Remembering Mets History: (1962) Frank Thomas Ties NL Record with Six HRs in Three Games
It was the start of a record tying three games for New York Mets slugger, Frank Thomas. Thomas was one of the few good players on the Original Mets 1962 team.
The Mets Al Jackson went up against the Phils (future Met) Jack Hamilton.
In the 1st, Al Jackson served up a two run HR to Don Demeter & an RBI single to Bob Oldis giving the Phillies a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the 4th inning Joe Christopher & Charlie Neal singled, Ritchie Ashburn walked to load the bases. Frank Thomas came up & hit a big grand slam HR into centerfield off Hamilton it was his Thomas' 20tht HR of the year. It brought the Mets within a run 9-8.
The Phils scored first with a Tony Gonzales HR & a Tony Taylor RBI single in the 2nd. In the 3rd, the pitcher Mahaffey would hit a grand slam HR off Anderson making it 6-1.
Trivia: The Mets Frank Thomas entered the game batting .292 with 23 HRs & 69 RBIs by far best on the Mets team. Besides Thomas no 1962 Mets player would reach more than 13 HRs or 58 RBIs on the season.
Later in the 7th inning, Frank Thomas hit his sixth HR in three games, tying a National League record at that time. He had homered twice in each of the last three games, now having 25 round trippers for the season. He would also hit a HR in the second game of the next day's double header.
In the bottom of the 1st, The Mets Richie Ashburn led off with a bunt base hit. Hot Rod Kanehl reached on an error by Mel Roach. Charlie Neal got aboard on another infield single. Frank Thomas then walked with the bases loaded for an RBI. Felix Mantilla's sac fly made it a one run game.
In the 3rd a two out single by Mel Roch & a Tony Gonzales double made it 4-2 Phillies. Oldis added an RBI single & the Mets were down 5-2.
The Mets battled back; Hot Rod Kanehl singled & Frank Thomas reached on another Mel Roach error at third. Each team would make three errors in the sloppy game. Marv Throneberry singled in a run & Felix Mantilla's grounder brought in Thomas.
In the 4th Al Jackson walked the first two batters, he was relieved by Ray Daviault. After striking out Demeter he gave up three straight base hits & the Mets were down 9-4.
In the 6th inning, Thomas went deep again leading off with his 21st HR of the year. Thomas had a big day with two hits, two HRs, a walk, three runs scored & six RBIs. The six RBI's were a Mets career high for Thomas.
Of course, even though the '62 Mets scored nine runs they went on to an 11-9 loss as Roy Sievers & Tony Gonzales added RBI hits off Mets pitchers' Bob Miller & Willard Hunter.
Thursday August 2nd, 6,042 fans showed up at the Polo Grounds for the series finale. The Mets Craig Anderson went up against Art Mahaffey. Mahaffey had led the NL in losses (19) the year before but would win 19 games this season, by far the best Phillies pitcher in 1962.
Craig Anderson would get knocked out in the 4th inning after allowing an RBI double to Roy Sievers & an RBI single to Wes Covington. Anderson allowed eight runs on eleven hits, while also issuing three walks.
The only real problem Phillies pitcher Art Mahaffey had on the day was Frank Thomas. In the 2nd inning, Thomas blasted his 22nd HR to lead off the 2nd inning & later Thomas blasted his 23rd of the year, another solo shot in the 7th inning. Thomas had three hits overall on the day, as Mahaffey went on to beat the Mets 9-4.
Friday August 3rd, 1962: Fred Hutchinson's third place Cincinnati Reds (63-43) who were the reigning NL champions at that time came to New York to take on Casey's Mets (26-79).
The Reds were led by Frank Robinson & Vada Pinson who both drove in over 100 runs. The pitching staff featured two twenty game winners in Bob Purkey & Joey Jay.
Tonight Joey Jay (15-9) went up against the Mets' Jay Hook (7-10).
In the bottom of the 2nd, Thomas continued his HR tear, as he hit blasted a three run HR off Jay, his 5th HR in three days & #24 on the season.
The Reds beat up on Jay Hook in the 4th, Frank Robinson had an RBI single & Gordy Coleman hit a three run HR. Eddie Kasko added an RBI single in the six-hit inning, five run inning. In the 7th they got reliever Ray Daviault for two more runs.
The Mets Charlie Neal added a solo HR in the 5th inning.
Also, for the second day in a row Marvelous Marv
Throneberry followed with a back-to-back blast after Thomas' HRs.
Throneberry followed with a back-to-back blast after Thomas' HRs.
Unfortunately, the Mets lost again, taking an 8-6 defeat to the Reds. It was their fifth straight loss, they had now dropped 15th of the last 17th.
Trivia: On the season Frank Thomas would hit 34 HRs a team record that would stand 13 years, until 1975 when Dave Kingman hit 36.
Trivia: On the season Frank Thomas would hit 34 HRs a team record that would stand 13 years, until 1975 when Dave Kingman hit 36.
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