Johnny Lewis "the Gunner": Mid Sixties Mets Outfielder (1965 - 1967)

Johnny Joe Lewis was born in Greenville Alabama on August 10, 1939. As a baby, the family moved to Pensacola, Florida where he grew up a high school sports star. 

The six-foot one switch hitting Lewis was originally signed by the Detroit Tigers in 1959 but was soon sent over to the St. Louis Cardinals.

With the Cardinals, he roomed with Bill White who helped tutor Lewis on opposing pitchers. 

Family Tragedy: In 1961 while playing winter ball in Venezuela to make extra money, Johnny's young wife was killed in a car accident. The couple had two infant sons & Johnny's mother took care of them so he could continue his baseball career.

MLB Debut: The right-handed corner outfielder appeared in 40 games for the 1964 World Champion Cardinals batting .234 with two HRs & seven RBIs. 

He wasn't eligible to play in the Cardinals 1964 World Series win but earned a $4,311 half share of
the Series winners pay off.

In December he was traded to the New York Mets along with Gordie Richardson for infielder Elio Chacon and pitcher Tracy Stallard.

Mets Career: In 1965 Lewis became a standout player on a bad ball club. He was the team's main right fielder (100 games) & played in centerfield as well (49 games).   He was known for his strong throwing arm which earned him the name "the gunner".  He would have 14 assists & three double plays on the 1965 season.

Lewis led the club in games played (148) walks (59) stolen bases (4) on base percentage (.331) & runs scored (64). Overall, he hit a career best batting .245 with 15 HRs 15 doubles 3 triples & 45 RBIs while striking out 117 times.

1965: Lewis debuted on Opening Day '65 driving in the only Mets run in a 6-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

On April 20th he was the hitting star in Los Angeles as he singled in the top of the 9th inning scoring Ed Kranepool & Billy Cowan to put the Mets up 3-0. The Dodgers would score two runs in the bottom of the 9th but fall short 3-2.

Triple Play: On April 15th, in a 5-4 win over the Houston Astros at Shea Stadium, the Mets turned the third triple play in franchise history. In the top of the 2nd inning, Jimmy Wynn "the toy cannon" hit a fly ball to Lewis in right field. Lewis made the out, then threw out Walt Bond at home. After making the tag, catcher Chris Cannizzaro threw to shortstop Roy McMillan nailing Bob Aspromonte at second base. The Mets won the game on Bobby Klaus' walk off HR.

From May 14th to May 24th, he hit safely in 11 of 13 games hitting five HRs with 13 RBIs. Lewis also had five multi- RBI games in that period as well. On May 14 & 15th he hit HRs in back-to-back games, leading the Mets to wins over the Reds at Shea Stadium.

Multi- RBI Game: On May 24th, Lewis hit a three run HR off the Phillies Chris Short in Philadelphia, leading New York to a 4-1 win. The three RBIs would be his second highest total in a game on the season.

Spoiling a No Hitter, Walk Off Style: On June 14, at Crosley Field in Cincinnati, Lewis had his most famous day as a New York Met, while playing the spoiler. Reds pitcher Jim Maloney no hit the Mets thru ten innings. He allowed just one walk along the way. But Mets pitchers Frank Lary (8 innings) & Larry Bearnarth (3 innings) had kept the Reds scoreless along the way as well.

In the top of the 11th inning, Lewis led off & spoiled Maloney's no-hit shut out, hitting a HR to deep center field. 

Quotes: Johnny Lewis- “He did get the ball out over the plate on me, but I want to tell you I’m not sure I saw the pitch. All I know is that it was a fastball. In my entire career, I never saw any fastballs like he threw in this game.”

Roy McMillan would also collect a hit in the inning. Bearnarth closed out the game in the bottom of the 11th, as New York had a 1-0 win. Maloney struck out 18 Mets on the day. He would throw a ten inning no hitter later that season in August.

In his first ten games of July, Lewis hit three HRs driving in six runs, while also collecting RBIs in three straight games.

Multi HR- Four Hit Game: On July 29th in a 14-0 win at Wrigley Field, Lewis had the only multi-HR game of his career. He hit a solo HR off Billy Hoeft in the 5th, then hit a three run HR off Bob Hendley in the 8th inning. Lewis also doubled & singled, having his only four hit game of the year.

In the final two months of the season, Lewis only hit one HR & drove in eight runs. 

Put on Your Glasses: On the season Lewis struck out 117 times (10th most in the NL). As he slumped toward the end of the season & the strike outs racked up, the Mets encouraged him to wear glasses. With the glasses he hit .242 in September.

In the outfield Lewis made 14 assists (3rd most in the NL) with five errors (5th in the NL) posting a .975 fielding %. 

In 1965, Johnny Lewis became a popular player around Shea Stadium. In a 1966 promotion day at Shea, the Mets gave out plastic tumbler cups to the fans. Lewis was one of 12 Mets featured on the cups. 

1966:  Lewis would struggle in the '66 season, in mid-May he fell under .200 & had a tough time staying over the line all season.

On May 29th, Lewis hit a 5th inning two run HR off Dodger Rookie, Don Sutton to tie up the game in which the Met went on to win 7-6. 

Lewis was batting just .209 with 5 HRs at the end of June when he was sent down to AAA Jacksonville. He was bitterly upset at the demotion.

Quotes- Johnny Lewis: "I had more HRs & RBIs than the Mets other four outfielders. I only plated when someone was hurt but I was always in there against the Top Pitchers. If Wes Westrum had something against me or if I had done something wrong, I'd understand. I must say I didn't get a fair shake by the Mets. But I'll give my 100%".

At Jacksonville, he hit 13 HRs, batting .286 in 71 games. He returned to the big-league club as a September call up. In 13 games that month he had just three more hits in 27 at bats.

On the season, Lewis played in 65 games batting .193 with 5 HRs 6 doubles a triple & 20 RBIs. In 49 games in the outfield, he had two assists.

1967: Lewis came up to the club at the end of May, batting only .118 (4-34) in 13 games. He was back at AAA Jacksonville by mid-June where he hit .218 on the year. 

Lewis would play one more season in the minors before ending his playing career at age 29. 

In his short four-year career, Lewis batted .227 with 175 hits 22 HRs 24 doubles 6 triples eight stolen bases a .313 on base % & 74 RBIs.

Retirement: After his playing days he spent 29 years in the St. Louis Cardinal organization, as sales assistant, promotions director, coordinator of player development, scout & coach. He also managed in the minors for three seasons.

Lewis was also a coach on the St Louis Cardinals from 1973-1976 under manager Red Schoendienst. He returned again in that capacity from 1985-1989 under manager Whitey Herzog. 

In the 2000s he worked in the Houston Astros organization before retiring from baseball, to
Cantonment, Florida.

Family: After the passing of his first wife, Lewis remarried. He had five children & 13 grandchildren.

Passing: On July 29th, 2018, Johnny Lewis passed away at the age of 78.