5 sometimes forgotten members of both 1969 and 1973 Mets World Series squads

Certainly as the decade of the 1960’s came to a close, and the 1970’s emerged, the New York Mets had the core, especially with the surplus of great young arms, to become a dynasty much like the Oakland A’s did from 1971 to 1975.

The A’s did it with a great pitching staff featuring Catfish Hunter, Vida Blue, and Ken Holtzman leading the rotation with Rollie Fingers as the closer. The Mets had just as much talent with Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, and Nolan Ryan with Tug McGraw coming out of the pen.

The A’s had one big bopper in Reggie Jackson with a supporting cast of clutch performers. Unfortunately, the Mets did not have that one impact bat, although they should have because they passed on Reggie in the draft in favor of Chilcott guy. And the irony is that the two teams would clash in “73 in what would be the end of what could have, and should have, been a Mets dynasty.

There were a number of players who enjoyed being a part of both the 1969 and 1973 seasons. Some of the players common to both rosters are obvious – Seaver, Koosman, and McGraw on the mound, and Jerry Grote, Bud Harrelson, and Cleon Jones. All played a significant role in 1969 and on the ’73 squad.

1) Wayne Garrett

Wayne Garrett is not forgotten as a member of the 1973 team because he simply can’t be. He finally emerged as the Mets starting third baseman after three different players were brought in – Joe Foy, Bob Aspromonte, and Jim Fregosi – in three consecutive seasons respectively to be the No. 1 guy. Garrett became the team’s leadoff batter and one of their most reliable players in a season that saw just about everyone go down with injuries. He was probably the team’s MVP in 1973.

But he is kind of forgotten for the first Mets World Series team. In 1969 he was a very green rookie who was forced into Major League action as a result of being plucked from the Atlanta Braves as a Rule 5 selection. That meant if he didn’t stay on the Major League level the entire season, he would have to be returned. But he was mentored by Ed Charles and provided infield help with the military commitment of Harrelson taking him away from the team.

Although a bit overmatched during the 1969 regular season hitting just .218, he did get 400 at bats. While managing only 1 HR and 39 RBI in the regular season, he proved to be very clutch in the post season, hitting a big home run in the NLCS. He had his best season in 1973, hitting .256 with 16 HR and 58 RBI, mostly from the leadoff position.

2) Ken Boswell

Ken Boswell was a key member of the 1969 Mets and, although really a part of Gil Hodges’ left handed platoon, he was often in the lineup against all pitchers. Teammate and roomie Art Shamsky touts Boswell as one of the best hitters he had ever seen, and unfortunately he never reached his potential due to nagging injuries.

Most fans won’t even remember that Boswell was actually still with the team in 1973 because he hardly played. There was simply no room for him. The Mets had acquired Felix Millan, the All Star second baseman from the Braves and with Garrett holding down third base, Boswell was the odd man out. He would remain with the club past the season as a left handed pinch hitter, a role that was not needed since one of his long-time teammates was also playing that role.

Boswell hit a career high .279 for the 1969 Mets while playing in 102 games. But after playing regularly for five seasons, he was relegated to only 70 games in 1973 and he only managed 110 at bats…producing a .227 batting average.

3) Ed Kranepool

Ed Kranepool, in retrospect, never got the respect he deserved. From the start, he was never truly given a chance at a full-time role….the Mets always had someone else to take the first base job from him. The Mets went out and got Donn Clendenon in 1969, which proved to be the right move. And once Clendenon retired, along came The Hammer, John Milner.

At least with the right handed hitting Clendenon, Kranepool could expect to platoon…or at least hope for it. With Milner and his left handed power, Krane was not really needed. Maybe as a backup corner outfielder, although he was a bit too slow, or perhaps as a left handed pinch hitter. Wait…Boswell was a left handed pinch hitter. But they were both there as a part of Hodges’ left handed platoon in ’69 and Berra’s left handed bench in ’73. Just not enough playing time (even with all of the injuries during that season) to go around.

In 112 games in 1969 as part of that Hodges platoon, Kranepool hit .238 with 11 HR and 49 RBI…combining with Clendenon to be a very potent duo at first base. Then in 1973, while still seeing action in 100 games, his average was around the same, hitting .239, but he only had 1 HR and 35 RBI.

4) Duffy Dyer

Duffy Dyer was a rookie in 1969. Most thought of him as the No. 2 catcher behind Grote. But, in reality, he was the No. 3 guy on the depth chart behind veteran and lefty swinging J.C. Martin. He managed to get one appearance and one at bat in the ’69 Series but did not enter a game in the ’73 Series.

With Grote entrenched as the No. 1 catcher, Dyer did not have much of a chance to get playing time. Grote, a great defensive catcher, was able to get some playing time at third base when needed as a result of injuries to teammates. Dyer was not very versatile. In fact, in his only appearance out from behind the plate, he committed a very costly error in right field on his first and only chance. That was the end of his playing the field without the gear.

Dyer appeared in 29 games in 1969 and got 74 at bats. He hit .257 with 3 HR and 12 RBI. In 1973, he played in 70 games and accumulated 189 at bats, but he had a dreadful season, his worst in the Majors, batting .185 with 1 HR and 9 RBI.