Gil Hodges Wasn't Fooled by Tommie Agee's First Mets Season

It was early June, 1967. As I was washing my 1962 Nova in front of the house, I was listening to the New York Yankees playing the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium.

I don't remember much about the game or even if the Yankees won, which is unlikely since they won only 72 games in 1967. What I remember vividly is that White Sox center fielder Tommie Agee threw out the potential tying run at home.

After being named the American League Rookie of the Year in 1966, Agee suffered the sophomore jinx, batting only .234/.302/.371 with 14 home runs. Since he batted only .199 against right-handers, the White Sox brain trust wondered if he would ever be more than a platoon player.

Washington Senators manager Gil Hodges knew better. He thought that Agee would come around and when Hodges became New York Mets manager, he recommended Agee to general manager Johnny Murphy.

On Dec. 15, 1967, the Mets sent Buddy Booker, Tommy Davis, Jack Fisher and Billy Wynne to the White Sox in exchange for Agee and Al Weis. Both players would be instrumental in the Miracle of 1969.

When I learned about the trade, my mind raced back to Agee's throw against the Yankees. I thought that the Mets had made a great deal. Little did I or anyone realize how much Agee would mean to the Mets.

Mets broadcaster Bob Murphy explained the trade to the fans.

“The first thing Gil wanted to do was acquire Tommie Agee. He wanted a guy to bat leadoff with speed and that also could hit for power.”

Things didn't go well for Agee.

In his first plate appearance in the 1968 exhibition season, Bob Gibson of the St. Louis Cardinals hit Agee. Although he was hospitalized, he wasn't seriously injured.

Agee did well in the Mets' first four regular season games, but in the classic 24-inning nightmare that the Mets lost 1-0 to the Houston Astros, Agee was hitless in 10 at-bats.

He went hitless in his next 24 at-bats to tie Don Zimmer's dubious club record of 34 at-bats without a hit.

In his first season with the Mets, which was the "Year of the Pitcher," Agee batted .217/.255/.307 with five home runs, 17 RBIs, 15 walks and 103 strikeouts.

But Gil Hodges stuck with him.

On opening day at Shea Stadium in 1969, Agee led off the first inning with a single. He had two hits and drove in three runs, walked twice and didn't strike out.

In the second inning, he drove in the Mets' first three runs of the season with a bases-loaded double.

Two days later, he hit two home runs, one of which was one of the longest shots in Shea Stadium history.

“I’ve never seen a ball hit like that,” said Rod Gaspar, who was waiting on deck. “Just incredible.”

Expos pitcher Larry Jaster, who was a Mets nemesis, was impressed.

“A lot of times, you don't watch ’em. That one I had to watch because I knew it was hit pretty good.”

Agee and the Mets were on their way.