Springing Into Action: 1962 Spring Training Schedule

The Mets shared Al Lang Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, with the St. Louis Cardinals for their first spring training in 1962. The Cardinals were used to sharing with New York teams as both the New York Yankees and New York Giants trained there in the post-WWII era. The Mets dropped the spring opener to the Cardinals, 8-0, but the New Yorkers got revenge the next day. Trailing 3-0 in the 8th, Choo-Choo Coleman hit a two-run home run to highlight a three-run rally. With two outs in the 9th, Richie Ashburn doubled then scored on Elio Chacon’s single for the first-ever Mets win. While the Mets played games at Al Lang Field, they trained about two miles away at Miller Huggins Field, renamed Huggins-Stengel Field in 1963. The team trained in St. Petersburg until 1987.