Quote:
Originally Posted by Merkle923
That group of mid-60s Mets reminded me of this snapshot taken in St. Petersburg in 1962.
Who ARE these Mets? They certainly aren't major leaguers, and they don't look like any of the dozen or so minor leaguers who were briefly in camp that spring of '62.
Any guesses? Remembering that these guys make Ray Daviault seem like a Hall of Famer.
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You're talking about the '62 Mets. They could be anybody. Could be some washed up former minor leaguers who got a tryout--there were lots of those. Or even some of the multitudes of amateurs who either requested and were granted a loook-see or just crashed. My bet is on the former minor leaguers...there were, as I say, lots of those in the '62 camp...guys who'd never gotten past A ball, been out of the game for 3-5 years already, approaching 30 and figuring on a last go. Same thing happened with the Colts. I don't think the Mets ever signed any of them, but they gave them a look. I remember reading about one guy--former minor leaguer--who tried out for the Mets in '62 and the Colts in '63. Didn't make it either time and, sadly, I can't recall his name (not that I'd recognize him anyway).
My favorites were the crazies. Like the guy who crashed Casey Stengel's hotel room. Ace Haggerty. Who? "A big balding man in his early forties," recounts Jerry Mitchell in
The Amazing Mets.
Quote:
"I pitch mostly, and with either arm," he announced, "an' I can also play the
infield, the outfield, an' catch. I'm one of the strongest men in the
country. Here, try an' take the baseball out of either my hands.
Just try it... You better sign me right up an' start seein' where you can
use me tomorrow," said Haggerty....
"I have to say I'm sorry I can't sign you," said Casey. "You see my
owners wouldn't like it if I had a pitcher who pitched with both arms.
They'd say I was a screwball or somethin'. So why don't you go over to
Sarasota an' talk to Mr. Al Lopez, the manager of the Chicago White Sox.
He's an old catcher an' he likes all kinds of pitchers."
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Haggerty left, telling Casey he'd be sorry when he signed with the Phillies and tossed a no-hitter against the Mets and Casey shut the door, hoping Ace Haggerty would forget about visiting Al Lopez.