Saturday Seasons: 1967 The Franchise Arrives

The 1967 season saw the Mets lose over 100 games (61-101) for the fifth time in their six-year existence, but it also marked the debut of a homegrown generational player who would lead them to glory just two years later.

After just one year in the minors, Tom Seaver made his Major League debut on April 13th at Shea Stadium against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

An announced crowd of 5,005 was on hand to see Seaver allow two runs in 5 1/3 innings, walking four and striking out eight. The first batter he faced was Matty Alou, who doubled to lead off the game. Seaver then retired Maury Wills and Roberto Clemente on consecutive groundouts before walking Willie Stargell and striking out future teammate Donn Clendenon for his first big league punchout.

The Mets took a 2-0 lead on second baseman Jerry Buchek’s two-run homer in the bottom of the second, but the Pirates tied the game on RBI singles from Clemente and Wills in the third and fourth innings. In his first Major League plate appearance, Seaver walked. In his first official at-bat, he singled off Pirates pitcher Woodie Fryman in the fourth. He received a no-decision after being lifted in the sixth inning of a 2-2 tie. The Mets went on to win 3-2, and Seaver’s Hall of Fame career was officially underway.

The following day, another pitcher who would make an impact on the franchise also debuted. Left-hander Jerry Koosman made his Major League debut on April 14 against the Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium, tossing 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief. Koosman would only appear in nine games in 1967, spending most of the season in the minors.

Interestingly, April 14 was also Seaver’s second Major League game. While he didn’t pitch, he entered as a pinch-runner for catcher Greg Goossen in the eighth inning of a 5-1 loss.

On April 20, Seaver picked up his first big league win, beating the Cubs 6-1 at Shea with 7 1/3 strong innings. Five days later, he outdueled the Cubs again at Wrigley Field, pitching a 10-inning complete game in brutal 40-degree weather. With just 1,077 fans in attendance, Seaver led off the 10th inning with a single, moved to second on a sac bunt, and scored the eventual winning run on an Al Luplow single. He then breezed through the bottom of the 10th for his second win of the season.

Seaver suffered his first career loss on April 30, a 3-2 defeat to the Reds at Crosley Field, but rebounded five days later with a complete game win over the Astros. Each outing brought more excitement to Shea Stadium, where the crowds steadily grew with every Seaver start. Mets fans were starting to believe.

On July 3, Seaver tossed a complete game 5-3 win over the Giants at Shea in a nationally televised prime-time game on NBC. Five days later, 43,494 fans packed Shea to watch him throw another complete game, this time a 3-2 win over the Braves. In the second game of a July doubleheader against Houston, Seaver struck out 12 in a 7-2 win, reaching double-digit strikeouts for the first time.

August 13 brought Seaver’s first career shutout, a 3-0 win over the Pirates in the first game of a doubleheader at Shea. Three days later, he faced the Pirates again at Forbes Field but was knocked out after just two innings. He returned in relief in the 12th inning of the second game, escaping a jam and pitching a scoreless 13th before the Pirates walked it off in the 14th.

In September, Seaver won four straight starts, capped off by a three-hit shutout against the Astros. Jerry Buchek’s walk-off single scored Bud Harrelson with the game’s only run, giving Seaver his 16th win.

Meanwhile, Shea Stadium was becoming a star in its own right. During the summer, the stadium appeared in the film version of The Odd Couple. In one scene, Oscar Madison (Walter Matthau) misses a triple play while distracted by a call from Felix Unger (Jack Lemmon). The scene featured real players, including Bill Mazeroski as the batter.

Roberto Clemente was supposed to be the batter who hits into the triple play. Clemente refused to be the batter, reportedly because of his pride. Another report (which was more likely because Clemente was a humanitarian and philanthropist) said the Hall of Famer, who wanted to donate any money he got to a children’s charity, was offered $100 to be part of the scene but wanted $1000 so he turned it down.

As Bill Mazeroski steps to the plate Mets PA announcer Jack Lightcap encouraged the crowd to cheer for the cameras. According to the SABR article, “Roberto Clemente and the Odd Couple: Two Different Stories,” there were a number of takes before Mazeroski hit a grounder to Ken Boyer at third to begin the around the horn triple play. Boyer threw to Buchek who relayed to Ed Kranepool at first to complete the scene.

The real game provided another moment that probably could’ve been written into the script.

The Mets won 5-2 but not before the Pirates batted out of order in the top of the third inning.

With runners on first and third and two out, Jose Pagan lined a two-run double that did not count. The original batting order had Pagan batting ahead of Gene Alley, but Alley hit in front of Pagan the first time through. In the third, the Mets alerted the umpires that the Pirates did not hit in the original order that was submitted so Pagan’s double was nullified and Jim Pagliaroni, the proper batter, was called out to end the inning.

The real-life game that day also provided a Hollywood-worthy moment. The Pirates batted out of order in the third inning, nullifying a two-run double by Jose Pagan. The Mets caught the mistake, and Jim Pagliaroni was ruled out to end the inning. The Mets won the game 5-2.

Other highlights from the season included:

May 20: Pitcher Jack Hamilton hit a grand slam off former Met Al Jackson, though the Mets lost 11-9.

June 6: The Mets swept a doubleheader from the Pirates at Forbes Field, both in extra innings.

July 4: Mets beat Juan Marichal at Shea for the first time after he had gone 19-0 against them.

August 31–September 3: The Mets played a wild seven-game series against the Cubs at Wrigley, including three consecutive doubleheaders. They split the middle twin bills and lost the final two games.

Manager Wes Westrum resigned in late September with a 57-94 record. Salty Parker took over and finished the year 4-7.

Tommy Davis led the team with a .302 average (just the second Mets regular to hit .300), along with 16 home runs and 73 RBIs. Seaver led the team with 16 wins and a 2.76 ERA, earning National League Rookie of the Year honors—the first Met to win the award.

Several in-season and off-season moves began shaping the team that would shock the baseball world in 1969. In May, the Mets acquired third baseman Ed Charles. In July, they traded for catcher J.C. Martin. In November, they added outfielder Art Shamsky and, most notably, hired Gil Hodges as manager. December saw the acquisition of outfielder Tommie Agee and infielder Al Weis.

The 1967 season was another long slog through the basement of the National League, but amidst the losses and lineup experiments, something extraordinary took root in Flushing. Tom Seaver, with his poise, power, and presence, arrived not just as a bright spot, but as a beacon of hope. By season’s end, the Mets were still a losing team—but they were no longer a joke. With Seaver leading the way, and pieces like Koosman, Agee, and Hodges beginning to fall into place, the franchise had finally found its footing. The seeds of the Miracle had been planted—and for the first time, Mets fans could dare to believe that something amazing might be just around the corner..