Ever have one of those days at either the office or the playground where you wanted to say, “I’ll show them”? Maybe as the boss walks you to the door as you lug a box of your personal items because, “It just isn’t working out”; or a now-former significant other who states, “It just isn’t working out”; or the Captain of the team selecting players who says, “I don’t want you on my team”?
Willie Mays had one of those days. On May 11, 1972 the long-time Giant was traded to the Mets in exchange for Charlie Williams and $50,000. Charlie Williams was a 24-year old righty who had gone 5-6 with a 4.78 ERA for the Mets in 1971. In May 1972 he was pitching in Tidewater. Sorry, Willie, it just isn’t working out.
At the time of the trade, Willie Mays was two weeks from blowing out 41 candles on his birthday cake, and was one of the highest-paid players in baseball, making $165,000. While an All Star in 1971, Willie was off to a very slow start in 1972, batting .184 with no home runs and 3 RBI’s in 19 games at the time of the trade, and in the weeks leading up to the trade had been used as a pinch hitter four times, and benched three times. Sorry Willie, it just isn’t working out.
But just three days after the trade, on this date in 1972, Willie had his revenge. Batting leadoff and playing first base for the Amazin’s at Shea, Willie walked in the bottom of the first and scored ahead of Rusty Staub‘s grand slam off Sam McDowell. In the bottom of the fifth (sorry 5th, not the 9th, this isn’t “The Natural“) with the score tied 4-4, Willie Mays hit, what became the game-winner, homer off of Don Carrithers. The Mets won the game, 5-4.
A video of the at-bat is available here:
On this date in 1972, Willie Mays hit his first home run with the Mets. The home run was a game-winner against the Giants three days after San Francisco traded him to New York. pic.twitter.com/pD0O8d8ueB
— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) May 14, 2020
After his strong introduction to his new teammates, Willie Mays had an OPS of .848 (45% better than league average) in 1972 for the Mets, and was an All-Star again while playing mostly center field.
The Mets were in first at the time of the trade and stayed there through July 1, but injuries to Rusty Staub, Jerry Grote, Cleon Jones and Bud Harrelson resulted in a third place finish in 1972, with an 83-73 record. Note 1972 was a strike year and the missed games were not made up. In 1973, the Mets, with Willie Mays filling in between center and first, won the pennant.
For those who have ever been told, “it’s not working out,” we hope you get to feel like Willie Mays must have on May 14, 1972.
LGM
