Jonathon Niese was born on October 27, 1986. Expect this to be referenced often, because it's the date that the Mets won the World Series.
But what happened on the baseball-season birthdays of other current Mets?
Moises Alou, July 3, 1966
The Mets split a doubleheader with the Pirates, losing 8-7 and winning, 9-8, as seven Mets drove in runs in the nightcap. In a bizarre finish to Game 2, the Pirates ran out of players, and pitcher Bob Purkey (career .110 hitter) struck out as a pinch-hitter with two on base to end the game.
Orlando Hernandez, October 11, 1969
The Mets lose Game 1 of the World Series, 4-1 as Mike Cuellar beats Tom Seaver. Don Buford starts things off with a leadoff home run and the Orioles never look back.
Billy Wagner, July 25, 1971
Ron Taylor struck out Roger Metzger with runners on second and third and two outs in the ninth to preserve a 7-6 win. Cleon Jones led the Mets with three hits, including a home run.
Carlos Delgado, June 25, 1972
The Mets got swept by the Cardinals in a doubleheader, 7-1, and 2-1. Ex-Met Donn Clendenon got the winning hit in the ninth inning of the nightcap.
Scott Schoeneweis, October 2, 1973
The Mets rested, a day after clinching the NL East
Nelson Figueroa, May 18, 1974
Jon Matlack pitched a four-hit shutout to beat the Expos, 6-0. Rusty Staub's two-run single paced a four-run first inning.
Luis Castillo, September 12, 1975
The Mets lost to the Cardinals, 5-1. Mike Tyson punched out two RBI to pace the Cardinals attack.
Robinson Cancel, May 4, 1976
Tom Seaver improved to 4-0, despite walking seven. Mets pitchers walked 10, but still beat the Reds, 5-3. Dave Kingman's home run was his 10th as the Mets improved to 15-8.
Pedro Feliciano, August 25, 1976
A 6-run sixth did in the Mets, who lost to the Giants, 7-1, on the strength of a complete game from no-hitter pitcher Ed Halicki.
Brian Stokes, September 7, 1979
The eventual champion Pirates beat the Mets, 6-4 in 14 innings at Shea. Dave Parker had the go-ahead hit in the 14th against Mets rookie reliever Neil Allen.
John Maine, May 8, 1981
Fernando Valenzuela improved to 7-0, beating Mike Scott and the Mets, 1-0. Dusty Baker drove in the only run of the game with a first-inning single.
Oliver Perez, August 15, 1981
John Stearns hit a go-ahead double in the seventh inning, and the Mets bullpen pitched four hitless innings in a 3-1 win over the Phillies.
Argenis Reyes, September 25, 1982
Craig Swan pitched a complete game gem to beat Steve Carlton and the Phillies, 2-1
Jose Reyes, June 11, 1983
Backup catcher Bobby Ramos had two RBI as the Expos downed the Mets, 5-2.
Robert Parnell, September 8, 1984
The day after Dwight Gooden one-hit the Cubs, Rick Sutcliffe set the Mets back to reality, improving to 14-1 with a 6-0 shutout at Shea.
But what happened on the baseball-season birthdays of other current Mets?
Moises Alou, July 3, 1966
The Mets split a doubleheader with the Pirates, losing 8-7 and winning, 9-8, as seven Mets drove in runs in the nightcap. In a bizarre finish to Game 2, the Pirates ran out of players, and pitcher Bob Purkey (career .110 hitter) struck out as a pinch-hitter with two on base to end the game.
Orlando Hernandez, October 11, 1969
The Mets lose Game 1 of the World Series, 4-1 as Mike Cuellar beats Tom Seaver. Don Buford starts things off with a leadoff home run and the Orioles never look back.
Billy Wagner, July 25, 1971
Ron Taylor struck out Roger Metzger with runners on second and third and two outs in the ninth to preserve a 7-6 win. Cleon Jones led the Mets with three hits, including a home run.
Carlos Delgado, June 25, 1972
The Mets got swept by the Cardinals in a doubleheader, 7-1, and 2-1. Ex-Met Donn Clendenon got the winning hit in the ninth inning of the nightcap.
Scott Schoeneweis, October 2, 1973
The Mets rested, a day after clinching the NL East
Nelson Figueroa, May 18, 1974
Jon Matlack pitched a four-hit shutout to beat the Expos, 6-0. Rusty Staub's two-run single paced a four-run first inning.
Luis Castillo, September 12, 1975
The Mets lost to the Cardinals, 5-1. Mike Tyson punched out two RBI to pace the Cardinals attack.
Robinson Cancel, May 4, 1976
Tom Seaver improved to 4-0, despite walking seven. Mets pitchers walked 10, but still beat the Reds, 5-3. Dave Kingman's home run was his 10th as the Mets improved to 15-8.
Pedro Feliciano, August 25, 1976
A 6-run sixth did in the Mets, who lost to the Giants, 7-1, on the strength of a complete game from no-hitter pitcher Ed Halicki.
Brian Stokes, September 7, 1979
The eventual champion Pirates beat the Mets, 6-4 in 14 innings at Shea. Dave Parker had the go-ahead hit in the 14th against Mets rookie reliever Neil Allen.
John Maine, May 8, 1981
Fernando Valenzuela improved to 7-0, beating Mike Scott and the Mets, 1-0. Dusty Baker drove in the only run of the game with a first-inning single.
Oliver Perez, August 15, 1981
John Stearns hit a go-ahead double in the seventh inning, and the Mets bullpen pitched four hitless innings in a 3-1 win over the Phillies.
Argenis Reyes, September 25, 1982
Craig Swan pitched a complete game gem to beat Steve Carlton and the Phillies, 2-1
Jose Reyes, June 11, 1983
Backup catcher Bobby Ramos had two RBI as the Expos downed the Mets, 5-2.
Robert Parnell, September 8, 1984
The day after Dwight Gooden one-hit the Cubs, Rick Sutcliffe set the Mets back to reality, improving to 14-1 with a 6-0 shutout at Shea.
Comments