Comments on: Mets’ Memories: Bing Devine Was Always Working On Something

By: Fonzie13

Fonzie13 — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 03:25:46 +0000

What else is new. Metsie is wrong. Just a mountain of misinformation. St Louis was his last stop after Texas for a year, California for a week in 74, interim and then to KC.

By: Barry Duchan

Barry Duchan — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 03:16:41 +0000

Metsie, Sorry but your recollection is wrong. Herzog stayed with the Mets well after Devine went back to the Cardinals. It was after Herzog was passed over for the Mets managerial job in 1972 after Gil Hodges passed away that Whitey left to manage the Rangers and it wasn’t until 1980 that he went to the Cardinals.

By: Metsie

Metsie — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 22:23:25 +0000

I forget where I read it Barry and if I can figure out where it was I’ll post a reference.

Basically the ist was that Grant heavily politicized the operations as far back as then. Bing and Herzog had their plans and Grant would constantly disagree and try to work the FO to get his way.

Herzog was the first straw and he went to StLouis and had a bit to do with them trying to get Devine back into the cardinal fold.

If I can remember where I read that I will be sure to post the source of it. (don’t think it was a web thing)

By: Barry Duchan

Barry Duchan — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 21:24:31 +0000

Metsie, Grant did many things to destroy the Mets, but he wasn’ responsible for Devine leaving the Mets to return to the Cardinals. It was Branch Rickey who was responsible for Devine being let go by the Cardinals, but Devine’s family remained in St. Louis even while he was GM of the Mets. When Gussie Busch came to his senses and offered Devine his old job back, Bing jumped at the chance to return because St. Louis had always been his home. Grant even tried to keep Devine by offering him a piece of the team. There is also no evidence that Grant influenced any moves Devine made with the Mets, although there will always be speculation that it was Grant who vetoed drafting Reggie Jackson “because he was dating a white girl”. Yes, I’ve heard that one before.

Devine, ever the gentleman, had NOTHING bad to say about Grant in his book, so I’ll take him at. his word. I believe Grant respected Devine, his predecessor, George Weiss, and his successor Johnny Murphy. It was only later with GM’s like Scheffing and McDonald that Grant started to act like he knew something about baseball. Grant DID drive Whitey Herzog away, but probably not Devine.

By: Metsie

Metsie — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 17:17:46 +0000

I thought Bing was a very good GM and if he managed to stay a little longer we might have more on the record to see it.

What some may not know is Grant was the irritant that forced Devine out.

We all remember Grant as the guy who traded Seaver away but most people don’t remember it was Grant who also forced Devine and Herzog to find a better place to work.

By: Original Mets Fan

Original Mets Fan — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 14:49:40 +0000

Thanks for the read Barry.

By: jerseymet

jerseymet — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 13:45:01 +0000

Nice piece. Nice contrast to Sandy.

By: srt

srt — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 12:35:50 +0000

‘…that he and assistant Joe McDonald persuaded Weiss to keep Jerry Koosman who he was ready to release after a poor season in the low minors.’

Wow, I didn’t know that. Just goes to show that with young prospects, shouldn’t be so quick to judge. Also, what could have been with Reggie Jackson. Wonder just how close that decision was to pick Chilcott over Reggie?

I’m still amazed to this day that we won the Tom Seaver lottery.