Original Cyclone Mike Jacobs has been having a blast since being called up to the Mets a couple of weeks ago — at a record-setting pace.
Jacobs, who played for the Cyclones during the team’s 2001 inaugural season, hit a pinch-hit homer on Aug. 21 in his first big league at-bat. He followed that with a bomb against the Washington Nationals two games later. Then, in his fourth game as a Met, the 24-year-old hit two more homers.
It marked the first time that a player broke into the big leagues with four home runs in his first four games played, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Since that record-setting performance, and with Mets first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz currently on injury rehab assignment, Jacobs, who was primarily a catcher for the Cyclones, has been playing first base regularly for the Mets, and giving Brooklyn fans a player of their own to follow on the big club.
But it wasn’t the first time Jacobs was a hero here in the big city.
Back in 2001, Jacobs was mobbed by his teammates and the press when he hit a game-winning sacrifice fly to give the Clones a 3-2 victory in the first-ever game played at Keyspan Park. He even posed for a photo with Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who was celebrating on the field after the game.
Jacobs hasn’t forgotten that night.
“Obviously, having the game-winning RBI in that first home game at Brooklyn was my biggest memory,” Jacobs told The Brooklyn Papers in an exclusive interview at Shea Stadium Tuesday. “I’m sure being around all those people in Brooklyn helped me when I came up to the Mets.”
Jacobs pointed out that playing in front of the rabid Brooklyn fans every night helped him adjust to big-league baseball.
“Brooklyn was different because there were 8,000 fans there every night, and I haven’t had that anywhere I’ve played except for here [Shea Stadium],” he said. “It was also different because of how exciting it was to put on that uniform. And to play in front of those fans every day was awesome.”
Jacobs credited 2001 Cyclones manager Edgar Alfonzo with helping him make it to “the show,” as the major leagues are known among professional baseball players.
“Edgar was my manager in Kingsport the year before I played on the Cyclones, and he helped construct my swing,” Jacobs said. “I’ve been with him for about three years in the Mets system, and he has been one of my biggest teachers. My hat goes off to him, and I think of him as a father figure.”
With Alfonzo’s help, Jacobs won the Sterling Award as the Mets’ best minor league player in 2003 when he hit .329 with 17 homers and 81 RBIs as a catcher for Binghamton.
After receiving the award, Jacobs thought things looked rosy going into the 2004 campaign. But last season was a rough one for him, as he appeared in only 27 games for triple-A Norfolk, and then had labrum surgery on his right shoulder. He missed the rest of the season.
When the Mets traded away former Cyclones receiver Justin Huber, and then backup catcher Vance Wilson and catcher-first baseman Jason Phillips, Jacobs figured there would be a spot for him on the 2005 Mets Opening Day roster.
Instead, he started the season back in double-A Binghamton.
Instead of sulking about his disappointment, he tore up the Eastern League, hitting .321 with 25 homers and 93 RBIs. After Mike Piazza was injured, Jacobs was called up, leaving Binghamton in the midst of a 22-game hitting streak.
Upon his call-up, Jacobs was inundated with congratulatory telephone calls, including ones from former Cyclone mates such as David Bacani and Zachary Clements along with former Cyclones manager Tony Tijerina.
He sat on the Mets bench for four days before being called upon by manager (and Brooklyn native) Willie Randolph to pinch hit.
Moments later, he received his first curtain call.
“The curtain call was probably the best thing I ever experienced in my life,” Jacobs said. “For the fans to make me feel so welcome … It was unbelievable.”
Before the Mets went to Arizona to play the Diamondbacks, Jacobs was told he was being sent back down to the minors.
His luggage was actually removed from the team bus, only to have it put back when the Mets management — reportedly needled by star-pitcher Pedro Martinez — changed their minds and allowed Jacobs to stay with the big club.
That freed him up to set the record.
“To have an impact like that on the game [of baseball] so soon was something I couldn’t have dreamed,” said Jacobs.
“Maybe I can stick around and do something else.”
Jacobs also had some advice for today’s Cyclones.
“If your heart’s in it and you’re dedicated, this is where you’ll hopefully be,” he said. “Just keep plugging, no matter what your situation is and try to open somebody’s eyes.”
September 3, 2005 issue
