Baseball History: 50 Years Ago Today

 
Tom Seaver wins the 100th game of his career, working the first eight innings as the Mets edge the Dodgers 2-1 at Shea Stadium. 

Yet this milestone isn't even New York's biggest baseball story on May 11th, 1972. The other headline was the Mets bringing home Willie Mays. The beloved center fielder, whom owner Joan Payson tried to trade for ever since the franchise was established, was now 41 and far from his prime. Giants owner Horace Stoneham was dealing with financial problems and felt he could no longer afford Mays' $165,000 salary, nor the five-year post-retirement commitment the club had with its franchise icon.

The timing for was right -- as was the price.  The Mets sent pitcher Charlie Williams to San Francisco. Willie made his Shea Stadium debut three days later; his 5th inning home run was the deciding run in the Mets 5-4 victory.

With the anniversary of this date uniquely connecting Seaver and Mays, I remembered the 2012 BAT Dinner in New York, where both men appeared and posed together in a group photo with the other Hall of Famers on hand.


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