National League Standings, April 15, 1972
METS FANS SHARE THEIR MEMORIES OF THE APRIL 15, 1972 GAME:
Ed K
March 20, 2007
First time the Mets opened a season against defending World champs. Seaver and Tug shutout the Pirates at Shea.
Doug Brogowski
April 11, 2008
This was the delayed season opener, delayed by the brief players' strike. It was also the first game after the sudden death of Manager Gil Hodges, just a week or two earlier. The team was still in shock.
Joe Figliola
July 10, 2009
Just found out that a partial video of this game exists. Regardless of completion, I would love to see the Mets Classics guys air this one. Wow!
Stu Baron
December 12, 2023
Watching the NBC Sports telecast with Sandy Koufax on YouTube. The first game as Mets for Rusty Staub and Jim Fregosi.
Nearly 52 years later, it’s still hard to accept that they traded the generational talents of Nolan Ryan and Ken Singleton for these older players.
Dave VW
December 3, 2024
Unlike Stu, I totally understood what the Mets were thinking, as long as you don't use the gift of hindsight. The Mets offense stunk in 1971 and, by bringing in Fregosi and Staub, they got two players who combined for 11 All-Star selections, and would be taking over positions the team desperately needed help at in 3B and RF, respectively. Fregosi had a down year in 1971 battling injury, but had hit .278 with 22 HR the season prior, while Staub was a stead 20+ HR threat who could also hit over .300. Yes, Singleton and Ryan went on to become incredible players, but nothing they did with the Mets hinted at that outcome being obvious. And it's not fair at all to categorize Fregosi and Staub as "older players" -- Fregosi had just turned 30 prior to Opening Day, and Staub just turned 28. It's not like they were elder statesmen in the twilight of their careers. I thought their acquisitions gave a huge boost to an offense begging for new life, and with Seaver, Koosman, Gentry and Matlack in the rotation, the Mets still had plenty of starting arms to make up for Ryan's loss.
Both of the newcomers reached base twice in this win, with Fregosi driving in the first run of the season with a double over Clemente's head in RF. Seaver and McGraw were practically unhittable, as they combined to earn the Mets' first shutout win on Opening Day. To do it against the defending champion Pirates was no small feat, either.
The Mets were, of course, without Hodges at manager, as Yogi Berra took over the position. Coincidentally, the Pirates also entered the 1972 season with a new manager, despite the World Series victory. Danny Murtaugh stepped down due to health concerns, and was succeeded by Bill Virdon.
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