Notes In And Around Reds/Mets Early In 1966

It is early in the 1966 season and the Cincinnati Reds are at Shea Stadium playing the New York Mets.

Each long shot team would eventually fade, however, the fifth year Houston Astros and woebegone Cleveland Indians are in early season contention in 10 team leagues, with no wild card presence.

Three years away, three eventual world title winning 1969 Mets (Jerry Grote, Cleon Jones and Ed Kranepool) are in their ’66 starting lineup, while a fourth future ’69 Mets player, Art Shamsky, is the Cincy right fielder.

Oh was there Hall of Fame voting this week?! Alas with one out top 1st, Reds’ second baseman, Pete Rose walked on a (3-2) pitch, threw his helmet off and ran to first base. Need I say more?!

I will, however, in reference to Reds/Mets in 1966 and the baseball of the day in a near future post, as some baseball shines in, along with Super Bowl notes.

Deron Johnson, pictured above as a Boston Red Sox player, was in left for the Reds.

He led the National League with 130 runs batted in (1965) while 10 years later, the Reds and Red Sox helped propel baseball, engaging in a classic World Series.