Jon Matlack debuted for the New York Mets two years after their “Miracle Season” of 1969, but the southpaw found a home as part of a powerful Mets rotation of the 1970s.

A first-round draft pick in 1967, Jon Matlack was a left-hander whose arrival signaled the birth of the "Big Three" alongside Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman. While he wasn't on the active roster for the 1969 miracle, he served as the crucial final piece of the rotation that would define the franchise's excellence over the next decade.

Matlack appeared in 1971 for a few games, but in 1972, Matlack delivered a brilliant debut campaign, winning 15 games with a 2.32 ERA to secure the National League Rookie of the Year award. He reached a historic summit during the 1973 "Ya Gotta Believe" season, authoring a legendary postseason performance. After helping the club capture the NL East, he dominated the Reds in the NLCS and famously outpitched the Oakland A’s in the World Series, throwing a complete-game three-hitter in Game 4.  The Mets lost the Fall Classic, but Matlack had arrived.

Between 1974 and 1976, Matlack was statistically one of the top pitchers despite receiving little run support. In 1974, he demonstrated a relentless ability to shut down opponents, leading the National League with seven shutouts and posting a 2.36 FIP. He continued this trend by leading the league in shutouts again in 1975 and earning three straight All-Star selections. His dominance was particularly evident in the 1975 All-Star Game, where he shared MVP honors after striking out the side in his appearance.

His run in Queens ended in the winter of 1977 following a difficult season for a struggling Mets squad. In a complex, four-team blockbuster trade, the organization sent him to the Texas Rangers.  Matlack overall went 82- 81 with a 3.03 ERA with the Mets. The team inducted Matlack into their Hall of Fame in 2021.