Gentleman Jim Hickman

Hickman is remembered for delivering the game winning hit in the 1970 All-Star game in which Pete Rose blew up Ray Fosse at home plate.

Hickman broke in to the big leagues with the New York Mets after being selected in the expansion draft from the St. Louis Cardinals, and played with them from 1962-66. While in New York, Hickman became the first Met to hit for the cycle, and it was Hickman that hit the last home run in the Polo Grounds. He played the 1967 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers  before being sent packing to the Chicago Cubs.

He enjoyed his most productive year in 1970 with the Cubs. Hickman blasted 32 home runs with 115 RBI, and finished with a .315 batting average. They were career highs in all three categories. He would provided the Cubs two more solid seasons before tapering off in 1973, and spent 1974 with the Cardinals.

As a young fan of the Cubs Jim Hickman was always one of my favorites among the non-star players. In my young mind, it seemed he was always delivering in the clutch.

Angel Pagan Hits Walk-Off Inside-The-Park Home Run

May 25, 2013. San Francisco Giants outfielder Angel Pagan hits a two run inside-the-park walk-off home run in the 10th inning giving the Giants a 6-5 win over the Colorado Rockies. Bill Terry was the last to accomplish the feat for the Giants in 1931 at the Polo Grounds.

Joe Glasgow is a former senior staff writer at Fanstop.com, and is the author of the book Play Ball! Growing Up With Baseball https://amzn.to/2o4M62h

Last Days Of The Polo Grounds

Johnny Mize Establishes Home Run Mark

On this date in 1947 slugging first baseman Johnny Mize became the first major league baseball player to hit three home runs in a game five times. Mize hits his three off Johnny Sain of the Milwaukee Braves in a 6-2 Giants win at the Polo Grounds. Mize hit 359 home runs in his career with 1,337 RBI, The "Big Cat" as he was known finished with a.312 batting average. He played his career with the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Giants, and finished  1953  with the New York Yankees. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.