HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!
Mets alumni celebrating a birthday today includes:
Mets starting pitcher from ’67-’70, Don Cardwell would have been 80 today (1935).
Mets reserve outfielder from ’11-’13 and Flushing Queens native, Mike Baxter turns 31 today (1984).
Other Transactions of note include:
The New York Mets sold the contract of catcher, Chris Cannizzaro to the New York Yankees on December 7, 1966.
The New York Mets purchased the contract of journeyman (and one time Met) shortstop, Tim Foli from the San Francisco Giants on December 7, 1977.
In what might be one of the most underrated trades of the Frank Cashen era: The New York Mets traded starting pitcher, Walt Terrell to the Detroit Tigers for third baseman, Howard Johnson on December 7, 1984.
The New York Mets traded middle reliever, the much maligned Doug Sisk to the Baltimore orioles for middle reliever, Blaine Beatty and minor league pitching prospect Greg Talamantez on December 7, 1987.
The Minnesota Twins signed pitcher, Don Schulze of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 7, 1987.
The New York Mets traded second baseman Wally Backman and minor league pitcher, Mike Santiago to the Minnesota Twins for minor league pitching prospects, Toby Nivens, Steve Gasser and Jeff Bumgarner on December 7, 1988.
The Cleveland Indians signed first baseman, Keith Hernandez of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 7, 1989. This was the unofficial start of the Mets decline – it would take about 8 years to become a winning team again.
The Mets drafted middle reliever,Mike Draper from the New York Yankees on December 7, 1992.
The New York Mets signed free agent reserve outfielder, Chris Jones of the Colorado Rockies on December 7, 1994.
The Seattle Mariners signed first baseman, John Olerud of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 7, 1999. I remember being so disappointed that Olerud decided to leave the Mets for the West Coast.
The New York Mets traded third baseman, Robin Ventura to the New York Yankees for outfielder, David Justice on December 7, 2001. Robin Ventura ended up having a decent season with the Yanks while Justice never even wore a Mets uniform ( he would be traded days later to the Oakland A’s).
The New York Mets signed free agent middle reliever, D. J. Carrasco of the Arizona Diamondbacks on December 7, 2010. This signing was one of many free agent signing busts that have occurred under the Alderson regime.
The New York Mets traded pitching prospect, Mike Antonini to the Los Angeles Dodgers for second baseman, Chung-lung Hu on December 7, 2010. And The “Hu’s On Second” joke was born.
The New York Mets signed free agent reserve catcher, Ronny Paulino of the Florida Marlins on December 7, 2010.
The Florida Marlins signed shortstop, José Reyes of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 7, 2011. Although at the time there was much outrage that the Mets didn’t even attempt to re sign him it is safe to say in hindsight it was the right move.
