Dick Young was Grant’s mouth piece and his son-in-law just happened to get a job with the Mets front office so there was a personal relationship as well. They both shared their hatred of free agency and other things. I think the attached sums up perfectly what happened and touches upon Young’s role in all this.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/true-story-midnight-massacre-article-1.224970

I believe Grant for whatever reason had the ear of mrs. Payson. The Mets were very much a “family” run organization in those days. My own personal opinion was that Grant liked being “buddies” with the newspaper guys. Remember he blamed Dick Young for the Seaver trade. How the hell do you trade a pitcher like Tom seaver based on what Dick Young says??

I always thought that after one year as the Mets G.M., Devine simply wanted to go back to St. Louis. Never thought the screws were being put on him and with Herzog by Grant.

Can see why Grant wanted not to include Don Shaw in the deal. Don actually had a good rookie season in 1967 and I don’t know why he was exactly sent down in 1968 – especially if Grant was in his corner. Selected by Montreal in the 1969 expansion draft, he didn’t fare well north of the border and came back to have one decent season in St. Louis (1971).

But I just can’t see Grant having much influence on player personnel if it didn’t mean having to spend anything more than he had to.

Grant’s Tomb, indeed.

WOW!! I had forgotten all about that! Grant also screwed over Whitey Herzog who was the heir apparent after Gil Hodges died. Herzog was offered the job and Grant pulled the offer to give the position to Yogi Berra. How different would Mets history be if Whitey Herzog had become the Mets manager??

If they ever replay the Tom Seaver interview he did a few years ago with SNY (was an hour or so) make sure you watch it. Seaver has never forgiven Grant for what he put him through. Very interesting interview.

Jon, You know your Mets History!!

He probably would have been out of the league much sooner if he had stayed in the NL and had to play the field.

That sounds like T agee and his second guessing about trades!!! LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great memories.

I remember when Gibson hit Tommie in the head, he collapsed straight onto his back and just layed there. But back in 1968 the fans indeed never got down on him at all. Once, after going through a long hitless streak, Tommie won a game with a pinch hit single not hit hard but up the middle and his being mobbed by his teammates and cheered by the crowd seemed to have an extra bit of happiness to it, as if we were all in unision rooting Tommie on.

As far as being a team player despite all that happened to him that first year, there was also a game in Houston when both dugouts began to clear – Tommie was the first one out and led the charge.

Actually got Billy Cowen to autograph my scorecard in 1965!

Devine in the meantime had an offer to become the Cardinals’ GM, and amid Grant’s meddling in this deal (and aided by Grant’s reluctance to give him a contract — Grant felt Devine would work harder if he had to sing for his supper constantly) Devine took the offer. The trade was subsequently amended and completed by Devine’s successor Johnny Murphy, but the Mets lost a brilliant executive mind along the way and never adequately replaced him, while Grant’s influence only grew. Much was forgotten in the glow of the 69 championship (a team largely assembled by Devine) but they’d pay for that over and over again for the next decade.