Highlighted Year: Ken Boyer, 1966

Third Baseman, New York Mets

Age:  35 (May 20)

1^st season with Mets

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 190 

Prior to 1966:

A Missouri native, Boyer was one of 14 children (two of his brothers, Cloyd and Clete, also played major league baseball). Capable of playing in the infield or outfield, he was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals out of high school in 1949. With Lebanon of the Class D North Atlantic League, he was utilized as a pitcher thanks to his strong throwing arm and was 5-1 with a 3.42 ERA in 12 games. As a hitter, he had a .455 average with three home runs. Moving to Hamilton of the Class D Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York (or Pony) League in 1950, Boyer was given the opportunity to play at third base and impressed with his defensive skills. He also batted .342 with 9 home runs, thus ending the pitching experiment. Promoted to Omaha of the Class A Western League in 1951, Boyer continued to hone his batting and defensive play at third. He hit .306 with 28 doubles, 7 triples, and 14 home runs. Drafted into the Army in 1951 he spent 1952 and ’53 in the military. Returning to baseball in 1954, Boyer was next assigned to the Houston Buffaloes of the Class AA Texas League where he hit .319 with 21 home runs and 116 RBIs. He played winter ball in Havana until suffering a severe concussion due to a beaning. The Cardinals traded starting third baseman Ray Jablonski to open a spot for Boyer in the lineup for 1955. He had a solid rookie season, appearing in 147 games and hitting .264 with 18 home runs, 62 RBIs, and a .311 on-base percentage. Boyer improved to .306 with 26 home runs, 98 RBIs, a .347 OBP, and a .494 slugging percentage in 1956 and was an All-Star for the first time. He shifted to centerfield in 1957 to make room for rookie Eddie Kasko at third and to add some batting punch to the outfield. The shift caused no defensive lapse as he led all NL outfielders in fielding percentage (.996). He also hit .265 with 19 home runs, 62 RBIs, and a .318 OBP. With Kasko injured in 1958 together with the arrival of centerfielder Curt Flood, Boyer returned to third base and earned his first Gold Glove. He also hit .307 with 21 doubles, 9 triples, 23 home runs, 90 RBIs, a .360 OBP, and a .496 slugging percentage. It was more of the same in 1960 as he batted .304 with 26 doubles, 10 triples, 32 home runs, 97 RBIs, a .370 OBP, and a .562 slugging percentage. In 1961 the numbers were .329 with 26 doubles, 11 triples, 24 home runs, 95 RBIs, a .397 OBP, and a .533 slugging percentage. The Cardinals contended in 1963 when Boyer was one of four St. Louis infielders who started for the NL (along with 1B Bill White, 2B Julian Javier, and SS Dick Groat). Boyer went on to bat .285 despite a midseason slump with 28 doubles, 24 home runs, 111 RBIs, a .358 OBP, and a .454 slugging percentage. He received another Gold Glove and placed thirteenth in league MVP voting. In 1964 the Cardinals came from behind to win the NL pennant with the help of an epic September collapse by the Philadelphia Phillies. Boyer, the team captain, spearheaded the charge as he hit .295 with 30 doubles, 10 triples, 24 home runs, a league-leading 119 RBIs, a .365 OBP, and a .489 slugging percentage. In the World Series against the New York Yankees, where he was matched up against his brother Clete, the starting third sacker for the Yanks, he provided the winning runs in a pivotal 4-3 win with a grand slam at Yankee Stadium as St. Louis went on to take the Series in seven games. Afterward he was named National League MVP. 1965 was a down year for the Cardinals and Boyer, who battled a back injury, batted .260 with only 13 home runs and 75 RBIs. In the offseason he was traded to the Mets for LHP Al Jackson and third baseman Charley Smith.

1966 Season Summary

Appeared in 136 games

3B – 130, PH – 8, 1B – 2, PR – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 534

At Bats – 496

Runs – 62

Hits – 132

Doubles – 28 [10, tied with Gene Alley & Rusty Staub]

Triples – 2

Home Runs – 14

RBI – 61

Bases on Balls – 30

Int. BB – 5

Strikeouts – 64

Stolen Bases – 4

Caught Stealing – 3

Average - .266

OBP - .304

Slugging Pct. - .415

Total Bases – 206

GDP – 15 [12, tied with Rico Carty & Ernie Banks]

Hit by Pitches – 0

Sac Hits – 1

Sac Flies – 7 [5, tied with Denis Menke, Deron Johnson & Rico Carty]

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 15, HR – 8, RBI - 34, AVG - .275, OBP - .315

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) at Pittsburgh 8/11

Longest hitting streak – 10 games

HR at home – 10

HR on road – 4

Most home runs, game – 1 on fourteen occasions

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 4 at Chi. Cubs 4/26

Pinch-hitting/running – 2 for 7 (.286) with 1 R & 1 BB

Fielding

Chances – 426

Put Outs – 113

Assists – 292

Errors – 21

DP – 33

Pct. - .951

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The Mets went 66-95 to finish ninth in the NL, 28.5 games behind the pennant-winning Los Angeles Dodgers while leading the league in batting strikeouts (1129), fewest hits (1286),fewest doubles (187), fewest home runs (98), fewest total bases (1837), lowest batting average (.239), lowest OBP (.277), and lowest slugging percentage (.342). With West Westrum in his first full year as manager, the roster was sorted out during the season that got off to a 3-6 start. 35-48 at the midway point, a seven-game July winning streak propelled them to a winning month and the club went on to escape the NL cellar for the first time ever, finishing 7.5 games ahead of the Chicago Cubs. It was also the first time the Mets lost fewer than 100 games in a season. The club continued to draw well at Shea Stadium, pulling in 1,932,693 fans, many of which were called the “New Breed”.

Aftermath of 1966:

Boyer started the 1967 season with the Mets and was dealt to the Chicago White Sox, who were in the midst of a torrid pennant race, in July. Altogether, he appeared in 113 games and hit .249 with 7 home runs and 34 RBIs. Released by the White Sox early in the 1968 season, Boyer signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers to provide veteran bench strength and finished up his career with LA in 1969. Overall, for his major league career Boyer batted .287 with 2143 hits that included 318 doubles, 68 triples, and 282 home runs. He also accumulated 1141 RBIs, scored 1104 runs, and produced a .349 OBP and .462 slugging percentage. With the Mets he hit .258 with 171 hits, 35 doubles, 4 triples, 17 home runs, 74 RBIs, a .312 OBP, and a .400 slugging percentage. He was an 11-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove recipient. Following his playing career, Boyer became a coach and managed in the Cardinals’ and Orioles’ farm systems. He replaced Vern Rapp as manager of the Cardinals during the 1978 season and stayed until he was let go in 1980, having compiled an overall record of 166-190. He died of lung cancer in 1982 at the age of 51. The Cardinals retired his #14. Boyer was elected to the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Ed Kranepool, 1965

First Baseman, New York Mets

Age: 20

3^rd season with Mets

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 205 

Prior to 1965:

A New York City native from the Bronx, Kranepool’s father was killed in World War II action in France a few months before he was born. Raised by his widowed mother he began playing Little League baseball at age 10. At James Monroe High School he reached his full height and filled out physically while excelling at baseball and basketball. He hit a total of 19 home runs as a varsity baseball player, setting a school record with 9 in his senior year. Preferring baseball to basketball, Kranepool turned down college scholarship offers to sign with the expansion Mets as a 17-year-old, who were attracted to the idea of bringing a native New Yorker into the fold. His contract included an $80,000 bonus. Joining the Mets for a week, he was farmed out to the Syracuse Chiefs of the Class AAA International League where he hit poorly and was demoted to Knoxville of the Class A South Atlantic (or Sally) League. A week later he was with Auburn of the Class D New York-Pennsylvania League where over the course of 20 games Kranepool batted .351 with 18 RBIs and a .446 on-base percentage which earned him a September call-up to the floundering Mets. He got to start at first base in the club’s final home game and doubled for his first major league hit. Following an offseason of winter ball, Kranepool started the 1963 season with the Mets and was hitting only .190 in July when he was sent back to the International League, this time with the Buffalo Bisons where he batted .310 with 9 doubles, 8 triples, 5 home runs, 33 RBIs, a .372 OBP, and a .507 slugging percentage. Returning to the Mets in September he hit .274 for the month and finished with major league totals of .209 with 16 extra-base hits, 14 RBIs, and a .256 OBP. During spring training in 1964 Kranepool was criticized by manager Casey Stengel after pulling a hamstring (implying that the 19-year-old was not in shape) and the press for a lack of hustle. Once again off to a poor start at the plate, Kranepool was sent down to Buffalo in May, where his batting stroke recovered over 15 games and he returned to the Mets as the starting first baseman and went on to hit .257 with 19 doubles, 10 home runs, 45 RBIs, and a .310 OBP. Having shown improvement, Kranepool entered 1965 with a secure spot in the lineup.

1965 Season Summary

Appeared in 153 games

1B – 147, PH – 12

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 575

At Bats – 525

Runs – 44

Hits – 133

Doubles – 24

Triples – 4

Home Runs – 10

RBI – 53

Bases on Balls – 39

Int. BB – 7

Strikeouts – 71

Stolen Bases – 1

Caught Stealing – 4

Average - .253

OBP - .303

Slugging Pct. - .371

Total Bases – 195

GDP – 13

Hit by Pitches – 2

Sac Hits – 1

Sac Flies – 8 [4, tied with Hank Aaron]   

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 18, HR - 7, RBI - 37, AVG - .287, OBP - .334

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 4 AB) at Chi. Cubs 5/31

Longest hitting streak – 12 games

HR at home – 6

HR on road – 4

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 4 AB) at San Francisco 4/24

Multi-HR games – 1

Most RBIs, game – 3 on six occasions

Pinch-hitting – 4 for 11 (.364) with 1 R, 1 RBI & 1 BB

Fielding

Chances – 1480

Put Outs – 1375

Assists – 93

Errors – 12

DP – 116

Pct. - .992 

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

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The Mets went 50-112 to finish tenth (last) in the NL, 47 games behind the pennant-winning Los Angeles Dodgers while leading the league in batting strikeouts (1129), fewest runs scored (495), fewest hits (1202),fewest triples (27), fewest stolen bases (28), fewest walks drawn (392), fewest total bases (1780), lowest batting average (.221), lowest OBP (.277), and lowest slugging percentage (.327). The Mets were in last place by the end of May at 6-10. They were 31-64 in July when a broken hip ended Casey Stengel’s managerial career. Under his successor Wes Westrum, the club finished out at 19-48, but with the help of some young pitchers they perked up slightly in September. The team continued to draw well at Shea Stadium, despite their losing ways, where they drew 1,768,389 fans.

Aftermath of 1965:

In 1966 Kranepool occasionally saw action in the outfield as Jim Hickman and veteran first sacker Dick Stuart occasionally played at first, but he led the club, which didn’t finish in the NL cellar for the first time, with 16 home runs while batting .254 with 15 doubles, 57 RBIs, and a .316 OBP. Playing exclusively at first base in 1967, Kranepool hit .269 with 17 doubles, 10 home runs, 54 RBIs, and a .321 OBP. The Mets showed progress in 1968 thanks to the leadership of manager Gil Hodges and the development of promising young talent, especially among the pitchers. Hitting remained a problem during what was a pitcher-dominated season in major league baseball and Kranepool’s batting production dropped to .231 with 13 doubles, 3 home runs, 20 RBIs, and a .271 OBP. 1969 brought the advent of divisional play and the Mets topped the new NL East, catching and outlasting the Chicago Cubs with a 100-win season. The arrival of right-handed power-hitting Donn Clendenon in June led to his being platooned with Kranepool, who went on to hit .238 with 9 doubles, 11 home runs, 49 RBIs, and a .307 OBP. He played in all three games of the NLCS sweep of the Braves but drew only one start during the five-game World Series upset of the Baltimore Orioles. He homered in the 5-0 Game 3 win. With his playing time dwindling in 1970, the Mets waived Kranepool in June and when there were no takers for his servces, the team, unwilling to release him, optioned him to Tidewater of the Class AAA International League. He considered retirement to fall back on his off-field jobs as a licensed stockbroker and operating a Long Island restaurant he co-owned with Mets teammate Ron Swoboda but accepted the demotion and batted .310 with a .408 OBP in 47 games. Called up to the Mets in August he was utilized almost exclusively as a pinch-hitter and finished with a major league average of .170 with a .250 OBP. The player known as “The Krane” and “Steady Eddie” was back as a starting first baseman for the Mets in 1971, although still splitting time with Clendenon, and had his finest offensive season, hitting .280 with 20 doubles, 14 home runs, 58 RBIs, a .340 OBP, and a .447 slugging percentage. Still the primary first baseman in 1972, Kranepool batted .269 with 15 doubles, 8 home runs, 34 RBIs, and a .336 OBP. The 1973 Mets caught fire late in the season following a sluggish start and narrowly won the NL East title. Kranepool found himself displaced at first base by power-hitting John Milner, and he appeared as an outfielder and pinch-hitter. Playing in 100 games he hit .239 with 15 extra-base hits, 35 RBIs, and a .310 OBP. He started the deciding Game 5 of the NLCS vs. Cincinnati and contributed a two-run single as the Mets won the series. In the seven-game World Series loss to the Oakland Athletics, he went hitless in three at bats. By 1974 Kranepool was a reserve first-baseman and outfielder, who was especially effective as a pinch-hitter, a role in which he batted .486 with a .526 OBP. Overall, he hit .300 with 11 doubles, 4 home runs, 24 RBIs, and a .350 OBP in 237 plate appearances. He remained an effective fill-in and pinch-hitter in 1975, batting .323 with 4 home runs, 43 RBIs, a .370 OBP, and a pinch-hitting average of .400 in 20 at bats. Kranepool stayed on until 1979, with his relationship with the front office steadily deteriorating and his playing time dwindling. Having indicated that 1979 would likely be his last year, he was released in the offseason. For his long career, spent entirely with the Mets, Kranepool batted .261 with 1418 hits that included 225 doubles, 25 triples, and 118 home runs. He scored 536 runs and compiled 614 RBIs, a .316 OBP, and a .377 slugging percentage. As a pinch-hitter he batted .277 with 16 doubles, one triple, 55 RBIs, and a .343 OBP. Kranepool appeared in 9 postseason games and hit .238 with a home run and 4 RBIs. 1965 marked his only All-Star selection. A diabetic, he promoted diabetes awareness in the years following his playing career in addition to charitable activities. Kranepool was inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame in 1990. He died in 2024 at age 79.  

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Ron Hunt, 1964

Second Baseman, New York Mets

Age: 23

2^nd season with Mets

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 186 

Prior to 1964:

A Missouri native, Hunt played football and baseball in high school and was signed by the Milwaukee Braves following his graduation in 1959. Initially assigned to McCook of the Class D Nebraska State League, in 62 games he batted .284 with 11 doubles, 6 triples, 2 home runs, 52 RBIs, and a .431 on-base percentage. He was hit by 13 pitches, setting the stage for a significant element of his major league career. Advancing to Cedar Rapids of the Class B Illinois-Indiana-Iowa (or Three I) League in 1960 he hit .191 with 9 doubles, 3 home runs, 33 RBIs, and a .335 OBP thanks to drawing 88 walks. Returning to Cedar Rapids in 1961, Hunt’s batting production improved to .295 with 25 doubles, 7 triples, 16 home runs, 72 RBIs, a .389 OBP, and a .484 slugging percentage. He spent 1962 with Austin of the Class AA Texas League and hit .310 with 25 doubles, 5 triples, 2 home runs, 56 RBIs, and a .381 OBP. In the offseason Hunt was sold to the Mets and became the starting second baseman as a rookie in 1963, after initially being utilized as a bullpen catcher and telling manager Casey Stengel he would accept being sent back to the minors if he could play regularly at second. The impressed Stengel put him in the line-up and, while his fielding was a bit raw, he went on to lead the club in batting with his .272 average and further compiled 28 doubles, 4 triples, 10 home runs, 42 RBIs, a .334 OBP, and a .396 slugging percentage despite battling allergy problems. He placed a distant second in league Rookie of the Year voting and became a fan favorite with his scrappy style of play. Tough, aggressive, aware of his limitations, and willing to do what was necessary to help the team, he was hit by 13 pitches, which ranked second in the NL.

1964 Season Summary

Appeared in 127 games

2B – 109, 3B – 12, PH – 6

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 521

At Bats – 475

Runs – 59

Hits – 144

Doubles – 19

Triples – 6 [16, tied with eight others]

Home Runs – 6

RBI – 42

Bases on Balls – 29

Int. BB – 4

Strikeouts – 30

Stolen Bases – 6

Caught Stealing – 2

Average - .303 [13, tied with Bill White]

OBP - .357 [15]

Slugging Pct. - .406

Total Bases – 193

GDP – 16 [7, tied with four others]

Hit by Pitches – 11 [2]

Sac Hits – 5

Sac Flies – 1

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 14, 3B – 4, HR - 3, RBI - 22, AVG - .311, OBP - .361

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) at Chi. Cubs 5/26, (in 5 AB) at Mil. Braves 6/28

Longest hitting streak – 11 games

HR at home – 3

HR on road – 3

Most home runs, game – 1 on six occasions

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 3 vs. Mil. Braves 5/14, vs. Cincinnati 7/12, at Chi. Cubs 8/28

Pinch-hitting – 2 for 6 (.333) with 1 2B & 2 RBI

 Fielding (2B)

Chances – 573

Put Outs – 244

Assists – 317

Errors – 12

DP – 73

Pct. - .979 

Awards & Honors:

All-Star (Started for NL at 2B)

25^th in NL MVP voting, tied with Barney Schultz, StL. (1 point – 0% share)

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The Mets went 53-109 to finish tenth (last) in the NL, 40 games behind the pennant-winning St. Louis Cardinals while leading the league in fewest triples (31), and fewest walks drawn (353). Moving from the decrepit Polo Grounds to the new Shea Stadium, the Mets remained a cellar-dwelling club despite the addition of some helpful veterans and the improvement of players such as Hunt, who became the first Met to start an All-Star Game. A 2-10 April planted the Mets in the cellar to stay. They still managed to almost play a spoiler role on the season’s final weekend, winning the first two of three games at St. Louis to nearly deprive the Cardinals, locked in a tight pennant race, of the prize outright. The team was 33-48 for the year at Shea Stadium, where they drew 1,732,597 fans.

Aftermath of 1964:

Having developed into an adept fielder, Hunt was limited to 57 games in 1965 due to a shoulder separation and batted .240 with a .309 OBP. He rebounded in 1966 to hit .288 with 19 doubles, 3 home runs, 33 RBIs, and a .356 OBP. He was an All-Star for the second time but was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the offseason along with outfielder Jim Hickman in the deal that brought outfielder Tommy Davis to New York. The primary second baseman for the Dodgers during the first half of the season, he was hitting .286 with a .381 OBP at the All-Star break. Injuries wore him down during the season’s second half and he was shuttled between second and third base late in the year. He finished by batting .263 with 17 doubles, 3 triples, 3 home runs, 33 RBIs, and a .344 OBP. In the offseason, Hunt found himself on the move again, this time up the California coast to the San Francisco Giants as part of a four-player trade. He hit .250 with 19 doubles, 2 home runs, 28 RBIs, and a .371 OBP bolstered by drawing 78 walks and being hit by 25 pitches, which marked his first time leading the league in that category. Prone to crowding the plate, choking up on the bat and leaning toward the pitcher, not avoiding inside pitches, although he would use a spin move that made it appear that he was trying to avoid any direct hits. Umpires rarely called him on it and it allowed a fair hitter who lacked power to reach base more regularly. His defense was less stellar and, for the second time in his career, he led NL second basemen in errors. In the first season of divisional play in major league baseball in 1969, the perenially second-place-finishing Giants were runners-up once again in the new NL West. Hunt’s strong play in the season’s second half helped to achieve that result and, in addition to again topping the circuit in being hit by 25 pitches Hunt batted .262 with 23 doubles, 3 home runs, 41 RBIs, and a .361 OBP. He tied for fifteenth in league MVP balloting. In 1970, the oft-injured Hunt was limited to 117 games and hit .281 with 17 doubles, 6 home runs, 41 RBIs, and a .394 OBP. He still led the league by being hit by 26 pitches despite the reduced playing time. Dealt to the Montreal Expos in the offseason, in 1971 Hunt took his penchant for being hit by pitches to the ultimate, setting a 20^th century record by being struck 50 times. In addition he batted .279 with 20 doubles, 5 home runs, and a .402 OBP while drawing 58 walks in addition to his being struck by pitches. He was named club MVP by the Montreal baseball writers. Considered by many writers to be a throwback to an earlier baseball era in his style of play, he lacked grace as a fielder but made up for it with his aggressiveness. Never fast to begin with, Hunt appeared to lose a step in 1972 but still topped the NL by being hit by 26 pitches while batting .253 with 20 doubles, 56 runs scored, 18 RBIs, and a .363 OBP. Hitting well to start the 1973 season, Hunt was batting .299 at the All-Star break, but then injuries limited him to only 21 games during the season’s second half and he finished at .309 with a .418 OBP while topping the league in being hit by 24 pitches. With the Expos bent on a youth movement in 1974, Hunt was waived in September and picked up by the St. Louis Cardinals for the remainder of the season. He ended up hitting a combined .263 with a .372 OBP and a league-leading 16 times hit by pitches. Failing to make the Cardinals during 1975 spring training, his playing career came to an end. For his major league career, Hunt batted .273 with 1429 hits that included 223 doubles, 23 triples, and 39 home runs. He scored 745 runs and compiled 370 RBIs, 65 stolen bases, and a .368 OBP. He was hit by 243 pitchers which was the modern career record until first broken by Don Baylor and later Craig Biggio. Nicknamed “Scrap Iron”, as testament to his usefulness with limited skills, and “Pigpen”, for his typically dirty uniform, he retired to his Missouri farm and ran liquor and sporting goods stores in addition to the non-profit Ron Hunt Eagles Baseball Association, a baseball training program for boys aged 14 to 18. Suffering health problems due to his rugged style of play, he summed up by saying “a lot of people give their body to science. I gave mine to baseball.”

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years.

 

Highlighted Year: Joe Christopher, 1964

Outfielder, New York Mets

Age: 28

3^rd season with Mets

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’10” Weight: 175 

Prior to 1964:

A native of the US Virgin Islands, Christopher played baseball in high school in Frederiksted and also played shortstop for a local amateur team. While playing in the National Baseball Congress tournament in Kansas in 1954, the 18-year-old shortstop drew the attention of a Pittsburgh Pirates scout, who signed him. He played in the Puerto Rican Winter League. Assigned to the Phoenix Stars of the Class C Arizona-Mexico League in 1955, he was shifted to the outfield and batted .366 in 84 games with 15 doubles, 14 triples, 2 home runs, 60 RBIs, 16 stolen bases, a .481 on-base percentage, and a .507 slugging percentage. Moving up to two Class A teams during the year, his final combined totals for the season were .283 with 22 doubles, 15 triples, 4 home runs, 76 RBIs, 17 stolen bases, a .392 OBP, and a .383 slugging percentage. In 1956, Christopher was with Williamsport of the Class A Eastern League and hit .283 with 13 doubles, 4 home runs, 34 RBIs, 67 runs scored, 13 stolen bases, and a .368 OBP. Advancing to the Mexico City Tigers of the Class AA Mexican League in 1957, he topped the circuit with 24 stolen bases in 64 games while batting .291 with 16 extra-base hits, 61 runs scored, 23 RBIs, and a .358 OBP. In 1958 he was next assigned to the Salt Lake City Bees of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League where he hit .327 with 15 doubles, 10 triples, 8 home runs, 71 runs scored, 58 RBIs, 16 stolen bases, a .413 OBP, and a .469 slugging percentage. Called up to the Pirates as an outfield reserve in 1959, Christopher encountered injury problems and was quickly sent down to the Columbus Jets of the Class AAA International League where he batted .301 with 23 doubles, 7 triples, one home run, 69 runs scored, 32 RBIs, 26 stolen bases, and a .373 OBP. Back with the Pirates in 1960 as an outfield reserve and pinch-runner, thanks to his speed, and pinch-hitter, he was sent to Salt Lake City at one point for the opportunity to see more action and returned to Pittsburgh in June. He went on to appear in 50 games for the pennant-winning Pirates and hit .232 with one homer, 3 RBIs, and a .295 OBP. In the World Series against the New York Yankees, Christopher appeared in three of the seven games as a pinch-runner and contributed two runs. Still little used by the Pirates in 1961, he appeared in 76 games and batted .263 with 7 doubles, 3 triples, 14 RBIs, 6 stolen bases, and a .327 OBP. In the offseason he was chosen by the Mets in the NL expansion draft. Christopher started the 1962 season back in Class AAA with Syracuse of the International League prior to being called up by the struggling first-year Mets. He played in 119 games and hit .244 with 10 doubles, 6 home runs, 32 RBIs, 11 stolen bases, and a .338 OBP. Farmed out again in 1962, he returned to the Mets in July to appear in 64 games and batted .221 with 7 extra-base hits, 8 RBIs, and a .295 OBP. He finally was given the opportunity to play regularly in 1964, although he was not an especially good defensive outfielder.

1964 Season Summary

Appeared in 154 games

RF – 129, CF – 10, PH – 9, LF – 7, PR – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 604

At Bats – 543

Runs – 78 [20]

Hits – 163 [19, tied with Tommy Davis]

Doubles – 26 [19, tied with Bob Bailey & Felipe Alou]

Triples – 8 [8, tied with Donn Clendenon & Bill Mazeroski]

Home Runs – 16

RBI – 76

Bases on Balls – 48 [19]

Int. BB – 5

Strikeouts – 92 [15, tied with Willie Stargell]

Stolen Bases – 6

Caught Stealing – 5

Average - .300 [15]

OBP - .360 [13]

Slugging Pct. - .466 [17]

Total Bases – 253 [19, tied with Willie Davis]

GDP – 18 [5, tied with Roy McMillan]

Hit by Pitches – 6 [10, tied with Tony Gonzalez & Johnny Callison]

Sac Hits – 1

Sac Flies – 6 [7, tied with ten others]

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 7, 3B – 2, HR - 9, RBI - 36, AVG - .277, OBP - .335

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 10 AB) vs. San Francisco 5/31 – 23 innings, (in 6 AB) vs. Chi. Cubs – 12 innings, (in 5 AB) vs. Pittsburgh 8/18, (in 6 AB) at Chi. Cubs 8/28

Longest hitting streak – 12 games

HR at home – 9

HR on road – 7

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 4 AB) vs. Philadelphia 6/20

Multi-HR games – 1

Most RBIs, game – 4 at Mil. Braves 6/26

Pinch-hitting – 3 for 9 (.333) with 2 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI & 1 ROE

Fielding

Chances – 268

Put Outs – 251

Assists – 10

Errors – 7

DP – 2

Pct. - .974 

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The Mets went 53-109 to finish tenth (last) in the NL, 40 games behind the pennant-winning St. Louis Cardinals while leading the league in fewest triples (31), and fewest walks drawn (353). Moving from the decrepit Polo Grounds to the new Shea Stadium, the Mets remained a cellar-dwelling club despite the addition of some helpful veterans and the improvement of players such as Christopher, who became the first hitter in club history who batted .300 and had the plate appearances to qualify for ranking. A 2-10 April planted the Mets in the cellar to stay. They still managed to almost play a spoiler role on the season’s final weekend, winning the first two of three games at St. Louis to nearly deprive the Cardinals, locked in a tight pennant race, of the prize outright. The club was 33-48 for the year at Shea Stadium, where they drew 1,732,597 fans.

Aftermath of 1964:

Christopher was unable to build on his 1964 success in 1965. Hindered by a hand injury from the start of the season along with the competition from rookie slugger Ron Swoboda, he batted only .249 with 18 doubles, 3 triples, 5 home runs, 40 RBIs, and a .311 OBP. In the offseason he was traded to the Boston Red Sox. Little used by Boston in 1966, Christopher was dealt to the Detroit Tigers at midseason and was sent down to Class AAA with Syracuse of the International League. With his major league career effectively finished, he continued to play winter ball in Puerto Rico and with minor league teams through 1968. An abortive comeback in the Mexican League in 1972 marked the end of his playing career. For his major league playing career, Christopher batted .260 with 434 hits that included 68 doubles, 17 triples, and 29 home runs. He scored 224 runs and compiled 173 RBIs, 29 stolen bases, a .329 OBP, and a .374 slugging percentage. With the Mets he batted .265 with 171 runs scored, 371 hits, 59 doubles, 14 triples, 28 home runs, 156 RBIs, 22 stolen bases, a .334 OBP, and a .387 slugging percentage. Following his playing career, Christopher worked for an ad agency in New York. Christopher died at age 87 in 2023. As his caregiver during his final years summed up “I can say with all honesty that Mr. Joe was one of the kindest, most pleasant men that I have ever met.” And for one season with the Mets, he was a noteworthy ballplayer.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Duke Snider, 1963

Outfielder, New York Mets

Age:  37 (Sept. 19)

1^st season with Mets

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 179 

Prior to 1963:

A California native, Edwin Snider was tagged with the nickname “Duke” by his father due to his self-assured manner. A fine natural athlete, he was active in football, basketball, and track, as well as baseball, at Compton High School in the Los Angeles area. Following a tryout with the Brooklyn Dodgers, he signed for $250 per month with a $750 bonus and impressed the front office as a 17-year-old in spring training in 1944 with his strong throwing arm, speed, and power hitting. The club was less impressed by his temperamental attitude. Assigned to Newport News of the Class B Piedmont League he batted .294 with 34 doubles, 6 triples, 9 home runs, 50 RBIs, a .364 on-base percentage, and .438 slugging percentage. He also accounted for 25 assists in the outfield. Following the season, Snider joined the Navy and missed the 1945 season and some of 1946. Joining the Fort Worth Cats of the Class AA Texas League in ’46, he appeared in 68 games and hit .250 with 13 doubles, 5 home runs, 30 RBIs, and a .320 OBP. Graceful in the outfield and a speedster on the basepaths, he started the 1947 season with the Dodgers, where he was united with Jackie Robinson, who he admired from his days as a star athlete in the Los Angeles area, and who he appreciated for his courage in breaking baseball’s color barrier as well. In a reserve role Snider appeared in 40 games and batted .241 with a .276 OBP before being sent down to St. Paul of the Class AAA American Association in July, having gained a reputation for moodiness and immaturity although impressive in the outfield. In 66 games with St. Paul Snider hit .316 with 22 doubles, 7 triples, 12 home runs, 46 RBIs, a .352 OBP, and a .584 slugging percentage. Following intensive work to improve his strike zone judgment in the spring with batting coach George Sisler, Snider started the 1948 season with the Montreal Royals of the Class AAA International League. He was batting .327 with 28 doubles, 17 home runs, 77 RBIs, a .403 OBP, and a .644 slugging percentage when he was called up to the Dodgers in August. In 53 games he hit .244 with 17 extra-base hits that included 5 homers, 21 RBIs, and a .297 OBP. Named the starting center fielder in 1949, Snider struck out a league-leading 92 times while batting .292 with 28 doubles, 7 triples, 23 home runs, 92 RBIs, a .361 OBP, and a .493 slugging percentage. The left-handed pull hitter found Ebbets Field’s dimensions to be most conducive. Defensively, he ranked second among NL center fielders with 11 assists and a .984 fielding percentage and third with 355 putouts. In his first taste of World Series action against the Yankees he batted only .143 in five games and struck out 8 times. Brooklyn narrowly failed to repeat as NL champ in 1950, but Snider showed improvement as he cut down on strikeouts and led the circuit in hits (199) and total bases (343) while batting .321 with 31 doubles, 10 triples, 31 home runs, 107 RBIs, a .379 OBP, and a .553 slugging percentage. Along the way he had a three-home run game against the Phillies. He remained formidable in center field, was an All-Star for the first time, and placed ninth in league MVP voting. Snider was an All-Star again in 1951 as he got off to a strong start along with the rest of the club. But he slumped during the second half and finished at .277 with 26 doubles, 29 home runs, 101 RBIs, a .344 OBP, and a .483 slugging percentage. His strikeouts also increased and the Dodgers were tied atop the NL by the surging Giants, which necessitated a playoff that the Giants won in dramatic fashion. Prematurely gray in his mid-20s, Snider was criticized by teammates for his moping and complaining and he also had an often-contentious relationship with sportswriters. Benched for a time in 1952, he surged down the stretch as the Dodgers regained the NL pennant and ended up hitting .303 with 25 doubles, 21 home runs, 92 RBIs, a .368 OBP, and a .494 slugging percentage. He eliminated 20 strikeouts from his 1951 total and continued to be a top performer in center field. In the seven-game World Series loss to the Yankees, Snider hit .345 with 4 homers and 8 RBIs. 1953 was another pennant-winning season for the Dodgers and “the Duke of Flatbush” contributed by leading the NL in runs scored (132), slugging (.627), and total bases (370), while batting .336 with 38 doubles, 42 home runs, 126 RBIs, and a .419 OBP. The only criticism of his defensive play was his not charging ground balls in the outfield, causing baserunners to frequently go for an extra base on balls hit toward Snider despite his strong throwing arm. The Dodgers again fell to the Yankees in the World Series despite another strong showing by Snider at the plate where he hit .320 with a home run and 5 RBIs. His performance on the season resulted in a third-place finish in league MVP balloting. The Dodgers ended up second in 1954 and Snider tied for the NL lead in runs scored (120) and he also topped the circuit in total bases (378) while contending for the batting title at .341 along with 39 doubles, 10 triples, 40 home runs, 130 RBIs, a .423 OBP, and a .647 slugging percentage. At the end of May he added to his reputation for making outstanding defensive plays with his leaping catch of a long fly ball by Philadelphia’s third baseman Willie Jones at the Connie Mack Stadium fence to preserve a Brooklyn win in the twelfth inning. He later received a trophy from Dell Baseball Annual for the catch that was judged to be the most spectacular defensive play of the 1954 season. Snider and the Dodgers got off to a strong first half in 1955 on the way to the NL pennant and he started in center field for the NL in the All-Star Game. When his performance slowed following the All-Star break, he was booed by Brooklyn fans and blasted them in the press. Further booing became cheers again when Snider returned to form and the club went on to not only win the pennant, but for the first time ever, the World Series as well. For the season, Snider topped the league in runs scored (126) and RBIs (136) while batting .309 with 34 doubles, 42 home runs, a .418 OBP, and a .628 slugging percentage. In the World Series, won in seven games against the Yankees, he hit .320 with 4 home runs and 7 RBIs. For his overall performance he was named major league Player of the Year by The Sporting News, although he finished a close second to teammate Roy Campanella in league MVP balloting. The Dodgers won the pennant again in 1956 and Snider led the NL in home runs (43), walks drawn (99), OBP(.399), and slugging (.598) while batting .292. He was the batting star of the pennant-clinching win against Pittsburgh, to cap off the regular season. Snider placed tenth in league MVP voting and in the seven-game World Series loss to the Yankees he hit .304 with one home run and 4 RBIs. The Dodgers dropped to third in 1957 but Snider hit 40 home runs (giving him 40 or more for the fifth straight season) and batted .274 with 92 RBIs, a .368 OBP, and a .587 slugging percentage. With the club’s move to Los Angeles in 1958, Snider was leaving Ebbets Field, a ballpark well suited to his talents, for the oddly contoured LA Coliseum, with a spacious right field that hampered his home run power. A knee injury suffered in a spring car accident also hampered his performance and he batted .312 with 15 home runs, 58 RBIs, a .371 OBP, and a .505 slugging percentage. As a native of the Los Angeles area, Snider became popular and prominent with the club’s new fans and had his own daily radio program. The Dodgers rebounded to win the NL pennant in 1959 and Snider contributed by batting .308 with 23 home runs, 88 RBIs, a .400 OBP, and a .535 slugging percentage. In a crowded outfield situation with young talent entering the picture, Snider split time in center and right field with Don Demeter and Ron Fairly. In the World Series triumph over the Chicago White Sox, he hit .200 with a home run and two RBIs. Recurring knee trouble limited Snider to 101 games in 1960 and he batted .243 with 14 home runs, 36 RBIs, a .366 OBP, and a .519 slugging percentage. In 1961 a broken right elbow held Snider to 85 games in which he hit .296 with 16 home runs, 56 RBIs, a .375 OBP, and a .562 slugging percentage. Honored for his 16 seasons with the Dodgers in 1962, Snider was named team captain. He accounted for the first Dodger hit at the new Dodger Stadium, but otherwise did not contribute significantly while appearing in 80 games and connecting for only 5 home runs while hitting .278. Rumored to be on his way out in the offseason, he was sold to the Mets during spring training in 1963.

1963 Season Summary

Appeared in 129 games

RF – 63, LF – 35, PH – 34, CF – 11

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 415

At Bats – 354

Runs – 44

Hits – 86

Doubles – 8

Triples – 3

Home Runs – 14

RBI – 45

Bases on Balls – 56 [14, tied with Dick Groat]

Int. BB – 9 [10, tied with Billy Williams, Bill White & Stan Musial]

Strikeouts – 74

Stolen Bases – 0

Caught Stealing – 1

Average - .243

OBP - .345 [Non-qualifying]

Slugging Pct. - .401

Total Bases – 142

GDP – 2

Hit by Pitches – 1

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 4 

Midseason snapshot: HR - 12, RBI - 28, AVG - .230, OBP - .349

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Most hits, game – 3 (in 4 AB) vs. San Francisco 5/3, (in 4 AB) vs. St. Louis 8/7

Longest hitting streak – 7 games

HR at home – 7

HR on road – 7

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 4 AB) vs. San Francisco 5/3

Multi-HR games – 1

Most RBIs, game – 3 vs. San Francisco 5/3, vs. Cincinnati 5/12, vs. St. Louis 6/7, at San Francisco 7/25

Pinch-hitting – 6 for 29 (.207) with 4 RBI & 5 BB

Fielding

Chances – 146

Put Outs – 139

Assists – 5

Errors – 2

DP – 0

Pct. - .986 

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

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The Mets went 51-111 to finish tenth (last) in the NL, 48 games behind the pennant-winning Los Angeles Dodgers while leading the league in batting strikeouts (1078), fewest hits (1168), fewest doubles (156), and lowest batting average (.219). In their second season, the Mets remained a collection of aging veterans, such as Snider, and young talent. An 0-8 start sent them quickly into the cellar and while a five-game May winning streak pulled them into sixth place, they were back in tenth to stay by July 4, finishing only marginally better than in their inaugural season. They still drew 1,080,108 fans in their last season in the Polo Grounds. Snider was a nostalgic favorite with the New York fans, with many of the Met fans having previously been supporters of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Aftermath of 1963:

Having appeared in his most games since 1957, Snider requested a trade to a contending team and was dealt to the San Francisco Giants (the club that had been a perpetual rival to the Dodgers) in 1964. Utilized primarily as a pinch-hitter in his final season, he appeared in 91 games and batted .210 while adding four home runs to his career total. For his major league career, Snider batted .295 with 2116 hits that included 358 doubles, 85 triples, and 407 home runs. He scored 1259 runs and compiled 1333 RBIs, a .380 OBP, and a .540 slugging percentage. Appearing in 36 World Series games, he hit .286 with 11 home runs and 26 RBIs. An eight-time All-Star, he finished in the top 10 in NL MVP voting six times. The Dodgers retired his #4 and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980. Following baseball, he pursued his dream of owning an avocado ranch, which he sold within a few years. He scouted and managed in the minor leagues for the Dodgers and became a broadcaster for the San Diego Padres for three years. After serving as a part-time hitting instructor for the Montreal Expos, he encountered health and legal problems and died in 2011 at age 84. Criticized during his career for his temperamental nature and for controversial comments to the effect that he only played baseball for the money, Snider was also recognized as an outstanding hitter and defensive outfielder who significantly contributed to winning teams.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category will also include Misc. players who don’t otherwise qualify but received MVP votes or were contributors to teams that reached the postseason. 

Highlighted Year: Frank Thomas, 1962

Outfielder, New York Mets

Age:  33 (June 11)

1^st season with Mets

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 200 

Prior to 1962:

The son of Lithuanian immigrants (the original family name was Tumas), Thomas was a native of Pittsburgh and originally studied to become a Roman Catholic priest before turning his attention to pursuing a baseball career. Signed by his hometown Pirates in 1947, the aspiring outfielder was assigned to Tallahassee of the Class D Georgia-Florida League the following year and batted .295 with 39 doubles, 8 triples, 14 home runs, 132 RBIs, a .340 on-base -percentage, and a .458 slugging percentage. He was a league All-Star and advanced to two Class B teams in 1949 and hit a combined .319 with 24 doubles, 14 home runs, 87 RBIs, a .370 OBP, and a .499 slugging percentage. Assigned to the New Orleans Pelicans of the Class AA Southern Association in 1951, Thomas was again a league All-Star as he batted .289 with 23 home runs, 85 RBIs, a .342 OBP, and a .514 slugging percentage. Called up to the Pirates in August, he appeared in 39 games and hit .264 with 9 doubles, 2 home runs, and 16 RBIs. Back with New Orleans in 1952, he batted .303 with 40 doubles, 6 triples, 35 home runs, 131 RBIs, a .372 OBP, and a .566 slugging percentage. He received another late-season call-up to Pittsburgh which set the stage for him to stick with the club in 1953, which had a significant need for better hitting, and his ability to hit long line drives to left field with his great strength seemed to be made to order. Playing primarily in center field in ’53, Thomas hit .255 with 30 home runs, 102 RBIs, a .331 OBP, and a .505 slugging percentage. He wrangled with general manager Branch Rickey for a significant raise for 1954, setting the stage for regular battles over salary with the Pirates. He accepted a contract for $12,500 and batted .298 with 32 doubles, 7 triples, 23 home runs, 94 RBIs, a .359 OBP, and a .497 slugging percentage. Along the way he was an All-Star for the first time and tied for thirteenth in league All-Star voting. Thomas held out in 1955, signed for $18,000, and went on to produce a lesser season as he hit .245 with 25 home runs, 72 RBIs, a .324 OBP, and a .431 slugging percentage. Shifted to third base in 1956, he struggled at the new position but batted .282 with 25 home runs, 80 RBIs, a .326 OBP, and a .461 slugging percentage. In 1957 Thomas split time at first and third base as well as the outfield, but while not a defensive whiz with his lack of speed and despite a strong throwing arm, his bat remained productive as he hit .290 with 30 doubles, 23 home runs, 89 RBIs, a .335 OBP, and a .460 slugging percentage. Receiving a raise to $25,000 in 1958, he batted .281 with 35 home runs, 109 RBIs, a .334 OBP, and a .528 slugging percentage. He started the All-Star Game at third base for the NL, his position for most of the season. Recognized particularly for his hitting, he was part of a surge to second place by the perennially losing Pirates and he placed fourth in league MVP voting. He hit particularly well on trips to the league’s new cities in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Much coveted by other teams in trade talks, he was dealt to the Cincinnati Reds in the offseason as part of a six-player trade in which Pittsburgh obtained third baseman Don Hoak. Dealing with a significant hand injury in 1959, Thomas was limited to 108 games and his batting production dropped to .225 with 12 home runs, 47 RBIs, a .278 OBP, and a mere .380 slugging percentage. He was traded again in the offseason, this time to the Chicago Cubs where he appeared at first and third base in addition to the outfield in 1960. He batted .238 with 21 home runs, 64 RBIs, a .280 OBP, and a .399 slugging percentage. Thomas started the 1961 season with the Cubs but was traded to the Milwaukee Braves in May. He hit well for his new club and produced a .284 average for Milwaukee with 25 home runs, 67 RBIs, a .335 OBP, and a .506 slugging percentage while starting in left field. In the offseason he was dealt once again, this time to the expansion Mets.

1962 Season Summary

Appeared in 156 games

LF – 126, 1B – 11, PH – 11, 3B – 10

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 633

At Bats – 571

Runs – 69

Hits – 152

Doubles – 23

Triples – 3

Home Runs – 34 [6]

RBI – 94 [13]

Bases on Balls – 48

Int. BB – 4

Strikeouts – 95 [10]

Stolen Bases – 2

Caught Stealing – 1

Average - .266

OBP - .329

Slugging Pct. - .496 [13, tied with Eddie Mathews]

Total Bases – 283 [14]

GDP – 15 [16, tied with Ken Boyer, Bill Mazeroski & Jose Pagan]

Hit by Pitches – 8 [5, tied with Chuck Hiller & Bob Aspromonte]

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 6 [10, tied with nine others]

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 13, HR - 15, RBI - 50, AVG - .297, OBP - .357, SLG – .508

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Most hits, game – 3 on nine occasions

Longest hitting streak – 18 games

HR at home – 18

HR on road – 16

Most home runs, game – 2 on five occasions

Multi-HR games – 5

Most RBIs, game – 6 vs. Philadelphia 8/1

Pinch-hitting – 4 for 11 (.364) with 2 RBI

Fielding (OF)

Chances – 239

Put Outs – 216

Assists – 14

Errors – 9

DP – 0

Pct. - .962 

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In their inaugural season, the Mets went 40-120 to finish tenth in the NL, 60.5 games behind the pennant-winning San Francisco Giants, while leading the league in most walks drawn (616), fewest hits (1318), and lowest batting average (.240). The “Amazing Mets”, guided by veteran manager Casey Stengel (who turned 72 during the season) and with a roster filled by veteran castoffs and young prospects, rose as high as ninth in the newly expanded league thanks to a 9-3 May spurt, but settled into the cellar on the way to setting a record-for futility, often in amazingly inept fashion. The popular and highly publicized underdogs drew 922,530 fans to the Polo Grounds, their temporary home while awaiting construction of a new ballpark in Queens.

Aftermath of 1962:

In 1963, Thomas saw less playing time due to an injured shoulder and the team’s desire to give their younger players more action. He batted .260 with 15 home runs, 60 RBIs, a .317 OBP, and a .393 slugging percentage. He fit less into the Mets’ plans in 1964 and was dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies in August, who were in first place and in need of a first baseman. Thomas filled the need until a broken thumb suffered in a September game knocked him out of the lineup. He hit .294 in 39 games with the Phillies, with 7 home runs, 26 RBIs, a .311 OBP, and a .517 slugging percentage. The Phillies had expanded their lead with Thomas at first base but would end up suffering an epic collapse in the season’s final weeks to lose out in the end. The arrival of Dick Stuart by offseason trade put Thomas in a backup role with the Phillies in 1965. His time in Philadelphia came to an end due to a nasty fight with teammate Dick Allen during batting practice prior to a game against the Reds. Thomas had a penchant for making provocative comments and relentlessly needling other players and was nicknamed “the Big Donkey” as a result. Remarks made to Allen went too far and it took the effort of several teammates to pull them apart. The result of the altercation was that Thomas was dealt to the Houston Astros, who in turn sent him back to the Braves in September. His career ended with the Cubs in 1966. For his major league career, he batted .266 with 1671 hits that included 262 doubles, 31 triples, and 286 home runs. Thomas scored 792 runs and compiled 962 RBIs, a .320 OBP, and a .454 slugging percentage. With the Mets he batted .262 with 311 hits, 122 runs scored, 38 doubles, 5 triples, 52 home runs, 173 RBIs, a .319 OBP, and a .434 slugging percentage. A three-time All-Star, he never appeared in the postseason. Thomas came to be most notably remembered for the altercation with Allen despite his accomplishments on the field. His 1962 home run total with the Mets remained the franchise’s single-season record until 1975. He died in 2023 at age 93.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years.