The date was Monday, January 22, 2001. The weather in New York was brisk. The Twin Towers stood proud and dominated the skyline. The city was just three months removed from the first Subway Series in over four decades and Baseball Fever still filled the air.
In midtown Manhattan, a 58 year old, African-American, mortgage insurance salesman walked out of an office building. He clutched his chest and collapsed onto the frozen sidewalk.
By the time the EMT workers arrived, the man was in cardiac arrest. Attempts to revive him on the way to Bellevue Hospital proved futile and the individual was pronounced dead at 1:05 PM. His name: Tommie Agee.
When we look back at critical plays at crucial moments throughout World Series history, many of them are related to 6 or 7 game Series. A bloop hit by Luis Gonzalez, a ground ball that ‘gets by Buckner,’ a missed third strike by Mickey Owen. It’s hard to imagine that one player could have such an impact in a short 5 game series. But that is exactly what Tommie Agee meant to the Mets in 1969. It’s very conceivable that had it not been for Agee, we would have just the one championship in 1986.
Tommie Lee Agee was born on August 9, 1942 in Magnolia, Alabama. He was a college star at Grambling and ultimately was signed by the Cleveland Indians. Although his first big league at-bat happened on Sept 14, 1962, it wasn’t until 1966 he became a full time player for the White Sox. Agee thrived in his everyday role and in his first full season walloped 22 Home Runs, knocked in 86 runs, slugged .447, scored 98 runs, and stole 44 bases on his way to winning the AL Rookie of the Year.
The following year, however, his productivity dropped substantially. He batted just .234, hit 14 homers, and struck out 129 times. The ChiSox wasted no time in casting off this ‘one year wonder’ and dealt him to the Mets along with Al Weis for Jack Fisher, Tommy Davis and a pair of minor leaguers.
The 1968 season started with hope for the Mets. We now had two former Rookie of the Year winners in Agee and Tom Seaver, and a young pitcher named Jerry Koosman was also showing promise. We also had a new manager in the much revered Gil Hodges. On Opening Day, the Mets jumped out to an early 4-0 lead against future Hall of Famer Juan Marichal. However, our bullpen failed., the Giants scored three in the bottom of the 9th, and it became clear from that day on that 1968 would be no different than the years prior. Agee had been beaned in Spring Training by Bob Gibson and never got on track. He started the season going 0-34, and things didn’t really improve much for him for the rest of the season. In 132 games, he batted a disappointing .217 with just five homers and an embarrassing 17 RBI.
When the 1969 season began, Mets fans, as we always do, hoped for the best but somewhat expected the worst. Gil Hodges saw something in his center fielder. Although Agee didn’t have the natural talent of a Seaver or Nolan Ryan, he worked hard and made the most of his skills. Teammates always described Number 20 as intelligent, hard working, and a real winner. Despite having a pitiful ’68 season, Hodges stood by Agee and he quickly rewarded his manager, his teammates and the Mets faithful.
On April 10, 1969, Tommie Agee put the NL on notice that he was back! He blasted a home run that would reach the upper deck at Shea. (Insert theme from The Natural.) Only 8,608 fans were on hand that day. The game was not televised so there is no footage.
On-deck hitter Rod Gaspar said, “I’ve never seen a ball hit like that.” Buddy Harrelson stated, “The ball was still climbing.” Although Shea was only six years old at the time, people assumed that eventually someone would probably hit a ball that far again. It never happened. That blast by Agee became the longest home run ever hit at Shea Stadium.
The Miracle of the 69 season quickly came into doubt during the Fall Classic. Tom Seaver, with a record of 25-7 and a 2.21 ERA started Game One. Don Buford welcomed the Mets into the World Series by hitting a lead-off HR. The Mets lost 4-1 and people wondered if the dream was over. The Miracle was in doubt. However, behind the masterful pitching of Jerry Koosman in Game 2, the Mets prevailed 2-1, splitting the two games in Baltimore and now returning home to Big Shea.
56,335 fans attended Game 3, the first World Series game ever played at Shea. It was Agee who stepped to the forefront. Leading off against future Hall of Famer Jim Palmer, Agee opened the game with a homer and quickly put the Mets on top. However, the best was yet to come.
The Mets led 3-0 in the top of the 4th. With runners on 1st and 3rd and two outs, Elrod Hendricks hit a shot deep into left center field. Agee ran as fast as his legs would carry him. Approaching the wall at full speed, Agee never slowed down. As he said years later, “I would have run right through that wall if I needed to.” Agee made a spectacular backhanded snow cone catch that saved at least two runs. As he trotted off the field, with the white of the ball still in the webbing, Shea erupted like never before. But he was not done yet.
In the 7th, the Mets were now leading 4-0, but Baltimore, winner of 109 games during the season, showed why they were the class of the AL. They refused to roll over. They loaded the bases. Paul Blair, the tying run, stepped to the plate and Hodges brought in Nolan Ryan from the bullpen. Blair greeted Ryan by hitting one deep into right-center field. Once again, Agee sped into the power alley. The possibility of him making TWO great catches seemed impossible and unlikely. But at the last minute, the wind grabbed hold of the ball. Agee extended, dove for the ball, snared the sinking liner, slid onto the warning track and rolled over. The ball was in his glove. Had he not made the catch, it most likely would have been an inside-the-park home run and tied the game at 4-4.
The Mets won the game 5-0, and would go on to win the series in five games. “The homer meant one run,” Agee said, “But the catches saved more than that.”
Agee’s catches also signified the dawning of a new age for the Mets. We would no longer be the laughing stock of baseball. The lovable losers were on their way to becoming Champions.
Sports Illustrated ranked Agee’s catches as among the best in World Series history along with Willie Mays in 1954, Sandy Amoros in 1955 and Al Gionfriddo in 1947. They also went on to claim that Agee’s performance in Game 3 was the best ever by a center fielder in World Series history. The point can be argued that if it was not for Tommie Agee in Game 3, the Orioles may have quite possibly won the game, salvaged at least one of the three in New York and forced the series to return to Baltimore. And who knows how things may have turned out if that would have happened. Thanks to Tommie Agee, none of that was necessary.
Agee led the team in home runs, RBI and runs scored that season and also won NL Comeback Player of the Year award. Although 1969 was his high point, Tommie continued to be a major part of the Mets the following season. In 1970 he put together a 20 game hitting streak, hit for the cycle one day in July and even stole home in the tenth inning to win a game. Mets management was so pleased with his performance, they increased his salary to $40,000. However, by 1974, he was out of baseball as injuries would cut short his career. After batting just .227 with 13 home runs in 1972, the Mets traded him to Houston for Rich Chiles and Buddy Harris. He played for Houston and St. Louis in 1973, then was traded to Los Angeles, but failed to make the team out of spring training and at age 30, our World Series hero retired.
He went on to open ‘The Outfielder’s Lounge’ close to Shea and ultimately worked for Stewart Title Insurance. He remained very active promoting the Mets around the city and spent his later years taking part in numerous charities and baseball clinics.
“He was such a good athlete and a real good friend.,” teammate Kenny Boswell said after Agee passed away. Right fielder and fellow champion Ron Swoboda added, “The way he conducted himself on and off the field, both during and after his career, was admirable. He was taken way too soon.”
Too soon indeed. Thanks for all the memories, Tommie.
