September 30, 1969

The Mets had the day off on this date 40 years ago. Unusual that the Mets enjoyed two consecutive scheduled off days.

Meanwhile, in the western division race, Atlanta won their game at home against Cincinnati by a score of 3-2. With the win, it became official. The Mets would play the Atlanta Braves in the first National League Championship Series in history.

There was no home field advantage back then. It was predetermined that in the National League, the west would host the first two games and the east would host the remaining games in the best of five series. With Atlanta's powerful lineup, the Mets were already considered the underdog. 

September 29, 1969

The Mets had the day off on this Monday, the last week of the regular season.

With no action scheduled in the National League, the Braves still had a magic number of one to clinch the western division.

September 28, 1969

Connie Mack Stadium - The Mets won their fourth consecutive shutout, eighth consecutive game over all, sweeping the three game series from the Phillies. This 2-0 win was a combined shutout that provided Gary Gentry, Nolan Ryan, and Ron Taylor some tune up work for the playoffs.

Mets pitchers had strung together 42 consecutive scoreless innings going back to Tuesday night's win against the Cardinals at Shea. The Mets offense scored their two runs in the second when journeyman Jim Gosger doubled in a run and Gentry hit a sac fly for the other. The Mets were not scoring much since they clinched the division but their pitching was simply outstanding.

Record 99-61, first place (clinched) 8 games ahead of Chicago.

Atlanta and San Francisco both won. With Atlanta's win over San Diego, they had clinched a tie for the west. Their magic number was one. 

September 27, 1969

Connie Mack Stadium - On this date, Seaver would be making his last start of the regular season. Once again, Seaver was magnificent as he shut out the Phillies on three hits. The Mets won by a score of 1-0. 

Seaver struck out four and walked two ending his season with a 25-7 record. He won his last nine decisions in a row. The last eight were all complete games including three shutouts. With 25 victories, Seaver won a quarter of the Mets total wins during this championship season.

The Mets scored their loan run in the eighth inning when Bobby Pfeil singled home Don Clendenon.

Record 98-61, first place (clinched) 8 games ahead of Chicago.

Atlanta won their eighth in a row while the Giants and Reds both lost. Cincinnati was eliminated as Atlanta's magic number over San Francsico was reduced to 2 to clinch the National League West.   

September 26, 1969

Connie Mack Stadium - Jerry Koosman would be making his next to last start of the regular season in this first game after clinching the National League East. Gil Hodges's lineup against Philadelphia was a bit different than usual so he could rest key players.

Rod Gaspar led off in right field. Twenty-two year old call up Bob Heise would be at short. Regular Cleon Jones was back in left followed by Donn Clendenon who got in a couple of at bats prior to Ed Kranepool taking over at first. Another farm hand, Amos Otis played center (if only the Mets knew what a great player Otis would become). Bobby Pfeil played third and Duffy Dyer caught. Al Weis would man second with Koosman looking for his 17th win of the season.

In the first inning, with two out Cleon Jones singled then Don Clendenon homered. It was his third home run in two games. The Mets added an unearned run in the second to take a 3-0 lead. The Mets rallied for two in the fifth aided by hits from Heise and Otis. The Mets won 5-0 on a dominant 4 hit complete game shutout by Jerry Koosman.

Record 97-61, first place (clinched) 7 games ahead of Chicago.

Atlanta and San Francisco won as well as Cincinnati who won a double header. The Braves still led the Giants by 1.5 games with a magic number of 4 to clinch the western division title. Cincinnati's number for elimination was 2.

September 25, 1969

The Mets were off today, likely nursing some serious hangovers. The grounds crew at Shea Stadium led by Pete Flynn worked tirelessly to put the field back together. After all, there would be more baseball to be played at Shea this year. Huge chunks of sod were ripped up by the fans. The place looked more like a battlefield than a ballpark.

Now that the Mets had clinched the division, as soon as their heads cleared, Hodges would be able to rest players and begin the process of getting ready for the first National League Championship Series in history. They could also contemplate who their opponent might be.

The Western Division still had three teams in the race. On this date, the Atlanta Braves, led by Hank Aaron, were in first place by 1.5 games over the San Francisco Giants and 3.5 games over the Reds. The Braves had just won six in a row. At the start of the streak, they trailed the Giants by a half game. The Reds, winners of five of six had moved past the Dodgers who lost seven in a row. LA's losing streak eliminated them from the playoffs. The magic number for the Braves to eliminate the Reds was reduced to three while the Giants number to disqualify was five.  

September 24, 1969

Shea Stadium - The scene on the field was like no one had witnessed in baseball before. Thousands of fans crashed through the railings on the field level, pouring out on to the field. Grass was torn up, the bases were taken, and dirt was being put into pockets. The players themselves were in danger of getting hurt trying to get to the dugout. It was, after all, an incredible moment to celebrate.

For the first time in history, the Mets were champions. For the first time in history, a National League division champion was crowned and it was the New York Mets.  An improbable scenario became a reality at 9:07 on September 24th as Mets broadcaster Lindsey Nelson so aptly described it for all to remember for ages to come.

For eight previous seasons, the Mets were known as the buffoons of baseball. Even during 1968, when the Mets showed signs of improvement, they finished in ninth place with a franchise best 73-89 record. To make the leap to a champion so quickly was a testament to the Mets scouting and development, keen trades and one man, Gil Hodges.

Hodges mostly observed in ’68, his first year as Mets manager. Then he laid down the law basically stating the funny business was over. From spring training forward in 1969, the Mets players would be taught to think of themselves as winners. But no one could have predicted the Mets would come so far so soon.

When the Mets took the field the evening of the 24th at 7:05, an hour earlier than usual, there was electricity in the air. This night would be the last opportunity to get it done before the home crowd. The game against the Cardinals was the last scheduled at Shea Stadium for the regular season. The Cubs had already won their game against Montreal that afternoon so the Mets would not back into the title. They would have to do it themselves and I'm sure each player prefered it that way.

Gary Gentry took the hill against Steve Carlton.  Gentry pitched strong right from the start. With each strike he threw, the crowd of 54,928 roared with approval. Shea was ready to explode. If any fans were nervous, worrying the Mets might not pull it off this evening, their fears were put to rest in the bottom of the first.

Bud Harrelson led off with a single, followed by Tommie Agee who walked. Cleon Jones struck out but Don Clendenon came up and homered to deep left putting the Mets on the board 3-0. Mets fans screamed with delight.  If that wasn’t enough, Carlton who was obviously having control issues walked Ron Swoboda, and then the “Glider” Ed Charles hit one out too. The Mets led 5-0, the party was on.

Not wanting to be blown out and trying to give his team the opportunity to come back, Cardinal manager Red Schoendienst quickley pulled Carlton replacing him with Dave Guisti. Guisti was greeted with a double by catcher Jerry Grote but he retired the next two batters to end the inning.

Gary Gentry was simply dominant through the game. He retired the Cardinals in order through three innings before Lou Brock singled in the fourth.  In the fifth inning, Clendenon did it again sending an opposite field solo shot over the wall. The Mets led 6-0.

Gentry continued to cruise through the Cardinals lineup. Finally came the top of the ninth. Gentry was still in the game. The full house was standing and cheering. The Mets players not in the field were standing by the top step of the dugout. The bullpen pitchers were ready to run to the dog pile.

Brock and Vic Davalillo singled. The crowd got a little quieter. There was double barrel action in the Mets bullpen. Gentry struck out Vada Pinson, One out, the crowd shouted and cheered. Up came Brooklyn born Joe Torre, the Cardinals first baseman. Joe was a great hitter and an outstanding fielder. It was 9:07 as Nelson in the broadcast booth checked the clock. Torre hit a ground ball to Harrelson, Bud threw to Al Weis at second who started the game against the lefty Carlton. Out two was made. Weis turned and fired it to Clendenon. Double play, three outs. The Mets were champions of the National League East.

Record 96-61, clinched first place 6 games ahead of Chicago.

I only wish someone out there has a video tape of the celebration in the Mets locker room that evening. It was as spontaneous and wild a party as ever seen on TV. Ralph Kiner was drenched in champagne as Tom Seaver could be heard cackling all around the clubhouse spraying the bubbly on everyone. The Kiner's Korner that followed (the old TV post game show hosted by Ralph) was as wacky and funny an installment there ever was. The celebration was emblematic of how jubilant Mets fans everywhere felt. No one could poke fun at the Mets or there fans anymore.

September 23, 1969

Shea Stadium - Jim McAndrew faced the Cardinals' all star pitcher Bob Gibson.

The Mets scored a run in the third when Wayne Garrett singled home Bud Harrelson who had walked and moved to second on a fielder's choice. But in the top of the fifth, the Cards scored two unearned runs on a throwing error from second baseman Ken Boswell. The Cardinals led 2-1.

It stayed that way until the Mets eighth when Agee led off with a single, was bunted to second by Wayne Garrett, then scored on a single from Art Shamsky. Tug McGraw was in the game and it was his to win but the Mets did not score in the ninth to send the game into extra innings.

Gibson was still in the game pitching strong for the Cardinals. Finally in the 11th after one out, three consecutive singles from Ed Kranepool, Ron Swoboda and Jerry Grote won the game for the Mets by a score of 3-2. It was another fantastic win for the Mets.

Record 95-61, first place 6 games ahead of the Cubs who lost reducing the Mets magic number to 1. All that needed to happen was for the Mets to win one game or the Cubs to lose one game and the Mets would clinch the division.

September 22, 1969

Shea Stadium - Tom Seaver pitched his seventh consecutive complete game by defeating the St. Louis Cardinals at Shea. Originally an off day, this game with the Cardinals was made up at Shea from the rainout in St. Louis a week earlier.

The win was Toms eighth consecutive victory, his 24th of the season. It was getting to the point that when Tom took the mound, a win was automatic. It was expected. The three year veteran had become one of the most dominant pitchers in the game. And to think, Seaver was obtained by the Mets out of a hat.

Originally, Seaver was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1965 but was not pursued because he had not yet finished college. Eligible for the draft a year later, the Atlanta Braves picked him and offered him 40-50k. But it was discovered that the offer was invalid because a player could not be signed once the college season started. That was the rule at the time and was upheld by baseball commissioner William Eckert.

Seaver was pitching for USC but not only could he not pitch for the Braves organization, he could not pitch for the Trojans either because the NCAA declared him ineligible for signing a pro contract.

Shortly after, Eckert held a draft for Seaver in his office by any team that was interested. The Braves were not allowed to participate. The Mets, Indians, and Phillies were the only teams to show up. For once the Mets won something as Eckert pulled their name out of a hat. The rest was history.

On this Monday evening, with the Mets getting closer and closer to clinching their first championship of any kind, the result of that lottery, Mr. Seaver, held the Cardinals to one run on four hits and no walks. The Mets scored a run in the sixth and two in the seventh off of Cardinals starter Nelson Briles. The Mets won their third in a row 3-1.

Record 94-61, first place 5 games ahead of the Cubs who were idle. With the win, the Mets magic number was reduced to 3. Any combination of Mets wins or Cubs losses to total three, the Mets would clinch the NL East.

September 21, 1969

Shea Stadium - The Mets were scheduled to play their last doubleheader of the season. After losing three in a row to the Pirates including yesterday's no hitter, the Mets were eager to get back in the win column.

Left hander Jerry Koosman started the first game. In the top of the first, Willie Stargell singled in the first run of the game giving the Bucs a 1-0 lead. The Mets went quietly in the first but in the second, Ken Boswell walked and Ed Kranepool singled ending the Mets no hit drought. Ron Swoboda reached on an error to load the bases. Catcher Duffy Dyer hit into a fielder's choice. On the play the Mets tied the game. In the third, two singles from Art Shamsky and Boswell put runners on first and second with one out. Kranepool was safe at first on another Pirate error loading the bases. Swoboda singled scoring two runs. Dyer followed with a single plating another run. The Mets led 4-1 after three innings. Jose Pagan homered off of Koosman to make it 4-2. Then in the sixth, Roberto Clemente doubled home a run to make it a one run game. Art Shamsky homered in the seventh giving the Mets an insurance run. Koosman shut down the Pirates the rest of the way giving the Mets the opener 5-3.  

In game two, the Mets started out with a bang rallying for three runs in the first inning. And similar to the first game, a Pirate error allowed the Mets to score two after Wayne Garrett had singled in the first run. The Mets scored another run in the third on a fielder's choice giving them a 4-0 lead. Starter Don Cardwell gave up a homer to Willie Stargell but no more as he pitched a complete game for his eighth win of the season. The Mets won the nightcap 6-1.

In the doubleheader, the Pirates committed seven errors which led to five unearned runs on the day, four in the second game. The doubleheader sweep was the eleventh for the Mets in '69.

Record 93-61, first place 4.5 games ahead of the Cubs who won their game against St. Louis. With the sweep, the Mets reduced their magic number to 4 with eight games left in the season.

Also of note, the Cardinals and Pirates, who played well in '69 and would finish with better than .500 records, were eliminated from the race as a result of the Mets double dip win.