1973 New York Mets season

March 2026 November 2013 New York Mets 1973 Mets spring training locker room.jpeg 220px Mets equipment staffer John Sellers sits in the locker room of Payson Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 1973. 1973 National League championsNational League East champions National League East Shea Stadium New York City, New York 82 79 y 1st Joan Whitney Payson Bob Scheffing Yogi Berra WOR-TV WHN (Ralph Kiner, Lindsey Nelson, Bob Murphy) NYM NYM The 1973 New York Mets season was the 12th regular season for the Mets, who played home games at Shea Stadium. Manager Yogi Berra led the team to a National League East title with an 82–79 record and the National League pennant, though they were defeated by the Oakland Athletics in the World Series. Their .509 winning percentage is the lowest of any pennant-winner in major league history. Having won only 82 games during the regular season, the 1973 Mets set the record in qualifying for the postseason with the fewest regular season wins since MLB expanded to a 162-game season in 1961, and the fewest of any team since 1885. The record (which excludes the strike-shortened 1981 season and the 2020 season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic) was matched by the 2005 San Diego Padres before the record was eclipsed by the 2026 Houston Astros. The season was well known for pitcher Tug McGraw's catchphrase "Ya Gotta Believe!!!" The Mets would not return to the postseason again until 1986, a 12-year drought that currently remains the longest in franchise history. Offseason November 1, 1972: Danny Frisella and Gary Gentry were traded by the Mets to the Atlanta Braves for Félix Millán and George Stone.http://www.ultimatemets.com/trades.php Ultimate Mets Database - Register of Transactions November 27, 1972: Brent Strom and Bob Rauch were traded by the Mets to the Cleveland Indians for Phil Hennigan. November 27, 1972: Tommie Agee was traded by the Mets to the Houston Astros for Rich Chiles and Buddy Harris.Tommie Agee page at Baseball Reference November 30, 1972: Dave Marshall was traded by the Mets to the San Diego Padres for Al Severinsen. March 28, 1973: Bill Sudakis was traded by the Mets to the Texas Rangers for Bill McNulty. Regular season Season highlights Initial turmoil The 1973 Mets were much improved from their "miracle" 1969 team. They had a group of young proven stars—including Jon Matlack, Rusty Staub, John Milner, and Félix Millán—mixed in with veterans from the 1969 club, such as Jerry Grote, Cleon Jones, Wayne Garrett, and Bud Harrelson. Their pitching staff, led by Tom Seaver, was among the finest in baseball. But injuries hampered the Mets throughout the entire season. The Mets got off to a 4–0 start to the season, and were still at first place by April 29 with a 12–8 record. But then, injuries to their key players caused turmoil. By July 26, the Mets were in last place, yet still only 7 1 2 games behind. On August 16, they were 12 games below .500, with 44 games to play. On August 30, the Mets were in last place, with only a month left to play. However, the division was so tight-knit that the last place standing consisted of only a 6 1 2 game deficit. At the completion of August (one day later), the Mets were in fifth place, nine games under .500,Events of Friday, August 31, 1973 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/08311973.htm Retrosheet but, in the balanced mediocrity of that year's division, just 5 1 2 games out of first. The mathematical inequities of divisional play were beginning to show up. On September 11, the Mets were in fourth place, five games under .500, but just three games out. Ahead of them were the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Montreal Expos. "You Gotta Believe!!!" With Tug McGraw urging his teammates on and celebrating victories with what soon became the catch phrase of 1973, "You Gotta Believe!!!" the Mets clinched the most unlikely of pennants. Yogi Berra, a veteran of pennant races, used a four-man rotation down the stretch: Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Jon Matlack, and George Stone, with the suddenly unhittable McGraw coming out of the pen with boisterous, justified confidence. In his last 19 games, the screwball-throwing lefty recorded 5 wins, converted 12 saves and had an ERA of 0.88. "Ball on the wall" play One of the most famous plays in Mets folklore occurred when their September 20 match-up against the Pirates at Shea Stadium went into extra innings. The Pirates had Richie Zisk on first base when Dave Augustine hit what appeared to be a two-run home run to left. Instead, the ball hit the top of the wall, and caromed directly into left fielder Cleon Jones' glove. Jones fired a strike to Wayne Garrett as the cut-off man, who in turn, fired a strike to catcher Ron Hodges to nail Zisk at the plate.https://metwiki.com/wiki/September_20,_1973:_The_%22Ball_on_the_Wall%22_Play September 20, 1973: The "Ball on the Wall" Play Mets Wiki July 18, 2010 October 2, 2024 February 26, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210226205945/https://metwiki.com/wiki/September_20%2C_1973%3A_The_%22Ball_on_the_Wall%22_Play dead The Mets went on to win the game in the bottom of the inning as part of a three-game sweep. The unexpected clincher After completing the three-game sweep of the Pirates on September 21, the Mets' record stood at an even 77–77, but that .500 record was good enough for first place and a half-game lead. Illustrating just how dense the crowd was at the top, the fifth-place Chicago Cubs were just 2 1 2 out. The Mets won five of their last seven to finish as National League East champions. The clinching took place at Wrigley Field on October 1 as the Mets beat the Cubs 6–4 as Tom Seaver won his 19th game of 1973 and Tug McGraw recorded the save. The Cardinals finished second, 1 1 2 games back, Pittsburgh third at 2 1 2, Montreal fourth at 3 1 2, and Chicago fifth at 5 games back. This was the only NL East title between 1970 and 1980 not to be won by either the Philadelphia Phillies or the Pittsburgh Pirates.http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050707&content_id=1119893&vkey=news_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi Notes: Phils–Pirates rivalry fading July 7, 2005 January 3, 2011 George Von Benko Phillies.MLB.com From 1974–80, the Phillies and Pirates won all seven National League East titles (Phillies four, Pirates three). July 14, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110714103810/http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050707&content_id=1119893&vkey=news_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi deadPirates perform rare three-peat feat 4–2 September 28, 1992 USA Today 5C The Pirates...won three (NL East titles) in a row from 1970–72. Season standings New York Mets Record vs. opponents NYM Opening Day starters Duffy Dyer Jim Fregosi Bud Harrelson Cleon Jones Willie Mays Félix Millán John Milner Tom Seaver Rusty Staub Notable transactions June 5, 1973: Lee Mazzilli was drafted by the Mets in the 1st round (14th pick) of the 1973 Major League Baseball draft.Lee Mazzilli page at Baseball Reference July 11, 1973: Jim Fregosi was sold by the Mets to the Texas Rangers.Jim Fregosi page at Baseball Reference Roster 1973 New York Mets Roster Pitchers 34 Bob Apodaca 38 Buzz Capra 34 Phil Hennigan 36 Jerry Koosman 32 Jon Matlack 43 Jim McAndrew 45 Tug McGraw 30 Bob Miller 39 Tommy Moore 31 Harry Parker 33 Ray Sadecki 41 Tom Seaver 40 George Stone 39 John Strohmayer 27 Craig Swan 22 Hank Webb Catchers 10 Duffy Dyer 15 Jerry Grote 42 Ron Hodges 20 Jerry May Infielders  5 Jim Beauchamp 12 Ken Boswell  2 Jim Fregosi 11 Wayne Garrett  3 Bud Harrelson  7 Ed Kranepool 17 Ted Martínez 16,17 Félix Millán 28 John Milner 19 Brian Ostrosser Outfielders 29 Rich Chiles  5 Jim Gosger 25 Don Hahn 21 Cleon Jones 24 Willie Mays 16 Dave Schneck  4 Rusty Staub 9,18 George Theodore Other batters  1 Lute Barnes  6 Greg Harts Manager  8 Yogi Berra Coaches 51 Roy McMillan 52 Joe Pignatano 54 Rube Walker 53 Eddie Yost Game log Regular season LegendMets WinMets LossGame Postponed Clinched divisionBold = Mets team member New York Mets 1962thru1992 1973 1973 regular season game log: 82–79 (Home: 43–38; Away: 39–41)1973 New York Mets Schedule & Results https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYN/1973-schedule-scores.shtml Baseball Reference 13 March 2026 y New York Mets 1962thru1992 1973 April: 12–8 (Home: 5–4; Away: 7–4) # Date Time (ET) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/Streak |- y New York Mets 1962thru1992 1973 May: 9–14 (Home: 3–8; Away: 6–6) # Date Time (ET) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/Streak |- y New York Mets 1962thru1992 1973 June: 11–17 (Home: 7–7; Away: 4–10) # Date Time (ET) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/Streak |- y New York Mets 1962thru1992 1973 July: 12–18 (Home: 3–8; Away: 9–10) # Date Time (ET) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/Streak |- bgcolor="bbbbbb" | — || July 24, 1973 || 8:30p.m. EDT || 44th All-Star Game || colspan=8 | National League vs. American League (Royals Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri) |- y New York Mets 1962thru1992 1973 August: 18–14 (Home: 14–8; Away: 4–6) # Date Time (ET) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/Streak |- y New York Mets 1962thru1992 1973 September: 19–8 (Home: 11–3; Away: 8–5) # Date Time (ET) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/Streak |- y New York Mets 1962thru1992 1973 October: 1–0 (Home: 0–0; Away: 1–0) # Date Time (ET) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/Streak |- Playoffs Game log LegendMets WinMets LossBold = Mets team member New York Mets 1962thru1992; 1973 Postseason game log: 6–6 (Home: 4–2; Away: 2–4) y New York Mets 1962thru1992; NL Championship Series: vs. Cincinnati Reds 3–2 (Home: 2–1; Away: 1–1) # Date Time (ET) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Location (Attendance) Series Box/Streak |- y New York Mets 1962thru1992; World Series: vs. Oakland Athletics 3–4 (Home: 2–1; Away: 1–3) # Date Time (ET) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Location (Attendance) Series Box/Streak |- style="background:#fbb;" | 1 || October 13, 1973 || 4:00p.m. EDT || @ Athletics || 1–2 || Holtzman (1–0) || Matlack (0–1) || Knowles (1) || 2:26 || Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum (46,021) || OAK 1–0 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 2 || October 14, 1973 || 4:30p.m. EDT || @ Athletics || 10–7 (12) || McGraw (1–0) || Fingers (0–1) || Stone (1) || 4:13 || Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum (49,151) || TIE 1–1 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 3 || October 16, 1973 || 8:30p.m. EDT || Athletics || 2–3 (11) || Lindblad (1–0) || Parker (0–1) || Fingers (1) || 3:15 || Shea Stadium (54,817) || OAK 2–1 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 4 || October 17, 1973 || 8:30p.m. EDT || Athletics || 6–1 || Matlack (1–1) || Holtzman (1–1) || Sadecki (1) || 2:41 || Shea Stadium (54,817) || TIE 2–2 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 5 || October 18, 1973 || 8:30p.m. EDT || Athletics || 2–0 || Koosman (1–0) || Blue (0–1) || McGraw (1) || 2:39 || Shea Stadium (54,817) || NYN 3–2 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 6 || October 20, 1973 || 4:00p.m. EDT || @ Athletics || 1–3 || Hunter (1–0) || Seaver (0–1) || Fingers (2) || 2:07 || Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum (49,333) || TIE 3–3 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 7 || October 21, 1973 || 4:30p.m. EDT || @ Athletics || 2–5 || Holtzman (2–1) || Matlack (1–2) || Knowles (2) || 2:37 || Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum (49,333) || OAK 4–3 || L2 |- Player stats Batting 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 C Jerry Grote 84 285 73 .256 1 32 1B John Milner 129 451 108 .239 23 72 2B Félix Millán 153 638 185 .290 3 37 SS Bud Harrelson 106 356 92 .258 0 20 3B Wayne Garrett 140 504 129 .256 16 58 LF Cleon Jones 92 339 88 .260 11 48 CF Don Hahn 93 262 60 .229 2 21 RF Rusty Staub 152 585 163 .279 15 76 Other batters Note: 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 1B-LF Ed Kranepool 100 284 68 .239 1 35 SS-OF Ted Martinez 92 263 67 .255 1 14 CF-1B Willie Mays 66 209 44 .211 6 25 C Duffy Dyer 70 189 35 .185 1 9 C Ron Hodges 45 127 33 .260 1 18 3B-SS Jim Fregosi 45 124 29 .234 0 11 LF George Theodore 45 116 30 .259 1 15 3B Ken Boswell 76 110 25 .227 2 14 OF Jim Gosger 38 92 22 .239 0 10 1B Jim Beauchamp 50 61 17 .279 0 14 CF Dave Schneck 13 36 7 .194 0 0 CF Rich Chiles 8 25 3 .120 0 1 C Jerry May 4 8 2 .250 0 0 SS Brian Ostrosser 4 5 0 .000 0 0 PH-PR Greg Harts 3 2 1 .500 0 0 PH-PR Lute Barnes 3 2 1 .500 0 1 Pitching 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 Tom Seaver 36 290.0 19 10 2.08 251 Jerry Koosman 35 263.0 14 15 2.84 156 Jon Matlack 34 242.0 14 16 3.20 205 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 George Stone George Stone (pitcher) 27 148.0 12 3 2.80 77 Ray Sadecki 31 116.2 5 4 3.39 87 Harry Parker Harry Parker (baseball) 38 96.2 8 4 3.35 63 Jim McAndrew 23 80.1 3 8 5.38 38 Craig Swan 3 8.1 0 1 8.64 4 Tommy Moore 3 3.1 0 1 10.80 1 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 Tug McGraw 60 5 6 25 3.87 81 Phil Hennigan 30 0 4 3 6.23 22 Buzz Capra 24 2 7 4 3.86 35 John Strohmayer 7 0 0 0 8.10 5 Hank Webb 2 0 0 0 10.80 1 Bob Miller 1 0 0 0 0.00 1 Bob Apodaca 1 0 0 0 inf 0 Postseason 1973 Major League Baseball postseason NLCS 1973 National League Championship Series Game 1 October 6: Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati Team123456789RHENew York010000000130Cincinnati000000011260W: Pedro Borbón (1–0)   L: Tom Seaver (0–1)   S: NoneHR: NYM – None  CIN – Pete Rose (1), Johnny Bench (1)Pitchers: NYM – Seaver  CIN – Billingham, Hall (9), Borbón (9)Attendance: 53,431 Game 2 October 7: Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati Team123456789RHENew York000100004570Cincinnati000000000020W: Jon Matlack (1–0)   L: Don Gullett (0–1)   S: NoneHR: NYM – Rusty Staub (1)  CIN – NonePitchers: NYM – Matlack  CIN – Gullett, Carroll (6), Hall (9), Borbón (9)Attendance: 54,041 Game 3 October 8: Shea Stadium, New York City Team123456789RHECincinnati002000000281New York15120000x9111W: Jerry Koosman (1–0)   L: Ross Grimsley (0–1)   S: NoneHR: CIN – Denis Menke (1)  NYM – Rusty Staub (2), (3)Pitchers: CIN – Grimsley, Hall (2), Tomlin (3), Nelson (4), Borbón (7)  NYM – KoosmanAttendance: 53,967 Game 4 October 9: Shea Stadium, New York City Team123456789101112RHECincinnati000000100001280New York001000000000131W: Clay Carroll (1–0)   L: Harry Parker (0–1)   S: Pedro Borbón (1)HR: CIN – Tony Pérez (1), Pete Rose (2)  NYM – NonePitchers: CIN – Norman, Gullett (6), Carroll (10), Borbón (12)  NYM – Stone, McGraw (7), Parker (12)Attendance: 50,786 Game 5 October 10: Shea Stadium, New York City Team123456789RHECincinnati001010000271New York20004100x7131W: Tom Seaver (1–1)   L: Jack Billingham (0–1)   S: Tug McGraw (1)HR: CIN – None  NYM – NonePitchers: CIN – Billingham, Gullett (5), Carroll (5), Grimsley (7)  NYM – Seaver, McGraw (9)Attendance: 50,323 World Series 1973 World Series +AL Oakland Athletics (4) vs. NL New York Mets (3)GameScoreDateLocationAttendanceTime of Game1 Mets – 1, A's – 2 October 13Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 46,021 2:262 Mets – 10, A's – 7 (12 inns)October 14Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 55,989 4:133 A's – 3, Mets – 2 (11 inns) October 16Shea Stadium 54,817 3:154 A's – 1, Mets – 6 October 17Shea Stadium 54,817 2:415 A's – 0, Mets – 2 October 18Shea Stadium 54,817 2:396 Mets – 1, A's – 3 October 20Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 49,333 2:077 Mets – 2, A's – 5 October 21Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 49,333 2:37 Awards and honors Cy Young Award – Tom Seaver Jerry Koosman – Player of the Month, April 1973 All-Stars All-Star Game Tom Seaver Willie Mays Farm system Minor League Baseball AAA Tidewater Tides International League John Antonelli AA Memphis Blues Texas League Joe Frazier A Visalia Mets California League Nolan Campbell A Pompano Beach Mets Florida State League Gordon Mackenzie A-Short Season Batavia Trojans New York–Penn League Wilbur Huckle Rookie Marion Mets Appalachian League Owen Friend LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Memphis References 2 Book sources Johnson Lloyd Wolff Miles The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball 2nd Durham, North Carolina Baseball America 1997 978-0-9637189-8-3 External links 1973 New York Mets at Baseball Reference 1973 New York Mets team page at www.baseball-almanac.com Category:New York Mets seasons New York Mets season Category:National League East champion seasons Category:National League champion seasons New York Category:1970s in Queens