The Box Score Project
Welcome to the Box Score Project, my effort to collect newspaper box scores from every single Marion Mets game, from the team’s first season on the diamond in June 1965 to its final contest in late summer 1976.
If my math is correct, that’s 813 box scores covering 12 seasons. Shew, I’m already tired thinking about it.
Collecting that many box scores is a daunting task, for sure, but it will be worth it to help preserve the history of minor league baseball in Marion, Virginia.
To get us going, below is the box score from the Mets’ first game, way back on June 25, 1965, in Johnson City, Tennessee. The game ended in a 9-6 loss for Marion, but as you can see in the box score, a lot happened. (Don’t worry, the Mets won their first home game in Marion the following night in dramatic fashion.)
1965
June 25, 1965 - Marion Mets at Johnson City (Tenn.) Yankees
Yankees 9, Mets 6
June 26, 1965 - Harlan (Ky.) Red Sox at Marion Mets
Mets 6, Red Sox 5
July 10, 1965 - Marion Mets at Salem Rebels
Rebels 7, Mets 2
Why is the box score important? This box score is from Nolan Ryan’s first game pitching for the Marion Mets. Read the story here.
Wait, there’s more: If you’re familiar with Marion Mets history, you likely know the story team president Bob Garnett told for years about Ryan’s first pitching knocking the catcher’s mitt off his hand. Ryan’s first catcher was Louis Williams of Baltimore. Read more about Louis here.
June 27, 1965 - Harlan (Ky.) Red Sox at Marion Mets
Mets 10, Red Sox 2
June 28, 1965 - Bluefield Orioles at Marion Mets
Mets 5, Orioles 2
1966
July 23, 1966 — Marion Mets at Johnson City Yankees
Mets 12, Yankees 8
Why is this box score important? Because Jerry Morales set the Appalachian League on fire with his bat in July 1966, batting a league-leading .345 for the month. The Topps Chewing Gum Company was so impressed that it named Morales one of its top minor league players for July. Morales was given a fancy wristwatch for his timely hitting. In this game in Johnson City, Morales was 3-for-3 at the plate with three RBIs and two runs scored.
1967
June 23, 1967 - Wytheville Reds at Marion Mets
Mets 2, Reds 1
Why is the box score important? The game was the season and home opener for the Marion Mets, the defending Appalachian League champions. Former Major League Baseball player and manager Birdie Tebbetts was Marion’s skipper for the ‘67 season.
1968
July 18, 1968 - Marion Mets at Johnson City (Tenn.) Yankees
Doubleheader
Game 1: Mets 6, Yankees 1
Game 2: Mets 9, Yankees 3
1975
July 1, 1975 - Marion Mets at Elizabethton (Tenn.) Twins
Twins 8, Mets 3
1976
August 11, 1976 - Elizabethton (Tenn.) Twins at Marion Mets
Mets 2, Twins 1
