"We Miss You Tommie !!!"
In the world of baseball there are two types of players, Those who can adjust to the bright lights and the marquees of the big city and those who as hard as they try just can never succeed. There has been many casualties down that canton of heros. Names like Pavano, Jefferies, Foy and Whitson.
But none of those men could ever hold a candle to number 35 on this list of the top 50 Mets of all time.
Who you may ask am I referring to ? Well it’s none other than one of the best offensive and defensive outfielders this team has ever known – number 20 himself – Tommie Agee !!
Tommie was born on August 9th 1942 in Magnolia Alabama. Agee attended one year at GramblingState University before he signed his first professional contract with the Cleveland Indians for a then mind blowing $60,000 signing bonus.
Ageewould make his big league debut as a September call up for the Indians in ’62. In ’62 and ’64 Tommie didn’t make the Indians out of Spring Training, and would only get called up to finish the season as a September call up . He would play in a total of 31 games with the Indians before being traded to the Chicago White Sox before the start of the ’65 season.
Ageeonce again toiled in the minors , this time with the Sox AAA affiliate, the Indianapolis Indians of the Pacific Coast League.
In1966, Agee would win the starting center fielder job in Spring training out of Spring Training. That season , Tommie was the White Sox sole representative to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
Tommie would slug 22 homers and knock in 86 RBIs, and he was voted American League Rookie of the Year. Tommie also won his first a Gold Glove. Tommie would also make the All Star Team in 1967.
On December 15 1967 , the Mets made what was possibly the steal of the year , when they traded power hitting outfielder, Tommy Davis, pitcher Billy Wynne , minor league catcher, Buddy Booker, and pitcher, Jack Fisher to the White Sox for Agee and light hitting second baseman , Al Weiss.
1968 was not one of Tommie’s best seasons. He struggled mightily at the plate and ended the season with a .217 batting average, with five home runs and 17 RBIs.
But in 1969 Agee flew out of the gates like a man possessed . In the third game of the season, Tommie had his first multiple home run game of his career. This was the game where one of his home runs hit halfway up in section 48 of the left field upper deck at Shea Stadium. No other player had ever came close to hitting a ball there. The Metsmarked the area where the ball landed witha sign that was painted withhis name uniform number and date. with Agee’s name, uniform number, and the date.
Ageeended the ’69 regular season with a.271 batting average , a team leading 26 home runs and 76 RBIs.
Tommie was named the Sporting News’ NL Comeback Player of the Year.
In the Mets three game sweep of the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS, Agee batted .357 , hammering two home runs and driving in four RBIs.
During the ’69 World Series against the Baltimore Orioles, Agee would make some of the most amazing catches in post season history. In game three Agee made two catches that arguably saved five runs.
For the ’69 World Series would bat .167 with one homer and one RBI.
Agee had a great ’70 season, batting .286 with 24 homers and 75 RBIs. He would go on to establish a Metsseason record with 182 hits, 107 runs and 31 stolen bases. That season Tommiewould win his second Gold Glove award. He would become the first African-American player to win a Gold Glove in both leagues.
By ’71 Agee started to suffer from a chronic knee injury . He still hit well enough to finish the season with a .285 average with fourteen home runs in 1971.
But in 1972 his batting average plummeted to .227 knocking in 47 RBIs to finish second on the team.
That off season , Agee was traded to the Houston Astros for outfielder, Rich Chiles and pitcher, Buddy Harris.
Tommie would play for the St Louis Cardinals before hanging up his cleats in ’74.
After he retired, Agee was not a stranger to Mets fans. He made frequent appearances at Shea Stadium and he became a good will ambassador for the team. He took part in many charitable events.
On January 22 2001 Tommie was fatally stricken by a heart attack while he was finishing up a meeting in New York City – his adopted home. He was 58 at the time.
During the ’02 season, the Mets posthumously inducted Tommie into their Hall of Fame .
I have had the privilege of meeting Tommie as a young teenager. He was one of the sweetest men I have ever met. He was down to earth , very positive and he loved children no matter what their ethnic makeup. I remember crying when I found out that he had passed. I was 28 at the time and though I have no memory as a child seeing him play , his warmth and kindness reverberated in me.
I do miss him so.
Tomorrow we will profile at number 34 one of the original Mets from that awful ’62 team.
And with that said…. HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!
Mets alumni celebrating a birthday today include :
One of the better middle relievers on those crappy late ’70′s teams, Dale Murray is 61 (1950) .
Mets utility infielder from ’76-’77, Leo Foster is 60 (1951) .
Mets reserve outfielder from the ’90 season, Pat Tabler is 53 (1958) .
One time , long time Orioles pitcher who pitched a handful of games for the Mets in ’04, Scott Erickson is 43 (1968) .
Mets middle infielder from ’99-’00, Melvin Mora is 39 today (1972) . O how I rue the day Steve Phillips traded him to the Orioles for Mike Bordick after Rey Ordonez was disabled with that broken arm. I recently had a conversation on Twitter with Jim Duquette about that trade , which he intimated was a mistake.
Spot starter from the ’07 team, Jason Vargas is 28 (1983) . We recieved Vargas from that much reviled trade that sent Matt Lindstrom and Henry Owens that also brought back minor league pitcher, Adam Bostick. Neither Vargas not Bostick panned out for the Mets while for a short time both Owens and Lindstrom were highly touted relievers.
New York Mets traded outfielder Carlos Gomez along with pitching prospects Phillip Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra to the Minnesota Twins, for ace starting pitcher, Johan Santana, on February 2, 2008. I remember the days leading up to the trade being a nervous wreck. I didn’t calm down until after Johan hammered out a contract extension with the Mets. Even though Johan has been injured the past few season, I still consider this trade a steal. Johan has thus far had many great moments as a Met and I feel he is one of the keys to the Mets in the upcoming seasons.
And while you hope that all this Wilpon/Madoff buisness starts to blow over, just remember that there are just 58 days until the Mets open the 2011 season against the Florida Marlins in Miami and just 65 days to go until the Mets 2011 home opener against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field.
Mo Vaughn just added two new members to his syndicate to purchase the Mets, former managers Jeff Torborg and Mike Cubbage !!
39 comments
metsfan4decades
2/2/2011-9:22am at 9:22 am (UTC -4)
Without Tommy Agee that ’69 season, we possibly don’t make it to the WS. Without Tommy Agge’s great defense during that WS, we possibly don’t take home the flag.
Heck, even the trade bringing Agee here included throw in Al Weis (who was really just a light hitting utility IF) paid off in that WS. His single brought the winning run home on the 2-1 victory in Koosman’s game 2 start and in Kossman’s second start (the 5th game that sealed it), Weis of all people, hit a HR to tie the score. I think he had hit like 3 other HRs in his entire career.
It was a perfect storm type of year for that collective group of players in ’69. No one had them winning the WS. With that pitching staff, with Agee, Cleon and a few others though, that’s just what they did. ‘Miracle Mets’ indeed.
njstuckintx
2/2/2011-9:25am at 9:25 am (UTC -4)
Again, another player that was before my time, but those catches, having watched them over and over, were simply awesome.
njstuckintx
2/2/2011-9:24am at 9:24 am (UTC -4)
I hate to even put this into this thread, but it is most certainly part of the mess that we are emotionaly involved in.
From MSNBC Sports.
Fred Wilpon has insisted since 2008 that the Bernie Madoff mess had little impact on the Mets’ baseball operations. Even since last week, when it was announced that he would have to sell part of the team due to the Madoff losses, the sense has been that they are exclusively personal losses and that since the team is the Wilpons’ largest asset it was logical that he turn to the team for his capital needs.
There’s an article in today’s New York Times, however, which tells a far different story: Bernie Madoff and his investments were deeply involved in the Mets, and the Mets operations were highly dependent on Bernie Madoff:
When the Mets negotiated their larger contracts with star players — complex deals with signing bonuses and performance incentives — they sometimes adopted the strategy of placing deferred money owed the players with Mr. Madoff’s investment firm. They would have to pay the player, but the owners of the club would be able to make money for themselves in the meantime. There never seemed to be much doubt about that, according to several people with knowledge of the arrangements.
“Bernie was part of the business plan for the Mets,” a former employee of the club said … interviews with current and former associates of Mr. Wilpon and Mr. Katz, as well as former employees of the club, former employees of Mr. Madoff and others, make it clear that the relationship was substantial and that the role Mr. Madoff played in the financial life of the ball club and the Wilpon and Katz families was pervasive.
The more damning part of the article, however, involves the way that the Wilpons would steer friends and even Mets employees to Madoff investments. Indeed, former Mets GM Frank Cashen says that his deferred compensation package after leaving the Mets was invested with Madoff. He was paid before the bottom fell out, but he says that Wilpon and Madoff worked “in unison.” That famous Bobby Bonilla deferred money deal was also invested with Madoff. Madoff also reportedly got many of his investors via introductions from Fred Wilpon, who the bankruptcy trustee suing him alleged knew or should have known that Madoff was a scam artist.
If what the many sources of this article say is true, the Wilpons are more than the victims they’ve made themselves out to be. They were an important part of Madoff’s operation, whether they themselves knew the nature of the operation or whether they simply placed stupid blind faith in their close friend.
And there is no question that, by virtue of placing team-related investments with Madoff, the financial prospects of the Mets — and not just the Wilpons — was deeply harmed as a result.
Ceetar
2/2/2011-9:33am at 9:33 am (UTC -4)
Honestly I’ll take this as good news. The more evidence they provide of loss, the less they’ll be lawfully required to payback.
njstuckintx
2/2/2011-9:37am at 9:37 am (UTC -4)
True. There is a lot that needs to come out in the wash for us to truly understand what the heck is going on. What is scary is how much of the deferred cash was locked up in that scam. Me thinks that will eventually start affecting the payroll. Unless crazy stuff happens and completely new owners take over. But talk about a mess, with SNY and the Mets and everything. I really need baseball to start so I can focus on Murphy destroying spring training and not Madoff destroying this team I love to be abused by.
Ceetar
2/2/2011-9:44am at 9:44 am (UTC -4)
yeah, and who knows what affects what. Still seems like it won’t affect payroll. And this isn’t “new” to them, they’ve known about the specifics of what they lost for a while.
Honestly, just win. I personally think they’ll have at least an exciting season, so revenue will shoot up somewhat from that. and positive vibes.
njstuckintx
2/2/2011-9:46am at 9:46 am (UTC -4)
And hopefully winning drowns out the “will this team have to start selling off parts, will they trade Reyes because they can’t afford him, blah blah” banter that is sure to come out.
Just win, baby! Just win.
metsfan4decades
2/2/2011-9:57am at 9:57 am (UTC -4)
What you said….
The more success, the more money they’ll make, the more the fans and media will turn to BASEBALL and not the Wilpons finance problems.
Can’t wait for the season to start – or even ST.
stickguy
2/2/2011-10:39am at 10:39 am (UTC -4)
It doesn’t really matter what they invested with him for. It is still just money, bottom line.
They have money needs going forward, part of which is the claw back suit and part the obligations they still owe. So as long as the team can support the payroll and they can raise enough money to fund th eobligations, then it should not have to affect team operations. Big if of course.
metsfan4decades
2/2/2011-9:39am at 9:39 am (UTC -4)
On a different note, take THAT Francessa!
Sandy was quoted as saying the following at a 2 hour long Q&A session yesterday during a charity event:
‘”We’ve never been this high before [with payroll], so given that fact, it probably wouldn’t be surprising that we might settle at a different number in the future,” Alderson said. “But that’s a function of a lot of different things – who we’re able to sign and not sign. But we’re always going to have a very high payroll, whether it’s $150 million next year or $130 million, that’s a function of a lot of different things.’
TRS86
2/2/2011-9:58am at 9:58 am (UTC -4)
It amazes me how such a significant portion of our fanbase seems to not learn from previous failures. As long as we are spending money where NEEDED then who cares how much the bottom line payroll is?
Now if Pagan struggles this year and proves not to be a starting CF yet they just stick with him instead of spending money on a replacement then yeah I would be pissed. If no RF steps up internally and they don’t at least go out and get next year’s Johnny Damon then yeah. What I don’t get is this desire of spend to spend. Spend millions on someone who makes a marginal difference at best.
Also, this payroll stuff being affected by the Madoff issue is a little over the top as well.
The Mets themselves have to support their high payroll. Most owners are not going to invest so much in contracts that they are losing money. If the Mets are only able to support a 120M team without losing money each year then that’s what the payroll will and should be. Thus go out and invest money in the draft, make good signings, play crisp fun to watch baseball, get fans back in the building, increase revenue, increase payroll….. Sounds like the Phillies and Twins method huh?
rustyjr
2/2/2011-10:02am at 10:02 am (UTC -4)
That’s what I said on kranepools show last night – listen to the rebroadcast
saltygary
2/2/2011-10:28am at 10:28 am (UTC -4)
They need fans to come to the park to support a higher payroll. Fans want it both ways. Keep jacking up the payroll but only show up when they are great.
It is a chicken and egg scenario but the team has had a high payroll for some time and attendance keeps going down. Payroll will need to go down to reduce debt and can go up once there are results to attract fans.
stickguy
2/2/2011-10:44am at 10:44 am (UTC -4)
if you look at teams that have big upticks in success, almost always the payroll follows the wins, not the other way around.
90′s yankees, late 2000′s phillies, and many others.
basically they build a team from within (homegrown stars) and fill in with some sesoned veterans, and get lucky to have it click.
then those guys get to arb and FA, and get vastly more expensive to keep. Plus, the expectations are there and you want to cash in while the window is open, so a few big $$ FAs come in.
and like with the Mets, and alsmost guaranteed the phils soon, the wheels are coming off the bus before payroll goes down (which is how you end up paying 140mill for a .500 team).
metsfan4decades
2/2/2011-10:30am at 10:30 am (UTC -4)
I’m with you on this.
stickguy
2/2/2011-10:49am at 10:49 am (UTC -4)
damn, another thread hijacked by finances. I may take the year off from BB at this rate.
anyway, back to agee. His story points out something important to have. Patience.
when you have a really talented (gret tools) prospect that comes up early and doesn’t quite put it all together, don’t give up on them too quickly. If you notice, he had some up/down time, and finally clicked for his age 27/28/29 ish seasons. Right in that sweet spot when guys are supposed to have their peak years.
Guys like F Mart could easily fit this profile. Maybe CarGo. Heck, Lastings has time (and other than “attitude”, they are not a bad parallel).
and for all those writing off his future, Reyes is only getting there this year. He is going to have a fereaking monsterous, MVP caliber year too.
I still say Sandy blew it not trying to lock him up immediately on a value deal.
njstuckintx
2/2/2011-10:52am at 10:52 am (UTC -4)
You could Pagan into that 27/28/29 year old mold.
stickguy
2/2/2011-10:54am at 10:54 am (UTC -4)
good example of someone that just did the same thing basically.
njstuckintx
2/2/2011-11:02am at 11:02 am (UTC -4)
And I’ve been with you on this from the beginning. Not trying to lock up Reyes is going to be either really costly to keep him or we’ll see him in another uniform. I mean, not even goodwill negotiations…
TRS86
2/2/2011-11:09am at 11:09 am (UTC -4)
Again WE have no idea if Reyes is interested or not, no idea if Sandy believes this group can win and sadly no idea if the Wilpons are in position to offer him what it would take. So while yes it may cost the Mets more to wait, that may be a gamble they have to take. Personally I am not going to really worry about it until the ASB. A lot of things should be determined by then.
stickguy
2/2/2011-11:40am at 11:40 am (UTC -4)
well, Reyes is on record saying he loves NY and wants to stay here. And that is pretty much code for let’s talk. May not mean he was taking a low ball deal, but certainly an indication they were looking to negotiate.
and Reyes is 27YO. Whether the 2011 group is good enough to win should be irrelevant toward signing him for 2012 and beyond. Especially with a lot of money coming off the books.
and it is scary to think of your point about the wilpons not being able to commit to a contract that does not even start for more than a year. If that is the case, they better be bailing 100% now because the team is F’d otherwise.
If Sandy thinks reyes is a stiff that should not have a FA level contract wasted on him, regardless of the amount of payroll budget available, that is a whole nother story, and I will certainly question his judegement when he lets him walk.
that, and either shit or get off the pot. If Reyes goes, then Bay, K Rod, Johan (if he ever pitches again), Pagan all need to go too, and just start from scratch. Because if they can’t afford Reyes, they will not be getting any big name/money FAs anyway, so why go half assed?
TRS86
2/2/2011-11:44am at 11:44 am (UTC -4)
Again it may not be about affording as much as what is the right move and use of resources going forward. Perhaps Sandy will believe that 18M could be better spent on other things. We just don’t know yet.
Of course Reyes is saying those things in the press. This is a contract year he needs to say the right things. However, I just see very little motivation for him to take a discount right now.
metsfan4decades
2/2/2011-12:11pm at 12:11 pm (UTC -4)
Yes, I commented an an older thread last night these same thoughts.
If Reyes goes, just rip the band aid off quick. Beltran will be gone. Might as well shop Bay, Johan, KRod as well.
In fact, I’m going on record saying I’d rather they try and dump Bay’s contract than not resign Reyes – if money is the issue.
stickguy
2/2/2011-12:29pm at 12:29 pm (UTC -4)
given the choice of which one I want for 16+mill for the next 3-4 years, absolutely you take Reyes. The couple years past that will just come with the territory, but Jose is at least 4 years younger.
actually, with all the corner OF types floating around, trying to move Bay whould have been job 1, though coming off a no HR year and scrambled coconut, he may have been impossible to move.
one thing that seems like a safe bet though is that this year, July is going to be an interesting time in Met Land, unlike in the past where you knew Omar was doing nothing of interest.
TRS86
2/2/2011-1:03pm at 1:03 pm (UTC -4)
To me Bay and Reyes are not really related. If the Mets in my opinion do not re-sign Reyes it will not be because of lack of funds. I know I put that as one of the options but I just don’t buy it. Thus if they chose not to re-sign him it’s because they believe the 18M could be better used else where or because Jose did not want to be here. Not really much in-between in my opinion.
stickguy
2/2/2011-1:45pm at 1:45 pm (UTC -4)
I was noodling with a post at one oint centered on the concept that 2011 was a write off, but 2012 would be the beginning of the glory days.
I honestly see no way, with the potential FAs coming up, that the team will be better in 2012 without reyes and beltran, even if Johan comes back OK. We have seen this show already, and it wasn’t pretty.
If reyes goes, where exactly is this team at? Contending? rebuilding? or what? Unless the answer is contending, moving Bay is the only logical next step.
Ceetar
2/2/2011-2:18pm at 2:18 pm (UTC -4)
I think even Omar would’ve done something this coming Trade deadline, and I expect Alderson to do even more.
If some of these prospects come along, we could be facing a 40man roster issue, and the best way to solve that is some selling high for the missing pieces in July. (Just like it’d be wise to keep an eye on the Rays roster because they’re going to have a boat load of guys this year from all the picks, and they can’t protect all of them.
TRS86
2/2/2011-2:37pm at 2:37 pm (UTC -4)
It really depends on who they got back and who they signed with that money.
TRS86
2/2/2011-2:42pm at 2:42 pm (UTC -4)
I know it’s hard to comprehend but as I have said IMO if Sandy believes that re-signing Reyes is the best use of resources he will do it. If not then he will not. Gotta trust him on this one IMO. He has given us no reason not to at this point. If he lets him walk, we get worse and Reyes excels then you can come back to this. Either way, new Mets new day. Gotta trust them to make the correct decision.
metsfan4decades
2/2/2011-12:07pm at 12:07 pm (UTC -4)
I too think it was a mistake not to lock him up. We shall see on this one.
Ceetar
2/2/2011-2:18pm at 2:18 pm (UTC -4)
They haven’t “not locked him up” yet.
TRS86
2/2/2011-2:39pm at 2:39 pm (UTC -4)
I am just not so sure that we could have like many of you seem to think. IF we could have I still don’t see it as at a discount rate. Reyes and his agent have to know his value is at an all-time low and if he just performs this year it will be back to normal. No real reason to take a discount unless he does not believe he is healthy.
Ceetar
2/2/2011-2:42pm at 2:42 pm (UTC -4)
They haven’t talked to him. He’s said he’s open.
Obviously, they could not reach an agreement, but that’s not that common.
rustyjr
2/2/2011-11:46am at 11:46 am (UTC -4)
Back to agee ?
Ceetar
2/2/2011-11:52am at 11:52 am (UTC -4)
a Gee, or Agee? two different people.
kingman 26
2/2/2011-11:53am at 11:53 am (UTC -4)
Hey buddy–
Just had to pop in and say thank you for this amazing tribute to a truly legendary Met and person.
I also met him as a kid and remember him smiling at me as if HE was glad to meet ME!
Really well written and just great.
If they gave out awards for blog series greatness, this series of yours would surely win.
Have a great day my friend.
rustyjr
2/2/2011-12:17pm at 12:17 pm (UTC -4)
Thankyou very much
metsfan4decades
2/2/2011-12:19pm at 12:19 pm (UTC -4)
On another note, reading the story and comments on MLBTR on the Beltran to Angels discussion off season, I laughed right out loud reading this one:
‘”the angels briefly considered cutting off their nose to spite their face this offseason, but ultimately decided that that would be letting their face off too easy, so they instead just jammed the blade directly into it. they are satisfied now that they’ve made their point”
****************************
I get the impression from an Angels perspective, Beltran for one year would have been a better bet than Wells for those 4 years and $$.
TRS86
2/2/2011-1:05pm at 1:05 pm (UTC -4)
Long-term no doubt. But in an AL West that is completely up for grabs this was a win now move and frankly at this point Wells is more of a sure thing if you are looking at winning now. Imagine the shock and horror for the Angels fans if they had traded prospects for Beltran and then he could not make it out of May.