Comments on: Old Time Mets – Warren Spahn

By: Joey D.

Joey D. — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 22:53:20 +0000

I actually saw Spahn pitch one of his best games for the Mets in 1965, a 2-1 complete game loss to the Dodgers in which an eighth inning home run by Don Drsydale broke a 1-1 tie.

Over 55,000 fans packed themselves into Shea that Friday night and it was a beautiful sight to behold: the white shell lit up behind the giant scoreboard (before it became a big Budweiser sign) with the rear-view projection screen actually working and the lights of the bridges and outer Queens in the background undisturbed by Diamond Vision.

But that is absolutely correct that Spahn was not interested much in being a coach as it was proving he could still pitch. As far as the Mets, it was just another part of their mystic for they really needed no more promotion at that point. In addition, they were already fielding Casey’s “Youth Of America” with Roy McMillian and Chuck Hiller basically being the elder statesmen. Kranepoole, Hunt, Smith, Klauss were other infielders, the outfield included Lewis, Swoboda, Hickman, Cowan and Christopher, Cannizzaro, Gonder and Taylor were behind the plate while the pitching staff included Cisco, Fisher, Jackson, Kroll, Richardson, Bernarth, Selma, Ribant, McGraw, etc.

Not household names nor the 1927 or 1961 Yankees – hey, not even the 2012 Mets, but certainly no longer the old age home, either.

Unfortunately, they did revert to going back to older veterans in 1966 and 1967 since most of Casey’s “youth”(other than Hunt, Kranepoole, McGraw, Swoboda and Selma) were panning out But then, we didn’t know there was another round of youth down on the farm (other than their pictures in the yearbooks) and we know what happened after that!

By: Rob

Rob — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 18:19:30 +0000

I too barely remember Warren Spahn due to being around 9 at his time with the Mets. But one thing I learned since then is that he spent time in Europe as a Sargent in WWII. And as a real in the front lines soldier. While he had a Hall of Fame career in Baseball, he should also be respected and praised for his service to his country.

By: Petey Pete

Petey Pete — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 15:57:47 +0000

Thanks for sharing those memories Geez!

By: GameGeezer

GameGeezer — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 15:40:13 +0000

I was at the first game he pitched for the Mets on April 14 1965 and he pitched decently going 8 innings (how many young pitchers go that far today?) and leaving the game trailing 3-2 against the Astros. Joe Christopher tied it for the Mets in 9th but they lost in 11th 7 – 6 (Swoboda hit his first ever ML homer in the 11th.

Funny anecdote to Spahns Met career was that he and Casey seemed to be at odds about what his role was, pitcher or coach? Since Stengel had managed a bad Boston Braves club when Spahn was coming up in the 1940′s and was now managing the hapless Mets. When Spahn was released his quote to the press was that “I worked for Stengel before and after he was a genius”.

As bad as the club was I had have fond memories of the team and the times spent with my dad at those games. If memory serves a box seat at Shea that year was $4.50 and reserve was $3.50. It was a lot cheaper to love a loser back then.

By: Metsie

Metsie — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 15:27:11 +0000

Bingo Pete!
Bringing him in was pretty much an attempt to bring some respect to the Mets who a year before had just moved into Shea Stadium and were pretty much the laughuing stocks of the MLB….

It didn’t work but lets not forget that it was 10 times harder to be an expansion team back then as there was no Free Agency to use to quickly fill your roster with good players!

By: Petey Pete

Petey Pete — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 14:56:16 +0000

I remember Spahn pitching for the Mets, although somewhat vaguely as I was only seven. To me at the time, he gave the Mets some class. He was a 300-game winner, a future HOF, and the “ace” of our otherwise inept pitching staff. 1965 was the year the Mets signed Yogi Berra, as a player, on April 27th, and released him three weeks later. 1965 was the year the Mets traded away the legendary Jesse Gonder. !965 was the season manager Casey Stengel broke his hip, and had to retire from baseball. But let’s not forget just how truly horrible that 1965 Mets team was. Finishing in last place (where else?) in the National League with a record of 50-112, the Amazin’s winning percentage was .309, and they finished 47 GB the 1st place Dodgers. In 1965 Steady Eddie Kranepool led the team in hitting with a .253 BA, he was the only player to hit above .250 for the season on that team. Promising rookie outfielder Ron Swoboda led the team in HR’s with 19, while 3rd-sacker Charley Smith led the team in RBI’s with 62. The winningest pitchers were Al Jackson and Jack Fisher, tied at 8 wins apiece, although Jackson also lost 20 games, and Fisher lost 24.

By: DaveUpstateNY

DaveUpstateNY — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 13:39:51 +0000

And unfortunately, the Mets continued the tradition of picking up over the hill players, well into the 2000s. It started in 1962, when they drafted old names instead of guys with a future.

By: William H.

William H. — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 13:18:02 +0000

By the time old Warren Spahn became a Met, we were already conditioned for these types of moves for great players at the end of their career. What made him different was that he wasn’t a former Giant, Dodger or Yankee. He also proved the old adage that great pitchers do not make great pitching coaches. Thanks for the memories Barry.