centerfield maz

Tuesday April 30th, 2002: On this evening in the desert the Mets went up against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Bank One Ball Park. A good crowd of 36,743 came to see Bob Brenly's World Champions host Bobby Valentines, New York Mets.  Rick Helling went up against Al Leiter, who was going for a feat never done before in MLB.  Going into this game, Leiter had victories against 29 MLB teams that have been in existence since 1901. With tonight's win, he becomes the first pitcher to beat all 30 MLB teams. The Mets pounced on Helling in the 1st inning, Roberto Alomar & Mo Vaughn both singled, then Mike Piazza blasted a three run HR making it 3-0. In the 2nd, Roberto Alomar tripled with one out & scored on a Roger Cedeno fielder's choice. Mike Piazza then came to bat & blasted his second HR in as many innings. This gave him seven HRs & 16 RBIs on the young season. In the 3rd, a two run Joe McEwing HR finally knocked out Helling who allowed eight earned runs on eight...

Sunday April 29th, 1962: At this early point in the Mets inaugural season,  Casey Stengel's Mets had only won two games in their first 14 tries. It would be a long year trying to earn wins for the 1962 Mets.   Ob this day, Casey would earn his third Mets victory & see first shut out in team history.  The Mets hosted the Philadelphia Phillies on this Sunday afternoon double header at the Polo Grounds. A good crowd of just under 20,000 came to the old ballpark to see 26-year-old Al Jackson pitch for the Mets, against the Phils, Art Mahaffey. Jackson, would be one of the better pitchers for the Mets in the early 1960's, accomplishing many firsts in team history. In this game, he became the first Mets pitcher to toss a shutout.   Jackson pitched nine innings, allowing eight hits & one walk, while striking out four to earn his first win of the year. In the home 2nd, Mets slugger, Frank Thomas hit a HR off Art Mahaffey. It was already Thomas...

Friday April 29th, 2022: On this brisk April night, the Mets wore black uniforms & made franchise history. Buck Showalter's first place Mets (14-6) took on the Philadelphia Phillies (10-10). Tylor Megill took the mound against Aaron Nola in front of 32,416 at Citi Field. These lucky fans were about to witness Mets history. Megill who had been outstanding early in 2022, had an easy 1-2-3 first inning getting the first two Phillies to ground out & then getting Bryce Harper to fly oy deep to center. In the top of the 2nd, M egill struck out Nick Castellanos to start out the inning. He got a fly ball out from JT Realmuto then issued his first walk. Next Alec Bohm hit a line drive that Brandon Nimmo snagged for the third out. In the 3rd, Didi Gregorius started the inning with a line drive out at second base. Megill then struck out Odubel Herrera. Brandon Nimmo made an outstanding diving catch of a Jean Segura line drive which ended up saving the no hitter. In the top of the 4...

Friday April 29th , 2016 : Terry Collins second place Mets (13-7) were riding a six-game  win streak as they entered a weekend series with Bruce Bochy's San Francisco Giants (12-11).  A crowd of 39,764 settled in to Citi Field on chilly rainy evening. The Mets were hot & tonight would erupt in total fire with a historic third inning.  Steven Matz took the mound for New York & cruised along with six scoreless innings striking out four scattering seven hits getting his record to 3-1. Jerry Blevins allowed the only Giants run, Logan Verrett continued his good pitching with a scoreless 8th besting his ERA to 0.52. Hansel Robles mopped up. Tonight marked the first time in six games that Yoenis Cespedes returned to the Mets line up after bruising his right leg. The Mets got to Padre starter Jake Peavey with a historic third  inning, scoring 12 runs the most in franchise history. The Mets sent fifteen men to the plate collecting eight...

In 1962 the Mets started their long-time relationship with Rheingold beer. Rheingold a local beer with its headquarters in Brooklyn became the official beer of the New York Mets.  It was originally introduced in 1883 & by the time the Mets were born, the beer claimed to hold 35% on New York State's beer sales.  Rheingold had already sponsored the Jackie Robinson Radio Show for a decade, on AM Radio 66 in New York. Robinson, Leo Durocher, as well as stars like the Marx Brothers, Linda Darnell, John Wayne, Nat King Cole & Sara Vaughan all represented the beer in ads across the city. Each year they would also hold the Miss Rheingold contest, where the public voted for the winner. The first Miss Rheingold was Jinx Falkenburg, a 1930s supermodel, tennis star, actress & pionereeress in talk shows.  There were also the Rheingold girls would also be spokespersons & appear in ads, as well as appearances for the beer. In 1962  Mets manager Casey...

Sunday, April 29th, 1984: On this sunny Sunday Spring afternoon, the Mets presented Darryl Strawberry with his 1983 Rookie of the Year Award before the game at Shea Stadium.  In his honor, Carvel & the Mets offered free Strawberry Sundae's to the fans at the game. Good times were back again at Shea Stadium, as the Mets were a much-improved team from previous years & ready to contend. Also on this day, a familiar & popular face from the past was returning to Shea Stadium. Mets legendary pitcher, Jerry Koosman, now a member of the Phillies was making a triumphant return to Shea.  Koosman had spent 12 years with the Mets, pitching as the number two man behind Tom Seaver. He was 140-137 with a 3.09 ERA striking out 1799 batters in 2544.2 innings in 376 appearances.  Koosman pitched in two World Series for the Mets. In postseason play he was 4-0. The Mets finally retired his uniform #36 in 2021. Koosman left the Mets after the 1978 season, since the...

T uesday, April 26, 1988: On this night, Davey Johnson's second place Mets (12-6) visited Atlanta Fulton County Stadium, to face Chuck Tanner's last place Atlanta Braves (3-14).  The pitchers for tonight's game were the Mets Dwight Gooden facing a young Braves pitcher named Tom Glavine.  Glavine was just 22 years old & in his second season. He had gone 2-4 in nine games the previous year & was on his way to leading the league in losses in 1988 with 17. His Hall of Fame  success  was still to come. Keith Hernandez, the Met first baseman had a fantastic night one of his biggest in his Mets career. He hit two HRs, one a grand slam driving in seven runs, including a career milestone 1,000th RBI. In the bottom of the 1st inning, the Braves Ron Gant reached on Darryl Strawberry's error in right field. Dale Murphy then doubled giving the Braves a 1-0 lead.  In the top of the 2nd, Gary Carter homered for the Mets, to tie the game. It was Carter's sevent...

  Amos Joseph Otis   was born on April 26, 1947 in Mobile, Alabama.  Otis grew up in the same Mobile area as Met outfielders, Cleon Jones, Tommie Agee & the Hammer, Hank Aaron. The speedy five foot eleven Otis was originally signed by the Boston Red Sox as a short stop in the 5th round of the 1965 draft. He was sent to the Appalachian League that same year, where he batted .329.  I n 1966 he was the New York Penn. Leagues All Star first baseman, playing for A ball Oneonta. That same year the New York Mets Player of development, Whitey Herzog who was running a highly talented farm system, managed to draft Otis away from Boston.  In 1967 the with the Mets organization he batted .268 & stole 29 bases after being promoted to AAA Jacksonville. MLB Debut- Mets Career:  Otis got a September call up making his MLB debut on September 6th, pinch running for Tommy Davis at Shea Stadium in a 3-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. The next night he came in to play...