Dave Mlicki Remembers his Subway Series Shutout
By Jay Horwitz
Even though he is vacationing with his family in Europe, Dave Mlicki will be laser focused on what goes on at Citi Field this Tuesday and Wednesday, when the Mets and Yankees open up the first installment of this year’s Subway Series.
It was on June 16, 1997, that Mlicki hurled a complete game, 6–0 shutout with eight strikeouts in the first ever Subway Series game at Yankee Stadium. Dave is still the only Mets pitcher to hurl a complete game shutout against the Yankees.
“It was without a doubt the best game of my life,” he told me. “I love baseball history and I knew this would be an historic night. I get most of the credit for the win but it was really a team effort.”
Mlicki credits his catcher Todd Hundley with calling a great game, and he was backed up in the field by superb plays by third baseman Matt Franco and left fielder Bernard Gilkey.
The Mets jumped out to a 3–0 lead in the first inning. First baseman John Olerud knocked in three of the runs for Bobby Valentine’s team.
“No one gave us much of a chance,” Dave went on. “After all, they were the defending world champs. They had over 56,000 fans and it was all about the Yankees when I took the mound the first time. Thankfully, Mets fans had a chance to cheer at the end.”
Naturally, Dave will be pulling for his old club this week and when they meet again July 23–24 at Yankee Stadium.
“Looking back I am glad I was part of the first game,” he concluded. “ That’s something that I can always be proud of.”
