Brogna Can You Spare Some Time 2022

G-Fafif · February 3, 2022

Carl Everett is an interesting editorial choice. Chills-generating grand slam, to be sure.

G-Fafif · February 4, 2022

Mets alumni relations still not extending to Jim Gosger.

Gosger played 10 games with New York between Sept. 7 and Oct. 1 that year. But he didn't appear in the National League Championship Series or the World Series, which the Mets won.

"So at the end of the year I get a check in the mail from my World Series share," Gosger said. "A hundred dollars. I said, 'What is this? A hundred dollars and I'm there for five weeks?' "

Disgusted, he signed the check and sent it back. He wanted the championship ring.

"That's what irritated me," Gosger said. "The fact that I played there and never got the ring."

He was traded to the San Francisco Giants in late 1969 but never played a game with them. The Expos bought his contract early in the 1970 season. He spent two years in Montreal and was traded back to New York after the 1971 campaign.

Gosger played two more seasons with the Mets from 1973-74. New York won the National League pennant in 1973 before falling to the Oakland Athletics (his old team) in the World Series. Gosger was rewarded for his efforts this time and received the National League championship ring.

He retired after the Mets released him following the 1974 season. But it wouldn't be his last brush with the club. In 2019, the organization welcomed back the 1969 team to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its championship.

The Mets paid tribute to those on the team who had died. Gosger's name and photo appeared on the video board at Citi Field during that segment.

"So then they have this reunion, and they declare me dead," Gosger said. "I'm thinking, 'What the hell is going on?' So I had a bunch of people on Facebook that contacted me and said, 'Jim, that's a mistake.' I said, 'I think so. I feel alive.' "

He got a call from the Mets later that night. A representative apologized and tried to explain the mishap. Gosger hung up.

"I said, 'I don't want to talk to you.' "

He eventually called the Mets and told them he'd like to purchase the ring. They estimated that it would cost around $5,000. That was the end of that conversation.

His friends even sent the team a petition with 600 signatures in an effort to get the ring.

"Nothing has ever come of it," Gosger said.

https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/sports/2022/02/02/port-huron-native-jim-gosger-reflects-unique-mlb-career/9251636002https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/sports/2022/02/02/port-huron-native-jim-gosger-reflects-unique-mlb-career/9251636002

Edgy MD · February 4, 2022

That sounds like some mighty ruffled feathers.

Get one of the ambassadors on that. And for God's sake, put a ring on that man.

Edgy MD · February 7, 2022

José Bautista and his inky, inky beard totally eat it on the field of honor that is the backyard wiffleball field.

The 13-year-old pitcher pantsing him goes by the name of "Doodoo Biscuit."

[media=youtube]1H3D12bS1FI[/media]

Willets Point · February 11, 2022

Lenny Dykstra is in the midst of an extended Twitter beef with adult contemporary singer/songwriter Richard Marx. Who needs the hot stove?

G-Fafif · February 15, 2022

Ken MacKenzie posted the Mets' only winning record in 1962 and, as demonstrated in the Hartford Courant, still knows the strike zone.

The magazine was slipped across the kitchen table. Ken MacKenzie picked it up and stared at it smiling and chuckling.

“We thought he was an old man,” MacKenzie said as craggy Casey Stengel stared back from the cover of the Sports Illustrated dated March 5, 1962. “Casey knew what was going on. There were no flies on Casey.”

Great visit with an Original Met who plans on joining us for Old Timers Day.

https://www.courant.com/sports/hc-sp-amore-column-mlb-1962-mets-ken-mackenzie-20220215-20220215-t6hborsqczgf7kymf7zhwgfv3q-story.htmlhttps://www.courant.com/sports/hc-sp-amore-column-mlb-1962-mets-ken-mackenzie-20220215-20220215-t6hborsqczgf7kymf7zhwgfv3q-story.html

Frayed Knot · February 15, 2022

He's probably great-grand-father MacKenzie by now.

Edgy MD · February 15, 2022

He's old enough that his tenure with the Mets pre-dates that reference by three years.

Edgy MD · February 19, 2022

Desi Brogna Relaford reflects on his career, his time with the Mets, and Mike Piazza's September 21, 2001 homerun.

https://ballnine.com/2021/09/10/replay-desi-relaford/https://ballnine.com/2021/09/10/replay-desi-relaford/

G-Fafif · February 22, 2022

George Altman, a month from his 89th birthday, has gotten around, as Anthony Castrovince notes.

Though this cannot be proven, it can be reasonably proposed that Altman, who turns 89 on March 20, played baseball in more organized leagues than anybody in history.

The back of Altman's baseball card will show the 991 games he played for the Cubs, Cardinals and Mets from 1959-67. He hit .269 with 101 home runs and 403 RBIs and was selected as a National League All-Star three times (twice in 1961, when two games were held, and once in 1962).

That's a very good career, worthy of remembrance.

But what makes Altman truly special is all that surrounded those nine seasons in the NL.

Altman is one of only 87 people to have played in both the Negro Leagues and the AL or NL. And he is one of only three people -- along with Don Newcombe and Larry Doby -- to have played in the Negro Leagues, AL/NL and Japan's NPB.

Add in his collegiate experience at Tennessee A&I (the historically Black school that became Tennessee State), his time playing baseball in the Army and his time in the Panamanian and Cuban winter leagues, and Altman's baseball career is uniquely diverse.

And what a career it was.

Altman joined the legendary Roberto Clemente and Hank Aaron in manning right field in one of those 1961 All-Star Games. He is one of only three players (along with Ernie Banks and Felipe Alou) to have homered off Sandy Koufax twice in the same game. He made a leaping catch in the ninth inning to preserve Don Cardwell's 1960 no-hitter. And in Japan, he played through a bout with colon cancer and had a double-digit home run total at the ripe old age of 42.

https://www.mlb.com/news/george-altman-played-in-the-majors-negro-leagues-and-japanhttps://www.mlb.com/news/george-altman-played-in-the-majors-negro-leagues-and-japan

G-Fafif · February 24, 2022

[media=youtube]Y-bqQfSU4ws[/media]

Your newly RSVP'd Old-Timers include a 30-30 man, a 300-save notcher and, most impressively, a pitcher who went 5-4 for a club that went 40-120. Zoom along with HoJo, Wags and the Original K-Mac.

Edgy MD · February 24, 2022

"I feel shitty."

Now that we've got HoJo back in circulation, let's get him edited into Once Upon a Time in Queens.

Edgy MD · February 24, 2022

MacKenzie giving up the "gamer" to Frank Howard.

http://leaptoad.com/mets/scorecard_graph.php?game=200&font=1>

Edgy MD · February 24, 2022

Wait a minute ... when did Josh Lewin re-enter the fold?

G-Fafif · February 25, 2022

Josh has been doing the club-sanctioned “Mets in the Morning” podcast since July. You can tell it's official because he dances around the names of locked-out players.

G-Fafif · March 10, 2022

Mookie receives an award.

G-Fafif · March 23, 2022

Frayed Knot · March 23, 2022

Glavine had been largely passed over in favor of Francoeur and was doing fewer and fewer Braves games over the last year or two.

I thought that an odd choice at first, particularly with Glavine being the bigger Braves star. But I guess being a native Georgian helped and Frenchie, who I assumed to be the stereotypical rock-headed jock, turned out to be surprisingly good and network jobs were quickly added to his ATL work.

G-Fafif · March 30, 2022

Edgy MD · March 30, 2022

Three lefty throwers/lefty hitters. Krane is going ringless, however.

Person in the foreground is also rocking a cane.

It's hard to see older Ed Kranepool and not think I'm somehow related to him.

G-Fafif · March 30, 2022

One day shy of ten years will be Johanniversary Night at Citi Field.

FLUSHING, N.Y., March 28, 2022 — The New York Mets today announced that the club will hold a pre-game ceremony commemorating the 10th anniversary of Johan Santana's historic no-hitter on Tuesday, May 31 prior to the 7:10 pm game vs. Washington.

On June 1, 2012, Santana delivered his signature pitch, a changeup, to strike out St. Louis' David Freese, to author the first no-hitter in franchise history after 8,019 regular season games.

Santana and his catcher that evening Josh Thole, will be honored for their historic achievement.

“I still remember how I felt that night,” said Santana, who gutted through 134 pitches. “I knew how much it meant to New York Mets fans. I was very proud to be a part of the first no-hitter and I can't wait to celebrate with the fans on May 31. It holds a special place in my heart.”

In addition, the team announced that Santana and Thole will both participate in Old Timers' Day on Saturday, August 27 prior to the 7:10 pm game vs. Colorado.

With one out in the seventh inning, Yadier Molina laced a line drive to left. Queens native Mike Baxter raced back and crashed violently into the wall but held onto the baseball to preserve the no-hit bid.

“I was in a zone with Josh all night,” recalled Santana. “I remember I was holding my breath before Baxter's catch. It was amazing. He really saved me.”

https://newyorkmets.medium.com/mets-to-honor-johan-santana-on-may-31-in-a-pre-game-ceremony-10-years-after-his-historic-no-hitter-71d5855d1f25https://newyorkmets.medium.com/mets-to-honor-johan-santana-on-may-31-in-a-pre-game-ceremony-10-years-after-his-historic-no-hitter-71d5855d1f25

Edgy MD · March 30, 2022

No notion of whether Baxter will be included?

G-Fafif · March 30, 2022

Mike might be busy.

https://vucommodores.com/coach/mike-baxter-3/https://vucommodores.com/coach/mike-baxter-3/

G-Fafif · April 1, 2022

Can't get much more “what's a Met retired from the game up to?” than a check-in with David Wright as he visits St. Lucie.

https://www.mlb.com/news/david-wright-joins-mets-spring-traininghttps://www.mlb.com/news/david-wright-joins-mets-spring-training

G-Fafif · April 1, 2022

Dave Gallagher, with stories that touch on, among others, Willie Mays, Nolan Ryan and Bret Saberhagen.

I have a great story about Willie Mays. I had all of that love for Willie Mays as a kid. Years later playing for the Mets, we went into San Francisco to play the Giants. Bobby Bonilla started in right field. I went in in the seventh inning for him and there was a right-handed hitter who tended to drive the ball the other way. I'm in right, so I'm ready. He did exactly what I envisioned and hit it to right. At Candlestick Park, from the foul line to the padded wall is extremely narrow. I was on a dead run, caught the ball and pulled my arm in because I knew I was gonna slam into the wall, which I did. I went down to the ground, held up the ball and jogged in because it was the last out.

The next day, I checked in with the trainers to say hello. I was about to leave when one of them said, “Hey Gally, you got a compliment from a pretty big name.” I thought they were playing with me and trying to put the bait out there. The other trainer said, “Yeah, Willie Mays came in and asked who the right fielder was.” They told him it was Bobby Bonilla. He said he knew who Bonilla was but wanted to know the guy who went in for him. They told him it was Dave Gallagher. He said, “Well tell him he's a really good outfielder because good outfielders make hard plays look easy.” I'll never forget that. I can't understand how a little boy in New Jersey who idolized Willie Mays, so many years later would be complimented by that man. That doesn't seem possible!

https://ballnine.com/2022/03/31/dave-gallagher/https://ballnine.com/2022/03/31/dave-gallagher/