Amazin' Date 10/12/1969: Al Weis and Jerry Koosman Lift Mets to Game Two Victory at Baltimore

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

1969

WORLD SERIES

GAME TWO

New York Mets     2

Baltimore Orioles  1

FINAL
MEMORIAL STADIUM

Mets Draw Even With The Birds on Jerry Koosman's Gem

• GAME TWO: Sunday, October 12, 1969 - BR

Baltimore's Dave McNally and Jerry Koosman duel to a one all tie through eight innings in game two Sunday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.  Donn Clendenon connects on a long home run to right off McNally in the fourth.  Jerry Koosman's bid for a no-hitter is broken up by Paul Blair's base hit leading off the seventh.  Brooks Robinson similarly ruins Koosman's bid for a shutout with a game tying single scoring Blair.  With two outs in the top of the ninth, Orioles manager Earl Weaver allows McNally to yield three straight hits from the bottom of the Mets line-up.  Ed Charles and Jerry Grote slash consecutive singles to left.  Al Weis then plates Charles with the go-ahead run on yet another base hit to left.  With two outs in the last half of the ninth, Koosman issues consecutive base on balls to Frank Robinson and Boog Powell.  Gil Hodges then emerges from the dugout summoning Ron Taylor from the bullpen, who induces Brooks Robinson into a game ending ground ball to third.  Jerry Koosman earns the first ever World Series victory in Mets history, allowing just one run on two hits and three walks with four strikeouts. 

The series now shifts to Shea Stadium, Queens, for game three.  Baltimore's Jim Palmer and Gary Gentry are Tuesday's scheduled starters.

• GAME ONE

Mrs. Babe Ruth throws out the ceremonial first pitch.

Amazin' Date 10/11/1969: Mets Bow to Mike Cuellar and the Birds in Game One at Baltimore

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

1969

WORLD SERIES

GAME ONE

NEW YORK METS           1

BALTIMORE ORIOLES    4

FINAL

MEMORIAL STADIUM

Just as pundits anticipated, the Mets bow to the mighty Baltimore Orioles in game one of the 1969 Fall Classic at Memorial Stadium.

• GAME ONE: Saturday, October 11, 1969 - BR

Baltimore southpaw and 23-game winner Mike Cuellar stays true to form, limiting the visiting Mets to just one earned run on six hits and four walks with eight strikeouts through nine complete innings pitched.  Cuellar also helps his own cause at the plate with a hit and a run batted in.  Otherwise left fielder Don Buford leads the Birds with a double, home run, and two runs batted in.  Shortstop Mark Belanger accounts for the Orioles fourth run batted in.  Baltimore makes the most of their opportunities going 3 for 4 with runners in scoring position.  The Mets on the other hand leave eight runners on base and bat just 1 for 5 with runners in scoring position.  They score their lone run in the seventh on a sac fly from Al Weis plating Donn Clendenon.  Suffice it to say the afternoon does not go well for Tom Seaver.  He yields four earned runs on six hits and one walk with three strikeouts through five innings pitched.  Don Cardwell and Ron Taylor quiet down the Orioles over the final three frames.

Amazin' Date 9/17/1969: Jerry Koosman Whitewashes Expos at Parc Jarry

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #148: Wednesday, September 17, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ Montreal Expos
Parc Jarry

After a day of travel and well deserved rest, the Mets enter the last stage of their road trip with two games against the Expos at Montreal's Jarry Parc.

Kerry Koosman Hurls Second Straight Complete Game Shutout

Making his 27th start of the season Jerry Koosman hurls his second straight shutout and his third straight complete game victory.  He allows Montreal no runs on six hits and four walks with three strikeouts to earn his 15th win of the season against nine losses with a glistening 2.27 ERA.  New York posts three runs in the fourth off Expos starter Gary Waslewski, whom allows five hits and four walks with four strikeouts through five innings pitched.  The Mets score single runs in the seventh and ninth innings against Montreal's bullpen en route to a 5-0 final score.  Wayne Garrett is 2 for 3 with two runs batted in.  Ron Swoboda, Jerry Grote, and Al Weis, each drive in a run apiece.  Due in part to yesterday's off day and Chicago's victory, the first place Mets end business this Wednesday evening four games ahead of the Cubs.

However, every Mets victory at this point merely adds to this season's growing franchise record.  Today they win their 90th game of the season with 14 games left to play.

• Mets Record: 90-58
• N.L. East: 1st Place; 4 Games Up

Amazin' Date 9/13/1969: Tom Seaver Tops Bucs for 22nd Victory

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #145: Saturday, September 13, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ Pittssburgh Pirates
Forbes Field

METS WIN TENTH IN A ROW

The Mets win their third straight against Pittsburgh, thereby extending their winning streak to ten.  It's New York's second such winning streak this season of ten games or more.  Meanwhile Chicago bows to the Cardinals at St. Louis marking their ninth loss over their last eleven games.  The Cubs now trail the Mets in the standings by 3.5 games.

Willie Stargell drives in the Pirates first run in the third with a single off Tom Seaver.  Pittsburgh maintains their one run lead through six.  But Ed Charles scores in the seventh inning when Al Weis bounces into a force play at second.  Ron Swoboda then gives the Mets 5-1 lead in the seventh with a grand slam home run off reliever Chuck Hartenstein.  Pittsburgh scores once more in the bottom of the eighth.  But Seaver locks down New York's 5-2 victory with a scoreless ninth.  Tom Terrific allows two earned runs on six hits and five walks with four strikeouts in a complete game effort for his 22nd win against seven losses with a 2.41 ERA.  Outfielder Amos Otis is recalled and starts in left with one hit in four at-bats.

• Mets Record: 88-57
• N.L. East: 1st Place; 3.5 Game Up

Amazin' Date 9/5/1969: Tom Seaver Earns 20th Win of Season

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Philadelphia Phillies @ New York Mets
Double-Header
Shea Stadium

The Amazin's open what is easily the most important home stand of their eight history featuring the much anticipated two game showdown against the first place Chicago Cubs.  Before then New York hosts Philadelphia in a four game weekend series at Shea Stadium, while the Cubs have their hands full hosting the third place Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field.

TOM SEAVER WINS 20th GAME OF SEASON

• GAME ONE: Friday, September 5, 1969 - BR

Tom Seaver wins twenty games for the first time in his marvelous three year career.  Making his 31st start of the season the 1967 rookie of the year limits the Phillies to just one run on five hits with one walk and seven strikeouts through nine innings pitched.  His ERA is now 2.48 and falling fast.  Seaver also helps himself out the plate with a hit and run batted in.  Phillies center fielder John Briggs goes 3 for 4 off Seaver with a double, and triple.  The Mets score three unearned runs against starter Grant Jackson who otherwise surrenders four hits and three walks in seven innings pitched.  Al Weis is 1 for 3 with a run batted in.  Jerry Grote's two run home run off reliever John Boozer in the eighth gives the Mets a 5-1 final margin of victory.

• GAME TWO: Friday, September 5, 1969 - BR

The Mets surrender two late runs and drop the nightcap by a 4-2 final score.  Philadelphia opens the game with consecutive hits off starter Jim McAndrew.  Johnny Callison plates the game's first run with a sac-fly to right.  The Phillies then connect for consecutive extra-base hits in the fourth but New York limits the damage to one run when Art Shamsky throws out Johnny Callison at third.  The Mets tie the game with runs batted in from Duffy Dyer and Bub Harrelson in the fifth.  Philadelphia scores a third time off McAndrew in the seventh, then pick up an insurance run against Ron Taylor on John Brigg's base hit in the eighth.  The Mets strand two base runners in the ninth.

Chicago gets battered at Wrigley Field, 9-2, by the Pirates.  As a result of the extra contest, the Mets gain one-half game on the Cubs to end the day just 4.5 games back of first.

• Mets Record: 78-57
• N.L. East: 2nd; 4.5 GB

Amazin' Date 7/27/1969: Misplays Abound in Mets Loss to Reds

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #96: Sunday, July 27, 1969- BR
Cincinnati Reds @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

The Cincinnati Reds build a five run lead from which the Mets do not recover.  Cincy jumps all over Mets starter Don Cardwell with haste.  Pete Rose leads off the game with a double to left and eventually scores when Bobby Tolan grounds into a fielder's choice.  With one out and Tolin the runner at first, Tony Perez connects on his 25th home run of the season for a 3-0 Reds lead.  But the Mets true undoing occurs in the fourth.  Two errors by shortstop Al Weis and another by first baseman Donn Clendenon pave the way towards a pair of unearned runs and a five run deficit.  Don Cardwell is done after 3.1 innings having yielded five runs, three earned, on seven hits.  The Mets finally get on the board with two runs in the sixth on a single from Cleon Jones and a sac-fly from Clendenon.  The teams trade runs in the eighth.  Cincy reliever Wayne Granger finalizes the Reds 6-3 victory with his 13th save of the season.

The game marks the sixth time this season attendance exceeds 50,000 at Shea Stadium.  Sunday's announced crowd of 55,391 is their second largest crowd of the season.

• Mets Record: 55-41 (.573)
• N.L. East: 2nd; 5 GB

Amazin' Date 7/16/19: Slugging Mets Take Series at Wrigley

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #88: Wednesday, July 16, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ Chicago Cubs
Wrigley Field

The Mets win rubber game at Wrigley; close within four games of the first place Cubs.

Said simply, both starting pitchers Don Cardwell and Fergie Jenkins are terrible.  The Cubs rough up Cardwell for four runs on six hits in only 1.2 innings pitched.  The Mets meanwhile tag Jenkins for five runs on six hits.  Tommie Agee finally knocks Jenkins out if the box with a home run leading off the second.  The Mets ultimately prevail by a 9-5 final.  Al Weis hits his second home run in as many days, and Art Shamsky hits his seventh home run of the season.  J.C Martin, Ed Kranepool, Ken Boswell, and Wayne Garrett, also drive in runs for the Mets.  Cal Koonce earns his fourth victory with a marvelous five inning effort, yielding no runs on four hits with a strikeout.  Ron Taylor closes out the game with two scoreless innings in relief of Koonce to earn his ninth save of the season.

Chicago still leads the season series by a slim 7-6 margin.  The Mets and Cubs do not meet again until September.  In the meantime, the dog days of summer are upon us.

• Mets Record: 51-37 (.579)
• N.L. East: 2nd; 4 GB

Amazin' Date 7/15/1969: Mets Tame Cubs For 50th Victory of the Season

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS
50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #87: Tuesday, July 15, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ Chicago Cubs
Wrigley Field

New York Mets Achieve 50th Victory in Record Time

Gary Gentry and the Mets knot up their series with the Cubs at one apiece.  After trading runs in the third, the Mets score three times in the fourth and one more time in the fifth.  Chicago rallies for one run in the sixth and two late runs in the eighth, but would score no more.

Gentry yields four runs, three earned, on eight hits and just one walk with four strikeouts through 7.2 innings for his ninth victory of the season against seven losses.  With two outs in the top of the eighth, the Mets rookie starter surrenders back to back home runs to Billy Williams and Ron Santo.  Manager Gil Hodges then calls upon Ron Taylor who pitches the final 1.1 innings with two strikeouts for his eighth save of the season.

Tommy Agee opens the scoring with a triple scoring Weis from second base in the third.  The Mets end up hamming Cubs starter Dick Selma for five earned runs on eight hits and a walk through 4.1 innings pitched.  Al Weis connects on his first home run of the season - a three run shot in the fourth - and Ken Boswell hits his third of the season an inning later.

For those who recall, the 1962 Mets failed to win 50 games all season.  In 1965 they gain their 50th victory with just five games remaining on the schedule.  Three season ago is the first time the Mets win their 50th prior to the month of September.  Last season - their first under manager Gil Hodges - the Mets rally for their 50th victory on Aug. 2, with a 3-2 win over the Dodgers at Los Angeles in their 109th game of the season.  Today's victory over the Cubs at Wrigley marks the Mets 50th victory in just their 87th game.

Oh, and they're within five games of first place, again.

Something special is brewing.

• Mets Record: 50-37 (.574)
• N.L. East: 2nd; 5 GB

Amazin' Date 6/2/1969: Mets Defeat Dodgers; Extend Win Streak to Five

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #46: Monday, June 2, 1969 - BR
Los Angeles Dodgers @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

Gil Hodges Has Mets Playing .500 Baseball in June for First Time in Team History.

In case you haven't been paying attention, times are changing in Queens.

Just when the Mets achieve par with an 18-18 record through mid May, they turn right around and lose five in a row.  But as they enter the month of June, the Mets are suddenly in the midst of a season high five game winning streak, and more importantly have climbed back up to par with a 23-23 record to date.  Monday's victory over the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers also marks the latest point in any season during the Mets now eight years of existence in which they've been at the .500 mark.  While some on the team found this reason for minor celebration, Tom Seaver was having none of it to the point of discouraging any sense of accomplishment.

On that note, Seaver's stable mate Jerry Koosman has pitched superbly since returning from the disabled list.  Monday night's series opener against the Dodgers was no different.  Making only his seventh start of the season, Koosman limited the former Brooklyn Bums to just one earned run on five hits and two walks with eight strikeouts through nine complete innings for only his second victory of the season.  The Mets in turn would provided Koosman with all the run support he would need in the fourth inning.  With Cleon Jones and Ed Charles on base, Jerry Grote singled home Jones, and Al Weis doubled home Charles for a 2-0 Mets lead.  Dodgers starter Claude Osteen lasted seven innings, allowing the two runs on seven hits and three walks in earning his fourth loss of the season against seven wins.  Right fielder Bill Russell connected on a solo home run off Koosman in the eight, but the Dodgers would score no more as the Mets closed out a 2-1 final margin of victory.

• Mets Record:  23-23 (.500)
• N.L.. East:  3rd; 8.5 GB

Amazin' Date 5/10/1969: Seaver Wins Battle Against Astros and Himself at Shea

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #28: Saturday, May 10, 1969 - BR
Houston Astros @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

Well Rested Mets Cruise to Series Opening Victory Over Astros

After two days of rest, the Mets got their first look this season at the Houston Astros.

Making his eighth start of the season, Tom Seaver faced off against Houston's crafty southpaw Denny Lemaster.

Leading off the bottom of the fourth Amos Otis and Cleon Jones struck for consecutive singles off Lemaster.  Ed Charles followed with a double to center field scoring Otis.  Ron Swoboda was issued  an intentional walk to load the bases.  Denny Lemaster then caught Jerry Grote looking at strike three.  With one out, Al Weis lofted a sac-fly to center scoring Jones for a 2-0 Mets lead.  Cleon Jones later connected off Lemaster in the sixth for his fifth home run of the season.

Tom Seaver took care of the rest, but first needed to rectify control issues in the early going.  Seaver walked three batters in the first inning, another in the second, and issued six walks overall, not to mention unleashing two wild pitches.  Otherwise, he limited the Astros to one earned run on just four hits with four strikeouts en route to his third consecutive complete game victory.  He improves to 4-2 on the season with a fast plummeting 2.08 ERA.

With two hits in four at-bats, Cleon Jones (.402) lifted his average back above the .400 mark.  Saturday's game also marked Cleon's 13th multi-hit game of the season.

• Mets Record:  13-15
• N.L. East:  3rd; 5 GB