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Felix Millan best hitter on the 1973 Mets

Felix Millan best hitter on the 1973 Mets

NEW YORK — Yes, the 1973 Mets had a great pitching staff led by Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman and Jon Matlack. On offense, New York’s MVP that year was a second baseman named Felix Millan, and what a year he had to help the club make it to the World Series against the Athletics.

The team was hit by the injury bug, as key players like Cleon Jones, Bud Harrelson and Jerry Grote missed significant time. Millan led the team in games played (153) and batting average (.290) and finished fifth in Wins Above Replacement (3.2, per Baseball Reference).

“I thank God I didn’t have injuries like my teammates. I loved to play. I wanted to be on the field every day,” Millan said via telephone. “God kept me healthy to play in New York.”

Millan accomplished so much with an unorthodox batting stance. He choked up on the bat and held his hands near the trademark. Let’s not forget that he was smooth at second base, turning double plays with Harrelson and making spectacular diving plays. 

Millan said he never would have had a productive career if not for Hub Kittle, who managed Millan when both were with Class A Yakima in 1965. Millan was in a serious slump and his hands were placed near the knob of the bat. It was Kittle who made the suggestion to choke up, and the rest is history.

After he perfected his swing, Millan was in the big leagues by 1966 for the Braves. His first roommate was Hank Aaron, who went to Braves traveling secretary Donald Davidson and insisted that Millan stay with Hammerin’ Hank at the hotels. All Aaron did was show Millan the ropes on and off the field, and it paid off for Millan during his 12 years in the big leagues.      

“He took me under his wing,” Millan recalled. “Everything he did, he did it to help me.”

Millan had five productive years in New York from 1973-77. He only hit eight home runs, but he batted .278 with 182 RBIs and struck out 92 times in 2,954 plate appearances. Millan often hit near the top of the order while playing for the Mets. All he wanted to do was get hits and advance the runners, which he did successfully.     

There was a reason Millan was productive for the Mets. When the Braves traded him and left-hander George Stone to New York for right-handers Gary Gentry and Danny Frisella on Nov. 2, 1972, Millan celebrated and felt he was going home because there were a lot of Puerto Ricans living in New York. 

“I was happy. I play baseball for my people,” Millan said. “ [Being Puerto…

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