centerfield maz

Tuesday July 1st, 1969: Donn Clendenon had only been with his exciting new Mets team for two weeks. He was to share time in a platoon with Ed Kranepool & then some. Most important Clendenon brought a power bat to a Met line up that desperately needed one.  In his first ten games he had 4 hits in 22 at bats with four RBIs. But as he settled in with his new club & July started Clendenon went on a tear driving in 12 runs over five games, he would collect nine hits, score five runs & hit one HR. The next night he pinch-hit & scored the tying run in a crucial game against the first place Cubs. July 2nd, 1969: The Mets took an 8-5 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in this game, as they dropped both ends of a double header. In the second game Clendenon went 2-2 while driving in a pair of runs with base hits off Mike Torrez & Joe Hoerner. July 3rd, 1969: As the road trip continued in St. Louis, Gil Hodges Mets turned things around. Tonight, behind r...

Christopher Flexen was born July 1st, 1994, in Newark, California. The six three right hander played football where he was quarterback as well as pitched earning him the nickname "the Flexman".  He was drafted by the New York Mets in the 14th round of the 2012 MLB draft. In 2013 he impressed at Kingsport with an 8-1 record. In 2016 he was at St. Lucie where he went 10-9 with a 3.25 ERA in 25 starts. In 2017 he was promoted up to a AA Binghamton going 6-1 with a 1.66 ERA. That was enough for the Mets to have him skip AAA & go right to the big-league club, who's staff was struggling. Mets Career: Flexen made his MLB debut on July 27th, 2017, with a start in San Diego. He was the first Mets pitcher since Mike Pelfrey in 2006, to go from AA straight to the Mets & make a start. The Padres got him for four runs on five hits, in three innings of work, taking his first career loss. Trivia: Flexen became the fifth Met pitcher in team history to serve up a HR to h...

Norman Craig Anderson was born July 1, 1938, in Washington D.C. The six-foot right-handed pitcher attended Lehigh University, where he became the school's star pitcher. Anderson struck out 289 batters in 189 innings and pitched a no hitter there as well. He became the first player to make it to the big leagues from Lehigh University, when he was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1960.   He briefly pitched in the minor leagues at AA Tulsa, posting a 1.68 ERA, getting brought up to the majors that same year. Cardinals Career: He debuted on June 23rd, pitching three scoreless innings in relief of Ernie Broglio, while earning his first career victory against the San Francisco Giants. In that game he got a hit scored a run & benefited from a grand slam by Stan the Man Musial. He would go 4-3 with a save & posting a 3.26 ERA with St. Louis in his rookie season.  Mets Career: In October of 1961 he became an original New York Met when he was the 16th selection ...

Ronald Alan Swoboda was born on June 30, 1944, in Baltimore, Maryland. His parents were John & Delores Swoboda. His father was a veteran of World War II who worked as a mechanic & teacher. His mother was a supervisor in social services. In high school Ron played baseball, basketball & soccer. He was goal tender & the captain of his soccer team. The six foot two right-handed hitting outfielder was signed out of Maryland University, as an amateur free agent in 1963. He signed for $35,000 after a strong AABA tournament performance. Swoboda only played minor league ball for one season, impressing a new Mets organization with his power. They were a team looking for a home-grown slugger to attract fans.  In 1964 he hit 14 HRs at AA Williamsport & then three more at AAA Buffalo in 22 games there.  Youth of America : He was called "Rocky" & "Swobo" becoming one of Casey Stengel's young Mets he called the "Youth of America". Othe...