Remembering Mets History (1987) Mets Become the First Team in History to Have Two 30-30 Club Members

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Monday September 21st, 1987: Davey Johnson's New York Mets (86-64) were in second place 2.5 games back of the St. Louis Cardinals with twelve games left to play.

Today they played an afternoon matinee at Wrigley Field against Gene Michael's last place Chicago Cubs (71-78) in front of just 8,229 fans. 

The Mets sent Dwight Gooden (14-6) to the mound against Les Lancaster (7-1).

In the top of the 1st, Lenny Dykstra doubled & scored on Keith Hernandez's base hit. In the 4th Rafael Palmeiro homered for the Cubs to tie the game.

The 1-1 tie went to the 8th inning, it was then that Darryl Strawberry singled up the middle & stole second base. 

It was Darryl's second steal of the game & his 30th stolen base of the season. That along with his 38 HRs put him into the 30-30 club. 
Darryl just the tenth member of the 30-30 club, He & Howard Johnson became the first 30-30 club teammates in the history of MLB. 

Trivia: Four players in the majors, would reach 30-30 club status that year. Strawberry, Howard Johnson, Joe Carter of the Cleveland Indians & Eric Davis of the Cincinnati Reds.

After Straw got on base with a base hit, Kevin McReynolds drew an intentional walk & Gary Carter singled. Then it was Howard Johnson to the plate. 

Ho Jo ripped a grand slam HR, his 36th HR of the season as well as RBIs 93-95 & 96. For Ho Jo the HR gave him the NL Record for most HRs in a season by a switch-hitter.

A Tim Teufel HR in the 9th, sealed the Mets 7-1 win. Dwight Gooden went all the way, pitching a nine run seven hitter, where he struck out nine batters to get to 15-6 on the year.

The Mets would go 6-6 over the final games & not make the post season.

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