Dec. 11, 1962 - The New York Mets today acquired Tracy Stallard, a right-handed pitcher who threw a historic home run ball (pictured); Pumpsie Green, an infielder who took a not-so-historical trip, and another player from the Boston Red Sox for infielder Felix Mantilla. Mantilla, who batted .275 for the Mets last season with 11 home runs and 59 runs batted in, appears destined for a utility role with the Red Sox. On Oct. 1, 1961, Stallard served the pitch that Roger Maris walloped for his record 61st home run. Green batted .231 for Boston this year. In mid-season, after a weekend of humiliating losses to the Yankees, Green and pitcher Gene Conley got off the team bus in the middle of a traffic jam in New York. Conley was spotted hree days later by a New York Post reporter at Idlewild Airport trying to board a plane for Israel, with no passports or luggage. Pumpsie, on the other hand, showed up for the next game in Washington. He apologized but offered no explanation for his behavior.
