of my, from start to finish, outstretched glove! That ball just cleared the railing! BUT my forever baseball moment was when Joe pointed his bat at me and then turned to coach Solly Hemus motioning that ‘the kid caught the ball!’ I still have the ball and would love for him to autograph it someday. And also to ask him if he remembers that moment..... probably not? Joe, are you reading this?

Another happening was at the 23 inning game that he tied with a 3-run homer. I was sitting in the high, in play, left field seats. I could swear that Willie Mays reached up to catch the ball and it deflected off his glove over the wall! Had he not touched the ball I believe it would’ve hit the tip top of the wall and bounced back in play. That was seen with sharp 14 year old eye sight.

Thanks all,for letting me share! I’d love to meet and talk with Joe one day. I marveled how those poor Mets had two bonafide .300 hitters that year with Joe and Ron Hunt.

Ed K
March 8, 2021
One of the relatively few MLB players from the Virgin Islands. Am I correct that cricket is a bigger sport there?

It was Dick Young who came up with the line in 1965 that with an outfield of Joe Christopher, Ron Swoboda, and Danny Napoleon, every fly ball was an adventure!

All in all, a decent hitter who batted .300 one year.

Michael Trager
October 4, 2023
He was the first major league ball player from St Croix. He won a World Series ring with the 1960 Pirates, appearing in a few World Series games as a pinch runner.

The Mets drafted Christopher and he shuttled between the Mets and their AAA farm team, in both 1962 and 1963. He had a career year in 1964, when he came out of nowhere and batted .300. His three run home run tied the score at 6-6, which culminated into a 24 inning marathon, in which the Mets ultimately lost by a score of 8-6 to the SF Giants.

By 1965, he regressed, to a .249 average and at the end of the season he was traded to the Boston Red Sox for Ed Bressoud. The Red Sox traded him to the Tigers who sent him to Triple A. He never played again in the major leagues. He seemed to have a sunny disposition, and would wiggle his ears which was a crowd pleaser, especially to this 8 year old.

He became an artist after his playing days ended. When I was in St Croix, during New Years, I visited the Art Museum of the Caribbean, to ascertain whether any of Joe’s art was displayed there, or if I could purchase one of his paintings. But unfortunately, they were unfamiliar with his work.

Today was a sad day for me, as another one of my childhood heroes has passed away. Rest in peace, Joe.








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