George Stone was a great Met. He didn’t last that long with the team but he was an integral part of the 1973 championship team’s starting rotation.
Bob Scheffing acquired George Stone as part of the November 1972 transaction with the Atlanta Braves. The Mets dealt Gary Gentry and Danny Frisella to the Braves in exchange for Felix Millan and Stone. As a member of the Braves pitching staff, in 1972, Stone broke Rusty Staub’s right hand effectively ruining Staub’s offensive contributions for the season.
Stone, a left-handed starting pitcher, joined the team’s 1973 starting rotation behind Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, and Jon Matlack. Stone was the the fourth starter and Jim McAndew was the fifth starter.
He helped the team win the National League pennant by going 12-3 with a 2.80 ERA. By the end of the regular season he owned the National League’s best winning percentage at .800. He finished the regular season with eight consecutive victories and he contributed almost 10 innings in the post-season. He helped the Mets earn a victory in his start against the Cincinnati Reds when he gave up only one earned run in 6.2 innings. He added another 3 innings of scoreless ball and earned a save in the World Series against the Oakland Athletics. For the season, as a hitter, Stone ranked second on the Mets pitching staff (behind Seaver) by contributing 13 hits in 48 at-bats.
Stone could not replicate his numbers again in 1974. He went 2-7 in 15 games with 77 innings pitched. He missed the last two months of the season when he was placed on the disabled list with a strained shoulder tendon on August 9th.
In June of 1975, Stone returned again to the starting rotation with a 7-2 victory against the San Diego Padres. Overall, for the season, he went 3-3 with a 5.05 ERA. A back muscle pull landed him on the disabled list in August and he finished the year with only three September relief appearances.
On February 26, 1976, the Mets dealt Stone to the Texas Ranger for Bill Hands. Overall, in his Mets career, Stone went 17-13 with a 3.86 ERA.
I think he was Milt Pappas’ cousin or in-law, right? I liked Stone. Milan too. But how sad re Frissella. And Gentry with arm problems.
Should have started Game 6 of the 1973 World Series instead of Seaver on short rest.
I was too young to grasp that in 1973. Makes me wonder how Berra would have been killed in the media if wfan and the web existed in 1973.
Stone’s cousin was the late Cecil Upshaw.
As of 2010, Bill Hands owned a gas station out in Orient, should any of you Long Islanders want to drop by and pay a 20-game winner visit: http://www.northjersey.com/sports/pro_sports/060110_Where_are_they_now_Rutherfords_Bill_Hands_.html
Upshaw. Right. Thanks.
Upshaw had that off season hand injury horsing around with Stone, I think. I think this is Atlanta late 60s?