Yeah I know its a stupid question but do you remember Lee Mazzilli? I sure do seeing that he came from my old neighborhood of Sheepshead Bay Brooklyn. His father was a piano repair man and his mother was a beautician. Lee was important to me as he was to many young Mets fans that grew up as part of that lost generation that grew up during the lost years of the mid to late ’70′s . Lee had it all , matine quality good looks, a great arm – powerful bat – and he was a Brooklyn boy that was making good on the ball field of Flushing Queens. So do you remember Brooklyn’s finest?
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Lee Louis Mazzilli was born on March 25, 1955, in Brooklyn, New York, Lee was selected by the Mets with the 14th pick in the first round of the June 1973 draft.
While in the minor leagues, Mazzilli showed off his speed by setting a California League record -and possibly a professional record, when he stole seven bases in a game for the Mets’ minor league affiliate Visalia against San Jose in 1975. Mazzilli made his major League debut in late September of 1976 and he was a mainstay for the team until being traded in 1981. I remember in ’78 Lee Mazzilli poster day when all us kids got a poster of Lee posing in the dugout with a bat in his hand. It was for teenage girls what the Farrah Fawcett poster was for us adolescent boys.
In 1979, Mazzilli led the Mets with 181 hits, and 79 runs batted in, and was their sole representative at the All-Star Game in Seattle. Mazzilli hit a game tying solo home run in the eighth inning of that All-Star Game, and drew a bases-loaded walk in the 9th to bring in the winning run of the National League’s 7–6 victory. The following year, he had his best statistical season, leading the Mets with 162 hits, 31 doubles, 16 home runs, 76 RBIs, 82 runs, and 41 stolen bases.
Following the 1981 season, where he hit only .228 and was hampered by injuries to his back and elbow, he was traded by the Mets to the Texas Rangers. Though initially unpopular with Met fans, the deal would prove to be a good one, bringing minor league pitchers Ron Darling and Walt Terrell in return. Darling would go on to be a key starter on Mets’ 1986 World Series championship team, while Terrell was traded to the Detroit Tigers for another important player on that team, third baseman Howard “HoJo“Johnson following the 1984 season.
Mazzilli played only 58 games with Texas and was traded to the Yankees for Bucky Dent midway through the 1982 season. This killed me like it did for many Mets fans because we felt that Lee was a met and should never wear a Yankees uniform ( we would later feel alot more regret about this during the Yankee dynasty of the late ’90′s early ’00′s). Prior to the 1983 season, Mazzilli was traded to the Pirates for Tim Burke, Don Aubin, John Holland and Jose Rivera.
The Mets were early favorites to reach the post season in 1986, and prior to the start of the season offered third baseman Ray Knight to the Pirates for Mazzilli. The Pirates turned them down, but as destiny would have it, the Pirates released him in July 1986, and he re-signed with the Mets on August 3.
Upon signing with the Mets, Mazzilli was assigned to their triple-A affiliate, the Tidewater Tides. Interestingly enough, this was his first tour of duty with the Tides as he had made the jump to the major leagues from double-A. On August 7, the Mets released left fielder George Foster and called Mazzilli up to the majors. Foster was very critical of this move by the Mets, and accused his former employers of racism. Like I have said I had met Foster a week prior to his release and he was shall we say not ha happy camper – so it is obvious that I was happy to see him go .
Mazzilli turned out to be an important part of their championship team. His career with the Mets continued until 1989 when he was claimed by the Blue Jays on waivers. Mazzilli retired after the 1989 season, his 14th in the Major Leagues.
At the end of his career, the versatile Mazzilli took up acting, starring as Tony in an off-Broadway production of Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding.
He was first base coach to the New York Yankees from 2000 to 2003 .In 2004, Lee was hired as manager of the Baltimore Orioles. He was fired on August 4, 2005, during the team’s worst losing streak of the season. He was rehired as the Yankees bench coach in 2006. Although I have forgiven him for working for the Yankees , it still pains me to remember that play during the inter league series in ’00 when he persuaded a rookie umpire to call interference on Todd Zeile when it was clearly not the case.
Until last season Lee was the in studio color analyst for the Mets cable network , SNY , And he received a loud, long ovation at the “Shea Goodbye” closing ceremonies at Shea Stadium.
Although Lee never did attain the superstar player status that us Mets fans bestowed on him , He truly bled the Blue and Orange on the field and off . He will forever be considered a true Met in my eyes.
                                          
                                “HE SHOULDA BEEN THE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR !!”
11 comments
Kingman 26
11/19/2009-7:52pm at 7:52 pm (UTC -4)
Rusty, these pieces add SO much to the site!
I remember watching that All-Star game from Seattle in the brand new Kingdome, I loved Maz as a lost-70s-generation kid, and I vividly remember when they traded him to Texas.
I DO NOT remember that we offered Ray Knight for him!
GREAT job!
gipperpdx
11/19/2009-9:12pm at 9:12 pm (UTC -4)
I too had no recollection of knight for Maz. While I am happy Maz ended up on the 86 team anyway. that would have been a bad trade! Knight was key for us in that postseason!
CaseStreet
11/19/2009-9:20pm at 9:20 pm (UTC -4)
So rusty do you still have that maz poster? LOL
GravediggerHebner
11/19/2009-11:34pm at 11:34 pm (UTC -4)
Count me among those who has no recollection of that Knight-Maz offer.
Since I happened to become a Met fan in 1974, that 1979 All-Star game was the highlight of my first 10 years of being a Met fan. That the bases loaded walk was off a Yankee (Guidry) was merely gravy.
My favorite statistical anomaly about Maz is that he hit exactly 16 home runs 3 years in a row. 16 in ’78 & ’80, and 15 + the 1 in the All-Star game in ’79.
fongy2
11/20/2009-12:54am at 12:54 am (UTC -4)
Thank you indeed for this one Rusty!
Brings only good memories!
Without question my favorite Met ever!
I had BOTH a Maz & Farrah(God rest her
soul) poster in my room as a kid.
I was in Denver visiting my Aunt,Uncle
(God rest his soul as well)&Cousins
watching that All-Star game with them,
a bunch of yankee fans,and it was my
first moment as a Met fan in which
I felt real pride.
He was robbed!,should have been the MVP of that game.
First began to dislike Torre for making him a 1Bman! Took 25+years
for me to regain any respect for
Joe.
Was heart broken when I saw the trade for Darling and Terrell in the morning
paper.
Continued to root for him,yes even as
a yankee.
Rusty is correct about the almost deal
coming out of spring for Ray,Ray.
I have family in Pittsburgh and was
told about it then.
No Met fan happier than me when a day
or two before his actual signing,it
was reported as a likelyhood by the
NY papers. I do recall Foster’s reaction and Backman’s defense of
the FO during that first week of August’86. I was down in Seaside Heights that week with a bunch of
of my family and can remember exactly
where I was on the boardwalk,in a
Keano Hall with my Cousin waiting on
my Aunt,drinking a Melon-Ball at the bar when on the evening news,the sports report,
lead with Maz being called up. I immediately told my cousin, we’re winning the Series!
This was the day after my 21st Birthday and it felt like my Mets
had given me a present.
During the ’87 season my late wife
let me know that Dani Mazzilli
was now one of her clients,she was a hairdresser on the upper east side,
and that Lee usually picks her up from
the salon after they were done.
Obviously, I made her give the the heads up at the time of her next
appt!
I got to meet the man himself a month
later and had a chance to speak with
him for about 10mins in the salon
while I waited on my wife to finish
doing Dani’s hair,she was the last client of the day and it was an off day for the Mets who were in the
middle of trying to chase down the Cardinals.
Very nice, humble man which just made
my man crush on him all that much greater!…Yeah,I admit it.
About a month following that,my wife
…God rest her soul,you’re never
forgotten,Marilyn,…
came home to our apt with a surprise, a signed game used baseball
from the man himself that season!
He told her, he appreciated my loyalty
as a fan. Pretty nice.
It is still my most prized Met possesion to this day.
I was heartbroken again when he was
let go although, this time it was
understood.
Thanks again,Rustoleum!
The only thing you forgot to mention
was that he was a World Class speed
skater as a teenager and if not for
baseball may have been an olympian.
Great job and thanks for jogging some
very good and very deep memories.
rustyjr
11/20/2009-4:57am at 4:57 am (UTC -4)
never a problem fongy – sorry about your wife- very touching memories . yeah I went to ps 209 in brooklyn where he went and my sister along with her friends used to campout outside the salon where his mother worked i met him once – really is a classy guy and he never had that tony minero air to him
Kingman 26
11/20/2009-7:56am at 7:56 am (UTC -4)
Fong, absolutely amazing post, and I also am very sorry about your wife buddy.
Thanks for sharing all of this.
Maz was certainly also my idol back then, and I SO remember being angry that he did not win MVP in that All-Star game, but those throws Dave Parker made from RF still blow my mind when I see replays.
prismo
11/20/2009-8:06am at 8:06 am (UTC -4)
Great post Fongster. Sorry to hear about your wife
. Based solely on her gifting skills, she sounds like an amazing lady.
Unfortunately I’m too young to share any of the Maz memories with you guys! It would be nice to see the Mets make some lasting memories at some point in my lifetime. (so far my favorite is a tie between the Piazza post 9/11 home run and Ventura’s grand slam single)
trs86
11/20/2009-8:12am at 8:12 am (UTC -4)
Wow Fongy. This is why I love this site and our community. I feel the fans on here really do represent the Mets fanbase.
CaseStreet
11/20/2009-8:54am at 8:54 am (UTC -4)
Thanks for sharing with us fongy. I really appreciate it.
metsfan4decades
11/20/2009-11:24am at 11:24 am (UTC -4)
Great post/memories, Fongy – thanks for sharing. I’m sorry to hear about your wife. May she rest in peace.
I remember when Maz was traded back to the Mets and was called up. At that time his wife Dani, was a guest most mornings of that stretch run on NY radio station Z100 (which I used to listen to back in my youth). She would recap the game the day/night before and give little tidbits of what was going on with the team. She was on practically the same time every morning, which coincided with my then drive into work. It was great stuff.