Roy Partee: Legendary Mets Scout (1962 - 1985)

Roy Robert Partee was born September 7, 1917, in Los Angeles, California. Partee would sign with the Boston Red Sox and make the major leagues in 1943. 

Playing Career: He got the job as the Sox main catcher, hitting .281 in 96 games, but had no power in his bat, not hitting a single HR.

In fact, in 1090 career at bats he only hit two career HRs. The following season he was called for military duty to serve in World War II but was rejected due to a bad ankle.

Roy rejoined his team & posted the 2nd best fielding percentage among catchers at .989. He hit both of his two career HRs that season while driving in 41 runs, but his average fell to .243. At the end of the year, he enlisted in the military on his own, at San Pedro California & served until the War ended. 

In 1946 he came back to the Red Sox but had lost his starting job to Hal Wagner. That year the Red Sox won 104 games & went to the World Series to face the St. Louis Cardinals. Partee played in just 40 games hitting .315. Partee was popular to work with for the pitchers & was used primarily in the World Series.

1946 World Series: In the Series he injured his thumb & was forced to miss Games Tree & Four. Overall, he went 1-10 in the Series with a 2nd inning base hit in Game #5, scoring a run in the Cards 6-1 win.

The Mad Dash- Partee is most famous for having Enos Slaughter slid past him in the so called “mad dash”. In Game #7 at Sportsmans Park, in the bottom of the 8th inning, Enos Slaughter was on first base with the score tied. With the hit & run on, Harry Walker lined a base hit into center field. 

Slaughter ran to third base, never stopping he rounded third ignoring coach Mike Gonzales' signal to stop. Short stop Johnny pesky delayed his throw, not expecting Slaughter to be heading home, by the time he fired the ball to Partee at home plate, Slaughter slid safely with was to be the series winning run for St. Louis.

As a part time player, Partee hit a career best .315, and after one more season was traded to the St. Louis Browns. He played 82 games in St. Louis but hit only .203 wrapping up his brief 5 year playing career. He was traded to the A.L. New York team but did not play in the majors.

Career Stats: In his five-year career Roy hit .250 with 273 hits 41 doubles 5 triples 2 HRs 114 RBIs & 89 runs scored with a .334 on base % & .636 OPS in 367 lifetime games (1090 at bats).

Retirement & Scouting: After his playing days, Partee managed in the California & Pacific Coast league into the end of the fifties.

When the New York Mets were born, he came aboard as a scout and would play a huge part in signing many of the Mets young players for the next twenty-three years.

Through those years Partee signed players such as Bud Harrelson, Tug McGaw, Danny Frisella, Bobby Heise, George Theodore, Ned Yost, Kelvin Chapman, Rick Aguilera, Steve Springer, Greg Jeffries & Randy Johnson just to name a few. 

Family: Roy married Faye Edith (Bickle) in 1939, together they had two sons.

Passing: Partee passed away in 2000 at the age of 83 in Eureka, California.