Forgotten Member of the 1986 Mets Team: Tim Corcoran (1986)

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Timothy Michael Corcoran was born on March 19, 1953 in Glendale, California. The left-handed outfielder attended California State University just after Mets pitcher Bob Apodaca left the school. 

 Corcoran was signed by the Detroit Tigers in 1974, making the club by 1977. That season he hit .346 at AAA Evansville which got him the call up. In 1978 he became the Tigers main right fielder sharing time with Mickey Stanley in the final year of his long career. Corcoran batted .265 with one HR 13 doubles & 27 RBIs playing in 116 games. He was the A.L.’s fifth best right fielder posting a .984% with six assists, making just three errors in 195 chances. After two more seasons in Detroit he was traded to the Minnesota Twins, playing just 22 games in 1981. 

 In 1982 he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies as a free agent. He spent that whole year at AAA Oaklahoma City batting .289. The next year he hit .311 & played three games for the NL Champion Phillies, but did not make the post season roster. In 1984 he was back in the majors with a career year, he played in over 100 games for the Phillies batting .341 in 208 at bats with 5 HRs & 36 RBIs posting a .446 on base %. In 1985 his average plummeted to just .214, although his seven sac hits were sixth best in the league. He was released in December & signed with the New York Mets for 1986. 

  He spent most of the year at AAA Tidewater batting .260 in 86 games, getting called up to the Mets squad at the end of April being used as a pinch hitter in five games going 0-5. On June 6th he got his only Mets start of the season in what would be his last career game as well. He played first base that day, going 0-4 with a walk & a run scored at Pittsburgh in the Mets 10-4 win over the Pirates. Three days later he was released as the Mets went on to win the World Series. 

  In his nine season playing career he batted .270 with 283 hits 12 HRs 46 doubles & 128 RBIs playing in 509 games in the outfielder, at first base & as a pinch hitter.

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