Apr. 21, 1963 - The most glorious hour in the Mets’ brief history arrived at 8:14 p.m. tonight. At that moment, they completed their fourth straight victory by putting away a doubleheader triumph, 8-5 and 9-2, against the Milwaukee Braves. In doing so, Casey Stengel’s men endeared themselves forever to the 26,775 overjoyed fans at the Polo Grounds. Never before had these fledglings of the major leagues managed to win four games in a row. And never before had they turned in such heroics as they did in sweeping a four-game series from the Braves this weekend. Jim Hickman hit a grand slam in the eighth inning of the first game to win that contest. Duke Snider doubled home the tying runs in the sixth inning of the second game and then scored on Ed Kranepool’s single as the Mets took a lead they never gave up. Hickman, Snider, and Kranepool were the heroes, but any Met could have had keys to the city tonight if it had been in the fans’ power to so honor them. After all, the Mets had just climbed out of last place in the league for the first time since May 24, 1962. They are now in ninth place, four games behind the league-leading Giants. “This was really fabulous,” said a tired but happy Duke Snider in the Mets dressing room. “As I’ve said before, we’ll make a few of them cry before this year is over. These players now have real desire.” “A great thrill to win this series,” said another ex-Dodger, Gil Hodges, who got his name in the box score only as a ninth-inning defensive specialist. “I don’t ever remember seeing such fans, even in Brooklyn. One hit and they start yelling. They never let up, and they never leave early, even when it’s cold.” Stengel, who had to be happiest of all after the miracle, kept repeating one word. “Amazing…amazing…amazing,” chanted Casey. “Now we’re doing everything right. Just like down south, when I kept saying this was a much better team than last year. You see?”
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