Aug. 5, 1964 - New York Mets owner Mrs. Joan Payson and team president George Weiss denied today a story by the Associated Press that the Met board of directors have decided to replace Casey Stengel as manager after this season.
The story today quoted an unnamed source as saying: “The only thing I can tell you with some degree of definiteness is that Casey will not be with us in 1965.” One thing the story helped accomplish was to make Al Dark and his troubles move over on the sports pages.
The story, by Joe Reichler, said that the club feels it must be developed on the field as well as the box office and that a younger man is needed for Stengel’s job.
The story left the impression that Stengel has his charm but is no longer satisfactory as a field manager.
Mrs. Payson denied it complete. “There’s absolutely nothing to it,” she said.
Later, Weiss issued a prepared statement which read in part: “There has been no discussion as to whether or not Casey will return next year. Casey has always insisted on being free to decide on the following year at the end of the season, and the same procedure will be followed this year.”
Stengel, made aware of the story before tonight’s game, was furious.
“The A.P. is not running my life and Reichler is not running by club,” he said. “Why doesn’t he tell in his article the party who said it? I’d like to see Reichler get me a good outfielder.
“It has always supposed to be in my hands how long I would manager. Tell Reichler I’ll give it [when Stengel will quite managing] to him when it happens — probably last.”
Stengel was still hopping mad when Reichler approached him on the bench and put an arm around Casey’s shoulder shortly before the game.
“I just wanted to explain,” Reichler said, “that I didn’t say you’d be fired. I said you would be replaced.”
Casey’s old back stiffened, and he said: “Get off my back. I’m glad you’re married to me now. I’ll divorce my wife.”
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