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George Stone

George Stone
Ultimate Mets Database popularity ranking: 215 of 1218 players
Stone
George Heard Stone
Born: July 9, 1946 at Ruston, La.
Throws: Left Bats: Left
Height: 6.03 Weight: 205

George Stone was the most popular Ultimate Mets Database daily lookup on September 28, 2013, September 10, 2019, July 9, 2020, August 11, 2020, and February 27, 2021.

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First Mets game: April 13, 1973
Last Mets game: September 27, 1975

Share your memories of George Stone

HERE IS WHAT OTHER METS FANS HAVE TO SAY:

Les
March 17, 2001
Before coming to the Mets, George Stone was not a loved many in New York. Stone hit Rusty Staub with a pitch in 1972, which caused Le Grand Orange to miss most of the season. Acquired as a throw in from the Braves in the Gentry and Frisella for Millan deal, George Stone became arguably the number two pitcher for 1973. Stone started the year in the bullpen, but wound up in the rotation. His final loss of the season was on July 8 before he ran off eight wins in a row. Down the stretch, only Seaver was better than Stone. Once the Mets made the playoffs, Stone headed back to the bullpen while Koosman -- who regained his dominance in the second half -- moved up to third starter.

Jim Snedeker
March 11, 2002
Loved him in '73. His .800 winning percentage topped the majors!

Larry Burns
June 13, 2002
Stoney was the key to the Mets in 1973. Many people do not know that. You knew what you would get from Seaver and Koosman. Matlack struggled after his Rookie year in 1972 and was a below 500 pitcher. Stone's 12 and 3 record speaks for itself. Ask any major league team if they could get 12 wins from a number 4 starter and most, if not all, would jump at that. This is not meant as a slight to the Big 3, but Stone was a difference maker. Look at the numbers, in the next 2 years Stone was 5 - 10 combined and the Mets were terrible and had begun their descent into the terrible late 1970s.

Bob P
December 21, 2004
George was a good hitting pitcher, and finished the 1973 season with 13 hits (all singles) in 48 at bats. He had five RBI, all of them coming at Shea.

His first two RBI came in the bottom of the first inning on June 27 against the Phillies. The runs gave the Mets a 7-0 lead in a game they would hang on to win, 7-6.

On July 8 (the day after the Theodore/Hahn collision) he had a fifth inning RBI single to cut a 2-0 Atlanta lead to 2-1, but the Braves won, 4-2.

Against the Expos three weeks later, Stone gave the Mets a 7-1 lead with a third inning single and they went on to an 11-3 win.

Stone's final RBI came on September 19, the night before the "ball off the wall" game, as the Mets beat the Pirates to climb to within a game and a half of first place. Geroge's RBI came on an infield out but he had also singled and scored earlier to put the Mets up 3-2 in the third inning.

Stone finished his career with 72 hits and 39 RBI in 339 at bats.

Buzz
May 18, 2005
Actually Louie, Stone was used 3 times in the post-season in 1973: once in the playoffs vs. the Reds and twice in the World Series in relief and he pitched very very well. I will always remember Stone though for the game he did not start in the 1973 World Series. As we all know the Mets were up 3 games to 2 and headed back to Oakland and manager Berra had a dilemma: would he go for the jugular and start Seaver on 3 days rest in Game 6 and then go with Matlack for a third time in Game 7 (if needed) or would he go with Stone in Game 6 and save a much better rested Seaver for a possible game 7? Well Yogi opted for the former and Seaver, although he pitched well in Game 6 was not his dominant self and Matlack didn't have it in Game 7 and the Mets lost both games and the series.

I was only 7 years old at the time and my father wanted the Mets to go with Stone so of course so did I. Stone had a great year and was a very hot pitcher at that point in time. I saw Stone at a baseball card show a few years ago and I asked him about this and he said he really wanted the ball in Game 6 and was disappointed when he didn't get the start but that's baseball.

The 1973 World Series was and always will be one of the most heartbreaking losses I've ever experienced in my life and I always think what might have been.

Jonathan Stern
October 28, 2005
Stone was a great pitcher who wrecked Rusty Staub's (and the Mets') 1972 campaign with a pitch that broke Rusty's wrist. Ironically, not long afterwards, he was part of one the few great Mets trades, and was awesome in 1973 before arm troubles ended his career in 1974.

Seaver gave up only two runs in seven innings of work, Game 6, 1973 World Series. Mets' hitters combined for three runs in BOTH Games 6 and 7. The only way the Mets would have won either game is if their starters pitched shutouts. Shankee though he was, Yogi did not lose the 1973 Series. The A's won it - in spite of Mr. Finley.

What a foursome: Seaver, Koos, Matlack, and a 12-3 Stone, with McAndrew and Sadecki as options for starter no. 5. If Cleon and Grote were not hurt for most of the season, and if Tug was not mixed up early on, the Mets would have coasted to the 1973 pennant. And if Rusty had not been hurt in the postseason, we wouldn't be arguing about Berra's choice of Seaver over Stone for Game 6. The Mets needed runs more than they needed a more rested Seaver. And you don't play for a tie when you have the lead.

Bill Nevala
September 16, 2007
My memories of Coach Stone come from the years after his playing days were over. In 1979 he became the head baseball coach at Farmerville High School in North Louisiana not far from where he grew up. In my junior year of high school he coached our team to the State finals in our division where we were runner up to the state championship team from New Orleans. I learned many lessons from him about baseball and life that I will carry with me all my life. Coach Stone coached a bunch of redneck country boys from north Louisiana in the late 70's and early 80's and I'm proud to be one of them. Coach Stone and his love for the game of baseball reinforced the love of the game that I still enjoy today as I coach and watch my son play now. Thanks Coach Stone!

John Cillo
July 13, 2010
For the record, when Stone hit Staub in 1972, it did not cause Staub to miss any time.

VIBaseball
September 27, 2010
I don't think that's right, John. Stone hit Staub on June 3. Rusty toughed it out until June 18, then did not play again until July 18. After that he did not return until September 18. The news stories of the time state that the broken hamate bone he sustained on the Stone pitch did not come to light until later.

John L.
October 6, 2010
If only Yogi and Seaver would've waited for game 7. Stone should have been the starter in game six. The Metropolitans would have had the best pitcher on the planet with full rest, with a pretty darn good Jon Matlack waiting in the bullpen, just in case. Well we will never know. But I felt the same way about Josh Beckett starting game 6 against the Yankees in '03.








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