July 31, 1969

Shea Stadium - This day was to have been a day off but the rainout back on May 9th forced the Mets into action on this date.

After giving up 27 runs in two games the previous day, it was a welcome sight to see Tom Seaver on the mound. And true to form Seaver pitched well giving up just two runs in seven innings work. Unfortunately for the Mets, Astros pitchers gave up none. The Astros swept the three game set from the Mets winning the finale 2-0. With the Cubs pummeling the Giants 12-2, the Mets fell to 6 games back in the division as the month of July came to an end.

Record 55-44, second place 6.0 games back. Seaver's record fell to 15-6 for the season.

July 30, 1969

Shea Stadium - The Astros were leading the Mets by a score of 5-3 heading into the top of the ninth inning of the first game of a doubleheader to make up for Tuesday's rainout. Jerry Koosman had started and was on the short end of the ledger. Cal Koonce, who had pitched a scoreless eighth started the ninth. I'm sure manager Gil Hodges had hoped that Koonce could pitch a scoreless ninth so the Mets would have a chance to rally in the bottom of the inning. The best laid plans...Koonce and Ron Taylor were pummeled for a season high eleven runs in one inning. The inning was highlighted by two grand slam home runs, one by shortstop Denis Menke and the other by Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan. The Astros took the first game of the twin bill by a score of 16-3.

The Mets were pretty good in doubleheaders in 1969 so hopefully they could bounce back in game two. Rookie Gary Gentry started the second game. It was scoreless heading into the third but as Yogi Berra once said, it was Deja-Vu all over again. The Astros took Gentry apart in the third scoring ten runs, eight charged to Gentry. After catcher Johnny Edwards doubled, Gil Hodges walked out to left field to talk to Cleon Jones. After a minute, the two walked back to the dugout. Ron Swoboda replaced Jones in left. Even though the Mets were getting trounced 8-0 at the time, Gil Hodges was stewing at the way Cleon Jones went after Edwards' double and then lackadaisically threw back to the infield. Hodges made his point. The next batter, pitcher Larry Dierker, homered making it 10-0.  The Mets scored five runs in the game but it wasn't enough as the Mets were swept in the doubleheader.

Record 55-43, second place 5 games back of Chicago. The Mets were surprising the baseball world day in and day out in 1969. But their sister expansion team, the Astros, were one tough nut for the Mets to crack that year having won only one game so far in the season's series.

July 29, 1969

The Mets were rained out in New York 40 years ago today. After game action on this date the Mets were 5 games back in second place. The Mets were scheduled to play Houston at Shea. The game will be made up on the next day as a twi-night doubleheader.

July 28, 1969

The Mets played an exhibition game against their AAA Tidewater club. After game action on this date, the Mets were in second place 5 games behind.

July 27, 1969

Shea Stadium - It was another tough outing for veteran Don Cardwell as he gave up three runs before the Mets came to bat. The big blow was another Tony Perez homer with a man on. Two more runs in the fourth by the Reds knocked out Cardwell. The Mets got two back in the sixth then traded single runs in the eighth. The Reds defeated the Mets 6-3 to gain a split of the four game series.

Record 55-41, second place 4.5 games back. Cleon Jones and Donn Clendenon both went two for three with an RBI.

July 26, 1969

Shea Stadium - Tom Seaver pitched another outstanding game as he went the distance limiting the Reds to two runs on eight hits. The Mets put together just enough offense to win another one run contest. It was Seaver's 15th win of the season against just five losses. Tom struck out eight and walked just two batters. Tommie Agee got the game winning hit when he doubled in two in the fifth inning.

Record 55-40, second place 4.5 games back. Tom Seaver, who liked talking about his hitting more than his pitching, doubled in the 5th inning to start the two run rally.

July 25, 1969

Shea Stadium - Pete Rose singled in the tying run in the top of the sixth inning. With the score tied at one in the Reds' seventh, Tony Perez homered. Later in the inning, shortstop Woody Woodward drove in Lee May. The Reds led 3-1 against Jerry Koosman heading to the eighth. In the bottom of the eighth, Cleon Jones led off and was hit by a pitch. Art Shamsky doubled moving Jones to third base. Jones scored on a fielder's choice. With the Mets trailing 3-2, J.C. Martin homered with Weis on base who ran for Shamsky. The Mets led the Reds 4-3. Tony Perez led off the top of the ninth with a double. Then Ron Taylor retired the next three batters to secure the Mets first victory after the All Star break.

Record  54-40, second place 4.5 games back. Ron Taylor won his fifth game of the year out of the bullpen.

July 24, 1969

Shea Stadium - The second half of the season began at home in a peculiar game with the Cincinnati Reds. The game remained scoreless until the sixth inning when the Reds scored a run on a Bobby Tolan home run. The Mets countered that run with one of their own in the bottom of the sixth when Donn Clendenon hit a solo shot. With the score tied 1-1, the game moved to the eighth inning. The Reds, on a bases loaded sacrifice fly went ahead 2-1. In the bottom of the inning, Cleon Jones homered to tie the game at two. Then in the top of the ninth, the Reds went ahead again when the starting pitcher Jim Merritt homered. The Mets went to bat in the bottom of the ninth trailing 3-2. The Mets' Wayne Garrett got thrown out at home but with a runner on third, Tommie Agee hit a sacrifice fly and the Mets tied the game again. Both teams scored a single run each in the same inning three times. The game went into extra innings. In the top of the 12th, Tony Perez homered giving the Reds a 4-3 lead. The Mets got a runner to second base in the bottom of the 12th but could not get him home as the Reds won the opening game of the series 4-3.

Record 53-40, second place 5.5 games back. Donn Clendenon went three for six in the 12 inning marathon.

President Kennedy's goal of a man landing on the moon was achieved just four days earlier. The other part, returning home safely to the earth, occurred on this day as Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins splashed down in the south pacific.

July 23, 2009

RFK Stadium - The All Star game was played on Wednesday afternoon after the previous day's rain out. The National League won the game 9-3 and two Mets contributed to the win. Cleon Jones started in left field and went two for four scoring two runs. Jerry Koosman pitched one and two thirds scoreless ball. I recall Tom Seaver being on the squad but he did not pitch. There may have been one other Mets on the team but I do not recall who it was.

July 22, 1969

The All Star Game scheduled in Washington D.C. for this day was postponed because of rain.