National League Standings, July 4, 1978
METS FANS SHARE THEIR MEMORIES OF THE JULY 4, 1978 GAME:
Joe Konopacki
June 13, 2002
This was the first grand slam I ever saw the Mets hit. Lee Mazzilli hit one in the bottom of the 8th on a 3-2 pitch. I was 9.
Tim Cronin
June 28, 2005
It was a very chilly night for July 4. It was a twi-night double-header, my Uncle Pete and I (he who gave me the gift of being a Mets fan) attended the game together. We sat in out usual seats, Section 3, mezzanine, behind the plate. I bet you they cost no more than seven bucks at the time.
I remember the first game vividly. The Mets loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth and the count went to 3-0 on Mazzilli. I remember turning to my Uncle and saying, "C'mon Maz, just take a pitch here." I'm cloudy as to if it was the 3-0 pitch he pulled out to Rightfield, but I am quite sure it was on a 3 ball count. It was always so vital to the psyche, to win the first game of a doubleheader. I can still see Lee Mazzilli with his fist up in the air as he circled the bases.
The second game the Mets lost late 3-2, and once again if memory serves correctly, none other than Tim McCarver had a big hit; I want to say a two run homer that was the difference in that game.
There were no fireworks after the game, I don't think the Grucci tradition had stsrted yet and or they had the fireworks on a different night.
Bob P
July 8, 2005
Tim Cronin, the earlier memory of this game by Jim Konopacki is correct. It was actually the bottom of the eighth when Mazz hit the grand slam.
As for game two, it was Jose Cardenal--pinch hitting for Bud Harrelson--who hit a 2-run homer in the top of the ninth off Craig Swan to give the Phils the split.
Christopher Hagee
October 23, 2008
My most notable memory of the first game of this July 4 (Independence Day) twi-night DH in the 1978 season was at its outset when a lady named Kathy Krems sang the "Star-Spangled Banner" at the outset, and boy, did she sing a high note late in the performance. She would also sing the "S.S.B." at the outset of the 1st game of the N.L.C.S. between the Astros and Phillies in Philadelphia at the conclusion of the 1980 season as she also delivered that same high note late in that performance. The Phillies would would that nail-biting N.L.C.S. 3 games to 2 and would go on the beat the Royals 4 games to 2 in the 77th World Series to become Major Leasgue Baseball's world champions for that 1980 season.
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