Jose Lima – His Mets Career 2006

Posted on February 15, 2013 by Stephen Sullivan

Jose LimaJose Lima, a former All-Star and 20 game winner, was looking to resurrect his career when he signed with the Mets on February 14, 2006. He made his Met debut on May 7 and was the losing pitcher in the Mets 13-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves; he gave up five runs in five innings. Unfortunately for the Mets that would be Lima’s best start. He started a total of four games with each one worse than the one before. With his record at 0-4 and his ERA an astronomical 9.87 Lima was designated for assignment and finished the season in the minors. He finished the season with the Norfolk Tides and posted a 7-8 record.

Jose Lima #17

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Craig Paquette – His Mets Career 1998

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Stephen Sullivan

Craig Paquette #18The Mets signed utility player Craig Paquette as a free agent on December 23, 1997. He would start the 1998 season in the minors before making his Met debut on April 28, 1998 as their starting leftfielder. He doubled in his first at-bat as the Mets defeated the Houston Astros 4-3. Paquette played another six games before being sidelined with a sprained ankle, an injury that would end his season. At the time of his injury he was hitting .263.

Paquette spent the 1999 season with the Norfolk Tides, the Mets AAA affiliate, before being traded to the St Louis Cardinals on July 31 for Shawon Dunston. At the time of the trade he was hitting .272.

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Joe Sambito – His Mets Career 1985

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Stephen Sullivan

Former all-star and Brooklyn native Joe Sambito was coming off Tommy John surgery when the Mets signed him as a free agent in 1985. The left-hander made his Met debut on April 28th pitching an inning of scoreless relief in the Mets 5-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. He would go on to pitch in 7 more games for the Mets, with mixed results, before being demoted down to the minors. At the time of his demotion his ERA was 12.66. His last appearance came in the worst loss in Met history, a 26-7 loss to the Phillies. He pitched 3 innings and gave up 10 runs 8 of which were earned.

Sambito pitched in 19 games for AAA Tidewater, but posted a 0-3 record with a 4.55 ERA and was released by the Mets in August. He returned to the majors in 1986 with the Boston Red Sox and would make two appearances against the Mets in the World Series.

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Damon Buford – His Mets Career 1995

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Stephen Sullivan

Damon Buford, the son of former Baltimore Oriole great Don Buford who famously led off the 1969 World Series by hitting home run off of Tom Seaver, was acquired by the Mets on July 28th 1995 from the Orioles along with Alex Ochoa in exchange for Bobby Bonilla. He made his Met debut the next day as their starting leftfielder and went 1 for 3 at the plate.

Buford finished out the season playing 44 games for the Mets, splitting time between all three outfield positions. He hit just .235 with 4 home runs and 12 RBIs with his best game coming on September 13th when he hit two home runs and drove in three in the Mets 10-5 win over the Houston Astros.

Following the season the Mets traded Buford to the Texas Rangers in exchange for minor leaguer Terrell Lowery. He would play another six seasons in the majors with the Rangers, Red Sox and Cubs.

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Kelvin Chapman – His Mets Career 1979, 1984-1985

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Stephen Sullivan

After spending three seasons in their minor league system Kelvin Chapman earned his way on to the major league roster following a phenomenal spring training in 1979. He made his major league debut on opening day as the Mets starting second baseman. He got his major league career off to a fast start, singling in his first at-bat, and hitting safely in his first three games. But than his bat went cold and with his average at just .150 he was demoted to the minors in the middle of May. Chapman spent the remainder of the season in triple-A before returning to the big club as a September call-up.

Chapman spent the next four seasons playing exclusively for the Tidewater Tides, the Mets top minor league club. He finally returned to big club in 1984 serving as a part-time player and pinch hitter and put up decent numbers, hitting .289 with 3 home runs and 23 RBIs. Chapman returned to Mets in 1985 but once again struggled at the plate and was demoted back to the minors halfway through the season with his average at just .174.

The Mets released Chapman following the 1985 season ending his pro baseball career. Chapman appeared in a total of 172 games for the Mets and hit .223 with 3 home runs and 34 RBIs.

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Brent Mayne – His Mets Career 1996

Posted on February 10, 2013 by Stephen Sullivan

Acquired from the Kansas City Royals on December 19, 1995 Brent Mayne spent the 1996 season serving as the Mets backup catcher to Todd Hundley. He made his Met debut on April 3 pinch hitting for Jason Isringhausen, for the record he walked., and went on to appear in 70 games, 21 as a starter.

For the season Mayne hit .263 with a home run and 6 RBIs. The highlight of his brief Met career occurred on April 25th when he hit his only home run in the Mets 9-3 win over the Cardinals.

Following the season Mayne was granted free agency and signed with the Oakland A’s.

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Al Luplow – His Mets Career 1966-1967

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Stephen Sullivan

After spending five seasons with the Cleveland Indians outfielder Al Luplow was sold to the New York Mets on November 29, 1965. He made his Met debut on April 16, 1966 as a defensive replacement. He would spend the first couple of months of the 66 season serving primarily as a pinch hitter before becoming a mainstay in the Met outfield in June.

Luplow appeared in 111 games for the Mets in 1966, playing all three outfield positions, and hit a respectable .251 with 7 home runs and 31 RBIs. The highlight of his season came on September 17 when he hit two home runs and drove in three runs against the San Francisco Giants. Unfortunately his heroics were not enough as the Mets lost the game 6-4.

Al Luplow returned to the Mets for the 1967 season but struggled at the plate and with his average at just .205 was sold to the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 21, 1967. He finished out the season with the Pirates before retiring.

In two seasons with the Mets Luplow appeared in 152 games and batted .240 with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs.

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Butch Benton – His Mets Career 1978, 1980

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Stephen Sullivan

Catcher Butch Benton was drafted by the Mets in the first of round of the 1975 amateur draft (6th overall). However he never lived up to expectations and spent the bulk of his Met career in the minors.

After spending four seasons in the minors Benton finally made his Major League debut on September 14, 1978 as a pinch hitter for pitcher Roy Lee Jackson, he flew out to centerfield. He finished out the season with the Mets appearing in 4 games. He batted .500 (2 for 4) with both of his hits coming on the last day of the season.

Benton wouldn’t return to the majors until the middle of the 1980 season. He rejoined the Mets in July and went on to appear in 12 games. He hit just .048 (1 for 21).

The Mets partied ways with Benton prior to the 1981 season selling him to the Chicago Cubs. In parts of two seasons with the Mets the former number one pick appeared in 16 games and batted .120 (3 for 25).

 

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Charley Smith – His Mets Career 1964-1965

Posted on November 27, 2012 by Stephen Sullivan

A week into the 1964 season the Mets acquired Charley Smith from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Chico Fernandez and Bobby Catton. Smith made his Met debut the next day in the 7th inning as a defensive replacement for third baseman Rod Kanehl. Two innings later he popped out to third base in his first at bat as a Met. Smith would actually start his Met career 0 for 25, before getting his first hit on May 3rd. From that day on Smith settled in as the Mets regular third baseman, though he also played a handful of games at shortstop and the outfield. He led the Mets with 20 home runs while hitting .239 with 58 RBIs. The highlight of his season came on August 17 when he went 2 for 4 with 2 home runs and 4 RBIs.

Charley Smith returned as the Mets regular third baseman in 1965 and hit .244 with 16 home runs and led the team with 62 RBIs. But he also led the team with 123 strikeouts.

Following the 65 season the Mets traded Smith to the St. Louis Cardinals along with Al Jackson in exchange for former All-Star Ken Boyer.

In 262 games over two seasons Charley Smith hit .242 with 36 home runs and 120 RBIs.

 

 

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Mario Ramirez – His Mets Career 1980

Posted on November 16, 2012 by Stephen Sullivan

After spending five seasons in the Mets minor league system utility infielder Mario Ramirez finally got the call to join the big club on April 25, 1980, he entered the game as a defensive replacement at second base. Ramirez spent the rest of the season shuffling between New York and the Tidewater Tides, their AAA affiliate. In total Ramirez appeared in 18 games for the Mets during the 1980 season, he batted .208 (5 for 24).

Following the season the Mets lost Ramirez to the San Diego Padres in Rule 5 draft.

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