Ken Boswell: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 53: Line 53:


From there, Boswell fell into an all around slump. From July 26 to August 23, Boswell went into an 0-for-20 slump. On July 30, his error opened the door for a ten run third inning for the [[Houston Astros]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN196907302.shtml|title=Houston Astros 11, New York Mets 5|website=Baseball-Reference.com|location=Shea Stadium|date=July 30, 1969}}</ref> He wouldn't take the field again until August 12, also against the Astros. In the sixth inning, he missed the relay on what would have been a double play. Instead, the Astros scored four runs that inning.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU196908120.shtml|title=Houston Astros 8, New York Mets 7|website=Baseball-Reference.com|location=[[Houston Astrodome]]|date=July 30, 1969}}</ref>
From there, Boswell fell into an all around slump. From July 26 to August 23, Boswell went into an 0-for-20 slump. On July 30, his error opened the door for a ten run third inning for the [[Houston Astros]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN196907302.shtml|title=Houston Astros 11, New York Mets 5|website=Baseball-Reference.com|location=Shea Stadium|date=July 30, 1969}}</ref> He wouldn't take the field again until August 12, also against the Astros. In the sixth inning, he missed the relay on what would have been a double play. Instead, the Astros scored four runs that inning.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU196908120.shtml|title=Houston Astros 8, New York Mets 7|website=Baseball-Reference.com|location=[[Houston Astrodome]]|date=July 30, 1969}}</ref>

From August 23 to September 7, Boswell was one of the hottest hitters on the hottest club in baseball. He batted .486 with four RBIs and six runs scored. The Mets were 2.5 back with the Cubs coming to Shea for two games. Boswell was held hitless, and grounded into two double plays in the first game. Despite this, the Mets won, 3-2.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN196909080.shtml|title=New York Mets 3, Chicago Cubs 2|website=Baseball-Reference.com|location=Shea Stadium|date=September 8, 1969}}</ref> The following day, Boswell went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored in the Mets' 7-1 victory that moved them a half a game back of the Cubs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN196909090.shtml|title=New York Mets 7, Chicago Cubs 1|website=Baseball-Reference.com|location=Shea Stadium|date=September 9, 1969}}</ref>

The Mets played a [[Doubleheader (baseball)|doubleheader]] with the Expos the next day. The first game went into extra innings. Boswell ended in the twelfth with an RBI single that put the Mets in first place for the first time in franchise history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN196909101.shtml|title=New York Mets 3, Montreal Expos 2|website=Baseball-Reference.com|location=Shea Stadium|date=September 10, 1969}}</ref> In the second game, Boswell went 3-for-4 with a [[triple (baseball)|triple]], RBI and run scored to make sure they stayed there.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN196909102.shtml|title=New York Mets 7, Montreal Expos 1|website=Baseball-Reference.com|location=Shea Stadium|date=September 10, 1969}}</ref>


In 1969, He set career highs in runs (48), [[triple (baseball)|triples]] (7), batting average (.279) and [[slugging percentage]] (.381). For his career he hit .248 with 31 home runs and 244 RBIs in 930 games.
In 1969, He set career highs in runs (48), [[triple (baseball)|triples]] (7), batting average (.279) and [[slugging percentage]] (.381). For his career he hit .248 with 31 home runs and 244 RBIs in 930 games.

Revision as of 23:49, 23 May 2020

Ken Boswell
Boswell in 1976
Second baseman
Born: (1946-02-23) February 23, 1946 (age 78)
Austin, Texas
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 18, 1967, for the New York Mets
Last MLB appearance
October 1, 1977, for the Houston Astros
MLB statistics
Batting average.248
Home runs31
Runs batted in244
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Kenneth George Boswell (February 23, 1946) is a former Major League Baseball second baseman. He is likely best remembered was a member of the 1969 World Series champion New York Mets.

Early years

The Mets drafted the Sam Houston State University student in the fourth round of the 1965 Major League Baseball draft. In three seasons in the mets' farm system, Boswell batted .273 with thirteen home runs and 106 runs batted in to earn a September call-up in 1967.

Topps All-Star Rookie

Despite limited experience at third base, Boswell made his major league debut on September 18 at third against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He handle all three chances on the field cleanly, and went 1-for-3 with a sacrifice fly and a double and three RBIs.[1] For the season, he batted .225 with four RBIs. He hit his first major league home run off Hall of Famer Don Drysdale on September 30.[2]

Boswell spent the 1968 season in a lefty/righty platoon at second base with Phil Linz. He batted .246 with four home runs and ten RBIs through June 24 when a broken finger sidelined him for the month of July and most of August. By season's end, he managed to raise his batting average up to .261 to be recognized as the Topps All-Star Rookie Team second baseman.

Amazin' Mets

1969 got off to a terrible start for Boswell. In the season opener, and first game in franchise history for the Montreal Expos,[3] Boswell booted a first inning ground ball from Gary Sutherland that led to the first (unearned) run in the history of Canadian baseball. He committed a second error on Bob Bailey's double that allowed him to advance to third. He also committed an error on a Coco Laboy ground ball in the fifth, giving him three errors on the day.[4]

Things would soon turn around for Boswell and the Mets. Boswell batted .250 with two home runs and eleven RBIs through the end of May when he left the club for a two week military commitment. The Mets were 19-23 in third place in the National League East, nine games back of the Chicago Cubs. When he returned, the Mets were 30-26, and had jumped into second place, but were still 8.5 back of the Cubs.

In his first game back, Boswell scored the only run in Gary Gentry's 1-0 shutout of the Philadelphia Phillies.[5] Two days later, his two out single in the ninth inning drove in the tying and winning runs of the Mets' 6-5 victory over the Phillies.[6] His knack for key hits continued on July 2, when he drove in the winning run and scored an insurance run in an extra innings contest with the St. Louis Cardinals.[7]

The Mets were 5.5 games back when they hosted the Cubs for a three game set July 8-10. The Mets were losing the first game of the set 3-1 to Ferguson Jenkins when Boswell pinch hit for Jerry Koosman to lead off the ninth. He doubled, and came around to score on Cleon Jones' double. The Mets would go on to win 4-3.[8]

Tom Seaver lost a pitchers' duel with Bill Hands in the series opener when it was the Cubs' turn to host the Mets July 14-16.[9] The following day, Boswell's solo home run that put the Mets up 5-1 turned out to be the margin of victory in their 5-4 win.[10] Then he drove Tommie Agee home with the first run, and came around to score on a Ed Kranepool single in the Mets' four run first inning in the rubber game of the series. He turned a double play in the bottom of the inning to thwart any chance of a Cubs come back. The game ended with Billy Williams and Ron Santo both popping out to Boswell at second.[11]

From there, Boswell fell into an all around slump. From July 26 to August 23, Boswell went into an 0-for-20 slump. On July 30, his error opened the door for a ten run third inning for the Houston Astros.[12] He wouldn't take the field again until August 12, also against the Astros. In the sixth inning, he missed the relay on what would have been a double play. Instead, the Astros scored four runs that inning.[13]

From August 23 to September 7, Boswell was one of the hottest hitters on the hottest club in baseball. He batted .486 with four RBIs and six runs scored. The Mets were 2.5 back with the Cubs coming to Shea for two games. Boswell was held hitless, and grounded into two double plays in the first game. Despite this, the Mets won, 3-2.[14] The following day, Boswell went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored in the Mets' 7-1 victory that moved them a half a game back of the Cubs.[15]

The Mets played a doubleheader with the Expos the next day. The first game went into extra innings. Boswell ended in the twelfth with an RBI single that put the Mets in first place for the first time in franchise history.[16] In the second game, Boswell went 3-for-4 with a triple, RBI and run scored to make sure they stayed there.[17]

In 1969, He set career highs in runs (48), triples (7), batting average (.279) and slugging percentage (.381). For his career he hit .248 with 31 home runs and 244 RBIs in 930 games.

References

  1. ^ "New York Mets 7, Los Angeles Dodgers 2". Baseball-Reference.com. Shea Stadium. September 18, 1967.
  2. ^ "New York Mets 5, Los Angeles Dodgers 0". Baseball-Reference.com. Dodger Stadium. September 30, 1967.
  3. ^ Chass, Murray (April 9, 1969). "Mets the Perfect Host as Expos Break in with a Win". Lewiston Evening Journal. p. 23.
  4. ^ "Montreal Expos 11, New York Mets 10". Baseball-Reference.com. Shea Stadium. April 8, 1969.
  5. ^ "New York Mets 1, Philadelphia Phillies 0". Baseball-Reference.com. Connie Mack Stadium. June 17, 1969.
  6. ^ "New York Mets 6, Philadelphia Phillies 5". Baseball-Reference.com. Connie Mack Stadium. June 19, 1969.
  7. ^ "New York Mets 6, St. Louis Cardinals 4". Baseball-Reference.com. Busch Memorial Stadium. July 2, 1969.
  8. ^ "New York Mets 4, Chicago Cubs 3". Baseball-Reference.com. Shea Stadium. July 8, 1969.
  9. ^ "Chicago Cubs 1, New York Mets 0". Baseball-Reference.com. Wrigley Field. July 14, 1969.
  10. ^ "New York Mets 5, Chicago Cubs 4". Baseball-Reference.com. Wrigley Field. July 15, 1969.
  11. ^ "New York Mets 9, Chicago Cubs 5". Baseball-Reference.com. Wrigley Field. July 16, 1969.
  12. ^ "Houston Astros 11, New York Mets 5". Baseball-Reference.com. Shea Stadium. July 30, 1969.
  13. ^ "Houston Astros 8, New York Mets 7". Baseball-Reference.com. Houston Astrodome. July 30, 1969.
  14. ^ "New York Mets 3, Chicago Cubs 2". Baseball-Reference.com. Shea Stadium. September 8, 1969.
  15. ^ "New York Mets 7, Chicago Cubs 1". Baseball-Reference.com. Shea Stadium. September 9, 1969.
  16. ^ "New York Mets 3, Montreal Expos 2". Baseball-Reference.com. Shea Stadium. September 10, 1969.
  17. ^ "New York Mets 7, Montreal Expos 1". Baseball-Reference.com. Shea Stadium. September 10, 1969.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ken_Boswell&oldid=958467894"