Here’s another loaner from Centerfield Maz. (Seriously if you dig this site, especially 70’s week you will love Centerfield Maz.)
1972- The Say Hey Kid Hits A Game Winning HR In His 1st Mets Game
Mothers Day, May 14, 1972: It was a historic sunny day at Shea Stadium as Wille Mays made his triumphant return to New York, batting lead off and playing first base. It was a day filled with standing ovations from the Shea crowd of over 35,000, as the Mets took on Willie’s old team the Giants.
Left hander Ray Sadecki went for the Mets against San Francisco’s Sudden Sam McDowell. Mays led the game off with a walk, one of two he’d have on the day.
It didn’t stop there, McDowell couldn’t find the plate, he walked Bud Harrelson & Tommie Agee. Up came the latest addition to the Mets, Rusty Staub, he gave Willie & the mom’s a grand slam Mothers Day present putting the Mets up 4-0.
The Giants beat up Sadecki in the 5th inning as short stop Chris Speier doubled home Bernie Williams & second baseman Tito Fuentes hit a 2 run HR. Don Carithers came in to pitch for the Giants as Willie Mays led off the bottom of the 5th inning. In dramatic fashion Willie hit a home run over the wall, as Shea went crazy, welcome home Willie.
The home run would end up being the game winner as Jim McAndrew came on to pitch 4 scoreless innings, geting the save. The Mets only had four hits in the game but held on to win 5-4 and had a nice three game lead in first place.
