Blame the lights? Ummm, maybe
Marion Mets Newsletter – Issue 34 (Online exclusive)
In the middle of the 1966 Appalachian League season, the New York Mets promoted their No. 1 draft pick from that year, Steve Chilcott, from Marion to Auburn of the New York-Penn League. One reason New York Mets Vice President Johnny Murphy cited was the poor lighting around Appy League ballparks.
Most of the league’s games, especially on weekdays, were played at night. Some started at 7:45 p.m.
“The visibility is tough,” Murphy told reporters as he spoke about Chilcott’s daytime batting practice performance versus after-sunset plate appearances.
“Batting practice in these games takes place before darkness,” Murphy explained. “At that time, Chilcott would pull the ball as if born to the task. He would rifle shots over the fence.”
However, when Chilcott strolled to the plate under the nightime lights, “his entire swing was out of kilter and he would be hitting bloopers in the opposite direction.”
Chilcott hit just .226 with two extra-base hits in 36 plate appearances in Marion, so it is easy to see why the parent organization would seek to place their prized pick under better lighting at a higher minor league level.
“The company might be tougher,” Murphy said of the New York-Penn League. “But, at least the lights were somewhat better.”
In 79 plate appearances at Aurburn, Chilcotte wilted further under better lighting, hitting just .188. But he did manage to smack one pitch over the fence. That’s one more than Marion fans watched him hit.
So maybe it wasn’t just the lights for Chilcott, who played seven minor league seasons, but none in the majors.
In all fairness to Chilcott, there are tons of stories from minor leaguers at that time struggling with poor lighting in ballparks all across the country, not just in Marion, Virginia. One former ballplayer told me one problem was the light stands just weren’t tall enough.
As a pitcher with the 1965 Marion Mets, Nolan Ryan told me a couple of years ago that lighting wasn’t an issue for him “because I came from a town where the lights were as bad as anybody has ever played under.
“I went to Marion and there didn’t seem to be any problem with the light as far as I was concerned,” he said with a chuckle, likely thinking about how he terrorized hitters with his wild, blazing fastball. “Maybe those college kids [in the Appalachian League] may have thought they [lights] were bad. I don’t know.”
Before you go, this is a reminder that I’m always looking for stories about the Marion Mets. If you were a player, fan, ball boy, concession stand worker… anything… and have a story to share, I’d love to hear from you. You can reach me at chadoz97@gmail.com. Also, if you see something I missed or got wrong, send me a note.
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