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FatJack · 05-23-2014, 04:18 PM

Remember these guys?

Merkle posted that image here back in October, asking (a la Jerry Seinfeld) "Who are these people?"

I had occasion, recently, to speak with Ray Apple--probably the first player the Mets ever signed back in 1961. He'd seen a custom card of him I'd done and posted at Baseball Birthdays and was interested to know where I'd found the picture, etc. (ebay, btw).

Ray was a hard throwing right-hander out of Ohio State (who played on the legendary OSU basketball team that went 27-0 in 1960-61--a team that featured John Havlicek, Jerry Lucas, and a young Bobby Knight). Several teams were interested, but the Mets scout (Lloyd Gearhart) convinced him the Mets would be his quickest path to the majors. He was rolling along in 1963--10-4 between two clubs--and the Senators were trying hard to get his rights. Then, starting a game in cold weather in Toronto, he heard a snap as he threw a curve. And, well, you know...rotator cuff. And Tommy John surgery hadn't been invented yet.

So Ray spent some time talking to me and I figured, since he was there, maybe he could identify our mystery Mets. So I emailed him the image.

He quickly dismissed the speculation of Hamilt and Fitzpatrick, who he knows. Then he said that those guys (in Merkle's picture) were NOT at Spring Training in 1962. He believes the picture is from the winter Instructional League. He doesn't recognize the guy on the right, but he believes the one on the left is John Bukowski (well, he said "John Bysckowski", but he also said "check that spelling" and John Bukowski is the only one close who had an affiliation with the Mets in that era).

So, maybe a bit anti-climatic for some who are out there now going "Who?" But, if you track John Bukowski down, maybe he can tell you who the other one is.

05-23-2014, 04:18 PM	#21508
FatJack All Star Reserve Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 847	Mystery Mets Revisited Remember these guys? Merkle posted that image here back in October, asking (a la Jerry Seinfeld) "Who are these people?" I had occasion, recently, to speak with Ray Apple--probably the first player the Mets ever signed back in 1961. He'd seen a custom card of him I'd done and posted at Baseball Birthdays and was interested to know where I'd found the picture, etc. (ebay, btw). Ray was a hard throwing right-hander out of Ohio State (who played on the legendary OSU basketball team that went 27-0 in 1960-61--a team that featured John Havlicek, Jerry Lucas, and a young Bobby Knight). Several teams were interested, but the Mets scout (Lloyd Gearhart) convinced him the Mets would be his quickest path to the majors. He was rolling along in 1963--10-4 between two clubs--and the Senators were trying hard to get his rights. Then, starting a game in cold weather in Toronto, he heard a snap as he threw a curve. And, well, you know...rotator cuff. And Tommy John surgery hadn't been invented yet. So Ray spent some time talking to me and I figured, since he was there, maybe he could identify our mystery Mets. So I emailed him the image. He quickly dismissed the speculation of Hamilt and Fitzpatrick, who he knows. Then he said that those guys (in Merkle's picture) were NOT at Spring Training in 1962. He believes the picture is from the winter Instructional League. He doesn't recognize the guy on the right, but he believes the one on the left is John Bukowski (well, he said "John Bysckowski", but he also said "check that spelling" and John Bukowski is the only one close who had an affiliation with the Mets in that era). So, maybe a bit anti-climatic for some who are out there now going "Who?" But, if you track John Bukowski down, maybe he can tell you who the other one is. Last edited by FatJack; 05-23-2014 at 04:21 PM.