Remembering Mets History: (1972) Jim Beauchamp Delivers Game Winning Hits In Two Straight Games

Monday August 21st 1972: A crowd of 24,242 came to Shea Stadium to see Yogi Berra’s second place Mets (60-53) take on Harry Walkers’ second place, Western Division Astros (66-52). 

Walker sent pitcher; Jerry Reuss to the mound against the Mets lefty; & that years Rookie of The Year- Jon Matlack (11-7). 

In the home 3rd, Ted Martinez singled & stole second base. Mets rookie Lute Barnes singled as well bringing in Martinez making it 1-0.

The two pitchers battled along the way, then in the 6th inning Houston’s Cesar Cedeno hit a solo HR off Matlack. In the bottom of the 7th, the Mets reserve outfielder; Jim Beauchamp answered with his own solo HR to put the Mets ahead 2-1. 

In the 8th Cedeno, haunted Matlack once again, he doubled to score Roger Metzger tying it up again. In the bottom of the 8th Jim Ray relieved Reuss, he walked Matlack then retired the next three batters. 

Matlack would go the distance allowing two runs, on seven hits with eight strike outs & three walks. 

In the bottom of the 9th inning, Ray retired the first two batters then walked rookie John Milner. Jim Beauchamp came up and delivered with a walk off HR giving the Mets the 4-2 win. 

The next day- August 22nd 1972:

It would be another Mets win with Tom Seaver throwing a complete game victory. Seaver would strike out ten batters; allow one earned run on seven hits besting his record to 15-7.

 The Astros; Dave Roberts took the loss, as Jim Beauchamp last night’s hero, supplied all the Mets offense. It was no doubt Beauchamp’s biggest two days in his Mets career & probably in his overall career. 

In the 2nd, Tommie Agee led off with a base hit & Duffy Dyer singled as well. Beauchamp singled with one out bringing in Agee. In the 4th inning, with New York down 2-1, Beauchamp hit his third HR of the year, his third in the past two games.

Seaver kept the score tied & in the 8th the Mets rallied again. Wayne Garrett walked & Duffy Dyer & John Milner walked to load the bases with two outs, setting the stage for Beauchamp once again. 

The hot hitting Beauchamp singled to left field bringing in what was the two winning runs. Jim Beauchamp would spend two years with the Mets, playing in his only World Series of his ten year career with them in 1973.He would hit 5 HRs in 1972 batting .242 with 19 RBIs in 58 games (120 at bats).