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Vince Jankoski returns today with an interesting article about a player I’ve never heard of: Canadian-born pitcher Ken MacKenzie. Two things I’ve said many times here on BHCA: One, anyone who makes it to the major leagues is special in our eyes, whether a star or sub; and Two, when you look deep into the career of almost any major leaguer, you’ll invariably find something of interest.
Both of these points come into play today with Vince’s essay calling our attention to the recent passing of Ken MacKenzie who played six seasons in the majors (1960-1965) for the Braves, Met, Cardinals, Giants, and Astros.
And what is the interesting thing I learned about him? Well, without giving it away, I can tell you that he was an original Met; but you’ll have to read Vince’s essay to find out more… -GL
KEN MacKENZIE, RIP
With the passing of baseball greats Brooks Robinson and Frank Howard, it is easy to overlook Ken MacKenzie, who passed away last week at his home in Guilford, Connecticut at the age of 89.
Who was Ken MacKenzie? An original Met, the left-handed pitcher and native of Gore Bay, Ontario, Canada was the only hurler on the 1962 New York Mets’ inaugural season to post a winning record! MacKenzie went 5-4, almost exclusively in relief, for a team that lost 120 games. To put that in perspective, Mets starters that year were Roger Craig (10-24), Al Jackson (8-20), Jay Hook (8-19), and Bob Miller (1-12). Spot starter Craig Anderson was 3-17. MacKenzie’s bullpen mate, Willard Hunter, went 1-6.
But the 6’1”, 185-lb. MacKenzie was no fluke. He did it again the next season with a 3-1 record for a team that lost 111 games and featured starters Craig (5-22), Hook (4-14), Jackson (a respectable 13-17), Tracy Stallard, he who gave up Roger Maris’ 61st home run ball two years prior (6-17), Galen Cisco (7-15), and Carlton Wiley (9-14).
MacKenzie also picked up four saves over those two years before being traded to the Cardinals for Ed Bauta. You gotta’ figure he didn’t really belong on those Mets teams. Having a pitcher who actually won some games would ruin the team’s ambiance! Bauta was a better fit, losing his only two decisions with the Mets.
MacKenzie was a “Yalie,” class of 1956, where he starred in hockey and baseball. Casey Stengel remarked after MacKenzie signed with the Mets:
“He’s a splendid young fella’ with a great education from Yale University. His signing with us makes him the lowest-paid member of Yale, class of ’56!”
We can only wonder what conversations passed between the Yale-educated MacKenzie and Stengel…
The Mets purchased MacKenzie along with Johnny Antonelli prior to the 1962 season. His eight wins over two seasons with the Mets were his only major league victories to go along with ten losses, a 3.89 ERA, 142 strikeouts, and 63 walks.
In retirement, MacKenzie returned in 1969 to – where else? – Yale, to coach baseball and hockey for ten seasons. In August 2022 he attended the Mets’ Old-Timers’ game to celebrate their 60th anniversary. He was one of only six players from that inaugural team in attendance.
So today we bid farewell to a fine pitcher who holds a unique position in Mets’ history as the only winning pitcher from their first two seasons, Ken MacKenzie.
Vince Jankoski
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Nice. 2 things: No 1, I read decades ago that when MacKenzie complained to Stengel that he was the lowest-paid member of his Yale class, Casey replied, “Yeah, but you got the highest ERA.” To that end, here’s a site with quotes/stories about MacKenzie: https://www.ultimatemets.com/profile.php?PlayerCode=0043&tabno=7
No. 2, I studied MacKenzie’s pitching stats years ago and noticed that he became a control specialist late in his career: In ’63, with Mets & Cardinals, he had 48 Ks & 15 BBs. With Tacoma in ’64 he had 60 Ks, 9 BBs. In ’65 with Oklahoma City he had 29 Ks, 7 BBs. And in ’66 with Houston he had 26 Ks, 6 BBs. In that era — before Dennis Eckersley & Greg Maddux — those were excellent numbers. Here’s my source: https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=macken001ken
Thanks David, very interesting!
I remember Ken very well. So sad to hear of his passing. May his soul Rest In Peace.
This really has nothing to do with your excellent article on Ken MacKenzie, who I remember as a good reliever on terrible Mets teams in their first two seasons. My cousin, who I never, met Joe Ginsberg was also a first year Met. I became the most popular kid in North Attleborough, MA when he was traded to the Red Sox in 1961.
But all this aside, did you know that Babe Ruth and a group of major league stars played in an Attleboro/North Attleborough Town Series in 1919/1920?
My grandfather Aaron Karman of North Attleborough, a Russian immigrant and World War I vet who knew next to nothing about baseball then, was one of the “official” score keepers.
If your interested, I posted two article sites:
https://www.nattleboro.com/466/Babe-Ruth-Played-Ball-for-North-Attlebor
https://www.thesunchronicle.com/legends-once-roamed-local-diamonds/article_df444aeb-4675-5039-baaa-b350b5dbad3d.html
Thanks Larry, very interesting. Do you know any more about the “Little World Series” or how they got all those stars to participate?
Yes:
North Attleborough was settled in the 17th century, and was first incorporated as part of Attleboro in 1694. It was separated from Attleboro in 1887, at a time when it was already widely known as a center of the jewelry trade..
Major sports, business and political rivalries have been a feature of the relationship between North Attleborough and Attleboro (Notice the official spelling of North Attleborough)
They were both involved very heavily in the Jewelry trade. Balfour which makes rings for many colleges and high schools as well as championship rings for major professional sports including the Super Bowl is still in Attleboro. Whiting and Davis was just over the North Attleborough town line in Plainville, MA.
Even today the two high schools have very intense sports and academic rivalries. In 1919 money was no object so North Attleborough hired a ringer, Babe Ruth, who I believe was still on the Red Sox. Attleboro, not to be second fiddle and even before North Attleborough won the opener 1-0, went out and got their own major league ringers.
For a few years the Little World Series became a major league all star game.
In 1924 the money ran out and so did the Major Leaguers.
Unfortunately for me Attleboro won more games than North Attleborough.
North Attleborough was a major Massachusetts and National Republican stronghold .Joseph W. Martin Jr, who was the last Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives (1947-1949, 1953-1955) before Newt Gingrich became Speaker in
1995 lived down Grove Street from me.
Baseball was always popular and at one point Gene Hermanski also lived in town.
I also found a more detailed article from Baseball Guru to share with you:
https://baseballguru.com/omi/littleworldseries.htm
Thanks Larry. If you ever want to put together an article about the Little World Series, I’d be glad to post it here.
I think I’ll do some more research and give it a shot’
How would I submit it to you?
Larry
Just send as a Word doc to my email: Livac2@aol.com
Vince, with a fine tribute to KM. And David, Ken and Larry adding stuff you won’t find anywhere but BHCA. Two other names mentioned prompts me to chime in.
Remember MacKenzie well, as a stylish smallish lefty who was always around the plate and didn’t get roughed up too much. As Gary said, anyone who makes the majors is worth talking about.
I warmed up next to Craig Anderson in the gym at Lehigh. His fastball was like a great big runaway freight train barreling downhill. Talk about intimidating! Yet Craig had a 5+ERA with the Mets. Big league hitters are amazing.
I called Gene Hermanski at his home in North Plainfield, NJ when I was with WJDM in Elizabeth and asked him to be on our Viewpoint talk show. Nice guy. We talked for 45 minutes, and I brought up a terrific catch he made at the Polo Grounds against Monte Irvin. Gene said, “Branch Rickey never gave me credit for being a good fielder, but I wasn’t bad.” I can testify to that.
Hermanski’s final words to me were, “You did your homework, I’m proud of you.”
I took that to the bank. In lieu of money, of course.
Thanks Bill…that’s great info and, as you said, “you’ll only find on BHCA!”
I began thinking about it, then looked it up. Ken M. was listed at 6ft. 185. not so “smallish”!
When you’re wrong the best thing to do is get right as quickly as possible, right Gary?
Right…and I can speak from experience!