Remembering Mets History (2004-2006) Kaz Matsui Becomes First Player to Lead Off His First Three Seasons With HRs

Former Met second baseman, Kazo Matsui came to the Mets. after being a star player in his native Japan. Matsui was a seven time Best Nine award winner, had won an MVP Award & received four Gold Gloves. 

His team the Seibu Lions, won four Pacific League titles but never a Japanese Series title. 

Matsui arrived in New York with much fanfare, he never became a super star, but he was a solid player. Matsui set an MLB record by being the first player to hit a HR in his first plate appearance of his first three seasons (2004-2006).

Tuesday April 6th, 2004: On Opening Day 2004, Art Howe's New York Mets visited Atlanta, to open the season against the NL East rival Braves. 

The Mets were displaying some new players in '04, Mike Cameron, Braden Looper & Kaz Matsui. The Mets would finish 71-91, in fourth place in 2004.

They got a good start from Tom Glavine, who held his former team down to two runs over six innings. The bullpen gave them two shutout innings from David Weathers & a shaky 9th inning from Braden Looper. 

Offensively, it was Matsui who proved to be the star of the day. In his first career at bat, Matsui homered on the first pitch he saw off Braves pitcher Russ Ortiz. It was the first HR of his record setting feat over the next three seasons. 

Trivia: Matsui also became just the third Met to HR in his first career at bat, joining Benny Ayala (1974) & Mike Fitzgerald (1983).

In the 2nd inning, after the Braves took a 2-1 lead, Tom Glavine drove in a run with a base hit. Then Matsui doubled to right field, scoring Glavine giving the Mets the lead again.

In the 3rd, Matsui drew a bases loaded walk off pitcher Juan Cruz. This gave the Mets aa 6-2 lead, as they went on to win it 7-2. 

In his debut, Matsui had three hits, a HR, a double, two walks & three RBIs. Mike Piazza also homered on the day. 

In his rookie season, Matsui batted .272 with 125 hits 7 HRs 32 doubles 2 triples 44 RBIs & 14 stolen bases in 114 games.

Monday April 4th, 2005: With the arrival of new players Carlos Beltran & Pedro Martinez, as well as new manager Willie Randolph, there was much excitement for the Mets for 2005. The team would improve to a 83-79 record, twelve more wins than the previous season, although they did finish in third place.

April 4th, 2005: The season opened up for the Mets at the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati against the Reds. In Pedro Martinez Mets debut he gave up three runs on three hits, while striking out 12 in six innings of work. All his runs were given up in the 1st inning. He left the game in a 3-3 tie. But his debut was ruined by Braden Looper, after blowing a 9th inning save opportunity, serving up back-to-back HRs to Adam Dunn & the walk off to Joe Randa.

For the Mets with Jose Reyes in the leadoff spot, Matsui was batting in the second position. In his first at bat of 2005, he blasted a solo HR off former Met Paul Wilson, to deep right field, staring out this season with a HR as well. 

Matsui went 1-4 with the HR in the Mets 7-6 loss. Carlos Beltran & Cliff Floyd also homered on the day. For 2005 Matsui would only play in 87 games, batting .255 with 68 hits 3 HRs 9 doubles 4 triples 6 steals & 24 RBIs.

Thursday April 20th, 2006: After a very exciting off season, where the Mets added Carlos Delgado, Paul Loduca, Jose Valentin & Billy Wagner 2006 proved to be a fun season. The Mets were a powerhouse & ran away with the NL East from April finishing 12 games ahead of the Phillies. 

They were 11-4 at this point of the season, before Kaz got into his first game. In this night game at San Diego, the Mets went on to a 7-2 win over the Padres. Mets starter Steve Trachsel & five Mets relievers held the friars to just two runs. 

Matsui was batting in the 8th position on this night, leading off the 3rd inning. He blasted a line drive to right field off Padre pitcher Jake Peavy. The speedy Matsui, would take it all around the bases & have himself an inside the park HR. It got him in the record books, as the first player to hit HRs in his first at bat in his first three MLB seasons.

Carlos Delgado & Julio Franco would also hit HRs in this game as well.

In June of 2006, Matsui would get traded to the Colorado Rockies for Eli Marrero. In his 38 games with the Mets, he batted .200 with 26 hits 1 HR 6 doubles & 7 RBIs. He would not join the Mets in the 2006 Post Season but would get to the 2007 World Series with Colorado.