Saturday, January 27, 2007

Transplanted ex-Met Update: Former President Bing Devine Dies

Best known as a Cardinals GM, architect of the 1964 World Champion Cardinals, former Mets President Bing Devine died today at age 90.

From 1965-67, Devine was assistant to the president, and then president of the New York Mets, during which time he convinced top brass to post the necessary $53,500 to sign Tom Seaver.

An excellent synopsis of Devine's Mets tenure, by Jon of Mets By The Numbers, can be found here.

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In other transplanted ex-Mets news, Karim Garcia has signed a minor league contract with the Phillies. Garcia spent the first half of the 2004 season with the Mets before being traded to the Orioles for Mike DeJean. Garcia is probably best known for, while as a Yankee, beating up a Boston Red Sox groundskeeper in the Fenway Park bullpen during the 2003 ALCS. This did not deter Jim Duquette from signing him before the 2004 season. After signing with the Mets, Garcia and Shane Spencer were accused of starting a fight in the parking lot of a pizzeria in Port St. Lucie during Spring Training in 2004. The fight allegedly began when began when Garcia was asked not to urinate in the parking lot after a birthday celebration for his wife.

Garcia spent 2005 and 2006 playing in Japan for the Orix Buffaloes.

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