Harman Patil (Editor)

1962 New York Mets season

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Manager
  
Casey Stengel

Owner
  
Joan Whitney Payson

Local television
  
WWOR-TV

Start date
  
1962

General manager
  
George Weiss

1962 New York Mets season metsmerizedonlinecomwpcontentuploads2014031

Local radio
  
WABC (AM) (Ralph Kiner, Lindsey Nelson, Bob Murphy)

Similar
  
1969 New York Mets season, 1986 New York Mets season, 1973 New York Mets season, 1962 New York Yankees, 2000 New York Mets season

Nascar drivers play mario kart 64


The 1962 New York Mets season was the first regular season for the Mets, as the National League returned to New York City for the first time since 1957. They went 40–120 (.250) and finished tenth and last in the National League, 60 12 games behind the NL Champion San Francisco Giants, who once called New York home. The Mets' 120 losses are the most by any MLB team in one season since the 1899 Cleveland Spiders (20-134, .130). Since then, the 2003 Detroit Tigers have come the closest to matching this mark, at 43-119 (.265).

Contents

1962 New York Mets season Mark Tomasik The 1962 expansion New York Mets were losers but were

The team lost its first game 11–4 to the St. Louis Cardinals on April 11, and went on to lose its first nine games. After a 12–19 record on May 20 after sweeping a doubleheader, the Mets lost their next 17 games. They also lost 11 straight from July 15 to July 26, and 13 straight from August 9 to August 21. Their longest winning streak of the season was three.

1962 New York Mets season New york mets opening day 1962 cadillac

The Mets were managed by Casey Stengel and played their home games at the Polo Grounds, which was their temporary home while Shea Stadium was being built in Queens. They are rather infamous for their futility, and were one of the worst teams in Major League Baseball history. The pitching staff allowed the most runs (948) in the majors.

1962 New York Mets season 1962 New York Mets The Daily Dose

Despite the futility of the team, fans came out in droves. Their attendance of 922,530 was good enough for 6th in the National League that year.

1962 New York Mets season Losing Less The 1962 New York Mets Way Pushing on the Doors of

The season was chronicled in Jimmy Breslin's humorous best-selling book Can't Anybody Here Play This Game? The title came from a remark made by Manager Casey Stengel expressing his frustration over the team's ineptitude.

1962 New York Mets season Lot Detail 1962 New York Mets Opening Day Program

Offseason

1962 New York Mets season The 1962 NY Mets YouTube

  • July 20, 1961: Paul Blair was signed as an amateur free agent by the Mets.
  • October 16, 1961: Billy Loes was purchased by the Mets from the San Francisco Giants.
  • November 28, 1961: The Mets traded a player to be named later and cash to the Milwaukee Braves for Frank Thomas and a player to be named later. The deal was completed on May 21, 1962, when the Mets sent Gus Bell to the Braves, and the Braves sent Rick Herrscher to the Mets.
  • January 30, 1962: Joe Ginsberg was signed as a free agent by the Mets.
  • March 2, 1962: Billy Loes was returned by the Mets to the San Francisco Giants.
  • Craig Anderson, pitcher, St. Louis Cardinals
  • Gus Bell, outfielder, Cincinnati Reds
  • Ed Bouchee, infielder, Chicago Cubs
  • Chris Cannizzaro, catcher, St. Louis Cardinals
  • Elio Chacón, infielder, Cincinnati Reds
  • Joe Christopher, outfielder, Pittsburgh Pirates
  • Choo-Choo Coleman, catcher, Philadelphia Phillies
  • Roger Craig, pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers
  • Ray Daviault, pitcher, San Francisco Giants
  • John DeMerit, outfielder, Milwaukee Braves
  • Sammy Drake, infielder, Chicago Cubs
  • Jim Hickman, outfielder, St. Louis Cardinals
  • Gil Hodges, infielder, Los Angeles Dodgers
  • Jay Hook, pitcher, Cincinnati Reds
  • Al Jackson, pitcher, Pittsburgh Pirates
  • Sherman Jones, pitcher, Cincinnati Reds
  • Hobie Landrith, catcher, San Francisco Giants
  • Félix Mantilla, infielder, Milwaukee Braves
  • Bob L. Miller, pitcher, St. Louis Cardinals
  • Bob Smith, outfielder, Philadelphia Phillies
  • Lee Walls, infielder/outfielder, Philadelphia Phillies
  • Don Zimmer, infielder, Chicago Cubs
  • Opening Day lineup

    The first game in franchise history was played on the road, at Busch Stadium, St. Louis, on Wednesday night, April 11, 1962. The Mets fell behind 5–0 early, then narrowed the deficit to one run, but ultimately lost to the St. Louis Cardinals, 11–4. Former Brooklyn Dodgers Gil Hodges and Charlie Neal homered for the Mets, whose home opener at New York's Polo Grounds would wait until their second-ever official game, on Friday, April 13, 1962.

    Notable transactions

  • April 26, 1962: Harry Chiti was purchased by the Mets from the Cleveland Indians.
  • April 26, 1962: Bob Smith was traded by the Mets to the Chicago Cubs for Sammy Taylor.
  • May 1, 1962: Joe Ginsberg was released by the Mets.
  • May 7, 1962: Don Zimmer was traded by the Mets to the Cincinnati Reds for Bob G. Miller and Cliff Cook.
  • May 7, 1962: Jim Marshall was traded by the Mets to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Vinegar Bend Mizell.
  • May 9, 1962: Marv Throneberry was sold by the Baltimore Orioles to the New York Mets.
  • June 7, 1962 The New York Mets sell Hobie Landrith to the Orioles.
  • June 15, 1962: Harry Chiti was returned by the Mets to the Cleveland Indians by the New York Mets.
  • June 27, 1962: Ed Kranepool was signed as an amateur free agent by the Mets.
  • August 4, 1962: Vinegar Bend Mizell was released by the Mets.
  • September 7, 1962: Galen Cisco was selected off waivers by the Mets from the Boston Red Sox.
  • Starters by position

    Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

    Other batters

    Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

    Starting pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

    Other pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

    Relief pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

    League top five finishers

    Richie Ashburn

  • #3 in NL in bases on balls (81)
  • Roger Craig

  • MLB leader in losses (24)
  • #2 in NL in home runs allowed (35)
  • #3 in NL in earned runs allowed (117)
  • Jay Hook

  • #4 in NL in earned runs allowed (115)
  • #4 in NL in home runs allowed (31)
  • Al Jackson

  • #2 in NL in losses (20)
  • Farm system

    LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Auburn

    Syracuse affiliation shared with Washington Senators

    References

    1962 New York Mets season Wikipedia