Comments on: Old Time Mets: LHP Jon Matlack

By: METS62FAN

METS62FAN — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:30:56 +0000

PETEY, THANK U SO VERY MUCH FOR QUICKLY FILLING IN THE PROFILE ABOVE WITH MATLACK’S, IMO, GREATEST, ICONIC MET MOMENT, THE JASON VOORHEES PITCHING LOOK. AS I REMEMBER IT, MORPHING INTO, PROVIDED US WITH THE. GUTSIEST PERFORMANCE I’VE EVER SEEN SUSTAINED ON A BASEBALL FIELD

By: rob

rob — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 19:23:44 +0000

Always was a fan of Matlack. Part of his ‘problem’ was he pitched behind Seaver and Kooz and therefore never received the praise he deserved outside of NY. On most other teams, he would have been a #1.

Another interesting trivia fact about Jon Jon is that he started the 1st game of the 73 Series and became the first (and perhaps still to this day) the only pitcher in WS history to be a Game 1 starter who had a losing record.

Good article.

By: jdon

jdon — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 17:13:19 +0000

The same thing happened to a rookie lefty named Grover Powell who came up, I believe, when Stengel was managing. He pitched a shutout in his first start and got nailed in his next one. Very little good happened to met pitchers in those days, and his career never got off the ground.

By: srt

srt — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:05:12 +0000

I remember that injury too, Petey. I thought for sure he was done.

I always liked Matlack. Nothing spectacular but very solid pitcher.

By: Petey Pete

Petey Pete — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 12:29:04 +0000

When he was a Met Jon Matlack was one of my favorite pitchers to watch. He was a tall lefty who had a very distinct motion. He would rock back on his drive leg lifting his front leg high with his knee to his chest. He’d pause for a split second at the top of his delivery almost posing, before the front leg would unfold, point, and pivot towards home, bringing with it a very nice power arsenal.

I remember how terrifying it was for me when I was watching Matlack mow through the Atlanta Braves one night in the early to mid seventies, and the Bravo shortstop, Marty Perez hit a screaming line-drive right back at Matlack who’s glove hand was down near the grass at the time. Before he could even react, the ball struck Matlack square in the middle of the forehead and he went down on the mound like he’d been shot.

Fortunately he wasn’t killed, obviously. In fact I think he only missed a start. When he came back to pitch in his first game. He wore this absolutely ridiculous looking bandage wrapped around his head with an over-sized baseball cap stuck on top. He looked like the flute player in the trio from 1776, only wearing a Mets cap. Or like he was impersonating Mr. Met. I was just relieved to see him back on the mound, bandage or no bandage. That Matlack was one tough SOB.