1962 04-11 Mets at Cardinals

This episode of the Thomas Paine Podcast presents a live radio broadcast of the New York Mets' inaugural National League game on April 11, 1962, against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Hosted by Bob Murphy, Lindsey Nelson, and Ralph Kiner, the broadcast captures the historic moment as the Mets, a newly expanded team, make their debut in the NL after a four-year absence from New York. The Cardinals jump to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, with Stan Musial driving in the first run. The Mets respond in the third inning with their first-ever run, powered by Charlie Neal’s RBI single, and tie the game at 2-2 on a sacrifice fly by Frank Thomas. Gil Hodges then hits the Mets’ first home run in franchise history, giving them a 5-3 lead. However, the Cardinals rally in the sixth inning, scoring four runs to take a 9-4 lead, with key contributions from Musial, Boyer, and Kurt Flood. The Mets manage a brief late surge, with two more home runs from Hodges and Neal, but the Cardinals ultimately win 11-4. The broadcast is rich with nostalgic commentary, sponsor plugs for Rheingold Extra Dry beer, and detailed play-by-play of the game’s pivotal moments, including the first hits, runs, and home runs in Mets history. The episode ends with the team preparing to return to New York for a ticker-tape parade and their home opener against the Pirates.