Sunday, January 25, 2009

The All-Time NY Mets: 1970s Third Baseman

(originally posted 1/9/09 on Preaching to the Choir)

As we did with the 1960s, let's begin by looking at just who the starting third basemen were for the Mets in the decade of the 1970s, courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com. Chronologically speaking, your Metsies third sackers were Joe Foy (1970), Bob Aspromonte (1971), Jim Fregosi (1972), Wayne Garrett (1973-75), Roy Staiger (1976--kind of surprised not to see Joe Torre there), Lenny Randle (1977-78), and Richie Hebner (1979).

Third base has traditionally been a power-hitter's position, in addition to being a demanding defensive position. It is worth noting that, for the 1970s Mets, in seven out of the decade's ten years, their starting third sacker totaled no more than six home runs, nor did they reach as many as 38 RBI; in six of those years, their batting average didn't rise above the .230s. Yikes.

In 1970, following the retirement of Ed Charles and the anemic stickery of Wayne Garrett in 1969, the Metsies imported their first of three similarly unproductive third-base experiments. In '70 it was Joe Foy, obtained from the Royals at the bargain cost of pitcher Bob Johnson (who would strike out more than 200 American League hitters that year) and minor-league outfielder Amos Otis (whose presence would adorn the AL All-Star team for the next decade). Foy hit 6 home runs and drove in 37, while batting .236 in his only season with the Mets. In his defense, he did steal 22 bases and achieve an excellent on-base percentage of .373. But he was gone the next year, drafted by the Senators, and his drug abuse led to an early departure both from the big leagues and this world.

In 1971, the experiment was creaky veteran Bob Aspromonte, who had once played for the Brooklyn Dodgers and the expansion Houston Colt .45s. Aspro turned in a similar offensive line to Foy's--5 HR, 33 RBI, a .225 average--though without the baggage of the stolen bases (Bob had none) or the OBP (.285). Another one-and-done.

For 1972, the Mets imported former AL All-Star shortstop Jim Fregosi to man third base, getting him in trade for no less than four players: Leroy Stanton, Don Rose, and Francisco Estrada, all of whom played in the big leagues. Oh, and Nolan Ryan, who, as I understand it, went on to have some degree of success as a pitcher. For their pains, they acquired an almost-identical stat line to the departed Aspromonte's: 5 HR, 32 RBI, a .232 average, 0 steals, a .311 OBP.

For the next three years, the Mets turned third base back over to 1969 regular Wayne Garrett, who had served as a utility man ever since. More on him later.

When Garrett was finally traded away in 1976, most of the at-bats went to Roy Staiger, in the season that saw him get almost all of his big-league experience. Two homers and 26 RBI in over 300 at-bats, to go along with a .220 average. Next!

1977 saw the arrival of Len Randle, who turned in a surprisingly good year (at least, for the Mets of that vintage). Lenny batted .304 and stole 33 bases, also leading the '77 Mets in runs, hits, triples, total bases, on-base percentage, and even slugging percentage, despite having almost no power. He was named the Mets' Hitter of the Year for 1977 by the NY Mets Hall of Records, and received similar (and more prestigious) awards from the writers of the day. Lenny's '77 season was the best for a Met third baseman in the decade ... but then there was 1978. Back to normal: two home runs, 35 RBI, and a .233 average in over 500 plate appearances. Next!

For the final campaign of the decade, third base belonged to former Pirates and Phillies hitting star Richie Hebner, who did fairly well, leading the club in runs batted in with 79, to go along with his .268 average and ten home runs. But he was reputed to have a rather disagreeable temperament in the New York clubhouse, and was gone after only one year.

Which brings us back to Wayne Garrett. He was there for the Miracle of 1969, he was there through the abortive trials of Foy, Aspromonte, and Fregosi, and when the Mets finally gave him the third-base job again, he was up to the task in a way few of his predecessors had been. He smacked 16 homers in 1973, he almost broke the club record with 89 walks in '74, he had a fine .379 OBP in '75. He was fifth on the entire ballclub for decade totals in homers, RBI, and total bases, and his 442 walks in the 1970s was the most of any Met. He ranked in the top ten in almost every offensive category for the 1970s club, and he is your All-Time Met third baseman for the decade: Wayne Garrett.

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