Baseball is a game of numbers, made up of many minute
statistics. Its greats and milestones are defined more than any other by
mythical numbers (some of which have since been tarred).
755, 62, 2632, 56 - if you’re a big baseball fan, there’s no
need to match those numbers to name or feat.
For the Mets, a lengthy streak lingered in their 51-year
history.
8,019 – that’s the number of games, now well known, the
Metropolitans had gone without a no-hitter.
30 franchises had pitched a no-hitter in their history in
that time, the Mets and Padres the lone two left out of that club.
Four Cy Young awards were given to two Mets pitchers, Tom
Seaver three times and Doc Gooden once.
Four Mets pitchers finished the season with the lowest ERA
in baseball seven times (Seaver again did it three times).
Seaver, Gooden and David Cone combined for nine strikeout
titles.
Five different managers earned the Mets six playoff berths.
Four won pennants. Two won World Series championships.
Mets pitchers threw a total of 35 one-hitters.
None threw a no-hitter.
Friday night, a zero in the hit column erased that zero in the record book, accompanied by a new set of numbers.
134 pitches by two-time Cy Young winner Johan Santana, 19 more than manager Terry
Collins said was his limit.
Two defining plays - a Carlos Beltran liner that was called
foul though it left a mark on the chalk down the third base line and an
incredible catch by a Queens native, Mike Baxter.
27,069 fans who witnessed history.
One no-hitter.
It’s not a World Series. It doesn’t rectify the chokes or
disappointment Mets fans have suffered over the past decade.
But for one night it brought life never before seen to Citi
Field, celebration on the mound, and euphoria in the stands.
You can’t measure that in a number - only in
feeling.
No comments:
Post a Comment