Here is proof that some good came out of the abominable 1992 season. Hoping to eradicate a disastrous conclusion to 1991, the Mets’ winter maneuvering was predicated upon acquiring proven veterans.
Bret Saberhagen, Eddie Murray, and Willie Randolph were among the newcomers, joining Gooden and HoJo to help foster expectations of a division title. The initial test of this experiment came against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. And it was the heroics of the most prized addition that made the difference. The Mets hoped Bobby Bonilla, a former Pittsburgh Pirate and still just 29 years old, would be a long-term presence with the franchise. Be careful what you wish for.
Here are the highlights:
- Ozzie Smith, the Cardinals’ Hall of Fame shortstop, does his trademark back flip at 3:58 to commemorate the start of the new season.
- New additions Willie Randolph, Bonilla, Murray, Bill Pecota are in the starting lineup
- St. Louis sports an eventual Met (Todd Zeile) at third base, a former Met (Jose Oquendo) at shortstop, and an old friend as manager (Joe Torre).
- Both teams have uniform adjustments from the previous season — each ditching v-neck pullovers for classic button-downs. The patch on the left sleeve of the Mets’ jerseys has an ‘S’ in tribute to the recently-passed William Shea, who pushed for National League baseball to return to New York in the early 60s.
- Bonilla leads off the top of the fourth against Jose de Leon with a shot to right at 38:28.
- St. Louis, up 2-1, looked to close the game out at 1:53:57. Lee Smith is on the mound and double-play candidate Mackey Sasser is at the plate with runners at first and third and one out.
- You can count the amount of positive Bobby Bonilla moments on one hand. Tonight was one of them, proven at 2:16:47.
- John Franco came in to preserve Bonilla’s heroics starting at 2:21:23.
The rest of the season (and Bonilla’s career, for that matter)…well, that’s better left unsaid.
