Ultimate Mets Database - Memories of Wayne Garrett

Mr. Sparkle
This guy was a gamer. He doesn't have great stats but he was always a solid contributor and a fan favorite. For some reason back in the 70's guys with stats like Wayne were important players. Today, these stats wouldn't keep you around too long although Wayne probably would have had 25 homers a year if he were playing in today's ball.

Broadway
I first saw Wayne Garrett playing in A ball in 1967. He was playing for the West Palm Beach Braves. Think he was the only player from either team to ever make the major leagues.

MetWop
My family moved to Miami from Flushing when I was a kid. Each year, we'd go to Ft. Lauderdale Stadium to see the spring training games between the Mets and the hated Yankees. After the games, we'd wait near the Mets team bus to collect autographs. Wayne was one of the friendliest of the players, along with Rusty Staub. Until this day, I remember them fondly, just as I remember that Dave Kingman was a jackass. Ball players should know what an impression they make on young kids.

Ed
I remember calling Wayne Garrett "Warning Track Garrett" It seemed that he had enough power to get the ball to the warning track, but not over the fence. Perhaps today, with the juiced up ball, he'd have hit 25 - 30 HR's.

Canfan
February 25, 2001
Was an instant fav of mine-being that we both had red hair. He was such a hard worker and very outgoing. Enjoyed seeing him come for the oldtimeres games and just making the memories of'69 again come alive. Don't wait for an anniv. to come around before they have another gathering again.

EG
March 18, 2001
How likable was this guy? Just did what was needed to win. Saw him at Old Timers reunion. Looks like he could still play.

Logan Swanson
April 14, 2001
Okay, time for a reality check.

If Wayne Garrett's career had started today (2001), he would not have made a major league team, let alone hit 25 home runs. Yes, pitching is diluted now, and that might add a few points to a smart veteran like Garrett's average, but he simply wasn't a contact or terribly powerful hitter. Clutch hitter, post-season hitter, yes.

Guys with Garrett's stats were only able to hang around a team like the Mets. If you remember. Garrett started as a dark horse backup to Ed Charles in 1969. The Mets did not have long term plans for Wayne. He was just an extra body with a good glove. They really wanted Amos Otis to play third. But they got impatient with Otis, and traded him in one of the biggest disasters the Mets authored. Next was Joe Foy, who, unfortunately, retired because of drug addiction. In 1971, it was the mediocre Bob Aspromonte, who quickly disappeared. Then another disaster: fat Jim Fregosi for Nolan Ryan. By 1973, the Mets had deferred to 5 other third basemen BEFORE letting Garret have a chance. He responded by having a career year in 1973, a below average season in 1974, and that was the end of poor Wayne. In came slow footed Joe Torre, and "top prospect" Roy Staiger.

Wayne was a bench player, a late inning replacement type, a platoon player at best, who came through when given the job by default during the '73 Championship season. So much for the 25 home run fantasy.

John Reilly
April 16, 2001
Wayne was always a clutch player, and in 1973, he gave the Mets some badly needed pop from his bat. But that Garrett was the regular third baseman in 1973 speaks volumes of the Met's weak offensive attack in this era. Take a look at some of the other third basemen around the National League during 1972-1975: Ron Santo, Doug Rader, Joe Torre, Richie Hebner, Ron Cey, Bill Madlock, and Darrell Evans. Garrett's best year (1973) was equivalent to those guy's worse years.

Mr. Sparkle
April 19, 2001
OK Logan take it easy. He hit 16 homers in 73 a year where the top sluggers were banging in the 30's so now when guys are hitting 50 like it's nothing I don't think it's out of the question that Garrett in his best year could do 25. Excuse me for getting a little carried away but you had to like the guy in those days. My point had more to do with today's pitching than anything else.

Jim Snedeker
November 19, 2001
Never understood why the Mets spent so much time looking for a good third baseman when "Red" (alledged to be his nickname, although I never heard anyone call him that) was always there.

gene
December 19, 2001
I remember Mickey Lolich pitching a no-hitter for the Mets against the Big Red Machine. Sixth or Seventh inning..Man on third with two outs.. Mets leading 1- 0.... A grounder to Garrett, he bobbles the ball... an error!!! A man scores... Tie game.. Lolich is pissed. he still has a no - hitter, but the shut out is gone. Next batter, he gives up a two run homer... Mets lose 3 - 0.... All unearned run.. Yikes.. Feeling sorry for Lolich.. Mickey retired after that season..!! He couldn't handle the ineptness of the Mets..

"Longo"
February 16, 2002
1973 World Series Game 3 Mets VS A's at Shea Stadium. I was Sitting in one of the Right Field Press Boxes. Wayne Hit a Homer off The Right Field Scoreboard by the foulpole.

Larry Burns
May 28, 2002
One of the all time great Mets. For a position the Mets ran through people in, he was steady in the 1970s. "Red" was not the greatest 3rd sacker in history, but he always played hard and came up with big hits when needed. He had a good playoffs and World Series in 1973. I remember all of my friends imitated Wayne when they were playing the hot corner.

clubhouse report
May 30, 2002
I liked Wayne Garrett too, but in fact he had a lousy post-season in 1973. He hit .067, 2 for 23 against the Reds in the NLCS and .167, 5 for 30 in the World Series although 2 of his hits were homers.

Stu Paul
December 1, 2002
As Mets' broadcasting legend, Bob Murphy would say, Garrett was the "Huckleberry Finn of the New York Mets".

I was at Shea Stadium for the 1973 World Series when he hit a two-run homer off Jim "Catfish" Hunter in the 3rd game of the series. Too bad that Tom Seaver and the Mets couldn't hang on to win the game or otherwise, they would have been World Champions since they won Games 4 & 5 afterwards.

Then again, the big moment I will remember about Wayne was his 3 run homer off Atlanta Righthander Pat Jarvis in Game 3 of the 1969 National League Playoffs. Only his 2nd homer as a major leaguer. Right inside the line and in the loge at Shea Stadium on October 6, 1969. The roar was so tremendous after that homer. It was the game-winning and World Series bound clinching hit.

He was also a fine third baseman. Why in the world did the Mets keep looking for third basemen when they had Wayne Garrett, I will never know. He was very underrated.

Metsmind
December 24, 2002
1) Wayne Garrett hated being referred to as Red, or any other red-heads nickname

2) Tom Seaver disliked Garrett because Garrett refused to lift weights, and get the extra stregnth he needed to be more than "warning track Garrett".

3) My first memory of Garrett, however, was near the end of spring training, 1969. Garrett hadn't made the club yet, but he has a 2 homer day (I believe vs Oakland) and gets added to the roster.

Gotta give him one thing-- he made it to two World Series as a Met.

Mr. Sparkle
April 24, 2003
Wayne may not have had a great batting average but he could draw a walk. He is on the top 10 list of most walks in a season with 89. That's pretty good for a guy who hit around .237.

Mr. Topps
May 14, 2003
Wayne's 1971 and 1972 baseball cards are almost exactly alike, bending over to pick up a ground ball. In fact, his 1973,1974 and 1976 cards have the same batting stance but from different angles.

You got to hand it to Wayne, he could strike a pose.

Vito
May 16, 2003
I remember crying when he made the last out of the '73 series. Bummer.

I also remember being quite pissed when the Mets traded him and Del Unser for two losers.

An all-time favorite Met.

Mark
April 1, 2004
While not exactly Brooks Robinson or Mike Schmidt at third Wayne was still a solid member of the 69 and 73 Mets. He was very good during the stretch run in 73. Also, a very nice guy - gave me an autograph as a kid in 1969 which I still have.

Larry Leonard
July 1, 2004
I was 6 years old when the Mets won the 69 World Series so I didn't see him play. But I recently got the chance to play golf with him. He is married to a friend of mine's sister. He is one of the nicest people I've ever met and a good golfer too. No matter how people feel about his career as a baseball player, anyone who plays professional ball and especially anyone who helps win a World Series is a talented athlete and I was honored to meet him.

Kiwiwriter
September 8, 2004
Every year it seemed the Mets would put a different guy on third base, and by September every year, Wayne Garrett would be playing third base regularly. He displaced Ed Charles, Amos Otis, Joe Foy, Bob Aspromonte, and Jim Fregosi.

His career fell apart in 1974 when he hurt his arm, and it never really recovered. His wife didn't understand baseball, and the marriage never really recovered. He was quoted in Maury Allen's book "After the Miracle" as saying that his wife saw the 1974 World Series on TV and asked, "Honey, when are we going to the World Series?" She thought the Mets went to it every year.

He finished up in 1978 first with the St. Louis Cardinals and then with the Montreal Expos. So he played with Keith Hernandez and Gary Carter in the same year...six degrees of Garrett.

KMT
February 10, 2005
Wayne may have been a little short on talent, but, he was blessed with heart! Never a complainer, he went out and played the game hard. Day in, day out.

Michelle-Nicole
February 12, 2005
Number 11 - Third base - New York Mets.

Wayne "Red" Garrett was the Mets first carrot stick long before LE GRANDE ORANGE Rusty Staub settled himself nicely into rightfield for the New York Mets.

On a team that boasted the likes of John THE HAMMER Milner as its major long ball contributor, Wayne Garrett could a hit a few himself. He was steady at third and brought some dignified class to the infield when he manned third, alongside one Buddy Harrelson.

Eventually Garrett vaulted to the tops of the Mets everyday lineup with an uncanny knack to get on base via walks - never one for speed he compensated his position as the Mets leadoff hitter with a smooth on-base percentage. He was one of the Mets tablesetters at one time and was truly a fan-favorite out at Shea.

Third baseman Wayne Garrett is a Met player that never got the credit he was due - for more times than not when you looked up from your scorecard after matching scoreboard numbers with the players numbers listed in your scorebook and you were finally ready to settle in for an afternoon out a Shea - Wayne Garrett was already perched at first base - he had a keen eye for getting things started and getting on base and more times than not opposing pitchers were "seeing red" before Shea Stadium organist Jane Jarvis had finished her rootin tootin rendition of Meet the Mets.

He was never a star by any stretch of the imagination but he was a glimmering light that shined brightly over at third base out at Shea for the Mets.

Garrett touched more than just a few bases and yes a few die hard Mets fans hearts when a home run sailed off his lefty bat once in a blue moon or two.

Bob
February 25, 2005
Wayne was my manager a Mets Fantasy Camp in 1989. He is a class guy. If any of you have a chance to do a Fantasy Camp, do it! You'll never regret it.

Flip B
March 26, 2005
You got to hand it to Wayne. He played with a lot of heart and he stuck up for his teammates. He was the first one to come to Bud's assistance when that jack*** Pete Rose tried to take out Bud's legs at second in the 73 NL playoffs. Attaboy, Wayne!

Mark
July 12, 2005
My buddies and I used to crack up at the way he made faces when he had strikes called on him. Wayne had some pop in his bat, could draw a walk, could play a few different positions and was an important piece of the puzzle in 1969 and espically in 1973. Thanks Wayne!

Deadmet
July 21, 2005
I was at game 3 of the 1973 World Series. It was Catfish Hunter vs. Tom Seaver (can't get better than that). I was 12.

Garrett led off the bottom of the first with a dinger just above the emergency scoreboard in right. Shea Stadium erupted so loudly that I was screaming something to my Dad who was right next to me. He couldn't hear me! It is one of my most treasured childhood memories. I remember as he trotted around first base I thought, "If I could do that just once..."

Say what you want about his "abilities," but he took that trot and you and I didn't. Thanks Wayne!

Bob R
July 25, 2005
Deadmet, Wayne hit one out in almost that exact same spot in the third game of the 1969 Championship Series against the Braves. It helped turn around the game to give the Mets a sweep and their first-ever National League pennant. He could surprise you with his power in crucial spots.

Jonathan Stern
November 6, 2005
Years ago, I read Maury Allen's book on the 1969 Mets twenty years later until it was dogeared beyond recognition. The 1969 Mets are my favorite team I never saw (I was born in 1970). According to Allen, in 1988, Garrett was earning his living driving a package delivery truck. I hope and trust that things are better with him now. He was as miraculous a Miracle Met as there ever was.

Tony Tarasco
July 28, 2006
Met Wayne in Lum's on Northern Boulevard in 1976,77(?)

He signed autographs, let people take pictures, was as friendly as could be.

5280MetsFan
October 20, 2006
Wayne was a step-uncle to a co-worker of mine. He knew I was a Mets fan, and asked if I would like to meet him. To my surprise he was standing right behind me. He was one of the nicest ex Met player I ever meet. Thanks Wayne for that 10 minutes of your time.

Kim
July 17, 2007
Wayne (or Uncle Wayne as I know him) is the brother of my Uncle Chuck - Charlie - who also played baseball. I also know Adrian, the oldest of the Garrett brothers. What I know of all the Garrett ball players is that they are wonderful men and I hope that my son, a little league C-ball player, can get the chance to meet a real major league player and role model to so many. What makes it really special is that my son plays third base too. It was so nice to read the posts people have said about Uncle Wayne and somewhat surreal to read about him on sites such as Wikipedia and baseball library. Thank you to all who followed him and are sincere fans. I look forward to learning more about his career.

jim Tagariello
October 18, 2007
If the Mets just gave him more of a chance and not try a quick fix at the position. I mean they gave up Amos Otis, Nolan Ryan, and other role players that would have made the Mets better if they just held on to Wayne Garrett. I will also remember him making the last out of game 7 of the 1973 World Series as the tying run. He always had trouble hitting lefties. Also had one of the prettiest wives in Met history, Donna Garrett.

Kevin
October 19, 2007
May 26th, 1975 Memorial Day. Sitting in the Loge section. Andy Messersmith was 7-0 coming in to the game for the L.A.Dodgers. 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth. Two on for the Mets and Wayne Garrett launches one into the visitors bullpen and the Mets win 6-3!

Thanks Wayne.

Drew Cobb
October 19, 2007
I have been privileged to know Wayne, Charlie and Adrian since 1974. There is honestly not a better family on the face of this earth. Wayne's mother and father worked for my father in south Florida and that is how I got to know them. Sometimes I don't talk to Wayne for a few years, but everytime I call him or see him he is always just as nice as can be. Charlie (Jimmy) is the same, as is Adrian (Smokey). If you knew their mother and father, you could tell what a great example they were given. Just a fine family that I have been honored to get to know.

Mike D.
October 20, 2007
I'm a 45 year old Mets fan and as a kid, being a red head, Wayne Garrett became my favorite player. My best memory of Garrett was, after a tough loss to the Phillies, my grandmother and I were outside the Mets' players' entrance. While other Mets walked by in a huff, Wayne Garrett stopped, signed an autograph for me and gave me tickets for the next day's game. I was heart broken when he was traded to the Expos.

Steve DeLong
December 29, 2007
Wayne was one of my very favorite Mets players; I was shocked when they traded him to Montreal in a package that brought Pepe Mangual to the Mets.

What WAS cool about that was that I had just sent a fan letter to Wayne, and the Mets must've forwarded it to the Expos, because about six weeks later I got a signed postcard back from Wayne... I have it framed on the wall, and though he'll never know how much it means to me, I always enjoy reading "To Steve, Best Wishes, Wayne Garrett."

MetMom
April 1, 2008
It is because of Wayne Garrett that I love the Mets. I was 12 years old and happened to pass by the television. My dad was watching the game. Suddenly, the batter it a pop fly and there on the field, waiting for the ball to fall into his glove was Wayne Garrett (sigh!) I never looked back after that. Those freckles, that red hair!

Salty
August 28, 2008
I remember that at least once a game Bob Murphy would refer to him as "the carrot-topped Wayne Garrett."

#1,#11FAN
October 1, 2008
My sister and I were big fans in 1969. She for Jerry Grote and I for Wayne Garrett. We would take the bus from the Bronx and then walk to the stadium from Main Street just to watch them play. I kept a scrapbook of him till I moved in 1973. I treasured it for years until it disappeared during one of many moves. To this day, I still pick #11 when I play lotto, as it's always stayed my lucky number!

Lynn
October 9, 2008
I have been a Met fan since 1964. Wayne Garrett has always been a favorite of mine. Undoubtedly, he is the most UNDERRATED player in MET history. This was due in part, because he was never one to "boast" about his abilities nor was he a selfish, "me only" player. I think that someone who has a high "on base" percentage like he did doesn't often get the credit that they deserve; only the big hitters do, although Wayne also had some power in his swing as well.

Further, he was perhaps the best third-baseman the METS ever had. I think the many consecutive players who tried to fill his position after Wayne was traded showed the METS management how valuable a third-baseman he really was...but unfortunately, it was a "day late and a dollar short!"

The really difficult thing for me as a Wayne Garrett fan is that I rarely see anything about him. You hear about the other "heroes" of the 1969 World Series, but Wayne was one of the most important players and you don't hear about his contributions.

pattie o.
November 10, 2008
I just met Wayne at an autograph signing in NJ and he was the nicest, sweetest guy. I am 51 years old and still have a crush on him! He was and always will be my favorite Met. He was a very underrated player and I believe if he played ball now he would be a great hitter. Wayne, if you're reading this, thanks for a memorable day and for signing my scrapbook for a second time!

Lynn
March 2, 2009
I have been a Met fan since 1964. Wayne Garrett has always been a favorite of mine. Undoubtedly, he is the most UNDERRATED player in MET history. This was due in part, because he was never one to "boast" about his abilities nor was he a selfish, "me only" player. I think that someone who has a high "on base" percentage like he did doesn't often get the credit that they deserve...only the big hitters do...although Wayne also had some power in his swing as well.

Feat Fan
March 9, 2009
"He is the most UNDERRATED player in MET history..." That's quite a claim. He was a sure-handed infielder, equally adept at 2b and ss, good eye at the plate, some pop, but let's face it, a .255 hitter with a great attitude. Underrated METS, now that's a great thread. I'll throw a few names out there: Bobby Ojeda, Hubie Brooks, Kevin McReynolds, Terry Leach, Ed Lynch, Walt Terrell.

Randy Scouse Git
March 13, 2009
Lynn, you're correct. Wayne was very underrated...and underappreciated. He was the only Mets' player during the Payson ownership to hold down the third base job for any length of time. It was the only four years of that era in which the position wasn't a problem.

As a 1969 Met, Wayne gets overlooked. I think the reason for that is being the youngest member of that team, he's not thought of as a regular player. Ed Charles (the team's oldest member) is generally considered the regular third baseman. But Wayne still had a big part in the final NLCS game against the Braves with a home run to put the Mets ahead to stay.

Wayne's biggest role was with the 1973 team. He was their top slugger during the amazing comeback from last place to the division title. His six home runs in September led the offensive charge to a championship no one thought possible when the month started. He also had two more homers in the World Series, though in a losing effort.

Tug McGraw is remembered the most for that title run with his 'You Gotta Believe' motto. But without Wayne, there would not have been a '73 pennant for the Mets. His contributions were valuable that year. If the Mets had won the World Series, perhaps Wayne would be looked at as a true Mets hero.

Robert
February 21, 2010
Heck - I've got you all beat. I never got to see Wayne play but I did get to have lunch with him two days ago (2/20/2010). Just talking baseball with him is great fun. Wayne is and always will be sincere to baseball. A great guy to call a friend.

Francine
July 13, 2010
My friend, sister and I made a huge sign that read "We Love Wayne". We stood in the left field stands holding our sign. Tommie Agee saw the sign and let Wayne know we were there. Wayne won the game and the next day the local NEWSDAY wrote "Wayne Garrett ran his home run home in the bottom of the 10th inning. The Mets stood in front of the dugout to greet him and in the left field stands the 'We Love Wayne' banner waved proudly." I still have the article. I would love to meet Wayne someday and say hello. I am a baseball fan since the 1969 Mets. Thank you Wayne! And the rest of the 1969 Mets!

Gr8 Call Ump
January 9, 2011
Wayne is my all-time favorite Met and a big reason why the '73 Mets made such a lasting impression on a 9-year-old kid from Jersey. For some reason I took to Wayne over the bigger names from that team. In fact, I taught myself to hit lefty imitating Wayne's batting stance in the backyard with my pitchback net (remember those...lol)

One of my biggest thrills during that season's remarkable stretch drive was attending a late September game against the Cardinals and seeing Wayne hit one out. His two homers in the World Series, especially the lead off shot against Catfish in Game 3, were memorable as well. I had hoped Wayne would have one more big moment in that series but unfortunately ended up popping up to short to end it. Thanks for the memories #11.

The Big H
March 19, 2013
Wayne was indirectly involved two of the worst trades in the history of the Mets. First Amos Otis to Kansas City for Third basemen, to replace Wayne Garrett, Joe Foy. Then Nolan Ryan and others (like Leroy Stanton) for Jim Fregosi who would play third base and replace Wayne Garrett. Fregosi lasted half a season longer than Foy, but by the 1973 World Series Wayne Garrett was the third baseman.

Steven Gallanter
December 20, 2019
My blog has an entry about Wayne Garrett.

https://stevegallanter.wordpress.com

This piece can also be found on Twitter.

Comments are welcome.

Let's Go Mets!

Steven Gallanter
April 24, 2020
My blog has a more than 2000 word posting about Wayne Garrett that is really too long to put on Ultimate Mets Database but it is a true Mets fan's saga.stevegallanter.wordpress.com

Alex
April 25, 2021
Wayne's brother, Adrian, died recently. Adrian played in the majors and was actually briefly a member of the New York Mets organization. In October 1963, he was purchased with Amado Samuel from the Milwaukee Braves. The next year, he was the player to be named later in the deal that sent him back to Milwaukee and sent Roy McMillan to NY. was also sent to the Braves.

To my knowledge, Wayne and Adrian were never teammates anywhere, but I'm sure they played against each other a few times.

John RreynoldsS
July 22, 2021
Wayne Garrett's tenure with the Mets reminds me of current player Jeff McNeil. McNeil was a .300 hitter and decent at 2nd base who came up in the Mets organization. He was under team control earning around the MLB minimum. In the off season what do the Mets do? They spend 30 million or so bringing in a washed up Robinson Cano and a Jed Lowry who was like Claude Rains (the Invisible Man) to play 2nd base.

All that money later McNeil is still the starting 2nd baseman.

OK Cano came in the Diaz trade but that's a conversation for another day.