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This Day in NY Mets History: Tom Seaver’s gem vs. LA Dodgers outshined by 3 HR game

Tom Seaver pitched a 3-hit shutout and that was hardly the story.
ByTim Boyle|
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Apr 8, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; A general view of a statue of Mets great Tom Seaver outside of the stadium before a game between the New York Mets and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
Apr 8, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; A general view of a statue of Mets great Tom Seaver outside of the stadium before a game between the New York Mets and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | John Jones-Imagn Images

On June 4, 1976, the New York Mets strutted into Dodger Stadium ready for a fight. Tom Seaver versus Burt Hooton on the bill, it turned out to be a one-sided fistfight for more than the performance Tom Terrific twirled on the mound.

A Bill Russell single broke up Seaver’s perfect game early in the third, but no other Dodgers starter would have a hit for the rest of his 9-inning shutout. Two pinch hitters for Los Angeles singled. While Seaver was surely a star, this was better remembered for what Dave Kingman did at the plate.

Dave Kingman was a one-man wrecking crew vs. the Dodgers in this game

What would become an 11-0 Mets win started off calmly with a 0-0 deadlock through 3. After John Milner led off with a single in the fourth, Dave Kingman put up the first crooked number with a two-run home run. Far from finished, he added a three-run home run in the fifth inning.

On Seaver’s back, the Mets were cruising through this one. Kingman stepped up to the plate in the seventh and, wouldn’t you know it, went yard again. A third home run and another which plated three runs blew the game open by a score of 10-0.

A 3 for 5 day with 8 RBI, all coming on home runs, Kingman reached 20 home runs on the season with this massive day at the plate. It, of course, included a strikeout as well to balance things out.

The first two homers came off of Hooton with the third against Al Downing in relief. This was no beating of an inferior opponent. Hooton had a 3.26 ERA in 1976 and allowed 16 home runs all season in 226.2 innings of work. On this day, Kingman was able to get the best of him twice.

The 8 RBI became a single-game Mets record until Carlos Delgado in 2008. The three home runs weren’t as unique, somehow, with the trio being first matched by Jim Hickman in 1965. 

Kingman had 5 games in his MLB career where he hit 3 home runs. Although 154 came with the Mets, more than any other team, this was his only time trotting around the bases three times wearing their uniform.

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