Ultimate Mets Database - Memories of Duke Carmel

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Duke Carmel
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Memories of
Duke Carmel

Duke Carmel
Ultimate Mets Database popularity ranking: 282 of 1234 players

Leon James Carmel
Born: April 23, 1937 at New York, N.Y.
Died: August 3, 2021 at New Orleans, La.
Throws: Left Bats: Left
Height: 6.03 Weight: 202

Duke Carmel was the most popular Ultimate Mets Database daily lookup on October 27, 2018, October 5, 2019, and August 7, 2021.

First Mets game: July 30, 1963
Last Mets game: September 29, 1963

Share your memories of Duke Carmel

HERE IS WHAT OTHER METS FANS HAVE TO SAY:

Paul Mount
Wasn't Duke Carmel the guy Jim Bouton talked about in BALL FOUR, as being one of these hot prospects that kept getting excuses made for him, like he had a bad spring so someone said "maybe you just can't hit in Florida" and eventually that border line was moved up to the Mason-Dixon line. Guess Duke was one of those players who was on both teams, as I recently acquired a Duke Carmel baseball card from when he was on the Yankees.

Bill Schulhoff
March 28, 2001
Was my summer league coach and friend 1974, 1975, 1976. Taught me more baseball in three short summers than all of my other coaches combined.

Gary Sacino
April 13, 2002
He was an East Harlem boy that went to my school, Benjamin Franklin H.S. which turned out a lot of minor league ball players. Duke made it to the top. We had John Malingone, Nicky Alosi, Bernie Ferrara and myself played in the minors. The boys from Harlem were all proud of Duke Carmel, at least he had a great opportunity.

FRED of Nyack
March 26, 2003
The Duke hit an opposite field home run to win a game against the Dodgers. (Perhaps Casey's birthday- and perhaps against Don Drysdale.)
I remember a banner while Duke Snider was also on the team so I guess we are talking about 1964 that read: "CASEY PUT UP YOUR DUKES"
In the late 1970's he was a "ringer" on the WCBS-TV softball team as a catcher.

Ken Morrison
November 15, 2003
per Fred of Nyack- That question has humbled many a self-proclaimed baseball trivia expert- What did a Mets fan want when he exhibited a sign saying "Mets-put up your Dukes?" Some of the more perceptive realize that Duke Snider is somehow involved in the answer, but NOO-body EVER gets Duke Carmel!

Doctor Worm
May 26, 2005
Duke Carmel is the answer to another trivia question -- the first Met to later go on to play for the Yankees.

Ed K
May 24, 2006
One other trivia question involving Duke: He was the player Cleon Jones replaced in the latter's first Major League game.

Jamey Bumbalo
October 28, 2006
The 1963 Mets were probably the only team ever to have two Dukes the same season (Carmel and Snider). Years ago I sent him a letter asking for his autograph, and he promptly accommodated me.

Dan Gurney
November 21, 2007
Word of career advice: Never tell your boss (Casey Stengel) that his Yankee teams had so much talent anyone could win with them if you are a lousy player like Carmel was.

ken of Buffalo
August 18, 2011
Duke Carmel played for the Buffalo Bisons in the minor leagues and he was my all-time favorite player. (And still is.) Yeah, he struck out a lot but he could hit home runs up on the roof in right field at old War Memorial Stadium with the best of them. When Duke got called up to the Yankees just for pinch hitting purposes I would listen on my transistor radio just to see how he made out. Duke was the BEST when he was with Buffalo!

JG
August 11, 2015
I met Duke through a friends father who was also in the Liquor Business at the time and spent a lot of time boating with him on the Great South Bay in the early 80's. He was a great guy and a lot of fun, that boat was loaded with so much liquor it wasn't even funny !

DJM
October 22, 2019
I was friends with Duke's son back in the late 70's. He was the nicest dad you ever could meet. He always spent time with the boys on the weekend and yes he was in liquors sales back then, but I never saw him tipsy. He was a class guy and gifted to have made it to the majors. I will never forget him.

Doug Paquette
April 3, 2020
Duke Carmel was my baseball coach during the mid1970s. Not only was he an outstanding coach who devoted countless hours trying to make us into better ball players, he was an even greater role model and man.

Mike T.
November 22, 2021
Duke signed twice for me through the mail. The first time he didn't sign on the card but instead on the plastic penny sleeve holding the card. Hunh? The second time was on the card. RiP

John vogel
September 15, 2022
I recall Duke as an excellent Connie Mack League Baseball Coach for Coram Sports. He would always wear a uniform during games. Showing his players what a player should look like on the field. I’ve been reading some of the posts of his former players. It’s great to see how he transferred his knowledge to his players. I for some reason always remember him coaching first base for his boys. I never played for him. But I played against him and his teams in many games. He was always a presence on the field. RIP Duke Carmel