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This Day in Mets History
April 26th

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7 Fact(s) Found
1959 Willard Schmidt becomes the first major leaguer to be hit by a pitch twice in one inning. The Reds hurler is the third-inning target of Bob Rush and Lew Burette in Cincinnati's 11-10 victory over the Braves at Crosley Field.

(Ed. Note: Mets outfielder Frank Thomas, a teammate of Willard Schmidt who played at third base and in left field in the game, becomes the second player plunked twice in a frame in 1962.- LP)

1962 Catcher Harry Chiti is traded to the Mets from the Indians for a player to be named later. New York returns the backstop to Cleveland on June 15 to complete the deal, making him the first player swap for himself.
1977 The Rangers trade Lenny Randle, suspended for the spring training altercation in which he fractured manager Frank Lucchesi's cheekbone, to the Mets for a player to be named later (infielder Rick Auerbach) and cash. New York's new skipper, Joe Torre, replaces Joe Frazier and shifts the 28-year-old second baseman to third base.
1988 Keith Hernandez hits two homers and drives in seven runs to reach the 1000 RBI milestone. The Mets' first baseman's offensive output, which includes an eighth-inning grand slam off Charley Puleo, contributes to the Mets' 13-4 rout of the Braves at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.
1995 In the debut of Coors Field, the Rockies defeat the Mets in 14 innings, tying the National League record for the number of innings played in a season opener. After New York's first baseman Rico Brogna collects the ballpark's first home run, a fourth-inning line drive off Bill Swift, Dante Bichette ends the contest with a walk-off blast in the 14th frame, giving Colorado a dramatic come-from-behind 11-9 victory.

2006 At 47, Julio Franco becomes the second-oldest player to steal a bag when he swipes second base in the eighth inning of the Mets' 9-7 victory over the Giants at AT&T Park. In 1909, Arlie Latham, who played two games at second base for the Giants, purloined a sack as a 49-year-old.
2012 Using a home-grown starting lineup for the first time since 1971, New York beats Miami when Heath Bell walks four batters in the ninth inning, including Justin Turner's 13-pitch at-bat that knots the score before he gives up a game-winning two-out single to the rookie Kirk Nieuwenhuis. Forty-one years ago, Gil Hodges used a lineup of all former Mets farmhands that included Ed Kranepool, Bud Harrelson, Tim Foli, Ted Martinez, Mike Jorgensen, Duffy Dyer, John Milner, and Jerry Koosman.
7 Fact(s) Found