1969 New York Mets Autographs

Check out the successes and failures of getting the 1969 New York Mets autographs in the mail at my autograph site  http://sportsautographman.blogspot.com/

Please support Lets Go Mets by clicking the ads in the blog--thank you.

Billy Joel Trivia

There are few singers more associated with the Mets than the legendary Billy Joel. Lets see how you do on the Billy Joel trivia challenge? http://triviaman.blogspot.com/

If you like Lets Go Mets then please support us by clicking our ads. Thank you

Answers to Gil Hodges Trivia

Alright, fans of the legendary Met manager and Brooklyn Dodgers first base man---Gil Hodges, how did you do? Check out the answers below.

1) The part of the military that Hodges served in World War II was the Marine Corps where he was awarded a bronze star

2) In 1950, his four home runs in a nine inning game had only been done once in the prior fifty years by Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig

3) He caught the last out of the 1955 World Series won by the Dodgers (Johnny  Podres won the game). The throw was made to Hodges by Pee Wee Reese

4) His first managing job was with The Washington Senators

5) When Hodges manged the Mets, his third base coach in 1969 was 'The Walking Man', Eddie Yost

6) In 1969 Hodge's Mets won 100 games during the regular season

7) The average winners share in the World Series in 1969 was $18,388

8) The great quote about Hodges came from Branch Rickey

9) He started his career as a third baseman

10) His number was 14

How did you do? Let us know.

Yesterday, I got in the mail the best autographed card I ever received. Check out who it was on my new blog http://sportsautographman.blogspot.com/

This is a free blog and we only make money by supporting our advertisers. Please click their ads and show your support. Thank you.

Gil Hodges Trivia Quiz

How well do you know the 1969 New York Mets Manager Gil Hodges? See how you do in the Gil Hodges Trivia Challenge. Keep visiting Trivia Man to find answers.

1) In which part of the military did Gil Hodges serve in World War II?

2) In 1950, Hodges hit four home runs in a nine inning game--what hall of famer was the only other player to accomplish that feat in the prior fifty years?

3) Who threw the ball to Hodges for the final out of the 1955 World Series?

4) What team did he first manage after leaving the New York Mets in 1963?

5) Who was the Mets third base coach in 1969?

6) How many games did the Mets win in the 1969 regular season?

7) Within five thousand dollars, what was the individual winner's share in the 1969 World Series?

8) What Baseball Executive once said of Hodges, "He's the kind of boy who makes his scout's job safe for twenty years?"

9) Hodges broke into the majors with the Dodgers and played what position?

10) What was Hodges official  number?

How well did you know Gil Hodges and should he be in the Hall of Fame. Let us know what you think?

Trivia Man is an absolutely free blog that is why we appreciate if you can support our ads. Thank you.

Johan Santana No Hitter Quotes

Congratulations to Johan Santana for pitching the first no-hitter in Met history. No better way to celebrate (actually there are a lot of better ways) than with the top quotes about the no hitter. I also will provide my personal commentary about the no-hitter after the quotes. Way to go  Johan.

            "Finally, the first one. That is the greatest feeling ever."
             ---Johan Santana

"Being part of this organization, they deserve one---they deserve more than one. All the great pitchers that have come through here."
--Josh Thole, on the Santana no-hitter and a tribute to all the great pitchers from the past who wore the Met uniform like Seaver, Gooden, Ryan and Koos

"I never had in my mind that I would throw a no-hitter, here. They're the world champs."
--Johan Santana, on his no-hitter coming against the Cardinals

"I'm glad I had a chance to be part of it."
--Mike Baxter, on his great catch to save the no-hitter

"It was amazing. An outstanding play that saved the game."
--Johan Santana, on Baxter's catch

"I thought it was a fair ball. At the end of the day, one hit wasn't going to make a difference in the ball game."
--Carlos Beltran, on the ball he hit that was ruled foul

"I just couldn't take him out, just couldn't do it."
--Terry Collins, on keeping Santana in the game well after his pitch count

My Thoughts;

I have been a Met fan for my entire life (and I'm not a kid). It meant a lot to finally get the no-hitter especially coming from a pitcher the caliber of Santana.  In one of my awful predictions from the past, I thought that Oliver Perez would be the first Met to pitch a no-hitter (given his occasionally unbelievable stuff). I always thought during the 84 and 85 season that Gooden was the best pitcher I ever saw and was always amazed that he never had a no-hitter in every start.

Then there was Tom Seaver---the greatest Met pitcher of all-time...An icon. I remember watching the Mets play the Cubs in the 1969 season when Seaver was working not only on a  no-hitter but a perfect game. Top of the ninth, Cub manager, Leo Durocher had Randy Hundley trying to bunt for a base hit. He gets thrown out at first. Next batter up is pinch hitter Jimmy Qualls. Who the hell is Jimmy Qualls? Well, he will live in Met infamy when  he laced a base hit with one out ending Seaver's perfect game bid. Well, now the Jimmy Qualls curse is over. The Met have their first no-hitter and we have Johan Santana to thank for that. My next bold prediction---they will have another one this year and it will be from R.A. Dickey---you heard it hear first.

Karl Ehrhardt: The Mets Sign Man

It is appropriate on the Mets new Banner Day to pay tribute to the legendary Mets sign man, Karl Ehrhardt. What Met fan of a certain age does not remember the 1200 different signs that Ehrhardt created (he brought an average of sixty to every game). It was one of the great traditions of Shea Stadium to watch Ehrhardt do his magic during each Met game. Besides his wit, he didn't mind taking shots at the team as well. He passed away in 2008 at the age of 83.

As a tribute to him and because it is banner day at Citi Field, here are some of his all-time great signs:

"Look Ma, no Hands." (after Met Shortstop Frank Taveres would make an error)
Grant's Tomb (on the bad years of the Mets under M. Donald Grant)
Bye Bye Birdies (after Mets beat the Orioles in '69 World Series)
The King of Swings (on the Mets Dave Kingman)
Amazin
It's Alive, It's Alive (mimicking the Frankenstein monster, when a weak player got a hit)
There are no Words (after Game 5 of the 1969 World Series)
Nailed by the (picture of a Hammer)--This was a tribute to the Mets first baseman, John 'The  Hammer' Milner
Toothless Cubs Just A Little Lip (on the Cubs falling apart in 1969 under manager Leo 'The Lip' Durocher)

This is the only video I could find of The Sign Man. It features Tom Seaver's return to Shea as a Red (shows Ehrhardt holding a sign saying 'We Came to Bury Seaver').

Mets April 2012 MVP

It was incumbent on the Mets to get a good start in April and they did. It portends well for the rest of the season---Great starting pitching, some strong relief pitching at points, some clutch hits and for the most part decent defense. If the season ended tomorrow, their 13-10 record would put them in the first round of the playoffs. They are already up 4.5 games on the Marlins and 2 ahead of the Phillies.

With the excellent start, there could be a lot of possible April MVP candidates.

The obvious ones are:

David Wright---.397, 14 rbi's, 3 home runs and only 11 K's. Intangibles include coming back after only a few days from what could have been an injury in which he could have easily ended up on the DL. That was an early turnaround point for the Mets

Kirk Nieuwenhuis--- .311, 6 rbi's, 2 home runs. Intangible include coming in after the Day 1 Torres injury and owning center field.  He has brought energy, enthusiasm and great defensive play. Even though he only has 6 rbi's--he seems to get clutch hit after clutch hit (including last night).

Josh Thole---.322, 5 rbi's, 1 home run, .412 on base percentage. Intangibles include getting on base about twice a game every game. He has proven to be a consistent strong hitter and his defense has improved

Daniel Murphy--.311 and 7 rbi's. Intangible are that he is a hitting machine. The man can flat out hit as he proved last year as well. Always want him at bat in big situations.

Lucas Duda---.256, 13 rbi's and 4 home runs. Intangibles are his potential power numbers. Sure four home runs in a month does not conjure up images of Babe Ruth, but anyone who has consistently watched Met games can tell you is that he can be intimidating at the plate. He has also shown to be clutch. As Ike starts hitting, the power combination (including Wright) will be among the best in baseball.

Jon Niese---Four Game--- 2-0, 2.81 ERA. Intangibles are that he has been consistently good with strong control. He gives great hope for the future.

R.A. Dickey---Four Game--3-1, 4.44 ERA--Intangibles are that he has been a great leader and outside of one bad start explaining the 4.44 ERA, he has been terrific. Good sign that April is usually his worst month.

Jon Rauch-- 10.2 innings--3-0, 2.53 ERA---Intangibles are that he has been clutch game after game when they have needed him--just look at his record.

Bobby Parnell---3.48 in 10,1 innings---Intangibles are the most incredible stat of the month---15 k's in 10.1 innings. I think the maturation of Bobby Parnell has finally occurred. He could be a potential great future Met closer (though I still have faith in Francisco)

My Co-MVPS;

All these player could  make a case for being the April Met MVP. Here are my two choices.

1) Johan Santana---Sure he has not won a game yet but his ERA is 2.25. Anyone who has seen him pitch this year knows he has one awful start, but other then that he has been dominant. Even when he doesn't have his best stuff, he can still pitch a great game (see Rockies last Sunday). He set the tone for the season on Day One. Who knows what will happen the rest of the way, but in April he proved again why he has been one of baseball's most dominant pitchers over the last decade.

2) Terry Collins---You got a love a manager who is about the players first--no bravado, no controversy, just playing the role of professional manager. This year he has played the role well---even keeled (for the most part), defends his teams, seems to handle the young guys well, good strategist. What's not to like.

Hopefully the Mets will continue their great play in May. I said before the season started that they would be a playoff team--I'm certainly not changing my tune after a good April.

Thanks to Ultimate Mets Database for proving to be a great resource for this article http://ultimatemets.com/profile.php?PlayerCode=0845