Pete Alonso vs 1980 Mets/Francisco Alvarez

[G-Fafif]

Pete Alonso's 18th home run came in the 2023 Mets' 49th game.



The 1980 Mets' 18th home run came in their 63rd game (Claudell Washington's third of the day).

Edited May 24, 2023 by Guest

[Benjamin Grimm]

Was that the year that the Daily News did "Mets vs Maris"?

[G-Fafif]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Was that the year that the Daily News did "Mets vs Maris"?

Yup.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Yes, it was.



http://leaptoad.com/mets/jpeg/MetsVsMaris_26June1980.jpg>

[Edgy MD]

Hah! Cubs!

[Benjamin Grimm]

I had forgotten about how newspaper box scores used to arbitrarily abbreviate players' names. Why did they have to drop the E from Buckner, for example? It's only a seven-letter name.

[Edgy MD]

What a great drop of amber to capture the 1980 Mets in, when their short-term acquisitions of Claudell Washington and José Cardenál (who switched teams in the middle of a doubleheader, if I recall correctly) gave the power-hungry offense an air of mediocrity.

[MFS62]

I looked at the losing pitcher and smiled.

He seemed to have a whammy on the Mets for a couple of years -either beating them or being taken of the hook when his team scored runs. And it was rubbed in by Ralph Kiner who liked him and always referred to him as the "Polish Prince". Even after he stopped playing when he was an announcer, and Ralph would point him out to the camera.

It got to the point that if I heard his name even mentioned, the Mets would lose. And it is because of that, I didn't type his name. The Mets are playing tonight. (Yes, I'm very superstitious)



Later

[batmagadanleadoff]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I had forgotten about how newspaper box scores used to arbitrarily abbreviate players' names. Why did they have to drop the E from Buckner, for example? It's only a seven-letter name.

I'm guessing that the typesetting back then wasn't computerized, but manual and there was only so much space allotted for each player. It was about the space needed to typeset each name, not the number of characters needed. Some characters were wider than others. Still, it seemed random, like you pointed out. The widest name was Tim Blackwell's, and if "Blackwel C" fit, then they certainly could have squeezed in the "e" in Buckner.



Or maybe it wasn't so random. Blackwell's was the longest last name among Cubs regulars in 1980. Perhaps Buckner was shortened because on days that Barry Foote was the starting catcher instead of Blackwell, the Cubs lineup used up less typesetting space.



BTW- The 1980 Mets tied Maris61 for HR's: each finished with 61.

Edited May 24, 2023 by Guest

[MFS62]

Edgy MD wrote: José Cardenál (who switched teams in the middle of a doubleheader, if I recall correctly)

Joel Youngblood played for two teams on the same day.

Did Cardenal also do it?

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/joel-youngblood-two-hits-for-two-teams-same-day-1982-mets-expos/jtp9kadw3r171hdjti066djrhhttps://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/joel-youngblood-two-hits-for-two-teams-same-day-1982-mets-expos/jtp9kadw3r171hdjti066djrh

Later

Edited May 24, 2023 by Guest

[batmagadanleadoff]

[FIMG=666]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52922643741_f60d10b007_h.jpg[/FIMG]

[batmagadanleadoff]

Edgy MD wrote: José Cardenál (who switched teams in the middle of a doubleheader, if I recall correctly) Joel Youngblood played for two teams on the same day. Did Cardenal also do it? https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/joel-youngblood-two-hits-for-two-teams-same-day-1982-mets-expos/jtp9kadw3r171hdjti066djrhhttps://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/joel-youngblood-two-hits-for-two-teams-same-day-1982-mets-expos/jtp9kadw3r171hdjti066djrh Later

[FIMG=666]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52923117558_535d9cc55c_h.jpg[/FIMG]

[Edgy MD]

Edgy MD wrote: José Cardenál (who switched teams in the middle of a doubleheader, if I recall correctly) Joel Youngblood played for two teams on the same day. Did Cardenal also do it? https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/joel-youngblood-two-hits-for-two-teams-same-day-1982-mets-expos/jtp9kadw3r171hdjti066djrhhttps://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/joel-youngblood-two-hits-for-two-teams-same-day-1982-mets-expos/jtp9kadw3r171hdjti066djrh Later

No. Cardenal was a Phillie in the first game of the doubleheader, but didn't play in that game.

[MFS62]

Edgy MD wrote: No. Cardenal was a Phillie in the first game of the doubleheader, but didn't play in that game.

I have a personal memory about Cardenal, but don't want to hijack this thread.

Maybe sometime in the future.



Later

[G-Fafif]

Pete's leading the 1980 Mets, 19 to 11, through 51 games.

[vtmet7]

that is a weird lineup...



anyone remember a poster that used to go by "Stoins" on the MOFO? I think that they were obsessed with Stearns, but it might have just been part of the character that they were trying to portray

[Edgy MD]

Stoins posted here. I've always thought that he was an early iteration of ashie.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Was checking out the 2016 MLB June draft, where the Mets drafted Alonso late in the 2nd round (25th pick, 66th overall), two picks before the Jays drafted Bo Bichette. Alonso, Bryan Reynolds (also 2nd round), Bichette and Shane Bieber (4th round) are the prizes of that draft. Alonso might very well be the best pick of that draft as things are turning out. The first round was an unmitigated disaster, with the most productive first round pick, to date, might be Padres selection and current Met Joey Lucchesi. The Mets first round pick in 2016 was pitcher Aaron Kay.

[metsmarathon]

=batmagadanleadoff post_id=126967 time=1685485131 user_id=68]
Was checking out the 2016 MLB June draft, where the Mets drafted Alonso late in the 2nd round (25th pick, 66th overall), two picks before the Jays drafted Bo Bichette. Alonso, Bryan Reynolds (also 2nd round), Bichette and Shane Bieber (4th round) are the prizes of that draft. Alonso might very well be the best pick of that draft as things are turning out. The first round was an unmitigated disaster, with the most productive first round pick, to date, might be Padres selection and current Met Joey Lucchesi. The Mets first round pick in 2016 was pitcher Aaron Kay.

[Edgy MD]

[Anthony Kay is trying to login]

[batmagadanleadoff]

Edgy MD wrote: [Anthony Kay is trying to login]

Hah. It didn't feel right when I wrote Aaron Kay but I couldn't figure out what it was. Also, the Mets had two first round picks that year, the other pick being Justin Dunn.

[Edgy MD]

Also, the Pads picked Joey Fuego in the fourth round.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Edgy MD wrote: Also, the Pads picked Joey Fuego in the fourth round.

Yeah. I must've hit a wrong.button or something because the BRef draft page is a tiny bit complicated. That first round is looking a little bit better than I first thought but overall, it's still incredibly crappy.

[G-Fafif]

Pete Alonso through 55 2023 Mets games: 20 HR

1980 Mets through 55 2023 Mets games: 13 HR



HR 13 in 1980 was The Steve Henderson Game, lifting the Mets to 27-28, only 1 GB the 2023 Mets at present.



The 1980 Mets' 20th HR, via Claudell Washington (his 4th in 2 games), came in Mets game 64.

[G-Fafif]

Pete Alonso in the Mets' 61st game of 2022: 22 HR.

The Mets in the Mets' 61st game of 1980: 15 HR.



Jose Moreno hit the Mets' 15th homer of 1980 in Game 59.

Elliott Maddox hit the Mets' 22nd homer of 1980 in Game 67.

[G-Fafif]

Pete has his 23rd homer in the 2023 Mets' 74th game.



The 1980 Mets had their 23rd homer in their 68th game, and would be up to 26 by Game 74.

[kcmets]

He's been slackin' LFGP!

[G-Fafif]

Pete hits his 24th home run of 2023 in the Mets' 77th game.



Lee Mazzilli hit the Mets' 24th home run in the 1980 Mets' 72nd game.



Steve Henderson boosted the 1980 Mets' home run total to 29 by their 77th game.

[G-Fafif]

Pete's 25th home run comes in the Mets' 84th game.



Lee Mazzilli hit the 1980 Mets' 25th home run in their 73rd game.



The 1980 Mets raised their home run total to 37 with three homers (two for Hendu, one for Mazz) in their 84th game, the night in Atlanta that those Mets reached .500.

[G-Fafif]

Pete's 26th home run comes in the 2023 Mets' 87th game.



Lee Mazzilli hit the 1980 Mets' 26th homer in the club's 74th game.



The 1980 Mets reached 39 homers in their 87th game, Claudell Washington doing the honors.