Mike Vail Was the Mets' Jeremy Lin, but the Mets Didn't Win

The Jeremy Lin hyperbole is par for the course in 2012. It makes the enthusiasm for Mike Vail in 1975 pale in comparison.

The New York Mets traded utility player Teddy Martinez to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for outfielder Mike Vail and infielder Jack Heidemann on Dec. 11, 1974.

In 1975, Vail spent almost the entire season with the Tidewater Tides. He batted .342/.394/.494 and was voted the International League's Player of the Year.

During the middle of August, Vail joined the Mets.

In the fifth inning in a game at the Astrodome, Vail made his major league debut when he pinch-hit for Mets' starter Randy Tate.  He singled to left for his first major league hit.

In each of his next 21 games, Vail managed at least one hit for a 22-game hitting streak.

On Sept. 15, the Mets hosted the Montreal Expos at Shea Stadium. In the first inning, Vail, who batted third in the Mets lineup, grounded out harmlessly to shortstop Pepe Frias. After hitting a screaming line drive that third baseman Larry Parrish snared, Vail was discouraged.

"I said to myself, 'That's it. That's the best shot I'll have at a hit.'"

Facing Expos ace Steve Rogers, a tough right-hander, Vail batted in the sixth inning with Del Unser on second base, two outs and the Mets trailing 2-0.

Vail singled to center to score Unser, but of greater importance, he now had hit safely in 23 consecutive games, tying two Philadelphia Phillies for the longest consecutive-game hitting streak by a National League rookie.

Joe Rapp hit in 23 consecutive games in 1921, and Richie Ashburn did it in 1948.

After the game, Vail was so excited that he sounded a lot like Yogi Berra.

"I was lucky I did it in my first year," he told the baseball writers. After he realized what he had said, he broke out laughing.

The ball Vail hit was sent to the Hall of Fame. He was impressed.

"I never thought something like this would happen. It's unreal. I hope to get in there someday myself."

Vail finished the season batting .302/.339/.420. He never reached the heights predicted for him. After two disappointing season, the Mets put him on waivers. The Cleveland Indians claimed him on March 26, 1978.