Where Are They Now: Jon Matlack

Daily News has an article today about former Met Jon Matlack. Guy was the 1972 NL Rookie of the year, co-MVP of the 1975 All-Star game, and a SHUTOUT MACHINE. Guy won 125 games—30 by shutout.

The guy had great stuff and the third of the killer trio with Seaver and Koosman.

Some highlights:

- threw a two hit shutout in Game Two of the 1973 NLCS—Big Red Machine helpless that day. Game evened the Series at two and Mets won in five at Shea.
- As a 23 year old started three games in World Series, a huge thing to ask of a kid. Went one and two, but pitched great in two of the three games. If Felix Milan doesn't let the winning runs go through his legs in game one, history is perhaps kinder to the Mets.
- got his skull fractured by a line drive and 10 days later back on the mound—that shows the guy had stones and wanted the ball.

And of course the Mets traded him for a washed up Willie Montanez who had one decent year for a horrible club and some two stiffs who played a combined 61 games for the Mets. Want to know why the Mets in the late '70s early '80s were so bad? Because they traded their assets and got back GARBAGE.

Article says Jon is working for the Tigers—good to see he is involved in the game in some way.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2008/11/29/2008-11-29_where_are_they_now_former_met_jon_matlac.html

The Mets Police at www.metspolice.com