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Ronald Alan Swoboda
New York Mets
Outfield
Born: June 30, 1944, Baltimore, MD
Signed: Signed by the New York Mets as an amateur free agent, September 5, 1963
Major League Teams: New York Mets 1965-70; Montreal Expos 1971; New York Yankees 1971-73
World Series Appearances: New York Mets 1969
Ron Swoboda is best remembered for his role on the 1969 Miracle Mets, and his amazing diving catch in Game 4 of the 1969 World Series off the bat of Brooks Robinson (#550) that helped thwart an Orioles rally. Swoboda played in six seasons with the Mets, often struggling defensively, but delivering clutch hits when most needed. His best season came before his heroics in the postseason, when he batted .242 with 11 home runs and a career-high 59 RBIs in 1968. In his nine-year career with the Mets, Expos and Yankees, he hit .242 with 73 home runs and 344 RBIs.
Ron Swoboda is best remembered for his role on the 1969 Miracle Mets, and his amazing diving catch in Game 4 of the 1969 World Series off the bat of Brooks Robinson (#550) that helped thwart an Orioles rally. Swoboda played in six seasons with the Mets, often struggling defensively, but delivering clutch hits when most needed. His best season came before his heroics in the postseason, when he batted .242 with 11 home runs and a career-high 59 RBIs in 1968. In his nine-year career with the Mets, Expos and Yankees, he hit .242 with 73 home runs and 344 RBIs.
Some text for this post originally appeared on my 1965 Topps blog.
Building the Set / Card #493
December 15, 2024 from The Philly Show (Uncle Dick's Cards)
On Sunday, December 15th, Doug and I attended the latest Philly Show, spaciously spread out inside Hall A of the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania. I wrote a full show report over at The Phillies Room, including some thoughts on attending the show with our oldest son, who first graced the Philly Show floors back in 2012.
The Card / Mets Team Set / Accuracy Index +5
1969 Season
In 109 games during the regular season, Swoboda batted .235 with nine home runs and 52 RBIs. He started 86 games for the Mets, including 70 in right field and 16 in left field. No one else started more games in right than Swoboda. He hit a clutch grand slam against the Pirates on September 13th during the heat of the pennant race and on September 15th, Swoboda hit two home runs off Cardinals' pitcher Steve Carlton (#255) to send the Mets to a 4-3 victory. Carlton struck out 19 batters in a losing effort because of Swoboda's blasts.
December 15, 2024 from The Philly Show (Uncle Dick's Cards)
On Sunday, December 15th, Doug and I attended the latest Philly Show, spaciously spread out inside Hall A of the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania. I wrote a full show report over at The Phillies Room, including some thoughts on attending the show with our oldest son, who first graced the Philly Show floors back in 2012.
Having had success the prior two shows at Uncle Dick's Cards with his well-organized, neon common binders, I opted to pull up a chair once again at the friendly dealer's array of tables. The aim was simple: Clear out Uncle Dick's 1969 Topps commons, starting off where I had left off the year before with card #501 and going through the end of the set, card #664. In less than 25 minutes, I completed my quest, and this is the 49th of 98 commons pulled from the binder. After a generous dealer discount due to my bulk purchase, this card cost me less than two dollars.
The Card / Mets Team Set / Accuracy Index +5
This could be a fairly old picture of Swoboda, and it's possible it's from the same session as the photo used for his rookie card. Baseball Reference shows he wore #4 with the Mets between 1966 and 1970, and he wore #14 in his first season, 1965. It sure looks as if that's a #1 peaking out on the front of Swoboda's jersey, meaning the photo would be four years old. His single to break up Mike Kekich's (#262) no-hitter on August 4, 1968 is referenced on the back. Kekich and the Dodgers would still win the game, 2-0, as the pitcher threw a one-hitter. Swoboda's 59 RBIs did indeed lead the Mets in 1968, with Cleon Jones (#512) taking the second spot with 55 RBIs.
Accuracy Index: The photo may be old, but the card still rates a +5.
1969 Season
In 109 games during the regular season, Swoboda batted .235 with nine home runs and 52 RBIs. He started 86 games for the Mets, including 70 in right field and 16 in left field. No one else started more games in right than Swoboda. He hit a clutch grand slam against the Pirates on September 13th during the heat of the pennant race and on September 15th, Swoboda hit two home runs off Cardinals' pitcher Steve Carlton (#255) to send the Mets to a 4-3 victory. Carlton struck out 19 batters in a losing effort because of Swoboda's blasts.
He didn't appear in the NLCS, but batted .400 (6 for 15) in the World Series against the Orioles. His only RBI in the series was the game-winning RBI in the decisive Game 5.
Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card: 1965 Topps #533
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (9): 1965-73
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2018 Topps Heritage Miracle of '69 #MO69-RS
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 113 in the Beckett online database as of 4/28/25.
Sources:
Baseball Reference / SABR / Wikipedia
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First Mainstream Card: 1965 Topps #533
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (9): 1965-73
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2018 Topps Heritage Miracle of '69 #MO69-RS
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 113 in the Beckett online database as of 4/28/25.
Sources:
Baseball Reference / SABR / Wikipedia
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