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Tommie Agee

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For the American football player, seeTommie Agee (American football).

Tommie Agee
Agee with theNew York Metsc.1970
Center fielder
Born:(1942-08-09)August 9, 1942
Magnolia, Alabama,U.S.
Died:January 22, 2001(2001-01-22)(aged 58)
New York City, New York,U.S.
Batted:Right
Threw:Right
MLB debut
September 14, 1962, for the Cleveland Indians
Last MLB appearance
September 30, 1973, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
Batting average.255
Home runs130
Runs batted in433
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Tommie Lee Agee(August 9, 1942 – January 22, 2001) was an American professionalbaseballplayer. He played inMajor League Baseballas acenter fielderfrom1962through1973,most notably as a member of theNew York Metsteam that became known as theMiracle Metswhen, they rose from being perennial losers to defeat the favoredBaltimore Oriolesin the1969 World Seriesfor one of the most improbable upsets inWorld Serieshistory.[1]Agee performed two impressive defensive plays in center field to help preserve a Mets victory in the third game of the series.

A two-timeMajor League All-Starplayer, Agee was also a two-timeGold Glove Awardwinner and, was named theAL Rookie of the Yearin 1966 as a member of theChicago White Sox.He also played for theCleveland Indians,Houston Astrosand theSt. Louis Cardinals.In 2002, Agee was posthumously inducted into theNew York Mets Hall of Fame.[2]

Early life

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Agee was born inMagnolia, Alabama,and playedbaseballand football at Mobile County Training School with futureNew York MetsteammateCleon Jones.After one season atGrambling State University(1961), Agee signed with theCleveland Indiansfor a $60,000 bonus.

Career

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Cleveland Indians

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After two seasons in the Indians' farm system with the AAAPortland Beavers,Agee received a September call-up to Cleveland in1962.With the Indians already behind 11-1 to theMinnesota Twins,Agee made his major league debut on September 14 atMetropolitan Stadiumpinch-hitting forpitcherBill Daileyin the ninth inning.[3]He received September call-ups to the majors the following two seasons as well, playing a total of 31 games with the Indians in which he batted.170 with onehome runand fiveruns batted in.Following the1964season, he was dealt to theChicago White SoxwithTommy Johnas part of a three team blockbuster trade between the Indians, White Sox andKansas City Athleticsthat returnedAll-StarRocky Colavitoto the Indians.[4]

Chicago White Sox

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Agee batted just.226 with thePacific Coast League'sIndianapolis Indians,and.158 in ten games with the White Sox in1965.After earning the startingcenter fielderjob inspring training1966,he hit a two-run home run in the season opener,[5]and was batting.264 with nine home runs and 38 RBIs to be named the White Sox's sole representative at the1966 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.[6]He ended the season with a.273batting average,22 home runs, 86 RBIs and 44stolen bases,becoming the first player in Major League Baseball history with more than 20 home runs and 40 stolen bases in their rookie season.[7]He was followed byMitchell Page(1977),Mike Trout(2012) andCorbin Carroll(2023) as the only four rookies to accomplish the feat.[7]His performance earned him theAmerican League Rookie of the Yearaward, while his defense incenter fieldearned him aGold Glove.Although he was technically in his 5th major league season, MLB's classification of a rookie is determined by plate appearances and time on a major league roster. Agee's September call-ups had been so brief and his playing time so scarce that he was still eligible for the award.

Agee was batting.247 with ten home runs and 35 RBIs to earn his second consecutive All-Star selection in1967.His production fell off considerably in the second half of the season (he hit only four home runs after the All-Star break), and ended the season batting.234 with 52 RBIs. Though they finished the season in fourth place, Chicago finished only three games back of the first placeBoston Red Sox,and battled Boston, theDetroit Tigersand Minnesota Twins until the final week of the season. On a team loaded with pitching and short on offense (no regular batted over.241), the team's lack of offense possibly cost the White Sox theAmerican Leaguepennant.

To alleviate this problem, the White Sox imported perennial.300 hitterTommy Davis,along with pitcherJack Fisherand two minor leaguers, from the New York Mets for Agee andAl Weis.

New York Mets

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The spot where Agee's home run landed at Shea Stadium. The marker was removed during the demolition of Shea Stadium and was sold to a private collector, who has it on display in his backyard.[citation needed]

Agee was hit in the head byBob Gibsonon the very first pitch thrown to a Mets batter in spring training1968.At the beginning of the regular season, he went 0-for-10 in a 24-inning affair with theHouston Astros[8]that saw his batting average go from.313 to.192. It led to an 0-for-34 slump that brought his average down to.102. For the season, he batted.217 with five home runs and 17 RBIs.[9]

1969 season

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Agee got his first career multi-home run game in the third game of the1969season,[10]against theMontreal Expos,one of which went halfway up in section 48 of the left field upper deck atShea Stadium,a feat that was never matched. Exposright fielderMack Jonessaid the ball was still rising when it came into contact with the stands. To commemorate the home run, there was a painted sign in that section of the stadium with Agee's name and uniform number and the date. He also had his firstfour-hitgame on May 2 (four for four with awalkand a home run).[11]

By May 21, Agee was batting over.300, and the Mets won their third game in a row for a.500 winning percentage 36 games into the season for the first time in franchise history. This was followed by a five-game losing streak that saw the Mets fall into fourth place in the newly alignedNational League East.

The Mets then went on an 11-game winning streak that included a two-home run, four-hit performance by Agee against theSan Francisco Giantsin the final game of the streak.[12]By this point, the Mets were in second place, seven games back of theChicago Cubs.

The Mets were two and a-half games back on September 8 when the Cubs came to Shea to open a crucial two game series with the Mets. Cubs starterBill Handsknocked down the first batter he faced, Agee, who had been moved into the lead-off spot in the line-up, in the bottom half of the first inning.Jerry Koosmanhit the next Cubs batter he faced,Ron Santo,in the hand, breaking it. Agee himself retaliated by hitting a two-run home run in the third, and scored the winning run of the game on aWayne Garrettsinglein the sixth inning.[13]

The Mets swept the Expos in adouble headeron September 10. Coupled with a Cubs loss, the Mets moved into first place for the first time ever during the1969 season. The Metswould not relinquish their lead from this point. On September 24, the New York Mets clinched the NL East asDonn Clendenonhit two home runs in a 6-0 Mets win overSteve Carltonand theSt. Louis Cardinals(who struck out a record 19 Mets nine days earlier in a losing effort). For the season, Agee batted.271 while leading his team with 26 home runs, 97 runs scored and 76 RBIs. Along withCy Young AwardwinnerTom Seaverand Cleon Jones, he was one of three Mets to finish in the top ten in NL MVP Award balloting,being also named theSporting NewsNL Comeback Player of the Year.

1969 World Series

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Agee batted.357 with two home runs and four RBIs in the Mets' three-game sweep of theAtlanta Bravesin the1969 National League Championship Series.The Mets were heavyunderdogsheading into theWorld Seriesagainst theBaltimore Orioles.In Game 3 (the first World Series home game in Mets history), with the series tied 1–1, Agee had whatSports Illustratedcalled the greatest single performance by a center fielder in World Series history.[14]In the first inning, Agee hit a leadoff home run offJim Palmerfor what would eventually be the game-winning hit and RBI, as the Mets shut out the Orioles, 5–0. In the same game, Agee also made two catches that potentially saved five runs.[15]The first catch came in the fourth inning with Gary Gentry pitching and two outs and runners on first and third. Agee, playing the left-handed hittingElrod Hendricksto pull, made a backhanded catch near the base of the wall in left centerfield. The second catch came in the seventh inning withNolan Ryanrelieving Gentry; the bases were loaded with two outs, and Agee made a headfirst dive in right centerfield on a ball hit byPaul Blair.[16][17]

1970–72

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Agee began the1970season by going on a 20-gamehitting streakfrom April 16 to May 9. He enjoyed one of the finest games of his career on June 12, when he went four for five with two home runs and four runs scored, and he would go on to be namedNL Player of the Monthfor June with a.364 batting average, 11 home runs, and 30 RBI.[18]He alsohit for the cycleon July 6.[19]Agee displayed his spectacular and daring base running in the 10th inning in the NY Mets 2-1 win over the LA Dodgers when he stole second, took third on a wild pitch and surprised every one when he stole home for the victory![20]For the season, Agee batted.286, and established a Mets season record for hits with 182, runs with 107, andstolen baseswith 31. He also won his second Gold Glove award, making him the firstAfrican-Americanto win a Gold Glove in both leagues.

Chronic knee injuries hampered Agee in1971and1972,though he still batted.285 and tied for the Mets lead with 14 home runs in 1971. In 1972, he finished second on the Mets with 47 RBIs despite batting only.227.

Later career

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Agee was traded from the Mets to the Houston Astros forRich ChilesandBuddy Harrisat theWinter Meetingson November 27, 1972.[21]He faced the Mets for the first time in his career on April 24, and went two for three with a walk and a run scored in the Astros' 4-2 victory.[22]He was batting.235 with eight home runs and 15 RBIs when the Astros dealt him to theSt. Louis Cardinalson August 18, who were in a battle with the Mets andPittsburgh Piratesin the NL East.

He was dealt from the Cardinals to theLos Angeles DodgersforPete Richertat the Winter Meetings on December 5, 1973.[23]He was released during spring training. Though he never made a regular season appearance with the Dodgers, his finalbaseball cardwas #630T in the1974 ToppsTraded series, which depicted him as a Dodger.

Career statistics

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Games PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO HBP AVG OBP SLG FLD%
1130 4324 3912 558 999 170 27 130 433 167 342 918 34 .255 .320 .412 .975

Retirement

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After retirement, he operated the Outfielder's Lounge near Shea Stadium. Agee was also known as the most active former Met, taking part in many charitable events and children's baseball clinics around both the New York area and Mobile. He appeared as himself in a1999episode ofEverybody Loves Raymondalong with several other members of the 1969 Mets.[24]

Tommie visited Shea Stadium often and appeared at old timers games and card shows. He was later inducted into the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.

Personal life

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Agee met his wife Maxcine at a nightclub and restaurant he ran.[25]The couple had a daughter, Jnelle.[26]

Agee suffered aheart attackwhile leaving a Midtown Manhattan office building on January 22, 2001, and died later that day atBellevue Hospital Center,aged 58.[26]He was buried in Pine Crest Cemetery inMobile, Alabama.[27]

Legacy

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Agee was posthumously inducted into theNew York Mets Hall of Famein2002.

Agee was also posthumously inducted into theNew York State Baseball Hall of Famein 2022.

A middle school was built on the property of Agee's former nightclub inEast Elmhurst, Queens.It opened in 2022 and was called the Tommie L. Agee Educational Campus in his honor.[25]

See also

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References

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  1. ^"1969: The Amazin' Mets".thisgreatgame.RetrievedSeptember 26,2020.
  2. ^"New York Mets Hall of Fame at MLB".mlb.RetrievedSeptember 24,2020.
  3. ^"Minnesota Twins 11, Cleveland Indians 1".Baseball-Reference. September 14, 1962.
  4. ^"Tommie Agee Stats | Baseball-Reference".Baseball-Reference.RetrievedSeptember 11,2017.
  5. ^"Chicago White Sox 3, California Angels 2".Baseball-Reference. April 12, 1966.
  6. ^"1966 All-Star Game".Baseball-Reference. July 12, 1966.
  7. ^ab"Carroll continues ROY chase as 4th rookie of 20/40 club".mlb.RetrievedAugust 28,2023.
  8. ^"Houston Astros 1, New York Mets 0".Baseball-Reference. April 15, 1968.
  9. ^"Tommie Agee".Ultimate Mets Database.RetrievedJanuary 2,2009.
  10. ^"New York Mets 4, Montreal Expos 2".Baseball-Reference. April 10, 1969.
  11. ^"Chicago Cubs 6, New York Mets 4".Baseball-Reference. May 2, 1969.
  12. ^"New York Mets 9, San Francisco Giants 4".Baseball-Reference. June 10, 1969.
  13. ^"New York Mets 3, Chicago Cubs 2".Baseball-Reference. September 8, 1969.
  14. ^"Agee steals the show in four-hit shutout by Gentry & Ryan".October 14, 1969.
  15. ^"1969 World Series, Game 3".mlb.RetrievedJanuary 20,2015.
  16. ^"Tommie Agee: 1969 World Series, Game 3".ESPN.RetrievedNovember 23,2017.
  17. ^"New York Mets 5, Baltimore Orioles 0".Retrosheet.October 14, 1969.
  18. ^"New York Mets 6, Atlanta Braves 1".Baseball-Reference. June 12, 1970.
  19. ^"New York Mets 10, St. Louis Cardinals 3".Baseball-Reference. July 6, 1970.
  20. ^"Tommy Agee Steals Home in the 10th Inning".
  21. ^Durso, Joseph. "Mets Send Agee to the Astros for Pair; Yanks Trade Four to Get Graig Nettles,"The New York Times,Tuesday, November 28, 1972.Retrieved October 24, 2020
  22. ^"Houston Astros 4, New York Mets 2".Baseball-Reference. April 24, 1973.
  23. ^Koppett, Leonard. "Dodgers Also Acquire Agee From Cards,"The New York Times,Thursday, December 6, 1973.Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  24. ^"Big Shots".Everybody Loves Raymond. March 1, 1999.
  25. ^abMayor, Queens officials celebrate opening of new East Elmhurst school named after late 1969 Mets star Tommie Agee
  26. ^abGoldstein, Richard (January 23, 2001)."Tommie Agee, of Miracle Mets, Dies at 58".New York Times.RetrievedMay 25,2010.
  27. ^Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More than 14000 Famous Persons, Scott Wilson
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by American League Rookie of the Year
1966 		Succeeded by
Preceded by NL Comeback Player of the Year
1969 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Major League Player of the Month
June, 1970 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Hitting for the cycle
July 6, 1970 		Succeeded by
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