Juan Marichal used to own the Mets. Even if he pitched badly, the Giants would bail him out with a key home run. Of all the Giants, Willie McCovey and Jim Ray Hart hit tons of homers against the Mets, particularly in 1964-66.

There was one game in 1966 when it appeared the Mets would finaly give Marichal a defeat. The Mets took a lead going into the ninth inning thanks to two Al Luplow homers. Willie McCovey had earlier hit two homers for the Giants. In the bottom of the ninth inning there was two outs and Jim Ray Hart came out to pinch hit for the pitcher. He hit a Candlestick Park home run over the right field fence off of the pitcher Larry Bearnarth. A few batters later McCovey hit his third homer of the game to give Marichal the win.

Jim Ray Hart was an often overlooked slugger of the early- to mid-60's since he played with Mays, McCovey, Cepeda, and the Alou's. He was powerfully built with a stance that reminded me in later years of another Giants slugger, Kevin Mitchell. Hart was a lousy defensive third baseman but a very good hitter whose career went south too soon due to injuries. I remember him coming to the Yankees in 1973 as a designated hitter. It is hard to think that he turns 60 this year!