Mets All-Star history: The 1960’s

 

With the All Star Game coming to Citi Field, it might be fun to run down Mets in All Star Game history.  First up the 1960s.

1962:

Game 1 7/10 DC Stadium, Washington, DC

NL 3-AL1

The Mets’ first representatives for an All Star Game were centerfielder Richie Ashburn as a reserve outfielder, and skipper Casey Stengel on NL manager Fred Hutchinson‘s coaching staff.  MLB was still under the brief two All Star Games per summer experiment, in fact this would be the final year of the run.  So, in the first game, Ashburn rode the pine.

Game 2 7/30 Wrigley Field, Chicago

AL 9-NL 4

Stengel was not on the the staff in the second game, in favor of the Mets’ fellow 1962 expansion franchise, the Houston Astros’ Harry Craft.  This time, Ashburn would appear in the game.  Pinch hitting, in the 7^th inning for, interestingly enough, Astro pitcher Turk Farrell.  Ashburn would get on with a single to left, and would score later in the inning, though making the game 7-2 AL.

1963

7/9 Municipal Stadium, Cleveland

NL 5 AL 3

The lone Met player representative was once again a multiple time All-Star centertfielder, this time it was Duke Snider and again in a reserve role.  The legendary former Dodger would pinch hit for the then current Dodger left fielder, and future Met, Tommie Davis.  Snider would strike out, but did go out to left for the bottom of the ninth, becoming the first Met to take the field in an All Star Game.

1964

7/7 Shea Stadium, New York

NL 7-AL 4

The brand new Shea would see its only All Star Game in 1964, and Met manager Casey Stengel was again picked to be on the NL’s manager’s, Walt Alston this time, staff.  And for the first time the Mets enjoyed an All Star starter with Ron Hunt as the starting secondbaseman.  Hunt, batting 8^th, would go 1 for 3, single in the third, with a walk and a strikeout before being pinch hit for in the bottom of the ninth.

1965

7/13

Metropolitan Stadium, Minneapolis

NL 6-AL 5

Ed Kranepool would be the Met representative for the 1965 game, and he would not appear in the game.

1966

7/12

Busch Stadium, St. Louis

NL 2-AL 1

Ron Hunt became the first Met to be a multiple time All Star, as he was selected as a backup secondbaseman.  Hunt would replace Jim Lefebvre in the sixth, but would ground out in his only at bat in the seventh.

1967

7/12

Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim

NL 2-AL 1 (15 innings)

One of the all-time legends would make his All Star debut in 1967, Tom Seaver, in midst of his  NL Rookie of The Year season.  The NL took the lead in the top of the fifteenth inning on the strength of a Tony Perez solo homer, and Seaver was brought in for the bottom half.  And Seaver shut the door on the victory, allowing only a Carl Yastrzemski walk.

1968

7/9

Astrodome, Houston

NL 1-AL 0

1968 would see the Mets send more than one player to the game for the first time.  Jerry Grote would be picked by the players, coaches and managers to start the game behind the plate, and Jerry Koosman and Seaver were named to the pitching staff.  Grote played the first five innings but would go 0-2 with a strikeout.  Seaver came in in the seventh, and only allowed two hits and struck out 5.  And Koosman struck out Yastrzemski to end the game.

1969

RFK Stadium Washington, DC

NL 9-AL 3

Once again the Mets sent a trio of players to the game.  This time Seaver and Koosman were joined by Cleon Jones, who was selected as a starting outfielder.  Jones would go 2-4 and scored 2 runs, and Koosman would give up only one hit, and had one strikeout in his 1 and 2/3^rds innings of work while Seaver would not get into the game.