Three Mets players best known for one fantastic defensive catch

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NEW YORK – AUGUST 22: Ron Swoboda speaks at a press conference commemorating the New York Mets 40th anniversary of the 1969 World Championship team on August 22, 2009 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /

When it comes to memorable defensive plays, these three New York Mets players from the past are most remembered for one moment of glory with the glove.

Defense is a big part of winning in baseball. Unfortunately, it sometimes goes overlooked. New York Mets fans appreciate good glove work because of how few men have worn the team’s uniform and excelled on this side of the baseball.

Throughout the franchise’s history, however, three men stand out for one particular play on defense. They weren’t the best players by any stretch. In fact, they may have been forgotten if not for one fantastic catch.

I’m not sure there’s any other franchise in MLB history with this many memorable catches from otherwise innocuous players. These franchise-defining plays remain a big part of Mets history many years later. I don’t expect anything to change either.

Ron Swoboda in the 1969 World Series

The 1969 World Series will have its place in the hearts of Mets fans everywhere. It was the first victory for the franchise. The accomplishment was achieved by a likable group of men who may not have had the most talent, but certainly had plenty of heart.

One member of the team was Ron Swoboda. The outfielder had been with the team since 1965. In this year, he was more of a part-time player. As some may even recall, he didn’t play a single inning in the NLCS sweep versus the Atlanta Braves.

Things were a little different for Swoboda in the World Series. He participated in four of the team’s games, batting .400 in his 16 trips to the plate. His most memorable moment came in the ninth inning of Game Four.

In the ninth inning, Swoboda made a spectacular catch in right field to steal a hit away from future Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson.

Something not always mentioned with this catch is that it did allow the Baltimore Orioles to score the tying run. Fellow future Hall of Famer Frank Robinson scored from third base on the sacrifice fly. However, with Swoboda making such an amazing grab, the Orioles may have scored more. Instead, the game was tied after nine. The Mets would later win in 10 innings, making Swoboda’s catch even more important.

NEW YORK – OCTOBER 19: Endy Chavez #10 of the New York Mets catches a ball hit in the sixth inning hit by Scott Rolen #27 of the St. Louis Cardinals during game seven of the NLCS at Shea Stadium on October 19, 2006 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) /

Endy Chavez in the 2006 NLCS

Endy Chavez joined the Mets for the 2006 season after a year where he hit .216 split between the Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies. A light-hitting outfielder with some amazing speed, he put together a fantastic campaign in the regular season. Through 390 trips to the plate with the 2006 Mets, Chavez batted .306/.348/.431.

It’s Chavez’s defense, though, which made him a memorable part of this organization.

In the top of the sixth inning, Jim Edmonds of the St. Louis Cardinals stood on first with one out. The batter, Scott Rolen, drove what should have been a tie-breaking two-run home run into left field. Chavez picked up on the ball and raced toward the outer banks of Shea Stadium.

When he got to the wall, Chavez leaped up and snagged the baseball in a graceful yet reckless manner. Unlike many defensive plays we had seen in the past, many from Edmonds and Rolen, there was no time to think about the highlight reel. Chavez only had an opportunity to react.

Fortunately for New York, his speed was just enough to get there and make the catch. In what was only a few seconds, Chavez recorded the second out of the inning. He wasn’t finished yet.

Doubtful anyone could possibly make the play, Edmonds was caught off first base then doubled up on the throw to the infield. The inning was over and the two teams headed to the bottom half of the inning with the score still tied at 1 a piece in a deciding Game Seven of the NLCS.

Unfortunately, this catch didn’t have the same happy ending as Swoboda’s. Yadier Molina hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning a little too far for any of the outfielders to reach. The Mets famously went down in this game with the final at-bat belonging to Carlos Beltran whose bat didn’t even leave his shoulder.

NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 01: Head Trainer Ray Ramirez walks Mike Baxter #23 of the New York Mets back to the dugout after being injured crashing into the wall during the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field on June 1, 2012 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

Mike Baxter in Johan Santana’s no-hitter

Not all of the greatest plays took place in October. On June 1, 2012, an outfielder named Mike Baxter added his name to the list of great plays by Mets players.

If you blink, you may have missed Baxter’s career. His MLB career included parts of six seasons with the 2012 campaign accounting for nearly half of those games. While he did have a productive season for New York, this one game stood out above the rest.

In a game with a much happier ending against the Cardinals than the one with Chavez’s catch, Baxter made the catch to protect Johan Santana’s no-hitter. Ironically, this one was also hit by Molina.

After retiring 19 Cardinals without allowing a hit, Molina came to the plate for St. Louis looking to break up what could become the first no-no in Mets history. He lined a shot to deep left field. Baxter got on his horse, reached out, and made the play only to then crash into the wall. Clearly in pain after making the play, Baxter literally gave his body up for his pitcher, team, and the fans.

The injury ended up costing Baxter a significant portion of the season. He left the game after and wouldn’t play in a big-league game for almost two full months.

At the time of the injury, Baxter was hitting .323. He was becoming a candidate to receive much more playing time than many expected. He would get plenty of chances to play in August and September but saw his numbers dip. He eventually ended the year hitting .263.

Baxter only spent a short time with the Mets. His name is still one people remember thanks to this one amazing grab to preserve something fans of this franchise waited 50 years to see.

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Great defense sometimes gets overlooked because the numbers to represent it aren’t as obvious as they are for offense. In big moments like these, there’s no debate. These three Mets players came through when the team needed them. By just mentioning their names, all fans can picture the historic fielding gems they made.

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When it comes to memorable defensive plays, these three New York Mets players from the past are most remembered for one moment of glory with the glove.

Ron Swoboda in the 1969 World Series

Endy Chavez in the 2006 NLCS

Mike Baxter in Johan Santana’s no-hitter

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