Ultimate Mets Database - Memories of Dennis Ribant

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Mets
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Dennis Ribant
vs. the Mets

Dennis Ribant
vs. Other Teams

Memories of
Dennis Ribant

Dennis Ribant
Ultimate Mets Database popularity ranking: 236 of 1252 players

Dennis Joseph Ribant
Born: September 20, 1941 at Detroit, Mich.
Died: April 24, 2023 at Newport Coast, Cal.
Throws: Right Bats: Right
Height: 5.11 Weight: 175

Dennis Ribant was the most popular Ultimate Mets Database daily lookup on August 4, 2012, January 27, 2019, October 4, 2019, December 30, 2022, April 27, 2023, and April 28, 2023.

First Mets game: August 9, 1964
Last Mets game: September 28, 1966

Share your memories of Dennis Ribant

HERE IS WHAT OTHER METS FANS HAVE TO SAY:

JOHN MCNAMARA
Dennis Ribant was my favorite Met when I was 8 years old. I used to be Dennis when I would play my buddy in stickball.

Bob Flynn
When I was 12 he was my favorite Met. Still is.

Richard Kissel
What a respectable 1966 Ribant had. No Met starting pitcher had ever had a .500 percentage. He was a pre-Seaver Met pitching star. His ERA that year was a respectable 3.20. Of course, we traded him away after that season.

Danny Erickson
January 6, 2001
I lived and breathed baseball when I was a kid. I was amazed when my dad told me that we lived next to Dennis Ribant. I didn't remember though, because I was an infant at that time. My family lived in a trailer park in Amityville next to him.

Mr. T
February 18, 2002
It was fan appreciation night at Shea. If memory serves, it was a double header. Between games the players had some friendly competion like relay tossing and of all things cow milking. I was 16. Anyway, after the game, as we are walking toward the #7 train someone shouts that Ribant is in the parking lot signing autographs. My friends and I rush over, scorecard in hand, and Dennis places his John Hancock on the front page. I thought he was the ace of the staff. I was sorry to see him traded. Lets Go Mets

Ernie
October 3, 2002
I am an old school Jane Jarvis Met fan. Dennis had the best season as a Met starter until the Seaver-Koosman era. I know Jack Fisher was considered to be the ace but Dennis Ribant was the man in 1966. Sorry to see him get traded but Don Caldwell did make some contributions to the World Series Champs of '69. Thank you Dennis Ribant!

Gordon
December 16, 2002
I thought I would be the 1st person to mention a word about Dennis Ribant! There are at least 6 others that recall him too!! He was the Mets very first "ace" and first starter to reach the over the .500 level in 1966 (11-9 record). As a young teen, I remember attending a game where Ribant had to face the mighty San Fran Giants. Up stepped Willie McCovey, who proceeded to hit the longest home run I had ever seen. I dont think Ribant finished his delivery before the ball sailed way over the center field fence and hit the flag pole at least 3/4 the way up. The pole was still moving for many minutes! Dennis Ribant allowed 20 home runs in 1966 and I certainly can remember that one like it was yesterday! And to think we traded him away for the next Willie Mays-Don Bosch! (Well, at least Don Cardwell helped us win the WS in 69!)

Metsmind
December 28, 2002
Ribant pitched the 1st game I ever attended, and lost to Don Sutton. You can't really complain about them trading him, he didnt do much after '66.

Andy
April 15, 2004
Ribant started the first game I ever attended, too. 1966. Against Woodie Fryman and the Pirates. Sweltering afternoon. Scoreboard malfunctioned. Wish I could remember the date and find a game story on microfilm. He was mentioned in a Sports Illustrated article about the Mets from 1966 called "A Team That Could Make a Man Cry." ... I thought I'd always have a soft spot in my heart for Ribant, then I read in January that he was sentenced to five years' probation after pleading guilty in Santa Ana, Calif., to tax evasion and trying to bribe an auditor in connection with his 1999 state returns. So much for childhood heroes.

Gary Ramsey
March 9, 2005
First Mets game I ever attended I was 12. Dennis Ribant pitching versus the Pirates. Mets won 6-0. I think Charlie Smith hit 2 home runs. Dennis looked great that day.

Feat Fan
January 26, 2007
Ribant was one of my favorite hurlers circa 64-66 along with Selma, Gardner, Hepler , McGraw and Frisella. I like them home grown and brash and most of these names met that criteria.
Remember a 64 game in late summmer, we went on a day trip (Broad Channel Day Camp)and watched Ribant turn back the fearsome Pirates 5-0 while striking out 11 or 12. Charley Smith drilled a few home runs to boot, we sang Beatle songs as part of the happy recap on the bus ride back to Brooklyn.
If I'm correct, became the first Met starter to post a winning record going 11-10 in '66 before traded to the Bucs for Don Bosch (.149) and Don Cardwell.
Never regained his earlier form but to a 9 year old in '64, he looked like Drysdale.

Bob P
February 11, 2007
Feat Fan, great memory as always!
That game was played on Monday afternoon, August 17, 1964. Ribant alowed just four singles, did not walk anyone, and struck out ten. He retired the first eleven Pirate batters, then the great Roberto Clemente singled with two outs in the fourth. Dennis had seven strikeouts through the first four innings. A three-run homer by Charley Smith in the first and then a solo homer by Charley in the eighth helped give Dennis his first major league win, first shutout, and first complete game.

little k
August 5, 2007
Except for one unpleasant encounter, this was a very nice guy with one of those larger-than-life, fun personalities. Heard that he became almost, like, a tennis pro when he retired from bb.

Peter Hendrikson
September 21, 2007
I was 11 when I saw him pitch in 1966. I can't remember much about the game, however I do remember before the game him coming over to the first base box seats to give me an autograph. When I didn't have anything to sign he picked up a ball, signed it and gave it to me. He then became larger than life to that kid.

Brian Tasman
October 1, 2008
Ribant was our pitching pride in 1966. He could be facing any pitcher in the league then, and had a real chance to beat him. I remember Ribant as our first outstanding pitcher. Dennis was injured but still played a few more years with other teams, but did not regain his old form. I found a way to email him in about 2000, and he wrote back. I was thrilled even as an adult. Dennis was one of my favorite Mets and always will be.

Joe P
October 9, 2008
I remember watching a game when he was pitching. At least twice during the game he double pumped on his wind-up and Lindsey Nelson loved it. So did I. I went outside and played stickball with my friends and announced "and Ribant double pumps" as I pitched.

Joe T
July 13, 2010
First Saw Dennis Ribant pitch when I was 12 in 1966. Prior to the start of the game I called out to him on the first base side and asked to take a picture..he actually posed, backed up a bit to allow me to take a few additional shots and signed my program. I will always remember him for the time he took for me. I thought he was the best pitcher for them that year and I continued to follow him during the 1966 season.

Dave mcindoe
September 27, 2020
“Denny” Ribant as Murph used to call him was one of my favorites of the 65 Mets. He had that marvelous no windup delivery. When I played my imaginary Met games against the wall of my house I used the Ribant windup all the way up until I fell in love with the marvelous Koosman windup where he pointed his toes toward first base.

Mike B
July 5, 2023
Just noticed in the necrology section that Dennis passed away in April. I also remember his remarkable plus .500 season in 66. RIP Dennis.