Remembering Mets History (1973) Cleon Jones Hot Hitting in the Final Week of the Regular Season

Cleon Jones is certainly a Mets legend, he is the all-time team leader in games played in left field (800). He is 8th in all time Mets games played (1201). He is fourth all time in Mets hits (1188) triples (33) & sac flies (41)

Cleon is eight in RBIs (521) tenth in doubles (182). 

Cleon Jones was an exciting player in his younger days of his career, he was a fine pure hitter & came in the league's top ten in batting three times (1968-1969-1971).

Cleon was part of two Mets NL Pennant teams & the Amazing Mets World Champions of 1969 where he batted .340 (3rd best in the NL). 

He also is remembered for catching the last out of the '69 World Series on one knee in left field. Cleon Jones was a vital part of the core line up of those Mets good years.

1973 Season: In 1973 Jones missed action from mid-April to mid-May. He was back for six brief games before going down again for another five plus weeks. He returned in July but was still not 100% & slowly regained form. 

In early August the Mets were a season worst 11.5 games out of first place. As late as August 30th, the '73 Mets were in still last place, but in a tight division they were just 6.5 games back. 

An incredible September run of going 20-8 with great pitching, a healthy line up, clutch hitting, unity & a Rally cry of "You Gotta Believe" go them all the way to the World Series.

Here we highlight Cleon Jones hot hitting in the final ten games of the year as the Mets chased the NL Eastern Crown winning it on the last day of the season. 

In those ten games, Jones hit six HRs & drove in 14 runs while collecting ten hits with seven walks eight runs scored, a .386 on base % & 1.192 OPS.

September 19th: Cleon had not a HR in over a month, the last coming on August 15th in San Diego. In this big game against the first place Pittsburgh Pirates at Three Rivers Stadium, the sleeping giant bat of Cleon Jones woke up.

The Mets were just 2.5 games behind the Pirates at 75-77 on this night. In the 2nd inning, with the Mets down 1-0, Jones hit a two run HR off Nelson Briles putting New York ahead. 

As George Stone was clinging to a 4-3 lead in the 8th inning, Rusty Staub singled & John Milner walked, setting the stage for Cleon to blast a three run HR off one of the NL's best relievers, Dave Guisti. It was just his second multi-HR game of the season as he drove in a season best five RBIs on the night.

The Mets went on to a 7-2-win, getting to 1.5 games back of the Pirates.

September 20: The next night the Mets Pirates matchup moved to New York. The game now known as "the Ball on the Wall" game, is looked at as one of the most crucial points of that regular season.

In the bottom of the 6th with the Mets down 1-0, Jones singled off Jim Rooker to tie the game with his 40th RBI of the year. 

But his biggest role of the night came on defense, in extra innings.

In the top of the 13th, with the Pirates Richie Zisk on first, the Mets Ray Sadecki pitched to Dave Augustine with two outs. Augustine blasted a shot to left field, the ball hit the top of the wall but did not go over the fence. 

It bounced right into Cleon Jones' glove. He turned & fired a bullet to short stop Wayne Garrett the relay man. Garrett then fired a strike to rookie catcher Ron Hodges who held his ground, blocked the plate & applied the tag to on Zisk trying to score. He was out at the plate. 

It was incredible play- "You Gotta Believe" The Mets won it in the bottom of the inning when Hodges singled off Dave Giusti scoring John Milner with the walk off run. The Mets were now just a half game back.

Friday September 21st: A record crowd for the season, of over 51,381 paid came to Shea Stadium as the Mets hosted the first place Pirates.

Jones came up in the 1st inning with Wayne Garrett & Rusty Staub aboard facing Steve Blass. Cleon doubled to right field driving in both runners putting the Mets ahead 2-0. It was his 13th double of the year & his second multi hit game in his last three games.  In the 3rd inning, he added a single & scored on Bud Harrelson's base hit.

The Mets beat the Pirates 10-2 behind Tom Seaver's five hitter & 18th victory to take over first place in the NL East. You Gotta Believe!

Monday September 23rd: After going hitless in Jon Matlack's four hit 2-0 shut out over the Cardinals, Jones helped the Mets hitting his 8th HR of the year, coming off Hal Hrabosky "the Mad Hungarian". Jones also had an earlier sac fly RBI as well. The Mets won it 5-2 remaining a half game in first place.

Tuesday September 25th: On this night, Jones hit a 6th inning HR off Montreal's Steve Rogers breaking a 1-1 tie. His HR proved to be the games winning run as Jerry Koosman & Tug McGraw combined in the 2-1 win. Cleon also walked twice on the night.

The next night Cleon went 0-4 in the 8-5 loss at Montreal. The Mets then played their final series of the year at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Three days of rain resulted in back-to-back double headers. The Expos helped the Mets by beating the Pirates.

Sunday September 30th: In the first game of the double header, the Cubs' Rick Reuschel & Bob Locked outdueled Jon Matlack in a 1-0 Mets loss. Jones singled in the 4th inning then was picked off first base.

Mets Clinch Tie: In second game the Mets clinched at least a tie for the NL East crown beating Chicago 6-2 behind Jerry Koosman.

In the 1st inning, Jones reached on a Ron Santo error at third base resulting in Wayne Garret scoring the Mets first run. 

In the 6th inning, Cleon connected for his 10th HR of the year, his third of that week, a two-run shot off Fergie Jenkins putting the Mets ahead 5-2.

Monday October 1st: The next day, two games were scheduled but only one needed to be played. 

In the first game the Mets clinched the NL East title behind Tom Seaver's 19th win. Tug McGraw came on to save it for the 6-4 victory. 

In the top of the 2nd inning, Jones blasted a solo HR off Burt Hooton putting the Mets up 1-0. For Cleon it was his 11th of the year, his second HR in two days & his fourth HR of the week.

Quotes- Cleon Jones:  "When I was out, I couldn't contribute, I don't think what I've done in the last month can offset that. But we're in now, that's what counts. I kept myself in shape when I was hurt & I feel strong & healthy. It's just fantastic, I can't express the way I feel."

The Mets went on to face the Cincinnati Reds in the NLCS.