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August 27, 1974, was a New York Mets win over the Houston Astros. A game started by Tug McGraw, it’s remembered more for something else unique in franchise history.
In the bottom of the second inning with one out, a 23-year-old rookie outfielder stepped up to the plate. His name was Benny Ayala and he hit a home run in his first trip to the plate in the major leagues.
Not exactly the most unique situation in Mets history, it was the first time in the franchise’s history for a player to go yard in his first trip to the plate. The Mets were a year removed from taking the Oakland Athletics to the brink in a 7-game battle in the World Series. Would Ayala be a part of the next wave of Mets stars?
Benny Ayala didn’t do a whole lot for the Mets or anyone else after his home run
Ayala wasn’t the slugger we were waiting for. Only 3 home runs for the Mets in 106 plate appearances, anyone who paid attention to his minor league stats might’ve been tricked. Ayala was regularly hitting for decent power on the farm. Home run totals of 19, 17, and 11 in his previous three seasons, there was certainly reason to believe he could hit for above-average power in the majors leagues.
A .235/.308/.338 slash line in his first major league season in an abbreviated 23 game stint, he wouldn’t make it back to the majors until 1976. He batted only .115/.179/.231. On March 30, 1977, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals.
38 total big league home runs with a season-high of 10 in 1980 with the Baltimore Orioles, Ayala was an amateur free agent signing who didn’t pan out into the next big superstar. His career started with a bang and he actually did well for a couple of games. In fact, Ayala had a hit in each of his first 4 games at the MLB level.
Being the first person in any team’s history is quite an accomplishment. Mike Fitzgerald in 1983 became the next Mets player to hit a homer in his first at-bat. He, ironically, would hit only three for the Mets as well.
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