Never Forget 69

40 Years Ago Today

Lou Di Falco — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:00:00 -0400

It took the city of New York four years to get another National League team once the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers left after the 1957 season. The New York Mets would enter the National League in 1962, made up largely of former New York players like Duke Snider and Gil Hodges. Former Yankee manager Casey Stengel would run the team, a team expected to go nowhere but a team that would at least get National League baseball back in New York…where it belonged.

The original Mets were awful. They started the season stuck in an elevator in a St. Louis hotel. In the first game ever played, they lost 11-4 to the Cardinals with Al Jackson getting the loss, the first of a record 120 losses that season. The Mets finally won their first game of the season after losing nine in a row. At Forbes Field on April 23, 1962, the Mets defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates by a score of 9-1. Jay Hook has the distinction of being the first pitcher in Mets history to record a win. It was the first of only 40 that inaugural season.

The hapless Mets were a laughing stock. But to their fans they were the lovable Mets. On that 1962 team was a player who was a favorite New York son, Gil Hodges, who was one of the Brooklyn Boys of Summer. Gil was winding down as a player and soon would try his hand at managing. Also on that ’62 team was a 17 year old rookie who played in just three games for the Mets that season. His name was Ed Kranepool, a left handed first baseman the Mets hoped would someday be a star. Both Hodges and Kranepool would be the only Mets left from that 1962 club come October 1969.

October 16, 1969, World Series Game 5

Shea Stadium – Jerry Koosman pitched about as dominantly as anyone could against the mighty Orioles in game 2, just four days prior. He gave up just one run in eight and two thirds innings in the first Mets win of the series. On this day, he was faced with the opportunity of becoming the winning pitcher in the potential clinching game of the 1969 World Series.

Koosman would face Dave McNally as he did in game 2. That Sunday afternoon, McNally held the Mets in check most of the game with the Mets ultimately prevailing 2-1. Game 5, like game 2, was predicted to be another pitcher’s duel. For the Mets, their motivation was not to go back to Baltimore. But for the Orioles, it was a must win. Lose and their season would be over. It would be a bitter pill to swallow for Baltimore having won 109 regular season games.

The first two innings were quiet with only a mild threat by the Mets in the first when McNally issued two walks. But in the top of the third, Mark Belanger led off with a single. Koosman then surrendered a home run to Dave McNally, the pitcher of all players. The Orioles had jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Koosman got the next two outs but Frank Robinson followed with a solo shot giving the O’s a 3-0 lead. After the inning, Koosman was quoted in the dugout as saying "Hold them there boys, they are not getting anything else the rest of the game”.

Koosman led off the third and almost hit one out as he doubled off the left field wall. But the regular Mets hitters were unable to get anything going offensively against McNally in the third or any of the middle innings. Meanwhile, Koosman settled in and was true to his word. The Orioles were unable to mount any rally since the third.

Cleon Jones led off the sixth inning. During his at bat, McNally threw a ball low and in that appeared to hit Jones in the foot. As Cleon started for first, Lou DiMuro, the home plate umpire called him back claiming he was not hit by the pitch. As Jones settled back in the box, Mets manager Gil Hodges came out to home plate carrying the ball that bounced into the dugout allegedly off of Jones’ show. For a minute, DiMuro and Hodges talked while looking at the ball. Hodges was apparently pointing at what appeared to be shoe polish. Convinced, DiMuro sent Jones to first. Hodges walked back to the dugout as Weaver came out to argue. The discussion did not last long. Jones was on first and Donn Clendenon came up to bat.

Whether the shoe polish came from Cleon’s shoe or Koosman’s while sitting in the dugout is debatable. But the move paid off as Clendenon launched a bomb into the left field loge section for a two run home run to make it a one run game. The homer was the third for Clendenon, the most ever in a five game series up to that point. After six, the Orioles led 3-2.

Koosman continued to dominate in the seventh retiring the Birds in order. In the bottom half of the inning, light hitting journeyman, Al Weis hit a home run to lead off the inning and tie the game. Al Weis was proving to be one pesky player in the World Series. It was his hit in game 2 that drove in the game winning run. Here was a guy who hit two regular season home runs and now he just hit the biggest of his career. The crowd was going wild. You could feel the momentum building for the Mets who had tied the game at three.

Koosman retired the Orioles in order again in the eighth.

Eddie Watt relieved McNally in the bottom half. Cleon Jones led off with a double. Now Mets fans were on their feet. But Clendenon grounded out with Brooks Robinson holding Jones at second. With one out Ron Swoboda came up. Just the day before, Swoboda made the most unlikely of plays in the history of the World Series when his incredible diving catch saved the game for the Mets. Ron came through again, this time with his bat as he doubled down the left field line. Jones scored from second. The Mets had the lead. The stands at Shea were vibrating as fans jumped up and down. Everyone at that ballpark and watching on TV knew the Mets were three outs away from the impossible.

Maybe the wheels were falling off for Baltimore. With two outs, Grote hit a ground ball that was booted by Powell. Grote reached first. But as Watt picked up the ball he fired wildly to home as Swoboda scored. Two errors on the play and the Mets had an insurance run. Heading to the top of the ninth, the Mets held a 5-3 lead.

Mets fans were still standing when the ninth inning began. Koosman had dominated since the third inning when he gave up the two home runs. Frank Robinson led off with a walk. Boog Powell came up as the tying run. But Koosman got Powell to hit a ground ball to Weis who got the force at short with Harrelson covering. Brooks Robinson then hit a fly ball to right field. Swoboda settled under it and now there were two down.

Powell was still on first. 57,397 crazed Mets fans were standing and cheering. The sound at Shea was deafening without a plane in site. Davey Johnson came up to the plate, the Orioles last chance. When Johnson hit the ball, there was silence for a moment. It looked, at least on TV, that Johnson hit it hard. Koosman did not like the sound it made coming off the bat. But the ball held up perhaps from the October wind blowing in from left. Jones moved back to the warning track. He turned and held his glove out with his bare hand assisting, caught the ball and knelt down to the ground punctuating one of the greatest seasons in baseball history. The Mets were World Champions.

Record - Mets 4, Orioles 1, in best of seven series.

Epilogue – The New York Mets became the first expansion team to win the World Series. And it only took eight years from their inception. It was done by building a wealth of talent in their farm system and making keen trades by Johnny Murphy, the Mets GM who took over in 1968. It also took great guidance by their manager Gil Hodges who should be in the Hall of Fame. He was a great teacher and a tremendous leader who instilled confidence in his team that they could achieve, that they had the talent to win.

1969 was perhaps the most amazing season in New York baseball history. Unlike the many mighty Yankee teams, the 1986 Mets, the dominating Giant teams of the early twenties or the Dodgers of Brooklyn in the late forties and fifties who were all expected to win, the ’69 Mets were not. And although I hate when the ’69 Mets are referred to as the Miracle Mets, the miracle was in their unexpected rise to greatness, not what they achieved on the field.

Winning 107 games was not accomplished by miracles. It was done through great pitching, hitting, and defense. Sure, there were moments when you scratched your head. Moments like when the black cat stared into the Cubs dugout, or when both pitchers knocked in the only run of a doubleheader to win both games in Pittsburgh, or when Ron Swoboda hit two home runs to win the game in St. Louis when Steve Carlton set the record for striking out nineteen, or even the shoe polish play in game five. But those moments would have gone unnoticed if it was not for the spectacular play day in and day out by this group of twenty-five individuals.

For me, the 1969 season will always be the summer of my life. I was thirteen and the Mets taught me a valuable lesson. No matter how the odds are stacked against you, there are always possibilities. Never give up, always strive to get better, and never let anyone convince you that you cannot succeed. And who said baseball is just a game?

Unfortunately, the Mets did not repeat in 1970. They were competitive for most of the season but ended just a few games above .500 in third place six games behind the Pirates. Cincinnati won the National League pennant but lost to the Orioles in the World Series who made amends to their fans for losing to the Mets a year earlier. The Mets returned to the World Series in 1973 to lose in seven games to the Oakland A’s. They would not return again until 1986.

1969 did not start the era of dominance Mets fans had hoped. In fact, sustained success has always been something that has eluded this franchise. The Mets became a powerhouse in the mid to late 80’s but again only appeared in and won just one World Series. Now as we watch the Mets struggle after such a promising season in 2006, we ask when will the Mets climb back to the top again.

A season like 1969 comes perhaps once in a lifetime. But if there is one franchise that seems to have a knack for the unexpected, it’s the Mets. A team that did what it did in ’69, almost won it all in ’73 when they were in last place in mid August, came back to win game six down to their last strike several times in ’86, is due for something special.

On October 20, 1969, the Mets were ushered down the Canyon of Heros with a ticker tape parade. A couple of weeks later it was announced that in the National League Tom Seaver won the Cy Young award, Gil Hodges was the manager of the year, and Tommie Agee was the comeback player of the year. Mets GM Johnny Murphy was given the Executive of the Year award also.

I hope you enjoyed reading “40 Years Ago Today” this season as much as I have enjoyed writing it. It brought back great memories for me. I hope it did for you too. And if you are too young to have experienced that magical season, I hope it provided you with a sense of what it was like to be a Mets fan back then.

Thanks to retrosheet.org, ultimatemets.com, and to the many authors of books and newspaper articles I have kept over the years. They all helped jar my memory of each day of the 1969 season.

40 Years Ago Today

Lou Di Falco — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:00:00 -0400

He won twenty-five games during the regular season against seven losses. He struck out 208 batters, pitched eighteen complete games, five of which were shutouts. He won his last eight decisions but yet Tom Seaver had struggled in the post season.

It’s not as if he was bad but he wasn’t as dominating as he had been during the 162 game campaign. Seaver was 1-1 in the post season. He won the first game of the NLCS but gave up five runs in the process. Luckily for Tom, the Mets bats scored nine runs that first game to bail him out. In game one of the World Series, Seaver gave up four runs and was outpitched by Mike Cuellar as the Mets could only score a single run.

Seaver was getting another chance in game four to show the country on National Television just what kind of pitcher he was. Tom admitted to trying to do too much and perhaps even being a bit nervous in the Series opener. The Mets and their fans were counting on Seaver to put them in position to win the series at home. If the Mets won game four, they would take a three games to one lead in the Series. Even the powerful Baltimore Orioles would have the odds stacked against them to win the series if that were to happen.

October 15, 1969, World Series Game 4

Shea Stadium – In game one, Orioles left fielder Don Buford rudely greeted Seaver with a leadoff homerun on the first pitch of the game. But on this date, Seaver struck out Buford. Center fielder Paul Blair singled for the first hit of the game but was left stranded when Tom got Frank Robinson to fly out then struck out Boog Powell.

Mike Cuellar started for Baltimore. He too looked sharp again as he faced Seaver for the second time. In the first, he retired Agee, gave up a single to Harrelson and then got Cleon Jones to hit into a double play.

In the second, Seaver walked Elrod Hendricks with one down but Jerry Grote threw him out trying to steal second. In the bottom of the inning, Donn Clendnenon led off with his second homerun of the World Series to give the Mets the early lead.

Seaver got into trouble in the third, giving up back to back singles to open the inning. Once again, Seaver was not looking as sharp as he had prior to the post season. But the big right handed pitcher got the next three batters preserving the slim Mets lead. The Mets also put two runners on with singles in the bottom half of the third but were not able to score against Cuellar. A third the way through, the Mets held a slim 1-0 lead.

After the two hits given up in the third, Seaver hit his stride, not giving up another hit until the ninth inning. The Orioles could not muster anything against Seaver accept a walk in the sixth inning. Unfortunately however, the Mets could not get anything going against Cuellar either. The Mets got a few hits but were unable to rally for any runs and continued to hold a 1-0 lead through eight innings.

But in the top of the ninth with one out and Seaver still in the game, Frank Robinson and Boog Powell hit back to back singles putting runners on first and third. Hodges left Seaver in hoping to get a double play ground ball. But instead Brooks Robinson lined a ball into right field that looked for sure as if it would touch down and go to the wall. Ron Swoboda dove to his right. With his body parallel to the ground and glove outstretched, Swoboda miraculously caught the ball. He got up quickly and fired home as Frank Robinson tagged and scored the tying run. Quite possibly, Ron Swoboda made the greatest catch in World Series history, even better than the two Agee made the previous day. More importantly, had Swoboda missed catching that ball, the tying and go-ahead runs would have scored. Seaver got out of the inning without any further damage. The score was tied at one.

After two singles in the ninth got the winning run to second, Gil Hodges sent up Art Shamsky to pinch hit for Ed Charles. Shamsky grounded out to first ending the inning. It was on to extra innings for the first time in the Series.

Tom Seaver stayed in the ballgame. Through nine innings, he had given up just one run on five hits. Wayne Garrett entered the game to play third for Charles who was pinched hit for. The Orioles’ Dave Johnson reached on an error to lead off the tenth when Garrett bobbled a ground ball. Seaver got Mark Belanger to pop up in foul territory. Grote made the catch for the first out. Clay Dalrymple was sent up to pinch hit by Earl Weaver. Dalrymble singled pushing Johnson into scoring position. Lead off hitter Buford flied out to right. The putout was deep enough to allow Johnson to tag and reach third. Now a miscue could give the Orioles the lead. But Seaver was true to form as he struck out Paul Blair to end the inning.

Dick Hall came in to start the tenth for the Orioles. Jerry Grote led off the inning by doubling down the left field line. The Mets had the winning run on second with nobody out as the Shea faithful went wild. Hodges sent in Rod Gaspar to run for Grote. Weaver countered by intentionally walking Al Weis. After pitching ten innings, Seaver was taken out as Hodges sent up left handed hitter J.C. Martin to pinch hit. It was likely that Martin was up to bunt the runner to third. But before Martin could hit, Weaver brought in left handed pitcher Pete Richert. Hodges let the lefty Martin hit. Martin dropped down a bunt on the first base side. Catcher Hendricks ran up the line to pick up the ball and fired it to first. But the ball hit J.C. Martin and ricocheted toward second base. Gaspar running all the way scored from second giving the Mets the 2-1 victory.

Record Mets 3, Orioles 1, in best of seven series.

The ending was controversial. It appeared on the replay that Martin was outside of the runner’s lane while running to first when the ball hit him. According to the rules, he could have been called out for interference. However, it is a judgment call made by the first base umpire and in this case, no one came out to argue the play, not even the feisty Earl Weaver.

The Mets were now in the commanding position of having to win just one game of the potentially remaining three. The Mets had one more game at Shea Stadium the next day. Mets fans were hoping the Mets could do it at home. I’m sure the players were hoping the same thing.

40 Years Ago Today

Lou Di Falco — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:00:00 -0400

56,335 people crammed into Shea Stadium for the ballpark’s first World Series game in history. The Mets and Orioles were tied at one game each in this best of seven series. The Mets had a simple goal. Try to win two of three at home giving them the opportunity to win one game in Baltimore and capture their first World Series. But the Mets also knew there was an opportunity to not go back to Baltimore. The Mets could win the next three but so could the Orioles. The Mets would send 23 year old Gary Gentry to the mound to try and hold down the Orioles powerful offense.

The Orioles countered with right handed pitcher Jim Palmer who won 16 games in the regular season. The Orioles and Mets, in traditional fashion before the game, lined up on the baselines as they were announced by Shea's public address announcer Jack Lightcap.

October 14, 1969, World Series Game 3

Shea Stadium – Gentry struck out Don Buford to start game three. In fact, Gentry had no problem in the first inning retiring the Orioles, only giving up a walk to Frank Robinson who was left stranded at first.

In the bottom of the first, Tommie Agee homered to lead off the game for the fifth time during 1969. Agee hit a bomb over the camera platform in center field off a 2-1 pitch. The Mets took a one nothing lead early. Palmer settled in and retired the next three batters to end the inning but both Cleon Jones and Art Shamsky hit long drives for the final two outs.

Gentry retired the Orioles in order in the second. Early on, it was looking as if Gentry had his good stuff. In the Mets half of the second, they rallied again. Boswell grounded out to Powell then Ed Kranepool popped up to short. But with two out, Jerry Grote walked. Bud Harrelson lined a single up the middle moving Grote to second. Then, as it happened so often during the season, a Mets pitcher helped himself. Gentry lined a double into the right field gap driving in both Grote and Harrelson. The Mets led 3-0. Agee grounded out to end the inning after pitching coach George Bamberger came out to settle down Palmer.

In the third, Gentry retired Baltimore in order again. After three, Gentry had only allowed a walk. Wayne Garrett walked to start the Mets third but Palmer retired the next three hitters.

With one out in the fourth, the Orioles finally got a hit, two in fact from Frank Robinson and Boog Powell to put runners on first and second. Gentry then struck out Brooks Robinson for the second out. Left handed hitting catcher Elrod Hendricks hit a fly ball to deep left center on an 0-2 pitch. The Orioles were sure to score two if the ball fell in. Tommie Agee in hot pursuit reached out with his glove hand and miraculously snared the ball back handed in the webbing of his glove as he ran into the fence. Agee saved two runs from scoring as the Mets continued to hold a 3-0 lead. Agee's catch was one of the greatest in World Series history, ranking right up there with the one Willie Mays made in 1954 at the Polo Grounds.

With two outs, Harrelson reached on a walk in the Mets fourth. In an attemted pick off, the ball went past Orioles first baseman Boog Powell. Harrelson tried to go to second but was blocked by Powell. First base umpire Shag Crowford ruled obstruction and awarded Harrelson second base. However, the Mets did not capitalize as Gentry struck out.

Neither team did anything for the next inning and a half. Halfway through the sixth, the Mets were still protecting a 3-0 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth Ken Boswell led off with a ground single to right. He nearly was thrown out by Dave Johnson who got to the ball but Palmer covering pulled his foot off the bag. Kranepool grounded out to the right side allowing Boswell to move up into scoring position. Jerry Grote doubled to left scoring Boswell. Palmer got out of further trouble by striking out Harrelson and Gentry. After six, the Mets led 4-0.

Gentry got two outs to start the Orioles seventh but then Mark Belanger walked. Weaver sent up Dave May to pinch hit for Palmer. May walked. Gentry then walked leadoff batter Don Buford to load the bases. Gil Hodges called to the bullpen bringing in Nolan Ryan.

On a two strike pitch from Ryan, Orioles' center fielder Paul Blair lined one to right center. Agee took off after it. As the ball headed toward the wall, Agee tapped his glove and slid on the warning track catching Blair's liner with his glove face up. It was another spectacular catch by the Mets center fielder. Had that ball fallen in, the Orioles would have scored three runs. Agee, who made all three putouts in the inning, single handedly saved five runs from scoring in the game with his two remarkable catches.

Dave Leonhard replaced Palmer from the Baltimore bullpen. The Mets did not score in the seventh.

In the top of the eighth Hodges brought in Al Weis to play second and Rod Gaspar into right for defensive purposes. Ryan retired the Orioles in order striking out two.

Leading 4-0, the Mets came to bat in the bottom of the eighth. With one out, Ed Kranepool, the only Met player remaining from 1962, hit a home run to right field. Heading to the ninth, the Mets led Baltimore 5-0.

Nolan Ryan, still in the game, retired the first two batters in the inning. The Mets were one out away from winning game three. But then Ryan walked Belanger. Pinch hitter Clay Dalrymple singled then Ryan walked Buford. The bases were loaded. Hodges left in Ryan to face Paul Blair. Ryan was throwing smoke but with two strikes he threw a devestating curve ball that froze Blair looking to end the game.

Record Mets 2, Orioles 1, in best of seven series.

The Orioles had to be shaking their heads. The powerhouse offense had only scored five runs in three games against Mets pitching which was outstanding during the World Series. Ironically the one pitcher that struggled in the playoffs so far was none other than twenty-five game winner Tom Seaver. But game three will always be thought of as Agee's game. He led off with a homer and made two of the greatest catches in World Series history.

The next day, Seaver would get another chance. Baltimore had to be a bit concerned facing Seaver in game four trailing in the series.

Interesting note: In the Mets sixth inning, a kite flew down from the upper levels of Shea Stadium. Attached to the kite was a banner that said Mets on it. Jokingly, Curt Gowdy said to Lindsey Nelson that he wouldn't be surprised if a fan flew down next. Little did Curt and Lindsey know that's exactly what would happen 17 years later in game 6 of the 1986 World Series.

40 Years Ago Today

Lou Di Falco — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 07:00:00 -0400

October 13, 1969

The Mets were off on this date as they and the Orioles worked out at Shea Stadium. Game 3 of the 1969 World Series would be held the next afternoon. Gary Gentry was slated to start against Jim Palmer.

40 Years Ago Today

Lou Di Falco — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 07:00:00 -0400

The Mets did not want to head home down two games to none in the World Series. Even with the home field advantage for the middle three games, loosing game two would insure the Mets would have to win the World Series on the road if they were to win it at all.

Their best pitcher was less than the best in game one. Seaver gave up four runs and did not match the pitcher he was while winning his last eight decisions. The Mets batters had looked lifeless against the Orioles ace Mike Cuellar in game one. In game two, the Mets turned to their number two pitcher Jerry Koosman to hold the fort and give the likes of Agee, Clendenon, Jones, and Swoboda to get something going offensively.

October 12, 1969, World Series Game 2

Memorial Stadium – Jerry Koosman won 17 regular season games against nine losses. His ERA was an impressive 2.28 with a career high 180 strike outs. Koosman did not have the stature of Tom Seaver. But under pressure, as fans would soon learn, Koosman had ice running through his veins.

Dave McNally was just as formidable. The left handed McNally won twenty games in ’69 and had an era of 3.22. The game had the potential of being a great pitcher’s dual. This is one time when the predictions became a reality.

McNally retired Tommie Agee, Bud Harrelson, and Cleon Jones in order in the first. Koosman countered by striking out Don Buford, then getting Paul Blair and Frank Robinson to fly out. The Mets got a runner as far as second base in the second inning but did not score. In the O’s second, Koosman retired Boog Powell and Brooks Robinson before walking Davey Johnson. But catcher Andy Etchebarren lined out ending the inning.

The first hit of the game came in the Mets third when second baseman Al Weis singled to center. Agee grounded out forcing Weis at second. Harrelson later walked putting runners on first and second but Cleon Jones lined out hard to Buford in left to end the inning. In the bottom of the third, Koosman once again retired the Orioles in order. Through three innings there was no score with the Mets recording the only hit.

In the top of the fourth, Donn Clendenon hit a McNally fast ball over the right field fence to give the Mets a 1-0 lead. It was the first lead the Mets ever had in a World Series game. McNally retired the next three batters with the inning ending on a stellar play by Brooks Robinson. Koosman kept mowing down the Orioles however. In fact neither team did anything over the next two innings. Through six, the Mets led 1-0 and the Orioles had not one hit, just a walk back in the second inning. Since then, Koosman retired 13 batters in a row.

The Mets threatened in the seventh. With one out, Ed Charles doubled down the left field line. After Grote popped out, Orioles manager Earl Weaver elected to walk Al Weis and pitch to Koosman. Hodges left Koosman in but the pitcher grounded out to end the inning.

The Orioles broke up the no hit bid when Paul Blair singled to lead off the seventh. But Koosman got Frank Robinson to line out to Agee and Powell to pop up to Harrelson. But with two out, Blair was able to steal second just ahead of Grote’s throw. On the very next pitch, Brooks Robinson singled up the middle. Blair scored tying the game at one. Davey Johnson grounded out ending the rally.

In the eighth, Koosman and McNally took control again and retired the side in their respective half innings. It was on to the ninth and you could cut the tension with a knife.

In the Mets ninth, Clendenon struck out and Swoboda grounded out to first. With two out, Ed Charles singled to left. With the hit and run on, Grote singled to left as Charles made it all the way to third. Orioles pitching coach George Bamberger (who would one day manage the Mets) visited the mound to talk things over with McNally. The light hitting Al Weis came up with runners on first and third. Gil Hodges had great faith in his players and had no intentions of pinch hitting for Weis who he felt was his best option against the left handed McNally.

Weis did not disappoint as he lined the first pitch he saw into leftfield, the Mets third hit in a row. Charles scored and the Mets had a one run lead. Another manager might have pinched hit for Koosman but not Hodges. He knew that pitching was how his club reached this unprecedented point of the season. Koosman came up to bat and grounded out to end the inning. It wasn’t as if Hodges was hoping Koosman would somehow get a hit. He just liked his chances with Koosman on the mound to protect the 2-1 lead in the ninth.

As NBC broadcaster Curt Gowdy stated, Koosman appeared to be getting stronger than he was earlier in the game. He retired the first two hitters without difficulty in the ninth. Then Hodges did something not in the standard play book. He moved Al Weis to leftfield along the line, moved Jones into left center, Agee into right center and Swoboda near the line in right. The Mets played with four outfielders and no second baseman. Hodges wanted to protect from a ball hit into the gaps or down the line. But the strategy went for naught as Robinson worked out a walk. On a three-two count Powell walked too. That final out became elusive enough that it prompted Hodges to remove Koosman and bring in right handed reliever Ron Taylor to face the right handed Brooks Robinson.

With the tying run on second and the winning run on first, Brooks grounded the ball hard down to third. But Hodges had correctly positioned Ed Charles and Clendenon in the no doubles defense along the lines. Charles scooped the ball and ran to third. I remember not breathing as Frank Robinson beat Charles to the bag. The Mets third baseman changed his mind realizing the futility of trying to force Robinson and fired to first where Clendenon stretched and got Brooks Robinson out by a couple of steps. The Mets held on to win as Mets fans everywhere took a collective breath. This was simply an outstanding ballgame.

Record Mets 1, Orioles 1, in best of seven series.

The series was tied one to one. The New York Mets had won their first World Series game in history. The series would now move to New York where 55,000 people would be waiting to scream and yell in game three at Shea Stadium.

40 Years Ago Today

Lou Di Falco — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 07:00:00 -0400

The Baltimore Orioles of 1969 had the greatest season of any major league team that year, even better than the Mets. The Orioles had won 109 games while losing just 59, winning the American League East by a staggering 19 games. The big difference between Baltimore and the Amazin’ Mets was expectations. The Orioles were expected to dominate unlike the Mets who were simply predicted to improve. And dominate the Orioles did.

Baltimore had a lineup of Don Buford in left, Paul Blair in center, Frank Robinson in right, Boog Powell at first, the defensive wizard Brooks Robinson at third, Elrod Hendricks behind the plate, Davey Johnson at second, and shortstop Mark Belanger. The case could be made that the Orioles had better players at every position when compared to the Mets. And if you think the Mets had the edge on the mound, guess again. While the Mets pitched phenomenally during 1969, so did the Orioles.

The Mets had Seaver, Koosman, Gentry, McAndrew, and Ryan. But Baltimore could counter that with Mike Cuellar and Dave McNally, both twenty game winners with 23 and 20 respectively. Plus they had Jim Palmer, Tom Phoebus and Jim Harden. In the bullpen, Baltimore had Pete Richert, Eddie Watt, Dick Hall, Dave Leonhard, and Marcelino Lopez. The bench included catcher Andy Etchebarren, outfielders Merv Rettenmund, and Dave May.

The Orioles manager was none other than Earl Weaver. The short, stocky Weaver was as fiery as they came. He was a fierce competitor who was often quoted as saying his best friend was a three run homer. Weaver argued with umpires constantly and was thrown out of games often. He would go nose to nose with an ump with his hat on backwards as he kicked dirt on their shoes. One time he actually brought a rule book out and pointed to a particular page as he argued. Earl was quite a show. From the players to the manager, the Orioles were stacked.

Like the Mets, the Orioles swept their championship series three games to none. Baltimore defeated the AL Western Division champion Minnesota Twins. Not too many were predicting an easy time of it for the Mets. Most assumed the Orioles would win in five or six games, maybe even a four game sweep. But Mets fans had faith but that faith would be tested right off the bat.

October 11, 1969, World Series Game 1

Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium – With twenty five wins plus one in the NLCS, there was no question that Tom Seaver would start game one for the Mets. The Orioles had the home field advantage, not because of their better record or an All Star game victory which they did not do back then, but because it was the American League’s turn to host the series. The first two games would be in Baltimore followed by three games at Shea Stadium and if necessary, another two back in Baltimore. All games were played during the day then. Night World Series games were still a few years away.

Seaver’s mound opponent was Mike Cuellar. The left handed pitcher was a hard thrower who pitched 18 complete games including five shutouts and 182 strikeouts during the regular season.

In the first inning, Cleon Jones got the first World Series hit in Mets history with two out, a single to center. But he was left there after Cuellar stuck out Donn Clendenon.

In the bottom of the first, Seaver’s first pitch was met squarely off the bat of Don Buford who drove it over the right field wall. Ron Swoboda raced back to the wall and made a valiant effort to catch the fly ball but was unable to reach it. Swoboda recently claimed he got a bad jump on the ball and felt he should have caught it. As lore goes, Buford rounded the bases and smugly suggested to Mets shortstop Bud Harrelson that they hadn’t seen anything yet. Harrelson confidently replied that Buford hadn’t either.

The Mets could not get anything going against Cuellar. Through four innings, all the Mets could muster was a single, a walk, and a double but were unable to take advantage.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Orioles rallied for three runs with two outs. Elrod Hendricks singled, Davey Johnson walked, and then Belanger singled scoring Hendricks. To add insult to injury, Cuellar singled scoring Johnson then Buford doubled driving in the final run of the inning. After four, the Orioles led the Mets 4-0.

And that’s the way it stayed until the top of the seventh when the Mets loaded the bases with one out. But all the Mets could do was score one run on a sacrifice fly from Al Weis. Cuellar allowed the Mets nothing the rest of the afternoon. The Orioles won game one 4-1 and confidently walked off the field shaking hands.

The Mets, with heads down, went into their dugout. Seaver walked into the tunnel very upset with his outing. Donn Clendenon told Seaver not to worry, it was only one game and they would still win the series.

Record Orioles 1, Mets 0, in the best of seven series.

The loss was the first for the Mets since October 2nd, the last game of the regular season.

40 Years Ago Today

Lou Di Falco — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 07:00:00 -0400

October 10, 1969

The Mets traveled to Baltimore and worked out at Memorial Stadium in preparation for the 1969 World Series which would start the next day.

40 Years Ago Today

Lou Di Falco — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 07:00:00 -0400

October 9, 1969

The Mets were off, holding a brief workout at Shea Stadium.

40 Years Ago Today

Lou Di Falco — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:00:00 -0400

October 8, 1969

The Mets were off today. The Shea Stadium grounds crew worked feverishly to repair the field torn up by thousands of fans two days prior.

40 Years Ago Today

Lou Di Falco — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:00:00 -0400

October 7, 1969

The Mets rested following their NLCS victory. So did the Baltimore Orioles who won their championship series the day before shortly after the Mets clinched at Shea. The 1969 World Series teams were set. The Miracle Mets of 1969 would meet the powerful Baltimore Orioles beginning on Saturday, October 11th in Baltimore.

40 Years Ago Today

Lou Di Falco — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:00:00 -0400

The last pennant to have been won in New York was by the Yankees of 1964. The last National League Pennant was won by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1956, 13 years prior to ‘69. That was one season removed from the Dodgers moving to Los Angeles. Not to be forgotten, the New York Giants last won the National League pennant in 1954, the last time the Giants now of San Francisco won the World Series. On this day, the New York Mets had a chance to become the fourth Major League Baseball team of the modern era to win a league championship in New York.

October 6, 1969, NLCS Game 3

Shea Stadium – Left handed hitter Pat Jarvis was set to face the Mets and Gary Gentry on this early fall Monday afternoon. The Braves had their backs to the wall having lost their only two home games in the series. The Mets on the other hand had to be feeling good about their chances of winning one of the next three games scheduled at Shea Stadium. But the Mets did not want to drag things out. They wanted to win the series as soon as possible. After 100 regular season wins, none of it would matter if the Mets could not get to the World Series.

In the top of the first, the Braves got out to an early two nothing lead off of Gentry. If anything, Atlanta got the Shea faithful to quiet down. Hank Aaron did the damage by blasting a two run homerun to give the Braves the early lead.

In the third, Tony Gonzales singled and Aaron doubled putting runners on second and third with nobody out. Gil Hodges wasted no time in pulling Gentry and replacing him with hard throwing right hander Nolan Ryan. Ryan struck out Rico Carty then Orlando Cepeda was walked intentionally. Clete Boyer looked at a third strike before catcher Bob Didier flew out to left. Ryan gave the Mets a huge lift by not allowing a run after Atlanta threatened with none out. The Braves still led 2-0.

The Mets finally got on the board in their half of the third when Tommie Agee homered. Trailing by one (2-1) in the fourth inning, Art Shamsky led off with a single. Ken Boswell followed with a home run giving the Mets a 3-2 lead. The next batter, Ed Kranepool, got thrown out trying to stretch a double into a triple otherwise the Mets might have scored more.

But as Mets fans finally settled back in their seats after all the excitement, the Braves struck back in a hurry. In the fifth, Ryan got Gonzales and Aaron to make out. But then he walked Rico Carty. The next hitter, Orlando Cepeda, hit a home run to put Atlanta back on top at 4-3. The big crowd at Shea got very quiet but that would not last long.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Nolan Ryan still in the game, singled to start things off. Wayne Garrett then joined in the home run act and hit one out putting the Mets back on top 5-4. Cleon Jones followed Garrett with a double before Braves manager Lum Harris replaced Jarvis with right hander George Stone (the same Stone who would pitch for the ’73 Mets). After Stone got Shamsky to ground out, Boswell, who had homered earlier, drove in Jones from second with a single to right. When the dust settled after the inning, the Mets held a 6-4 lead and were just twelve outs away from a pennant.

Ryan stayed in the game and got the side out in order in the sixth striking out two. In the bottom of the inning, Grote doubled. Harrelson sacrificed the Mets catcher to third. Harris then replaced Stone with submarine style pitcher Cecil Upshaw. Hodges, liking what he was seeing from his pitcher, left Ryan in to hit but he grounded to third for the second out of the inning. But leadoff batter Tommie Agee came through with a run scoring single. The Mets led 7-4 after six.

Both clubs went quietly in the seventh. In the eighth Hodges put in Rod Gaspar in right and Al Weis at second for defensive purposes. Rico Carty led off with a single against Ryan but Nolan then struck out Orlando Cepeda and Clete Boyer, both caught looking. Pinch hitter Mike Lum singled moving Carty to second. But then pinch hitter Filipe Alou lined out to short to end the inning.

Nolan Ryan remained in the game in the ninth for his seventh inning of relief. The Mets were three outs away from their first pennant. Pinch hitter Bob Aspromonte flied out to Agee. Felix Millan hit a ground ball to short that Bud Harrelson picked and threw to first for out number two. With the Shea crowd on its feet, poised to storm the field for the second time in two weeks, Tony Gonzales hit a ground ball to third baseman Wayne Garrett. Garrett threw across the diamond to Ed Kranepool for the final out. The Mets were the National League Champions of 1969. The fans stormed the field as the Mets struggled to reach the dugout. The second champagne celebration was under way.

Record - Mets 3, Braves 0, in best of five series

The 1969 National League Champion Mets would soon prepare to go to the World Series. For the first time in history, the Mets would play a meaningful game against an American League club. Prior to this, the Mets played the Yankees in the Mayor’s Trophy Game and other American League teams in spring training. While the Mets celebrated, they awaited the winner of the American League Championship Series between the Baltimore Orioles and the Minnesota Twins. Baltimore was leading the AL series two games to nothing.

40 Years Ago Today

Lou Di Falco — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 07:00:00 -0400

Winning the first game of the post season was a huge step for the Mets. At least they knew they would not return home down two games to none. Even if the Mets lost game 2, they would have to win two of three at home to move on to the World Series. The Mets had to feel confident knowing they did that often at Shea Stadium in 1969.

October 5, 1969, NLCS Game 2

Atlanta Stadium – Leading the series one game to nothing, game 2 would pit Mets left handed pitcher Jerry Koosman against Atlanta Braves hurler Ron Reed.

The Mets got off to a quick start when in the first inning, they loaded the bases. With two outs Ed Kranepool singled to right scoring Tommie Agee. After an inning the Mets had a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the first, Koosman walked the first man he faced but then struck out Tony Gonzales before Hammerin’ Hank Aaron hit into a double play.

In the second, the Mets bats went to work again. After Koosman worked out a walk, Tommie Agee launched a two run homerun. Then with two outs, Cleon Jones doubled before Art Shamsky drove him home with a single. With the Mets leading 4-0, Atlanta manager Lum Harris, pulled Reed and brought in Paul Doyle who recorded the final out of the inning.

Koosman got the Braves out in order in the second. The Mets rallied again in the third scoring two more runs knocking out Doyle who was replaced by Milt Papas. The Mets led 6-0 after three innings but weren’t done there. In the fourth, Ken Boswell socked a two run homer putting the Mets up 8-0.

The Braves finally got on the board off of Koosman when in the bottom of the fourth, Rico Carty doubled, then Orlando Cepeda doubled him home. So after four innings of play the Mets were in good shape leading 8-1.

More runs scored in the fifth. After two outs, Wayne Garrett doubled followed by an RBI single off the bat of Cleon Jones. Heading to the bottom of the fifth inning, the Mets led 9-1. While the Atlanta faithful were glum, Mets fans were giddy.

However, nothing is ever easy. In the Braves fifth, Koosman got himself into a pile of trouble. Jerry got the first two Braves out without any problem but then the wheels fell off.

Felix Millan singled to right. Gonzales worked out a walk then Hank Aaron blasted a three run homer to reduce the Braves deficit to five runs (9-4). But Atlanta wasn’t finished.

Koosman walked Rico Carty. Cepeda doubled to put runners on second and third. Clete Boyer singled up the middle scoring both Carty and Cepeda. Gil Hodges had seen enough and pulled Koosman replacing him with veteran Ron Taylor who got the final out of the inning. What was a laugher was now only a three run lead for the Mets. After five, the Mets led 9-6.

After a scoreless sixth, the Mets came to bat in the top of the seventh. Tommie Agee walked with one out. Then with two outs, Cleon Jones hit a two run homerun giving the Mets a bit more cushion. In the middle of the seventh, the Mets led 11-6.

In the bottom of the seventh, Hodges brought in Tug McGraw. Accept for an error by Bud Harrelson, McGraw got through the seventh and eighth without any problem. But in the Braves ninth, McGraw walked Millan before Gonzales singled. With no outs and runners on first and second, McGraw got Aaron looking at strike three before he induced Rico Carty to hit into a 4-6-3 double play ending the ballgame.

So the pitching rich, light hitting Mets pummeled Braves pitching in the two games in Atlanta. They scored 20 runs on 23 hits and slugged three home runs. But uncharacteristically, Mets pitching gave up 11 runs on 19 hits. Never the less, the Mets were heading back to Shea Stadium for game three the next afternoon in a commanding position.

All the Mets needed to do was to win one game at home where the Mets dominated opponents during the regular season with a 52-30 record. One more win out of three chances and the Mets would be National League Champions.

Record - Mets 2, Braves 0, in best of five series.

40 Years Ago Today

Lou Di Falco — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 07:00:00 -0400

What brought the Mets to this point, the first National League Championship Series in history, was tremendous pitching, great defense, and timely hitting. The Mets were no powerhouse. Perhaps that fact alone may have been why the Cubs did not take the Mets too seriously until it was too late.

In 1969, the Cubs had power hitters Ron Santo, Ernie Banks, and Billy Williams, all legitimate homerun threats. The Mets by comparison had to import Donn Clendenon, an older veteran who had homerun power. But while Clendenon only provided 12 homers, Tommy Agee, the Mets primary leadoff hitter, led the team with 26.

The Cubs had four hitters with over 20 homeruns. After Agee, the next highest homerun total from a Met was Art Shamsky’s 14. And in a regular season that saw the Mets win 100 games, the Mets had no hitter reach 100 RBI. The highest total was by Tommie Agee and Cleon Jones who had 76 and 75 RBI respectively.

That’s why it was so ironic that the Mets would play the way they did in the NLCS against the Western Division champion Atlanta Braves.

October 4, 1969, NLCS Game 1

Atlanta Stadium – Tom Seaver, 25 game winner and candidate for the Cy Young award, was set to start the first post season game in Mets history against Atlanta Braves starter Phil Niekro. It would be no easy task facing an Atlanta Braves lineup that included Hank Aaron, Rico Carty, Orlando Cepeda, and Clete Boyer. The four combined to hit 96 home runs, Aaron had 44 of them. For the Mets to prevail, their pitching and defense would have to come through as it did all season long.

After a scoreless first, the Mets rallied for two in the second. Jerry Grote singled in the first run with the second run scoring on a passed ball. But in uncharacteristic fashion, Seaver gave back a run immediately in the bottom half of the second when Rico Carty scored on a sacrifice fly by Clete Boyer. However, in fairness to Seaver, an error by Ken Boswell aided in the Braves rally. After two innings, the Mets led 2-1.

The Braves struck again in the third. After Seaver struck out Neikro, Felix Millan doubled. Center fielder Tony Gonzales doubled to right field driving in Millan to tie the game. Then Hank Aaron hit another double for the Braves, the third in a row scoring Gonzales. The Braves had the lead. I remember wondering if maybe the Mets just getting to the playoffs would be good enough. However, Seaver got out of further trouble as the game moved to the fourth with the Mets trailing the Braves 3-2.

After two out in the Mets fourth, Ed Kranepool singled and Jerry Grote walked. The Mets would need a big two out hit from Bud Harrelson. The shortstop came through when he hit a ball down the right field line that scored Kranepool and Grote. Harrelson ended up at third with a triple and the Mets were back on top 4-3.

With the Mets still holding the slim lead, Seaver served up a game tying homerun to Tony Gonzales to start the fifth inning. Later in the bottom of the seventh with one out, Hank Aaron hit another homer for the Braves giving them a 5-4 lead. The home crowd was roaring as a sinking feeling tugged at Mets fans’ hearts throughout the tri-state area.

But this was 1969, when the unexpected became the norm. Trailing 5-4 in the top of the eighth, Wayne Garret led off with a double to left field. Cleon Jones promptly singled him home and just like that, the Mets tied the score again. Art Shamsky followed with a single through the right side of the infield moving Jones over to second. Al Weis came into the game to run for Shamsky. Jones stole third putting runners at the corners with no one out. Boswell grounded the ball to first but Orlando Cepeda booted it allowing Jones to score and Weis to move to second base. The Mets had a 6-5 lead, still with nobody out.

Ed Kranepool grounded back to the pitcher Neikro who forced Boswell at second while Weis went to third. Jerry Grote then grounded to third. Boyer held the runner Weis and fired to first to get the out number two. On the play Kranepool moved to second.

Now the Mets had runners on second and third with two outs and leading by one run. Braves manager Lum Harris had Harrelson walked intentionally to get to Seaver. But Mets manager Gil Hodges sent up J.C. Martin to pinch hit instead.

Neikro was left in the game to pitch to the left hander who singled to right scoring Weis and Kranepool. On a throwing error from Atlanta center fielder Gonzales, Harrelson scored from first giving the Mets a four run lead. Martin was tagged out at second on the wild play on a throw from catcher Bob Didier to end the inning.

Seaver who was less than stellar in his first start in over a week. Now with the Mets leading 9-5, Ron Taylor was called in from the bullpen by Hodges to hopefully save the game.

Taylor pitched a perfect eighth but ran into trouble in the ninth. A leadoff single then a double with two out put runners on second and third. Taylor got Orlando Cepeda to pop up to second. Al Weis, who had stayed in the game after pinch running in the eighth, squeezed the ball in his glove and the Mets had their first ever post season victory.

So in a year where pitching and defense got the Mets to the post season, on this day, their bats did all the work.

Record - Mets 1, Braves 0, in best of five series.

40 Years Ago Today

Lou Di Falco — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 07:00:00 -0400

October 3, 1969

The Mets worked out at Atlanta Stadium in preparation for the National League Championship Series that would begin the next day.

40 Years Ago Today

Lou Di Falco — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:00:00 -0400

October 2, 1969

Wrigley Field - It was an extremely small consolation prize but perhaps it was something that would help Cubs fans get through the cold winter ahead. The Cubs ended the Mets nine game winning streak by ending the regular season with a 5-3 victory.

The Mets led the game early 3-0 but the Cubs came back to win off of Don Cardwell who came in relief of Gary Gentry to tune up for the post season. The loss was only the 11th in the last 49 games played. Since August 13th 1969, after the Mets were swept by the Astros, they went 38-11. The Mets went from third place, 9.5 games back to 8 games up in the 49 remaining games.

Record 100-62, first place 8 games ahead of the Chicago Cubs.

The regular season had ended. The Mets were in the final four. They would head to Atlanta to prepare for their first post season in history, the first NLCS in history.

It would be the New York Mets vs. the Atlanta Braves in the National League and the Minnesota Twins vs. the Baltimore Orioles in the American League.

The Mets accomplished the improbable. But now that the regular season was over there was much work to be done. Winning 100 games was over. As far as the Mets were concerned, it started all over in two days in Atlanta at 0-0.

40 Years Ago Today

Lou Di Falco — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:00:00 -0400

October 1, 1969

Wrigley Field - It must have been very difficult on this day for the Cubs and their fans as the Mets came to town. On a personal note, I never have given the business to any Cubs fan I have met throughout the years. As a Mets fan, I know frustration more than satisfaction. No fans can be more frustrated than Cub fans.

The 1969 Cubs were a great team with great players including Hall of Fame members Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, and Ferguson Jenkins. 1969 was suppose to have been their year. And in August, they led the NL east by 9.5 games before the Mets surged. In the forty years since 1969, the Cubs have not won a World Series or even been in one. In fact Chicago has not won in over a century. You have to feel for Cub fans.

But the Mets did not feel sorry for the Cubs. In the game the Cubs scored in the first inning off of Jerry Koosman who was making his last start of the regular season. The run ended the Mets pitcher's scoreless streak of 42 consecutive innings.

With the Mets leading 5-3 going to the bottom of the ninth, the Cubs rallied for two sending the game to extra innings with the score tied at five. In the top of the 12th, Art Shamsky singled in the go ahead run. When the dust cleared, the Mets won 6-5, their 100th victory of the season and their ninth in a row.

Record 100-61, first place (clinched) 9 games ahead of the Cubs.

40 Years Ago Today

Lou Di Falco — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 07:00:00 -0400

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.

40 Years Ago Today

Lou Di Falco — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 07:00:00 -0400

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.

40 Years Ago Today

Lou Di Falco — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 07:00:00 -0400

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.

40 Years Ago Today

Lou Di Falco — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 07:00:00 -0400

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.

40 Years Ago Today

Lou Di Falco — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 07:00:00 -0400

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.

40 Years Ago Today

Lou Di Falco — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 07:00:00 -0400

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.

40 Years Ago Today

Lou Di Falco — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 07:00:00 -0400

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.

40 Years Ago Today

Lou Di Falco — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 07:00:00 -0400

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.

40 Years Ago Today

Lou Di Falco — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 07:00:00 -0400

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.

40 Years Ago Today

Lou Di Falco — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 07:00:00 -0400

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.

40 Years Ago Today

Lou Di Falco — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 07:00:00 -0400

September 20, 1969

Shea Stadium - Bob Moose faced Jim McAndrew on this Saturday afternoon. For a rare time this season, something special happened against the Mets. Moose shutout the Mets with a complete game effort. In fact, he pitched a no hitter. Only three Mets reached base on walks. Wayne Garret came the closest to breaking up the no hitter when he hit a deep drive to the outfield in the sixth that Roberto Clemente made a great catch on. The Mets had not scored a run in 18 consecutive innings. The Mets fan base may have started to get just a bit nervous.

Record 91-61, first place 4 games ahead of Chicago. It wasn't all bad news. The Cardinals defeated the Cubs by a score of 4-1. With the Cubs loss, the Mets magic number dropped to 6.

40 Years Ago Today

Lou Di Falco — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 07:00:00 -0400

September 19, 1969

Shea Stadium - Up to this point, the Mets had played twenty doubleheaders. They had swept ten, split eight, and lost two. On this date, the Mets were set to play a twi-night doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates due to a rainout back on April 24th.

Nolan Ryan faced Bob Veale in the first game. The Pirates rallied for three runs in the second. Late in the game, the Pirates scored four more runs off of call up lefty Les Rohr. Rohr was a draft choice the Mets thought would blossom but never did. The Mets lost the first game 8-2.

It did not get much better in game two. Mets pitching gave up eight runs again, seven charged to starter Jim McAndrew. Pirates starter Luke Walker shut out the Mets, pitching a complete game. The Mets were swept for only the third time in a doubleheader.

Record 91-60, first place, 4 games ahead of the Cubs. Chicago played a doubleheader as well and split against St. Louis. In doing so, the Cubs picked up a game on the Mets but lost another in the magic number countdown which was reduced to 7.

40 Years Ago Today

Lou Di Falco — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:00:00 -0400

September 18, 1969

Jarry Park - Tom Seaver had not lost a game since August 5th. Since then, Seaver had won seven of his last eight starts getting a no decision in an extra inning game the Mets lost. Most impressively, Seaver's last five victories were all complete game efforts. Tom just kept getting stronger with each outing.

This start was no exception. Seaver manhandled the Expos lineup striking out 9, walking 3, allowing just 5 hits and more importantly, no runs. Another complete game, Seaver's sixth in a row, was the ace's 23rd of the season. Seaver's counterpart, Bill Stoneman, did not pitch bad either. He allowed single runs in the first and sixth inning taking the loss 2-0. Ed Kranepool accounted for the Mets offense driving in the first run of the game with a single and then homering in the sixth inning. The win was the Mets 13th of the last 14 games.

Record 91-58, first place 5 games ahead of the Cubs. Chicago lost at Wrigley Field to the Philadelphia Phillies on this date. The Mets win and the Cubs loss reduced the Mets magic number to 8 games. Any combination of Mets wins plus Cubs losses totaling 8 would give the Mets their first championship in history. The Mets would now head home for their final home stand of 1969.

40 Years Ago Today

Lou Di Falco — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 07:00:00 -0400

September 17, 1969

Jarry Park - The Mets traveled to Montreal for the final time in 1969. Jerry Koosman took the mound and was outstanding. Koosman pitched another complete game shutting out the Expos. Jerry struck out three, walked four, and allowed just six hits. The Mets rallied for three runs in the fourth inning then scored single runs in the seventh and ninth innings to win the game 5-0. The win was Koosman's 15th of the season and his third complete game shutout.

Record 90-58, first place four games ahead of the Cubs who won at home against Philadelphia. The Mets magic number to clinch the National League East was reduced to 10.