Ultimate Mets Database - Memories of George Theodore

Jon
One of the first Mets games I recall attending was the game in '73 when Theodore and Don Hahn collided violently in left-center chasing a hit by (I think) Ralph Garr. I clearly recall the two of them, just lying there on the grass, and Garr guiltily looking over his shoulder as he jogged home. Only later would I understand what a character Theodore turned out to be with his hippie-inspired philosophies on life he would dole out to writers. Not many like him come along.

Kevin
January 17, 2001
As a Lifelong Mets fan (since 1970), "The Stork" was always one of my favorites. He was pretty awful in almost every aspect of the game, yet he was one of those rare characters that no longer exist in the game of baseball. We never complained about how bad he was (well almost never), because he entertained us, despite his failings. Those few times when he DID come through with a big hit made us appreciate the man all the more. Thank goodness he doesn't play today, because he would just be considered another overpaid, undertalented ballplayer. As Mets fans we may not have a great winning tradition, but we will always have Casey, Yogi, Marvelous Marv, and George "The Stork" Theodore.

Slim Greek Jim
January 19, 2001
George Theodore gave me my first autograph in 1974. He was renting an apartment around the corner in Jackson Heights with Met legend Jim Gosger. WHO? We made alot of noise to get his attention early one morning after a night game. We woke hm up and he politely asked us if we could be quiet so he and Jim could sleep and he will come out later to sign our autographs. An hour or so later as he was bringing his uniform to the dry cleaner he signed our autographs and talked baseball with us. Very nice guy - especially considering we woke him up. I remember him cheering for him when he hit a triple past Hendu in a 1992 Oldtimers game.

Mr. Sparkle
March 31, 2001
I hear so much about the Mendoza line (.200) but I always judge a player on whether or not they can break the Theodore line (.219).

I was there for his collision with Hahn. It was pretty scary.

One of the dorkiest guys ever to play for the Mets. But you gotta love the guy.

john presto
April 18, 2001
A forever Met fan, a bunch of us drove to Montreal in summer of '73 to catch a series. We were walking down St. Catherine St., when above the crowd stood this head. Immedidately we recognized the Stork. I yelled, "Stork, Stork" He looked in amazement, but was thrilled that someone in another country, be it Montreal, knew who he was. It made our day seeing a Met out of uniform in a casual setting, and I'm sure made his day as well. A Met memory that never died.

Pete
October 20, 2001
The thing I rembember most about "The Stork" is that everytime he got up to bat people went a little nuts for him. Fans just took to George.

Constance Rodman Theodore
November 15, 2001
Uncle George has maintained his competitive edge in basball and in service to humanity. He is such a gentle soul as he gives counsel to his elementary school constituents. He is such a cunning, foxy champion as he coaches youth baseball into the finals if not always the championships of the season competitions.

I am not prejudice in this observation just because he is my brother-in-law. Go Stork!

Stefan Martinovic
December 13, 2001
I just met "The Stork" today at Harold's New York Deli! He asked me a Mets trivia question: Who was the only Mets pitcher to strike out the 3 Alou brothers in the same inning? He gave me a hint: It was in 1963... He seemed like a pretty nice guy, but when he asked me who he was, I had no idea until now! He was wearing a Mets hat and had a good feeling about the Roger Cedeno deal from this morning...

Fr. Kaz
January 24, 2002
I think that the Stork holds the Met record for "most times being taken off the field in a stretcher".

Lee
February 7, 2002
I guess I am one of the few who liked George big time... Few may remember that he had some pretty strong minor league seasons and was considered an up and comer...My favorite line was from an announcer who said "He looks like he swallowed a coat hanger."

Joe Figliola
March 14, 2002
If you notice George's power numbers in 1974, the ONE home run and ONE run batted in are significant in Met history. In a game against San Diego, George along with (I think) Rusty Staub and the late John Milner, hit back-to-back-to-back home runs. I also think this was the first time in Met history that this was done (someone can check on that).

Regardless of accuracy, George damn well made the most of his power supply in 1974!

Larry Burns
May 31, 2002
"THE STORK" A complete colorful character whose dorkiness makes him indelible in the minds of all Met fans. Collisions, beanballs and broken bones marked his career. Rumored to have been the true inspiration for either the Kramer character on Seinfeld or the title character of "I Am Sam." He actually made contributions in the pennant drive in 1973. Long live the Stork!

Teddy
July 19, 2002
The back of his baseball card says that George "likes marshmallow milkshakes."

Mr. Met
August 5, 2002
With the Stork prowling the outfield at Shea, and Wingo off the bench in the Garden, New York was a great place to be if you were a sports fan. I'll never forget watching that collision on television. Scary stuff.

By the way, what is the answer to his trivia question about striking out the Alou brothers?

Phil in Los Angeles
November 10, 2002
I attended a Mets/Dodgers game at Dodger Stadium, when George was playing Left-field, the way he moved as he ran was a little different than most of the other athletes on the field, but I remember smiling and enjoying watching him and was impressed that he was playing at the Major League level. I was 15 at the time.

FAT DON
March 19, 2003
I think I had an old yearbook that said his name wasn't really George Theodore but a long Greek type name. Anybody know his original name?

LenDog
March 28, 2003
Three or four of my group of friends became huge Stork fans in '73. We waited in the Shea parking lot after a game; he drove out in a station wagon and we chased him until he stopped. He rolled down the window and chatted with us. What a cool guy.

That same year, we also got on Channel 9 while carrying a banner around Shea:

"The Mets are for the birds; so let's go Stork, Krane, and Swan." Bob Murphy called it clever, my Dad told me when I got home.

Ken Akerman
April 16, 2003
One of the respondents here wrote that George Theodore hit his only home run in 1974 in a game against the Padres as part of three consecutive home runs hit by Mets batters. According to my research of box scores of Mets-Padres games in 1974, it appeared that this occurred on July 20 at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego. The three players who hit back-to-back-to-back home runs were Theodore, Rusty Staub, and Cleon Jones.

Bob P
April 19, 2003
Ken, Retrosheet.org confirms that you are correct! Stork, Rusty, and Cleon went back-to-back-to-back off journeyman RHP Lowell Palmer in the top of the 5th on Saturday night, July 20 in what was then called San Diego Stadium. The Mets scored 5 runs in that 5th inning, and led by Jerry Koosman's complete game 7- hitter, breezed past the Padres, 10-2. Koosman also recorded his 1,000th career strikeout in that game, getting Dave Winfield in the 8th inning.

Vito
May 27, 2003
Seeing George Theodore step onto the field at Shea Stadium in the 70's gave every kid the idea that they could someday be a major leaguer. He was big and goofy and looked a lot like the kid everyone used to try and take out in dodgeball games. I remember him losing a shoe as he tried unsuccessfully to steal a base. He was awesome. Because of his unique way of playing the game he was a fan favorite and still is one of my top 5 all-time favorite Mets. I admit that I was the idiot that wrote him in on the all-time Mets team ballot at least 20 times.

I remember an article in the Sporting News a few years after he retired written by an old friend. The friend told how we was a great schoolboy athlete in Utah. I still can't believe that he ever had any baseball talent outside of getting hit by pitches.

Saw a mention of him recently in Baseball Weekly. He apparently is a school psychologist somewhere in Utah. Not sure how he would diagnose me, but I am still a devoted follower and one of the biggest fans of The Stork!

mets
June 1, 2003
"The Stork" was another one of the characters in Mets history. I recall the collision between Theodore and Don Hahn against the Braves on a Saturday afternoon at Shea in 1973. He played hard and always gave his best, something that is sadly lacking in today's game of millionaires.

nick p
July 16, 2003
The Stork was a heck of a bunter, not pretty but he got a few hits that way with those long strides! Long live the Stork!

Phil Thiegou
September 30, 2003
George was a lousy player, but if his body was as strong as his heart he would be ten times better than Piazza. Maybe the Mets of the last couple of years (2001-2003) should take note of George Theodore. Less talk, more Stork! If the Mets want to turn their fortunes around, instead of planes, there should be a Stork flying over Shea.

Nishna
October 3, 2003
His outfield collision was legendary, but doesn't anyone else remember his "almost" big league debut? The day he was called up he must've arrived at the park around the 5th inning or so. Late in the game he was sent in to pinch run (funny in its own right!) and he jogs out to 1st wearing his warm-up jacket, like pitchers do. Ump tells him he has to take it off. So he complies, only he has no shirt underneath! He hadn't been issued a jersey yet. So there he is, bare chested, for all the WWOR viewers to behold. Needless to say he was run off the field and didn't officially enter the game.

jonnymac
November 10, 2003
Believe it or not "The Stork" was a superstar in the minor leagues.

I think he hit .330 with like 36 home runs one year in AAA.

Ed K
November 27, 2003
Another trivia question about the Stork: He is the only Met player in history who was born in the state of Utah.

Frank the Met
December 6, 2003
I've read all the fan memories of George Theodore and I think it's remarkable that a man who played only two seasons off the bench has so endeared himself to Met fans.

I have two distinct memories of Stork that no one else has mentioned. First, he was involved in what can be described as a bizarre, news highlight type of play, where an opposing runner was caught in a rundown between first and second. The rundown went on for so long - the Mets simply couldn't tag the guy - that both Theodore and Staub came in from the outfield to help out. One of them definitely made the tag for the putout, but both were in the infield. Can anyone help me out with this memory?

Second memory was a TV news interview before the 1973 World Series. Here was a guy who didn't even get an at- bat in the playoffs, yet he was cheerfully predicting the Mets would beat Oakland in seven games. Great attitude and team spirit, I recall.

Saddle Brook John
March 10, 2004
Absolutely fantastic web site. Thanks, guys! To "Frank the Met", I could be mistaken but I believe the '73 game with the crazy rundown (actually, double play) which you speak of was the June 9th game at Shea against the Dodgers. You're right, it was bizarre!! The official scoring of the play went 1-3-6-3-4-3-9-2. I know, because I was there and it was the day they retired Gil Hodges No. 14!

Nick
November 19, 2004
I remember the Mets wild play involving Staub and Theodore coming in from the outfield to help make a putout on a rundown play. Theodore tried to take a throw but missed, but Staub got it, actually made the tag, and what's more, he cut down a runner who had advanced from second and tried to make a break from the plate during all the confusion. Staub might have been slow, but he had a great arm and got the guy out. And you know what? I never "saw" this. I heard the call from Bob Murphy (RIP) over the the old WHN.

Jonathan Stern
December 15, 2004
When I saw for the first time a team photo of the 1973 Mets, my attention was immediately drawn to a weirdo in the back row. There were no names listed below the picture, but when I read about the team, and about a man named "Stork," it did not take me long to figure out who that strange guy in the picture was.

The bad news: his career was a lot shorter than anyone would want, wrecked to a certain extent by what must have been an extremely painful injury. The good news: he was a teammate of Seaver, Mays, Rusty, McGraw, et al, and he made at least several key contributions to a pennant run. Even played a bit in the World Series. How would like to have that on your resume? Way to go, Stork!

Kid in the stands
February 3, 2005
Several posters mentioned the 7/8/73 collision game, when he and Don Hahn and the wall all met at once, and both guys had to come out on stretchers. (I was there too, up in the mezzannine on the first base side.)

But nobody has yet mentioned what happened next: Two players who were just coming off their own injuries at the time were sent in to replace them in the outfield: Willie Mays and Cleon Jones. After the hush of the injury, the fans saw them jog out of the dugout together and went crazy.

Later on, Jones worked out a walk and Mays homered to drive him in and take a lead, but the Mets still lost 9-8.

Lifelong Fan
July 11, 2005
Broke his hip in the collision.

Rich D
January 15, 2006
George "The Stork" Theodore was a true gentleman and came across as very proud to just be wearing a major league uniform!

I met him one night at Shea before a game in '73. There was a steady drizzle and few fans in the seats. Soon, the game was delayed and Theodore and Duffy Dyer were hanging around the dugout and came over to give us kids their autographs. Two great guys! I recall Theodore having these huge glasses and an equally huge smile. After looking him up here on UltimateMets, I was surprised to see he's only 6'3 ft tall - when I met him, he seemed like 6'8-6'9, but then again I was just a skinny 12 year kid!

I agree with all the previous posters: George's character and enthusiasm for the game are sorely missed not only in baseball, but in all of sports. Period.

Wherever you are George, smile knowing that you gave this kid his 1st autograph and left a very nice impression on me. It isn't always about how good you play - sometimes it's about how you carry yourself.

Vito
February 1, 2006
I was watching a movie called Napolean Dynamite with my kids and realized that George Theodore was the original Napolean Dynamite! Instead of teatherball, he played baseball (and about as well). He was totally awkward, goofy looking, accident prone and was simply the best to watch! He did seem to be enjoying himself at all times and for all us dorks he was the perfect role model. You can have a nasty, scowling Eddie Murray in your Hall of Fame... I'll take the smiling Stork in mine.

The Stork is now and always will be one of the top Mets of all time. There will never be one like him again! Long live The Stork!!!

Jerry Miller
April 19, 2006
Just like to let all you diehard Met fans know that the stork is still cool! We went to a game last night down in Salt Lake (PCL) between the Angels and Padres AAA farm teams SLC Bees and Porland Beavers. Our seats were behind 3rd base dugout. The Stork and about 10 other ex-big leaguers threw out the 1st pitch (as it was opening day) The cool thing is when he got back up to where he was sitting (right behind me and my boy and my 2 grandsons) he signed a ball for us!I don't like to eavesdrop but I did hear a little bit behind me. And this man still has a love for the game and is very knowledgable about it. Nice to read your memories. In the 60s growing up I was an Angel fan and they were pretty crappy too but we had some characters! Long live the Stork and hope to run into you out at the ol ballpark again!

Tom L
November 4, 2006
The 1974 series of TOPPS cards featured little cartoons of players on the back, that contained little tidbits of info on the player, like "'so-and- so' led the NL in triples in 1971", or " In 1968 'Joe Blow' was drafted in the first round out of Arizona State. The Stork's card said, "George Loves Marshmallow milkshakes'. Kind of sums up the level of talent we had on our bench back then.

Martin Ricks
September 16, 2007
As an elementary school student in Hunter, Utah in the late 1970's, I knew George Theodore as our school's counselor long before I knew him as the Stork.

We'd heard rumors that Mr. Theodore had been a major- leaguer, but didn't really believe it until my sixth grade year, when he finally showed us his baseball card. All we knew was that (unlike so many other adults) he made all of us kids feel valued and important, and talked to us as though we were equals.

It's no surprise that the Stork is a beloved figure for Mets fans. He remains a beloved figure for me, though the only game I ever saw him play was against my fellow students. (For what it's worth, I believe he got at least one or two home runs in that game!)

Thanks, George, for being a guy kids could look up to.

Michael
February 12, 2008
I wish I could have been alive to witness the cult hero status that our George took on. I remember watching a Mets tape of funny stories and he was featured and some of the stories were hilarious. He really did look like he walked around with a hanger in his shirt.

Mike Allen
June 1, 2008
I've been reading the posted comments on the website... Awesome. But my memories of George Theodore go back to 1971 when he played class A ball in Visalia in the Mets minor league system. He was a HUGE fan favorite here. It's a memory I'll never forget getting to see him play. I now take my kids to the same ballpark where I saw George play and tell the stories of players I watched play there when I was their age. Those were good days I had as a child getting to see the Visalia Mets play.

Ramblin' Pete Millerman
October 1, 2008
"The Stork" was always a favorite of mine as a little kid.

The long hair, the glasses, the gawky physique and boundless enthusiasm...

I remember the yearbook metioning he was into astrology and meditation, and he seemed like a genuinely happy-go-lucky guy. The perfect baseball anti-hero for the '70s. And he was OURS!

Steve T.
October 13, 2008
For some strange reason "The Stork" holds a special place in the hearts of Met fans. To this day he still is one of the most popular players in Mets history. Couldn't hit or field, but we loved him just the same. Maybe it was his nickname?

Theodore Fan
January 28, 2009
The best part of being at Shea for the final game was to see The Stork come out from right field as one of the all-time Mets in the closing ceremony. It was a bit hard to explain to my son why he was one of the guys who were invited but he received a great ovation from the old men like me who remember his special style of playing baseball. From my vantage point, it looked like The Stork was in good shape and ready to play for the 2009 Mets. Although not a good player, he was so much fun to watch back in the early 70's. A lot more fun than Ryan Church. He seemed to really enjoy himself as a player, something the overpaid, under-performing losers we now are forced to watch do not understand.

Rob
May 6, 2009
Apparently, George was quite the student athlete at the University of Utah where he's in the Hall of Fame. And it's actually not that surprising when you consider he made the big-leagues. He also had success in the minors. He should be in the Mets Hall of Fame.

"As a freshman outfielder he hit .495. He was named to the all-Western Athletic Conference baseball team in 1969."

"In 1971 he led the California league in RBI's with 113 and also finished second in runs and third in hitting and home runs."

http://utahutes.cstv.com/genrel/040401aaa.html

Bklynmet
May 19, 2009
What do you think is his best case for the Mets Hall Of Fame? Would it be the lifetime .219 BA or the 2 Lifetime HR's? Wait, let's think this out. He makes the Mets HOF based on his speed? Where does the 1 SB place him on the Mets all-time list?

John
August 5, 2009
The game with the collision is my earliest baseball memory with my dad. I was 7 years old and the ball was indeed hit by Ralph Garr because I remember as the crowd stood in shocked silence I screamed "Run, Ralph, run". I hated the Mets then as much as I do now. Hope George's hip feels better.

Steve n
April 26, 2010
My grandmother and I were huge Theodore fans. When she died I was in elementary school. My father slipped one of the Stork's baseball cards into her coffin. True story. I was a huge fan. Always great hearing what a great guy he was and is.

MetsfaninMaine
May 2, 2010
George is obviously a cult favorite from the early '70s. I met him in Montreal in 1974 when I was 12 years old, and he was so friendly when he gave me his autograph.

VIBaseball
May 16, 2010
A nice little book called "Baseball's Golden Greeks" came out several years ago. The Greek-American author wrote chapters on all the men who shared his heritage who made it to the majors. The chapter on George no doubt has more info on him than any other place. To Fat Don from 2003: the family name was originally Theodosiou.

StorkFan
May 16, 2010
To a kid who couldn't get out of his own way in Little League, George Theodore was a true hero. A guy, who when you looked at him, made you say, "if he could make it, why not me?

He was really born 10 years later than he should have been. I could just imagine him playing for Casey Stengel in the Polo Grounds. I guess God saved him for those of us born a little later so we could see what an Original Met really looked like.

So far, no one has mentioned the epilogue to Stork's Met career. The 1993 Old Timers Game featuring the a reunion of the 1973 NL champs. Stork is playing right field, comes in for bloop, runs, runs...and pulls his hamstring. Poor guy had to be carried off by two of his teammates. A truly fitting tribute to his most memorable moment on the field. P.S. The Mets have not had an Old Timers Game since, if I recall correctly.

Mike Melendez MD
May 28, 2010
I played against George in junior high and high school in Utah. As you know, he never looked like an athlete. However, I can tell you he was a fearless competitor and a great all around athlete. Our teams always feared playing against him becasue he always seemed to knock in the winning run. I watched him go from a kid like myself to the University of Utah and eventually landing in the New York. The "stork" is genuine and of my true heroes. I know why he is still admired by Met fans decades later.

Gr8 Call Ump
January 9, 2011
Has there ever been a more goofy, yet so endearing, character in Mets history? From the accounts that I've read he is a wonderful person, though, for most Met fans he is only remembered for his gangly frame, nerdy looks, and the collision with Don Hahn.

Brian Clark
May 31, 2011
Mr. Theodore (as we knew him) was my school counselor at Fox Hills Elementary school in Kearns, UT in the 80's. He gave me a bunch of big (not regular baseball cards) Mets player cards. If I recall some of them were autographed. He was a really nice guy, and all the kids looked up to him, literally and figuratively.

John B
June 9, 2011
I remember the Stork very well. What sticks in my mind the most was first finding out about him in the paper, before even seeing him, and reading that he made the club out of spring training because he made Yogi look like a matinee idol. True story, unflattering as it was. When I finally did see the Stork I was hooked. What a unique, fascinating ballplayer! I still play Strat-o-Matic board game baseball from time to time and I made it a point to fill in Theodore's name on one of those 'nameless' cards so he could be a part of my team. So the Stork is still flying around the bases and in the outfield from time to time, and he even hit one out the other day. Thanks for the memories, George Theodore, you will always have a special place in our hearts.

Ralph
November 4, 2011
I was raised in Astoria and most of my friends were Mets fans. The Stork had an apartment in Jackson Heights on the same block as my aunt. It seemed that on many occasions, between 10:00 - 11:00 PM, he'd cross Astoria Blvd. and go to the McDonalds. We'd be driving by and we saw him a few times, but never stopped to speak, although we did yell out the window more than once, "Is that a marshmallow milkshake?"

BRB
January 4, 2013
I kind of recall an interesting story about his signing a contract with the Mets. I don't remember the exact monetary details but it was something like this: he was offered $10,000 and he held out for $9,999.99 and an autographed photo of Yogi. Which he got.

Gr8 Call Ump
February 11, 2014
Gotta love a guy whose most famous memory in the eyes of fans is from a horrendous collision. Was there ever more of a gangly, unathletic looking player in professional sports? I thought George had no equal in this regard, until I thought of another professional athlete, who also happened to be playing in New York at the same time with much success. Phil Jackson!

Dale Hepworth
August 11, 2015
My first memories of George were on our local Salt Lake Valley junior bowling league whet even then he was called "The Stork"! Then, later I was surprised to hear of a good local baseball player being scouted by the pros when our high school teams played!

antino
November 20, 2014
I met George Theodore or Mr. T as he is affectionately known by the kids. Most of my memories of him are post baseball but I've read about his baseball career and have watched sports clips of his days with the Mets. He has never lost his love for the sport or his love for life. What a great guy.

Mitch45
November 28, 2015
Isn't is amazing that George Theodore got to play in a World Series while neither Ernie Banks nor Ted Williams did?

ClassicMets
December 2, 2015
Mitch45, Ted Williams did play in a World Series in 1946, the year Theodore was born. George was fortunate to have gotten his chance in the Fall Classic with the injury he suffered from that collision with Don Hahn in early July. It was horrifying to see!

George hit two home runs in his short career. The second one came in San Diego and was followed by round-trippers by Rusty Staub and Cleon Jones for three consecutive Mets homers.

Bob B
April 27, 2020
My best memory of The Stork was from my grandfather - he would angrily comment on "look how big he is, he should be hitting the ball out of the ballpark every time!"

Chuck Zlatkin
September 17, 2022
As a Mets fan and also someone who worked at the historic Elgin Cinema in New York City, I sent George a pass to the movie theater that could be used any time for as many times as he would want to use it. Unfortunately, he never used it. Toward the end of his time with the Mets, I contacted George. He thanked me for the pass, and commented that he really didn't participate much in NYC when he was here and to some extend he regretted that. A good guy in every way.