Joe Christopher, an Original Met Who Was Amazin’ in ’64, Dies at 88

After the 1965 season, the Mets traded Christopher to the Boston Red Sox; the Red Sox despatched him to the Detroit Tigers in mid-1966. He barely performed for Boston and under no circumstances for Detroit; in 1967 and ’68, he performed for minor league groups within the Pirates, Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies methods.

He had a profession batting common of .260, with 29 house runs and 173 R.B.I.

After retiring, Christopher labored in insurance coverage, well being care and promoting.

In addition to Kameahle Christopher, he’s survived by 4 different daughters, Cheryl, Michelle, Jo Anne and Arinna Christopher; three sons, Joseph Jr., Rael Jones and Ryan Christopher-Bear; and 14 grandchildren. His marriages to Ana Solares and Karen Matthews resulted in divorce.

One of the enduring tales from the 1962 season was concerning the language assist that Christopher offered to 2 of his teammates. Richie Ashburn, the middle fielder, and Elio Chacon, a shortstop from Venezuela, weren’t speaking nicely on fly balls hit between them. Ashburn requested Christopher, who spoke Spanish, learn how to say “I got it.”

Christopher advised him to shout, “Yo la tengo!” to alert Chacon that Ashburn would take management of a fly ball. During the following recreation, Ashburn rushed out for a fly, shouting “Yo la tengo! Yo la tengo!” Chacon backed off. But as Ashburn ready to catch the ball, the left fielder Frank Thomas, who spoke no Spanish, rushed in and flattened Ashburn.

In the early Eighties, a Mets fan, Ira Kaplan, who had learn concerning the incident, fashioned a rock band together with his spouse, Georgia Hubley. He known as it Yo La Tengo.