Ultimate Mets Database - Memories of Bill McNulty

Memories of
Bill McNulty

Share your memories of Bill McNulty

HERE IS WHAT OTHER METS FANS HAVE TO SAY:

Buzz
December 13, 2009
Bill McNulty was mentioned in "Seasons in Hell" by Mike Shropshire which is a great book all about the Texas Rangers from 1972 through 1975. He was supposed to be some prospect. The Rangers got him from the A's in October 1972 and he played in Spring Training for the Rangers in 1973 then the Rangers traded him to the Mets for Bill Sudakis about a week before Opening Day. Big, strong guy who could play both first, third and outfield. Had a good year for the Tides in 1973 hitting 25 homers with 69 RBIs. Wonder why he was not given a shot to make the team in 1974. The Mets probably could have used his bat that year...

He was 1 for 27 in his Major League career with the A's. At least he got that one hit.

Ramblin' Pete
August 11, 2015
While he was with Tidewater in '73, McNulty actually led the Mets organization in Home Runs, with 25. (John "The Hammer" Milner was second, with 23, for the varsity.)

After we released him, McNulty moved on to Triple-A Sacramento in 1974, where he led the Pacific Coast League with 55 HR's, (edging out Gorman Thomas by 4) and 135 RBI's, while batting .329 and also leading the circuit in Runs Scored and Total Bases.

He was only 27 years old.

That same year, -1974 - John Milner led the Mets with 20 Home Runs. Nobody on our Triple-A affiliate at Tidewater hit more than 11 out, or knocked in more than 40. (Benny Ayala, in both cases). None of our prospects above 'A'-ball hit more than 18 Homers. The most HR's hit by anybody in the entire Mets organization was 22, by Visalia's Craig Cacek.

By the next season, Dave Kingman would be on his way to the big squad (for better or worse) as the club tried to address their power shortage.

Regarding McNulty, however, the question of why the New York Mets would give up on an individual who could clearly provide some sorely needed pop at the plate (even at the minor-league level)- is yet one more entry in an ever-lengthening line of "Met Mysteries…"

Rucg Freenab
April 23, 2019
I had also wondered why the Mets had let McNulty go during the 1974 season. I read an article about Big Bill in Sporting News that season. He, McNulty, approached the Sacramento Salons about playing for his hometown team. A deal was worked out with the Mets so he could play for Sacramento. I do not know if the Mets got another player in the deal.