National League Standings, June 23, 1963
METS FANS SHARE THEIR MEMORIES OF THE JUNE 23, 1963 GAME:
Feat Fan
May 4, 2002
My very first game, age 8. I asked if we'd see Babe Ruth play, the adults laughed.Stared out at CF all day, looked like another galaxy away....Ate peanuts, shells and all....Don Demeter hit a HR....
Bob P
January 31, 2004
Another famous day in early Mets history---Jimmy Piersall hits his 100th career home run off Dallas Green in the first game of this doubleheader, and Jimmy runs the bases backwards. This was the only homer Piersall hit in the National League.
A few weeks later the Mets release Piersall, who goes on to play sporadically with the Angels until 1967.
Ed K
June 20, 2016
Piersall did run the bases counterclockwise. He just back
pedaled as he did it. It did not endear him to Casey. He lasted
less than two months as a Met.
neal
March 30, 2020
MLB rules at that time required that a hitter MUST run straight and directly to first base after putting the ball in play, but rules were vague after touching first. Piersall knew that, which is why he ran backwards after touching first. I was at that game too, one of six I attended in 63 (had a 4-2 record too).
Herbert Sweet
August 10, 2021
I actually recorded Willey's pitch count for that game and it was either 85 or 86 pitches.
He was absolutely brilliant for the Mets that year.
John Pianoforte
February 28, 2023
I was a young kid 12 years old and don’t remember much about the games. I do remember the Mets played the Phillies and I was there. Years later I read Piersall had hit his 100 th home run off Dallas Green.
LarryF
October 14, 2024
My father got tickets from the Wonder Bread salesman. He wasn't much of a sports fan but I was a die hard Mets fan so we went. Beautiful sunny day. I don't remember Piersal's trot. I didn't know the significance of it. But I remember the scores, 5-2 and 4-1 and I remember Ryne Duran. He had a reputation of throwing his first warm up pitch over the screen and I was dying to see him do it. He didn't disappoint me. I can still close my eyes and see it. I still have the Yearbook I bought that day.
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