" Just ask yourself " What if he was never traded ?"!!"
To be a Met fan there are many questions that will keep you up late at night. Most of these questions begin with the two words … What if. These questions might include ” What if Yogi let George Stone start game seven of the ’73 World Series?” Or ” What if Carlos Beltran swung at that Adam Wainwright curve ball during the ’06 NLCS ?” I’m sure one of the most frequently asked ones is ” What if Timo Perez ran hard after that Todd Zeile blast in game one of the ’00 World Series?” But this last question pertains to number 21 on this list of the top 50 Mets of all time. That Question is ” What if the Mets never traded Nolan Ryan?” Great question indeed, I’m still wondering how he didn’t place in the top 10 of this list.
Lynn Nolan Ryan Jr. was born in Refugio Texas on January 31, 1947. After graduating from high school in Alvin, Texas, Ryan was drafted by the New York Mets in the 12th round of the 1965 Major League Baseball Draft.
The Mets immediately assigned him to the Marion Mets – their Appalachian League affiliate, which was located in Marion, Virginia.
In 1966 Nolan was promoted to the majors. At the time he was the second youngest player in the league. He ended the ’66 season with a record of 0-1 with a 15.00 ERA. He had six strike outs in 3.0 innings.
1967 was a lost season for Nolan. Between illness, shoulder problems and his commitment to the Army reserve, he would only pitch seven innings for the Mets minor league affiliate in Jacksonville Mississippi.
Nolan would finally make the majors for good in 1968. But even with his blazing fastball, he was unable to get a spot in the Mets starting rotation. He would go 6-9 in 18 game starts ( he appeared in 21 games overall), with 133 strike outs and a ERA of 3.09.
In 1969, Nolan was used primarily as a reliever, but he did make the occasional spot start. Throughout the season , Nolan dealt with painful blisters on his throwing hand, and he used a homespun remedy that consisted of him soaking his hand in pickle brine to toughen up his callouses. He ended the ’69 regular season with a record of 6-3 with 92 strike outs and a ERA OF 3.53.
Ryan pitched lights out during the ’69 NLCS against the Atlanta Braves. Ryan threw seven innings of in game three, giving up two earned runs. It was his first career playoff win.
In the 1969 World Series,would make his lone appearance in game three. He pitched 2 1/3 shutout innings to record his first post season save.against the Baltimore Orioles. That would be the only World Series appearance of his career.
In 1970, Nolan would finally break into the starting rotation.He was rather inconsistent with his pitches and he was notably wild. He would go 7-11 for the season with 125 strikeouts and a ERA of 3.42. Ryan often credits pitching coach, Rube Walker and Tom Seaver for becoming a pitcher and not a thrower. However,
by 1971 Ryan had become increasingly frustrated with his roll on the team and had threatened to retire from baseball entirely. His unhappiness reflected in his performance , and he ended the season with a record of 10–14 with a ERA of 3.97. After the season ended , he demanded to be traded , and on December 10, 1971,the Mets granted his wish by trading him to the California Angels along with pitcher, Don Rose, catcher Francisco Estrada and outfielder Leroy Stanton for shortstop Jim Fregosi , who the Mets tried to convert into a third baseman. Needless to say the trade blew up in the Mets faces, Fregosi was washed up by the time he joined the Mets, and he would in just about 150 games for us. Meanwhile Ryan would thrive in California, throwing three no hitters in his eight years with the Angels. He would have four more no hitter withboth the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers. He was a eight time All Star and he hold the Major Leaguer record in strikeouts with 5,714. In 1999 he was inducted into the Baseball Hall Of Fame, and he is currently the co-owner of the Texas Rangers.
In 2009 he made his first appearance in a Mets uniform since being traded in ’71, when he was on hand to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the ’69 World Series. The Mets faithful gave him a standing ovation as he along with Seaver and Koosman threw out the first pitch to Berra, Grote and Dyer.
Yes trading Ryan was and forever will be a black eye on this franchise, but when you think about it it might have been the best thing to ever happen to Nolan Ryan.
Tomorrow we will lift the veil of on number 20 of the top 50 countdown. He is a important member of this current Mets roster.
And with that said… HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!
Mets alumni celebrating a birthday today includes:
One time Major League catcher for the Cubs, Barry Foote is 59 (1952) . Barry was employed as the Mets third base coach from ’92-93 under manager Jeff Torborg.
Utility infielder from the ’92 team, Bill Pecota is 51 (1960) .
The York Mets signed free agent pitcher, Clem Labine on February 16, 1962. Clem would less than a month in a Mets uniform. He would be released on May 1st, 1962.
And while you try to find any and every tidbit of information that trickles out of Port Saint Lucie, just remember that there are just 44 David Cone Days until the Mets open the 2011 season against the Florida Marlins in Miami, and just 51 more days until their Mets 2011 home opener against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field.
Mo Vaughn is planning on strong arming J.P Ricciardi for a chance to make the team. He has brought a duffelbag full of chocodiles to bribe Ricciardi with !!
38 comments
metsfan4decades
2/16/2011-8:22am at 8:22 am (UTC -4)
I often wonder who was calling the shots with Ryan by primarily using him out of the BP. Was that all Gil Hodges? Did Grant intervene there? Just goes to prove that the game is half mental and if you’re totally dissatisfied with your role, the team you’re on, management…it’s going to be reflected in your performance.
Even as a young Met fan at the time, I hated that trade. Ryan was one of my favorite players back then. It should have never come down to trading him. Someone blew it, misjudged his talent. We’ll never know…
Hard to fathom with his lengthy career how ’69 wound up being his only WS appearance.
rustyjr
2/16/2011-8:59am at 8:59 am (UTC -4)
Yeah unfortunately I was born in ’72 so I had to admire Ryan’s fasball when the Meys played the Astros – btw I am thrilled that the Metd signed Izzy
Dirtysanchez
2/16/2011-9:06am at 9:06 am (UTC -4)
lol…i was born in 85…I had to admire ryans fastball on the rangers and mets old highlights
rustyjr
2/16/2011-9:10am at 9:10 am (UTC -4)
Welcome back the land of the living boss lol
Dirtysanchez
2/16/2011-10:01am at 10:01 am (UTC -4)
Thanks, Good to be back
Prismo
2/16/2011-9:25am at 9:25 am (UTC -4)
Uhhhhhhh.
He would NOT have been on my list.
To me, this pick makes no sense, especially at 21. Ryan was on the ’69 WS team, but aside from that he barely did anything on the Mets. This makes no sense. I am disappoint.
Ceetar
2/16/2011-9:50am at 9:50 am (UTC -4)
It’s a stretch, but if Ryan is on this list Willie Mays better be higher up..
saltygary
2/16/2011-12:41pm at 12:41 pm (UTC -4)
But this is a Mets list. Didn’t Mays need to use a wheelchair to get around the outfield?
kingman 26
2/16/2011-10:34am at 10:34 am (UTC -4)
Ryan at 21 is indeed pretty strange. He walked too many, but struck out a lot of guys, gave up few hits, and was versatile. He was actually a very important member of those amazing pitching staffs. And threw 9 great innings in the 8 1969 postseason games; including coming in and throwing 7 innings in game 3.
That’s why the Angels traded Fregosi for him. Despite what a disaster the trade was, at the time, Fregosi had been hurt in 1971, but before that, was an all-star 6 of the previous 7 years, and finished in the top 25 in the AL MVP voting the previous 8 straight years.
The Mays comparison? Mays was an ancient, washed up shell of himself as a Met. Ryan was a fireballing, successful young pitcher on the verge of beginning a HOF career.
ajgmets
2/16/2011-12:49pm at 12:49 pm (UTC -4)
Real Mets and baseball fans have to respect the entirety of Nollie’s career while also comprehending his place in the history and lore of the Mets franchise…If I recall correctly, Ed asked for lists including people who’d played fr the Mets for 1 game or 1500. Correct me if I’m wrong, but Ryan’s HOF plaque lists New York NL at the top of teams played for, so he obviously belongs on this list, in fact he should undoubtedly be in the top 10.
Nice Piece Ed!
Prismo
2/16/2011-12:28pm at 12:28 pm (UTC -4)
It’s way too quiet here today. I think we need some controversy, so I’ll get something started.
Placido Polanco is a better third baseman than David Wright. He’s more clutch and that’s proven by how the Phillies did better than the Mets last season. This is totally infallible.
saltygary
2/16/2011-12:36pm at 12:36 pm (UTC -4)
No biting lol
kingman 26
2/16/2011-12:40pm at 12:40 pm (UTC -4)
You are overrated Prismo.
saltygary
2/16/2011-12:42pm at 12:42 pm (UTC -4)
OK whos better, MO, Jordan or Prismo?
kingman 26
2/16/2011-12:54pm at 12:54 pm (UTC -4)
I would rank it:
1-Jordan
2-Prismo
3-Mo
Largely because Mo’s a Yankee and Prismo’s a Met
Prismo
2/16/2011-12:47pm at 12:47 pm (UTC -4)
You know what’s overrated?
Bone Cellar.
BOOM.
kingman 26
2/16/2011-12:52pm at 12:52 pm (UTC -4)
OUCH! Damn, that hurts!
We actually were, believe it or not, regarded as one of the great unknown/unsigned bands during the Seattle heyday!
In 1994 our second CD was rated by THE northwest music magazine, The Rocket, as the 2nd best of the year, in the top ten with Soundgarden, Hole, and Nirvana!
UNDERRATED BABY!!!
Prismo
2/16/2011-12:56pm at 12:56 pm (UTC -4)
Yes, you’re famous!
http://seattle.wikia.com/wiki/Bone_Cellar
kingman 26
2/16/2011-1:15pm at 1:15 pm (UTC -4)
I would literally cut one of my legs off with a rusty hacksaw to re-live those days….
saltygary
2/16/2011-12:58pm at 12:58 pm (UTC -4)
No way, I am on the bands “Myspace” site, which one is you?
kingman 26
2/16/2011-1:14pm at 1:14 pm (UTC -4)
HA! Well, I left on pretty bad terms after we did not get signed after spending a week in a big-time studio recording a major label demo in 1997…the drummer quit and so did I….so, the only picture I am (partially) in is the last one at the Weathered Wall—I am the guy on the right whose arm you see! I played bass, but one song a show the guy in the middle (now deceased) and I traded instruments, so he is playing my bass in the center, and I am playing his guitar on the right.
If you really are curious, you can see me here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajsU36LdJBc
I am the bassist in many of these videos from TV appearances….and in the one where I am a really ugly woman, my girlfriend dressed me up; the lead singer/songwriter/leader always wanted us to dress as women, and when we played on TV for Halloween that year they talked me into it…
saltygary
2/16/2011-1:28pm at 1:28 pm (UTC -4)
Effin awesome.
kingman 26
2/16/2011-1:36pm at 1:36 pm (UTC -4)
ajgmets
2/16/2011-12:50pm at 12:50 pm (UTC -4)
Wouldn’t you also agree that Edgar Renteria has shown more post season prowess than Reyes and thus should be listed higher on the list of shortstops.?
metsfan4decades
2/16/2011-1:09pm at 1:09 pm (UTC -4)
Is that you Mike Francesa? LOL.
Can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard him say this on the air.
Prismo
2/16/2011-12:35pm at 12:35 pm (UTC -4)
Also, a classic Q&A from Cashman (and Ben Shpigel) about Joba’s weight:
“He’s heavier.”
How much heavier?
“He’s heavier.”
Is he out of shape?
“He’s heavier.”
rustyjr
2/16/2011-12:39pm at 12:39 pm (UTC -4)
I wouldn’t say Joba is fat bit I heard ge is the newest member of the rap act ” the Fat Boys “
saltygary
2/16/2011-12:39pm at 12:39 pm (UTC -4)
He’s giving up. If CC can drop wight so can this guy.
saltygary
2/16/2011-12:38pm at 12:38 pm (UTC -4)
“I’m still wondering how he didn’t place in the top 10 of this list”.
After reading your description of his Mets tenure Rusty, I don’t know why he was on the list at all. But good write up one of those mysteries for me seeing I was born in 75.
rustyjr
2/16/2011-12:45pm at 12:45 pm (UTC -4)
THe reason why I wrote that was because many fans like to romanticize his tenure with the Mets.
ajgmets
2/16/2011-12:53pm at 12:53 pm (UTC -4)
His tenure as a Met was the foundation for the Hall of Fame career that Ryan followed, as you mentioned he, to this day, credits the Mets organization for his work ethic and dedication to power pitching.
saltygary
2/16/2011-1:04pm at 1:04 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks for the clarification. Ya know if the team can get a no-hitter one of these days people will forget that he was even on the team.
ajgmets
2/16/2011-1:17pm at 1:17 pm (UTC -4)
Not real fans/people..LOL..Just like this country and its forbearance from Europe which will never be forgotten..Too Strong? LMAO
saltygary
2/16/2011-1:37pm at 1:37 pm (UTC -4)
0_o
metsfan4decades
2/16/2011-1:18pm at 1:18 pm (UTC -4)
For those wondering how Ryan hit this list at all, let alone this high….if you remember Rusty gave us a pretty broad list qualifications we could use when compiling our personal top 50 list.
I saw Ryan pitch with the Mets. He became one of my favorites after that ’69 post season. I actually liked him better than Seaver (although it was obvious Seaver was the better pitcher. But then again, Buddy H. was my favorite Met in ’69). I thought he was an awesome pitcher in the making and I was pretty disappointed when they traded him. I might have been a young, naive Met fan at the time but I thought it was a big mistake.
Little did I know at the time that wasn’t the biggest mistake M. Donald Grant would make….
Ceetar
2/16/2011-1:32pm at 1:32 pm (UTC -4)
How about this: What’s up with Boomer?
Carton’s a disaster, but Boomer was always at least mostly tolerable and usually fairly positive and hopeful. But lately he’s just been spouting the same gibberish misinformation as many other people.
Carton made a claim that the Mets outfield, assuming health, is better than the Yankees. Boomer started spouting “Yankee lore” crap and postseason experience (uh, hello, Bay and Beltran have been there, and successful)
Then he went off on a rant about Reyes and some error he made once on a grounder that apparently he makes every single day.
ajgmets
2/16/2011-1:34pm at 1:34 pm (UTC -4)
Well my favorite ’69 Met was Grote..so there..LOL you described, far better than I btw, the broad spectrum from which to select OUR Top 50 Mets of All Time for Ed’s little series, For this I thank You kindly ☺
stickguy
2/16/2011-2:37pm at 2:37 pm (UTC -4)
This does seem to be based on his career post-mets, since he never really did that much with them. ANd entirely possilbe if they had kept him, he never would have had as good (or long) of a career.
at the time, wasn’t he somewhat of a questin mark? Big FB, but inconsistant control? And he had had a few physicial issues.
Tyring to think of other guys that would fit a similar profile, and never actually put it together. and few if any would ever put it together like that! and I can’t believe anyone, at the time, though he would pitch another 20 years.
did he always pitch on lousy teams? The thing I do remember about him was that he K’d a lot of guys, piled up no hitters, but was barely a .500 pitcher.
OK, I looked at his stats. after his first 3 years with Cao, that’s kind of what he was.