The Mets had lost every opening day as well as every home opener since the franchise began play in 1962. Finally in 1968, the Mets won their first home opener at Shea Stadium.
1968 was a very important season for the Mets that would turn around their fortunes. The Mets would go from loveable to losers to World Champions by the end of next season. Mant additions to the 1968 team would contribute to the Championship of 1969.
Most importantly this was the first season Gil Hodges took over as manager. He had come over from the Washington Senators, bringing along a new set of coaches with him as well. Pitching coach Rube Walker who would be instrumental in handling the young staff. Joe Pignatano & Eddie Yost joined Yogi Berra the only hold over from the Mets coaching staff of 1967.
By now young Tom Seaver was becoming one of the best pitchers in the league. This year he was joined by Jerry Koosman who would be the Mets left-handed number two guy behind Seaver. Koosman would go on to come in second to Johnny Bench in that years Rookie of the Year award.
The Mets made a huge trade in the off season bringing in former White Sox Rookie of the Year, Tommie Agee to play centerfield. Although Agee struggled in his first year in New York, he would win a Gold Glove in the outfield, hit for power & lead the club in stolen bases over the next few years.
Also, in the trade came utility man Al Weis who played a big part in the 1969 season & was a World Series hero. The third player to come over from the White Sox was backup catcher J.C. Martin who also had a big hit in the ’69 Series. The Mets also added Art Shamsky who would platoon in the outfield.
The Mets brought back Al Jackson to pitch & gave rookies Ken Boswell & Jim McAndrew full time roles.
The season had opened up in San Francisco, with Tom Seaver making his first Opening Day star. He took a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the 9th inning, but Willie May singled, advanced on a passed ball & scored on Jim Ray Harts single. Danny Frisella relieved Seaver served up a single & a walk off two run double to Jesus Alou. It was the teams seventh straight Opening Day loss.
The Mets then split a two-game set in Los Angeles & another two game series in Houston. It was on to New York for the home opener. The Mets Jerry Koosman & the Giants Mike McCormick were the days starting pitchers.
Wednesday April 17th, 1968: A big crowd of 52,079 came out to Shea Stadium for Gil Hodges managerial debut & to see the former New York Giants who had moved to San Francisco just ten years earlier. There was still a big Giants fan base in New York rooting for their old team.
The Mets went down quietly in the 1st inning. In the bottom of the 2nd, Cleon Jones hit a solo HR to give the Mets the lead. Cleon would hit 14 HRs on the year second to the Glider Ed Charles’ 15 HRs & would lead the club with a .297 average.The Mets held on to the 1-0 lead until the bottom of the 6th inning. Ken Boswell led off with a
single to right field. After McCormick retired the next two Mets, he walked Cleon Jones. The Glider Ed Charles then doubled to left bringing in Boswell with the second run.Ed Charles Trivia: Charles was the 35-year-old veteran of the young Mets team. He would lead the club in HRs (15) hit 11 doubles bat .276 drive in 53 runs while posting a .761 OPS playing in 117 games.The Giant’s Mike McCormick was done after six innings, allowing two runs on five hits with two walks & three strike outs. Bobby Bolin came on in the bottom of the 7th inning.
Jerry Grote led off with a double, then Jerry Koosman reached when Bolin botched a comebacker to the mound. One of the new Mets Al Weis, that day’s leadoff hitter singled to left field scoring Grote with the Mets third run.
Jerry Koosman pitched the complete shutout striking out ten batters. He gave up seven hits & walked two, earning his first win of the year.
Jerry Koosman Trivia: In his rookie year Koosman went 19-12 (4th most wins in the NL) with a 2.08 ERA (4th best in the NL). He struck out 178 batters in 263.2 innings pitched (7th most in the NL).
Kooz threw seven shut outs (3rd most in the NL) & had 17 complete games (5th most in the NL).
He made the All-Star team & was second in the Rookie of the Year voting to future Hall of Famer Johnny Bench.
The 1968 Mets finished ninth (73-89) in the NL of ten teams. The 73 wins were the most the franchise ever had won & it was a 12-game improvement from the previous year.
This year Gil Hodges observed what he had, the next year he turned them into World Champions, the Amazing Mets who shocked the world.
