Mets Rewind
The youth movement bears first fruit
1968. McDonalds sells its first Big Mac. CBS debuts a news magazine program called 60 Minutes. The Graduate and The Odd Couple hit the big screen. Radio stations were filled with the sounds of The Supremes, Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Doors and Jimi Hendrix. A gallon of gas cost 34 cents and a ticket to the movies was a modest $1.50.
Meanwhile in Flushing, the New York Mets were on the rise. Aging, more household names were being replaced with a talented core of young ballplayers including pitchers Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Cleon Jones, Ed Kranepool, Tommie Agee and Jerry Grote.
The Mets improved from 61-101 in 1967 to 73-89 in 1968, a 12-win difference.
The season recap published above is written by David Russell and published in his book, Fabulous to Futile in Flushing: A Year-by-Year History of the Mets. Do you love Mets history? Pick up this book online at your favorite bookseller and enjoy season-by-season historical recaps, Mets highlights and challenging trivia that will send you on a fun journey through the Mets rich franchise history.
1968 SEASON RECAP
RECORD
BATTING LEADERS
- Average: Cleon Jones (.297)
- Hits: Cleon Jones (151)
- Home Runs: Ed Charles (15)
- RBI: Ron Swoboda (59)
PITCHING LEADERS
- Wins: Jerry Koosman (19)
- ERA: Jerry Koosman (2.08)
- Starts: Tom Seaver (35)
- Innings Pitched: Tom Seaver (278)
- Saves: Ron Taylor (14)
