We’re looking back at the 50th anniversary of the Mets’ 1973 National League pennant-winning team by reviewing the most inspirational figures of that remarkable run. We continue with a player who over a 23-year career compiled over 2,700 hits and many more fans—revered in Montreal and adored in New York. The passion exuded by redhead Daniel Joseph Staub was not outward. He was a...
We’re looking back at the 50th anniversary of the Mets’ 1973 National League pennant-winning team by examining the most inspirational figures of that remarkable run. We continue with the leader of this club, a Hall of Fame catcher known for his exceptional play and unique sayings to become a New York baseball legend and an American icon. By 1973, no baseball fan didn’t know...
Over the coming weeks, we’ll look back at the 50th anniversary of the Mets’ 1973 National League pennant-winning team by examining the most inspirational figures of that remarkable run. We continue with a young left-handed pitcher who overcame a potentially disastrous injury to be the team’s top performer down the stretch. On a dreary and drizzly evening in front of a paltry...
Over the next six weeks, we’ll look back at the 50th anniversary of the Mets’ 1973 National League pennant-winning team by examining the most inspirational figures of that remarkable run. We start with the man who unofficially initiated the team’s comeback from last place to first and officially coined the phase associated with that season. In July 1973, Tug McGraw’s career...
This offseason, we’re looking at the Mets’ history with free agency. The first half of our list began with names like Familia, McCann, and Castillo. Next is an infielder who played with the Mets from 2019 to 2020. The word “played” is used very loosely. If someone is on a roster but never gets a hit, was he really on the team? That bit of baseball existentialism was born...
After spending his first seven big league seasons with the Oakland Athletics, Mark Canha was ready for a change. Following the 2021 season, the California native was entering free agency for the first time in his career and was ready for new opportunities. After being drafted by the then Florida Marlins in the seventh round of the 2010 Draft, Canha was selected in the 2014 Rule 5 Draft by the...
This offseason, we’ve been looking at the Mets’ history with free agency. We began with the team’s best signings. Now we’re saving the worst for last. We started with Roger Cedeño and we continue with another failed second go-around in New York. For two seasons, Jeurys Familia was one of the best closers the Mets ever had. From 2015 to 2016, he gave the team a reliable...
As an undrafted free agent, Mike Bordick was happy for an opportunity in pro ball. Coming off a strong junior season in which he hit .364 for the University of Maine, Bordick was hopeful that he would get a phone call from one of the 26 teams during the 1986 MLB Draft. Though the Draft came and went without Bordick getting picked, he got the opportunity to continue playing over the summer in the...
Former Major League Baseball general manager Jim Bowden gave his insight on possible trade proposals involving the Mets. The current writer for The Athletic received hundreds of trade proposals to analyze with more than a handful coming from curious Mets fans. Bowden looked at possible deals for Cincinnati Reds pitcher Luis Castillo, Oakland A’s pitcher Chris Bassitt, Milwaukee Brewers...
Late on Thursday night, the San Diego Padres shocked the baseball world when they were able to snag manager Bob Melvin from the Oakland Athletics. The well-regarded Melvin had his 2022 option picked up by the A’s earlier this offseason, but Oakland decided they would let him pursue other opportunities. Two things have been pretty commonly known in baseball circles: one is that...
Now that SNY has aired the entirety of the 1969 World Series, we thought it might be fun to feature a portion of the Mets’ next Fall Classic appearance four years later — even if the end result wasn’t as satisfying. Game 2 versus the Oakland A’s was arguably the wildest World Series contest to date — in addition to being the longest. After four hours and 13 minutes...
Since he was young, Anthony Recker’s parents instilled a strong work ethic in him, repeatedly telling him that with hard work good things will transpire. Playing multiple sports during his youth, Recker dreamed of making it professionally in baseball. While growing up in Pennsylvania, Recker fondly recalls watching his beloved Oakland A’s, having switched alliances from his hometown...
