Former Mets outfielder, 10-year MLB veteran, dies at 84
Larry Stahl, an outfielder who spent two of his 10 seasons in Major League Baseball with the New York Mets, died on March 17. He was 84. MORE: Mets Hall of Famer’s only championship ring sells for $854,122 Stahl played for the Kansas City A’s (1964-66), Mets (1967-68), San Diego Padres (1969-72) and Cincinnati Reds (1973).
He made the only postseason appearance of his career in his final season with the Reds, and collected the final hit of his career in the final inning of the 1973 National League Championship Series. Stahl played all three outfield positions and first base in his career. He retired with a .
232/. 292/. 351 slash line, 36 home runs, and 163 RBIs in 730 career games.
Stahl is perhaps most famous for a single check-swing that led to a historic walk. On Sept. 2, 1972 , Chicago Cubs pitcher Milt Pappas was one out away from a perfect game when Stahl drew a walk with two outs in the ninth inning.
He checked his swing on 3-and-2, according to umpire Bruce Froemming, a call Pappas would later dispute. Pappas retired the next hitter to beat the Padres and record a no-hitter. But Stahl’s fortuitous walk stuck with the pitcher for years afterward.