Winter Haven Mets

• Location: Winter Haven, FL
• League: Florida State League 1967
• Affiliation: New York Mets 1967
• Ballpark:

In 1967 the Winter Haven Sun Sox were renamed the Winter Haven Mets after the New York Mets became the parent club for the Winter Haven, FL entry in the Florida State League. The Mets were an amazing 94-46, but the St. Petersburg Cardinals were even better and beat them for the western division title by two and a half games - no other team was within 27. Managed by Pete Pavlick, Winter Haven outscored their opponents 545-390 and allowed the fewest runs in the league. All-Stars were 1B Mike Jorgensen (.295/~.353/.407, 19 steals in 22 tries) and pitcher Ron Paul (17-4, 1.74), who was third in the league in ERA and led in wins. Finishing fifth in ERA was Ed Figueroa (12-5, 2.05). Other fine hurlers included Dick Noe (13-7, 1.37), Steve Renko (8-1, 1.61), Dennis Musgraves (6-3, 1.87) and Jerry Bark (13-5, 2.01). The moundsman who went on to the finest career, though, would be Nolan Ryan (one run in four innings, five Ks, one hit, two walks, two wild pitches). Renko even played some first base, hitting .218/~.290/.365 with 8 homers to tie for the team lead with OF Jerry Morales (.248/~.332/.373, 27 steals in 31 tries, 14 triples). The prominent prospect was C Steve Chilcott, the #1 draft pick a year earlier. He hit .290/~.370/.467 and led FSL catchers in fielding (.991). He would have ranked 4th in the league in average had he been among the qualifiers. The other big name in this team loaded with abnormal talent for class A was OF Ken Singleton. Singleton hit .277/~.454/.388 with 26 steals and led the FSL with 87 walks in only 102 games.

The Winter Haven Mets only existed one year, but what a year it had been.

Source: 1968 Baseball Guide

Year-by-Year Record

Year	Record	Finish	Manager	Playoffs
1967	94-46	2nd	Pete Pavlick