Thursday Trade Tracker: Chicago White Sox. Cleon, J.C., Nemo, and the Most Hits in a Game That You Didn't Start.

The history between the Mets and White Sox includes World Champions, Hall of Famers, and key bench pieces. However, the most interesting transactions weren't exactly between the teams, but players who signed with one or the other.

The most impactful deal between the two, the Tommie Agee deal, was previously detailed in another piece on December trades. Tom Seaver famously was claimed by the White Sox in 1984, as compensation for losing Dennis Lamp to free agency. The Mets and Frank Cashen foolishly believed no one would claim a 39-year-old pitcher. They were wrong. Seaver was more than an aging pitcher. He was still a legend who won 15 and 16 games the next two seasons, pitching over 236 innings each year! Highlights include Tom winning two games in one night - A 25-inning game in relief followed by the regularly scheduled game (8.1 innings). To add insult to injury, Tom won his 300th game in Yankee Stadium for the White Sox! (Yes, your friendly neighborhood writer...Gump of the Mets...was there.) Thanks, Dad, for getting those tickets. He used to get Mets tickets at Howard's Clothing on Fordham Road. Does anyone else remember this?

July 16, 1985. Mets get OF/1B Tom Paciorek for 3B Dave Cochrane.

Dave Cochrane was one of those minor league names that Met fans would drool over. The promise of stars of the future arriving shortly at Shea! He hit over 20 homers in his first three minor league seasons, including a 102 RBI year in Lynchburg in 1983. You rarely if ever see stats like that today in the minors. He wound up playing 218 nondescript games with Seattle and Chicago.

Paciorek played 18 years in the majors, hitting .282 for his career. It was highlighted by his strike-shortened 1981 season in Seattle when he hit .326 with his only All-Star appearance. He holds the Major League record for most hits in a game he didn't start. He went 5-9 in that 25 inning game previously mentioned! (Don't you love baseball?). He had replaced Ron Kittle in the fourth inning. Paciorek hit .284 in 116 Mets at-bats.

Ever hear the story about his brother John? John Paciorek played only one game for Houston in 1963. He went 3-3 with 2 walks. Injuries stopped his career right there. He is the only Major Leaguer with a 1.000 average in more than two at-bats. He became a gym teacher. Ever hear the joke about "Those who can't do, teach?" Well, the joke became "Those who can't teach, teach gym." Sorry, all my gym teacher colleagues.

TEACHER SAYS B. Paciorek had some big hits for the 85 Mets. Can you name any?

March 30, 1985. Mets get LHP Randy Niemann for two minor leaguers.

Nemo is a trivia answer. The 6 foot 4 lefty was the last man in the bullpen for the 1986 Champions. He pitched 31 games for the Mets, including one start. In 36 innings, he pitched to a 3.79 ERA. He was one of two players who were on the roster, but never appeared in one game in the 1986 post-season. Not even in all of those crazy extra inning games. Poor Randy was further insulted that Davey Johnson had Doug Sisk warming up for Game 6 if the game remained tied. Who was the other Met to not appear? Backup catcher Ed Hearn.

Randy was a decent hitter for a short reliever, going 8-30 (.267) in his career. At least we get to see him every 10 years when the Mets honor the Champions!

TEACHER SAYS A. If you are a member of a Championship team, you did good.

April 23, 1964. Mets get 3B Charley Smith for SS Chico Fernandez.

Third base was forever a dead end in early Mets history, Smith was one of their best in the 60s. in 1964, his 20 homers were a career best and he led the Mets. His 58 RBI were second on the team to Joe Christopher. The next year, he led the Mets with 62 RBI. Will that be the second highest total on the 2026 Mets? Soto had better top that nominal amount.

After the season, he and pitcher Al Jackson were traded to the Cardinals for former MVP Ken Boyer.

TEACHER SAYS A. Fernandez, who had played over 800 games in the majors, did not play after this trade.

July 22, 1967. Mets get C J.C. Martin and INF Bill Southworth for INF Sandy Alomar Sr and 3B Ken Boyer.

Joseph Clifton Martin, one of the oldest living Mets at 89, played over 900 games, mostly with the White Sox. He was the backup catcher for the Mets in 1968 and the magical 1969. He only had one plate appearance in the 1969 World Series and it was of the best remembered.

In Game 4, with the game tied 1-1 in the bottom of the tenth and pinch-runner Rod gaspaon second, Martin hit for pitcher Seaver. Martin bunted (Do you recall this baseball strategy, Mr. Mendoza?) and was hit on the arm by pitcher Pete Richert's errant throw. Gaspar scored the winning run. The Orioles felt Martin interfered with the throw by running inside the baseline. The umpires disagreed, although replays show he did. As a result of this play, a running lane was added to all major league fields.

Alomar became a star for the Angels and he was a regular with the 1975 Yankees. As a Met? 0-22! Boyer had little left.

TEACHER SAYS C. Alomar was quite valuable, but Martin helped the Mets win it all!

July 27, 1975. Mets release OF Cleon Jones.

April 3, 1976. White Sox sign OF Cleon Jones.

May 2, 1976. White Sox release OF Cleon Jones.

Cleon is 5th all-time in games played and at-bats for the Mets. He is 9th in runs scored, RBI, and total bases, 4th in hits, and 8th in times on base. He is in the Mets Hall of Fame. He caught the last out of the 1969 World Series. When asked, he always replies that he said, "Come on down, baby!"

Jones hit .340 in 1969, finishing third in the NL behind Pete Rose and Roberto Clemente. He was 5th in on base percentage, with and incredible .422. He was 9th in OPS+, behind 5 Hall of Famers, Jimmy Wynn, and two more that need to be in the Hall, Rose and Rusty Staub. (Disagee? Tell me in the comments!)

In the final Game 5 of the 69 Series, the Mets were down 3-0 when Cleon was hit in the foot with a pitch. The umpires disagreed, but manager Gil Hodges showed that the ball had shoe polish on it and Jones was awarded first base. World Series MVP Donn Clendenon homered next and the Mets were rolling. After an Al Weis homer tied the game, Cleon led off the 8th with a double that missed going out by inches, and scored on Rocky Swoboda's double to give the Mets the lead they would not give up. No chance tough Jerry Koosman was coming out of the game or giving up the ball.

Overall, Jones hit .284 in 81 post-season at bats (including .353 in NLCS play).

Unfortunately, the "Van" incident in 1975 led to the end of his Mets career. At 5:00 AM on May 4th during an extended spring training for an injured knee, the 32-year old Jones was arrested and charged with indecent exposure. He was found asleep with 21-year old Sharon Sabol, where Cleon was reported to be only wearing his socks. Sabol was also charged with marijuana possession. In Jones's recent book, "Coming Home", he tells his side of the story, where he didn't know the young woman, was simply giving her a ride ride home in a borrowed vehicle. The car ran out of gas and they fell asleep, fully clothed. (What do you remember about the incident? Do you believe Cleon?). The charges were later dropped.

The Mets forced him to apologize during a public press conference, humiliating him with his wife by his side. The Mets fined Jones $2,000, many times more than the highest Mets fine. Cleon and Angela are still married, almost 51 years to the day later.

Jones only played 12 games with the 1976 White Sox. This always reminded me of when the Mets released Jogging George Foster on August 7, 1986. Foster signed with the White Sox on September 7, 1986, playing only 15 games with the ChiSox.

TEACHER SAYS...two grades. B+ for Cleon as a Met. F for the embarrassment of the Van Incident, continuing a long list of Mets embarrassments (Right, Mr. Stearns?)

Other interesting names in Mets - White Sox transaction history: Claudell Washington, Roberto Alomar, Timo Perez, Ramon Castro, Luis Robert, Jr., and LuisAngel Acuna.