1968 Timeline

The Mets win their first home opener in franchise history as Jerry Koosman shuts out Giants, 3-0, before a crowd of 52,079.

Bud Harrelson becomes the first player in baseball history to gain a 3-0 ball-strike count advantage from the on-deck circle when umpire Ed Vargo penalizes Phillies reliever John Boozer for going to his mouth inside the 18-foot circle of the mound. Philadelphia manager Gene Mauch, incensed about the ball one call, orders his pitcher to do it again for ball two, and then again for ball three, which promptly gets his right-hander and himself thrown out of the game, a 3-0 loss to New York at Shea Stadium.

The Mets play their 1000th game in franchise history, losing to Chicago at Wrigley Field in the first game of a doubleheader, 4-3. The Mets compiled a 332-664 record along with four games that ended in a tie during the span, but start their next 1000 games of match ups with a resounding 10-0 rout of the Cubs in the nightcap.

Bat Day at Candlestick Park is postponed when the Mets refuse to play their scheduled game in San Francisco, out of respect for recently assassinated New York Senator Robert F. Kennedy, whose funeral is being held today. Prompted by baseball commissioner William Eckert's edict to cancel games only taking place in New York and Washington, the team, led by first baseman Ed Kranepool, had voted to take this action, even under the threat of forfeiting the contest, a decision that is fully supported by manager Gil Hodges and the organization.

Gil Hodges suffers a minor heart attack while in Atlanta. The Mets manager spends the night in the hospital.