Late in Spring Training 1987, mere days after the Mets had acquired David Cone, he was on the mound in a game against the Cardinals in St. Petersburg, Fla., 60-feet, six inches from fearsome slugger Jack Clark. The Mets and Cardinals were familiar adversaries. But Clark knew little about Cone. The 24-year-old pitcher had little big league experience, just a cup of coffee with the Royals the previous year.