The New York Mets have a treasure chest of memories, moments, and merriment—Tom Seaver winning the National League Cy Young Award three times, Mr. Met serving as the first three-dimensional mascot for Major League Baseball, and the 1969 Mets performing a baseball miracle by beating the vaunted Baltimore Orioles in the World Series.
One of the greatest achievements in Mets history isn’t in a box score nor is it in the team’s record books. On June 27, 1967, the Pittsburgh Pirates played the Mets at Shea Stadium. Bill Mazeroski, the Pirates’ star of the 1960 World Series, hit into a triple play. Sort of.
“The triple play, filmed just before the start of the regularly scheduled Mets-Pirates game, was staged for a scene in Paramount Pictures’ ‘The Odd Couple,’ the film adaptation of Mr. [Neil] Simon’s Broadway comedy about a couple of grass widowers,” explained Vincent Canby in the next day’s edition of the New York Times.
The grass widowers are New Yorkers—sports writer Oscar Madison and television news writer Felix Unger. Oscar’s apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan is a sanctuary for Felix after Mrs. Unger says that she wants a divorce. Heartbroken, Felix finds emotional support from his poker buddies—along with Oscar, there is Murray, Roy, Speed, and Vinnie. Oscar, already divorced, understands his friend’s predicament. So, the two become roommates. But empathy for a poker buddy does not translate to a good roommate relationship. Oscar is sloppy, carefree, and disorganized. Felix is neat, budget-conscious, and fussy.
Simon added the Shea Stadium scene and others to give an authentic New York City flavor to the film version of The Odd Couple. It highlights the difference between Oscar and Felix. During the top of the ninth inning of a Mets vs. Pirates game, the visitors trail by one run with the bases loaded and Bill Mazeroski at bat. Because he is making franks and beans for dinner, Felix calls Oscar in the press box to instruct him to avoid eating frankfurters at the ballpark. During the phone call, Oscar misses Mazeroski hitting into a 5-4-3 triple play.
Walter Matthau played Oscar, a natural fit as he originated the role on Broadway with Art Carney as Felix. Jack Lemmon played Felix in the film. It’s one of several starring Matthau and Lemmon.
The actual Mets vs. Pirates game resulted in a 5-2 Mets victory.
A version of this article appeared on www.thesportspost.com on August 31, 2013.