Tommie Agee: 1969 World Champion Mets Center Fielder (1968 - 1972)

Tommie Lee Agee was born on August 9th, 1942, in Magnolia, Alabama. Tommie was one of eleven children, nine sisters & a brother. 

The Agee's father worked for the Aluminum Co. of America. He moved the family to Mobile, Alabama when Tommie was a year old. Tommie's mother Carrie Agee wanted him to be a minister, but Tommie took a career in sports.

The area where Agee grew up was loaded with baseball talent, Hank Aaron, Willie McCovey, Billy Williams, Satchel Page & Amos Otis were all from the Mobile area.

While playing baseball in junior high school Tommie met his lifelong friend & future Mets team mate on the 1969 World Champion Mets, Cleon Jones.

Agee attended Grambling State University on a baseball scholarship. At the same time, he went to the school, NFL cornerback Willie Brown & NBA star Willis Reed also attended Grambling. 

Agee batted .553 which was the second highest average in the Conferences history at that time.
Defensively he was first labeled with a lack of coordination but made adjustments & became known for some fine defensive plays in his future. The day the MLB scouts arrived at his house; Cleon Jones was there as well.  

Quotes- Cleon Jones: "There were thirty to forty scouts, all of them trying to talk to him, trying to get him signed. That blew me away."

In 1961, Agee went with the Cleveland Indians signing a deal with a $60,000 bonus. Blowing through the ranks of the minor leagues, 

MLB Debut: On September 14th, 1962, Agee made his MLB debut, batting a s a pinch hitter, flying out in an 11-1 loss to the Twins. Agee played in five games for the sixth place Indians, going 3-14. 

Over the next two seasons he made brief appearances in the majors, playing in only 13 games each season. 

In 1963 he spent most of the season at AA Charleston batting .274 with 5 HRs & 36 RBIs, stealing 19 bases. In 1964 he hit 20 HRs, 24 doubles & stole 35 bases at AAA Portland in the Pacific Coast League. 

White Sox Career: Prior to the 1965 season he was sent to the Chicago White sox along with Tommy John, in a three-team deal that included Rocky Colavito & Cam Carreon (future Met Mark Carreon’s dad). Agee spent most of the year at AAA Indianapolis, batting just .228 with 8 HRs & 33 RBIs. He got another September call up to the Sox batting just .158 in ten games.

Baseball Card Trivia: Agee has two Topps Rookie baseball cards, one with the 1965 Indians & one with the 1966 White Sox.

Rookie of the Year Season: In 1966 he was named the White Sox regular centerfielder & finally made his impact. It began right away with a two run HR on Opening Day in a 3-2 win over the Angels. He hit three HRs in his first seven games with the Sox. At the All Star break he was batting .264 with 9 HRs 12 doubles & 38 RBIs, with 27 stolen bases.

1966 All Star: He was the Sox sole representative at the All-Star Game at the new Busch Stadium in St. Louis, coming in the game as a 9th inning defensive replacement. The NL won the game in the 10th inning, on the Dodgers' Maury Wills Walk off base hit scoring the hometown Cardinals Tim McCarver.

In August, Agee drove in twenty runs hit .290 & had 14 extra base hits. 

Five RBI Game- Walk Off Hit By Pitch: On September 2nd he had a season high five RBI game. He collected a bases loaded, three run triple off the Orioles Eddie Fisher putting the White Sox ahead in the 6th inning. He also had an RBI single & ended the game getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning for the walk off win.

Agee would also have three other games where he would drive in four runs that season. He stole 44 stolen bases (3rd most in the AL) scored 98 runs scored (3rd in the A.L.) & collected 172 hits (4th most in the AL). 

He batted .273, with 22 HRs 27 doubles (10th in the AL) 8 triples (4th most in the AL) 84 RBIs & .773 OPS. He was a free swinger striking out 127 times. He would strike out over 100 times five straight seasons.

Agee won the Rookie of the Year Award & a Gold Glove in centerfield. He led the league in putouts, games played, double plays & was third with 12 assists, posting a .982 fielding percentage. 

1967: In 1967 he played on a good White Sox team, that were in the pennant race until the last days of the season, falling to the Boston Red Sox in their "Impossible Dream" season. Agee had a good first half making another All-Star team, 

1967 All Star: Agee & White Sox teammates Ken Berry & 16 game winner Gary Peters all represented Chicago at the All-Star game in Anaheim California. The NL won the classic 2-1 game in 15 innings as the Mets Tom Seaver closed out the game to get the save. Agee had come in the game as a pinch runner in the 8th inning.

After a decent first half his numbers fell off in the second half as he struggled, not helping Chicago's chances during the four-team pennant race in September. 

On September 20th, he drove in three runs in a win over the Angels but had just four other RBIs all month & just one more in the final seven games going 3-29.  He finished the year batting .234 with 14 HRs 26 doubles 52 RBIs & 28 stolen bases while striking out 126 times.

Gil Hodges Relationship: The White Sox gave up on him, but the new Mets manager Gil Hodges, remembered what the saw of Agee while he was managing the Washington Senators the previous year. 

Hodges wanted Agee as his centerfielder in New York. That December, Agee was traded to the New York Mets along with Al Weis in exchange for Tommy Davis, Jack Fisher, Billy Wynne and Dick Booker.

Mets Career: Agee was happy to be re-united with his childhood friend from Alabama, left fielder Cleon Jones. 

1968: In his first at bat in Spring Training he was beaned in the head by Bob Gibson & had to be
taken to the hospital. He recovered as Hodges penciled him in as the Mets starting centerfielder on opening day 1968 and he remained there for the next five seasons.

On Opening Day 1968, Tommie Agee made his Mets debut batting third & playing centerfield. He went 2-4 with a stolen base & scored two runs in the Mets 5-4 loss to the Giants in San Francisco.

After starting out by going 5-16 he then he slumped for two weeks going hitless in 34 at bats finding himself batting just .102 at the end of April. On April 15th in the Mets 24 inning game 1-0 loss to the Astros in Houston, Agee struck out four times & went 0-10.  Agee didn’t hit his first HR until May 10th coming at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

Walk Off Hit: On May 16th, Agee came to bat in the bottom of the 9th inning of a 1-1 tie with the Reds. With two & two outs, Agee singled off Gerry Arrigo to give Tom Seaver & the Mets a 2-1 walk off win. 

On May 21st, his two run HR off the Pirates Al McBean in the 2nd inning helped the Mets in a 4-3 win over the Pirates at Shea Stadium. On June 7th, Agee hit just his third HR of the season, it came in a 4-0 combined Nolan Ryan- Cal Koonce shut out in San Francisco. Agee wouldn't hit another HR for almost two months, coming on August 4th, almost two months later.

 Multi- 3 RBI Game: On August 27th, Agee had a season high three RBI game, with a two-run single & a solo HR off the Cardinals Larry Jaster, his fifth HR of the season. The Mets won the game 4-0 behind Dick Selma's six hit shutout.

Agee went all through September without a HR or an RBI. Overall, he struggled mightily in his first season in New York, batting under the .200 mark until midway through September.

He finished up 1968 hitting .217 with 5 HRs 12 doubles 3 triples 17 RBIs & 30 runs scored. He struck out 103 times with 44 walks, posting a .255 on base % & 562 OPS in 132 games.

Agee continued to hustle, he did steal 15 bases, stayed positive & never complained. He earned the respect of his manager Gil Hodges, his teammates & the New York fans. It would all come together the next season.

1969 Championship Season: In 1969 he became one of the most important position players on the Mets World Championship squad. He was moved up to the leadoff position, gave the team some much needed speed as well as power, leading the team in HRs until Don Clendenon arrived in June. 

On Opening Day, in the 11-10 loss at Shea, he got two hits & drove in two runs in the first eve game of the expansion Montreal Expos.

Longest HR In Shea Stadium History: On April 10th, in the third game of the season Agee blasted a tremendous HR off the Expos Larry Jaster into the left field Upper Deck Section 48 at Shea Stadium. It was the longest HR in Shea Stadiums history, an estimated 480 feet. No other player would ever hit an upper deck HR in that part of the ballpark.

Quotes- Ron Swoboda: "It would have hit the bus in the parking lot if it hadn't hit the seats".

Quotes- Bud Harrelson: "It wasn't coming down when it hit those seats, it was just a line drive that kept going".

Quotes- Larry Jaster: IIt was a low fast ball, kind of in & he hit it like a gold ball. A lot of ties you don't watch them. That one I had to watch because I knew it was hit pretty good".

Agee Trivia: In his career Agee was 5-8 when facing Larry Jaster, hitting four HRs.

Shea Stadium Tribute: In 1994, to commemorate the HR, a white marker with blue lettering & a red #20, Agee's uniform number, was painted near the spot where the ball landed. 

Agee would hit two HRs in the Mets to a 4-2 victory that afternoon. After the game Agee tanked & paid tribute to his manager Gil Hodges to the media.

Quotes- Tommie Agee: "This meant a lot to me, not a lot of managers would have had enough faith to go with me after the year I had".

The historic HR, the confidence from his manager all got Agee going, he would be somewhere in middle of man Mets highlights throughout the 1969 season, whether it was with his glove on the bases or at the plate.

On May 2nd, he the first of four, four hit games he would have on the season. He also homered in the loss at Wrigley Field.

From May 7th to May 21st, Agee had a ten-game hit streak, with 15 hits, five multi- hit games, four HRs & 11 RBIs, raising his season average to .318.

HRs In Both Ends of a Double Header: In a May 11th double header split with Houston at Shea Stadium, Agee collected three HRs with four RBIs. In the first game, he homered off Larry Dierker in thIn the night cap, Agee hit a 4th inning two run HR off Wade Blasingame, then a solo shot off Skip Guinn in the 6th inning of the Mets 11-7 win. It was his second multi-HR game of the season.

On May 13th, he homered in his third straight game, coming in a 4-3 loss to the Braves. Agee drove in two more runs the next game, with a two run double off the Braves Phil Niekro in an eight run Mets 8th inning at Shea. 

On May 16th, he drove in two more runs with a triple off the Reds Wayne Granger. It was his first triple of the year, coming in a Mets six run 7th inning in a 10-9 win in Cincinnati.

On June 8th in San Diego, Agee's 8th inning RBI double off the Padres Al Santorini tied the game
at two. Wayne Garret's drove in Agee in what was the game's 3-2 winning run.

Four Hit- Multi HR Game: On June 10th, in San Francisco Agee had a his second four-hit game & third multi-HR game of the season. Agee hit solo HRs off Mike McCormick & Ray Sadecki, with an RBI single off Ron Herbel as well, driving in three runs in the Mets 9-4 win.

Multi RBI Double Header: In a June 22nd double header sweep of the Cardinals at Shea Stadium, Agee collected a two-run single off Steve Carlton in the 5-1 win in the first game. In the nightcap he drove in the game's only run, with a double off Mike Torrez, helping Jerry Koosman in the 1-0 shut out.

Mets Seven Game Win Streak: From July 2nd to July 9th, the Mets went on a seven-game win streak, gaining five games in the standings to get to 3.5 games back.

On July 3rd, he led off the game with a HR off the Cardinals Mud Cat Grant, starting off the Mets to an 8-1 win in St. Louis. 

In a July 4th double header sweep over the Pirates, at Three Rivers Stadium, Agee hit a two run HR off Lou Marone then later drove in a run with the second of three straight RBI singles off Bob Moose in the 11-6 Mets win.

Tom Seaver's Imperfect Game: On July 9th, in a big game with the first place Cubs in a sell out at Shea, Tom Seaver threw his one hit, imperfect hit game. In Seaver's one hit shutout, Agee drove in the Mets third run with a 2nd inning RBI double.

On July 10th, the second game of the Mets sweep & last game of the Mets win streak, Agee led off the bottom of the 1st inning with a HR off the Cubs New Jersey native, Bill Hands.

Multi HR- Four RBI Game: On July 13th, Agee led off the bottom of the 1st inning, with a HR off the Expos Howie Reed. It was the third time in three weeks, he hit a leadoff HR. In the bottom of the 4th, he hit a three run HR off Dick Radatz for a season best four RBIs in a game. Agee collected three hits as well in the 9-7 win over Montreal.

Club Record for Led Off HRs: Agee hit three lead-off HRs that month & set a club mark with four lead-off HRs on the season.

The Mets lost 2.5 games in the standings before going to Wrigley Field taking two of three from the Cubs. On July 15th, he collected his fourth triple of the year driving in Al Weis with the first run of a 5-4 Met win. 

The next day, Agee led off with a double off Ferguson Jenkins. He then scored his first of two runs on the day, in the 9-5 Mets win. The Amazing's were now just four games behind the Cubs & all of baseball was taking notice.

On July 26th, Agee's two-run single in the 5th inning off the Reds Tony Cloninger, helped lead Tom Seaver to his 15th win in the 3-2 Mets victory. 

Agee hit six HRs in both July & August, driving in 16 & 17 runs respectively. On August 9th & 10th he homered in back-to-back wins in Atlanta.   

Multi- Four RBI Game: On August 12th, Agee matched his season high, four RBIs in a game,
with a pair of RBI singles in a loss at Houston. The next day, he hit his 20th HR of the season, although the Mets were swept by the Astros. 

The Astros were the Mets toughest regular season competition beating them in ten of twelve games.

On August 16th, Tome Seaver pitched eight innings of four hit shutout baseball over the Padres to earn his 17th win. Agee & Bobby Pfeil drove in both runs in the 2-0 win.

Walk Off HR: On August 19th, in front of 49,968 at Shea Stadium, the Mets & Giants went scoreless to the bottom of the 14th inning. The Mets Gary Gentry pitched ten scoreless innings with Tug McGraw coming on for four more scoreless. San Francisco's Juan Marichal shut out the Mets into the bottom of the 14th allowing just five hits. With one out, Agee hit an exciting walk off HR for the 1-0 victory. 

The Mets took two of three in the series, with Agee hitting his 22nd HR of the season matching a career best he hit in his Rookie of the Year season.

In the first eight days of September, Agee hit four HRs& drove in eight runs. On September 1st, Agee homered & had his first multi stolen base game of the year swiping two in a loss in Los Angeles. 

Mets Ten Game Win Streak: On September 7th, Agee led off with his fourth lead off HR of the season, as he homered off the Phillies Bill Champion in a 9-3 win. 

In the 8th inning he added a two-run single as he collected three or more RBIs in a game for the eighth & final time in the regular season. Agee had twenty multi- RBI games on the season. This was the second straight win for the Mets in what was to be a ten- game win streak.

On September 11th at Shea, he stole two more bases in a 4-0 Gary Gentry shut out over the Expos at Shea.

Pennant Race vs Cubs: The Mets had begun September five games behind the Chicago Cubs. They went 4-3 in the first week, but the Cubs lost four straight games, as the Mets gained 3.5 games in the standings to get to within 2.5 games.

On September 8th, 1969, the first place Chicago Cubs came to Shea as Jerry Koosman & Bill Hands went at it in front of 43,274 excited Mets fans. " 

In the bottom of the 1st inning, New Jersey born Cubs pitcher Bill Hands knocked down the Mets leadoff man Tommie Agee, with a brush back pitch to try to send a message. Agee would ground out.

In the top of the 2nd, Mets pitcher Jerry Koosman sent a message right back, when he hit the Cubs slugger Ron Santo on the wrist with a pitch, to start the inning. The message was sent back, don't mess with these Mets. Koosman then struck out the side.

In the bottom of the 3rd inning, Agee got his revenge too, with one out, Bud Harrelson reached with an infield hit. Agee then hit a two run HR off Hands, putting the Mets ahead 2-0.

In the 6th inning, the Cubs tied the game. In the bottom of the 6th, Agee led off with a single to left field that he stretched into a double. Next Wayne Garrett singled to right field; Jim Hickman threw home to catcher Randy Hundley. 

Agee slid past Hundley & scored on a close play at home plate. Cubs' catcher Randy Hundley was sure he had the out, until he heard the roar of the Sea crowd & saw umpire Satch Davidson had called Agee safe. 

Hundley went crazy, manager Leo Durocher came out screaming as well.  The slow demise of the 1969 Cubs continued, as the Mets won the game 3-2, their fourth straight win & were within 1.5 games of first place.

The Black Cat Game: This game would go down in Mets history as "the Black Cat Game. Tonight, Tom Seaver went up against Ferguson Jenkins, a classic pitcher's matchup of two future Hall of Famers.

In the 5th inning, a black cat appeared on the field behind Cubs slugger Ron Santo in the on-deck circle. The cat then glared into the Cubs dugout & disappeared under the Shea stands, notoriously known to be a haven for stray cats. In the superstitious world of baseball, this was a bad omen for the Cubs.

In the game Agee collected two more hits, walked & scored a run in the 7-1 win as the Mets were just a half game behind the Cubs.

The next night the Mets swept a double header over Montreal at Shea for their sixth straight wins & they took over first place. The Mets were on an incredible ten game win streak in a stretch where they won 13 of 14 games. By the end of that stretch on September 18th they had a five game first place lead.

On September 24th, the Mets clinched the NL East at Shea Stadium with a 6-0 win over the reigning NL Champion Cardinals, Agee went 0-3 in the game.

On October 1st, with the Mets having clinched & the Cubs nine games back, the Mets were playing at Wrigley Field. With the score tied in the top of the 9th inning, Agee doubled to score two runs & put New York ahead. Although they couldn't hold the lead, they won the game 6-5 in extra innings.

Overall in the 1969 Mets Championship Season, Tommie Agee played in 149 games, more than any other position player. 

He led the team in HRs (26) RBIs (76) runs scored (97) games played (149) at bats (565) & strike outs (137). He hit 23 doubles, with 4 triples, 59 walks & 12 stolen bases. Agee posted a .342 on base % & .806 OPS.

That season Cleon Jones hit .340 (third in the NL), he gave Agee credit for him having him hit in front of him & be on base all season.

He played an excellent center field, posting a .986 fielding %, making only five errors & had seven assists. Agee was considered for the MVP award coming in sixth overall in the final voting.

1969 Post Season: NLCS: In the 1969 NLCS win over the Atlanta Braves, Agee hit .357 with two HRs and 4 RBIs. 

In Game #1 at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium, he went hitless 0-5 in the Mets 9-5 win.

In the Game #2 Mets win, Agee went 2-4, hitting a two run HR, off Ron Reed in the 2nd inning.

Close Call: Late in that game, Agee was on third base, with the Mets leading 9-6. He attempted a surprise steal of home plate offside arm pitcher Cecil Upshaw. 

As he headed home, Cleon Jones was trying to distract catcher Bob Didier swinging at the pitch. He fouled off the ball with a line shot down the third base line about a foot from Agee’s head. Luckily no damage was done.

In the 7th inning, he walked & scored on his buddy Cleon Jones' two run HR. In the game, Agee scored a pair of runs as the Mets went on to romp the Braves 11-6 taking a two game to nothing lead while heading back to New York.

In the pennant clincher Game #3 at Shea Stadium, Agee went 3 for 5, driving in two runs and stealing two bases. In the 3rd inning he hit a solo HR off Pat Jarvis, his second NLCS HR.

In the 6th inning, Agee singled off Cecil Upshaw bringing in Jerry Grote with the Mets seventh run making it 7-4. Agee also doubled in the game for a three hit, two RBI game. 

The Amazing Mets swept the Braves, clinched the NL Pennant & were heading to the World Series.

1969 World Series: The Amazing New York Mets shocked the baseball world by getting to the World Series. They were heavy underdog to a mighty Baltimore Orioles team.

Agee led off the 1969 World Series against Mike Cuellar & the Orioles in Baltimore at Memorial Stadium as the games first batter. He grounded out to third base & went hitless in the loss. 

In the Mets Game #2 win in Baltimore, he went hitless as well.

The Series was tied one game each going back to a wild Shea Stadium in New York. In Game #3, Tommie Agee had what Sports Illustrated called “the greatest day any centerfielder ever had in a World Series”.

In the 1st inning, Agee led off with a HR off the Orioles Jim Palmer, getting the Shea Stadium crowd even more revved up. 

On this day, Agee would make two of the best catches in World Series history, both coming in important game saving situations.  He single-handedly saved five runs that afternoon & will be remembered forever in Mets, as well as World Series history for his accomplishments.

In the 4th inning, the Mets were up 3-0, with Gary Gentry on the mound, the Orioles had runners on the corners. Baltimore catcher Elrod Hendricks ripped Gentry's pitch to left center field. Agee got on his horse running for the ball, he stuck out his glove, catching the ball backhanded in the webbing, running into the wall just under the 396 mark, to rob Hendricks of an extra base hit. 

Agge's grab, preserved the Mets 3-0 lead & ended the inning. As fate would have it, he led off the bottom of the inning to a standing ovation.

In the top of the 7th inning, the Mets had a 4-0 lead. Nolan Ryan replaced Gary Gentry on the mound, as the Orioles had the bases loaded with outfielder Paul Blair at bat. 

Blair ripped a shot to right center field. Agee ran back at full speed dove to his right & came up with the ball, making his second spectacular catch of the day. This time a sliding grab on the warning track saving three more runs from scoring. 

The crowd of 56,335 was ecstatic, as was his teammates & the NBC broadcast team.

Again Agee led off the bottom of the inning & received a standing from the Shea faithful.

Quotes- Tommie Agee: "Words can't describe how that made me feel. I felt like I wanted to hit two home runs in that one time at bat. The homer meant only one run; the catches saved more than that."

Agee's catches were immediately rated among the best in World Series history. Being compared with the 1947 grab by Brooklyn Dodgers' Al Gionfriddo off the bat of Joe DiMaggio. The 1955 Game #7 catch by the Dodgers Sandy Amoros’ catch of Yogi Berra's shot down the left field line. And the greatest catch of them all, the 1954 New York Giants' Willie Mays catch in centerfield of the Polo Grounds, on Cleveland's Vic Wertz long flay ball.

In the Game #4 win, Agee went 1-4 with a 3rd inning single off Mike Cuellar. In the final Game #5 win he drew a walk & bunted for a base hit off Dave McNally.

Overall, in the 1969 World Series Agee hit .167 going (3-18) striking out five times, hitting one HR, driving in one run and walking twice. 

Game #3 was the high point of his career & made him a Mets legend forever.

After the World Series win, he was voted the NL Comeback Player of the Year.

Celebrity Status: He appeared with his team on The Ed Sullivan Show, then appeared with other members of the 1969 Championship Team in a short-lived Las Vegas revue singing American standard tunes. 

In their hometown of Mobile, Alabama a parade was held in honor of hometown heroes Tommie Agee & Cleon Jones.

The Amazing Mets were World Champions & became the ultimate underdogs of all time. Agee would forever be remembered as part of that beloved team.

Quotes-Tommie Agee: “When you win in New York, it just happens to carry on. Every day I walk around the city and people stop me and want to talk about 1969. They remember some HR I hit or the time I stole home in the 10th inning. They remember that team.”  

After the Championship: Agee followed up the 1969 Championship season with possibly his best season. 

Gold Glove: In 1970 Agee was the first position player to win a Gold Glove in both leagues. He was also the first Mets player to ever win the award. 

On Opening Day, Agee collected three hits, scoring two runs in the Mets 5-3 win over the Pirates in Pittsburgh. 

From April 16th to May 9th, Agee had a twenty-game hit. Later in the summer he would have a 19-game hit streak from late June into July.

Multi- HR Game: On May 19th, Agee hit a pair of HRs in a 7-4 win over the Expos at Shea. In the 1st inning, he hit a solo HR off Dan McGinn & in the 9th a solo HR off John Strohmayer.

Player of the Month Award: Agee had a fantastic month of June, batting .364 with 11 HRs & 30 RBIs winning the NL Player of the Month Award. In the first seven games of the month, he hit three HRs & six RBIs all in losses.

When the Mets came home on a seven-game home stand he would hit five HRs & drive in ten runs, in five muti RBI games. He collected 14 hits & scored ten runs as well.

Multi- HR Game: On June 12th, Agee had his first four hit game of the season & had his second multi-HR game of the season. Hitting solo HRs off Atlanta's Phil Niekro & Larry Jaster in an 8-1 Mets victory. 

The next night he hit his 12th HR of the year, as he connected off Atlanta's Mel Queen & added an RBI double in the 4-1 win. On June 16th & 17th, he hit HRs in back-to-back games of a series split with the Reds. His 14 HRs kept him among the NL leaders.

From June 22nd to July 8th, Agee had a 19-game hit streak getting his season average up to .290. 

On June 22nd, as the Mets went to Wrigley Field, Agee hit his 15th HR of the season, a three-run shot off Ferguson Jenkins in a 9-5 Met win. Agee's past seven games where he drove in a run, where all multi-RBI games. The Mets swept the Cubs at Wrigley with Agee driving in runs in each game. On June 24th, in the second win of that series sweep, the Mets went into first place & stayed on top until July 10th.

Second Met to Hit for the Cycle- Multi Four RBI Game: On Monday July 6th, Agee had a four-hit game, becoming the second Met in franchise history to hit for the cycle. In the 3rd inning, he collected his first hit as he singled to lead off the Cardinals Jerry Reuss. In the 4th inning, he hit a three run HR off Reuss, his 18th HR of the year. 

In the 5th inning he hit his 15th double of the year, driving in Jim McAndrew giving the Mets a 7-0 lead. In the 7th inning, Agee completed the cycle as he tripled for his fourth hit of the night. Agee also had a season best, four RBIs in the 10-3 win at Shea over St. Louis.

On July 18th, he had his third four hit game of the year, scoring two runs, including the tying run in a three-run 9th inning of the 4-3 win at Dodger Stadium.

Walk Off Steal of Home: On July 24th, Agee reached base in the bottom of the 9th inning, on a fielder's choice grounder in a 1-1 game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

He stole second base & reached third on pitcher Jim Brewer's wild pitch. Then with Cleon Jones aboard he got a great jump & stole home pl in a most dramatic style.

By mid-August the Pirates had taken over first place. In a four-game series split in Pittsburgh, Agee drove in five runs collecting eight hits.

Five Hit Game: On August 8th, in a 12-9 win over the Pirates, Agee had a career best five hit game. It was his fourth four or more game of the season. Agee collected two doubles, a triple & two singles driving in two runs in the win.

On August 23rd, after a seven-week drought without any HRs, Agee hit two HRs of the Reds Gay Nolan, leading the Mets past the Reds 5-4 in the first game of a double header. It was Agee's 20th & 21st HRs of the season, giving him twenty plus HRs for the third time in his career.

In September Agee hit just two HRs & drove in ten runs. He ended the season hitting safely in his last nine games.

On September 14th the Mets tied for first place briefly with the Pirates. But they faded losing ten of their last 14 games.

Mets Club Records: In 1970 Agee set team records at that time in runs scored (107) at bats (638) stolen bases (31) total bases (298) & was the first Met to hit twenty HRs or more in two straight seasons. His 31 stolen bases & 107 runs scored were sixth most in the league in both categories.

Agee hit a career high .286. He led the club in HRs (24) hits (182) doubles (30) with 31 doubles (31) & slugging percentage (.469). He was second to Donn Clendenon with 75 RBIs.

Agee struck out a career high 156 times with 55 walks posting a .344 on base % & .812 OPS. He received votes for the MVP Award as well coming in at 19th.

Agee led all outfielders in put outs (374) as well as errors (13) while posting a .967 fielding percentage.

1971: It was at this point in his career he began to suffer from chronic knee injuries that would end his career early. 

On Opening Day, he Agee drove in a run against Montreal's (Rookie of the Year) Carl Morton, helping Tom Seaver to a 4-2 victory. 

Grand Slam HR: On April 24th, Agee hit his first career grand slam HR. It came at Wrigley Field off Milt Papas & the rival Cubs in a 7-5 Mets loss.

Walk Off Single: On May 3rd, with the Cubs at Shea Stadium, Agee came to bat as a pinch hitter of a 2-2 tie, facing Ken Holtzman in the bottom of the 11th inning with two on & two outs. Agee lined a single to right field, scoring Jerry Grote for the walk off game winning run.

During the next home stand, he had back-to-back HR games in wins over the Braves. On May 22nd, Agee hit his 5th HR of the season, a two-run shot off George Stone in a 8-7 win where Donn Clendenon had the walk off hit. In the next game, he homered off Atlanta's Mike McQueen in a Ray Sadecki five hit 4-0 shut out.

On June 6th, Agee was batting .280 when he injured his knee & missed almost three weeks of action. On June 26th he returned to action. Two days later he homered off the Phillies Rick Wise in a 3-1 win over the Phillies at Shea. 

From July 11th to July 22nd, he hit three HRs & drove in seven runs, batting .480 in a seven-game span.

Multi HR Game: On July 22nd, he had his only multi-HR game of the season. Agee hit both HRs off Milt Papas in a win at Wrigley Field.

On August 20th, he had a multi- three-hit game with an RBI in the Mets 20-6 win over the Braves at Fulton County Stadium. 

On August 21st, the Padres Dave Roberts was shutting out the Mets 1-0.  In the 7th Agee tied the
game with a sac fly. Cleon Jones won the game with a walk off HR off Roberts giving Tom Seaver his 14th win.

On August 28th, in the second game of a double header against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Agee singled home Duffy Dyer in the bottom of the 8th inning off pitcher Jim Brewer. The Mets won it on a Cleon Jones Walk off HR in the 9th.

Pinch Hit Walk Off Hit: The next day it was Agee's turn to be the walk off hero, this time in a pinch-hitting role. In the bottom of the 9th inning, the Mets & Dodgers were tied 3-3. With two outs & Ken Singleton on second, Agee singled off Dodger pitcher Bill Singer driving in the games walk off winning run.

By September 3rd the Mets were eleven games back of the Pittsburgh Pirates & Agee went down with another injury, keeping him out of action for two weeks.

Agee finished the 1971 season, tied for the team lead in HRs (14) & stolen bases (28) with Bud Harrelson (Fourth most in the league). He batted .285 second on the club to Cleon Jones. Agee collected 121 hits with 19 doubles 50 RBIs & 58 runs scored. He struck out 84 times with 50 walks posting a .362 on base % (third on the club) & 790 OPS.

Death of Gil Hodges: At the end of Spring Training 1972, Mets manager Gil Hodges suffered an untimely death due to a heart attack. Agee took it hard, like the rest of the organization was shocked & devastated at the loss. The club went with the popular Yogi Berra to replace him. After a brief players strike the Mets went on ahead without Hodges.

1972: Due to a bad back contributing to his constant injuries, Agee's career was starting to wind down by the age of 30. On April 15th, in the home Opener, the Mets announced the retirement of Gil Hodges uniform #14. On a rainy day at Shea, they beat the World Champion Pirates on a Tom Seaver 4-0 shut out. Agee was 1-4 with a walk.

On April 26th he hit his first HR of the season, as he & new Met, Jim Fregosi homered off the Padres Mike Corkins' in a 5-1 win in San Diego.

Grand Slam HR: On April 28th, in Los Angeles, Agee hit his second career grand slam HR. It was another big hit coming off Dodger pitcher Jim Brewers, whom Agee hit very well. His 8th inning grand slam led that years Rookie of the Year Jon Matlack to a 6-1 win as he started out 2-0.

Walk OFF HR: On May 7th, in a 6-6 tie at Shea Stadium with the Padres, Agee came to bat in the bottom of the 10th inning with two outs & a runner on second. Agee hit a walk off HR off Ed Acosta giving the Mets the 8-6 win. 

Willie Mays Joins the Team: In May, Mets Owner Mrs. Joan Payson acquired her favorite player, the veteran Willie Mays from the San Francisco Giants. Although Mays was over forty, he was a huge fan favorite & took some playing time away from Agee.

On May 20th, Agee came to bat in the top of the 8th in a 1-1 tie at San Diego. He hit a two run double off the Phillies Woodie Fryman bringing in what were the game winning runs.

On May 21st, in with the Mets down 3-0 in Philadelphia, Agee hit a two run HR in the 6th off Steve Carlton scoring Willie Mays. In the top of the 8th Mays then hit a two run HR leading New York to a 4-3 win.

On May 27th, he had his fourth straight multi-RBI game in games where he had driven in a run. He also collected three hits in the 4-1 win in St. louis. On May 29th he had another three-hit game & drove in another un in a 7-6 win in St. Louis.

On June 6th, Agee's 7th inning RBI single off the Reds Don Gullet, ended up being the game winning runs in a 3-2 win over The Big Red Machine. 

After battling in & out of first place the Mets fell to second place in June & never recovered. Knee problems & injuries were also setting Agee back. He would miss three weeks of action in July.  

From August 12th to August 15th, he hit HRs in three straight games. In the first two games he hit HRs at Wrigley Field. On August 12th, he led off the top of the 10th inning with a solo HR off the Cubs Burt Hooton. He hit a HR the next day in a 7-4 loss at Wrigley, for his ninth HR of the year.

Trivia: In his career he hit 11 HRs at Wrigley Field, the most of any ballpark he visited.

On August 15th, the Mets returned to Shea to face the Braves. Agee hit a two run HR off Joe Hoerner in a 5-0 Mets win behind Jim McAndrew. On August 17th, he drove in one of two runs in Tom Seavers 2-1 win over the Braves for his 14th win of the year.

From August 17th to August 30th, Agee drew 11 walks in 13 games posting a .429 on base %.

In September he would miss time & only play in nine games in the month. 

On September 24th, Agee hit a 1st inning HR off The Phillies Steve Carlton. The only other run of
the game was driven in by rookie Lute Barnes, helping Tom Seaver out dual Carlton 2-1, for his 19th win of the year.

On September 29th, Agee drove in his last career Mets run, it was the only run of a 1-0 game where Tom Seaver earned his 20th win of the year, beating the Pirates Nelson Briles at Three Rivers Stadium. 

On October 4th, he played in his final career Mets game After the season, on November 27, 1972, he was traded to the Houston Astros in exchange for Rich Chiles and Buddy Harris.

Agee will always be remembered as one of the most popular Mets, a Shea fan favorite & World Series hero.

Overall, in 1972 Agee played in 114 games, the fewest games in his Mets career. He still led the team with 23 doubles & was second to Rookie John Milner in HRs hitting 13. He collected 96 hits with 52 scored & 47 RBIs. 52 He posted a .317 on base % & .692 OPS. He stole eight bases in 17 attempts, the fewest steals in his career. That year he led all centerfielders in errors (10) & posted a .962 fielding % while making six assists.

All Time Mets List: Agee has played the third most games in centerfield for the Mets with 591. Overall, he appeared in 661 Mets games.

Agee stole 91 bases (13th on the Mets All Time list). He collected 632 Mets hits, with 82 HRs (24th on Mets All Time list) with 107 doubles, 14 triples 344 runs scored (22nd on Mets all-time list) & 265 runs scored. He struck out 572 times with 232 walks, a .329 on base % & .748 OPS.

Post Mets Career: Agee would not be part of the 1973 NL Championship team. 1973 would also be his last MLB season. He played 83 games for the Houston Astros batting .235 with 8 HRs & 15 RBIs, playing in left & right field.

Baseball Card Trivia: Agee's 1973 Topps baseball card is the ultimate in Topps' air brushed cards. Topps would do this when a player got traded & they didn't have an updated picture. On Agee's '73 card, he is coming in to catch a fly ball on a sunny afternoon. 

The game is clearly at Shea Stadium, notice the 371 mark on the green outfield wall. Also in the photo are 1972 Mets teammates Ken Boswell, looking over at Age on his left & Rusty Staub, jogging in from right field. The players sox & caps are airbrushed a red color to make it look like an Astros uniform.

On August 8th he was sent to the St. Louis Cardinals for Dave Campbell & cash. He played 26 games batting .177. On September 30th, Agee had his final at bat came grounding out in a pinch-hitting role at Busch Stadium. In 108 games that season, he hit .222 with 11 HRs, 8 doubles & 22 RBIs.

In December Agee was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Pete Richert. He was released at the end of Spring Training 1974 & Tommie Agee retired from baseball at age 31.

Career Stats: In his 12-year career he batted .255 with 999 hits 130 HRs 170 doubles, 27 triples, 558 runs scored & 433 RBIs. He stole 167 bases in 248 attempts. Agee struck out 918 times with 342 walks posting a .320 on base % & .732 OPS in 1130 career games.

In the outfield Agee played 1073 games, 933 in centerfield. He had 2371 put outs, with a.975
fielding % making 61 errors & 53 assists.
                   

Retirement: Agee was in the motel business, then ran his own Restaurant called the Outfielder's Lounge, located on Astoria Blvd. near Shea Stadium. After that, he also worked for the Stewart Title Insurance Co. in New York City.

Family: Tommie was first married to his wife Barbara & they had one daughter. 

In 1985, Tommie married his second wife, Maxine. His best man was friend & former teammate Cleon Jones. Agee had Art Shamsky on standby to fill in, just in case Cleon didn’t show up, as Cleon was running very late. Tommie & Maxine have one daughter together.

Passing: In 2001, Tommie Agee collapsed while walking out of a midtown Manhattan office building. Emergency medical service workers found him in cardiac arrest and attempted to work on him. They used a defibrillator en-route to Bellevue Hospital but could not resuscitate him. He passed away at age 58.

Teammates from the 1969 Amazing Mets, Tug McGraw, Bud Harrelson, Donn Clendenon, Ed Charles, Ed Kranepool & Art Shamsky served as pallbearers during his funeral service in Mt. Vernon, New York.

Ed Charles, his friend & the third baseman on the 1969 championship team, spoke on behalf of the Mets during the service.

 Quotes- Ed Charles: "In that miraculous year of 1969, he was very special to us. I can't recall anyone who ever said a bad word about Tommie Agee, or anyone that wasn't taken by that disarming smile of his." 

Quotes- Ed Kranepool: “Forget teammates. Teammate was over a long time ago. He was a friend."

Ron Swoboda: "He was a great friend and the way he conducted himself after his playing days were over was admirable. He's gone way too soon," Ron Swoboda.

Honors: In 2002 Tomie Agee was inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame.

Everybody Loves Raymond: In 1999, Agee appeared in Season 3, of Everybody Loves Raymond, episode: Big Shots with other members of his 1969 Amazing Mets.

In 2008, Agee's widow Maxine & his daughter were invited to the closing ceremonies of Shea Stadium where Agee was remembered. His memory was also honored in the 40th & 50th Anniversaries of the 1969 Amazing Mets.

Tommie Agee Educational Campus: In 2022 a new Middle School in his old neighborhood of East Elmhurst, Queens was named in his honor. Agee's wife, daughter & teammate Cleon Jones were all on hand for the opening.