The Amazin' 1962 New York Mets Quiz

Answer: Hobie Landrith

They selected the immortal Hobie Landrith off the roster of the San Francisco Giants. He was a journeyman catcher who played with a number of teams since he began his career in 1950. He had played for the Cinncinati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, and San Francisco Giants before the Mets selected him. In a portent of things to come, he was gone by mid season, traded to the Baltimore Orioles.

Answer: Red Ruffing

In a career that spanned 23 years, Ruffing won 273 games and had 1947 strikeout while pitching for the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox. His Hall Of Fame stats didn't translate to the Mets pitchers though, as no starter had an ERA under 4.40.

Answer: Gil Hodges

All of these were still active after the 1961 season, and all had had their moments in New York, but Hodges was going to be 38 years old, and his better days were clearly behind him. The Dodgers had a young first baseman named Ron Fairly waiting in the wings, so Hodges was expendable, much to the delight of the Mets, who wanted a drawing card. Hodges played all of 54 games for the Mets, batting just .252 with 9 homers and 17 RBIs.

He did hit the first home run in Met history, but a combination of age and ailments caused him to retire in early 1963.

Answer: Don Zimmer

While all were on the Mets roster in 1962, the 3rd baseman was Don Zimmer, for a short time. He played all of 14 games with the Mets, befor being dealt to the Cincinnati Reds. He got 4 hits and had a robust .077 batting average. In all fairness, Zimmer was never a good hitter, but was a terrific defensive 3rd baseman.

He had more success as a manager. He led the San Diego Padres for two years in the early 70s before a five year stint with the Boston Red Sox, two years with the Texas Rangers, and three more years with the Chicago Cubs.

He was named Manager Of The Year with the Cubs in 1989.

Answer: Marv Throneberry

Yep, it was "Marvelous" Marv Throneberry, who started his career with the Yankees, and scouts likened his swing to that of Mickey Mantle. The difference was twofold. Throneberry had trouble making contact, and he couldn't field very well, so it figured he'd be a perfect fit for the Mets. Throneberry was traded by the Yankees to the then Kansas City A's, who shipped him to Baltimore, and ultimately, he wound up with the Mets.

He did hit 16 home runs in 1962 which was the second most on the team, but he committed 17 errors at 1st base in 116 games.

His .981 fielding percentage stood as the lowest ever for any major league first baseman up until 1979.

Answer: Choo Choo Coleman

All these players caught for the Mets in 1962, with the exception of Berra, who came to the Mets the next year. Coleman was the guy who split the bulk of the games though, and no one can explain it. He had a lifetime batting average of .197 with a total of 91 hits and 30 RBI over five seasons.

He caught in 55 games that year and surprisingly hit .250. When manager Casey Stengel introduced him to the media, the story goes that Casey quipped, "This is our catcher, and you have to have a catcher, otherwise you get a lot of passed balls". Perfect for the Mets.

Answer: Richie Ashburn

All had played the outfield for the Phillies at one time or another, but it was Ashburn who gave the Mets a respectable outfielder, during his one season with the team. He came to the Mets by way of the Chicago Cubs, who had picked him up from the Philadelphia Phillies via trade after the 1959 season. Playing with the Mets, he hit .306 while playing a superb centerfield.

He was the Mets All-Star representative in 1962. He retired after that season, and spent the rest of his life as a Phillies broadcaster.

He passed away in 1997.

Answer: Frank Thomas

Thomas was a three time All-Star and legitimate power hitter with 286 lifetime homers, and almost 1000 RBI. He finished second in the NL in 1958 with 35 home runs and 109 RBI. For his reward, he was traded to Cincinnati at the end of the season. The Mets picked him up via a trade before the season started, and he didn't disappoint.

He hit 34 homers, drove in 94 runs and his a respectable .266. The 34 homer mark lasted as a Mets record for 15 years until Dave Kingman broke it in 1977.

Answer: Roger Craig

It was Craig, who compiled that brilliant 10-24 record. He started 42 times an pitched 233.1 innings, which is workhorse-like compared to today's standards. He followed that season with a 22 loss season in 1963, after which he moved on to the Philadelphia Phillies. No pitch counts then either. During his two year stint with the Mets, Craig pitched 27 complete games. Craig went on to manage the San Francisco Giants from 1986-1992, and during his first five years there, his team never had a losing record.

In 1989, his team won the NL pennant. Call that reversal of fortune.

Answer: 40-120

Luckily they had two rainouts that weren't made up. They finished an astounding 60 1/2 games out of first place. Their dubious record was actually threatened by the 2003 Detroit Tigers, but they could only muster a 43-119 record, so those lovable '62 Mets still have that modern day record. The Cleveland Spiders set the all-time record of 134 losses in 1899.