National League Standings, August 8, 1963
METS FANS SHARE THEIR MEMORIES OF THE AUGUST 8, 1963 GAME:
Mr. T
June 26, 2003
Sometimes a baseball game is, well, just a baseball game. It's a few hours of distraction from from that eternal run down play we call life. But sometimes that routine game takes on a meaning so much greater than anyone had a right to expect. Sometimes that game soars so far above the din of everday existence that it assumes mythic qualities. Such was the game between the Mets and the Cards played on August 8th, 1963.
By August that Mets had proven once again that the basement of the National League was theirs and no team was going to deprive them of that. Now it was the Card's turn to fatten their record. With them HOF Stan "the Man" Musial. This being his retirement year he was of course making one of his last appearances in New York.
I don't remember everyone who played that day. Frank Thomas started in left, Al Jackson was the starting pitcher and Duke Carmel played first. My friends and I sat in the left field bleechers. Musial was signing baseballs and tossing them into the seats near me.
The Mets won the game in dramatic fashion with a home run in the ninth.
The Amazing Mets of 69 were still some years off, but in that one moment this 12-year-old became aware that despite all odds you stay in the run down for as long as you can because sometimes they drop the ball and you're safe. Sometimes you win even though had had no right to. Keep the Faith...Ya gotta believe. Lets Go Mets!
Mike from the Bronx
January 8, 2004
I remember this game very well. In the top of the first inning, Julian Javier drove in the Cards' 2 runs. It stayed that way until the bottom of the ninth when my first baseball hero, Duke Snider, blasted a 3 run homer to the upper deck in right. The Polo Grounds went crazy as Duke hobbled around the bases with a bum leg.
Bob P
June 3, 2005
To clear up some confusion on both earlier posts: the Cardinals' two runs came on a single by pitcher Ray Sadecki in the second inning, and a home run by Charlie James leading off the fourth. The Mets tied it in the bottom of the fourth on RBI Singles by Duke Carmel and Al Moran.
Duke Snider walked as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning and stayed in the game. But it was the OTHER Duke, Duke Carmel, who homered with two outs in the bottom of the eighth off Bobby Shantz to give the Mets the lead.
With two outs and a runner on in the top of the ninth, Stan Musial came up to pinch-hit for Shantz and he walked. It was Stan the Man's final plate appearance in New York. Jackson then got Curt Flood to ground out to end the game.
joe b
April 19, 2012
I was just nine; went with my parents and younger sister. I remember Stan the MAN making his last appearance; my Dad pointed it out!! I grew up as a left-handed batter and can still see Stan wiggle his bat high over his head. GREAT memories of my one and only game at the Polo Grounds. Ron Hunt was my favorite! Got his autograph next year at Shea. He Signed LEFT handed!! Go figure. Hunt, first Met All-star in 1964 at Shea. I never forgave the front office for that trade!!!
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