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Much to David Letterman’s chagrin, the Mets on this date 26 years ago dispatched backup catcher Ed Hearn to the Royals along with pitcher Rick Anderson for David Cone. Hearn, who has battled a debilitating disease these last 20 years, would write an inspirational book and become a successful motivational speaker. Cone would inspire a legion of Coneheads and motivate the Dodgers to send him to an early shower in Game 2 of the 1988 NLCS.
Oh yeah… he was 20–3 with a 2.22 ERA that year and is one of the best pitchers in Mets history.
In the 1979 Mets Yearbook, Richie Hebner and Nino Espinosa appear on pages 24 and 27, respectively, which is odd because the Mets sent Espinosa to the Phils to acquire Hebner on March 27 that year. Hebner spent the year doing three things he didn’t enjoy — playing in New York, playing third base, and batting cleanup — and his displeasure showed. Still he did manage to post a WAR of 1.9 and 109 OPS+ while driving in a then career-high 79 RBI, including eight during the Mets’ season-ending six-game winning streak that kept them from losing 100 games.
On March 27, 1994, Joe McIlvane began a series of trades in which he acquired talented players while surrendering virtually nothing. That day he picked up Diego Segui and, before the week was over, he would land Jose Vizcaino, Rico Brogna, and Robert Person (who would eventually be swapped for John Olerud). The price for that quartet? Kevin Baez, Tom Wegmann, Steve Long, Alan Zinter, and Anthony Young.
The Mets also said goodbye to Timo Perez on this date in 2004, swapping him for White Sox right-hander Matt Ginter in a deal that helped neither team.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to 2011 first-round draft pick Brandon Nimmo, who is ticketed to start 2013 as a 20-year-old center fielder in Savannah.
Happy 24th birthday to hard-throwing right-hander Matt Harvey, the one pitcher on the Mets’ staff capable of making Mets fans say, “R.A. Who?”
Utility player Bill Sudakis spent his 26th birthday packing to join the Mets, who had selected him off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers on this date in 1972. One year and one day later, he was traded to the Rangers.
Amazin’-ly Tenuous Connection
In Kirtland, Ohio, on March 27, 1836, the first Mormon temple was dedicated. Among the 2013 Mets dedicated to producing a winning season are catcher John Buck and reliever Brandon Lyon, who are both Mormons. Former Mets who are Mormons include Jeff Kent, Matt Lindstrom, and McKay Christensen.
