This Date in Mets History: November 1 - Goodbye Gary Gentry, Hello George Stone

Rookie Gary Gentry pitched six-plus scoreless innings in Game Three of the '69 World Series, and knocked in a two-run double to boot. On this date, 1972, the Mets parted ways with the right-hander, trading him with beefy reliever Danny Frisella to the Atlanta Braves for second baseman Felix Millan and pitcher George Stone. Frisella's struggles with arm soreness had lowered his stock after a strong '71 campaign; on New Year's Day, 1977, he died in a tragic dune buggy accident. New Met Felix Millan ("El Gattito," the kitten) worked the keystone from '73-77 and, notably, once reached base four times only to be erased on four Joe Torre double plays. George Stone came over as a villain among Met fans for throwing the pitch that injured Rusty Staub's hand that June. But he was a 20-game winner in the Mets' unlikely pennant run the next year, walking less than two batters per nine and keeping his ERA below three. George Heard Stone (poetic name, that) had less success the next couple of years, and never resurfaced in the bigs after being traded to the Rangers following the '75 season.

Birthday

Jose Moreno, 55 today, is the manager of the High Desert Mavericks (Hi-A: Seattle Mariners). In his playing days, he was a switch-hitting 2B-3B-OF who got into 37 games with 1980 Mets, hitting .196/.240/.413.

Amazin'-ly Tenuous Connection

On this date, 1960, while campaigning for President, John F. Kennedy announced his idea of the Peace Corps. Tom Seaver's big sister, Carol, spent two years in Nigeria with her husband, a Peace Corps official. Several Mets including Moises Alou have benefited from the Latin Athletes Education Fund, set up by a Peace Corps alum who had volutneered in Colombia. Lastly, in an article entitled Mets Fans Shouldn't Be Allowed to Join the Peace Corps, a Boston blog links to the cutest reenactment of all time.