Remembering Mets History (1974) NL Champion Mets Take A Goodwill Tour Of Japan

Jerry Koosman enjoys the fruits of Japan

In the off season of 1974, the Mets took a three-week good will tour of Japan. They had originally been asked to do the trip while still being the defending NL Champs a year earlier. 

The New York Mets were a known team in Japan, with American baseball stars like Tom Seaver, Willie Mays, Yogi Berra, Jerry Koosman & Tug McGraw on the roster, the Japanese baseball fans were aware of them.

But not all the Mets were into going on the long trip. Bud Harrelson, Cleon Jones, Jerry Grote & Tug McGraw declined to participate in the journey.

People in the organization felt that Tug McGraw being traded in the 1974-1975 off season may have had something to do with his not going to Japan. 

The Mets arrived at Tokyo International Airport on Saturday October 25th, 1974, to plenty of fanfare & flashing lights.

Quotes- Manager Yogi Berra: "We plan on giving the fans some good hard baseball action. I
think everyone who comes out to the games will really enjoy the Mets brand of ball. Oh, we might be a little bit rusty in the first couple of games. We haven't been playing any serious kind of ball for three weeks now, but after we work out the kinks, we'll really give the fans a great game. After all we've got what we consider to be the three best pitchers in the game"

Tom Seaver did not want to go on the trip either, as his wife Nancy was pregnant at the time with their second child. But all parties agreed Seaver was the big draw & had to make the trip for good public relations. Seaver did go, along with Nancy. On October 26th, 1974, he pitched for the first time in 26 days at Korakuen Stadium in front of 50,000 fans facing the Yomiuri Giants. He threw three scoreless innings leaving with a 3-0 lead.

A few days later he held a pitching clinic in Sapporo at Maruyama Stadium where the 1972 winter Olympics were held.

Quotes- Tom Seaver: "I throw four pitches. Fastball, curveball, slider & changeup. Very basic, I don't have a good change up, but I work on it all the time. The thing to remember is you must maintain your arm speed & keep your elbow up. One thing I noticed; you don't use your legs as you should. You've got to use the muscles in your thigh to drive with your legs. The left side is very important, too. It opens your motion & gives you speed in swinging your body. 

Seaver pitched in five games then came home early as Nancy got sick.

Mets- Ed Kranepool, John Milner & Joe Torre

On the trip the Mets showed off their new acquisition, infielder Joe Torre. Torre was acquired just before the trip & would play third base in the good will trip.

The Mets went 9-7 on the trip having a fun time along the way. They played a variety of the Japan teams, selling a good number of tickets along the way.

On November 2nd, during a pre-game of a Mets vs Japan game, there was a very special event. CBS had arranged for MLB's all time HR King; Hank Aaron to go up against all time Japanese HR king; Sadahara Oh of the legendary Yomiuri Giants in a HR derby show down.

Sadahara Oh, Henry Aaron & Yogi Berra in Japan 1974

Aaron had just set the MLB all-time HR record early in the 1974 season. He took the contest lightly & with good nature as he collected the $50,000 awarded to him. Mr. Oh took it a bit more serious in his homeland, he received $20,000 for his efforts.

Aaron chose the Mets coach, Joe Pignatano to toss him his pitches, quite an honor for the Mets coach. Hank also chose to use an Ed Kranepool Adirondack bat in the competition. According to Kranepool, he said that Aaron just picked up the bat without asking his permission to use it, but that was ok by Ed.

As Aaron was trailing Oh early on, the Mets wives began chanting "Let's go Henry" something he'd thought he'd never hear from New Yorkers. Aaron ended winning the contest 10-9.