My friend Diane and I had mixed emotions about this game, which was called after five because of a SNOWSTORM! It was a cheap win thanks to penny-pincher M. Donald Grant and the Mets brass who didn't want to lose a near-capacity Opening Day crowd. The playing conditions were deplorable but thankfully no one was injured. We were glad for the win — but equally glad to get in from the cold; I don't think we could have lasted 4 more innings.

First time ever that the Mets opened a season with a win at Shea. In 1970, they had won a season opener for the first time but the game was in Pittsburgh.

I had wanted to go to an Opening Day baseball game ever since I had seen the Brady Bunch episode in which Dodgers' First Baseman Wes Parker promised Greg two tickets to the opener if he got an A in his fiancee's class. Good enough for Greg Brady, good enough for me!

I never did get an A but my dream came true anyway in 1971 when my dad scored two tickets for my mom and me. (Dad couldnt get out of work that day and my sister had no interest)

Game day came and the weather was iffy at best. My social studies teacher who had heard my mom was coming to pull me out of school kept egging me on: "The game is rained out!"

But it wasn't. Mom showed up and we made the ride up Northern Blvd until the stadium came into view. By this time, the rain was coming down pretty hard. Not to mention the hail. Not to mention the snow. Did I mention the wind?

I couldn't care less about the weather. Mom of course felt differently. She had on one of those expressions that said, "Get me out of here!"

Dressed in heavy coats and carrying a blanket, we made it to our seats in the mezzanine level behind the left field foul line. Thankfully, we were under cover.

Still, there was that matter of the tarp covering the field. "They're not going to play," my mom said, hoping they'd call the game any minute so we could go home.

Then, a miracle.

"Look mom, they're taking the tarp off!" "Oh my God!" my mom shrieked.

And so they played: monsoon, windstorm, and all. Seaver pitched. I seem to remember Donn Clendenon doubling in the first inning and scoring. Maybe he even knocked in a run. The Mets took a lead and after two innings, the weather got so brutal even I had had enough.

Somehow, we found the car. The weather was horrific but that didn't keep us from stopping at the local Dunkin Donuts on the way home. We heard on the radio that the game went into a rain delay in the bottom of 5th inning with the Mets leading the official game. I think we made it home in time to catch Kiner's Korner on WOR-TV.

Over the next 25 years I would attend countless other opening days at Shea. I was there to witness the ball going through Bill Buckner's legs in Game 6. And I had field level box seats with my wife when Piazza hit the homer against the Braves that brought tears to everyone's eyes on Sept. 21, 2001, the Mets first home game after the WTC attacks.

As monumental as those moments were, there was something even more special about my first ever opening day, even if it was just two innings of some of the coldest, dampest weather I had ever endured at a ball game.

After all, that was the day when I realized I had the greatest mom who ever lived.

I went to this game at age 13 with my friend. We took a charter bus. I remember the awful weather, and the fans huddled in the bathrooms under the ceiling heaters. We were so disappointed that the game had to be called, but it was quite the adventure for a couple of 13-year-olds.

I remember going on a school trip (IS71) to this game which was my first time ever. The weather was cold and overcast and we left early. The Mets would lose this game but as a child I will remember this game forever and Buddy Harrelson hitting a triple.

Hi just wondering if any one from that class trip can reply with their memory ????

i remember watcthing that game on TV and it was easter sunday and it had gone so long with out any score until jerry grote hit a home run in the bottom of the 11th to win it for the Mets what a game and a W.

This was the first baseball game my brother took me to. I was 8 years old. I remember Jerry Grote hitting the game winning home run. It just cleared the orange line they had on the wall in left field corner. It seems like it was yesterday.

This game will always be special for me, because it was the first baseball game ever for both my brother and myself. I was eleven and he was five. Not only was it Easter Sunday but it was Helmet Day as well. We sat in the Loge by First base. My favorite player Tom Seaver was pitching. At the end of nine, there was no score. Much to our disappointment, our father wanted to leave in order to beat traffic. Before we got to our car, we heard a huge roar from the stadium. My father turned on the car radio and we found out that Jerry Grote had hit a "walk- off" home run in the bottom of the eleventh. Some 36 years later, I can still remember it like it was yesterday.

This was the first major league game I ever saw. My dad took me to it. I remember Seaver's brilliant pitching - nine scoreless - and all the great players from both the Mets and the Reds. I had to convince my dad to stay as the game went into extra innings, and I still remember clearly Jerry Grote hitting his walk off home run in the bottom of the 11th. I was 8-years old, and I got to see Seaver pitch once more many years later in Boston when I was a grad student at MIT: it was the last year of his career and he was pitching for the Red Sox. Tom Seaver passed away yesterday - God bless him and his family.

Ron Swoboda came up as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning of this game. He grounded out to first base and played left field in the ninth. This was Swoboda's only appearance ever against his former Mets team (not including spring training/exhibition games.)

This was the first baseball game I ever went to. I was 8 going on 9 and went with the Cub Scouts. We sat in the nose bleeds and I kept score of the entire game. As I got older, I asked my Dad if he remembered the game and he wasn't sure if he was there or not. I was somewhat disappointed at the thought of not going to my first game with my father, especially after hearing about all the great games he saw at Ebbetts Field. Years later I found the program in my parent's attic. I was suprised to see that I filled in the Mets lineup and the Pirates lineup was in my Dad's handwriting. Stargell homered and Clemente tripled. Cannot root for any other team.

Stargell's HR was 3/4's the way up the RF/CF scoreboard.

First game I ever went to, age 7. My Dad told me the day before we were thinking of going. I was really excited, visions of sugar plums danced in my head. Anyway, don't remember exactly where our seats were, but when the Mets took the field they looked so tiny, I thought they were Little Leaguers. I asked my Dad if they let kids use the field before the game starts. Dumb question, I know. But maybe baseball should have an opening act! Anyway, game lasted just over 2 hours, and the Mets got shut out. Koosman pitched well, but got tagged with the loss. I learned a hard life lesson. Never expect too much from the Mets.

Gary Gentry won the first game of a doubleheader (before the Mets lost the nightcap) in the only complete game one-hitter ever in which a Met pitcher gave up more than one run. In the fifth, Hebner walked, Clemente tripled, and Stargell hit a sac fly. But homers by Agee and Jones led the Mets to a 5-2 victory.

The Mets clobbered Bob Gibson on a Monday night in St. Louis.

Gibson allowed seven runs--the most he ever allowed to the Mets--and ten hits, four of them for extra bases, in just 3.2 innings as the Mets coasted to a 12-2 win.

Ed Kranepool, a career .313 hitter against Gibson, had two singles off Bob and four singles all told.

Tom Seaver allowed one run and four hits through eight, then another run and three hits in the ninth.

This game had one crazy bottom of the seventh inning! Don Hahn thought he was hit by a pitch and went to first base. It was called a foul ball instead and Gil Hodges argued over it. Hahn was then ruled to have been hit and the Cubs voiced their displeasure about the change in decision. The original ruling was restored and upset Hodges, who played the game under protest. The umpires then quarreled amongst themselves about what really happened before bringing Hahn back to the plate. The entire dispute took fourteen minutes.

Later in the inning, Cubs' pitcher Milt Pappas got angry with catcher Danny Breeden over a mistake that let Jerry Grote escape a rundown. Pappas blew his cool and went ballistic on Breeden right in front of everybody. Leo Durocher then took Pappas out of the game.

These guys seemed to give the seventh inning stretch a new meaning. The inning was extended much longer than it should have been.

A fantastic post by Scoey! What are the odds that, in the same inning, you'd not only see the umpires argue amongst themselves, but also see a pitcher completely lose his mind on his own catcher? I thought it was quite fitting that, after all the back-and-forth during the Hahn at-bat, Hahn wound up reaching first on a single anyway. After Al Weis' bunt attempt that resulted in Hahn being forced at second, Bud Harrelson came through with a single to score Grote and put the Mets in front for good.

The Cubs wound up leaving 12 runners on base in the game, and stranded the bases loaded without scoring in both the 4th and 8th inning. Nolan Ryan was his usual wild self but only allowed 3 hits to limit the damage. Ray Sadecki relieved him in the 8th, but a walk, a single and an error loaded the bases with 1 out. Danny Frisella came in and put out the fire, getting a pop out and a ground out before tossing a 1-2-3 9th for the save.

The Mets' other run scored on Bob Aspromonte's first homer with the team. It would be one of only a few bright spots he'd have in his one season with New York.

The very first game I ever went to. I was 7 years old. Could a first game be any better? My favorite player, Jerry Grote, doubles in a run. Two hall of fame pitchers battle it out. Seaver and Gibson. Both pitch complete games. Safe to say that that will never happen again in baseball today.

Bud Harrelson's two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the seventh gives the Mets enough to beat the Astros and Wade Blasingame, 2-1.

Blasingame had been 9-0 against the Mets coming into this game. Since entering the league in 1963, Blasingame had a career record of 44-49.

I was at junior high baseball practice when my sister came rushing from the parking lot. My dad had gotten tickets to the Met game that night. Of course, I had to ask Coach Pranzo for permission to leave and he told me, "Yes, but remember the Mets don't come to see you play." I thought, "Duh" and ran inside to change.....Anyway, we went and Marshall hit a grand slam and I've got black & white photos of him rounding first base somewhere in my attic.

I was 12 and went to the game with my dad. It was the young Nolan Ryan in all his frustrating glory. I think the leadoff hitter got a hit for the Astros, then Ryan drilled Bob Watson on the wrist with a triple-digit fastball and Watson had to leave the game.

From that point on, the Astros didn't dig in at the plate as Ryan was electric and wild all night. He walked 7, but only gave up two more hits the rest of the way. On the car radio driving home we heard the newscasters talking about Ryan finally solving his chronic blister problems by soaking his fingers in pickle brine.

He wasn't the guy you'd expect to throw 7 no-hitters when he was with the Mets, but he was a lot of fun and never more so than this night.

Watching this game on TV as a young kid who was new to baseball, I saw a grand slam for the first time in my life. Thank you, Dave Marshall for introducing me to the biggest of all home runs.

Dave Marshall's grand slam in this game was the second of his career. This one extended the Mets' lead to 8-1 over the Astros. Marshall hit his big homer on the same night that Cleveland's Steve Dunning slugged his own slam against the Oakland Athletics, which turned out to be the last by an American League pitcher before the DH came around. There's a strange coincidence in that a player named Harrelson was on base for both of these grand slams. Bud was the runner on second for Marshall's and Ken was on third for Dunning's.

Going for the sweep at Pittsburgh against the would-be 1971 World Series winners, the Mets stage a 9th-inning rally but ultimately fall short.

Stymied by 19-game winner Doc Ellis all game, the Mets finally broke through in the 8th thanks to a Tommie Agee 2-out RBI single. That made the score 2-1, but Tug McGraw couldn't hold serve spelling Nolan Ryan, giving up a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame. Those runs would prove fatal, as Bob Aspromonte delivered a 2-out RBI double in the 9th that would have tied the game if McGraw held the Pirates scoreless. Instead, NL saves leader Dave Giusti came in for Ellis and got Tim Foli to pop out to end the game.

Ryan gave up just 1 earned run over 7 innings but took his first loss of the year. Bud Harrelson also went 0-for-3 to snap a 13-game hitting streak, which proved to be the longest of his entire career.

After the Mets take the lead in the top of the tenth, Ralph Garr homers for the Braves to tie the game back up. Then he homers again in the bottom of the twelfth off Ron Taylor to give the Braves a 4-3 win. Garr becomes just the fourth player in history to hit two extra inning home runs in the same game.

The Mets first Game ever at the Vet and they lost it just as they lost their last game there at the end of the 2003 season. All told, they were 121- 151 at the Vet.

1st time I was at a game; I never forgot it. I was 9 years old. How classic, thank you God!

Nolan Ryan improved to 6-1 as he struck out 16 Padres in the second game of a doubleheader at San Diego. It was the most batters Nolan would strike out while wearing a Mets uniform.

Ryan gave up a first inning unearned run and then clamped down on the Pods. Art Shamsky tied it in he fifth and had an RBI double in the seventh to drive in the winning run.

After the great 6-1 start, Ryan won just four more games the rest of the year and finished 10- 14. In 1972 he was wearing a California Angels uniform.

I remember watching this game on TV as a kid. The Mets were trailing the whole night before Dave Marshall tied it up with a 2-run homer. What sticks in my mind most, though, is how they lost it in the tenth. Tug McGraw threw a pitch that bounced right over Jerry Grote's head! Jerry ran back to get the ball, but he couldn't find it. Tug went back to help, but had no luck. Meanwhile, the runner on second base came all the way around to score. A tough-luck loss!

I was at this game with my dad and we were rooting for the Giants. In the bottom of the ninth several fans were headed to the exit and my father asked them where are you going? They replied that the game was lost and they were going to beat the traffic, to which my dad said: “Don’t leave yet, Dave Marshall is going to tie it up with a 2-run homer” they continued to walk past us and on the next pitch Dave Marshall tied it up with a 2-run homer. Those fans scrambled back to their seats in jubilation and looked at my dad as if he was some mystic. I had mixed emotions. I was amazed that he called it, but crushed to see the game get tied up. The Giants won it in the tenth on one of the most memorable plays I’ve ever witnessed. Tug McGraw was on in relief and Hal Lanier was taking a short lead off of 2b. McGraw threw a wild pitch and Lanier scored all the way from second to give the Giants the go ahead run. And the Giants ending up winning it in 10 innings. I became a Mets fan the following year when my hero Willie Mays was traded from the Giants to the Mets. But this was a game that will never be forgotten because if the dramatic game trying 2-run homer by Dave Marshall (a former Giant!) and the incredible base running of Hal Lanier scoring from second base on a wild pitch.

I remember how ecstatic I was when Marshall tied this up watching on tv. He had gone hitless in 28 at bats according to the NY Times site map. Grote had called for screwball but instead got Tug's fastball which sailed over his glove while Lanier scored from 2nd. Hodges got bounced arguing that a fan interfered to no avail.

This is one of the first Mets games I attended. Juan Marichal with the unforgettable leg kick is pitching for the Giants. Ken Singleton hits one of the longest home runs in Shea history off the middle of the scoreboard in right center. Unbelievable shot! Does anybody else remember this?

I also attended this game, 18 days before my 11th birthday. I remember it being a gray, cloudy day and a rain delay, but I can't say when or how long.

This was my first ever major league game. It featured a matchup of two future hall of fame pitchers, Don Sutton for the Dodgers and Tom Seaver for the Mets. A Met loss

Former Yankee and New Jersey native Al Downing goes the distance, shutting out the Mets and tallying a season-high 8 strikeouts. It's the Mets 5th loss in their last 6 games, dropping them to 3.5 games in back of 1st, the farthest out they've been so far in 1971.

Not like the Dodgers did much on offense, either. Maury Wills delivered a 2-out, 2-run single in the 5th to account for all their runs. Nolan Ryan and Danny Frisella combined for 12 strikeouts, which tied the most a team tallied vs. L.A. during the season.

The only positive I took away from this game was that I listened to the Dodgers radio broadcast, featuring the immortal Vin Scully. There simply weren't any better at calling the game.

I went to this game with my friend David from Midwood High School as a pre graduation day treat (we had morning schedules our senior year so we got out of school before noon time). Anyway the Mets Mike Jorgenson hits two home runs off of LA pitcher Bill Singer. I also remember that future Mets manager Bobby Valentine was playing 3rd base that day for the Dodgers and there were a lot of his fans and friends from Connecticut who were cheering him on that afternoon.

One minor correction to Joel's post from August of 2003: Mike Jorgensen did hit two homers in this game, but only one came off Bill Singer. His second home run came in the bottom of the eighth off reliever Jose Pena.

Jerry Koosman made a rare relief appearance in this game, pitching 1.1 innings in relief of Charlie Williams.

My dad took me to my first game. We sat in RF - box seats. Took the subway from Manhattan. Seem to remember I skipped school that day! Jorgensen hit two - both deep drives to rf. Thought I remembered a Dodger (Mota or Wills) stealing home -or caught stealing home. Box score doesn't show it though.

In June of 1971, my dad took me to Shea for a weeknight game against the Phils. It was the first game I ever attended, and I wore a full Mets uniform to the game (I was nine). I remember that Gentry started against a pitcher named Ken Reynolds, that the Mets won, 2-0, that my favorite player, Tommie Agee, did not play (I was very disappointed), but that my second-favorite player, Donn Clendenon, DID play, and he smacked a slicing foul ball toward us in the field boxes halfway between first base and the right field wall. The ball looked as big as a softball as it headed for us. I have no idea how the Mets scored, but I do remember that it was pleasant weather, and we took the subway home. A fine way to start my Shea pilgramages!

Donn Clendenon singled, then Ken Singleton homered in the second inning for the only two runs of the game. In fact, those were the only two hits starter Ken Reynolds allowed in seven innings of work.

Gary Gentry did even better, pitching one of his best games as a Met that night. He retired the first ten batters of the game before Tim McCarver singled and Willie Montanez walked.

Gentry then retired 17 of the last 20 batters to finish the game with a two-hit shutout. He walked three and struck out seven.

This was also the very first Met game I ever attended. I was 10 years old. Ironically, my dad was a big Yankee fan and didn't like the Mets! But he took me anyway, along with another dad and his kid. We all drove out from NJ to Shea.

We sat very close, just about behind home plate. I remember Gentry looking kinda small and skinny on the mound, while Ken Singleton looked about 7 feet tall! I recall Gentry throwing very hard, hearing the catcher's glove snap. And the moment Singleton connected, everyone seemed to know the ball was gone as it disappeared into the beautiful June evening.

I instantly fell in love with Shea: the lights, the open sky in the outfield, the huge scoreboard with the old round Mets logo on top in that big square box. I felt so at home there - and I still do!

I believe I attended this game as a child. It was helmet day. The Mets won in the bottom of the 15th on a Clendenon home run. Have a got the facts right?

In the top of the 14th at Shea Stadium, Larry Bowa was on 2b and Oscar Gamble on 1b for the Phillies. On a double steal attempt, Bowa reaches 3b and Gamble is caught in a rundown. Bowa continues on to score and draws a throw while Gamble reaches 2b. NL president Chub Feeney ruled that Bowa should be credited with 2 stolen bases on the play and Gamble 1.

I also attended this game as a child. It was helmet day. The thing I remember more than even Clendenon's home run was an earlier shot by Ken Singleton that could have been the longest home one ever hit had it not hit the high, white Mets sign in centerfield. (It's been a long time since I've been to Shea). Unless my childhood memory deceived me, I was in the right field bleachers and the ball was like a rocket. It took off from the bat and hit the sign in about two seconds still going straight up.

Laurence, I can't vouch for your memory of Singleton's shot hitting the scoreboard, but he did hit a homer in the bottom of the 14th inning. That tied the score 5-5 after the Phils had taken the lead in the top of the 14th on the double (triple?) steal described above by Feat Fan in March of 2004.

The Mets won it on a Clendenon homer off RHP Bill Wilson in the bottom of the 15th with two outs and nobody on.

Tom Seaver started the game for the Mets but this was one of those rare 1971 starts where he just didn't have it. Tom, who led the league in ERA that year with a 1.76 mark, gave up four runs and twelve hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out just three batters.

Former World Champion Met Bobby Pfiel played in this game for the Phillies. He had a pinch single in the top of the 13th but was caught stealing.

It was helmet day and my first Mets game. I went with my Cub Scout pack and we set in the upper deck near the left field foul pole. We left sometime in extra innings and filed onto a school bus to take us back to East Hampton. The bus driver put the game on the radio. Every one of us sat rapt to the voice of Bob Murphy. The Phillies scored to go ahead, but the Mets tied it. Then Clendenon launched one and Murphy was shouting "The Mets win. The Mets win the ball game!" and we were all cheering like crazy in the bus and waiving our batting helmets. I am writing this the night after coming back from seeing the Mets lose to the Giants in San Francisco. It was my first Mets game of the year and the 33rd consecutive year I have seen the Mets live at least once, starting with Helmet Day, 1971. My wife can't understand why I care about the Mets, or why I am pissed they lost tonight. She also doesn't understand why I got teary eyed when Murphy called his last game last year (thank God for the Internet, as I am in California), or when he died. But she wasn't on the bus on Helmet Day, when Murphy called Clendenon's high fly ball to right field.....

I remember this as the first major league game I ever attended. I was a seven year old living in Wantagh and I went with my father.

I remember three things from this game: it was Helmet Day, I wore my first Mets' uniform with number 2 (Bob Aspromonte's number, I still don't know why I chose it) and the Mets beat the Phillies in 15 innings. We stayed for the entire game that ended with Donn Clendennon's home run.

I also recall Ken Singleton hitting a home run, but could not remember the inning in which he hit it. Thank you, Bob P.

Helmet day!! Seaver didn't have it that day, but the Mets stayed in it. My mother made us leave in the 11th inning (I seem to remember a Clendenon double wasted?), and we got home in time to see Clendenon's game winning HR in the 15th. I remember being pretty sore at my parents for making us leave!

This was the first of many Mets games my father took me to. God rest his soul; what a wonderful man. He served almost 40 years on the N.Y.P.D. It was Helmet Day and the Mets won. We were there for all 15 innings in the Mezzanine section. What a great day!

It was my first game also. I was six years old, but I did remember Singleton having a big day.

This was only the second game I attended. I was 11 years old. It was a Father's Day doubleheader which was also Mets Straw Hat Day.

The two most outstanding memories on the day were seeing Nolan Ryan, a relative unknown at the time, walk the first three hitters he faced, then promptly struck out the next three to end the first inning.

I hadn't realized until looking at the box score that the Mets actually made a fantastic comeback in the bottom of the ninth of the first game.

The second memory took place in the second game which was a long home run hit out of the park in right field clearing the second bullpen wall and into the parking lot by Ken Singleton. The second game also was won by a Darren Johnson grand slam in extra innings. Mets also attempted another comeback but fell short.

Our seats were first row Mezzanine section which my hncle bought from a scalper for $10 each. What a classic day it was!

Michael, a couple of follow-up points to your excellent post:

Ryan actually gave up a bunt single and two walks in the top of the first before striking out Willie Montanez, Oscar Gamble, and Ron Stone.

After being given a 4-0 lead thanks to two run homers by Mike Jorgensen and Art Shamsky, Ryan gave up six runs and six hits and two walks (one intentional) in the sixth. In the first five innings Nolan had allowed just that one bunt hit.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Mets loaded the bases with nobody out, and back-to-back singles by Don Hahn and Duffy Dyer gave the Mets the win, 7-6.

The Ken Singleton homer in game two gave the Mets a 5-1 lead in the fourth inning, but Ray Sadecki couldn't hold it and the Mets lost in 11 innings.

This was the first game I ever attended at Shea. I was six years old; we arrived during the top of the 9th inning and so the first Shea experience I ever had was a 3 run comeback. I was hooked!

Tom Seaver steps up with two outs and nobody on in the top of the eighth inning and the score tied, 1-1. Expos' RHP Bill Stoneman had retired eleven in a row, but Seaver hits one over the Parc Jarry fence and then shuts down the Expos for the 2-1 win. It was Seaver's second career home run. Tom struck out nine and didn't walk a batter to improve to 9-3.

This was the first major league baseball game I attended. I was 6 years old at the time. I still remember the sense of excitement, and disappointment among Expos fans, when Seaver hit the home run. My other vivid memory is a fan directly behind me yelling "Marshall, you're a bum!" at reliever Mike Marshall.

Cleon Jones ties an National League record by drawing six walks, helping the Mets to a doubleheader sweep of the Expos, 4–1 and 4–2. Jerry Grote has three doubles in the opener, and Bud Harrelson knocks in three runs in the nite cap. Nolan Ryan (7-4) and Danny Frisella (4–1) are winners.

I remember this game well. My brother and I sat in the upper deck right behind home plate.

Ryan was great. He struck out Stargell three times, and they never had a chance. Maybe the last good outing he had as a Met.

This was my first-ever baseball game that my brother Bob took me to. I remember Ryan shutting out the Bucs and Krane hitting a homer over the right field wall. Sat in mez section in right. Great memory. Was sold as a Met fan after that experience.

The Mets were a game out of first place on this date in 1971. When they lost this game, it started their downfall.

We get to Shea but there are no tickets next to each other. Fireworks Night. Zoilo Versalles in lineup for the Braves, one of my favorites. We stay for two innings, leave and hang out rest of night in Flushing Meadow drinking wine. Later that month, we are back at Shea for Grand Funk Railroad/Humble Pie concert. Think Jumbo Nash started that game by the way.

One of many Hank Aaron games I try to attend. This a Saturday night game featuring Zoilo Versalles as the starting Braves SS.

My best friend and I are forced to buy seats away from each other. No one will trade us, even though we're in the same row! Teed off, hot and being 15, we split in the third inning as Jumbo Nash is soft tossing and head to Flushing Meadow Park to hang out and party. We return to Shea later that week for Grand Funk Railroad and Humble Pie concert.

This was the first game that I ever attended. It was a shame that Seaver got no run support that day. But then again, run support was scarce back then

The Mets lost again on this July 4 Sunday afternoon, to fall to 0-4 in the month of July. It was a sign of things to come as the Mets started July 1971 in second place, just two games behind the Pirates. They finished the month in fourth place, 11.5 games out of first, thanks to a 9-20 record in July.

In this game Henry Aaron hit his 23rd homer of the year on his way to 47. It was number 615 of his career. Aaron broke a scoreless tie with a one-out solo homer in the third off Tom Seaver, and the Braves added another run later in the inning on an RBI single by Sonny Jackson. They might have had more but Mike Lum was picked off third base by Jerry Grote for the second out of the inning and then Seaver struck out Marty Perez.

The Braves also left the bases loaded in the sixth, as Tom didn't have his best stuff in this game, allowing nine hits in six innings. Tom left the game in the bottom of the sixth as the Mets loaded the bases with two outs and Gil Hodges decided to send up Donn Clendenon as a pinch- hitter, but Donn popped to second.

The Mets had nine hits (all singles) and four walks off Phil Niekro but coundn't get a run in.

I wasn't born yet when this game took place, but this was the only game my Dad went to with his Dad (my Grandfather). My Dad had a paper route (the good old days). He was 13 in 1971 and one of the customers on his route gave my Dad 2 tickets for this game as a tip. My Grandfather died in 1982, 5 years before I was born so I never got to meet him. My Dad remembered it was a very hot day and my Grandfather was miserable. He had always told be that Seaver started and Aaron hit a homer. He wasn't sure the year. He thought it was between 70 to 73. Thanks to Mets database I found the game about a year ago. I am looking to find a ticket or stub from the game so I can give it to my Dad.

I was at this double-header and I'm not positive, but I think Nolan Ryan walked in one, if not both, of Montreal's runs. The Mets traded him for Jim Fregosi five months later.

This victory for a doubleheader split was the Mets' only win in July between the start of the month and the All-Star Break. It ended a four-game losing streak and was followed by six consecutive defeats leading up to the Mid-Summer Classic, which was played in Detroit that year. This bad stretch dropped the Mets into third place in the N. L. East Division, ten games behind the Pirates.

Ray Sadecki pitched a very impressive three-hit shutout over the Expos. Sadecki issued no walks and retired the last nineteen Montreal batters. Cleon Jones provided half the scoring with an RBI single and a three-run homer. Also, Duffy Dyer went 3-for-4 and drove in a run.

When I was a kid, my parents thought I still too young to go to a game by myself and I had two tickets to see this one. I just figured out the date was 7/6/71 because I also remember that it was the day Louis Armstrong died.

Anyway, my folks made my older sister take me to Shea, and she wasn't crazy about the idea. We rode the subway from the Bronx to Shea and our seats were high in the upper deck and my sister was frightened about the ridiculously high trek up the steps. Jerry Koosman started and lasted one inning, leaving the game with what was announced as soreness in his rib cage. My sister thought it was funny and joked the rest of the game that Mrs. Koosman must have whacked him in the ribs because she was mad at him. I was so mad at her because she was making fun of one of my favorite Mets, but because she was so afraid of being up so high, I let her talk me into leaving the game early. After that, my younger brother and were allowed to go to games by ourselves.

Looking at the box score of this game reminded me that I watched it on television. t was the first time I ever saw a pitcher hit a home run. The Reds' Wayne Granger knocked one out of the park in the eighth inning and it got my attention. I had never seen a homer by a pitcher before.

I checked Granger's batting statistics on Retrosheet and found that this was not just his only home run, but also the only RBI and run scored of his major league career. It was also Granger's only hit of the '71 season.

What's most notable about this game was a film clip of Pete Rose scoring all the way from first base on a 5th Inning double by Red teammate Lee May and his signature diving belly-flop head-first slide of home plate as the Reds defeated the Mets in that Mid-season game, 4- 2.

The Mets got swept in this pre-all-star-break doubleheader for their seventh loss in a row and they fell ten games out of first place.

Tony Perez drove in all five runs in game two, with the crusher being a three run eighth inning homer off Tom Seaver, who came in to relieve starter Jon Matlack. Jim McGlothlin had twelve strkieouts for the Reds.

Was that Seaver's first loss in relief? Why was he in relief?

Seaver appeared in relief in this game because it was the final game before the All Star break. Back in the day, managers treated that game like Game 7 of the World Series, running out anyone and everyone on the pitching staff.

I recall that Gil Hodges coached 3rd base during game 2. Doctor Worm is right, Tom Seaver came on in relief in the 8th, something that I had not ever seen (of course I was only 11!). Very memorable game!

Astros turn their first triple play in franchise history. (Jack Billingham, Roger Metzger, Denis Menke, Doug Rader)

Figures that it would come against the Mets!

Cleon hit into the triple play with Agee and Boswell on base.

I was 13 year old kid from Georgia visiting relatives in Texas; insisted on seeing game at the Dome (no one else a b'ball fan). VERY HOT DAY.

Have always remembered the triple play BUT it was not a line drive triple play. It was a double play (runners on 1st and 2nd) that turned into a TP when the runner on second attempted to advance after the DP. I remember Doug Rader placing the tag at third and holding his glove aloft after taking the throw from 1st baseman Menke (?). No one else in the crowd I was with realized the rarity of what transpired but I knew immediately it was a triple play. It was so smoothly executed (in the way that only major leaguers can do it) that it appeared to be a double play. Favorite childhood memory of mine.

The Mets continue their July freefall, losing for the 17th time in 21 games. Their only run is scored when Don Wilson, still suffering from the aftereffects of getting plunked on the hand by a Nolan Ryan pitch the previous half inning, walked 4 of the first 5 he faced in the 4th to force in a run. Other than that, the Mets had just 3 hits. They've now fallen 13.5 games in back of 1st in the NL East, whereas they began the month just 2 games back.

As crazy as it may sound, this was actually Ryan's final career appearance against the Astros. He never faced them as a member of the American League Angels or Rangers, and was obviously a member of the Astros from 1980-88. So though he pitched for 22 more seasons after getting traded off the Mets after 1971, this was his last time facing Houston. He probably didn't mind, either, as his career record vs. the Astros was 3-7 with a 5.62 ERA. The Orioles had the next highest career ERA vs. Ryan at 4.21.

Wilson tossed a complete game win for Houston. I did some research into his career and, aside from learning he was one of the better NL starters at the time, saw he died young at the age of 29 prior to the 1975 season. The circumstances surrounding his death are still unsettled to this day, as he was found in his car with the engine running inside his garage with a BAC over 0.16, apparently succumbing to carbon monoxide poisoning. Tragically, his 5-year-old son was asleep in the room above the garage and also died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. In remembrance, the Astros retired his #40 in 1975 and no one for the franchise has worn it since.

This was the first game I ever attended - I was 9 years old. I seem to remember that the Mets scored 3 runs apiece in the first three innings. The Astros scored three in either the 3rd or the 4th, and that was the end of the scoring for the day. My only other memory was of Cleon Jones leaping above the fence to rob one of the Astro hitters (can't remember who) of a home run.

To clarify an earlier post on this game, the Mets scored three in the first and three more in the second to take an early 6-0 lead. Bill Greif started for the Astros, and left without retiring a batter (two singles and two walks) in his second major league start.

Houston got to within 6-3 with a run in the fourth and two more in the fifth, but the Mets scored three more times for the 9-3 win.

Cleon Jones had a big day, going 3-for-4 plus a walk with five RBIs. He drove in two in the first with a single, two more in the second with a double, and then had another double in the sixth to drive in the final run of the game.

My first game too. We were sitting behind the Mets' dugout a few rows back. My most vivid memory is of Teddy Martinez making an out and slamming his batting helmet into the ground.

As always, Dave and I are at the game, this a rainy night. Nolan Ryan takes the hill and must have thrown 175 pitches and dealt with two rain delays. The game was called after 8 but we didn't care.

We both had a crush on this busty girl who was sitting right next to us and quite obliging! Tired of a pair of horny and sex deprived 15 year olds oggling at her, she flashed us before leaving with her oversized boyfriend!

Nolan who?

This is the only time I ever say the recently passed Matty Alou play in person. It was a rainy night, but while traveling home to Long Island from Manhattan, I was able to convince my dad to stop for the game. We sat through one rain delay, but when the 2nd came we were gone. Matty's triple was the big hit of the night as the Cards beat Nolan Ryan.

I believe this was the second game I ever went to. It was a twi-night doubleheader; my dad took my sister and me. We sat down the left field line and I remember Lee May hitting a home run in to the left field loge seats. We tried waiting out a long rain delay in the second game but it was getting late and we were leaving for vacation early the next morning so we decided to leave. Just as we hit the parking lot the rain had stopped and we heard the crowd cheer as they apparently came out to take the tarp off. We listened on the radio as the Mets came back and won.

In my 1st-ever sports event, my retrospective is bittersweet. I was to witness 2 young RH pitchers whom I would never again see in blue and orange due to a pair of trades, one arguably the worst ever. Nolie pitched well, though in defeat, in Game One, but it’s Game Two that leaves a stronger impression. Local product Charlie Williams, amid the rain-delay, threw his only CG as a Met, and enabled me to finally enjoy the Mets beating the Bad Red Machine. The name is familiar for one reason: Willie Mays. A trade that also shouldn’t have been. Years after Willie retired, Charlie was a competent presence for Frisco - years that would’ve been better spent at Shea. Maybe not CGs, but close. Thanx to my late parents for a 10yr old’s seminal experience.

I remember going to this game with my dad. It was pouring rain and they were determined to squeeze in a double-header. With Ryan pitching game 1 and the rain delays it was a long day. By the end few people were left. I am left with great memories of a 13 year old and his dad, trying to stay dry and rooting for Charlie Williams. Thanks for ending the day on an up note.

I too, remember sitting thru the rain of this long twi-night doubleheader. Ryan lost the first game, and they threw out Charlie Williams against the Big Red Machine in the second. Well, Williams did OK, and the Mets exploded for 9 runs to split the night.

One particular memory I have was of another fan's comment during the game. Duffy Dyer was coming up to bat, and someone shouted "Come on Duffy, show Bench how it's done!" Dyer promptly got a hit. As a 10 year old, I got a big kick out of that.

I attended this double header with my Dad and my two bros. Not my best memory of attending a Mets game. It was pouring rain and they were trying hard to get it in. We were soaked and crabby and had a long ride back to Syracuse. But...at least we were being a family My Dad is long gone now and I wish I could sit thru a rainy double header with him today.

This was the first game I ever attended at Shea. I was eight years old and really wanted to see Tom Seaver pitch. I had to settle for Gary Gentry, though. Gentry did a good job, nearly shutting out the Big Red Machine. My clearest memories of the game are seeing the 14 on Gil Hodges' back as he walked out to the mound (it was the only time I would ever see him in person) and a birthday greeting to Cleon Jones that flashed on the scoreboard.

I remember my father took me to the game, I was 12 years old. My only memory of the game was Pete Rose leading off the game with a triple and eventually scoring, it was the only run of the game. The next day we were at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and I remember seeing outside on a large board the previous days scores, and there it was: Cincinnati 1, Mets 0.

This was my first game I ever went to. I was 4 years old. We sat in the Mezz in left field. I don't remember much from this game, but I do remember how great it was to see a game in person. I only hope my son feels the same way when I take him to his first game this season.

The Mets were coming off a miserable July (9-20) and after this game they fell to 1-4 in August. On June 30 the Mets were 45-29 and in second place, just two games behind Pittsburgh. After this loss they were 55-53 and in fourth place, twelve games out of first.

Pete Rose drove in the only run of this game with an eighth inning double, and was thrown out at third trying to stretch it into a triple. Gary Gentry pitched a fine game, allowing just seven hits while walking two and striking out eleven. But Gary Nolan allowed just five hits over 8.2 innings and Clay Carroll came on to get the last out for the save. The Mets got only three runners as far as second base in the game.

This game set a club record at the time for runs scored by the Mets. The previous high had been a 19-1 victory in Wrigley field in the early 1960's (1964?).

Phil Niekro shut out the Mets in this game, one day after the Mets scored 20 runs.

This was the final game of a four game series in Atlanta, and each team won twice. The Mets scored a total of 1 run in the two games they lost, and they scored 29 runs in the two games they won!

Tug set a Mets record for a relief pitcher in this game with 9 K's.

Tom Seaver was my favorite player. I remember how he and Dave Roberts pitched like they were the top two pitchers in the NL. I think Cleon Jones' home run to win the game in the bottom of the ninth hit the top of the wall before going over.

It was Saturday the 21st, possibly a night affair. It was anticipated as a pitchers’ duel: Tom Terrific and SD’s lefty Dave Roberts - 1-2 in the NL in ERA. It didn’t disappoint (in some small part due to the hitting status of both teams.) Exactly 2 hours time, no errors, no pitching changes - vintage MLB. Cleon Jones won it with a walk offer that barely cleared the CF wall, a few yards to the right. I recall telling my Mom “I had a felling.” She agreed! Despite a Mets fan’s long hot summer -a priceless memory.

Yet another hilarious outing at the park. My best friend and I never missed a weekend, either Yankee or Shea, we were there. Could afford it back then....Nate Colbert ties into one but we're more concerned with Jet-Giants game at the Yale Bowl.Great times were had, the game's so different now, so's the feeling!

At 9 years old, this was the first baseball game I ever attended. My brother and I won the tickets by getting new subscribers for our paper route. We took a bus ride from the suburbs of NJ to Shea Stadium along with a group of other paper carriers.

I remember seeing the Shea Stadium field from the stands for the first time and being awestruck by the sight of it. The seats were way up in the upper deck, but if my memory serves me correctly, I believe Koosman struck out Willie Mays 3 times in this game.

I have been a Mets fan ever since.

This was my first Met game at Shea too. I was 8 and lived on Staten Island. My 17-year-old sister and I took the ferry and then the subway out to Shea. We got tickets at the game, which in 1971 meant you were in the upper deck, though we were directly behind home plate, which wasn't bad.

From that high up behind the action, though, it looked to my inexperienced eyes like every fly ball and pop-up was coming our way!

I remember Koosman pitching very well; I don't remember him striking out Willie Mays three times, but I recall being very excited that I was actually seeing Willie (about whom my mother, an old New York Giants fan, used to talk about endlessly) in the flesh.

I DO have a clear recollection that Ed Kranepool hit a three-run homer in the middle innings.

To clear up some confusion on some earlier posts about this game...

Jerry Koosman did pitch very well, giving up just one run (on the fifth homer of rookie Dave Kingman's career) and three hits while striking out eight, including fanning Willie Mays three times.

Ed Kranepool hit a homer in the fourth inning, but it was a solo homer leading off. The Mets did score three times in the inning thanks in part to two passed balls by Dick Dietz. Gaylord Perry was the starter and loser for the Giants. And the fact that Perry was pitching explains the two passed balls!!

Kingman's drive, 500-foot homer off Jerry Koosman landed on the roof of a bus parked behind the left field bullpen.

It was the bus that got us back home to Brooklyn after the game and many doobs. The bus driver appeared to be as loose as we were!

I attended this game (the first of a Saturday afternoon twinbill) as an 11-year-old, and I remember the Mets scoring 6 first-inning runs off Claude Osteen (a pretty fair lefty) and Richie (not yet known as Dick) Allen playing 3B for the Dodgers IN A BATTING HELMET!!!

I am incredibly lucky enough to have just picked up an almost mint copy of the program from this game. It is scored through all nine innings so I have all of the player names and what they did PLUS...it is signed by Sandy Koufax on the front!!

Returning to this page to reminisce about the last time the Mets swept a twinbill from the Dodgers until tonight - April 27, 2010...I was 11 then and 49 now!

My dad took me to this, my first major league game (I was 7), and it turned out to be a doubleheader due to a rain out the night before. Some great names involved that day: Gil Hodges as manager, Seaver starting for the Mets. Walter Alston as manager, and Maury Wills, Willie Davis, Richie Allen, and 48-year-old Hoyt Wilhelm in relief for the Dodgers, who also had youngsters like Bill Buckner, Steve Garvey and Bobby Valentine. I remember Cleon Jones won the nightcap with a walk-off homer before they were known as walk-offs.

My first ever Mets game(s). I was 7. I believe this double-header day was due to a rainout on Friday, so I couldn't have been luckier than to see 2 games, both Mets wins, Seaver in a blowout, and a 2nd game walk-off (did we call them walk-offs back then?). My first memory of Shea is coming out of the concourse tunnel and seeing green green grass everywhere, and colored seats. Picture is forever in my mind. We sat 3rd base side, looking out towards Cleon Jones. Dudes screaming "Hot Dawgs" all over the place, slapping mustard on them right at your seats. Those were the days.

This was the first game I ever went to. Bright sunny day, sat right behind Dodger dugout, and don't remember any detail other than the starting playyers I entered onto the scorecard that I still have. OF was Hahn, Jones, and Singleton. Garrett, Harrelson, and Aspromonte started in the infield, Sadecki pitched, and I think that Kranepool and Grote also started. Bill Singer pitched for the Dodgers. This was the only game that I never saved the ticket stub. Although I don't remember, I'm sure I saw Nolan Ryan and Gil Hodges, and Dick Allen as a Dodger.

Based on the boxscore provided, I correct my memory above that Aspromonte was the Mets 2B...it was Boswell. And it appears that this was a very interesting game, as Allen and Singleton homered, a young Steve Garvey was at 3B, Bobby Valentine was at SS, and the game was won in the bottom of the 9th on a pinch-single by Tommie Agee!

I was at this game with my dad and little sister. I remember it was early in the day, and my dad (an ex-Brooklyn Dodger fan who had become a Mets fan) said to us, "Would you guys like to go to the Mets doubleheader in Philadelphia today?" We lived just outside of Princeton, NJ, and Philly was an easy 50-minute drive. Anyway, of course Amy and I agreed immediately (both being voracious Mets fans), and a few hours later we were at lovely, brand-spanking-new Veterans Stadium, with its plastic seats (the upper two decks were yellow and orange), state-of-the-art scoreboard and artificial turf.

Outside of sweeping the doubleheader, I don't recall much about the day, outside of the wonderful surprise Dad gave us!

First road game I ever saw the Mets play. My folks had helped me move into my freshman dorm at Penn and we had some free time, so we went over to the Vet. The only time I ever saw Nolan pitch in person and he lost. The Phils gave out Phillies rulers and book covers for back to school day and my sisters hung on to the rulers (which included Mike Schmidt's picture on it) for years.

I saw a bunch of Met games at the Vet over the next four years because they were always scheduled for a trip to Philly in April before the spring semester was over and in September after the fall semester had started. Of course, I most remember 1973. I went to a Phils-Pirates game that September to root against the Pirates.

Nolan Ryan walked five, hit a batter and gave up three hits in just two innings (plus three batters in the third) as the Mets got creamed by the Phils.

Don Hahn had a fifth inning inside-the-park homer for the Mets off Woody Fryman. It was Hahn's first career home run.

The best game ever pitched by a Met on Labor Day. Seaver gave up an opening single to Ron Hunt and a 5th inning double to Gary Sutherland and that was it.

Other Labor Day gems include a 4-hit shutout by Seaver in 1975 and a 4-hit shutout by Kenny Rogers in 1999. Also Izzy threw six-innings of two-hit shutout ball in a win in 1993.

A significant thing happened in this game. Tug McGraw connected for the first and only home run of his entire major league career. Tug drove one out of the park off the Expos' Carl Morton to lead off the top of the sixth inning. It's just too bad it came in such a lopsided defeat for the Mets.

A homer coming off the bat of a pitcher is a special moment that can't possibly happen in a game that has that infestation called the Designated Hitter in it.

This is a game I watched on TV as a kid. For some reason, it comes back into my mind from time to time. I recall that Gary Gentry hurt his arm and got taken out before a huge rainstorm held things up about an inning or two later. With the score tied in the ninth, reliever Danny Frisella drew a walk and moved to third base on an error. Mike Jorgensen singled to drive home Frisella and the Mets won. It ended with a walk-off run being scored by the winning pitcher himself, which doesn’t happen too often.

I remember this quite well. It was my first day ever in Hunter College, the day of the crushing of the Attica uprising too. I listened to this game on transistor radio during a break between classes. It was a rainy miserable day and I was nervous enough in starting college. Anyway the game was shortened to 5 innings. Ray Sadecki won and Ed Kranepool hit a HR.

Ray Sadecki was the winner in this five inning game, and Mike Jorgensen hit a first inning two- run homer off Expos RHP Carl Morton. Ed Kranepool had two singles and scored two runs. After the Mets batted in the fifth the game was delayed for an hour and 22 minutes and finally called.

Francisco Estrada's only MLB game, as the catcher became the first Mexican to ever play for the Mets.

Second game of a doubleheader at Shea, and Burt Hooton gets his first major league win. Hooton, who had been pitching for the University of Texas four months earlier, had a no-hitter with two outs in the seventh inning when Mike Jorgensen singled, and then Ken Singleton hit a two-run homer to tie the game, 2-2.

But Billy Williams hit a pinch-homer off Danny Frisella in the top of the ninth to give Hooton his first of 151 victories. Burt struck out 15 Mets in the game.

This night sucked. Swept in a doubleheader and toyed with by a rookie in game 2.

I had seen the Mets sweep two or three doubleheaders before this night and two losses followed by that excrutiating Shea to New Jersey drive was a bummer.

The only vivid memory I have is of Singleton's HR clearing the wall.

Now that I'm older, I guess I appreciate the trivia of being at Burt Hooton's first win, but it was not fun at the time.

Tom Seaver takes a tough loss as Cubs pitcher Juan Pizarro homers off Tom for the only run of the game.

Pizarro was a pretty good hitting pitcher. He finished his career with 8 homers, 66 RBIs, and a .202 batting average, playing in an era where the league batting average was just .257.

This was my first major league game. I was 8 and I sat way up in left field above rookie Richie Zisk. I remember being disappointed that Stargell wasn't playing, but Zisk filled in admirably. And Blass had a two-hit complete game shutout. Some fat guy in front of me kept leaning over and showing his ass crack.

The Mets played the role of spoiler in this game. They scored four runs in the first inning and never looked back for a 5-2 win at Pittsburgh. For the Pirates, the defeat prevented them from clinching the National League East Division championship on their home field. They would eventually take the title in St. Louis three days later and go on to win the World Series.

Koosman had struck out Stargell 3 times before he hit a go-ahead bomb to right field in the 8th.

Robert Clemente was honored before the game with a car by a Latin Association and chose not to accept it. Said he rather have the money go to youth programs from the same Association.

There is actually a picture with him standing next to the convertible with his family in the pre-game ceremony.

I sat in the leftfield nose bleeds and watched him put the Bucs ahead and then retake the lead on a double that scored the speedy Clines.

My dad and his friends cheered that while I sat glumly. Was only nine but always loved Kooz and thought he deserved better that night even at 9 years old!

The Mets beat the Pirates in fifteen innings in this game on the last Saturday of the season. The winning run came on Bob Aspromonte's single that drove home Tim Foli. This was Aspromonte's 1,103rd and final hit of his major league career. It was also Bob's second walk-off single in extra innings during the year. He also had one against the Phillies four months earlier.

In the top of the 15th, Frank Taveras entered as a pinch-runner for Willie Stargell to make his major league debut. Taveras would become the Bucs' regular shortstop for five seasons before his trade to the Mets in 1979.

My 8th birthday, a Seaver 1-hitter!!!

I was twelve and recorded most of this game with my tape recorder. I was really angry that Davallio broke up the no-hitter because I thought that if I had recorded a no-hitter, my tape would be worth a lot of money!

One thing I can still hear in my mind is Lindsey Nelson announcing pinch hitter Rimp Lanier's name. What a cool name. Turns out he's referred to on the Pirates website as "the most obscure player" form the 1971 Pirates' roster.

This game was the last appearance by Nolan Ryan as a Met and the last active former Brooklyn Dodger's last game. (Bob Aspromonte.)

Last game for Ken Singleton. He hit 2 HRs and Seaver struck out 13 for his 20th. Last game Nolan Ryan was with the team as well.

I was sitting in the loge area with my Dad along the 3rd base line. Tom Seaver looked awesome in the final game of the season at a chilly Shea Stadium. It was fan appreciation night. I think they were giving away Mets ski-caps. I still have mine. I remember Tom struck out Joe Torre, who I think was the NL batting champ that year, for the final out of the game. The crowd roared. He got a two minute standing-O. Tom came out of the dugout and tipped his hat to the adoring crowd. What a way to end a season!

Tom Seaver won his 20th in the last game of the season, beating a Cardinal lineup thaty looked like a triple-A team. Lou Brock was the about the only regular who played; Joe Torre (who won the NL batting title that year), Ted Simmons, Jose Cruz, and Ted Sizemore did not play.

Seaver scattered seven hits (three of them by Ted Kubiak, he of the lifetime .231 batting average). Ken Singleton homered leading off the fifth and then hit a three-run homer with two outs in the sixth. He added an eighth inning single in what would be his final at bat as a Met. This was also Julian Javier's final game as a Cardinal after twelve seasons in St. Louis. Javier was a mainstay of the Cardinal teams of the 1960s that played in three seven-game World Series, winning two of them.

Go on YouTube and look up: "NY Mets 1971 Final Game and Season TV Audio Recap". You will be amazed; plus this would be the last game that Gil Hodges would ever manage as he would pass away on that sad Easter Sunday of 1972.

I believe this was also the first time the Mets won the last game of a regular season.

A night to remember: A tale of 2 Hall-of-Famers - but not Tom Seaver, Joe Torre or Lou Brock-(or Gil Hodges, who should be.) Instead, 2 enigmatic young pitchers who would be traded, essentially giveaways. It got me thinking : Could the Mets have offered Ryan to the Cards - not for Joe, which almost happened 3 years earlier, but for Steve Carlton even-up? Ironically, the Mets would’ve rejected the notion, for Steve was every bit the headcase as Nolie. But it was Tom Terrific’s night, clinching a consecutive NL ERA title and setting a new record for Ks by a NL RH pitcher, in addition to 20W and 21CG -all near guarantees for his next CY Award, proving there are no guarantees. (Instead it was another HoFer Fergie Jenkins.)