Mike Vail

From The Met Wiki

Mike Vail was an outfielder for the Mets from 1975 to 1977. He batted .262 with 11 home runs and 61 runs batted in during his time in New York. Vail played in a total of 199 games with the Mets.

Vail's career started with a bang in 1975. Called up from the AAA Tidewater Tides in August, Mike embarked on a 23-game hitting streak to tie Cleon Jones' Mets' team record. The streak began with two singles in the Mets' 6-4 win at San Francisco on August 22 and continued until September 15 with a pair of singles against the Expos in a 3-2 Mets' win at Shea Stadium. It ended in the Mets' 4-3 win over Montreal in 18 innings on September 16, a game in which Mike failed to extend the streak despite having seven at bats. For the '75 season, Vail had a .302 batting average.

In 1976, Mike was on the disabled list with a fractured foot until June 15. He played in only 53 games and got 31 hits with 9 RBIs. He appeared in 108 games in 1977, batting .262 for the year. On July 15, 1977, Vail had a home run and three singles as the Mets defeated the Pirates, 6-1, at Shea Stadium.

Vail was sold to the Cleveland Indians on March 26, 1978. He also played for the Cubs, Reds, Expos, Giants and Dodgers until his retirement in 1984.

Notes

• Vail was the Mets' first player ever whose surname began with the letter V.