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Frank Viola: Former Italian / American Long Island Born Mets Twenty Game Winner (1989-1991)

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Frank John Viola Jr. known as "Sweet Music" was born on April 19th, 1960, to Frank a radio station controller & Helen Viola. Frank Jr. had one sister Nancy & a brother named John. The family lived  in East Meadow, NY on Long Island. The local Italian / American boy made out good & lived his dram coming home to pitch in for his favorite team. Viola said that his father would take him to see an average of ten Mets games a year. They would go to the Bronx for one game a year just to see that there was another team in town. In 1969 he remembered attending a baseball clinic where the Mets Jerry Koosman advised the youngsters not to throw curveballs until they got older. He remembered that advice although he did not become a pitcher until his final high school years. The six foot four, left hander went to East Meadow high school & became a local baseball star.  St. John's University:  Originally, he was planning on attending CW Post, which was a division 
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Chuck Taylor: Early 1970's Mets Relief Pitcher (1972)

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Charles Gilbert Taylor was born on April 18th, 1942 in Shelbyville, Tennessee. The six foot two right hander attended Middle Tennessee State University, getting signed by the St. Louis Cards in 1961.  Trivia: The Mid Tenn. Blue Raiders locker room is named after him & he is a member of their Hall of Fame. After three years in the St. Louis organization, he was traded along with (future Met) Jim Beauchamp, to the Houston Colt 45's for Carl Warwick. The next year he was sent back to St. Louis along with Hal Woodehick, for pitcher Mike Cuellar & 1969 Mets ace reliever Ron Taylor.  MLB Career: In 1969, Chuck Taylor began his career as a starter with the Cardinals going 7-5 with 2.56 ERA. In 1970 he made 57 appearances, still making seven starts. He was 6-7 with eight saves, posting a 3.11 ERA finishing off 22 games. Taylor would pitch with the Cardinals through the 1971 season, going 3-1 that year. Mets Career: On October 18th, 1971, he was traded to the New York M
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Rico Brogna: Former 1990's Italian / American Mets Player (1994-1996)

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Rico Joseph Brogna was born on April 18, 1970, in Turners Falls, Massachusetts.  The Italian / American Brogna, grew up in Watertown, Connecticut where he was an All-American star quarterback, getting offered a scholarship with Clemson University. He chose to play baseball & was the Detroit Tigers number one draft pick (the 26th pick overall) in 1988. By 1990 he was an All Star first baseman at AA London, Ontario.  He led the Eastern League in HRs (31) & was tied in RBIs (77). Although he didn’t match those same numbers again, he was brought up to the Tigers in September 1993.  MLB Career: Brogna debuted with the Tigers on August 8th in an 8-6 win over the Blue Jays. In that game he got his first career hit. H e appeared in just nine games  going 5-26,  thru August 18th before being sent back down. Three days before the 1994 season began, he was traded to the New York Mets for Alan Zinter. He was a fine defensive player that turned some heads when he joined the Mets on t
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