NY METS HISTORY & WIDE SELECTION OF ITEMS

In 1973, Met outfielders Don Hahn and George Theodore smashed into each other in what is considered the most memorable outfield collision in team history. Which Atlanta Braves player hit the ball?

Ralph Garr. Atlanta Speedster Ralph Garr ran for an inside-the-park home run as Hahn and Theodore stayed down after running into each other at top speed in pursuit of the line drive.

The Atlanta Braves were involved in another frightening play in 1973. Met pitcher Jon Matlack was struck right between the eyes by a wicked line drive. Which Braves player hit the drive that fractured Matlack's skull?

Marty Perez. Despite the skull fracture, Matlack was somehow pitching again in less than two weeks!

How many of the infamous 1962 New York Mets were in the Baseball Hall of Fame by the end of the 1990s?

2. Richie Ashburn batted .306 in his last year as a major league player in 1962. A lifetime .308 hitter he managed to surrive the 40-120 season and entered the Hall of Fame in 1995. Manager Casey Stengel was also inducted.

Which of following players never played for the Mets?

Wes Westrum. Yogi appeared in 4 games in 1965. A 36 year old Duke Snider cracked 14 home runs for the Mets in 1963. Dallas Green pitched in 4 games in 1966 for the Mets, but Westrum finished his playing career in 1957. Westrum managed the Mets for 3 years from 1965 to 1967.

Who was the oldest member of the 1996 Mets?

John Franco. When the 38 year old Brett Butler was traded in August of 1995, John Franco become the senior member of the Mets. At 35 in 1996, Franco was the oldest player on a young Met team. When the Mets released Ricky Henderson in May of 2000, Franco regained his status as the oldest Met player.

Which fan favorite was not traded to the Phillies?

Wally Backman. Turk. Pratt and Cookie were not the first popular Mets to get sent down I-95. In addition to Harrelson , McGraw and Brogna, the Mets also traded fan favorites, Lenny Dykstra and Roger McDowell to the Phillies. Wally Backman did spend two years in Philadelphia, but the Mets traded him to the Twins in 1989.

Which of these former Mets' managers did not have an over .500 winning percentage as a Mets' skipper?

Yogi Berra. Despite leading the Mets to the 1973 World Series, Yogi finished 292-296 over his 4 years in charge.

Which of these Mets players did not wear number 34 as a Met?

Jim McAndrew. Pitcher Jim McAndrew wore number 43 from 1968 to 1973. Cleon Jones wore 21 most of his Mets career, but had to wear 34 his first two seasons until Hall of Famer Warren Spahn moved on in 1965. Nolan Ryan wore number 34 most of his baseball career, but Mets fans remember the young, wild Ryan wearing number 30 from 1968 to 1971. Ryan played 2 games as a 19 year old for the Mets in 1966 wearing number 34. The late Danny Frisella wore 34 his entire Mets career.

When Dave Kingman belted a Met record 36 home runs in 1975, whose record did he break?

Frank Thomas. Slugger Frank Thomas hit 286 career home runs over 16 big league seasons. His 34 in 1962 held up as a Mets record until 'Kong' Kingman nailed 36 in 1975.

In the Mets' inaugural season, who led the team in home runs?

Frank Thomas. Thomas was the only Met to hit over 20 home runs for the season, by smacking 34. The next closest Met was Marv Throneberry who hit 16.