I remember Ron Hunt well though – even has a kid. Had a fascination with him seemingly always getting hit by a pitch.

Klaus hit the walk off homer that won the third game of the 1965 season, an extra innng win against Houston and the earliest time the Mets had even won their first game of the year. Before that he hit a deep fly that went foul.

We waited with anxious moments until the player voting for the all-star lineup was announced and were, of course, overjoyed that Ron got it. He got a standing ovation that July at Shea and singled off of Dean Chance (the next non-pitcher to be voted onto the squad was Jerry Grote in 1968). In fact, he also homered off of Sandy Koufax in the bottom of the ninth inning of a game I was at in the Polo Grounds – just too bad I missed it since my older brother had us leave in the top of the ninth.

Hunt’s injury plagued 1965 season came at a play at second when the Cardinals’ Phil Gagliano slid hard into Hunt and separated his shoulder. Fans booed Gagliano unmercifully not just for the rest of the game for the next two years every time he made a plate appearance.

Casey often played Hunt at third (he opened the 1964 season at third with ex-Dodger Larry Burwight gettng the shot at second. Why Casey had him play a stretch at third later on that season I don’t know, considering the base was anchored by the team’s eventual home run leader, Charlie Smith (who had 20 after coming over from the White Sox).

BTW – am I right that Hunts card is from the 1966 series? Even though I recognize the graphics, the other give-away is that the Mets didn’t have uniform numbers on the front of their jersey’s until the 1965 season and the pictures were mostly taken the season before.

Great memories, thanks Barry.

I remember him most for being an Expos and leading the league in HBP every year.

I can also remember him being interviewed by Lindsey and saying about the fans “heck we were all young and they were all young it had to pump you up,”