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1966 Timeline

Mets Rewind Timeline
1966

The highlights of the 1966 New York Mets season: the team didn’t finish in last place (9th of 10 teams) and did not lose 100 games (66-95) for the first time in franchise history. The highlight off the field was signing Tom Seaver.

January 18

Mets sign McGraw
Tug McGraw is the first Mets player to sign for the 1966 season.

February 24

Braves sign Seaver
University of Southern California pitcher Tom Seaver is signed by the Braves. The deal will later be voided, and the USC stand-out will be selected by the Mets in a special draft.

March 2

Mets win rights to Seaver in special draft
Commissioner William Eckert, citing a rule that prohibits clubs from signing players during their collegiate season, voids the Braves' contract with USC standout Tom Seaver, who had signed with Atlanta for a $50,000 bonus a week earlier. The Mets will be awarded the signing rights in a lottery that includes the Phillies and Indians, who also were willing to match the Braves' terms.

March 8

Mets announce Stengel elected to Hall
Prior to an intrasquad contest in St. Petersburg in a pregame ceremony, the Mets announce former manager Casey Stengel had been elected to the Hall of Fame. Stengel, 75, benefited from a new rule by the Baseball Writers Committee on Veterans that makes any manager, umpire or executive past the age of 65 eligible to be elected to the Hall of Fame six months after retiring, bypassing the traditional five-year wait rule for players.

April 3

Seaver signs with Mets
After his name is picked from a hat in a special draft, Tom Seaver signs with the Mets for a reported $50,000 bonus. The lottery is necessitated when Tom's father threatens a lawsuit after his son's contract with Atlanta is voided by Commissioner William Eckert because Seaver's college team had played two exhibition games, but signing a pro contract also prevents the future Hall of Famer from playing on the collegiate level.

April 16

Fisher beats Braves, 3-1
On the second day of the season, Jack Fischer gives up just five hits in his complete-game effort beating the Braves at Shea Stadium, 3-1. The win represents the Mets' earliest victory in franchise history.

June 7

Mets pass on Jackson, select Chilcott in draft
The A's select future Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson in the first round (2nd pick) of the amateur draft. The Mets, with the first overall pick, choose Steve Chilcott, a high school catcher who will never play a day in the major league.

June 26

Fisher hits Santo
Ron Santo is struck in the face by a pitch thrown by Mets Jack Fisher. The pitch fractures Santo’s cheek ending his 390 consecutive starts streak.

November 18

Mets name Westrum manager
The Mets name Wes Westrum as the second manager in the franchise history, replacing the legendary Casey Stengel who compiled a 175-404 (.302) record during his three-and-one-half years as manager. Stengel stepped down in July 1965 after he fractured his hip.

November 29

Mets acquire Davis from Dodgers
The Dodgers trade outfielder Tommy Davis and Derrell Griffith to the Mets for Ron Hunt and outfielder Jim Hickman, who leaves New York as the franchise's all-time home run (60) leader.
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