George Theodore

From The Met Wiki

George Theodore was an outfielder for the Mets in 1973 and 1974. Nicknamed "The Stork", Theodore played in 105 games and batted .219 as a Met. George also appeared in two games of the '73 World Series.

Theodore was drafted by the Mets in 1969. While playing at A-level Visalia in 1971, he had 28 homers and 113 runs batted in on his way to being named named Most Valuable Player of the California League. George spent the 1972 season with the Mets' AAA-level Tidewater team (located in Norfolk, Virginia.)

Theodore served in a utility role for the Mets in their pennant-winning '73 season. George got a double off the Cubs' Burt Hooton for his first major league hit on April 19 at Shea Stadium. On July 4, he hit a three-run homer in the first inning off the Expos' Balor Moore at Montreal. The home run was Theodore's only one of the year.

On July 7, 1973, George was involved in an awful outfield collision with teammate Don Hahn. On a ball hit to left field by the Braves' Ralph Garr, Theodore and Hahn ran into each other. Both players fell to the ground and were removed from the field on stretchers. Garr circled the bases for an inside-the-park home run while George suffered a fractured hip that kept him sidelined for more than ten weeks.

In 1974, Theodore got 12 hits while splitting time between the outfield and first base as a reserve. His only home run of the year was the first of three in a row by the Mets off the Padres' Lowell Palmer in a 10-2 win at San Diego on July 20. George also got a pinch-hit double in a 2-1 Mets loss to the Pirates at Shea on September 27 for his last major league hit.

George played the 1975 season in the minor leagues to conclude his career as a professional player. He went on to become a youth baseball coach and elementary school counselor.