[NU Sports] FW: NU alum/Mets pitcher Jay Hook

[Weinbaum, Willie]

http://m.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/the_rumble_FwEijl9GtjTvEwCmXo1HYO?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=More%20Sports

1st pitch by 1st Amazin’ winner 

There will be two important first pitches Tuesday when the Mets play host to the Cardinals at Digital Domain Park in Port St. Lucie. Johan Santana will take the mound for the first time this spring, but preceding that return, Jay Hook will throw the ceremonial first pitch to his 1962 teammate, Al Jackson. Hook won the first game in Mets history, a 9-1 victory over the Pirates 50 years ago on April 23. He threw a five-hitter and struck out two that day. 

“It’s an honor I’m very proud of, to have the first win in Mets history,” said Hook, now 75. “We lost our first nine games that year, and at times, I didn’t think we’d win any.” 

That first season Hook went 8-19, and Jackson finished 8-20. 

“I never was embarrassed about my record,” said Jackson, 76. “We didn’t win many games that year, but I thought our pitchers did the best we could. If Casey thought I was horrible he would have taken me out of the rotation.”