Early Seventies Mets Catcher Traded Away in the Nolan Ryan Deal: Frank Estrada (1970)

Francisco Estrada Soto was born February 12, 1948 in Mexico. The catcher known as "Paquin" was one of the players dealt away in the Nolan Ryan trade. 

Estrada only played in one career game with the New York Mets; On September 14, 1971 he replaced Jerry Grote at catcher, in the 6th inning of a 12-1 Montreal Expos blow out of the Mets, at Shea Stadium. The next inning Estrada singled off the Expo’s Bill Stoneman, in his first career at bat. His second and last Mets at bat, was grounding out for the final out of the game. 

On December 10, 1971 he was involved in one of the worst trades in Mets history. Estrada along with Don Rose, Leroy Stanton & future Hall of Famer; Nolan Ryan were traded to the California Angels for former All Star; Jim Fregosi.
  
Estrada, never made it back to the big leagues, but did set a record. He holds the minor league record for games caught behind the plate with 2,847. He also spent twenty six summers in the Mexican League, (1966- 1970 / 1974-1994). During the winters, he played 1,538 games at winter ball, spanning thirty seasons from 1964 to 1994. 

He was also a successful player/ manager winning three titles, and managing Mexico in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. He is a member of the Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame.