The Cocoa Mets were a minor league baseball team based in

Cocoa, Florida Cocoa is a city in Brevard County, Florida. The population was 19,041 at the 2020 United States Census. It is part of the Palm Bay–Melbourne– Titusville Metropolitan Statistical Area. History Etymology Several stories circulate am ...

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 and expertise, a rookie is usually inexperienced ...

level

Cocoa Rookie League The Cocoa Rookie League, based in Cocoa and Melbourne, Florida, was an American minor professional baseball league that operated for one season, . One of the first spring training-complex-based circuits, it was graded at the Rookie-league level ...

, placing 2nd 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, where athletes of all levels can practice and play in facilities fit for the pros and improve their ability to compete ...

. 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 New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major leagu ...

in 1964.

History

The

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

level

. The Cocoa Colts,

Cocoa Tigers The Cocoa Tigers were a minor league baseball team based in Cocoa, Florida in the 1964 season. The Cocoa Tigers played exclusively as members of the four–team Rookie level Cocoa Rookie League, with all league games played at the Cocoa Expo Sport ...

and

Melbourne Twins The Melbourne Twins were a minor league baseball team based in Melbourne, Florida, that played in the 1964 and seasons. The Melbourne Twins played as members of the Rookie level Cocoa Rookie League in 1964 and Florida East Coast League in 1 ...

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 and long-time Major League Baseball (MLB) player, often remembered for coining the phrase "Ya Gotta Believe", which became th ...

threw a 7–inning

no-hitter In baseball, a no-hitter is a game in which a team was not able to record a hit. Major League Baseball (MLB) officially defines a no-hitter as a completed game in which a team that batted in at least nine innings recorded no hits. A pitcher w ...

in his professional debut. McGraw defeated the Cocoa Colts 4–0 in the victory. In their only season of play, the Cocoa Mets placed 2nd 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 1st place Melbourne Twins (34–18) in the final regular season standings. Cocoa Met player

Al Yates Albert Arthur Yates (May 26, 1945 – November 23, 2007) was an American professional baseball player who appeared in 24 games in Major League Baseball for the Milwaukee Brewers in the season, primarily as an outfielder. Born in Jersey City, New ...

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 HR. 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 1,683 fans for the season.Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, eds., ''The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 3rd ed.'' Durham, North Carolina:

Baseball America ''Baseball America'' is a sports enterprise that covers baseball at every level, including MLB, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in the MiLB, college, high school, and international leagues. It is currently published in the form ...

, 2007, page 527 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 affiliate with the Houston Astros from 1965–72 and 1977. The team played at the Astros' spring training facility. The Cocoa FSL tea ...

, 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 follow ...

The ballparks

The Cocoa Rookie League teams played games at the

Year–by–year records

Notable alumni

Jim Bethke James Charles Bethke (born November 5, 1946) is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was drafted by the New York Mets in 1964. He only played one season in his career, which was 1965 with the Mets. His career statistics are 25 g ...

(1964) * Kevin Collins (1964) *

(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 Shea S ...

(1964)

References

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External references