As a 20-year-old Met rookie in 1965, Swoboda hit a career-high 19 home runs. Though his subsequent career performance was a relative disappointment, he was a key member of the 1969 “Miracle Mets.” He collected half of his 52 RBI in the last five weeks of the season, and hit two home runs to beat Steve Carlton 4-3 the night Carlton struck out 19 (September 15). In Game Four of the World Series, Swoboda’s daring ninth-inning diving catch of Brooks Robinson‘s line drive in right-center field saved the day for New York. A vivacious character with an engaging sense of humor, Swoboda became a sportscaster after his career ended.
