Bob Scheffing: 1973 NL Champion Mets General Manager (1970-1974)

Robert Boden Scheffing was born on August 11, 1913, in Overland, Missouri. 

Playing Career: During his playing days he was a catcher signed by the Chicago Cubs in the 1935.

After six almost seven years in the minors he made it to the big leagues in 1941. He played briefly for two seasons with the Cubs before going off to the military for World War II.

Scheffing who was known as “Grumpy”, was primarily a second-string catcher during his career. In 1947 & 1948 he played in over 100 games, posting fielding percentages in the top three of the leagues.

In 1948 he played in 102 games batting a career high .300 with five HRs 18 doubles & 45 RBIs with a .351 on base %. Scheffing would also play for the Cincinnati Reds & St. Louis Cards before retiring in 1951 with a .263 lifetime average 357 hits 20 HRs 53 doubles & 187 RBIs.

Post Playing Career: After his playing days he became a coach for the St. Louis Browns in 1952 & 1953. He then was a manager, winning the Pacific Coast League championship in 1956 with the Los Angeles Angels. Next, he became the Cubs manager for the 1958-1959 seasons, finishing in fifth place both times.

In 1961 he managed the Detroit Tigers to a second-place finish with 101 victories. After a slow start in 1963 he was let go as manager but still worked as a scout & broadcaster in the Tigers organization.

Mets Career: In 1965 he joined the New York Mets organization as the director of player development. He eventually switched positions with Whitey Herzog & together they deserve credit for putting together two pennant winners & the 1969 World Champions.

The Mets farm teams of the late sixties & early seventies developed many fine young players, especially pitchers.

In January 1970 Scheffing replaced Johnny Murphy as Mets General Manager, after Murphy's sudden passing due to a heart attack. 

At first Scheffing didn’t actually want the job but did it as a temporary favor to club President, M. Donald Grant. Scheffing would end up holding that position through 1974.

In 1972 Mets manager Gil Hodges suffered a fatal heart attack, and Scheffing immediately hired Mets coach Yogi Berra to fill the role. Berra was the more popular choice in New York, although Whitey Herzog was probably a better candidate. 

1973: As the Mets found themselves struggling in last place in the summer, team president M. Donald Grant wanted to fire manager Yogi Berra. But Scheffing refused to do it standing by his managerial choice, risking his own job. 

The Mets went on to win the division then beat the mighty Cincinnati Reds in the NLCS, coming one game short of a second world championship in five years.

Scheffing also pulled off a few good trades for the Mets. 

In May 1972 he helped make the deal that brought Wille Mays back to finish his career in New York. Two years later he also helped bring another Mrs. Payson favorite to finish his career in New York, Joe Torre. He also was GM when the Mets retired Gil Hodges #14.

Scheffing helped put together the final pieces of the 1973 NL Pennant team, by acquiring Rusty Staub, although they gave up young players Ken Singleton, Tim Foli & Mike Jorgensen.

He also added second baseman Felix Millan who led the team in hitting & George Stone who went 12-3 in exchange for pitchers Gary Gentry & Danny Frisella. 

In 1971 he had traded away Art Shamsky who was at the end of his career but lost young prospect Jim Bibby in a trade to get veteran Jim Beauchamp & Harry Parker.

But he also takes the blame for the disaster move of trading Nolan Ryan, Leroy Stanton, Don Rose & Frank Estrada away to the Angels for Jim Fregosi. Although Nolan Ryan wasn’t happy in New York & wanted out of the big city, the Mets should have gotten more for him & the others. 

Also, there was the Amos Otis for Joe Foy trade, Otis became an All Star in Kansas City while Foy was done after one season in New York. It must be noted Gil Hodges was not a fan of Otis so he was probably going to be dealt anyway.

Another bad move was selling Buzz Capra to the Braves after the 1973 season. Capra wen on t win the ERA title that year. Also, Scheffing & the organization blew a chance to get Jimmy Wynn "the Toy Cannon" from Houston in exchange for one of their young pitchers. Wynn went on to lead the Dodgers to a World Series leading the NL in HRs.

In his five years as GM the team was 403-399, winning a high of 83 games three times & posting just one losing season. After the pennant of 1973 the team fell to 71-91. 

At that time, he & the organization began to trade off many of the popular players like Tug McGraw & Don Hahn (for John Stearns & Del Unser), Duffy Dyer (for Gene Clines) Ken Boswell (for Bob Gallagher).

Bob Scheffing had enough after owner Joan Payson passed away, after five years he left the G.M. position, being replaced by Joe McDonald in 1975. 

Bob remained in the Mets organization as a scout, remaining in baseball for 51 years. He later retired in Phoenix, Arizona.

Passing: In 1985 he passed away at the age of 72 at St. Joseph's Medical Center.