1977 New York Mets season
Encyclopedia
The 1977 New York Mets
season was the 16th regular season for the Mets, who played home games at Shea Stadium
. Initially led by manager Joe Frazier
followed by Joe Torre
, the team finished in last place for the first time since 1967
, and for the first time since divisional play was introduced in .
Lee Mazzilli
and catcher John Stearns
, but there wasn't enough sock in the lineup. the once powerful pitching staff had also taken on a leaner look. By midseason, ace Tom Seaver
had been traded, Jerry Koosman
was 8-20 and Jon Matlack
(who would be traded in December) was 7-15.
by the Montreal Expos
, the Mets' record fell to 15-30, and Frazier was fired as manager of the Mets. Mets first baseman
Joe Torre assumed the role of player-manager, leading his team to a 49-68 record the remainder of the way. The team finished 37 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies
in the National League East
, narrowly avoiding a 100-loss season (64-98).
Torre was the club's sixth manager and in certain respects his appointment reestablished the New York
connection of Mets managers. Although he had spent most of his career with the Milwaukee
and Atlanta Braves
and the St. Louis Cardinals
, Torre had grown up and played his first baseball in Brooklyn
. When the thirty-six-year-old Torre retired as a player that June, he left behind a .297 lifetime batting average
for his eighteen years in the major leagues, including an MVP season in when he led the league with a .363 batting average. Torre was an able manager, with a veteran's incisive insights into the game and the ability to handle and motivate players. But in this case, a last-place team was a last-place team no matter how able the manager.
all season over money. It came to a head two weeks after Torre took over as manager on June 15, when Grant traded Seaver to the Cincinnati Reds
for Pat Zachry
, Doug Flynn
, Steve Henderson
and Dan Norman
. Dave Kingman
was also traded to the San Diego Padres
for minor league pitcher
Paul Siebert
and Bobby Valentine
. Somewhat more quietly that day, they also acquired Joel Youngblood
from the St. Louis Cardinals
for Mike Phillips
. To make room for Youngblood on the Mets' active roster, Torre retired as a player.
From a public-relations perspective, the Seaver and Kingman trades were a disaster. Seaver especially was a hard hit to the fan base. As a member of the 1969 World Champions, he was a symbol of past glory -- one who was still a highly-effective pitcher -- and instilled pride in the fans. Whatever else they might not have had, they still had as their very own the man generally acclaimed as baseball's premier pitcher. No matter how abrasive the relationship between Seaver and his employers had become, dealing him away was a serious miscalculation, and Shea Stadium became known as "Grant's Tomb" in the New York sports pages.
Grant did acquire some good, young talent for Seaver; Flynn was a slick fielding second baseman
who won the NL Gold Glove award in , Zachry was co-winner of the NL Rookie of the Year award with Butch Metzger
the previous season (coincidentally, they would be teammates on the Mets in ), and Henderson would be narrowly eclipsed by the Montreal Expos' Andre Dawson
for the award in 1977.
The rationale for the Kingman trade was that he would become a free agent at the end of the season, and the club would lose him anyway. But coming on top of the Seaver trade, aligned with the fact that the team got very little in return for their big buster, the Kingman trade only added to the growing disenchantment at Shea Stadium, and June 15, 1977 would forever be known to Mets fans as the "Saturday Night Massacre."
2-1 with one out in the sixth inning when the lights at Shea went out as New York City
is stricken with a blackout
that would last two days. The game was resumed on September 16, with the Cubs winning 5-2. On July 15, when the lights finally went on in New York, the Mets split a double header with the Pittsburgh Pirates
.
On August 21 Tom Seaver took the mound against the New York Mets for the first time in his career. His Cincinnati Reds defeated the Mets 5-1.
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
season was the 16th regular season for the Mets, who played home games at Shea Stadium
Shea Stadium
William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008...
. Initially led by manager Joe Frazier
Joe Frazier (baseball)
Joseph Filmore Frazier was a former outfielder and manager in Major League Baseball. He was signed as an amateur free agent in 1941, but did not play in the major leagues until 1947. After 1947, he spent parts of three seasons in the 1950s, primarily with the St. Louis Cardinals...
followed by Joe Torre
Joe Torre
Joseph Paul Torre is a former American professional baseball player and manager who currently serves as Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. A nine-time All-Star, he played in Major League Baseball as a catcher, first baseman and a third baseman for the...
, the team finished in last place for the first time since 1967
1967 New York Mets season
The New York Mets season was the 6th regular season for the Mets. They went 61-101 and finished 10th in the National League, 40½ games behind the NL pennant and World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals. They were managed by Wes Westrum and Salty Parker...
, and for the first time since divisional play was introduced in .
Offseason
- March 30, : Benny AyalaBenny AyalaBenigno Ayala Felix is a former Major League Baseball player who had a 10-season career from to . He played outfield, first base, and designated hitter. He played for the New York Mets and St...
was traded by the Mets to the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
for Doug ClareyDoug ClareyDoug Clarey was a Major League Baseball infielder. He played one season with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1976. He hit one home run in four at bats and finished his brief career with a 1.000 Slugging percentage...
.
Regular season
The 1977 Mets had some promising new players in outfielderOutfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Lee Mazzilli
Lee Mazzilli
Lee Louis Mazzilli, , is a former Major League Baseball player, coach, and manager. On December 11, 2006, he was hired as the lead studio analyst for SportsNet New York, the New York Mets' cable television network...
and catcher John Stearns
John Stearns
John Hardin Stearns is a former major league catcher who played for the New York Mets from to , and played a single game for the Philadelphia Phillies in ....
, but there wasn't enough sock in the lineup. the once powerful pitching staff had also taken on a leaner look. By midseason, ace Tom Seaver
Tom Seaver
George Thomas "Tom" Seaver , nicknamed "Tom Terrific" and "The Franchise", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched from 1967-1986 for four different teams in his career, but is noted primarily for his time with the New York Mets...
had been traded, Jerry Koosman
Jerry Koosman
Jerome Martin Koosman is a former left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies between 1967 and 1985...
was 8-20 and Jon Matlack
Jon Matlack
Jonathan Trumpbour Matlack is an American former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher...
(who would be traded in December) was 7-15.
Managerial change
1977 got off to a bad start for Joe Frazier's Mets. On May 30, after being swept in a doubleheaderDoubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
by the Montreal Expos
1977 Montreal Expos season
The 1969 Montreal Expos season was a season in American baseball. The team finished fifth in the National League East with a record of 73-87, 26 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies...
, the Mets' record fell to 15-30, and Frazier was fired as manager of the Mets. Mets first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
Joe Torre assumed the role of player-manager, leading his team to a 49-68 record the remainder of the way. The team finished 37 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies
1977 Philadelphia Phillies season
The 1977 Philadelphia Phillies season was the 95th season in the history of the franchise. The Phillies won their second consecutive National League East division title with a record of 101-61, five games over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Phillies lost the NLCS to the Los Angeles Dodgers, three...
in the National League East
National League East
The National League East Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. The Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies are tied for the most National League East Division titles . All of Atlanta's NL East titles came during a record stretch of 14 consecutive division titles...
, narrowly avoiding a 100-loss season (64-98).
Torre was the club's sixth manager and in certain respects his appointment reestablished the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
connection of Mets managers. Although he had spent most of his career with the Milwaukee
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
and Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
and the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, Torre had grown up and played his first baseball in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. When the thirty-six-year-old Torre retired as a player that June, he left behind a .297 lifetime batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
for his eighteen years in the major leagues, including an MVP season in when he led the league with a .363 batting average. Torre was an able manager, with a veteran's incisive insights into the game and the ability to handle and motivate players. But in this case, a last-place team was a last-place team no matter how able the manager.
"Saturday Night Massacre"
Seaver was at odds with Met chairman M. Donald GrantM. Donald Grant
Michael Donald Grant was the chairman and a minority owner of the New York Mets baseball club from its beginnings in 1962 to 1978.Grant was born in Montreal in 1904, the son of Hockey Hall of Fame goalie Mike Grant...
all season over money. It came to a head two weeks after Torre took over as manager on June 15, when Grant traded Seaver to the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
for Pat Zachry
Pat Zachry
Patrick Paul Zachry is a former Major League baseball pitcher who had a ten year career from to .-Cincinnati Reds:...
, Doug Flynn
Doug Flynn
Robert Douglas Flynn Jr. is a former Major League Baseball infielder from -. He is best remembered for being one of the players the New York Mets acquired in the infamous "Midnight Massacre."-Cincinnati Reds:...
, Steve Henderson
Steve Henderson
Steven Curtis Henderson is a former Major League Baseball left fielder who is best remembered for being one of the players the New York Mets acquired in the infamous "Midnight Massacre."-Cincinnati Reds:...
and Dan Norman
Dan Norman
Daniel Edmund Norman is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Mets and Montreal Expos...
. Dave Kingman
Dave Kingman
David Arthur Kingman , nicknamed "Kong" and "Sky King", is a former Major League Baseball left fielder, first baseman, third baseman, and designated hitter. The towering 6' 6" Kingman was one of the most feared sluggers of the 1970s and 1980s...
was also traded to the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
for minor league pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Paul Siebert
Paul Siebert
Paul Edward Siebert is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched parts of five seasons in the majors, from until . Paul's father was former major league first baseman Dick Siebert....
and Bobby Valentine
Bobby Valentine
Robert John "Bobby V" Valentine is an American professional baseball manager and former player who is currently the manager of the Boston Red Sox. He previously managed the Texas Rangers and New York Mets as well as the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan...
. Somewhat more quietly that day, they also acquired Joel Youngblood
Joel Youngblood
Joel Randolph Youngblood III is a former Major League Baseball player for the Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, Montreal Expos and San Francisco Giants from to . Youngblood was a versatile player who could play many different positions, as well as pinch hit...
from the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
for Mike Phillips
Mike Phillips (baseball)
Michael Dwaine Phillips , is a veteran of professional baseball who played shortstop, second base, and third base in the majors from 1973-1983. The first-round draft choice of the San Francisco Giants in 1969, he saw action for the Giants, New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, and...
. To make room for Youngblood on the Mets' active roster, Torre retired as a player.
From a public-relations perspective, the Seaver and Kingman trades were a disaster. Seaver especially was a hard hit to the fan base. As a member of the 1969 World Champions, he was a symbol of past glory -- one who was still a highly-effective pitcher -- and instilled pride in the fans. Whatever else they might not have had, they still had as their very own the man generally acclaimed as baseball's premier pitcher. No matter how abrasive the relationship between Seaver and his employers had become, dealing him away was a serious miscalculation, and Shea Stadium became known as "Grant's Tomb" in the New York sports pages.
Grant did acquire some good, young talent for Seaver; Flynn was a slick fielding second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
who won the NL Gold Glove award in , Zachry was co-winner of the NL Rookie of the Year award with Butch Metzger
Butch Metzger
Clarence Edward "Butch" Metzger is a former Major League Baseball player. Metzger was a relief pitcher, specifically a closer...
the previous season (coincidentally, they would be teammates on the Mets in ), and Henderson would be narrowly eclipsed by the Montreal Expos' Andre Dawson
Andre Dawson
Andre Nolan Dawson , nicknamed "The Hawk", is an American former center fielder and right fielder. During a 21-year baseball career, he played for four different teams, spending most of his career with the Montreal Expos and Chicago Cubs .An 8-time National League All-Star, he was named the...
for the award in 1977.
The rationale for the Kingman trade was that he would become a free agent at the end of the season, and the club would lose him anyway. But coming on top of the Seaver trade, aligned with the fact that the team got very little in return for their big buster, the Kingman trade only added to the growing disenchantment at Shea Stadium, and June 15, 1977 would forever be known to Mets fans as the "Saturday Night Massacre."
Season highlights
On July 13, the Mets trailed the Chicago Cubs1977 Chicago Cubs season
The Chicago Cubs season was a season in American baseball. The Cubs finished fourth in the National League East with a record of 81-81, 20 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies.- Offseason :...
2-1 with one out in the sixth inning when the lights at Shea went out as New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
is stricken with a blackout
New York City blackout of 1977
The New York City blackout of 1977 was an electricity blackout affected most of New York City from July 13, 1977 to July 14, 1977. The only neighborhoods in New York City that were not affected were in southern Queens, and neighborhoods of the Rockaways, which are part of the Long Island Lighting...
that would last two days. The game was resumed on September 16, with the Cubs winning 5-2. On July 15, when the lights finally went on in New York, the Mets split a double header with the Pittsburgh Pirates
1977 Pittsburgh Pirates season
- Offseason :* November 5, 1976: Manny Sanguillén was traded by the Pirates to the Oakland Athletics for manager Chuck Tanner.* December 10, 1976: Richie Zisk and Silvio Martínez were traded by the Pirates to the Chicago White Sox for Goose Gossage and Terry Forster.* March 15, 1977: Rick Langford,...
.
On August 21 Tom Seaver took the mound against the New York Mets for the first time in his career. His Cincinnati Reds defeated the Mets 5-1.
Notable transactions
- June 7, 1977: Bud BlackBud BlackHarry Ralston "Bud" Black is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher and current manager of the San Diego Padres.-College:Black played two years at Lower Columbia College in Longview...
was drafted by the Mets in the 2nd round of the secondary phase of the 1977 Major League Baseball Draft1977 Major League Baseball Draft-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1977 Major League Baseball draft.- Background :The White Sox raised some brows when they passed on right-handed pitcher Bill Gullickson, a native of nearby Orland Park, IL, and selected outfielder Harold Baines as the number one...
, but did not sign. - June 14, 1977: Jeff ReardonJeff ReardonJeffrey James Reardon , nicknamed "The Terminator" for his intimidating presence on the mound and 98 mph fastball, is a former professional baseball relief pitcher from 1979-1994 who played for the New York Mets, Montreal Expos, Minnesota Twins, and Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati...
was signed by the Mets as an amateur free agent. - June 15, 1977: Tom SeaverTom SeaverGeorge Thomas "Tom" Seaver , nicknamed "Tom Terrific" and "The Franchise", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched from 1967-1986 for four different teams in his career, but is noted primarily for his time with the New York Mets...
was traded by the Mets to the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati RedsThe Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
for Pat ZachryPat ZachryPatrick Paul Zachry is a former Major League baseball pitcher who had a ten year career from to .-Cincinnati Reds:...
, Doug FlynnDoug FlynnRobert Douglas Flynn Jr. is a former Major League Baseball infielder from -. He is best remembered for being one of the players the New York Mets acquired in the infamous "Midnight Massacre."-Cincinnati Reds:...
, Steve HendersonSteve HendersonSteven Curtis Henderson is a former Major League Baseball left fielder who is best remembered for being one of the players the New York Mets acquired in the infamous "Midnight Massacre."-Cincinnati Reds:...
, and Dan NormanDan NormanDaniel Edmund Norman is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Mets and Montreal Expos...
. - June 15, 1977: Mike PhillipsMike Phillips (baseball)Michael Dwaine Phillips , is a veteran of professional baseball who played shortstop, second base, and third base in the majors from 1973-1983. The first-round draft choice of the San Francisco Giants in 1969, he saw action for the Giants, New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, and...
was traded by the Mets to the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
for Joel YoungbloodJoel YoungbloodJoel Randolph Youngblood III is a former Major League Baseball player for the Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, Montreal Expos and San Francisco Giants from to . Youngblood was a versatile player who could play many different positions, as well as pinch hit...
. - June 15, 1977: Dave KingmanDave KingmanDavid Arthur Kingman , nicknamed "Kong" and "Sky King", is a former Major League Baseball left fielder, first baseman, third baseman, and designated hitter. The towering 6' 6" Kingman was one of the most feared sluggers of the 1970s and 1980s...
was traded by the Mets to the San Diego PadresSan Diego PadresThe San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
for Bobby ValentineBobby ValentineRobert John "Bobby V" Valentine is an American professional baseball manager and former player who is currently the manager of the Boston Red Sox. He previously managed the Texas Rangers and New York Mets as well as the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan...
and Paul SiebertPaul SiebertPaul Edward Siebert is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched parts of five seasons in the majors, from until . Paul's father was former major league first baseman Dick Siebert....
.
Roster
| 1977 New York Mets | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LF | 99 | 350 | 104 | .297 | 12 | 65 | |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90 | 282 | 54 | .191 | 0 | 14 | |
| 42 | 83 | 11 | .133 | 1 | 3 | |
| 36 | 75 | 17 | .227 | 0 | 6 | |
| 26 | 51 | 9 | .176 | 1 | 9 | |
| 7 | 16 | 4 | .250 | 0 | 0 | |
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | 226.2 | 8 | 20 | 3.49 | 192 | |
| 32 | 200 | 10 | 13 | 3.42 | 105 | |
| 19 | 119.2 | 7 | 6 | 3.76 | 63 | |
| 13 | 96 | 7 | 3 | 3.00 | 72 | |
| 4 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 6.00 | 13 | |
| 1 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 3.86 | 3 |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 71.2 | 3 | 6 | 4.77 | 39 | |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 59 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 3.43 | 53 | |
| 44 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3.61 | 49 | |
| 40 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4.45 | 23 | |
| 25 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3.86 | 20 | |
Farm system
External links
- The New York Mets, The Official 25th Anniversary Book, Donald Honig, 1986
- 1977 New York Mets
- 1977 New York Mets team page at www.baseball-almanac.com