Ultimate Mets Database: Game of May 8, 1973

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Previous Game:
May 7, 1973
Mets 7, Braves 2 1973 Regular Season Game 27
May 8, 1973
Braves 10, Mets 6 Next Game:
May 9, 1973
Mets 8, Braves 1

Click to view scorecard

National League Standings, May 8, 1973

Box Score Game Memories Scorecard Mets Stats
Thru This Game

METS FANS SHARE THEIR MEMORIES OF THE MAY 8, 1973 GAME:

Peter C.
October 13, 2005
This is the game in which Marty Perez lined one back through the box and fractured Jon Matlack's skull. I had just turned 9 and have memories of watching on TV. Looking at retrosheet they have it listed as "Perez doubled to center." However I have a recollection on the ball ricocheting off Matlack and into the Met dugout. Anybody else recall this? I remember Matlack lying face up on the mound and being alert. Then when I heard he had a fractured skull I thought it meant that he might die. He actually returned to the mound 11 days later. Also, 2 batters later, Davey Johnson hit a grand slam to put the game away for Atlanta.

Ed S.
December 13, 2010
I also remember this game and the chilling/sobering replays shown on WOR-TV of the ball ricocheting off Matlack's forehead, and yes, into the Mets dugout. Also remember that the crowd had diminished noticeably in both size and "sound" after the incident. The Knicks, as I recall were in the playoffs that year and I remember hearing someone's very prominent radio in the stand, and the owner was giving scoring updates; again, it was easy to hear because the crowd had diminished and those who remained were eerily subdued.

There was little information on Matlack's condition throughout the remainder of the game, only that he was conscious, and I remember that he was visited the next day by Marty Perez in either Roosevelt (?) or Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan. Definitely a scary moment.

Joe Santoro
July 31, 2014
Yes the ball did ricochet into the Met dugout. The official scoring was a ground rule double. Two runs scored on the play. I thought John Matlack died. I was in a complete state of shock. I can't believe he made it back after a couple of weeks. Hank Aaron homered afterwards and then Davey Johnson. Are you kidding me? Davey Johnson. Didn't he have over 40 homers that season? I hardly call him a long ball hitter. Hmmmm...was he the first of the juicers? Makes you wonder. Ok I'll take it back Davey. You won a W.S for us!

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The Mets suck! They need to trade Smith and get somebody like Jones.
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The Mets suck! Smith made three errors in this game, and hit into a double play, and the Mets blew a 5-0 lead. They need to get rid of Smith and get somebody like Jones.
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