The Southpaw

So We Met Again: Tommie Agee and Cleon Jones

by Jeff Merron

This feature appears in the current (Spring 2007) issue of 108 Magazine. You can find the issue on many Barnes & Noble and Borders newsstands. You can also subscribe to 108 and receive a discount off the newsstand price.

On October 14, 1969, Shea Stadium played host to the first World Series home game in the brief but memorable history of the New York Mets. The Amazing Mets, whose dramatic turnaround from losers to winners had led some to call them a team of destiny, seemed vastly overmatched against the mighty Baltimore Orioles, winners of 109 regular-season games. The Orioles had no major weaknesses; they could hit, and boasted the best pitching and defense in the majors. But the Mets managed one victory in Baltimore before the Series came to Shea for the middle three games. If they could win Game 3, they could gain credibility, confidence, and a bit of a cushion.

In the bottom of the first, Tommie Agee stepped to the plate to lead off against Orioles ace Jim Palmer. After going 0-for-8 in the first two games, the Mets center fielder hammered Palmer’s fourth pitch over the center-field wall to give New York a 1-0 lead. The Mets added two more runs in the second inning. Then, with two on and two out in the fourth, Orioles catcher Elrod Hendricks drove Gary Gentry’s outside fastball to left-center. Agee, shading the left-handed Hendricks toward right, took off. And ran. And ran.

Condolences to John Rocker

John Rocker's father, Jake, was killed Tuesday in a car accident. He was 63.

I'm very sad about this. I know that John was close to his father. I know that 63 is way too young for anyone to go, these days. And, having lost my father at 22, I can imagine that it's not much easier at 32. Rocker is still young.

Much of my sadness must come from the illusion that I "know" John. I interviewed him for about a half-hour last summer, and it was one of the most pleasant, interesting, and insightful interviews I've ever had. We were talking about Leo Mazzone, but so much more came across about John. He was generous in his praise for many people, including Leo. He keeps up friendships with old teammates and coaches, even though he's out of the game. He displayed no bitterness. He was smart, and he was gracious, and he was patient when I stumbled on the occasional question, searching for the right words.

John Rocker has a reputation that he'll probably never live down. He did and said some things he shouldn't have done or said. But that was a while ago, and those incidents certainly don't define the man. I don't agree with some of the political opinions he expresses these days, but that's okay. I think his heart is in the right place.

John Rocker and his family are in my thoughts today.