“I’m gonna wear No. 12,” said the man who, for nearly two decades as a player and coach with the Yankees, became synonymous with No. 30. “Why? You remember Ken Boswell? Second baseman on the ‘69 team? He was my favorite player growing up. No. 12. It’s a nice number.” – Former Mets manager Willie Randolph, to New York Daily News columnist Bill Madden, 2/18/05
For most of the folks watching the New York Mets celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 1969 Miracle Mets, it was a magical Saturday night at Citi Field. A ballpark that has been criticized by many of its faithful fans for not being “Mets-centric” enough, felt at last like home.
Longtime Mets radio voice Howie Rose was exuberant as he went through the pre-game introductions. The fans went wild for Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Cleon Jones, Buddy Harrelson and Yogi Berra. The sight of Nolan Ryan and Gary Gentry making long-awaited returns to New York City was a thrill, and the still-youthful grins of Duffy Dyer and Wayne Garrett made for a very special series of moments.
However, on a night that the Mets celebrated the heroes of an almost forgotten era, one former champion’s name was absent, and more glaring, not even mentioned during the pregame ceremonies. His name is Ken Boswell, and his omission from a ceremony that celebrated one of this town’s most memorable teams was appalling.
“He couldn’t make it,” said one Mets official.
Another Mets representative mentioned that Boswell, (a .279 hitter in the regular season, two homers and five RBIs in the NLCS against the Braves and hit .333 in the World Series), “didn’t show up.”
Efforts to contact Boswell directly failed, but a person close to the former infielder did mention recently that Boswell “was never invited,” and based on a recent misunderstanding with Mets’ management, “wouldn’t have gone anyway.”
But no mention?
“It was an oversight”, said another team insider, who was visibly upset at the mistake.
Seems strange that the living members of the team who did not attend; Art Shamsky, Jack DiLauro, J.C. Martin were all announced during the pre-game ceremony, accompanied by game footage and pictures.
An honest mistake? Perhaps. But this isn’t the first time, according to someone very close to Boswell, that the Mets have shown little understanding of the history of their franchise.
According to this individual, Ken had contacted the Mets during the 2005 season about attending a game in Houston (he lives in Austin, TX), and requested a few tickets. Apparently, a World Series ring didn’t dazzle the team official he spoke with, and it took a few calls to actually get the request approved. When Boswell showed up at the ballpark to get the tickets, he was hoping to get a chance to perhaps get into the clubhouse, meet some of the players, and shake some hands. Maybe meet the “other No. 12,” even.
No such luck. Here’s your tickets, and have a nice day. Know what? Hard to blame Boswell for not making the trip. But to ignore his contribution to the Amazin’ Mets? For this reporter, put a damper on what was otherwise a splendid evening at Citi Field.
Topics: 1969 World Series, Ken Boswell, New York Mets, Willie Randolph
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[...] I was at the ballpark, Ken Boswell was absent and not mentioned. Why you ask? Well, Mark Healey of Baseball Digest Magazine says it’s because of a rift with the team. I will let you read the details, but apparently [...]
The thing that made the ‘69 Mets so beloved in NY, and outside of Chicago, regarded all these years later with a mixture of both amusement and awe is the very reason why this is more than just upsetting. This Team had a great architect, 2 very talented carpenters (who would really make their bones later)and a solid core of hard working team spirited tradesmen who were well directed and all together they built something the whole neighborhood still marvels at 40 years later. If one of them was forgotten about then so were we all.
hardworking, team spirited, journeymen plumbers, electrician, masons, roofers ect. If one of these guys was not invited to the party afterward for any reason
The thing that made the ‘69 Mets so beloved in NY, and outside of Chicago, regarded all these years later with a mixture of both amusement and awe is the very reason why this is more than just upsetting. This Team had a great architect, 2 very talented carpenters (who would really make their bones later)and a solid core of hard working team spirited tradesmen who were well directed and all together they built something the whole neighborhood still marvels at 40 years later. If one of them was forgotten about then so were we all.
i would hope that mets management is not so petty as to not mention him , but you would think howie rose the mc would have noticed and said something, as soon as it was over gary cohen mentioned it
Hey conspiracy theorists….call off the dogs. I made a simple, unfortunate mistake. Ken Boswell was very much in the script, right between Art Shamsky and Jack DiLauro. I mistakenly skipped past Boswell after I mentioned Shamsky, and went straight to DiLauro. Don’t look for something that’s not there.
We all cherish Ken Boswell’s contributions to the 1969 team and I said as much when I issued an on air apology on Sunday just prior to the first pitch. Sorry, there’s no dirt here. Just my bad.
Thanks.
H.R.
Howie,
You did a great job as usual being the MC of the 69 Mets celebration. No one loves the Mets and knows more than you about its history. This is not your fault. I think the hostile feelings toward the organization from some of the fans stem from its oversight of Mets history at the new ballpark. Thanks for the explanation you are a stand up guy and the best announcer the Mets have had since Bob Murphy.
Sincerely,
Steve
[...] on Saturday, was not purposely skipped over during the introductions. This story originated on Baseball Digest Magazine. WFAN 66’s Howie Rose had the following to say over at [...]