Mets History: Dick Selma strikes out 13 in second big league start

Back in 1965, rookie New York Mets pitcher Dick Selma took the mound for the second time in a big-league game. He tossed a 10-inning gem which included 13 strikeouts.

On September 12, 1965, a New York Mets pitcher named Dick Selma took the mound for only his second big league game. After defeating the St. Louis Cardinals more than a week earlier down in Missouri, Selma returned to New York where he put together a historic start.

This time, up against the Milwaukee Braves, Selma went more than the distance for his second big league win. He lasted all 10 innings of the game, striking out 13 in the process.

Selma’s final line included only four hits allowed and a single walk. He got into some early danger during the first inning, hitting the second batter of the game then allowing a single to Felipe Alou. Fortunately, he struck out Rico Carty to begin the game then fanned Hall of Famers Eddie Mathews and Joe Torre to get out of the jam.

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Selma went toe-to-toe with Braves’ starter Bob Sadowski in this one. Sadowski struck out eight Mets batters but allowed one too many hits. In the bottom of the tenth, a leadoff single by Joe Christopher led to his demise. Ron Hunt was able to bunt him over and a Ron Swoboda groundout moved him to third.

With two outs, Charley Smith knocked a single to score Christopher and end the game.

Through 1968, Selma remained a regular part of the team’s pitching staff. Typically, you could find him pitching in relief with the occasional start. He eventually left the organization when the San Diego Padres selected him in the 1968 Expansion Draft with their fifth pick.

As the Mets rose up the standings, so did Selma as an individual performer. In his final season with the organization, he started 23 games and came into the game as a reliever ten other times. He went 9-10 with a 2.75 ERA in “The Year of the Pitcher.”

He would get more opportunities to start in the future, but these were mostly limited to the 25 he had with the 1969 Chicago Cubs who were doomed by a black cat at Shea Stadium.

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Selma’s second big league appearance was a masterpiece every ballplayer dreams of creating. In a year where the Mets went 50-112, it was one of the few shining moments and final victories of the season.