Ultimate Mets Database - Memories of Gary Gentry

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Gary Gentry
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Memories of
Gary Gentry

Gary Gentry
Ultimate Mets Database popularity ranking: 75 of 1233 players

Gary Edward Gentry
Born: October 6, 1946 at Phoenix, Ariz.
Throws: Right Bats: Right
Height: 6.00 Weight: 165

Gary Gentry has been the most popular Ultimate Mets Database daily lookup 12 times, most recently on May 29, 2023.

First Mets game: April 10, 1969
Last Mets game: September 21, 1972

Share your memories of Gary Gentry

HERE IS WHAT OTHER METS FANS HAVE TO SAY:

Randy W.
I met Gary at a Met's fantasy camp in 1990. He was very courteous to us fantasy players and he even took off his 1969 World Series ring and passed it around the room for all to see. A real nice guy and he still had some good heat to throw during the week I was there at camp.

Ace4Mets
February 25, 2001
I always remember certain players seen during the parade in '69 and he was one of them. Back in Nova Scotia I was in home watching the W.S. and being so lucky to stay up late to watch him pitch. When you live that far away it makes you appreciate thing alot more. They had a great group of guys back then and the whole thing clicked for them at the right time. Sure hope to see him some kind of reunion one of these yrs.

Logan Swanson
April 14, 2001
In an interview with Howie Rose on WFAN in 1987, Gary told the story of how he sustained an arm injury in 1970, and the Mets failed to properly diagnose and treat him. This effectively derailed Gentry's career.
Gary was clearly capable of winning 13 games a year, and with a little more experience and pitch control, might have won more. One wonders what a rotation of Seaver, Koosman, Matlack, and a healthy Gentry would have done between 1973-1977.
By the way, in 1976, recently departed from the Braves, the Mets convinced Gentry to sign on with their minor league team. They told Gentry they felt they were one pitcher away from a division title. However, Gary still had physical problems, and never made the major league roster.

Jujo
December 20, 2001
I always wondered what happened to this guy. But as I read the comments I guess he was hurt and the Stems made the unwise decision AGAIN to unload talented pitching. I wonder if another organization (Reds or Orioles) could have won more games with this crew. God Bless You Gary.

Mets69fan
March 22, 2003
I'll always love this guy for the game he pitched in the giddy division-winning game of September 24, 1969, not to mention Game 3 of the '69 Series (with a major assist from Tommie Agee, of course).
Actually, trading him was a smart move too; Felix Millan and George Stone (later reincarnated as Pete Schourek/Jason Jacome/Glendon Rusch) were very useful in '73, and Gary was unfortunately spent.
At the 25th reunion in '94, Gary was throwing remarkably well for the Amazin's, while Felix was relegated to the opposition in a poor replica of his old Braves uniform.

Rose
March 22, 2003
Oh, what great times my family & I had going to Shea to see the Mets......my favorite, of course, was #39..Gary Gentry! I remember during "camera day" he came right up to me & I was able to get a great picture of him! I used to go crazy watching him on Kiner's Korner!!

Joe Figliola
March 27, 2003
For some reason, he reminded me a lot of Burt Ward. Holy lookalikes, Batman!
I do recall reading in "A Magic Summer" several years ago that Gary did try to come back with the Mets, but it was in 1975, not '76. It's too bad, because the Mets could have used a veteran to fill the number four slot in the rotation. It might have helped take a lot of pressure off of someone like Randy Tate.

Dhfalcon
July 13, 2004
Met Gary at a AAA game in Columbus, Ohio. He was there with some other 'old-timers'. I talked to him for a few minutes. What impressed me greatly was how sincere he was listening to my memories of watching the Mets as a kid. Undoubtedly, he had heard these stories many times. However he was gracious and did seem to enjoy the reminiscing. Class guy.

Kiwiwriter
July 19, 2004
Great pitcher, derailed by injuries. He lost the third game of those "nine crucial days" in July of 1969, but made up for it with clutch wins down the stretch and Game 3 of the World Series.
He had a lot of poise and coolness for a rookie pitcher in 1969.
Of course, his trade to Atlanta for Felix Millan and George Stone helped the Mets in 1973.
Gary was in the bullpen when Henry Aaron slugged 715, ready with Tom House and others to catch the ball. House, as we know, caught it.

Charlie Colucci
April 6, 2005
I grew up on Long Island (62-74) and the Mets were everything to a kid there in those days. I moved to Phoenix AZ in 74, still in High School then. My brother played football at Phoenix College. They still had Gary Gentry's name on the Club House at the Baseball field. I also wrote something about Duffy Dyer. The 69 Mets had a strong Arizona connection.

Bob R
July 25, 2005
I was sitting way up in the grandstands that chilly afternoon in October 1969 when Gary Gentry threw the first World Series pitch in the history of Shea Stadium. He pitched extremely well against the Orioles, even though Tommie Agee had to save his bacon with his fabulous glove. But what I also remember about that game was the double Gentry hit over Paul Blair's head that scored a couple of runs! Blair always played a shallow center field, especially for light-hitting pitchers like Gentry, but Gary shocked him and everybody else by really slamming a Jim Palmer pitch to deep center field. That made the game 3-0 and the Mets were off to a 5-0 victory. Gentry's career was a disappointment but how many guys walking around today can say they won a game in the World Series? Thanks for the memory, Gary.

KMT
October 13, 2005
I watch the '69 Series highlight tape now, and still can't believe how a 22-year-old could stare down the O's lineup. This guy had ice water in his veins! Another guy who threw bullets! I remember he wasn't happy being skipped over so Seaver and Koosman could stay on routine! I believe this is what got him shipped out of N.Y. I wanted him to come back in '75. I guess his arm trouble was too much to overcome.

Jonathan Stern
December 28, 2005
Every time I see footage of this guy (like I just did a few minutes ago), I'm amazed at how young he looks. The 1969 pitching staff was the stuff of legends and he was a big part of it. It is a real shame that his career wasn't longer. I would have loved to have seen him on the mound in the present. His career ended before I was old enough to know what was going on.

Lisa
December 22, 2006
I was twelve years old back when the New York Mets won the World Series in 1969. Gary Gentry was my favorite player. I had a serious crush on him. I thought he was the cutest guy alive!! I will never forget the '69 Mets. They were the best! Hope Gary Gentry is doing well these days.

Jamey Bumbalo
December 30, 2006
Gary Gentry will always be a fan favorite, even though he wasn't even a .500 pitcher. I've always wondered why his 1970 baseball card didn't show him wearing a Mets cap.

Dave Hirchak
August 14, 2007
My wife & I used to bowl with Gary in Scottsdale in the late 80's. What a nice guy!! Lost touch with him after that. I hope nothing but the best for him.

Ken Akerman
March 18, 2008
Gary Gentry played collegiate baseball at Arizona State University (ASU) and is a member of ASU's Hall of Fame.

Joe Figliola
March 18, 2008
I just went on Baseball Reference.com to see where Gary fared in the 1969 Rookie of the Year balloting. Imagine my surprise that not only did he receive ZERO votes, but also that Bob Didier, the Atlanta Braves catcher who couldn't hit his weight, got two votes. I could understand votes for Larry Hisle, Al Oliver, and Coco LaBoy, but Gary deserved better from the sportswriters.

Fred Bluhm
May 6, 2009
It was the Fall of 1969, and I was coming home from Vietnam. While waiting in an airport lounge, I happened to notice the World Series was on. Instead of getting some much needed sleep, I decided to watch the game. Glad I did. I wasn't sure who the pitcher on the mound was for the Mets until he went through his windup and delivery. There could only be one guy who pitched like that - my old high school teammate. Wow, it was great to see that Gary had made the bigs and was doing so well. And seeing him pitch was a great way to spend my first day back in the States.

Terry Lamb
December 10, 2009
I happened to see Gary the other day and knew he had helped ASU win the College World Series, but I have been trying to find out what high school he attended in Arizona?

Fred Bluhm
February 6, 2010
Terry,
Gary attended Camelback High school in Phoenix. While Gary was attending Camelback, future Hall of Famer Jim Palmer was going to nearby Scottsdale High School. I could be wrong, but I believe some of Gary's team mates on the ASU national championship team included Reggie Jackson, Sal Bando, and Rick Monday.

Sixty-Niner
May 2, 2010
The 1969 National League pennant had an interesting twist. It came on October 6, which was Gary's and Jerry Grote's birthday. The two of them just happened to be the Mets' starting battery for the clinching game that day. Despite Gary's rough outing, this had to be an extra special experience for both him and Jerry.
In the book "The Miracle Has Landed", there's a picture on page 343 of Gary and Jerry smothering each other with something. The caption says it's shave cream, but I don't think so. That same picture was in the Daily News the day after the NL pennant clincher. The News claimed it was icing from Gary's and Jerry's birthday cake. I choose to believe the News was right. I thought it was so great that the championship was won on the pitcher's and catcher's birthday. The cake icing made the pennant even more memorable.

Jonathan Stern
April 6, 2012
I am no Gil Hodges. Some time ago, I managed the 1969 Mets in a computer baseball game. One day, Gary Gentry was my starting pitcher. At some point in the middle of the game, my mind wandered. When I woke up from my reverie, I realized that Gentry had given up 10 runs in one inning, all of them earned. Reluctantly, I had to pull him. Since then, I have wondered how the real Gentry would have reacted to me. He probably would not have been happy, to say the least.
By the way, another time, Tom Seaver was my starting pitcher... and he pitched a PERFECT GAME! I almost cried.