#481) ALBERTO CASTILLO

Alberto Castillo was signed by the New York Mets as a free agent on April 15, 1987. He was only 17 years old when he was drafted and spent the majority of his time in the Mets organization with minor league teams. He was a fine defensive catcher that struggled at the plate. "If I start to hit the ball," Castillo once said with a smile, "I'll be a millionare." He appeared in a total of 92 games for New York during parts of four seasons. Alberto left the Mets when he signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia Phillies on November 5, 1988.

Alberto Castillo signed his card in the set for my good friend, Stan when the Newark Bears faced the York Revolution on August 8, 2009.

#239) BUTCH BENTON

Alfred "Butch" Benton was selected by the New York Mets in the first round (6th overall pick) of the 1975 amateur draft. He made his major league debut with the Mets at Shea Stadium on September 14, 1978 as a pinch-hitter. Butch would only appear in four games that first season. It was not until the 1980 season that he would return to New York. This time Benton struggled at the plate while entering 12 games producing just one hit in 21 at-bats for a .041 batting average. On April 6, 1981 he was sent to the Chicago Cubs as a part of a conditional deal.

Butch Benton signed his card in the set from a private signing held by Major League Alumni Marketing on October 24, 2009.

#264) WALLY BACKMAN

Wally Backman was selected by the New York Mets in the first round (16th overall) of the free agent draft on June 7, 1977. He made his major league debut as a Met on September 2, 1980. Wally was a valuable bench player for his first three seasons until he became the Mets' starting second baseman in 1984. Backman was a member of the 1986 World Champion Mets. At that point he became a part of the second base platoon with Tim Teufel, and provided additional quickness to a very potent lineup. Wally remained with the Mets until he was traded with Mike Santiago to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for Toby Nivens, Steve Gasser, and Jeff Bumgarner on December 7, 1988. None of the other players in the deal would ever reach the major leagues.

After his active playing career Wally became a baseball manager. His first assignment was the South Georgia Peanuts in the independent South Coast League.

Wally Backman signed his card in the set for my friend Robb (fellow Mets fan and autograph collector) at a Joliet Jackhammers game during the 2009 season.

#128) DONN CLENDENON

Donn Clendenon was traded by the Montreal Expos to the New York Mets in exchange for Kevin Collins, Steve Renko, Bill Carden (minors) and Dave Colon (minors) on June 15, 1969. He was obtained to provide a hitter to drive in runs from the middle of the batting order. Donn did not disappoint. He saved his best for the 1969 World Series where he slugged three home runs, with each one a game difference maker. Clendenon was rewarded by being named the Most Valuable Player of that series, and becoming a member of the World Champion Miracle Mets.

After retiring from baseball in 1972, Clendenon earned a Juris Doctor degree from Duquesne University. He recounted the 1969 season in his book, Miracle In New York, in which he also talked about growing up in Atlanta, earning his law degree and battling drug addiction as he neared his 50th birthday. He eventually entered a drug rehabilitation facility in Ogden, Utah, and during a physical examination in connection with his treatment, he learned he had leukemia. That prompted his move to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he practiced law and became a certified addiction counselor. Donn Clendenon passed away in Sioux Falls on September 17, 2005 at the age of 70.

I converted an autographed index card I purchased from an Ebay seller into Donn Clendenon's card in the set on November 2, 2009.

#117) ART SHAMSKY

Art Shamsky joined the New York Mets when he was traded from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Bob Johnson on November 8, 1967. He became part of a right field platoon with Ron Swoboda when he joined the club. Art was a member of the 1969 World Champion Miracle Mets. Shamsky described that special team perfectly in an interview with Mets Fans Forever, "Now, the thing I think that really is important here is to understand that this was a team that got help every night from a different person basically. It really was the epitome of a team victory in a sense because, if you look at the box scores, it wasn't just one person, although guys were having some great years." Art remained with the Mets until he was traded with Jim Bibby, Rich Folkers and Charlie Hudson to the St. Louis Cardinals for Jim Beauchamp, Chip Coulter, Harry Parker and Chuck Taylor on October 18, 1971.

The popular Shamsky remained very active after his baseball career ended. He maintains his own website, has written a successful book, and runs Bravo Properties in South Orange, NJ. Art was reintroduced to a whole new generation when the television sit-com, "Everybody Loves Raymond" featured an english bulldog "Shamsky" named after the former Met in a 1999 episode.

I converted an autographed index card I purchased from an Ebay seller into Art Shamsky's card in the set on November 2, 2009.

#114) KEN BOSWELL

Ken Boswell was selected by the New York Mets in the fourth round of the free agent draft on June 8, 1965. He made his major league debut with the Mets on September 18, 1967 in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Shea Stadium. Ken was a member of the 1969 World Champion Miracle Mets. Playing a big part in that season hitting at a .422 average during the Mets stretch drive to win the pennant. Then leading the Mets team with five RBIs (including two home runs) facing the Atlanta Braves in the National League Playoffs. Boswell spoke of his new found acclaim in a Sports Illustrated article on October 27, 1969, "After I woke up this morning I went down into the street and some people were saying, 'There goes Ken Boswell.' When I get home to Austin they are going to have a Welcome Home Ken Boswell Parade. I hope they mean me and not some other Ken Boswell."

Boswell was still with the Mets when they returned to the World Series as the National League Champion in 1973. He was traded to the Houston Astros in exchange for Bob Gallagher on October 29, 1974.

Ken Boswell signed his card in the set from an autograph request sent to his home on June 9, 2009.

#125) GARY GENTRY

Gary Gentry was selected by the New York Mets in the third round of the free agent draft on June 6. 1967. He made his major league debut on April 10, 1969 with a victory against the Montreal Expos at Shea Stadium. Gentry continued to play a crucial part of that magical season. He threw a complete-game four-hit shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals on September 24th to clinch the division and put the Mets into the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. As the starting pitcher of Game 3 he had the honor of throwing the first World Series' pitch at Shea Stadium. Gary held the Baltimore Orioles scoreless for 6-2/3 innings before handing the ball over to a fellow rookie fireballer, Nolan Ryan. The club would win that game and the next two to make Gary Gentry a member of the 1969 World Champion Miracle Mets. "You looked around and you saw the team and there was never a thought that we couldn't win." Gentry recalled at a tribute to the team at Citi Field in 2009.

An elbow injury caused Gary to lose some of his effectiveness. He was traded by the Mets with Danny Frisella to the Atlanta Braves for Felix Millan and George Stone on November 1, 1972. Only to return to the organization when he was convinced to sign a minor league contract with the Mets on May 29, 1975. Gentry chose to retire about a month later on June 19th.

I purchased this signed index card from the legendary autograph guy, Jack Smalling and converted it into Gary Gentry's card in the set in January 2009. Jack's website is www.baseballaddresses.com