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Tuesday, July 09, 2019

Amazin' Date 7/9/1969: Jimmy Qualls Breaks Up Tom Seaver's Bid For Perfect Game

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
AMAZIN'
THE MIRACLE METS
50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #81: Wednesday, July 9, 1969 - BR
Chicago Cubs @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

Tom Seaver Pitches the Imperfect Game; Bid for No-Hitter Ends On Jimmy Qualls Hit in Ninth Inning.

A jam packed Shea Stadium witnesses what is to date the finest pitched ballgame by a New York Metropolitan.

Game two versus the Cubs features Tom Seaver facing off against Chicago's wiley Ken Holtzman.  The Mets score three early runs, and add another in the seventh en route to a 4-0 whitewashing of the N.L. East division leaders.  Tommie Agee is 2 for 5 with a double, triple, and a run batted in.  Cleon Jones connects on his tenth home run of the season.  Even Seaver drives in a run with a base hit to right in the bottom of the second.  Leo Durocher's gang do themselves no favors by committing three errors and yielding two unearned runs.

Making his 14th start of the season, Tom Terrific takes a perfect game into the ninth inning.  After retiring catcher Randy Hundley for out number one, in steps little utilized rookie outfielder Jim Qualls.  Appearing in only his 18th major league game and entering the box for only his 48th official major league at-bat, Qualls lines a clean single to left/center breaking up Seaver's bid for a no-hitter and perfect game.  A thunderous ovation ensues.  He then retires the next two batters to close out a brilliant complete game shutout performance.  The 50,000 plus fans in attendance roar with emphatic appreciation as Seaver and the Mets walk triumphantly off the field.

Seaver yields just the one hit, walks none, and strikes out eleven while improving his record to 14-3 on the season with a 2.46 ERA.

The Mets win their seventh in a row and close to within 3.5 games of the Cubs.  They arrive at the season's midpoint an amazing 13 games above (.500) par.  The Mets and Cubs wrap up the series tomorrow afternoon at Shea.

  • Mets Record: 47-34 (.580)
  • N.L. East: 2nd; 3.5 GB


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