1966 05-13 Giants at Mets

The Thomas Paine Podcast presents a riveting, multi-chunk retrospective of a legendary 17-inning National League showdown between the San Francisco Giants and the New York Mets on May 13, 1966, at Shea Stadium. The game, broadcast with rich, immersive detail, began with the Giants riding an 11-game winning streak and the Mets fighting for playoff positioning. Early momentum swung to the Mets when rookie Billy Murphy launched a three-run home run in the fourth inning—his first major league hit—after Jim Hickman’s dislocated wrist injury led to his replacement and the debut of the young outfielder. The Giants responded with a seven-inning rally, including a pivotal home run by Willie Mays in the eighth that tied the game at 4-4. The contest stretched into extra innings, with both bullpens demonstrating elite composure and endurance. After 16 scoreless frames, the Giants broke through in the 17th inning when Jim Davenport hit a solo home run off Dave Eilers, giving them a 5-4 lead. The Mets failed to answer in the bottom half, as Johnny Stevenson struck out and Petope Wendays made the final catch in shallow center field to seal the victory. The game, played before a packed crowd of over 56,000, became a defining moment in the Mets-Giants rivalry, showcasing the physical and emotional toll of marathon baseball and the power of clutch performances under pressure.