Remembering Mets History (1976) Mets Have Three Walk Off Wins In A Week

The 1976 Mets had a pretty good team, going 86-76 but finishing in third place.  By todays standards they would have earned a wild card spot, but that position did not exist back then.

The '76 Mets had two solid months early on, but then fell ten games back in the standings by early June. They were as far back as 19 1/2 games in early August. They played well enough to gain ten games in the standings, from late August going into late September, winning 16 of 23 games.

From September 18th to September 28th, they would win nine of ten games with a six game win streak. In an eight day period they would have three walk off wins.

Joe Torre & Mickey Lolich

Unfortunately, they finished 15 games back of the Philadelphia Phillies & it was the last season the Mets would have a winning record for eight long seasons.

Monday September 20th 1976: A small crowd of 5,922 came out to this Monday afternoon matinee at Shea as Joe Frazier's Mets (80-70) hosted Danny Murtaugh's Pittsburgh Pirates (85-64). Veteran Mets pitcher, Mickey Lolich took the mound, going up against Brooklyn born pitcher, John Candaleria for the Bucs.

Starting Lineups

Pirates

1	Frank Taveras	SS
2	Rennie Stennett	2B
3	Richie Zisk	LF
4	Willie Stargell	1B
5	Dave Parker	RF
6	Bill Robinson	CF
7	Richie Hebner	3B
8	Duffy Dyer	C
9	John Candelaria	P

Mets

1	Lee Mazzilli	CF
2	Felix Millan	2B
3	Joe Torre	1B
4	Dave Kingman	RF
5	John Stearns	C
6	Roy Staiger	3B
7	Pepe Mangual	LF
8	Bud Harrelson	SS
9	Mickey Lolich	P

In the home 3rd, Bud Harrelson & Lee Mazzilli got on base with base hits, next three more Mets singles from Felix Millan, Joe Torre & Dave Kingman all brought in runs.

The Pirates quickly tied it on RBI doubles from Rennie Stennett, Bob Robertson & Frank Taveras.

In the top of the 8th, Willie Stargell hit a long HR off Lolich to put Pittsburgh ahead 4-3.

In the bottom of the 9th, Kent Tekulve, who was emerging as one of the games better relievers, came on to close it out for Pittsburgh. He got the first two outs, then John Milner came in to pinch hit & singled.

Next up, the young Lee Mazzilli (playing only in his 13th career game) blasted a HR over the green Shea wall. It was his first career HR, a walk off to end the game. 

The young, Mazzilli was highly touted upon his arrival & this added to the start of his popularity. Mazzilli went 2-4 on the day, with a HR, two RBIs & two runs scored.

Friday September 24th 1976: Four nights later, The Mets (82-71) hosted Jim Marshall's Chicago Cubs (71-84). For the Mets it was Tom Seaver, who would only win 14 games this season, second lowest win total in his career up to that point. 

Seaver did lead the league in strike outs (235) for the fifth & last time of his career. His opponent that day, future short time Met, Ray Burris.

Starting Lineups

Cubs

1	Rick Monday	1B
2	Pete LaCock	LF
3	Larry Biittner	RF
4	Jerry Morales	CF
5	Manny Trillo	2B
6	Rob Sperring	3B
7	George Mitterwald	C
8	Mick Kelleher	SS
9	Ray Burris	P

Mets

1	Lee Mazzilli	CF
2	Felix Millan	2B
3	Ed Kranepool	1B
4	Dave Kingman	RF
5	Bruce Boisclair	LF
6	John Stearns	C
7	Roy Staiger	3B
8	Bud Harrelson	SS
9	Tom Seaver	P

Seaver & Burris would both pitch seven innings & allow three runs each. 

In the home 2nd inning, Ray Burris threw a wild pitch allowing rookie Bruce Boisclair to score. The next inning, the Cubs Jerry Morales drove in two runs with a base hit. 

In the home 3rd, Mets veteran Ed Kranepool hit his 9th HR of the year. Kranepool was batting at .292 on the year.

In the 5th, the Cubs went ahead again, as Pete LaCock tripled & scored when Larry Bitner drove him in.

Trivia: Pete LaCock was son of the Hollywood Squares game show host Peter Marshall.

From the bullpen, Bob Apodaca came on for the Mets & held down the Cubs the rest of the way.

In the 8th, Burris allowed hits to Felix Millan & Eddie Kranepool. Cubs Reliever Joe Coleman came on & surrendered a game tying single to Dave Kingman. 

Trivia: Coleman's father; Joe Coleman Sr. (pitched 1965-1979) & his son Casey Coleman (pitched 2010 -2014) would both pitch in the major leagues. 

In the bottom of the 9th, another Mets September call up; Billy Baldwin (the player GM Joe McDonald insisted come over from the Detroit Tigers in the Rusty Staub trade) hit an exciting walk off HR. 

It was Baldwins only HR as a Met, as he only play nine games for New York in his career.

Meanwhile Rusty Staub would drive in 96 runs or more in his three full seasons with the Tigers.

Tuesday September 28th: In this first game of a twi night double header, the Mets (76-71) would host Charlie Fox's Montreal Expos (53-104).  The young Dominican, Nino Espinosa would go for New York against  Expo hurler, Joe Keener.

Starting Lineups

Expos

1	Del Unser	LF
2	Tim Foli	SS
3	Andre Dawson	CF
4	Ellis Valentine	RF
5	Earl Williams	1B
6	Larry Parrish	3B
7	Barry Foote	C
8	Pepe Frias	2B
9	Joe Keener	P

Mets

1	Bruce Boisclair	CF
2	Felix Millan	2B
3	John Milner	LF
4	Ed Kranepool	1B
5	Dave Kingman	RF
6	Roy Staiger	3B
7	Mike Phillips	SS
8	Ron Hodges	C
9	Nino Espinosa	P

In the 3rd, Pepe Frias singled & was sacrificed over to second. Former Met Del Unser, then drew a walk, as another former Met, Tim Foli, hit a sac fly, scoring Frias. Another future Met, Ellis Valentine would bring in Unser with a base hit making it 2-0 Montreal.

In the 4th, Keener walked the Mets pitcher, Nino Espinosa & then Bruce Boisclair. Felix Millan then singled & an Expos error led to both runs scoring, to tie the game.

Mets Reliever Skip Lockwood

In the 8th, Tim Foli singled & Andre Dawson doubled knocking Espinosa out of the game. The new Mets reliever Skip Lockwood, who went on to have a few fine years as a Mets closer, gave up an RBI hit to Ellis Valentine.

In the bottom of the 8th, Ed Kranepool hit his 10th HR of the year, as he connected off Steve Dunning tying the game up at four runs each. Eddie was not done with his heroics for this night.

In the 9th, Joe Kerrigan came on to pitch for Montreal. With two outs Bruce Boisclair & newly the acquired Jim Dwyer (who came from the Expos) also singled. John Milner then walked, to load the bases for Eddie Kranepool.

 Steady Eddie came through once again, lining the game winning single to right field scoring the rookie Boisclair. Kranepool had three hits & two RBIs on the night, he would bat .292 coming off two .300 plus seasons. 

Unfortunately the Mets would lose their last five games of the season.