The Cocoa Mets were a

minor league baseball Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is a professional baseball organization below Major League Baseball (MLB), constituted of teams affiliated with MLB clubs. It was founded on September 5, 1901, in response to the growing dominance of the National Le ...

team based in

Cocoa, Florida Cocoa is a city in Brevard County, Florida. Its population was 19,041 at the 2020 United States census, up from 17,140 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Palm Bay, Florida, Palm Bay–Melbourne, Florida, Melbourne–Titusville, Flori ...

in 1964. The Cocoa Mets played exclusively as members of the four–team

Rookie A rookie is a person new to an occupation, profession, or hobby. In sports, a ''rookie'' is a professional athlete in their first season (or year). In contrast with a veteran who has experience, a rookie is typically considered needing more tra ...

level Cocoa Rookie League, placing second in the league standings, with all league games played at the

Cocoa Expo Sports Center Coastal Florida Sports Park (formerly known as Cocoa Expo Sports Center) is a multi-sport complex located in Cocoa, Florida. Coastal Florida facilities include outdoor baseball, football, soccer and lacrosse fields, an indoor multipurpose fiel ...

. The Cocoa Mets were a minor league affiliate of the

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National ...

in 1964.

History

The Cocoa Rookie League began play in the 1964 season, with all games based in Cocoa, Florida. The Cocoa "Mets" became members of the four–team

level Cocoa Rookie League. The Cocoa Colts, Cocoa Tigers and Melbourne Twins joined the Mets in the four–team league, beginning play on July 1, 1964. On July 3, 1964, Cocoa Met pitcher

Tug McGraw Frank Edwin "Tug" McGraw Jr. (August 30, 1944 – January 5, 2004) was an American professional baseball relief pitcher. McGraw played in 19 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), from 1965 to 1984, for the New York Mets and Philadelphia Philli ...

threw a 7–inning

no-hitter In baseball, a no-hitter or no-hit game is a game in which a team does not record a hit (baseball), hit through conventional methods. Major League Baseball (MLB) officially defines a no-hitter as a completed game in which a team that batted in ...

in his professional debut. McGraw defeated the Cocoa Colts 4–0 in the victory. In their only season of play, the Cocoa Mets placed second in the Cocoa Rookie League final standings. With a record of 28–22, playing under manager Ken Deal, the Mets finished 5.0 games the first place Melbourne Twins (34–18) in the final regular season standings. Cocoa Met player Al Yates led the Cocoa Rookie League with 31 RBI, while Yates and teammate John Agnetti tied with Gerald Lyscio of the Twins for the league lead with 2 home runs each. The complex–based Mets and other Cocoa Rookie League teams charged fans no admission to games and individual attendance records were not kept, as the league drew a total of 1,683 fans for the season.Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, eds., ''The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 3rd ed.''

Durham, North Carolina Durham ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Durham County, North Carolina, Durham County. Small portions of the city limits extend into Orange County, North Carolina, Orange County and Wake County, North Carol ...

Baseball America ''Baseball America'' (BA) is a sports publication company that covers baseball at every level, including Major League Baseball (MLB), with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in Minor League Baseball (MiLB) college, high school, and inte ...

, 2007, page 527 The Cocoa Rookie League did not return to play in 1965. The next season, Cocoa, Florida hosted the

Cocoa Astros The Cocoa Astros were a professional minor league baseball team in the Florida State League (FSL), as a Class A level affiliate with the Houston Astros from 1965–72 and 1977. The team played at the Astros' spring training facility. The first ...

, who began play as members of the 1965 Class A level

Florida State League The Florida State League (FSL) is a Minor League Baseball league based in the state of Florida. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 until its demotion to Single-A following ...

The ballparks

The Cocoa Rookie League teams played games at the

Year–by–year record

Notable alumni

* Jim Bethke (1964) * Kevin Collins (1964) * Ken Deal (1964, MGR) *

(1964)

New York Mets Hall of Fame The New York Mets Hall of Fame was created in order to recognize the careers of former New York Mets players, managers, broadcasters and executives. There are presently 30 members. Originally located in the Diamond Club at Shea Stadium, the ind ...

* Al Yates (1964) * Cocoa Rookie League Mets players

References

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External references

Cocoa - Baseball Reference
Defunct minor league baseball teams Baseball teams established in 1964 Baseball teams disestablished in 1964 Defunct baseball teams in Florida New York Mets minor league affiliates Cocoa, Florida