Countdown Quiz

[G-Fafif]

9 Mike Maddux

[G-Fafif]

12 Doug Henry

[G-Fafif]

13 Gary Thurman

[G-Fafif]

7 Alejandro Pena

[Benjamin Grimm]

Your ability to remember all of these ephemeral Mets is absolutely remarkable.

[seawolf17]

Your ability to remember all of these ephemeral Mets is absolutely remarkable.

Seriously. Who the hell remembers Gary Thurman was a Met? Incredible.

1. 1967: Sixteen days as a Met in April as a Rule V pick, six games, 12 AB, no hits, 5 Ks. Apparently selling insurance in Corpus Christi these days. Came over from the Dodgers, then went back.
5. 1990: 0 for 9, all off the bench as a September callup and backup outfielder. Often conflated for a similarly-named player on the same 1990 team.
4. 1967: 2-8 as a Met after coming over from Boston; probably best remembered as a Phillie, I guess?
4. 1989: 1-7 as a Met, followed by a solid career as a pre-McEwing McEwing, mostly in San Diego.

1. 1966-67: 1-6 at the plate, and best known as a MFY postseason hero with three starts in the 1962 WS. RALPH TERRY
2. 1967-69: 0-6, pitching 24 1/3 innings in parts of three seasons. "I don't consider myself a Miracle Met, because I really did nothing," he said. "I was just lucky to be there."
3. 1970: 2-6. Spent a few productive years in the bullpen in St. Louis and San Diego in the mid-70s. RICH FOLKERS
4. 1972: 0-6. Spent a few productive years in the rotation in San Diego in the mid-70s. BRENT STROM
5. 1985-86: 2-6. A Mets bullpen mainstay for a long time. RANDY NIEMANN
6. 1987: 0-6. A middle infielder best known for his work in Pittsburgh. AL PEDRIQUE
7. 1990-91: 1-6 as a Met; way more successful as a Dodger in the first half of his career. ALEJANDRO PENA
8. 1992-93: 0-6. The pride of Center Moriches! Those were his only MLB at-bats; spent most of his career in the AL. PAUL GIBSON
9. 1993-94: 0-6 at the plate. Better known for working with pitchers than for his actual pitching. MIKE MADDUX
10. 1993-95: 1-6 at the plate. Live bullpen arm who bounced around the majors until 2004. Had his only real success in Pittsburgh.
11. 1995-96: 0-6. Mostly unsuccessful middle reliever and occasional closer (in Colorado) who found his way into management. JERRY DiPOTO
12. 1995-96: 1-6. Came up as a closer in Milwaukee, then served in middle relief as a Met and beyond. DOUG HENRY
13. 1997: 1-6 in eleven games, all off the bench in May as an outfielder/PR/PH. GARY THURMAN
14. 1997: 3-1, 3.59 in 25 games and I have zero recollection of him as a Met. Acquired in exchange for a former Cy Young winner. Went 0-6.
15. 2002-13: Was always a Met. Always. Don't let anyone tell you differently. 0-6, all in 2003 and 2006 (plus a walk in 2009). PERPETUAL PEDRO
16. 2012-13: 0-5, 8.26 as a Met, and 0-6 at the plate... then finished fourth in the ROY voting in 2014. COLLIN McHUGH
17. 2015-16: Was a solid bullpen piece in '15, then not so much last year. 2-6 at the plate. SEAN GILMARTIN
18. 2016: 2-6, both RBI doubles in a September game against the Phillies. GAVIN "GARIN" CECCHINI

GFafif 111
FIELD 123
Batmags 36
JCL 25
Edgy 21
Ben Grimm 13
FK 8
SteveJR 6
Hahn 3
Chad 3
MetFairy 3
DocTee 3
Ceetar 3
Lefty 1

[batmagadanleadoff]

'69er Les Rohr

[G-Fafif]

seawolf17 wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: Your ability to remember all of these ephemeral Mets is absolutely remarkable. Seriously. Who the hell remembers Gary Thurman was a Met? Incredible.

Gary Thurman is synonymous in my mind with Not Kevin Roberson in the class of passing-through reserve outfielders (based on a long-ago conversation I had with JCL), and vice-versa. And since I know Roberson was no longer on the team in '97 (and he was already an answer), well, there ya go.

[G-Fafif]

14 Juan Acevdeo (started the final game of the first Subway Series and Roger Clemens's return to Shea as a Blue Jay)

[seawolf17]

1. 1966-67: 1-6 at the plate, and best known as a MFY postseason hero with three starts in the 1962 WS. RALPH TERRY
2. 1967-69: 0-6, pitching 24 1/3 innings in parts of three seasons. "I don't consider myself a Miracle Met, because I really did nothing," he said. "I was just lucky to be there." LES ROHR
3. 1970: 2-6. Spent a few productive years in the bullpen in St. Louis and San Diego in the mid-70s. RICH FOLKERS
4. 1972: 0-6. Spent a few productive years in the rotation in San Diego in the mid-70s. BRENT STROM
5. 1985-86: 2-6. A Mets bullpen mainstay for a long time. RANDY NIEMANN
6. 1987: 0-6. A middle infielder best known for his work in Pittsburgh. AL PEDRIQUE
7. 1990-91: 1-6 as a Met; way more successful as a Dodger in the first half of his career. ALEJANDRO PENA
8. 1992-93: 0-6. The pride of Center Moriches! Those were his only MLB at-bats; spent most of his career in the AL. PAUL GIBSON
9. 1993-94: 0-6 at the plate. Better known for working with pitchers than for his actual pitching. MIKE MADDUX
11. 1995-96: 0-6. Mostly unsuccessful middle reliever and occasional closer (in Colorado) who found his way into management. JERRY DiPOTO
12. 1995-96: 1-6. Came up as a closer in Milwaukee, then served in middle relief as a Met and beyond. DOUG HENRY
13. 1997: 1-6 in eleven games, all off the bench in May as an outfielder/PR/PH. GARY THURMAN
14. 1997: 3-1, 3.59 in 25 games and I have zero recollection of him as a Met. Acquired in exchange for a former Cy Young winner. Went 0-6. JUAN ACEVEDO
15. 2002-13: Was always a Met. Always. Don't let anyone tell you differently. 0-6, all in 2003 and 2006 (plus a walk in 2009). PERPETUAL PEDRO
16. 2012-13: 0-5, 8.26 as a Met, and 0-6 at the plate... then finished fourth in the ROY voting in 2014. COLLIN McHUGH
17. 2015-16: Was a solid bullpen piece in '15, then not so much last year. 2-6 at the plate. SEAN GILMARTIN
18. 2016: 2-6, both RBI doubles in a September game against the Phillies. GAVIN "GARIN" CECCHINI

GFafif 112
FIELD 124
Batmags 37
JCL 25
Edgy 21
Ben Grimm 13
FK 8
SteveJR 6
Hahn 3
Chad 3
MetFairy 3
DocTee 3
Ceetar 3
Lefty 1

Still on the table:

1967: Sixteen days as a Met in April as a Rule V pick, six games, 12 AB, no hits, 5 Ks. Apparently selling insurance in Corpus Christi these days. Came over from the Dodgers, then went back. "For his efforts, he did get his picture on a 1967 Topps rookie card with Greg ("In 10 years, he's got a chance to reach 30") Goossen."
1990: 0 for 9, all off the bench as a September callup and backup outfielder. Often conflated for a similarly-named player on the same 1990 team. Traded with Cesar Mejia by the Baltimore Orioles to the New York Mets in exchange for John Mitchell and Joaquin Contreras on December 5, 1989.
1967: 2-8 as a Met after coming over from Boston; probably best remembered as a Phillie, I guess? Was a lot better against the Mets as a Phillie from 1962-64 than he was with us.
1989: 1-7 as a Met, followed by a solid career as a pre-McEwing McEwing, mostly in San Diego. Born in another hemisphere.
1993-95: 1-6 at the plate. Live bullpen arm who bounced around the majors until 2004. Had his only real success in Pittsburgh. His brother pitched a few MLB seasons also.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

1989 leftover must be Craig Shipley

[batmagadanleadoff]

seawolf17 wrote: 1967: Sixteen days as a Met in April as a Rule V pick, six games, 12 AB, no hits, 5 Ks. Apparently selling insurance in Corpus Christi these days. Came over from the Dodgers, then went back. "For his efforts, he did get his picture on a 1967 Topps rookie card with Greg ("In 10 years, he's got a chance to reach 30") Goossen."

Is that Goossen clue new? I didn't notice it before.

Bart Shirley

[G-Fafif]

The '93-'95 guy sounds like Josias Manzanillo, but he came back for a blink in 1999.

[G-Fafif]

1967 guy from Red Sox, Phillies: Dennis Bennett.

[G-Fafif]

1990 guy: Keith Hughes

[seawolf17]

I hate when I miss little statistical things like extra late-career seasons. And yes, I added some clues here to knock these off the board.

1967: Sixteen days as a Met in April as a Rule V pick, six games, 12 AB, no hits, 5 Ks. Apparently selling insurance in Corpus Christi these days. Came over from the Dodgers, then went back. "For his efforts, he did get his picture on a 1967 Topps rookie card with Greg ("In 10 years, he's got a chance to reach 30") Goossen." BART SHIRLEY
1990: 0 for 9, all off the bench as a September callup and backup outfielder. Often conflated for a similarly-named player on the same 1990 team. Traded with Cesar Mejia by the Baltimore Orioles to the New York Mets in exchange for John Mitchell and Joaquin Contreras on December 5, 1989. KEITH HUGHES
1967: 2-8 as a Met after coming over from Boston; probably best remembered as a Phillie, I guess? Was a lot better against the Mets as a Phillie from 1962-64 than he was with us. DENNIS BENNETT
1989: 1-7 as a Met, followed by a solid career as a pre-McEwing McEwing, mostly in San Diego. Born in another hemisphere. CRAIG SHIPLEY
1993-[crossout]95[/crossout]99: 1-6 at the plate. Live bullpen arm who bounced around the majors until 2004. Had his only real success in Pittsburgh. His brother pitched a few MLB seasons also. JOSIAS MANZANILLO

GFafif 115
FIELD 126
Batmags 38
JCL 26
Edgy 21
Ben Grimm 13
FK 8
SteveJR 6
Hahn 3
Chad 3
MetFairy 3
DocTee 3
Ceetar 3
Lefty 1

For the last five days, we go in ALPHABETICAL order, not chronological order, which will help make the wild guesses easier for everyone who hasn't written multiple Mets books.

[seawolf17]

HERE WE GO! And again, rather than in chronological order, we're going in alphabetical order by last name for the last five days. All these guys had five Mets ABs. GO.



1. 1989: Bullpen arm probably best known as an Oriole.
2. 2004-06: Bullpen arm best known as an oversized blowhard in San Diego after his time as a Met.
3. 1978-79: Shared a tri-Met rookie card, then traded to Milwaukee and became a long time pitching coach.
4. 2009: Full-time OF in Kansas City in the mid-00s who finished his career going 0-5 as a Met that summer.
5. 1991-92: Long time Expo bullpen mainstay, acquired for Ron Darling.
6. 1987: Pitched in 600 games, including winning 20 games for the Pirates in 1977.
7. 1994: His only MLB appearances were two starts in July 1994 as a Met.
8. 1998-2001: 255 games out of the pen.
9. 1982-83: Best known for what he brough back in trade.
10. 1967: Had few good season in Baltimore, but was toast by the time he got to Shea.
11. 1962: Started his catching career in 1948 with Detroit; only got into two games as a Met.
12. 1975-76: Solid swingman for the Twins and Reds before coming to the Mets
13. 1976: Only got into two MLB games, but his one hit was a 2-run single off Bruce Sutter.
14. 1966: His 5 AB are the most of any Met without a single appearance in the field; all pinch-hitting appearances. Played parts of twelve seasons, most notably in Kansas City.
15. 1967: His 1967 Topps card claimed he "must keep his weight down to keep in winning form." Acquired from the White Sox and then traded to St. Louis for Al Jackson that season.
16. 2000: Came up with Tampa in 1999 as a middle infielder, but never really amounted to much as a major leaguer.
17. 1997: Pitched in 54 games. RIP.
18. 2006: 0-4, 9.87 in four starts. RIP.
19. 1964: 1-2, 3.48 in 25 games... and never pitched in the majors again.
20. 2002-03: We traded a young Jason Bay AND Bobby Jones for him.
21. 1973: Eight MLB games, all in mid-August 1973, as a PH/shortstop.
22. 2008: June 25: Selected off waivers by the New York Mets from the Cincinnati Reds. July 3: Selected off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds from the New York Mets.
23. 1966: Shut out the Reds in his MLB debut in June, then got blown out by the Cardinals four days later... and only appeared in six more MLB games.
24. 1992: Long time Met minor leaguer who was traded around and then came back to Shea for five AB in 1992.
25. 1990-91: Rose like a rocket through the Mets' system, going 15-9, 2.12 across three levels in 1989... and then was traded for Dick Schofield.

GFafif 115
FIELD 126
Batmags 38
JCL 26
Edgy 21
Ben Grimm 13
FK 8
SteveJR 6
Hahn 3
Chad 3
MetFairy 3
DocTee 3
Ceetar 3
Lefty 1

[Edgy MD]

2. Heath Bell

[batmagadanleadoff]

3 Dwight Bernard

[Edgy MD]

5.

[batmagadanleadoff]

5 Tim Burke

[seawolf17]

Edgy's making a move!

1. 1989: Bullpen arm probably best known as an Oriole.
BELL 2. 2004-06: Bullpen arm best known as an oversized blowhard in San Diego after his time as a Met.
BERNARD 3. 1978-79: Shared a tri-Met rookie card, then traded to Milwaukee and became a long time pitching coach.
4. 2009: Full-time OF in Kansas City in the mid-00s who finished his career going 0-5 as a Met that summer.
BURKE 5. 1991-92: Long time Expo bullpen mainstay, acquired for Ron Darling.
6. 1987: Pitched in 600 games, including winning 20 games for the Pirates in 1977.
7. 1994: His only MLB appearances were two starts in July 1994 as a Met.
8. 1998-2001: 255 games out of the pen.
9. 1982-83: Best known for what he brough back in trade.
10. 1967: Had few good season in Baltimore, but was toast by the time he got to Shea.
11. 1962: Started his catching career in 1948 with Detroit; only got into two games as a Met.
12. 1975-76: Solid swingman for the Twins and Reds before coming to the Mets
13. 1976: Only got into two MLB games, but his one hit was a 2-run single off Bruce Sutter.
14. 1966: His 5 AB are the most of any Met without a single appearance in the field; all pinch-hitting appearances. Played parts of twelve seasons, most notably in Kansas City.
15. 1967: His 1967 Topps card claimed he "must keep his weight down to keep in winning form." Acquired from the White Sox and then traded to St. Louis for Al Jackson that season.
16. 2000: Came up with Tampa in 1999 as a middle infielder, but never really amounted to much as a major leaguer.
17. 1997: Pitched in 54 games. RIP.
18. 2006: 0-4, 9.87 in four starts. RIP.
19. 1964: 1-2, 3.48 in 25 games... and never pitched in the majors again.
20. 2002-03: We traded a young Jason Bay AND Bobby Jones for him.
21. 1973: Eight MLB games, all in mid-August 1973, as a PH/shortstop.
22. 2008: June 25: Selected off waivers by the New York Mets from the Cincinnati Reds. July 3: Selected off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds from the New York Mets.
23. 1966: Shut out the Reds in his MLB debut in June, then got blown out by the Cardinals four days later... and only appeared in six more MLB games.
24. 1992: Long time Met minor leaguer who was traded around and then came back to Shea for five AB in 1992.
25. 1990-91: Rose like a rocket through the Mets' system, going 15-9, 2.12 across three levels in 1989... and then was traded for Dick Schofield.

GFafif 115
FIELD 129
Batmags 39
JCL 26
Edgy 23
Ben Grimm 13
FK 8
SteveJR 6
Hahn 3
Chad 3
MetFairy 3
DocTee 3
Ceetar 3
Lefty 1

[Edgy MD]

6.

[Centerfield]

18. Jose Lima?

[batmagadanleadoff]

6 John Candelaria

[Edgy MD]

8.

[batmagadanleadoff]

15 Jack Lamabe

[batmagadanleadoff]

21 Brian Ostrosser

[batmagadanleadoff]

23 Dick Rusteck

[batmagadanleadoff]

1 Don Aase