Ultimate Mets Database - Memories of Tommie Agee

Frederick
Tommie Agee was the most exciting player I had ever seen when I was growing up. When I was 8, I carved his name into my dresser drawer. My mother was furious, but I still have that dresser.

Tommie Agee
I had one of my first lessons in racial equality as a result of my love of Tommie Agee. I had a #20 Mets shirt that I wore all the time. I had to play centerfield and I had to hit leadoff. I had to look just like Tommie Agee, but since I was caucasian that wasn't really possible. Once I mentioned to my mom how disappointed I was that Tommie Agee was black. She completely went off one me lecturing me firmly that the color of someone's skin made absolutely no difference.

What I meant was that I was sad that I could never entirely look like my hero. But I got my mom's message and I remember it every time I see the remnants of Tommie Agee's name etched in my dresser.

I cried when the Mets traded him to Houston and I wasn't ashamed of it.

Keith
Tommy saved the 1969 championship with his great plays in center field. He should be considered one of the best all-around players in Mets history. Tommy could hit, field, and steal bases. Without him, Baltimore wins in 1969.

shutterbug
Tommie Agee was my son's idol when he was growing up. I'll never forget the reaction of a black lady who selling Met pins outside Shea when he picked Agee's pin. She said "Is that his favorite?" I said "Sure is" She said "That's WONDERFUL!!" She couldn't believe that this redheaded blue eyed 8 yearold picked Agee over Seaver, Koosman, Garrett, et al.

BIGSTRO
I vividly remember Agee hitting a leadoff home run off of Bill Hands in a key series vs the Cubs in 1969. Hands had decked him with the first pitch and Tommie hammered the next offering over the CF fence. The HOMER energized the entire team and Chicago was never the same. He hit 26 homers in that golden year and 24 in 1970; not to mention his two extraordinary catches vs Paul Blair and Elrod Hendricks in Game 3 of the 69 World Series.

T.King
I'm a lawyer in NYC. Met Tommie Agee a few years ago, he had his own title insurance company. We spoke about the '69 Mets, he had wonderful things to say about Gil Hodges. Remember the shoe polish ball, he said that Gil got the benefit of the doubt because the umpires had total respect for him. Tommie had his doubts about whether that ball hit the batter, he said he always wondered if Gil had pulled one over on the umps.

Jerry O.
January 22, 2001
Sad day for us '69 Mets fans. I remember the World Series catchs...fantastic...I faked being sick to stay home and watch the game! Guess my parents figured out I was feeling pretty good by the way I was screaming and roling around on the floor during the game. I even emulated his batting style, measuring my distance from the plate laying the bat out across it, like he did. Gone to soon.

Bob
January 23, 2001
All of us old enough to remember the '69 Mets will always remember Tommie fondly. He was the guy who had so many big hits, from the beginning of the year, to the September game where Bill Hands knocked him down in the first inning and he got up and took Hands over the wall, to the leadoff homer in Game 3 and the great catches. Tommie never got enough credit for what he meant to the team, and unfortunately, when his skills deteriorated, he was shipped off to Houston and ended his career a year or two later. God bless you, Tommie, for all the joy you brought to me and all fans of the wonderful '69 team.

cj
January 23, 2001
I met tommie in Massapequa, Long Island in 1988. I had gotten into an elevator and said to him, Excuse me sir, but aren't you former Met outfielder Tommie Agee?" and he said with a great big smile, "I sure am." He was honored to be recognized. I was saddened by the news of his death.

Big Daddy
January 25, 2001
I was sad to hear that Tommie Agee passed away. He was taken too soon. He was my childhood hero. The memory of the 1969 season will forever be etched in my mind. I was lucky enough to meet him 2 years ago at Chelsea Pier in Manhattan. He was great! No ego, no pretense; he spoke with me for about five minutes. I'm glad I had the chance to thank him for all the wonderful memories he gave me.

rg
February 1, 2001
One of the true Met heroes...his death makes us all sad. Something about Tommie that I didn't hear on the radio or TV was that - remarkably as he was still in middle age - he was the first African-American to be named the American League Rookie of the Year.

EG
February 14, 2001
I can't believe how his death affected so many people I know. He was a baseball hero to many of us who became baseball fans in the 69-72 era. I remember how depressing it was when the Mets got rid of him. Another player M. Donald Grant soured on. (At least he was in good company.)

Tom McGoldrick
March 14, 2001
Tommie Agee's 2 catches in the World Series are forever imprinted in my mind. He was an extremely exciting player who made the Miracle of '69 happen.

Marilyn Sessa
April 5, 2001
I enjoyed the thrills he brought us with his everyday play and the '69 W.S.-but his attitude bring out the best in his teammates. I count myself very fortunate that I was at the game July 30th to celebrate the team's 10 Greatest Moments. When he was announced it was an honor to see him in person 1 last time. I'll always treasure that memory and to know I have the pregame ceremonies on tape.

Pete M. - Idaho
April 8, 2001
I remember being at Shea and seeing Gary Gentry duel Juan Marichal in August of 1969 (August 19 if my memory is OK). Tug Mc Graw had relieved Gentry in about the 9th inning but Marichal stayed in the whole way. It was scoreless until the bottom of the 12th. Tommie led off the inning with a HR and we all went home very happy! 1-0 and beating Marichal to boot!

Thomas "Tommie" Clark
May 30, 2001
Boy. Where to begin? I guess you could say I idolized Tommie Agee. I ran like him. Imitated his stance and swing. Always wore #20 in Little League. Insisted on playing CF. I dived for as many fly balls as I could. Although it was not my decision, I indeed batted leadoff -- my coach felt I could hit and run - though he didn't know Tommie was my favorite Met. I even spelled my name "Tommie" for the longest time.

One of my fondest memories is standing, laughing, joyfully yelling with my three brothers, mother and father in front of the TV set, as the Mets from Mobile showered each other with hugs and champagne in that innocent clubhouse after the 69 series. Wow.

A more exciting player you couldn't have wanted on your team. Imagine how scary it was to face Agee at the plate. The best part is that he was a true gentleman. Watch him after his home run and catches in Game 3. No showboating. No curtain calls. Dignity. Professionalism. Class. That's what makes it so special -- and so cruel that he's gone.

I also had the good fortune to meet him -- twice. Once at a clinic in NJ, where he and Art Shamsky were demonstrating how to play ball. No kidding -- Tommie let me wear his glove -- to shag some fly balls he was hitting. You had to see me -- a 30 year old guy in the outfield with a dozen 8 year olds. Guess who made most of the catches -- until he was asked to sit down? Then I met him again at an autograph signing in Long Island after the 30 year reunion. Tommie politely listened to me as I thanked him for what he meant to me and my family, what he taught me about race relations, about winning, and perseverance.

He was again, a true gentleman, and I miss him so much. I cried when he was traded, then sobbed when he died. One of my colleagues knew of my fondness for Tommie. He stuck a note on my door under a picture of Tommie: "Traded to the Angels," it said. Thanks Tommie, you never let me down. God graced you with talent and you glorified his name. You were my hero. May you rest in peace.

Joe Figliola
July 23, 2001
Although I never saw it, and I don't think there is any recorded history of it, I always try to imagine how much TNT Tommie had in those guns of his to put a ball into the upper deck at Shea in April 1969 against the Expos.

I would say that along with John Milner and Mike Piazza, Agee probably was one of the most explosive power hitters the Mets ever had. An example? May 1972. The Mets came back from a 6-0 deficit against the San Diego Padres to tie the game. In the bottom of the 10th, Tommie scorched one over the right field fence to win the game and make the very first game I ever scored a memorable one.

What sucks about Agee's numbers is that he ended up with 999 career hits. Had the Mets not dumped him, he not only would've been a four-digit man, but probably would've put up greater hit and extra base numbers as a Met. Damn!

Mike
July 31, 2001
Even thought he was before my time (I was born in 68), as a young kid we would always try to make "tommie agee catches" when playing catch. In 1988 I saw him in a local department store. I chatted with him and he showed me his Series Ring and gave me an autograph, it was very thrilling.

Cappy
August 22, 2001
I remember my 4th grade teacher bringing a TV into the class so we could watch the '69 World Series (He justified it by saying we were watching history in the making, Boy was he right!) I saw Tommie make those awesome catches in CF and was hooked. The following year on my 10th birthday I got to go to a game and Tommie stole home. It still ranks as the most thrilling thing I ever saw at a game in person.

Mr. Sparkle
October 2, 2001
I always mixed him and Cleon Jones up. I was only a kid when they played together but in adulthood I could never remember who did what. Which played center and which played right? Who hit .340? Who made the great World Series catches? Who wore 20, who wore 21? I've thought about enough now that I can remember but I usually have to think a bit. A is first alphabetically so Agee is 20. The rest follows.

Bill
October 2, 2001
Tommie Agee was my Willie Mays. He had the style in the outfield, the power, and the speed. On an April Tuesday in 1970, my parents snuck me and about eight neighbrhood kids out of school to watch the Mets play an exhibition game against West Point. Tommie Agee pulled one over the left field fence, over the street, and onto the roof of some prestigous, stately building set far from the street - a 500 footer easily. Through the eyes of six year old kid who already thought he was a superhero it might as well never have landed. Once every year or two I have the opportunity to walk those grounds on a football Saturday, and I get misty eyed when I stand on that diamond and think back to that day. Thanks, Tommie.

Jujo
December 20, 2001
Tommie was probably my all-time favorite Met. I am sorry that he passed away at such an early age. I wish his last days with the Mets in 1972 were not battling Manager Yogi Berra-that is why he was traded.

Dave Shaw
February 1, 2002
I met Agee in 1989 at the grand opening of his beer distributorship in Coram. He told me he played 12 years in the big leagues and "nobody wants to talk about the other 11."

Jim Snedeker
April 15, 2002
I'll always remember watching the Mets on WOR-TV in 1970, when Tommie stole home in a game, and remember how surprised and excited Lindsey Nelson was when he called it: "AND HERE'S A STEAL OF HOME!!!"

Being that I was a new baseball fan, I thought that stealing home would happen often. But I don't think I've ever seen another attempt in the 32 years since then.

Feat Fan
May 4, 2002
One of the ten finest CF I ever saw play, potent bat,great instincts. Terrible loss. Was the first real exciting Met combining power,speed and a cannon.

GOD Bless his spirit and surviving family and friends.

Larry Burns
June 3, 2002
Tommie was the Man in the 1969 Series. His two catches were among the greatest fielding treats I have ever seen in a really big spot. I was saddened when I heard he passed a few years ago. He seemed like a really likable guy. On Sports Extra, they were doing a retrospective on the 69 team and they had Tommie on. I guess he owned a bar near Shea and they gave it a plug for being on. Bill Mazur said, "If you're up near Shea stop into Tommie Agee's Bar." Tommie responds, "Thanks Bill, everybody come on in." Mazur adds, "Drinks are on Tommie." With that Agee in a complete deadpan says, "I don't know about that." Mazur had nowhere to go with the interview. It was great.

Larry B
October 10, 2002
Tommie Agee is my all time favorite Met. Growing up in Brooklyn I remember my buddies and I in 68 and 69 wanting to play like him. It's a shame that he is not recognized as one of the all time Mets greats, because he was.

Mr. Sparkle
November 5, 2002
Tommie was one of the true great. He's forgotten by many of the Gen-X Met fans when compiling lists of all time great Mets but he was really a great fielder and a clutch hitter. Those World Series catches he made still give me chills. He was rookie of the year for the White Sox I think and he was part of one good trade the Mets made way back when. It was great to see him inducted into the Mets hall of fame, it's just a shame he wasn't around to see it.

Tom Clark
December 4, 2002
Tommie Agee was a man with great dignity and class. I think he was the most exciting Met of all time. Lindsay Nelson said that he had the mannerisms of Willie Mays. Even as he ran across the outfield -- immediately after his World Series catches -- he didn't showboat or pump his fist or wave his hat or do a curtain call. "Just doing my job." I wonder what became of those baseballs - - knowing Tommie, he probably flipped them to the umpire and never gave them a second thought.

Metsmind
December 23, 2002
First time Tommie Agee ever stepped up to the plate in a Mets uniform, first spring training game at Al Lang Field vs. Bob Gibson and the World Champion Cardinals on a Saturday afternoon, 1968. The game was televised back to NY. Gibby welcomed Agee to the National League by plunking him behind his ear in an exhibition game! 1968 proved not to be Tommie's year. 1969 it got better, you all may recall!

Bob R.
January 6, 2003
Tommie was my favorite Met on the '69 team. He was coming off of a terrible season that year, but his hitting and fielding was critical to winning the pennant in '69. I will never forget sitting high up in the left field stands at Shea in October '69 at the first World Series game ever played at Shea. Tommie blasted a huge homer to center field leading off, and then made those two great catches that saved the game. That was one of the best single performances in World Series history. His career wasn't long but it will always be remembered.

TheDurkinBoy
June 7, 2003
Nothing makes me feel 10 years old again like the name Tommie Agee. Oh how I loved Tommie & Cleon!

DAVE SISTARO
June 20, 2003
As a 8 year old I sent fan mail out to Seaver, Swoboda and Agee. Coming off a World Series those were my heroes. Agee was the only one to respond with a autographed picture which I treasure today. Agee was my 1st sports hero.

Dave LeMay
July 20, 2003
Everyone has a childhood hero, Tommie Agee was my idol. I grew up in a neighborhood full of Yankee fans. But as a diehard Met fan I always asserted myself and stuck by my team. When people asked who my favorite player was they were surprised to hear that it wasn't Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman or Bud Harrelson. It was Tommie Agee. I batted like Tommie Agee, I ran like Tommie Agee and I played outfield like Tommie Agee, not bad for fat kid living in upstate New York. In my late 30s I finally had the chance to meet Tommie Agee. I was a nervous wreck, I felt like a little kid again. Tommie was very gracious. He signed all my Met items including a Cooperstown Mets team bat. I was very saddened by his passing and will cherish all the good memories of my childhood as I played ball in the summertime. Because I was Tommie Agee!

Steven G
August 12, 2003
I was born in 1968, so I did not see Tommie Agee play.

There is a marked spot at Shea Stadium in the upper deck in left field where, apparently, Agee hit the only upper deck HR in Shea history. (Maybe only surpassed in distance by Mo Vaughn, Mark McGwire, Darryl Strawberry and possibly even Daryl Boston hitting the big scoreboard in right-center field)

I believe I read an earlier message which indicated that it was in 1969. I have never seen film or video footage of this HR. Is anybody aware of what the Mets television coverage consisted of during this time, topped only by the same situation with Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game.

Bob P
August 13, 2003
Steven, I'm pretty sure the monster home run was hit in April of 1970. I was 15 at the time and I remember hearing about it...the game was not on TV in New York.

Metsmind
August 13, 2003
To Steven G Agee's titanic homer occured in the 2nd or 3rd game of the 1969 season, a day game vs Montreal. The game was televised, as almost all games were back then, on Channel 9, WOR.

Diamond Dave
September 10, 2003
I was born in '62 just like the Mets & attended my first Met game in '69, just 6 years old. The Mets beat the Reds, & Tug got the save, I don't remember what Tommie did but I do remember Game 3 of the series that year" Shamsky with Agee..Agee dives and he makes the catch." I was hooked on Agee & the next year I was thrilled to open a pack of Topps cards and get that cool card of Agee sliding into second base. He is my all time favorite Met and I always played center, tapped the plate with my bat and pounded my glove before the catch. When the Mets were not on TV my dad would let me listen to the radio in bed and I rememnber Tommie hitting a long Homer against Montreal one night. I always visit the spot in the upper deck and where Tommie homered in '69. Met him once, he was a nice and friendly man. When he died I wept.

Stevie B.
March 28, 2004
I'm too young to have seen him play, but all I know is that if you stand by the marking on the wall in the upper deck where his home run landed...It's amazing, an absolute bomb! That's one they should find in the old channel 9 archives.

Nicholas Koliarakis
June 2, 2004
Even though my all time favorite New York Met was Tom Seaver, Tommie Agee ranks a very close second. If I had to pick a third place candidate, it would probably be Jerry Koosman. But Agee ranks highly on my list of favorite Met players with good reason. He had great power for a leadoff hitter.

I knew that all was right with the world when Agee came to bat. Watching him play was a privelege. One night (I think it was in 1971) he pulled off the most exciting play I had ever seen - at least up to that point. He won a game by stealing home plate at Shea Stadium. I don't know how many players had tried to do so since Jackie Robinson did it against the Yankees in the World Series - I guess it was in '55. But Agee was fantastic!

I do remember him coming to bat against the Mets as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals - he wore number 47 for the Cards.

The one thing about Agee that disturbed me was nothing in his baseball playing, but the fact that he ended his career with 999 career base hits. Couldn't he have gotten one more?! Oh well.

I was sorry to read of his untimely passing. Thanks for the great memories, Tommie. God bless and may you Rest In Peace.

spoonyluv
May 18, 2005
My favorite player as a kid. I used to imitate his pigeon-toed stance. A Mike Cameron type but hit for a higher average. Great outfielder.

James Damion
July 12, 2005
Growing up in the in the shadow of Shea Stadium you couldn't help but be a Mets fan. In the early 80's I got to meet a number of Mets through my father and his business dealings. One day my father took me to Tommie Agee's Outfielders Lounge on Astoria Blvd. I remember having only one of his baseball cards and it was a 1974 "Traded" card. I was so embarassed but he was such a gentleman. He signed it and sat down with me to talk baseball. He left such a good impression on me. To this day it is still one of my fondest childhood memories.

Richard A
July 25, 2005
One of my all-time favorite Mets. I was very saddened when I heard about his passing. As a kid born in 1961 I became a baseball (and Mets fan) in 1968. I played centerfield a lot as a kid and caught the ball the same way Tommie did, by patting the glove before catching the ball. Tommie had speed, power, and was an excellent fielder. He was an exciting player on teams that didn't have much offense.

BrooklynJake
August 15, 2005
How freaky is this?

While getting ready for work this morning (Aug. 9th) I started thinking about my old Mets favorites, and felt saddened that Tommie, one of my ALL time favorites, passed away much too young. I smiled as I remembered his playing days and said a little prayer for him ...

Get to work ... at lunch I fire up the Ultimate Mets Database, which I haven't visited in a loooong time.

First thing I see? Born on this day, Aug. 9 .... Tommie Agee.

Jeez, I almost fell off my chair ....

God Bless you, Tommie. Thanks for the memories

KMT
November 6, 2005
I think everybody said it all before me! On the field he made everything look smooth and easy! He played hurt all the time, and his numbers would have been much better career-wise had he been down lower in the order with a little protection! I was sad when the Mets dumped him. It wasn't the right way for him to leave the Mets. Looking back, Mets' management chewed up players at an incredible rate. I'm sorry he was taken so soon! For a lot of us, part of our childhood went with him. I'll bet there's only a few guys who can cover C.F. in heaven as good as Tommie Agee. Rest in Peace, #20!

Rick Walker
November 23, 2005
As a Black kid growing up in Brooklyn, Tommie Agee was the MAN! I mimicked his every gesture. I wore #20. Played center and batted leadoff. Cried a tear to hear of his death. My first sports hero!

Tom L
January 2, 2006
Us white kids in Brooklyn thought highly of him too, Rick Walker! Between Agee and Tom Seaver, a kid named Tom who was a Mets fan couldn't have been happier, having heroes like them with the same name! Agee hit the first Met home run I ever saw in person (1970). Traded for Rich Chiles (uugghhh!), the first time (of many) that the Mets brass broke my heart.

Jonathan Stern
January 22, 2006
I remember Agee making a diving catch in an early-90's Old Timers Game. I also remember Agee figuring prominently in a Schaefer Beer commercial featuring the '69 Mets.

Kenny Joe
March 10, 2006
I was just telling my dad about Agee and game #3 of the '69 World Series and he didn't know Curt Gowdy's exact call his first catch. "RACING HARD IS AGEE....WHAT A GRAB!!! OH AGEE! Saves two runs!!" I know that and I'm only 9!

Feat Fan
March 25, 2006
Agee was one of my all-time favorites, I began following him as a rookie with Chicago in '66. I found this on the web, it's a good read.

"Tommie Agee, Oh Sure!... I remember him well," says our manager@baseballhistorian.com. "Agee was a type of player were statistic were meaningless. Although his stats didn't quite compare with other stars of this era, Agee was a real winner. He was pleasant, intelligent, hardworking and played winning baseball."

Tommie Agee, the American League's 1966 Rookie of the Year with the White Sox is best remembered for his heroics as a New York Met in the 1969 World Series. An outstanding center-fielder, Agee made two of the greatest catches in Series history to help the Mets in their upset of the Baltimore Orioles.

Agee spent eight full seasons and parts of four others in the major leagues with the Sox, Mets, Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals, retired in 1973 with a .255 career average, 130 home runs and 433 runs batted in

Winton Hancock
August 2, 2006
Tommie Agee was my favorite Mets player. In 1969, Columbus Day the Holiday was observed on Monday October 13. But when Dad told me and my brothers that he had tickets to Game 3 of the 1969 World Series on Tuesday October 14, we decided to skip school and watch the game - they didn't have night-time World Series Games in those days.

Guess who was the MVP of that game? Tommie Agee, with a homer and two spectacular catches in deep center field. What a wonderful trip it was going home to Schenectady that night. And what a lifelong memory my Dad and Tommie made for me, a 9 year-old. Thanks Dad & Tommie!

Pilar
August 6, 2006
I will always remember my Mets and my heroes. They were my team till I moved away from NYC at age 16. I did not discover another team, just boys. I had more than 1 favorite player and remember being ridiculed by my cousins because at the age of 14 I still slept with a teddy bear. It was named tommyageebuddymcgraw (Tom Seaver, Tommy Agee, Bud Harrelson, Tug McGraw). Since last year I have been following the Mets again and reminiscing about the old Mets. I was very saddened to hear that Tommie Agee passed away at such a young age. Although I never personally met him, what little information was shared with the public about him on a personal basis spoke volumes about the great person he was.

metfanforlife
September 1, 2006
Tommie Agee was one of my favorite Mets growing up. I met him once during my 20s, in the Diamond Club during a celebration of past Met champion teams, and he was so pleasant and funny. He kidded me that I had asked for Cleon Jones' autograph first - "What about me?" he joked. What a nice guy.

Years later, not long before he died, my sister surprised me with a birthday present - a signed color 8x10 photo of Tommie Agee that said Happy Birthday to me. She had gone to a title insurance company in Manhattan, not realizing that he owned it. When she heard him talking on the phone in the next room, she asked if it would be possible to meet him, and was told sure.

When she met him, he was so gracious and friendly, and thanked her for remembering his time with the Mets. She asked him to sign an autograph for my birthday, and he opened a drawer with a few of them and asked her to pick out one. He then personalized it to me, with a smile and a handshake to my sis.

What a class guy. I still have that photo on the wall, and will never forget this childhood hero of mine.

feat fan
November 6, 2006
Proof that numbers do lie. His lifetime avg and home run totals are nothing special; we who were fortunate to watch him patrol CF for 5 years know better. One of the sadder passings along with Tug and Debuscherre.

Doug DeLise
December 22, 2006
As A boy growing up some 60 miles North of Shea Stadium I was only able to go to two games a year, one with the local Little League and one with my parents. All others I watched on WOR Channel 9 out of New York with Lindsey Nelson, Bob Murphy, and Ralph Kiner.

As a lad of 10 and 11 during the 1969 season I had the honor to see Tommie Agee play Center Field the way that it should be played, all out! Tommie was a good and powerful hitter for his time with 26 round trippers in 1969 and 24 in 1970.

But what I enjoyed was the way he lumbered up to the batters box, taking his bat asa though it weighed 30 lbs and reached out and tapped the outside corner of the plate twice. Then he would pull that bat behind him giving it a few waggles and then a quick and mighty swing.

Prior to his knee injuries he would take singles and stretch them into doubles, steal bases. Once I saw him steal home at a game I attended, I felt as if he knew I was there and he did it for me. It was on a Kiner's Korner post-game show that I learned from Tommie Agee that ballplayers pronounced RBI's as Ribbies.

Tommie showed talent and courage whenever he played. Once after getting his knee drained between games of a Doubleheader he came back out to play on a wet field, hit a home run and robbed one with a well-timed leap.

Tommie Agee was my childhood hero; it did not matter to me that he was black, I did not even give it a thought. I even told my parents in 1969 that I wanted to go to Grambling University like he did, they just laughed.

Thank you for all the great memories Tommie, you left this world too soon.

John
December 30, 2006
I have the Same Exact memories of Tommie that Doug has!! As a kid I would imitate Agee with the slow walk to the plate and then the heavy bat being dragged from the far corner of the plate until he could generate the strength to pick it up. I believe the steal of home was against the Dodgers after an Old Timers game. I miss both Agee and Clendenon.

DanMan Mets Fan 69 86
April 21, 2007
Though I never saw him play, and I only saw replays, clips, photos, and stats, he was amazing. I love to look at the marking of his HR in the Upper Deck.

agee_of_aquarius
August 5, 2007
This description from Roger Angell, written in 1969: "I'll bet a lot of Little Leaguers have begun to imitate Agee's odd batting mannerism -- a tiny kick of the left leg, like a houseguest secretly discouraging the family terrier".

steve palumbo
October 4, 2007
Tommie was a gamer. Played big in big games. Fearless defense. This guy could run. He had style. He had power. Reminded me in some ways of Mays. Great baseball instincts.

Tony B
April 27, 2009
I had the pleasure to meet Tommie Agee through a friend of mine that was in the Title Insurance business. Tommie actually invited us to Tommie Agee night at Shea back in the 90's. We were in the private luxury suite with his family and friends and he made us feel like we knew him forever. He had a very good sense of humor and was truly one of the nicest persons you could ever meet. It is sad that he is no longer with us, but the memories of what he did for the Mets in 69 and the way he treated people he hardly knew will be remembered by me forever.

Carroll Leber
May 7, 2009
Did Tommie Agee ever use the spelling Tommy? I have an autographed baseball that was signed at a NY Mets vs. Pittsburgh Pirates game but is signed "Tommy Agee".

agee_of_aquarius
May 10, 2009
Although Agee's birth certificate name is "Tommie", he sometimes signed autographs as "Tommy" -- probably because it's slightly easier on the hand.

EG
May 10, 2009
He signed one for me at Shea, "Tommie."

All the other autographs I have of his are the same.

Sorry.

Joe Figliola
May 15, 2009
I know that there are several moments during the 1969 World Series broadcast where Curt Gowdy referred to him as "Tom" Agee. From what I remember, Gowdy had a habit of announcing players' first names differently from what they were normally called. However, to me he's known as "Tommie" Agee.

agee_of_aquarius
May 19, 2009
Nobody referred to Agee as "Tom" except Curt Gowdy.

Brian Newell
December 6, 2010
I'm 52 years old from N.J. To me TOMMIE WAS EVERYTHING. I had the TOMMIE AGEE model glove. Remember Agee taps the glove and makes the catch. I was lucky my grandfather told me early on the color of a man's skin meant nothing it was what was in his heart and soul that mattered. I regret seeing Tommie play only once. I hope there's baseball in heaven. He many not start but he'll play!

Joe
February 19, 2011
I can still remember sitting in the upper deck at Shea Stadium, just three years old, and looking out at center field. I was asking my dad if that really was Tommie Agee? I was too young to really remember him play. But I do remember feeling sad when the Mets traded my very first "favorite." And I looked forward to every rain delay on channel 9, as they would usually play old tapes of 1969 and Tommie's heroics. I never met Tommie Agee but I did adore him as an iconic Met player, and would even go on to wear #20 in my own ball playing days.

Greg Bennett
August 18, 2011
Tommie Agee made two of the greatest catches ever in World Series history in 1969. What a great all-around player he was that year. I used to imitate the way he ran. He was my hero, a catalyst at the top of the order and a class act who became a New Yorker. Shame on the Met management for never really giving full credit to Agee and Cleon Jones or offering them significant coaching or managers jobs in the minors or majors after their careers were over.

Perhaps it's time to erect a statute outside of Citi Field called "The Mets From Mobile" to honor Tommie and Cleon. You never know.

Let's Go Mets!

Pete H
October 19, 2011
"WHAT A GRAB! TOM AGEE!" Curt Gowdy's call in the '69 series. I still get goosebumps when I hear it.

Glen
November 4, 2011
I switched allegiances from the Mets to the Braves after moving to Atlanta in the late 70s. I was fortunate to land a baseball job and worked as a PR guy for the Braves for 17 years. Hank Aaron worked down the hall from me. I've worked on projects with former presidents Carter and the two Bushes. Bob Shepherd was even kind enough to tape the outgoing message on my Braves office voice mail.

But none of those experiences ever approached the thrill of meeting my boyhood baseball hero, Tommie Agee, in a Shea Stadium suite one day when I was on a road trip with the Braves. He graciously posed for a photo with me and signed a baseball, and was the gentleman that so many other posters have alluded to on this site. I felt as if the clock had been turned back to 1971 and I was sitting up in the Shea mezzanine section with my Pop. He passed unexpectedly in 2000, and Tommie did the same about six months later. The warm memories of both, though, will always live on.

This site is a treasure for Met fans whose childhood days revolved around waiting for Lindsey, Bob and Ralph to hit the WOR airwaves.

JOE
October 23, 2011
I never forget the two spectacular catches he made in the 69 World Series. I think he saved 5 runs. He played a great centerfield and got some timely hits and he hit with power. He was my second-favorite player on that team after Cleon Jones. Tommie and Cleon, the Mobile boys, were the Mets answer to Mantle and Maris. The Mets trading him was a mistake they never got over. The 69 Mets were my favorite team ever, the 1973 Mets number two. They should gotten rid of M. Donald Grant, not Cleon, Tommie and Amos. They would have won a lot more pennants.

I got to meet Tommie two years before he passed at the Met Clubhouse. Got his autograph. A quiet gentleman and total class.

Dave Shaw
January 30, 2013
I once saw Agee hit a home run that didn't count. It was Memorial Day weekend, 1966, when he was on his way to becoming Rookie of the Year for the White Sox. On a Saturday night at Yankee Stadium he creamed one off Fritz Peterson, I believe. But the game was rained out, tied 2-2 after 5 innings. The PA announcer said the game would be replayed from the start as part of a double-header the next day, but we had company and my dad didn't want to drive back to the Bronx.