" Words can't due this feat justice !!!"
Okay so far in this countdown of the top 50 Mets off all time – you fans have chosen pretty much players that represented players whose Mets careers had spanned the ’70′s until this past decade. Well that all changes today because at number 46 is one of the most iconic player from the ’69 World Series Championship Team. That’s right, it is right fielder Ron Swoboda ! I personally would have had Ron in my top 20 but I was not the one who voted .
Swoboda was signed by the Mets on September 5, 1963 . In 1964 he was assigned to the Mets’ AA farm team at Williamsport, PA , and made the parent team out of Spring Training in 1965. By the time the All -Star break , Ron had 15 home runs . This the most by a Mets rookie ever in the first half. Not even Darryl Strawberry or Ike Davis came close.
During his early years with the Mets, Ron was nicknamed ” Rocky” due to his result of his shaky fielding. He possessed a strong, accurate throwing arm, to complement his power bat. 1968 was possibly Ron’s best season offensively. He batted .281 with thirteen home runs drove in 53 RBIs. He also had a career high fourteen outfield assists.
Swoboda didn’t appear in the ’69 LCS, where the Mets swept the Atlanta Braves in three games. But he made up for that omission in the ’69 World Series.
During game four , Swoboda, would make possibly the best defensive play ever in a World Series game when he made a diving shoe string catch during the ninth inning - in which even though a run scored , he stopped the Orioles from scoring more on that would be Orioles rally. The Mets won the game 2–1 in ten innings, and the Mets would end up winning the world series in four games. Swoboda batted .400 in the World Series, he only had one RBI , which was the game winner of the final game.
Sadly by ’71 Swoboda’s play had faded and the Mets traded him to the Montreal Expos for outfielder Don Hahn. He would finish his career with the New York Yankees in ’73 although he did sign a contract with Atlanta in ’74 but was promptly released that March. He once again tried a comeback with the Mets in ’76. But that too proved to be unsuccessful. His career totals as a Mets are a .242 batting average with 69 home runs and 304 RBIs
I had the pleasure of interviewing him back in the summer of ’09 , and he was one of the nicest guys you will ever meet.
Tomorrow we will reveal which member of the ’86 team will be named number 45.
And with that said … HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!
Mets alumni celebrating a birthday today includes :
Mets reserve outfielder from the ’98 season, Wayne Kirby is 47 (1964) .
Sadly on this date in 2001 , we lost a true Mets legend when Mets outfielder,Tommie Agee passed away. I had the honor to meet Tommie on a number of occasions as a teenager, and he was always warm and friendly. There was no air of entitlement with Tommie, just a down to earth man who loved baseball and took time out to help the children of New York as an good will ambassador of the the New York Mets. He is missed.
New York Mets traded reserve outfielder, Mark Carreon and pitcher, Tony Castillo to the Detroit Tigers for middle reliever, Paul Gibson and minor league pitcher,Randy Marshall on January 22, 1992.
New York Mets traded minor league pitching prospects,Yudith Ozario , Eric Ludwick and minor league outfielder, Erik Hiljus to the St. Louis Cardinals for outfielder, Bernard Gilkey on January 22, 1996. This was a great move in my opinion. Too bad Bernard was on a crappy team at that point .
New York Mets signed free agent utility infielder,Alex Cora of the Boston Red Sox on January 22, 2009. Okay I can understand Omar signing Cora – he was a good clubhouse presence, but to give him two million dollars when there were better ( and cheaper) alternatives on the market ?!?!!?
New York Mets traded middle reliever, Brian Stokes to the Los Angeles Angels for washed up outfielder, Gary Matthews on January 22, 2010. Oh Omar , I still wonder how you could trade a decent middle reliever who possess a blazing fastball for that schlub – It would have been better if you had re-signed Garry Sheffield instead !
And while you are at home trying to keep warm while contemplating moving to Arizona, just remember that there are just 69 ( fine number!) more days until the Mets open the 2011 season against the Florida Marlins in Miami and only 76 more days until the Mets 2011 home opener against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field.
Mo Vaughn has contemplating taking up cross country skiing, but then he changed his mind when he found out that it was required a high level of exertion !!
28 comments
stickguy
1/22/2011-11:49am at 11:49 am (UTC -4)
this series is a great history lesson for any met fan, but especially newer (younger) ones. The back story is great.
I was always amused by how Swaboda always had a reputation as a bit of a stone glove (and not much range), but is now considered by many that only know his couple of WS catches to be the ultimate fielder!
rustyjr
1/22/2011-11:51am at 11:51 am (UTC -4)
well when I interviewd him he told me that he spent more time on improving his fielding that his hitting – just so that he could please Casey
metsfan4decades
1/22/2011-12:01pm at 12:01 pm (UTC -4)
I eventually made the decision to leave Swoboda off my top 50, although it was close. I saw that WS and I saw that catch. As a young fan back in ’69, I very easily could have included just about everyone on that team from Art Shamsky to JC Martin, as each held some memory and were larger than life to me.
I could have included him for that catch and potential game saver alone but decided his contributions were a little too little. If effort counted for anything though, he easily makes the top 50.
Loving these snippets that bring back memories for me.
rustyjr
1/22/2011-12:13pm at 12:13 pm (UTC -4)
Damn you are tough lol
oleosmirf
1/22/2011-12:52pm at 12:52 pm (UTC -4)
for what it’s worth, Brian Stokes pitched himself out of the majors in early May last season with an ERA over 8.00
rustyjr
1/22/2011-1:00pm at 1:00 pm (UTC -4)
Would you rather him or Mathews ?
kingman 26
1/22/2011-1:27pm at 1:27 pm (UTC -4)
Is neither a choice??
oleosmirf
1/22/2011-4:26pm at 4:26 pm (UTC -4)
its pick your poison but I’ll take Matthews b/c a 4th OF can’t hurt you as bad as a RP.
rustyjr
1/22/2011-4:32pm at 4:32 pm (UTC -4)
he does when he starts the first week, and can’t hit with risp
oleosmirf
1/22/2011-4:39pm at 4:39 pm (UTC -4)
my point is a position player going 0-4 doesn’t hurt as bad as a pitcher giving up a few runs.
rustyjr
1/22/2011-4:45pm at 4:45 pm (UTC -4)
But Stokes wasn’t as bad as some of those other scrubs that were trotted out there . Jerry had him in his doghouse along with Evans
oleosmirf
1/22/2011-4:57pm at 4:57 pm (UTC -4)
Stokes was good for us in 08 and 09 but in 2010 he made Ollie look good and I didnt even know that was possible.
kingman 26
1/22/2011-4:47pm at 4:47 pm (UTC -4)
Yes, he sure can. He hurts in the clubhouse as he tells everyone else that the team is willing to play garbage.
I will always argue that the presence of Matthews and Jacobs set the tone for the disaster that was 2010.
oleosmirf
1/22/2011-7:22pm at 7:22 pm (UTC -4)
players are not fans. They dont look at advanced statistics. In fact, im sure most of the players figured both were good players given that Jacobs is a former 30 HR guy and Matthews is a former all-star.
kingman 26
1/22/2011-1:36pm at 1:36 pm (UTC -4)
And I do have to say, as I said at the time, that while I did not care about Stokes, adding Matthews was truly subtraction by addition—a terrible player whose one good season was due to drug cheating, who was absolutely useless, and whose presence, along with Mike Jacobs’ presence, showed the Met roster, as well as the rest of the league, that the 2010 Mets would be a mediocrity-laden frigin joke.
Acquiring Matthews–as a few of us were pilloried for saying at the time by the defenders of all things Met–was a terrible move, regardless of what we gave up for him or paid him.
kingman 26
1/22/2011-1:32pm at 1:32 pm (UTC -4)
Another excellent job Rusty.
One thing I can add to the above is that 1969 was truly magical for Swoboda—–when Steve Carlton struck out 19 Mets that September, the Mets still beat the Cards 4-3, and all the runs came on 2 Swoboda 2-run homers! He did also manage to strike out twice….
RIP to Agee–cannot believe it is 10 years. He will always be among the most beloved Mets.
Rusty, now I wish this series was the top 100 Mets–I am already sad it just has 45 days to go!
hazmet
1/22/2011-6:28pm at 6:28 pm (UTC -4)
I was thinking the same thing during yesterday’s read but with a twist. How about a Sabermetric rating of the 50 greatest Mets. Would be an interesting comparison to our heart felt votes vs. Sabermetrics. I’m not quite sure how to go about that for some of the older players. It would be a huge effort but would be a great follow up to this ranking imo.
rustyjr
1/22/2011-7:35pm at 7:35 pm (UTC -4)
I think Patrick Flood & AA are doing it
metsfan4decades
1/22/2011-7:50pm at 7:50 pm (UTC -4)
Yes, I read that too. Since my list wasn’t compiled using much in the way of stats, I’m sure after like the first 25 theirs will greatly differ from mine.
hazmet
1/22/2011-7:54pm at 7:54 pm (UTC -4)
Very cool, should be interesting.
metsfan4decades
1/22/2011-3:02pm at 3:02 pm (UTC -4)
On another note, just caught most of MLB networks 40 Greatest Teams of all time.
1969 Mets were #11 (or maybe it was 12)
1986 Mets were #5
Mets only have two championships but those 2 teams are considered two of the best of all time.
#1? (surprise, surprise) the 1998 Yankees
oleosmirf
1/22/2011-4:37pm at 4:37 pm (UTC -4)
cant really argue the 86 mets were better than the 98 Yankees. The 98 Yanks were pretty nasty in all aspects of the game.
rustyjr
1/22/2011-4:39pm at 4:39 pm (UTC -4)
Well I am biased – but I do feel the ’86 Mets woulda dominated the ’98 Yanks
oleosmirf
1/22/2011-4:54pm at 4:54 pm (UTC -4)
The 86 Mets definitely have the edge in SP and middle relief but the Yankees lineup just blows them away. a team OPS of .825 is just unheard of.
kingman 26
1/22/2011-4:48pm at 4:48 pm (UTC -4)
That’s always my argument when defending the Mets overall, in a historical sense.
Two titles, but two of the most memorable teams of the last 50 years.
Mr North Jersey
1/22/2011-4:15pm at 4:15 pm (UTC -4)
Congrats again to Rusty on getting a Mets blog bump.
rustyjr
1/22/2011-4:38pm at 4:38 pm (UTC -4)
njstuckintx
1/22/2011-5:07pm at 5:07 pm (UTC -4)
Rust Bumps