1974 New York Mets season

Major League Baseball team season

1974 New York Mets

League| National League
Division| East
Ballpark| Shea Stadium
City| New York
Record| 71–91 (.438)
Divisional place| 5th
Owners| Joan Whitney Payson
General managers| Bob Scheffing
Managers| Yogi Berra
Television| WOR-TV
Radio| WHN
(Ralph Kiner, Lindsey Nelson, Bob Murphy)
| ← 1973 | Seasons | 1975 →

|
|

The 1974 New York Mets season was the 13th regular season for the Mets, who played home games at Shea Stadium. Led by manager Yogi Berra, the team finished the season with a record of 71–91, placing fifth in the National League East, seventeen games behind the first place Pittsburgh Pirates. This was the first time the Mets had a losing season since 1968.

## Offseason

[edit]

* March 26, 1974: Buzz Capra was purchased from the Mets by the Atlanta Braves.[1]

## Regular season

[edit]

### Season standings

[edit]

* v
* t
* e

NL East Team  | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road

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Pittsburgh Pirates | 88 | 74  | .543  | —  | 52‍–‍29  | 36‍–‍45
St. Louis Cardinals | 86 | 75  | .534  | 1½  | 44‍–‍37  | 42‍–‍38
Philadelphia Phillies | 80 | 82  | .494  | 8  | 46‍–‍35  | 34‍–‍47
Montreal Expos | 79 | 82  | .491  | 8½  | 42‍–‍38  | 37‍–‍44
New York Mets | 71 | 91  | .438  | 17  | 36‍–‍45  | 35‍–‍46
Chicago Cubs | 66 | 96  | .407  | 22  | 32‍–‍49  | 34‍–‍47

### Record vs. opponents

[edit]

1974 National League record

* v
* t
* e

Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]

Team  | ATL  | CHC  | CIN  | HOU  | LAD  | MTL  | NYM  | PHI  | PIT  | SD  | SF  | STL
Atlanta | — | 4–8 | 7–11–1 | 6–12 | 8–10 | 9–3 | 8–4 | 8–4 | 4–8 | 17–1 | 8–10 | 9–3
Chicago | 8–4 | — | 5–7 | 4–8 | 2–10 | 5–13 | 8–10 | 8–10 | 9–9 | 6–6 | 6–6 | 5–13
Cincinnati | 11–7–1 | 7–5 | — | 14–4 | 6–12 | 6–6 | 9–3 | 8–4 | 8–4 | 12–6 | 11–7 | 6–6
Houston | 12–6 | 8–4 | 4–14 | — | 5–13 | 6–6 | 6–6 | 6–6 | 5–7 | 7–11 | 10–8 | 8–4
Los Angeles | 10–8 | 10–2 | 12–6 | 13–5 | — | 8–4 | 5–7 | 6–6 | 4–8 | 16–2 | 12–6 | 6–6
Montreal | 3–9 | 13–5 | 6–6 | 6–6 | 4–8 | — | 9–9 | 11–7 | 9–9 | 6–6 | 4–8 | 8–9
New York | 4–8 | 10–8 | 3–9 | 6–6 | 7–5 | 9–9 | — | 7–11 | 7–11 | 6–6 | 6–6 | 6–12
Philadelphia | 4-8 | 10–8 | 4–8 | 6–6 | 6–6 | 7–11 | 11–7 | — | 10–8 | 5–7 | 8–4 | 9–9
Pittsburgh | 8–4 | 9–9 | 4–8 | 7–5 | 8–4 | 9–9 | 11–7 | 8–10 | — | 9–3 | 8–4 | 7–11
San Diego | 1–17 | 6–6 | 6–12 | 7–11 | 2–16 | 6–6 | 6–6 | 7–5 | 3–9 | — | 11–7 | 5–7
San Francisco | 10–8 | 6–6 | 7–11 | 8–10 | 6–12 | 8–4 | 6–6 | 4–8 | 4–8 | 7–11 | — | 6–6
St. Louis | 3–9 | 13–5 | 6–6 | 4–8 | 6–6 | 9–8 | 12–6 | 9–9 | 11–7 | 7–5 | 6–6 | —

### Opening Day starters

[edit]

* Wayne Garrett
* Jerry Grote
* Don Hahn
* Bud Harrelson
* Cleon Jones
* Jerry Koosman
* Félix Millán
* John Milner
* Rusty Staub[2]

### Notable transactions

[edit]

* June 5, 1974: Bob Myrick was drafted by the Mets in the 20th round of the 1974 Major League Baseball draft.[3]

### Roster

[edit]

1974 New York Mets

Roster
Pitchers

* 22 Jack Aker
* 34 Bob Apodaca
* 38 Jerry Cram
* 48 Nino Espinosa
* 36 Jerry Koosman
* 32 Jon Matlack
* 45 Tug McGraw
* 30 Bob Miller
* 31 Harry Parker
* 33 Ray Sadecki
* 41 Tom Seaver
* 35 Randy Sterling
* 40 George Stone
* 39 John Strohmayer
* 27 Craig Swan
* 29 Hank Webb

|  | Catchers

* 10 Duffy Dyer
* 15 Jerry Grote
* 20 Ike Hampton
* 42 Ron Hodges

Infielders

* 12 Ken Boswell
* 11 Wayne Garrett
*  3 Bud Harrelson
* 23 Ted Martínez
* 17 Félix Millán
* 28 John Milner
*  2 Brock Pemberton
*  6 Rich Puig
*  9 George Theodore

|  | Outfielders

* 18 Benny Ayala
* 26 Bruce Boisclair
* 19 Jim Gosger
* 25 Don Hahn
* 21 Cleon Jones
*  7 Ed Kranepool
* 16 Dave Schneck
*  4 Rusty Staub

|  | Manager

*  8 Yogi Berra

Coaches

* 51 Roy McMillan
* 52 Joe Pignatano
* 54 Rube Walker
* 53 Eddie Yost

## Player stats

[edit]

### Batting

[edit]

#### Starters by position

[edit]

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos  | Player  | G  | AB  | H  | Avg.  | HR  | RBI

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C | Jerry Grote | 97 | 319 | 82 | .257 | 5 | 36
1B | John Milner | 137 | 507 | 128 | .252 | 20 | 63
2B | Félix Millán | 136 | 518 | 139 | .268 | 1 | 33
SS | Bud Harrelson | 106 | 331 | 75 | .227 | 1 | 13
3B | Wayne Garrett | 151 | 522 | 117 | .224 | 13 | 53
LF | Cleon Jones | 124 | 461 | 130 | .282 | 13 | 60
CF | Don Hahn | 110 | 323 | 81 | .251 | 4 | 28
RF | Rusty Staub | 161 | 561 | 145 | .258 | 19 | 78

#### Other batters

[edit]

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos  | Player  | G  | AB  | H  | Avg.  | HR  | RBI

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SS-OF | Ted Martinez | 116 | 334 | 73 | .219 | 2 | 43
OF | Dave Schneck | 93 | 254 | 52 | .205 | 5 | 25
2B-3B | Ken Boswell | 96 | 222 | 48 | .216 | 2 | 15
1B | Ed Kranepool | 94 | 217 | 65 | .300 | 4 | 24
C | Duffy Dyer | 63 | 142 | 30 | .211 | 0 | 10
C | Ron Hodges | 59 | 136 | 30 | .221 | 4 | 14
LF-PH | George Theodore | 60 | 76 | 12 | .158 | 1 | 1
OF-PH | Benny Ayala | 23 | 68 | 16 | .235 | 2 | 8
OF | Jim Gosger | 26 | 33 | 3 | .091 | 0 | 0
1B-PH | Brock Pemberton | 11 | 22 | 4 | .182 | 0 | 1
OF | Bruce Boisclair | 7 | 12 | 3 | .250 | 0 | 1
2B-3B | Rich Puig | 4 | 10 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0
C-PH | Ike Hampton | 4 | 4 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 1

### Pitching

[edit]

#### Starting pitchers

[edit]

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player  | G  | IP  | W  | L  | ERA  | SO

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Jon Matlack | 34 | 265.1 | 13 | 15 | 2.41 | 195
Jerry Koosman | 35 | 265.0 | 15 | 11 | 3.36 | 188
Tom Seaver | 32 | 232.0 | 11 | 11 | 3.20 | 201
George Stone | 15 | 77.0 | 2 | 7 | 5.03 | 29

#### Other pitchers

[edit]

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player  | G  | IP  | W  | L  | ERA  | SO

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Harry Parker | 40 | 131.0 | 4 | 12 | 3.92 | 58
Bob Apodaca | 35 | 103.0 | 6 | 6 | 3.50 | 54
Ray Sadecki | 34 | 103.0 | 8 | 8 | 3.41 | 46
Craig Swan | 7 | 30.1 | 1 | 3 | 4.45 | 10
Hank Webb | 3 | 10.0 | 0 | 2 | 7.20 | 8
Randy Sterling | 3 | 9.1 | 1 | 1 | 4.82 | 2
Nino Espinosa | 2 | 9.0 | 0 | 0 | 5.00 | 2

#### Relief pitchers

[edit]

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player  | G  | W  | L  | SV  | ERA  | SO  | IP

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Bob Miller | 58 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3.58 | 35 | 78.0
Tug McGraw | 41 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 4.16 | 54 | 88.2
Jack Aker | 24 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3.48 | 18 | 41.1
Jerry Cram | 10 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1.61 | 8 | 22.1
John Strohmayer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 1.0

## Farm system

[edit]

See also: Minor League Baseball

Level  | Team  | League  | Manager

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|
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AAA | Tidewater Tides | International League | John Antonelli
AA | Victoria Toros | Texas League | Joe Frazier
A | Visalia Mets | California League | Nolan Campbell
A | Anderson Mets | Western Carolinas League | Owen Friend
A-Short Season | Batavia Trojans | New York–Penn League | Wilbur Huckle
Rookie | Marion Mets | Appalachian League | Chuck Hiller

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Victoria

## Japan tour

[edit]

The Mets' tour of Japan began with its departure from John F. Kennedy International Airport on October 23. The team's charter flight included stops to pick up players in San Francisco and Anchorage, Alaska, the latter for Jerry Koosman. Two nonparticipants were Ray Sadecki and Duffy Dyer who were both traded, the former to the St. Louis Cardinals for Joe Torre on October 13 and the latter to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Gene Clines on October 22. Torre was the only one of the two new Mets to participate in the tour.[4][5] Starters Rusty Staub, Jerry Grote, Bud Harrelson and Cleon Jones elected to forego the tour for various personal reasons.[6] The ballclub arrived at Haneda Airport on October 24 after a combined 21-hour flight.[7]

Both Torre and Tom Seaver were dealing with health issues, shoulder for the former and back and hip for the latter.[7]

Game  | Month  | Date  | Day  | Place  | Opponent  | W/L/D  | Score  | Mets Starting Pitcher  | Notes

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|

1  | OCT  | 26  | SA  | Tokyo | Yomiuri Giants  | L  | 7–10  | Tom Seaver | Sadaharu Oh grand slam off Jerry Cram in eighth. John Milner, Wayne Garrett and Dave Schneck each homer.[8]
2  | OCT  | 28  | M  | Tokyo  | Yomiuri Giants  | D  | 4–4  | Jon Matlack | 4–2 lead disappears as Jack Aker walks five Giants batters in ninth. Don Hahn homers.[6]
3  | OCT  | 29  | TU  | Sapporo | Yomiuri Giants  |  |  |  |
4  | OCT  | 30  | W  | Sendai | Yomiuri Giants  | L  | 2–3  | Tom Seaver  | Seaver allows two runs in first six innings. Deciding run off Hank Webb in seventh. Ed Kranepool solo home run.[9]
5  | OCT  | 31  | TH  | Kōriyama | Yomiuri Giants  | D  | 3–3 (9)  | Bob Apodaca | Milner game-tying solo homer in ninth; Jack Aker's final Mets appearance before waived on NOV 6.[10][11]
6  | NOV  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
7  | NOV  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
8  | NOV  | 4  | M  | Tokyo  | Yomiuri Giants  | L  | 4–10  | Tom Seaver  | 17 hits combined off Seaver, Webb, Cram and Bob Miller. Milner homers.[12]
9  | NOV  | 6  | W  | Niigata | Yomiuri Giants  | L  | 4–9  | Randy Tate | Tate gives up three runs in first; Dave Schneck and Joe Torre each hit a homer.[11]
10  | NOV  | 7  | TH  | Toyama | Yomiuri Giants  | W  | 6–3  | Jon Matlack | Twelve hits for Mets; single, double and three RBI for Torre.[13]
11  | NOV  | 9  | SA  | Osaka | Yomiuri Giants/Nankai Hawks | W  | 6–4  | Jerry Koosman | Milner and Kranepool each hit a home run.[14]
12  | NOV  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
13  | NOV  | 12  | TU  | Matsuyama | Yomiuri Giants  | W  | 7–5  | Jon Matlack  | Kranepool homers twice despite Matlack surrendering five runs in first three innings.[15]
14  | NOV  | 14  | TH  | Hiroshima | Yomiuri Giants/Hiroshima Toyo Carp | W  | 4–0  | Jerry Koosman  | Torre hits three-run homer in fourth; Koosman pitches a five-hit shutout.[16]
15  | NOV  | 16  | SA  | Fukuoka | Yomiuri Giants/Taiheiyo Club Lions | L  | 0–2  | Tom Seaver | Seaver takes shutout into eighth, but Mets batters combine for only two hits.[17]
16  | NOV  | 18  | M  | Kokura | Yomiuri Giants  | W  | 9–5  |  | Homers by Félix Millán and Teddy Martínez spark a five-run ninth-inning rally.[18]
17  | NOV  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
18  | NOV  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Buzz Capra page at Baseball Reference
2. ^ "1974 New York Mets Roster by Baseball Almanac".
3. ^ Bob Myrick page at Baseball Reference
4. ^ "Mets Finally Get Torre in Trade for Sadecki and Minor Leaguer," The New York Times, Monday, October 14, 1974. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
5. ^ Eskenazi, Gerald. "Mets Get Clines in Dyer Trade," The New York Times, Wednesday, October 23, 1974. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
6. ^ a b Durso, Joseph. "Another Diplomatic Success," The New York Times, Tuesday, October 29, 1974. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
7. ^ a b Durso, Joseph. "Warm Tokyo Welcome Starts Met Orientation," The New York Times, Friday, October 25, 1974. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
8. ^ Durso, Joseph. "Tom Terrific and Mr. Oh," The New York Times, Sunday, October 27, 1974. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
9. ^ "Yomiuri Giants Beat Mets Again, 3–2," The Associated Press (AP), Wednesday, October 30, 1974. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
10. ^ "Mets Tie on Milner's Homer," The Associated Press (AP), Thursday, October 31, 1974. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
11. ^ a b "Mets Lose Again; Aker Waived," The Associated Press (AP), Wednesday, November 6, 1974. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
12. ^ Durso, Joseph. "Mets, Good Diplomats, Lose Again," The New York Times, Tuesday, November 5, 1974. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
13. ^ "Mets Finally Beat Yomiuri Giants," The Associated Press (AP), Thursday, November 7, 1974. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
14. ^ "Met Homers Turn Back Japanese," The Associated Press (AP), Saturday, November 9, 1974. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
15. ^ "Mets Win and Go Over .500," The Associated Press (AP), Tuesday, November 12, 1974. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
16. ^ "Mets Begin to Win in the East," The Associated Press (AP), Thursday, November 14, 1974. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
17. ^ "Mets Set Again in the East," The Associated Press (AP), Saturday, November 16, 1974. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
18. ^ "Mets Beat Yomiuri Giants 9–5," The Associated Press (AP), Monday, November 18, 1974. Retrieved March 19, 2024.

## References

[edit]

* Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (1997). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (2nd ed.). Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America. ISBN 978-0-9637189-8-3.
* 1974 New York Mets at Baseball Reference
* 1974 New York Mets team page at www.baseball-almanac.com

## External links

[edit]

* New York Mets 1974 schedule at MLB.com

* v
* t
* e

1974 MLB season by team

| AL East|

* Baltimore
* Boston
* Cleveland
* Detroit
* Milwaukee
* New York

|

AL West|

* California
* Chicago
* Kansas City
* Minnesota
* Oakland
* Texas

| NL East|

* Chicago
* Montréal
* New York
* Philadelphia
* Pittsburgh
* St. Louis

|

NL West|

* Atlanta
* Cincinnati
* Houston
* Los Angeles
* San Diego
* San Francisco

* 1974 MLB draft
* 1974 All-Star Game
* 1974 World Series

* v
* t
* e

New York Mets

* Established in 1962
* Based in Queens, New York

Franchise|

* History
* Brooklyn Dodgers
* New York Giants
* New York Metropolitans
* 1962 expansion
* expansion draft
* Seasons
* Records
* No-hitters
* Award winners and League leaders
* Players
* Hall of Fame
* Managers
* Coaches
* Owners and executives
* Broadcasters
* Kiner's Korner
* Radio network
* SportsNet New York
* Opening Day starting pitchers
* First-round draft picks
* Logos and uniforms

Ballparks|

* Polo Grounds
* Shea Stadium
* Citi Field

Spring training
Al Lang Stadium
Clover Park

Culture|

* Continental League
* Mr. Met
* Mrs. Met
* "Ya Gotta Believe!"
* Grant's Tomb
* Home Run Apple
* Generation K
* Sidd Finch
* The 7 Line Army
* Spider-Man's wedding (live performance)
* Rheingold Brewery
* Statue of Tom Seaver

| Books|

* Can't Anybody Here Play This Game?
* Sometimes You See It Coming

|

Movies|

* Game 6
* Frequency
* Mathematically Alive
* The Odd Couple

Music|

* "Let's Go Mets Go"
* "Lazy Mary"
* "Meet the Mets"
* "Narco"
* "New York Groove"
* "Ode to the Mets"
* "OMG"

TV show episodes|

* "The Boyfriend" (Seinfeld episode)
* "A Leela of Her Own" (Futurama episode)

Notable figures|

* Alex Anthony
* Jane Jarvis
* George Kalinsky
* Michael Sergio
* Sign Man
* Cow-Bell Man
* Grimace

Lore|

* 2018 MLB Little League Classic
* Miracle Mets
* Bill Buckner's 1986 World Series error
* Grand Slam Single
* MLB Puerto Rico Series
* Rick Camp Game

Rivalries|

* Atlanta Braves
* New York Yankees
* Subway Series
* 2000 World Series
* Philadelphia Phillies

Key personnel|

* Owner: Steve Cohen
* President of Baseball Operations: David Stearns
* General manager: Vacant
* Manager: Carlos Mendoza

World Series
championships (2)|

* 1969
* 1986

National League
pennants (5)|

* 1969
* 1973
* 1986
* 2000
* 2015

Division titles (6)|

* 1969
* 1973
* 1986
* 1988
* 2006
* 2015

Wild Card (5)|

* 1999 (tie-breaker game)
* 2000
* 2016
* 2022
* 2024

Minor league affiliates|

* Triple-A: Syracuse Mets
* Double-A: Binghamton Rumble Ponies
* High-A: Brooklyn Cyclones
* Single-A: St. Lucie Mets
* Rookie: FCL Mets
* DSL Mets Blue
* DSL Mets Orange
* Player overview

Seasons (65)

1960s|

* 1960 · 1961 ·  1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969

1970s|

* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979

1980s|

* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989

1990s|

* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999

2000s|

* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009

2010s|

* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
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* 2017
* 2018
* 2019

2020s|

* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

* Category
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