1969 Topps Steve Shea Could See It Coming

How did the Mets miss out on this guy?

The 1969 Topps Steve Shea rookie card (#499) is nothing if not misleading.

We’ll get into all that here in a minute, but first let’s take a look at the thing:

So you see the problem right off the bat, right?

This isn’t really a Steve Shea rookie card. It’s a Don Bryant and Steve Shea rookie card.

The next thing is … well, I mean, wouldn’t you expect Steve Shea to pitch for the New York Mets. You know, like, at Shea Stadium?

I would. And it’s hard to fathom why the Gothams didn’t make that happen.

But after his debut season in 1968, Shea did catch the eye of the expansion Montreal Expos, who purchased his contract in April of 1969.

On April 9, in the Expos’ second game ever, Shea got the call when Montreal’s opponent chased starter Bill Stoneman after he faced seven batters in the first inning.

Shea retired the next two batters, on a strikeout and flyball to right field, to end the inning.

Alas, Shea’s slot in the batting order came up in the second inning, and manager Gene Mauch lifted him for pinch hitter Ty Cline.

The Expos lost that game, 9-5.

Shea would go on to appear in nine more games by the end of May. The ‘Spos lost them all en route to a 52-110 inaugural record.

Meanwhile, Shea headed to Triple-A Vancouver at the start of June … and never made it back to an MLB diamond.

After two more seasons in Montreal’s minor league system, Shea was done, hanging up his spikes with a 4-4 record, 3.22 ERA, and 6 saves in 40 big league appearances.

What’s that? You wanna know who the Expos played on April 9, 1969?

Well, the New York Mets, of course.

In Flushing.

At Shea Stadium.

If only Steve could have stayed put and enjoyed a match made in baseball heaven.