My buddy Centerfield Maz wrote this great piece of Lee Mazzilli. I love that third pic down, what a riot. Ah, the 70s.
With CFMaz’s permission here’s what he wrote last week:
TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2009
Former Met of the Day : Lee Mazzilli
With speed and a good batting eye, Mazzilli was thrown right into the everyday lineup in 1977. He would have been a better leadoff man but the ’77 Mets had no offense and he was needed as an RBI guy. The front office promoted him as the next Willie Mays because of his talent and the basket style catches he made, ala Mays. In 159 games he hit .250 with 6 HRs, 24 doubles, 24 stolen bases and 46 RBIs. Certainly no Mays, but the best player on a poor team.
Mazzilli played a lot of first base in 1980, and lead the team with 162 hits, 31 doubles, 16 HRs, 76 RBI, 82 runs, and 41 stolen bases. In 1981 injuries held him back to a .228 average, 6 HRs, and 36 RBIs. That winter he was traded to Texas for Ron Darling & Walt Terrell. At the time it was a very unpopular trade with Met fans but proved to be a good one.
Retirement: A good friend, actor Dan Lauria, (the father in The Wonder Years) suggested acting, and “The Italian Stallion” got the part with actress Sharon Angela ( The Sopranos) in the off-Broadway production of Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding (1992-1993). After that he went into the restaurant business, as a partner in Lee Mazzillis Sports Café located in Manhattan at 70th St & Amsterdam Ave. He then managed the Orioles from 2004- 2005, and was first base & bench coach for Joe Torre from 2000 to 2003.
then was the SNY studio anatyst in 2007-2008.
Honors: Maz was honored by the Brooklyn Cyclones on “Lee Mazzilli Bobble Head Night†in 2007. He was at the closing ceremonies of Shea Stadium in 2008.
Do the right thing and give Centerfield Maz (the website, not Lee) some hits.
www.metspolice.com