Ron Swoboda: 1969 World Series Mets Hero (1965 - 1971)
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In high school Ron played baseball, basketball & soccer. He was goal tender & the captain of his soccer team.
The six foot two right-handed hitting outfielder was signed out of Maryland University, as an amateur free agent in 1963. He signed for $35,000 after a strong AABA tournament performance.
Swoboda only played minor league ball for one season, impressing a new Mets organization with his power. They were a team looking for a home-grown slugger to attract fans.
The six foot two right-handed hitting outfielder was signed out of Maryland University, as an amateur free agent in 1963. He signed for $35,000 after a strong AABA tournament performance.
Swoboda only played minor league ball for one season, impressing a new Mets organization with his power. They were a team looking for a home-grown slugger to attract fans.
In 1964 he hit 14 HRs at AA Williamsport & then three more at AAA Buffalo in 22 games there.
Mets Debut: Ron Swoboda made the 1965 Mets team out of Spring Training. On Opening Day at Shea, he made his big-league debut in the 6-1 loss to the Dodgers, as he lined to second base off the pitcher Don Drysdale.
First Career HR: On April 14th, the second game of the year & in his second career at bat, he hit his first HR, a pinch-hit blast over the bullpen wall off Houston's Turk Farrell in a 7-6 extra inning loss at Shea Stadium. Swoboda claimed it was the longest shot he ever hit in his career.
On April 18th, in the second game of a double header with the Giants, he got his first start in right field. In the 2nd inning, he hit a solo HR off future Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry in the 7-1 Mets win.
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Multi RBI Game: On April 25th, in the second game of a double header split in the series finale with the Giants, Swoboda hit a three run HR off Ron Herbel for his first multi-RBI game in the 4-3 win.
The rookie finished up April with four HRs & 9 RBIs in his first 12 career games while batting .333. On the bad ball club, with the fans were hungry for a home-grown hero, Swoboda was quickly looked at as a star type player.
Almost Grand Slam: On April 30th at old Crosley Field in Cincinnati, Swoboda hit what appeared to be a grand slam HR off the Reds John Tsitouris. But the home plate umpire ruled it didn't go over the bright yellow line painted above the concrete wall. Above the concrete there was a plywood installed to block the glare of traffic from the elevated highway. Swoboda's shot was clearly visible hitting the plywood & also made a loud bang. Mets coach Yogi Berra was ejected from arguing the call.
The Reds won the game 6-1.
Multi- HR/ Four RBI Game: On May 8th in a Saturday afternoon 4-2 win over the Milwaukee Braves, Swoboda had his first multi-HR game. In the bottom of the 1st, Swoboda hit a three run HR off Denny Lemaster. In the 6th, he hit his second HR of the game, coming off a young Phil Niekro who was just in his second season. Swoboda drove in all the runs in the Mets win with a season high four RBIs.
In a three-game series at St. Louis, Swoboda hit his 10th HR of the season, in the opening game loss. On May 23rd, the Mets had a 7-2 lead going into the bottom of the 9th inning. The Cards scored two runs, then had the bases loaded when short stop, Dal Maxvil hit a fly ball to right field. Swoboda lost it in the sun, the ball got by him & all three runners scored tying up the game.
On June 8th, he hit another HR off the Giants, this time pitcher Bob Shaw. It was the only run in the 2-1 loss, as Willie Mays drove in both runs for the Giants.
In a July 5th double header sweep over the Cubs at Shea, Swoboda hit HRs in both ends of the twin bill & drove in a total of five runs. In the first game his three-run shot off Dick Ellsworth was all the Mets scoring in Warren Sahn's 3-2 win. It was one of Spahn's four career Mets victories. In the second game his HR off Bill Faul was his 15thh of the season. In that game the Mets Tom Parsons pitched a six-hit shutout, his only win of the season as he went 1-10.
Mets Rookie HR Record: Swoboda finished the year leading the team in HRs with 19, setting a Mets rookie record that stood until Daryl Strawberry came along in 1983.
In 135 games, he collected 91 hits, with 15 doubles, three triples & 52 runs scored. He struck out 102 times, with 33 walks, a poor .291 on base % & a solid .714 OPS. He was one of the better hitters on a weak hitting team. He made the Topps All Star Rookie team & was touted for having a bright future.
On May22nd in the second game of a double header split with the Giants in San Francisco, he hit his second HR of the year, collecting two hits in a 7-2 Mets win. The next day in Houston he collected two more hits to finally get over the .200 mark.
On July 22nd in Los Angeles, he hit a two-run 8th inning HR off Claude O’Steen, securing a rare Mets 3-0 shutout against the reigning NL Champions. Bob Friend tossed the eight-hit shutout, he was 5-8 for the Mets. He ended his 16-year 197-win career with the Mets that season.
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In September he was limited to playing in 14 games, collecting two more multi-RBI games.
On the season, he batted just .222 with 76 hits, 8 HRs, 9 doubles, 4 triples & 50 RBIs. He struck out 76 times with 31 walks posting a poor .296 on base % & .638 OPS.
Multi- HR/ Four RBI Game: On May 8th in a Saturday afternoon 4-2 win over the Milwaukee Braves, Swoboda had his first multi-HR game. In the bottom of the 1st, Swoboda hit a three run HR off Denny Lemaster. In the 6th, he hit his second HR of the game, coming off a young Phil Niekro who was just in his second season. Swoboda drove in all the runs in the Mets win with a season high four RBIs.
From May 16th through May 21st, Swoboda drove in runs in five straight games & hit three more HRs. On May 16th, he hit a two run HR off the Reds Sammy Ellis in the Mets six run inning of an 8-5 win in a double header sweep of the Reds at Shea Stadium.
The next game he hit a two-run shot off the Braves Tony Cloninger & had a 9th inning RBI double, driving in all three runs in a 4-3 loss to the Braves in Milwaukee. Ron hit safely in seven straight games & got his average up to .308.
In a three-game series at St. Louis, Swoboda hit his 10th HR of the season, in the opening game loss. On May 23rd, the Mets had a 7-2 lead going into the bottom of the 9th inning. The Cards scored two runs, then had the bases loaded when short stop, Dal Maxvil hit a fly ball to right field. Swoboda lost it in the sun, the ball got by him & all three runners scored tying up the game. Swoboda led ff the inning & lined out & was clearly frustrated. In the dugout the youngster stomped on a batting helmet trying to crush it, but instead it got stuck on his foot.
Manager Casey Stengel grabbed him & said, when you missed that fly ball, I didn't look for your watch to stomp on it, so stop ruining the team's equipment. Ihe 10th inning Stengle, removed him from the game. Swoboda was devastated, he sat in the locker room in tears, thinking his big-league days were over. The Mets lost the game on Bill White's Walk off double.
At the end of May Swoboda had already hit 11 HRs & was amongst the league leaders. It was quite a start for a team looking for a new star, as Swoboda became very popular very quick.
Manager Casey Stengel grabbed him & said, when you missed that fly ball, I didn't look for your watch to stomp on it, so stop ruining the team's equipment. Ihe 10th inning Stengle, removed him from the game. Swoboda was devastated, he sat in the locker room in tears, thinking his big-league days were over. The Mets lost the game on Bill White's Walk off double.
At the end of May Swoboda had already hit 11 HRs & was amongst the league leaders. It was quite a start for a team looking for a new star, as Swoboda became very popular very quick.
On June 8th, he hit another HR off the Giants, this time pitcher Bob Shaw. It was the only run in the 2-1 loss, as Willie Mays drove in both runs for the Giants.In a July 5th double header sweep over the Cubs at Shea, Swoboda hit HRs in both ends of the twin bill & drove in a total of five runs. In the first game his three-run shot off Dick Ellsworth was all the Mets scoring in Warren Sahn's 3-2 win. It was one of Spahn's four career Mets victories. In the second game his HR off Bill Faul was his 15thh of the season. In that game the Mets Tom Parsons pitched a six-hit shutout, his only win of the season as he went 1-10.
In early August Casey Stengle broke his hip & his days of managing came to an end. He was replaced by former Giant Wes Westrum.
On August 15th, Swoboda homered off Houston's Bob Bruce, his 18th of the season, coming in Al Jackson's 3-0 shut out at the Astrodome.
From August 22nd to August 26th, Swoboda drove in runs in six straight games, with a HR & a double. But he didn't hit another HR all season & drove in just three more runs. He slumped in September as his average fell off to .228.
Mets Rookie HR Record: Swoboda finished the year leading the team in HRs with 19, setting a Mets rookie record that stood until Daryl Strawberry came along in 1983.In 135 games, he collected 91 hits, with 15 doubles, three triples & 52 runs scored. He struck out 102 times, with 33 walks, a poor .291 on base % & a solid .714 OPS. He was one of the better hitters on a weak hitting team. He made the Topps All Star Rookie team & was touted for having a bright future.
In the outfield he made 11 errors, second most errors committed by an NL outfielder that season. Swoboda was known as a below average fielder with good power. He played mostly in left field in his first three seasons before Cleon Jones took over the position & Swoboda moved to right.
Quotes- Casey Stengel: "He will be great, super, even wonderful, if he can learn to catch a fly ball”.
Bud Harrelson once said he was afraid to go back on fly balls with Swoboda behind him, because Ron would get confused and run him over. In 1965 Swoboda committed the second most errors in the league (11).
Quotes- Casey Stengel: "He will be great, super, even wonderful, if he can learn to catch a fly ball”.
Bud Harrelson once said he was afraid to go back on fly balls with Swoboda behind him, because Ron would get confused and run him over. In 1965 Swoboda committed the second most errors in the league (11).
Uniform #4: Swoboda started out with uniform #14 until the Mets got veteran Ken Boyer. Ron then agreed to switch to #4. After Boyer left, he went back to #14. In 1968 when Gil Hodges arrived, Swoboda gave #14 to Hodges & took over #4 permanently.
1966: In his sophomore season, he struggled at the plate from the start, not hitting above the .200 batting mark until late May.
Walk Off Walk: On April 17th, Ron was sent up as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 9th inning with one out & the bases loaded in a 4-4 tie with the Braves. He drew the walk from Billy O'Dell bringing in the Mets winning run.
On May 4th, he hit his first HR of the season, a three-run shot off the Cardinals Ray Sadecki in an 8-0 win in St. Louis. It was the first of eleven multi-RBI games on the year. He would have five games with three or more runs driven in that season.
On May22nd in the second game of a double header split with the Giants in San Francisco, he hit his second HR of the year, collecting two hits in a 7-2 Mets win. The next day in Houston he collected two more hits to finally get over the .200 mark.But by the end of June his struggles continued as he fell back under .200 & the strike outs became more frequent.
Multi- Five RBI Game: On July 4th, he hit a massive three run HR off the Phillies Chris Short, landing on the left field roof of Philadelphia’s Connie Mack Stadium. Later he collected a two-run triple as well. In that game he drove in a career high five runs helping the Mets to a 9-7 win in the first game of a twin bill split.
On July 20th in San Francisco, Swoboda hit a 10th inning HR off Bill Henry breaking up a 2-2 tie, leading the Mets to a 3-2 victory.
Walk OFF HR: On August 4th, the Mets were trailing Juan Marichal & the Giants 6-1 in the bottom of the 8th inning at Shea Stadium. They put up three runs against Marichal, with a two run HR from John Stephenson & an RBI from Larry Elliot making it a 6-4 game. In the bottom of the 9th, Ken Boyer homered to make it a one run game. Marichal was taken out of the game & Lindy McDaniel put two men on. Swoboda who wasn't playing in the game, was sent up as a pinch hitter against Bill Henry. Rocky hit his first career walk--off HR, giving the Shea Stadium Mets fans a huge thrill.
Success vs Giants: Swoboda hit three HRs vs the Giants that season. In his career he would hit 16 HRs against Giants pitchers, by far the most of any team. The next highest total of HRs he hit against any team was nine vs. the other former NL New York team, the Dodgers. At Candlestick Park in San Francisco he hit nine HRs, the most on the road with Wrigley Field coming in second with four HRs.
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In September he was limited to playing in 14 games, collecting two more multi-RBI games.On the season, he batted just .222 with 76 hits, 8 HRs, 9 doubles, 4 triples & 50 RBIs. He struck out 76 times with 31 walks posting a poor .296 on base % & .638 OPS.
In left field he improved with a .985 fielding % with just two errors while making seven assists (3rd most in the NL).
Later that month from June 6th to June 13th he hit two more HRs in games against the Cubs (at Wrigley) & Reds at home. He got hot & had none multi-hit games that June, raising his average up twenty-five points.
HRs in Both Ends of Twin Bill: In a July 19th doubleheader against the Astros at Shea Stadium, Swoboda hit HRs in both ends of the twin bill sweep, collecting four hits.
Swoboda finished the 1967 season with career highs in batting (.281) doubles (17) & OPS (.79)
while hitting 13 HRs, with three triples & 53 RBIs. He struck out 96 times walked 41 times with a .340 on base%. In the outfield he made nine errors with a .957 fielding %, making 8 assists.
1968: On Opening Day, in San Francisco, Swoboda started out the year with a bang, hitting a three run HR off Juan Marichal. He also had an RBI single driving in all four Mets runs, although they lost to the San Francisco Giants 5-4.
Swoboda closed out the month of April amongst tops in the league with seven HRs 16 RBIs & a .988 OPS.
Cover of Sports Illustrated: After the strong start, Swoboda was gaining some national media attention. In May of 1968 he made the cover of Sports Illustrated with the title "Slugger Ron Swoboda."
On August 4th in Los Angeles, Swoboda broke up Mike Kekich’s no hitter, in the 7th inning with a single into right field. It was the only Mets hit of the game in the 2-0 Met loss.
Five RBI Game: On August 20th in an 8-0 Tom Seaver (6 innings) Cal Koonce (3 innings) combined shut out of the Giants at Shea Stadium, Swoboda had a career high five RBI game. He started out with an RBI fielder's choice then an RBI single. In the 8th inning he hit a three run HR off Bill Monbouquette, his 11th & final homer of the year. From July 23rd to the end of the season he only hit the one HR in the 50 games.
In 1968 he batted .242 with 109 hits 14 doubles 11 HRs & 59 RBIs (best on the team). Ron hit a career best six triples (8th most in the NL). He also stole a career high eight bases getting caught once.
Off Season Stunt: That off season Swoboda participated in the annual Sports Writers Show putting himself in a strait jacket promising to break free in ten seconds. Swoboda ate his “Yaz” bread, which was sponsored by that years Triple Crown winner, Carl Yastrzemski of the Red Sox, then attempted to escape the jacket but couldn’t.
Ron never became the superstar he was expected to be but hit some memorable HRs & had a decent career.
On Opening Day at Shea, the Mets hosted Montreal's expansion Expos, in the first ever game ever to feature a team from outside the USA. Swoboda came up as a pinch hitter & grounded into an inning ending double play in the 11-10 loss. Two days later he would drive in his first run of the year in the 4-2 win.
On April 20th, he collected a two run double & RBI single off the Cardinals' Mike Torrez in an 11-3 win in St. Louis.
Walk Off Walk: Two days later against the Giants at Shea, with the score tied 4-4 in the bottom of the 9th inning, he drew a bases walk from Joe Gibbon, scoring Bud Harrelson for the game winning run.
Five Strike Out Game: On June 22nd, Ron struck out five times in a 5-1 win over the Cardinals at Shea Stadium. "Hey, booed the hell out of me and if I was them, I would have followed me home & booed me there, too.” It was the second time in his career he struck out five times in a game.
When the California teams came to Shea in late August, Swoboda got hot again.
Multi- Four RBI Game: Two games later he hit a bases loaded double off Don Sutton, clearing the bases to put the Mets ahead 6-4. Earlier he had walked with the bases loaded, collecting a season high four RBIs helping the Mets sweep the series in the midst of a six-game win streak as they inched closer to the first place Cubs.
Grand Slam HR: On September 13th, he hit his first career grand slam HR, coming off the Pirates Chuck Hartenstein at Forbes Field in a 5-2 win at Pittsburgh. The win earned Tom Seaver his 22nd victory of the year & put the Mets up 3.5 games in first place.
Multi HR- Four RBI Game: On September 15th, Swoboda had his second multi-HR game of his career. The HRs came off the Cardinals Steve Carlton on a record night where Carlton struck out 19 batters at Busch Stadium. Swoboda did strike out twice but also hit a pair of two run HRs off "Lefty" driving in all four Met runs, in the 4-3 victory. Both time he had two strikes on him.
Trivia: During the Mets August & September stretch drive, Swoboda drove in 30 runs, more than half of his season RBI total.
1969 Post Season- NLCS: In the NLCS he did not play against the right-handed pitchers of the Atlanta Braves.
In Game #4 at Shea Stadium Swoboda collected three singles in the 2-1 Mets win. Two hits off Mike Culler & another off Eddie Watt. The Mets won the game with a little help from Mr. Swoboda in right Field.
Swoboda said to himself “that was one hell of a catch & this is the World Series”. All his hard work had finally paid off in his biggest moment. The Shea crowd roared, as Tom Seaver sighed. Seaver then got Elrod Hendricks to line out to Swoboda to end the inning.
In Game #5 Swoboda started out with an early single off Dave McNally.
In the '69 World Series, Swoboda hit .400 with six hits (6-15), the most by any player on either team.
After the Championship: On Opening Day in Pittsburgh Ron went 1-5 with a double in the 5-3 Mets win. On Opening Day at Shea he was in the Mets lineup, as the Championship banner was raised. He drove in a run & walked twice in the Mets loss.
Multi HR- Five RBI Game: On May 31st, he matched his career high with five RBIs in a 14-4 win at Shea over the Astros. Ron hit a pair of two run HRs, one off Denny LeMaster & another in the 8th inning off Scipio Spinks. He also drew a bases loaded walk for the other RBI.
Post Mets Career: Swoboda played in 39 games for Montreal batting .253. On June 25th he was traded to the A.L. New York club for Ron Woods. Swoboda played there for parts of three seasons (1971-1973) as a reserve outfielder. In 152 games he batted .235 with 4 HRs & 34 RBIs.
In the outfield Ron played 767 games posting a .972 fielding % with 53 assists making 37 errors in 1308 chances. He also played 22 games at first base.
Retirement: After his retirement he worked as a television sportscaster in New York, on WCBS-TV. He later worked in New Orleans on WVUE.
TV: In 1999 he appeared with other members of the 1969 Mets team on an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond.
Honors: Ron was at the closing ceremonies of Shea Stadium in 2008. In 2009 he was on hand for the 40th anniversary of the 1969 Amazing Mets at Citi Field. In 2019 he was also on hand for the 50th Anniversary of the Amazing's.
1969-Tour: Swoboda first set foot on Okinawa while en route to South Vietnam in 1969, just after the Mets won the World Series. Swoboda’s message to troops on Okinawa was the same as it was in 1969: “We care about you being here, to sacrifice the time to make a visit.”
The Swoboda family evacuated their home before the storm. His house sustained no damage because, as it was situated on higher ground “uptown by the river,” no flooding occurred.” I have affection for that town for a person who is from the outside.”
Swoboda is often seen at New Orleans jazz clubs & has made friends with many of the musicians.
Swoboda has made several appearances at baseball card shows and various 1969 Mets events.
Trivia: He is a big opera fan & has occasionally filled in as an usher at the New York Metropolitan Opera.
1967: In 1967 Swoboda moved over to right field when the club acquired Tommy Davis, playing all his 108 games in the outfield at the position. Ron also played 20 games at first base.
He started out slow again, not hitting over .200 until early May. On April 30th, he hit his first HR of the season, it came off the Reds Billy McCool in a 2-0 Don Cardwell three hit shutout in Cincinnati. Ron did not hit another HR until June 6th at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. It was a top of the 10th inning game winner, off the Pirates Roy Face in Pittsburgh in a 3-2 win.
Later that month from June 6th to June 13th he hit two more HRs in games against the Cubs (at Wrigley) & Reds at home. He got hot & had none multi-hit games that June, raising his average up twenty-five points. On July 4th, in a memorable game against the Giants at Shea, Swoboda hit a 6th inning bases loaded two run-single off Juan Marichal continuing his success against Giants pitching. This gave the Mets an 8-3 lead, leading to the first time the team beat Marichal after he had beaten them 19 straight times.
Walk Off Walk: On July 9th, the Mets entered the bottom of the 9th inning down 4-3 to the Braves. Jerry Buchek tied the game with a HR. The Mets got the bases loaded, as Ed Kranepool was intentionally walked to get to Swoboda. But pitcher Claude Raymod then walked Swoboda bringing in the winning run.
Walk Off Walk: On July 9th, the Mets entered the bottom of the 9th inning down 4-3 to the Braves. Jerry Buchek tied the game with a HR. The Mets got the bases loaded, as Ed Kranepool was intentionally walked to get to Swoboda. But pitcher Claude Raymod then walked Swoboda bringing in the winning run.
HRs in Both Ends of Twin Bill: In a July 19th doubleheader against the Astros at Shea Stadium, Swoboda hit HRs in both ends of the twin bill sweep, collecting four hits.In August he hit safely in 17 of 18 games, batting .362 in the month getting his season average up above .280. Ron posted a .900 OPS that month driving in 16 runs with six extra base hits.
Four Hit Game & Four RBI Game: On August 15th, he had a career best four hit games, collecting a pair of doubles & an RBI in a Mets loss at Philadelphia. The next day, Swoboda collected a pair of two-run singles off the Phillies Dick Ellsworth, for a season high four RBI game in the 5-3 Mets win.
On August 29th, Swoboda hit his 10th HR of the season, one of two runs in a Cal Koonce 2-0 shut out of the eventual World Champion Cardinals in St. Louis. In September he drove in 13 more runs.
Swoboda finished the 1967 season with career highs in batting (.281) doubles (17) & OPS (.79)
while hitting 13 HRs, with three triples & 53 RBIs. He struck out 96 times walked 41 times with a .340 on base%. In the outfield he made nine errors with a .957 fielding %, making 8 assists.
Gil Hodges Era: The Mets finished tenth that year going 61-1001 under managers Wes Westrum & Salty Parker. Westrum resigned with 11 games left in the season, when he realized, he was going to get replaced by Gil Hodges the next season. In 1968 Hodges took over as manager & things began to slowly change for the better. The culture was different as well, with Hodges demanding 100% from his players & with Tom Seaver promoting a winning attitude.
1968: On Opening Day, in San Francisco, Swoboda started out the year with a bang, hitting a three run HR off Juan Marichal. He also had an RBI single driving in all four Mets runs, although they lost to the San Francisco Giants 5-4. On April 14th, in one of the longest games ever played, the Mets & Astros went 24 innings clocking in at six hours & six minutes before the Astros won it on an error at third base by Ed Charles. In that game Swoboda went 0-10 striking out five times, one shy of the record of striking out six times. He was quoted as saying “I should go home and blow my head off” in reply coach Rube Walker said, “You’d probably miss”.
HRs In Four Consecutive Games: From April 19th thru April 21st, he homered in all four games of a four-game series with the Dodgers at Shea Stadium.
On April 20th his three-run shot off Bill Singer was all the run support for Tom Seaver in a 3-2 win over the Dodgers, earning him his first win of the season. The Mets dropped three of four including a double header loss where Swoboda homered in both games.
On April 30th, his HR off the Phillies Chris Short was the only run of the game in a 1-0 Don Cardwell five hit shutout.
Swoboda closed out the month of April amongst tops in the league with seven HRs 16 RBIs & a .988 OPS.Cover of Sports Illustrated: After the strong start, Swoboda was gaining some national media attention. In May of 1968 he made the cover of Sports Illustrated with the title "Slugger Ron Swoboda."
But after the hot start, he fell into a slump, hitting just .209 in May with one HR. He began to hear the boo birds at Shea Stadium as well. His manager got him too, in a game where he had an 0-2 count, he watched a third strike right down the middle. When he got back to the dugout, Gil Hodges asked him why he didn’t swing & Ron replied, “I was guessing ball?”.
On July 23rd, he homered off the Braves Pat Jarvis, helping Tom Seaver & the Mets to a 2-1 win in Atlanta. On July 26th, Swoboda drove in both runs of a Jerry Koosman 2-0 shut out over the Reds at Shea Stadium. On the season he had 15 multi-RBI games with seven of them coming against former NL New York teams, the Giants & Dodgers.
On July 23rd, he homered off the Braves Pat Jarvis, helping Tom Seaver & the Mets to a 2-1 win in Atlanta. On July 26th, Swoboda drove in both runs of a Jerry Koosman 2-0 shut out over the Reds at Shea Stadium. On the season he had 15 multi-RBI games with seven of them coming against former NL New York teams, the Giants & Dodgers.
On August 4th in Los Angeles, Swoboda broke up Mike Kekich’s no hitter, in the 7th inning with a single into right field. It was the only Mets hit of the game in the 2-0 Met loss.Five RBI Game: On August 20th in an 8-0 Tom Seaver (6 innings) Cal Koonce (3 innings) combined shut out of the Giants at Shea Stadium, Swoboda had a career high five RBI game. He started out with an RBI fielder's choice then an RBI single. In the 8th inning he hit a three run HR off Bill Monbouquette, his 11th & final homer of the year. From July 23rd to the end of the season he only hit the one HR in the 50 games.
In 1968 he batted .242 with 109 hits 14 doubles 11 HRs & 59 RBIs (best on the team). Ron hit a career best six triples (8th most in the NL). He also stole a career high eight bases getting caught once. He struck out a career high 113 times (6th most in the NL), walking 52 times with a .325 on base % & .699 OPS. He also grounded into 14 double plays.
In right field he made six errors, turned four double plays & made a career high 14 assists (3rd best among NL outfielders).
Off Season Stunt: That off season Swoboda participated in the annual Sports Writers Show putting himself in a strait jacket promising to break free in ten seconds. Swoboda ate his “Yaz” bread, which was sponsored by that years Triple Crown winner, Carl Yastrzemski of the Red Sox, then attempted to escape the jacket but couldn’t.
Ron never became the superstar he was expected to be but hit some memorable HRs & had a decent career.
1969 Amazing Mets Championship Season: In the miracle year of 1969, manager Gil Hodges had Swoboda in a right field platoon (78 games) with Art Shamsky. Rod Gaspar would also fill in especially as a late inning defensive replacement. Swoboda also played 23 games in left field.
On Opening Day at Shea, the Mets hosted Montreal's expansion Expos, in the first ever game ever to feature a team from outside the USA. Swoboda came up as a pinch hitter & grounded into an inning ending double play in the 11-10 loss. Two days later he would drive in his first run of the year in the 4-2 win.On April 20th, he collected a two run double & RBI single off the Cardinals' Mike Torrez in an 11-3 win in St. Louis.
In April he hit well, batting .320 with seven multi-hit games & nine RBIs.
On May 30th at Shea Stadium, Swoboda hit a 7th inning solo HR off the Giants Mike McCormick, to put New York on the board down 3-1. In the three run Mets 8th inning, his RBI single off Frank Linzy put them ahead for good helping Tom Seaver to an exciting 4-3 win.
It was his third career walk off walk. The Mets swept the series & went on an 11-game win streak, surprising everyone with their competitive play. The Mets were getting noticed around the league.
But from there he went 0-15 as his average fell to .219. In the month he struggled & had three games where he struck out at least four times.
When the California teams came to Shea in late August, Swoboda got hot again.
On August 21st he drove in two runs against the Giants in a loss. On August 22nd, he hit a two run HR off the Dodgers Bill Singer in a 5-2 Mets win.
Multi- Four RBI Game: Two games later he hit a bases loaded double off Don Sutton, clearing the bases to put the Mets ahead 6-4. Earlier he had walked with the bases loaded, collecting a season high four RBIs helping the Mets sweep the series in the midst of a six-game win streak as they inched closer to the first place Cubs.In an August 31st double header split with the Giants at Candlestick Park, Swoboda drove in runs in both games. In the first game he drove in two runs in the 8-0 Mets win, then hit a two run HR off Ron Bryant in the second game loss.
On September 10th the Mets took over first place from the Cubs.
Multi HR- Four RBI Game: On September 15th, Swoboda had his second multi-HR game of his career. The HRs came off the Cardinals Steve Carlton on a record night where Carlton struck out 19 batters at Busch Stadium. Swoboda did strike out twice but also hit a pair of two run HRs off "Lefty" driving in all four Met runs, in the 4-3 victory. Both time he had two strikes on him.
Trivia: During the Mets August & September stretch drive, Swoboda drove in 30 runs, more than half of his season RBI total.
Swoboda finished the 1969 regular season batting .252 with 77 hits 8 doubles, two triples 9 HRs & 52 RBIs seeing action in 115 games. He struck out 90 times with 40 walks a .326 on base % & .687 OPS. In the outfield he made just two errors posting a .988 fielding %, with five assists.
1969 World Series: In the World Series against the Baltimore Orioles Ron did get to play against
the Orioles left handers. He made a name for himself forever in Mets history although it was with his glove not with his bat.
It was a huge thrill for the young Swoboda, playing in a World Series in his hometown of Baltimore. He had many family members & friends in the stands cheering for him in the opener.
In Game #1 as the Series opened, Don Buford hit a HR over Swoboda’s head in right field. He went back leaped & fell into the fence on ball he may have even been able to catch. It looked like a bad start for a Mets team that was a huge underdog against the mighty Orioles.
the Orioles left handers. He made a name for himself forever in Mets history although it was with his glove not with his bat.
It was a huge thrill for the young Swoboda, playing in a World Series in his hometown of Baltimore. He had many family members & friends in the stands cheering for him in the opener.
In the 9th inning Swoboda got his first World Series hit, a leadoff single off Mike Cuellar. He also had drawn a walk earlier.
In Game #2 Swoboda was hitless in the Mets victory. As the Series moved to an excited Shea Stadium in New York for Game #3, Swoboda did not play against the righthanded Jim Palmer. The game was highlighted by two Tommie Agee spectacular catches in right field.
In Game #2 Swoboda was hitless in the Mets victory. As the Series moved to an excited Shea Stadium in New York for Game #3, Swoboda did not play against the righthanded Jim Palmer. The game was highlighted by two Tommie Agee spectacular catches in right field.
Tom Seaver & the Mets were clinging to a 1-0 lead going into the 9th inning. Donn Clendenon had homered in the 2nd inning off Cuellar. The O's Frank Robinson & Boog Powell singled in the top of the 9th. Brooks Robinson then blasted a line drive into right center field. Swoboda raced for the ball, dove to his right & caught the ball backhanded in his glove. Robinson tagged & scored the tying run, but he saved the go ahead run & any further damages.
Swoboda said to himself “that was one hell of a catch & this is the World Series”. All his hard work had finally paid off in his biggest moment. The Shea crowd roared, as Tom Seaver sighed. Seaver then got Elrod Hendricks to line out to Swoboda to end the inning. Swoboda had made one of the greatest catches in World Series history. Baseball Weekly later ranked the catch as one of the "Ten Most Amazing Plays of All-Time."
A tough act to follow after Tommie Agee's two gems in Game #3. Seaver was shocked as anyone since Swoboda was never known for his glove work. Ironically, he & Swoboda had never gotten along so well or been the best of friends.
The Mets won the game in the bottom of the 10th inning, when J.C. Martin bunted & a controversial throw to first base hit him scoring Rod Gaspar with the walk off run. The win was Tom Seaver's only World Series victory in his career.
Citi Field: A silhouette of Swoboda making his famous catch is featured at the right field gate section of Citi Field in his honor.
In Game #5 Swoboda started out with an early single off Dave McNally.
In the bottom of the 8th, with the score tied at 3-3 & Cleon Jones on second base, Swoboda doubled off Eddie Watt into left field scoring Cleon with the go-ahead run. Swoboda would score when Jerry Grote's ground ball resulted in an Oriole error giving the Mets the 5-3 lead. Jerry Koosman went toe rest of the way holding down the Orioles & the Miracle Mets had won the World Series.
In the '69 World Series, Swoboda hit .400 with six hits (6-15), the most by any player on either team.
He also drew a walk, posted a .438 on base % & .904 OPS.
On May 16th, Swoboda he had a big three hit, three RBI game in a 6-0 win at Philadelphia.
From May 24th to May 31st, Swoboda drove in 11 runs with two HRs in a seven-game stretch. He would not hit another HR in over a month, then hit HRs in back-to-back wins at Philadelphia.
Multi-RBI Game: On May 26th, Swoboda had a pair of two run singles in a 5-1 win over the
Cardinals at Shea as Ray Sadecki beat his former St. Louis teammates.
Cardinals at Shea as Ray Sadecki beat his former St. Louis teammates.
Grand Slam HR: On July 9th Swoboda his second career grand slam, it came in the 3rd inning off the Expos Rich Nye leading Tom Seaver & the first place Mets to a 7-1 win at Shea Stadium.
On August 2nd he hit what was his last HR in a Mets uniform, coming in the night cap of a double header loss to the Padres. He missed some action in parts of the final two months, as his hitting fell off dropping to .233 at seasons end.
The Mets were in first place into mid-July, after dropping to second the tied for first in early September but finished 9-12 from that point eventually finishing third 83-79.
In 1970, Swoboda played 115 games hitting .223, with two HRs, 8 doubles, two triples & 40 RBIs. He struck out 72 times with 40 walks a .340 on base % & .732 OPS in 245 at bats. In the outfield he made two errors with thee assists in 100 games played, all in right field.
That winter the Mets decided young Ken Singleton was going to be the right fielder. Swoboda was traded to the Montreal Expos for centerfielder Don Hahn just before the start of the 1971 season.
Mets Career Stats: In his six-year career in New York, Swoboda averaged a HR in every 36 at bats. He hit 69 HRs with 73 doubles 20 triples & 304 RBIs in 737 games (27th most all time). He scored 246 runs, walked 240 times with a .319 on base % & .706 OPS. He struck out 549 (16th most in Mets history) times in 2212 at bats.
The Dugout Restaurant: In the early seventies, Swoboda & Ed Kranepool owned a restaurant on Rt. 110 in Amityville, Long Island.
On September 12th, 1973, he hit his last career HR, coming off Boston's Roger Moret in a 7-1 loss to the Red Sox. In 43 at bats that year, he hit only .116 and played his final game on September 30, 1973.
Career Stats: Swoboda finished his nine-year career playing in 928 games, batting.242 with 624 hits 84 doubles 24 triples 73 HRs & 344 RBIs with 285 runs scored. Swoboda struck out 647 times walked 299 times with a .324 on base & .703 OPS.
Career Stats: Swoboda finished his nine-year career playing in 928 games, batting.242 with 624 hits 84 doubles 24 triples 73 HRs & 344 RBIs with 285 runs scored. Swoboda struck out 647 times walked 299 times with a .324 on base & .703 OPS.
Retirement: After his retirement he worked as a television sportscaster in New York, on WCBS-TV. He later worked in New Orleans on WVUE.
Ron was then the analyst for the New AAA Orleans Zephyrs a former Mets minor league affiliate.
TV: In 1999 he appeared with other members of the 1969 Mets team on an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond. Honors: Ron was at the closing ceremonies of Shea Stadium in 2008. In 2009 he was on hand for the 40th anniversary of the 1969 Amazing Mets at Citi Field. In 2019 he was also on hand for the 50th Anniversary of the Amazing's.
Quotes- Ron Swoboda: “I have my glove that I made the catch within Game Four of the World Series. I've got some stuff that came to us as a result of the World Series, as well as the last pair of baseball shoes I wore.”
Japan Tour: In June of 2007 Swoboda took a weeklong tour of Okinawa, Japan. The tour was sponsored by the USO in support of the Special Olympics on Okinawa.
He stopped by the US troops stationed there and US Marines and airmen took time from their duty of the day to have Swoboda sign baseballs and photos.
Japan Tour: In June of 2007 Swoboda took a weeklong tour of Okinawa, Japan. The tour was sponsored by the USO in support of the Special Olympics on Okinawa.
He stopped by the US troops stationed there and US Marines and airmen took time from their duty of the day to have Swoboda sign baseballs and photos.
1969-Tour: Swoboda first set foot on Okinawa while en route to South Vietnam in 1969, just after the Mets won the World Series. Swoboda’s message to troops on Okinawa was the same as it was in 1969: “We care about you being here, to sacrifice the time to make a visit.”
Hurricane Katrina: For Ron Swoboda, New Orleans has been his home since 1981& when Hurricane Katrina was bearing down on the Big Easy, he knew the worst was coming. Swoboda said “My whole family got out. If you had the means and watched the warnings, you could not stay. As soon it was in the Gulf, it was aimed right at us. None of it was good.”
Swoboda is often seen at New Orleans jazz clubs & has made friends with many of the musicians.
Author: On the 50th Anniversary of the 1969 Mets Ron came out with a book on his season titled 'Here's the Catch".
Quotes- Ron Swoboda: "I'm kidded, occasionally, by folks who say: 'How long are you going to keep living off of one catch?' My answer: 'How long have I got left?"
Trivia: He is a big opera fan & has occasionally filled in as an usher at the New York Metropolitan Opera.
Family: Ron met his wife Celia while at college at the University of Maryland. They were married in October 1965 & have been together for nearly sixty years. They have two sons together.
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