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 9/24/1969: New York Mets Clinch N.L. East Pennant

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #157: Wednesday, September 24, 1969 - BR
St. Louis Cardinals @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

NEW YORK METS 
CLINCH NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST PENNANT

GARY GENTRY HURLS SHUTOUT AGAINST ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

JUBILANT FANS UPROOT PLAYING FIELD IN SHEA STADIUM CELEBRATION

"Goodbye, Leo, we hate to see you go!"

... the anthem of New York's summer.

Despite Chicago's afternoon victory over Montreal at Wrigley Field, the Cubs no longer are a matter of concern to the Amazin' Mets whom defeat the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday evening to clinch the first ever National League East pennant before a raucous crowd at Shea Stadium.

Donn Clendenon gets the party started straightaway in the first inning with a long three run home run to right/center off Cardinals starter Steve Carlton.  After Ron Swoboda follows with a base on balls, Ed Charles connects on New York's second home run of the inning knocking Steve Carlton outta the box.  

Pandemonium ...

With one out in the fifth Donn Clendenon goes the other way for his second home run of the night giving the Mets a 6-0 lead and ultimate margin of victory.

Bedlam ...

Rookie Gary Gentry winds up with the great fortune of hurling the Mets division clincher.  Making his 33rd start of the season, Gentry allows the St. Louis Cardinals just four scattered hits and two walks with five strikeouts in a brilliant complete game shutout performance.  With one out and runners on first and second in the top of the ninth, Gil Hodges sticks with his man.  Gentry rewards his manager by inducing Joe Torre into a game ending 6-4-3 double play.

"... ground ball to short, this could be it.  There's one; there's two; the game is over.  At 9:07 on Sept. 24th the Mets have won the Eastern Division of the National League ... Look at that scene!"  -  Lindsey Nelson

Fans instantly pour on to the field in wild elation as New York's triumphant heroes scatter towards the safety of their locker room.

"I knew I got it all.  I didn't think there was any ball park in the world that would hold that one.  I knew it was gone."  -  Donn Clendenon on his first inning home run.   

The game marks New York's fifth straight win, and their 20th of the month against just seven losses.

• METS RECORD: 96-61 (.611)
• Clinch National League East Division Title
• Six Game Lead Over Chicago Cubs

YouTube: Game Highlights; Clubhouse Celebration

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 8/6/1969: Johnny Bench Home Run Sinks Mets

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS
50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #106: Wednesday, August 6, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ Cincinnati Reds
Crosley Field

The Mets jump out to an early lead but fail to protect it.  Tommie Agee and Cleon Jones kick start a first inning rally with a pair of hits.  With two outs Ed Charles drives home Agee and Ron Swoboda drives in Jones.  Cincinnati gets one back in the bottom half of the frame.  Pete Rose leads-off with a triple and scores on Alex Johnson's sac-fly.  In the third Pete Rose doubles home Chico Ruiz knotting the game at two.  Leading off the bottom of the seventh, Johnny Bench connects on his 14th home run of the season putting the Reds ahead for good.  Cincinnati starter Jim Merritt goes the distance yielding two runs on ten hits and no walks with six strikeouts for his eleventh victory of the season.  Jim McAndrew allows three earned runs on seven hits and no walks with five strikeouts through eight innings pitched.  He falls to 3-4 on the season with a 4.85 ERA.  The Mets lose the series to the Reds three games to one and now find themselves nine games out of first place.

• Mets Record: 59-47 (.556)
• N.L. East: 2nd; 9 GB

Amazin' Date 7/6/1969: Mets Sweep Pirates Series at Forbes Field

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #79: Sunday, July 6, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ Pittsburgh Pirates
Forbes Field

After a day off, the Mets pick up where they leave off on Friday.  Donn Clendenon opens the scoring with a first inning double scoring Bobby Pheil.  However, the Mets find themselves trailing 6-1 after two innings of play.  Starter Jim McAndrew can not pitch out of the first upon surrendering four runs on Roberto Clemente's RBI, and three run home run from catcher Jerry May.  Clemente drives in another two runs in the second.

The Mets comeback commences in the fourth with runs batted in from Jerry Grote and Ron Swoboda.  Ed Charles then homers off Pirates starter Luke Walker in the fifth.  An inning later Cleon Jones knocks in his 51st run of the season, and Donn Clendenin follows with a big three run home run off Bucs reliever Chuck Hartenstein giving the Mets an 8-6 lead.  Cal Koonce yields a run in the bottom half of the sixth but otherwise yields just three hits and no walks with six strikeouts over the final four innings of play.  Ron Taylor is credited with the victory, and Koonce earns his sixth save.

With Sunday's 8-7 victory the Mets complete a three game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates at Forbes Field.  They outscore the heavy hitting Bucs through three games by a 28-15 margin.  The Mets are now winners of five in a row and close out the road trip with a 6-2 record.

The Mets are heading home where they'll face the first place Chicago Cubs at Shea Stadium.

• Mets Record: 45-34
• N.L. East: 2nd; 5.5 GB

Amazin' Date 6/29/1969: Tom Seaver Becomes Mets All-Time Leader in Wins

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #61: Sunday, June 29, 1969 - BR
Pittsburgh Pirates @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

Mets Salvage Series Finale Against Pirates

With Sunday's complete game victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates Tom Seaver becomes the New York Mets all-time leader in wins.  En route to career victory #44 Seaver yields three earned runs on six hits and four walks with ten strikeouts.  He improves his record to 12-3 on the season with a 2.57 ERA.  Tom Terrific also reaches double-digit strikeouts for the second time this season and the seventh time in his career.

The Mets provide Seaver with seven runs getting a pair of RBI each from Ed Charles and Cleon Jones.  Recently acquired Donn Clendenon is 2 for 3 with three RBI.  All seven runs are charged to Pirates starter Bob Veale on seven hits and four walks with one strikeout in only 3.2 innings pitched.  First baseman Carl Taylor who both tripled and homered off Seaver drives in all three Pirates runs.

Mets salvage the series finale against the Pirates as well as snap a four game skid.  They now lead the third place Pirates by three games.  However despite Sunday's victory the Mets fall another half game behind the first place Cubs.

• Mets Record: 39-32
• N.L. East: 2nd; 8.5 GB

Amazin' Date 6/1/1969: Mets Walk Away With Sweep Over Giants

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #45: Sunday, June 1, 1969- BR
San Francisco Giants @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

The Mets complete a weekend sweep of the San Francisco Giants; Extend winning streak to a season best four games.

Each of Sunday afternoon's starting pitchers found themselves taking unexpectedly early showers.  Jim McAndrew for the Mets was lifted after just 1.2 innings pitched, while Giants starter Bobby Bolin tossed 4.2 innings before likewise yielding to the pen.

The Giants scored single runs in each of the first two innings.  A rare error by Bud Harrelson led to an unearned run in the first, while a wild pitch unleashed by Don Cardwell pitching in relief of McAndrew in the second helped the Giants gain a 2-0 advantage.  The Mets struck right back.  With one out in the bottom half of the second both Ron Swoboda and Ed Charles singled putting runners on the corners.  Next up, Jerry Grote drove them both home with a triple into the right/center gap.  However, Willie McCovey put the Giants ahead again in the fifth with his 16th home run of the season.  Undaunted, the Mets chased Bolin from the mound in the bottom half of the frame with two runs on four hits and two walks.  But in their very next at-bat, San Francisco knotted the game again at four apiece courtesy of a two-out RBI hit from third baseman Jim Davenport.

Facing Giants reliever Joe Gibbon, Bud Harrelson led-off the bottom of the ninth drawing a four pitch walk.  After Tommy Agee successfully bunted Harrelson over to second, Wayne Garrett grounded third to first advancing Harrelson to third.  Gibbon then issued Cleon Jones an intentional walk, then perhaps pitch around Amos Otis and walked him as well.  With the bases loaded, Ron Swoboda stepped in against Joe Gibbon whom issued yet another walk thus forcing home Buddy Harrelson with the game winning run.

Jim McAndrew allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and four walks in 1.2 innings of work.  Forced into long relief duty Don Cardwell yielded two earned runs on five hits and two walks with a pair of strikeouts.  Ron Taylor earned the win after pitching a scoreless ninth inning.

The Mets exceeded 125,000 in attendance over the three game series against the Giants.  They'll next host that other California team from Los Angeles.

• Mets Record:  22-23 (.400)
• N.L. East:  3rd; 9 GB

Amazin' Date 5/31/1969: Ed Charles Stars in Mets Victory Over Giants

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #44: Saturday, May 31,1969 - BR
San Francisco Giants @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

Gentry and The Glider Lead Mets in Game Two Victory at Shea

For a fourth time this season, the Mets are winners of three in a row.  On Saturday, they emerged victorious for a second straight game over the visiting San Francisco Giants.

The rookie Gary Gentry climbed the hill at Shea Stadium and was opposed by the wily Gaylord Perry.  All remained quiet through their first respective turns through the line-up.  In the fourth, Willie McCover broke the silence with a long two run home run off Gentry.  But the Mets promptly struck back in the bottom half of the frame.  With two outs, Ed Kranepool singled, and Ron Swoboda followed with a walk.  Ed Charles then connected off Perry on a three run home run.  Charles would provide the Mets with an insurance run in the eighth, plating Wayne Garrett with a one-out base hit to left/center for a 4-2 Mets lead, and ultimate margin of victory.

Gary Gentry evened his record at 4-4 on the season, allowing San Francisco two runs on five hits and three walks, with six strikeouts through seven innings of work.  Tug McGraw pitched two scoreless innings with four strikeouts en route to his first save of the season.

• Mets Record:  21-23
• N.L. East:  3rd; 9 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

Amazin' Date 4/27/1969: Cleon Jones Blast Sends Shea Crowd Home Happy

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #17: Sunday, April 27, 1969 - BR
Double Header: Chicago Cubs @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

GAME ONE: Cubs Make Mets Pay for Late Inning Mistakes; Take Third Straight at Shea Stadium.

A mere two outs away from certain victory, the Mets failed to close out the front end of Sunday's double-header against the first place Cubs and as a result paid the price.

The Mets staked starting pitcher Gary Gentry to an early 3-0 lead in the first on runs batted in by Cleon Jones, Ed Kranepool, and Ron Swoboda.  But Chicago struck back with a pair of runs in the third on a two RBI double off the bat of Ron Santo.  After surrendering consecutive hits to Don Kessinger and Glen Beckert leading off the fifth, left fielder Billy Williams plated the tying run on a fielder's choice.

Cubs starter Dick Selma was chased from the game in the bottom of the fifth.  Upon surrendering consecutive hits to Wayne Garrett and Ken Boswell, Cleon Jones sent Selma heading for the showers with an opposite field double scoring both runners.  Clones would advance to third on Kranepool's sac fly, then scored on Swododa's sac fly to center giving the Mets a 6-3 lead.

Gary Gentry exited the game on the winning side of a 6-3 game after pitching six full innings, while allowing three earned runs on six hits and three walks with three strikeouts.  He was lifted for a pinch hitter with one in the home sixth.

Enter Cal Koonce in relief of Gentry  After retiring his first five batters faced, he issued a two out walk to Randy Hundley in the eighth, then yielded Al Spangler's RBI double to left scoring Hundley to bring the Cubs within one.

FINAL

Cubs   8

Mets   6

With Cal Koonce still pitching in the top the ninth, Don Kessinger drew a lead-off walk.  Then with one out Billy William reached safely on an E4 charged to Wayne Garrett.  Next up, Ron Santo likewise reached safely on an E5 charged to Kevin Collins; Kessinger scored.  Ernie Banks followed with a single to score Williams.  Randy Hundley would then deliver the final blow with a three run home run off Koonce for an 8-6 Cubs lead, and ultimate final margin of victory.  Chicago's Phil Regan struck out the side in the ninth to close out the Mets and earn his fourth relief victory of the season.

Cal Koonce is charged with both his second blown save and second loss of the season.  Making an appearance on his throw day, Tom Seaver faced two batters in the ninth, walking one and fanning the other.  Koonce has now surrendered eleven runs (seven earned) on nine hits and 13 walks in 10.1 innings for a 6.10 ERA through seven appearances to date.


Game #18: Sunday, April 27, 1969 - BR
Game Two: Chicago Cubs @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

Game Two: Cleon Jones Ninth Inning Home Run Sends Shea Stadium Crown Home Happy; Mets Gain Split of Twinbill.

After losing game one in heartbreaking fashion, the Met orchestrated a most thrilling game two finish to at least send the Shea Stadium crowd of over 37,000 smiling all the way home.

Making his fifth start of the season, sophomore starter Jim McAndrew toed the rubber in Sunday's series finale, and was opposed by Chicago's Rich Nye.  For the first five innings the two dueled through a scoreless tie.

McAndrew's counterpart reached safely leading off the top of the sixth on an E4 charged to Ken Boswell (his eighth of the season).  When Don Kessinger followed with a sharp hit to right, Manager Hodges turned to his bullpen with haste.  Tug Mcgraw would pitch four scoreless innings while allowing three hits and striking out six.

Rich Nye continued pressing on for the Cubs, and continued shutting out the Mets through eight full innings.  Leading off the ninth, however, Rod Gaspar would make it safely to second on an untimely error by Billy Williams.  From the dugout, Leo Durocher then ordered Ken Boswell be given an intentional pass.  Next up, Ed Charles was retired on a pop foul behind third base.  Then in stepped the red hot Cleon Jones who is presently hitting above the.400 mark.  Yet Leo made no move from the Cubs dugout.  And so with one out and the double play in order, Rich Nye served, and Cleon Jones volleyed Nye's pitch over the left field wall for a three run home run to end the game in most dramatic fashion.

FINAL

Cubs   0

Mets   3

Tommie Agee appeared as a pinch hitter with one out in the eighth.  It marked his first game back since last playing ten days ago against the Pirates.  Cleon Jones continues his hot hitting, going 2 for 4, with three RBI.  He is now batting .443 for the season.

Amazin' Date 4/21/1969: Mets Drop Extra-Inning Heart Breaker to Phillies

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS
50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #13: Monday, April 21, 1969 - BR
Philadelphia Phillies @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

Home is Where the Heart Break Is; Woody Fryman Dominates Mets Yet Again.

To say Woody Fryman spoiled the Mets return home to Shea Stadium is wording it mildly.  In each of his two starts against the Mets, the Phillies veteran has offered them no quarter.  Last Monday, he tossed a complete game four-hitter, allowing just one run and striking out six.  On this day Fryman pitched another ten full innings, limiting the Mets to just one run on five hits and one walk, with eight strikeouts.

Early on the Mets appeared to have Fryman's number.  Cleon Jones and Ed Charles strung together consecutive hits leading off the bottom of the second.  Ron Swoboda then plated Jones with the Mets third straight hit.  But Fryman would regroup himself.  After issuing a two-out walk to Ed Kranepool, the crafty vet would retire twelve straight batters until Amos Otis snapped the string a two-out double in the sixth.

FINAL

Phillies  2

Mets      1

11-innings

Rookie Gary Gentry would incur a heartbreaking no decision.  Despite issuing eight base on balls, Gentry allowed just one run on Larry Hisle's fourth inning home run, and seven hits overall with eight strikeouts through nine innings of quality work.  With Ron Taylor pitching his second inning in relief of Gentry, Philadelphia third baseman Tony Taylor's base hit with two on and one out delivered the go-ahead run.

The game marks New York's first extra inning game of the season.  This also marks their fifth game decided by one run, which entering the season Gil Hodges made very clear would be his pet peeve.  Sorry to report the Mets are now 1-4 thus far in such games.

Cleon Jones accounted for one of the Mets five hits.  He has now hit safely in 11 of the Mets 13 games to date, and as reached base in all but one.  Cleon is 21 for 51 (.312), with three doubles, a home run, and seven RBI.

• Mets Record:  5-8
• N.L. East:  3rd; 6 GB

N.Y. Mets: Spring Training Previews and Another METSian Podcast #6

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Spring Training 2018

I - First Word: Year Sixteen After Doubleday 

"Run for the hills, boys!" This is a frank, brutal, not-safe-for-shills-eyes look at the #Wilpons' @Mets regime of terrible baseball. Must- read, Jeff (Fredo, @greenwichmets) Wilpon.

— Young Ideas (@DickYoungsGhost) February 14, 2018

II - PITCHERS and CATCHERS

• Five Hurlers of the Metropolis 
• On the Jason Vargas Acquisition 
• Ninth Inning Closer Need Not Apply 
• Catching Hell

III - AROUND THE HORN

• Who's On First?
• Whole Lotta Second Guessing Going On 
• Todd Frazier Restores Order At Third
• Amed Rosario Has Stage All To Himself

IV - A METSIAN PODCAST with Sam, Rich, and Mike #6

• Topics of Discussion: Our brand new podcast jingle..!  The business of Spring Training; Michael Conforto; Brandon Nimmo; Rocky Mountain high; dysfunction; Juan Lagares; another potential trade/CF; Sandy Alderson; land of confusion; ownership; Rafael Montero; Pedro Martinez; injuries; Ed Randall said; one hit wonders; Negative L.I. Mike calls in; and the passing away of Ed Charles.  (Fifty-five minutes).