Rod Gaspar: 1969 World Champion Mets Utility Man (1969-1970)
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Gaspar was good enough to earn a baseball scholarship to play outfield at Long Beach State University. There he got drafted by the New York Mets twice, the first time in 1966 when he hit .393 as a sophomore, but he decided to stay in school.
In 1967 the Mets drafted him again, this time in the second round after he hit .342 in his junior year. He hit well enough to quickly rise through the Mets farm system as an unknown surprise.
In 1968 at AA Memphis, he batted .309 with 160 hits & 47 RBIs.
In the bottom of the 9th, Rod struck out with the tying run on base to end the game in an 11-10 Mets loss.
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At the plate Gaspar he led the team with seven sacrifice hits: batting .228 with one HR, six doubles, one triple & 14 RBIs. He also stole seven bases in ten attempts & scored 26 runs.
Quotes- Rod Gaspar: "Gil knew how to utilize his personnel. I always felt part of the club. I wasn't a star player but I knew I was a contributor. Hodges made every player feel part of the unit & vitally important to the team's success."
1969 Post Season: Before the World Series began, the Baltimore Orioles were a little fed up with all the attention focused on the Amazing New York Mets. When Orioles outfielder Frank Robinson heard that Gaspar had predicted the Mets to win the World Series he dared New York to "bring on Ron Gaspar. Who the hell is Ron Gaspar anyway?” he sarcastically said.
His teammate Merv Rettmund told Robinson that "it's Rod Gaspar, not Ron, stupid". Robinson still trying to be funny, replied, "OK, and then bring on Rod Stupid!”
The next time Mr. Robinson saw Rod Gaspar, he was crossing home plate with the winning run in Game #4, putting the Mets up three games to one in the Series.
His moment of glory came as a pinch runner in Game #4 when he scored the game’s winning run on a controversial play.
Gaspar saw the ball rolling toward second base after it had hit Martin on the arm & ricocheted away. He came around to safely crossing home plate to score the dramatic winning run. The first person to greet Gaspar at the plate, was the games winning pitcher Tom Seaver.
Gaspar earned an invitation to Spring Training 1969, and no one knew who he was or where he came from.
Mets Career: In 1969 he was the Mets surprise Opening Day right fielder when Art Shamsky hurt his back at the end of Spring Training. The Mets hosted the Expos in the franchise's first game.
Mets Career: In 1969 he was the Mets surprise Opening Day right fielder when Art Shamsky hurt his back at the end of Spring Training. The Mets hosted the Expos in the franchise's first game.In his first at bat after Tommie Agee cleared the bases with a three run double & was picked off, Gaspar got collected his first hit, a base hit to centerfield. In the top of the 4th, he drove in his first run with an RBI single. In the bottom of the 6th, he reached base for the third time & stole second base.
In the bottom of the 9th, Rod struck out with the tying run on base to end the game in an 11-10 Mets loss.
Multi- Three Hit Game: On April 11th, Gaspar had his first three hit game of the season, with two singles & a double in a 6-5 loss to St. Louis.
After his first four games, Gaspar had seven hits & was batting .412. In the month of April,
Gaspar was pretty much the main right fielder for first month of the season, before Shamsky & Ron Swoboda took over in a platoon of the position.
As the season went on Gaspar, was mostly used as a late inning defensive replacement.
he would have a dozen hits in the month, playing in 16 games, securing him a place on the roster.
Gaspar was pretty much the main right fielder for first month of the season, before Shamsky & Ron Swoboda took over in a platoon of the position.In May he had his first two multi-Rbi games, driving in a pir of runs each time. On May 16th in Cincinnati, Gaspar came in as a pinch hitter of a tied game with the Reds, He connected for a two-run double off George Culver leading the Mets six run inning in a 10-9 Mets win.
Only Career HR: On May 30th at Shea Stadium, Gaspar hit his only career HR, an 8th inning shot coming off the Giants Mike McCormick in a 4-3 win over the Giants.
Only Career HR: On May 30th at Shea Stadium, Gaspar hit his only career HR, an 8th inning shot coming off the Giants Mike McCormick in a 4-3 win over the Giants.
Multi- Three Hit Game: A week later on June 7th, he had his second three-hit game with two singles & an RBI triple in San Diego in the Mets 4-1 win over the Padres. He also sacrificed & reach safely on an error.
More Multi- Hit & RBI Games: At the end of July, he had back-to-back multi- two hit games. Then on August 1st in a 5-4 win over the Braves at Shea, Gaspar drove in two runs with his fourth multi- RBI game of the year. He would have another in a 9-3-win over the Phillies in September, getting to withing 2.5 games of the first place Cubs.
In a game against the Giants at Candlestick Park in San Francisco during the Mets eleven game win streak that summer, Gaspar was playing toward centerfield with the “McCovey Shift” on in full swing.
The ball landed on the left field line getting stuck in the wet grass. Gaspar ran over to retrieve it & fired a strike to home plate nailing the Giants runner. Catcher Jerry Grote then threw to Don Clendenon who alertly covered third base & tagged out McCovey.
Gaspar was a fine defensive player, he played in only 91 games in the outfield but led all N.L. outfielders with six double plays. He also had twelve assists, to lead the team. He made just two errors in 118 chances, posting a .989 fielding %.
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At the plate Gaspar he led the team with seven sacrifice hits: batting .228 with one HR, six doubles, one triple & 14 RBIs. He also stole seven bases in ten attempts & scored 26 runs.1969 Post Season: Before the World Series began, the Baltimore Orioles were a little fed up with all the attention focused on the Amazing New York Mets. When Orioles outfielder Frank Robinson heard that Gaspar had predicted the Mets to win the World Series he dared New York to "bring on Ron Gaspar. Who the hell is Ron Gaspar anyway?” he sarcastically said.
His teammate Merv Rettmund told Robinson that "it's Rod Gaspar, not Ron, stupid". Robinson still trying to be funny, replied, "OK, and then bring on Rod Stupid!”
The next time Mr. Robinson saw Rod Gaspar, he was crossing home plate with the winning run in Game #4, putting the Mets up three games to one in the Series.1969 Post Season- NLCS: Gaspar appeared in three games of the 1969 NLCS as a defensive replacement getting no at bats.
1969 World Series: He then had two official at bats in the World Series, appearing in Game #1 coming on in the 7th inning & in Game #3 at Shea Stadium coming on in the 8th inning. He went hitless both times.
1969 World Series: He then had two official at bats in the World Series, appearing in Game #1 coming on in the 7th inning & in Game #3 at Shea Stadium coming on in the 8th inning. He went hitless both times.
His moment of glory came as a pinch runner in Game #4 when he scored the game’s winning run on a controversial play.With the score tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the tenth, Gaspar pinch-ran for Jerry Grote at second base. Next Al Weis drew an intentional walk, and them J.C. Martin, bunted the ball toward the pitcher’s mound.
Oriole’s pitcher Pete Richert's fielded the ball, and threw to first base. Gaspar ran to third base, but never heard third base coach Eddie Yost screaming for him to go home over the crowd noise.
Oriole’s pitcher Pete Richert's fielded the ball, and threw to first base. Gaspar ran to third base, but never heard third base coach Eddie Yost screaming for him to go home over the crowd noise.
Gaspar saw the ball rolling toward second base after it had hit Martin on the arm & ricocheted away. He came around to safely crossing home plate to score the dramatic winning run. The first person to greet Gaspar at the plate, was the games winning pitcher Tom Seaver.
Although his career was very brief, Gaspar left a legacy in Mets history.
After choosing not to play winter ball, he found himself a bit out of shape being sent down to AAA Tidewater for the 1970 season. There he hit .318 with 17 doubles & 37 RBIs, getting another September call up. He would appear in just eleven games going hitless (0-14).
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That winter he was traded to the San Diego Padres for a player to be named later.
After choosing not to play winter ball, he found himself a bit out of shape being sent down to AAA Tidewater for the 1970 season. There he hit .318 with 17 doubles & 37 RBIs, getting another September call up. He would appear in just eleven games going hitless (0-14).
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Post Mets Career: In 1971 he batted only .118 and was sent back to the minors, spending the next five years in the Pacific Coast League. He won two championships with the Hawaiian Islanders in 1975 & 1976.
In 1974 Gaspar briefly came back up to the majors, playing in 14 games, going 3-14 at the plate. At AAA Hawaii he batted .278 in 52 games. Gaspar played the next two seasons at AAA Hawaii, retiring at age 30 in 1976.
In 1974 Gaspar briefly came back up to the majors, playing in 14 games, going 3-14 at the plate. At AAA Hawaii he batted .278 in 52 games. Gaspar played the next two seasons at AAA Hawaii, retiring at age 30 in 1976.
That same year he became a Baptist & became a religious man.
Career Stats: In his four-year career, Gaspar played in 178 games, batting .214 with 54 hits six doubles a triple a HR 35 runs scored & 17 RBIs. He posted a .310 on base % & .551 OPS. Gaspar stole eight bases in 12 tries.
Retirement: Rod went to work in the insurance business, specializing in asset management & business planning in Mission Viejo, California.
Honors: In 2009 & again in 2019 he was on hand for the 40th & 50th anniversaries of the 1969 Amazing Mets.
Cade Gaspar: Another son of Gaspar, Cade Gaspar was a minor league pitcher in the 1990s, becoming a number one draft pick, for the Detroit Tigers but his career never panned out.
Family: Gaspar made many close friends on the ’69 Mets including his roommates Gary Gentry & Danny Frisella. At the time he was cut from the big-league club, Danny Frisella introduced him to a girl he knew named Sheridan. Gaspar met & would soon marry Sheridan. Together they would have five children together.
Sadly, they lost their son David Mathew Gaspar to leukemia when he was just nine years old. The tragedy devastated Rod & it took many years for him to come to terms with the family loss.
An arm injury due to weight training ruined his once promising career.
Taylor Gaspar: Their youngest child, daughter Taylor became a sports columnist covering the college football Texas Longhorns & was an intern for ESPN.
Taylor Gaspar: Their youngest child, daughter Taylor became a sports columnist covering the college football Texas Longhorns & was an intern for ESPN.