Talking Gil Hodges and the Hall of Fame with Baseball & BBQ Podcast

From the desk: BASEBALL & BBQ with JEFF & LEN

 

Episode #106:

Original New York Met Ed Kranepool,

Renown Baseball Columnist Kevin Kernan,

Bedford & Sullivan's Sam Maxwell 

and Yours Truly Provide Arguments

For Inducting Gil Hodges Into The 

Baseball Hall of Fame

Brooklyn Trolley Blogger meets Baseball & BBQ: 

My humble thanks and appreciation to Len and Jeff for inviting me onto their podcast to discuss Gil Hodges, his ongoing prominence in Brooklyn, and hopeful enshrinement into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Holy Cross Cemetery, Brooklyn

 

Amazin' Date 10/14/1969: Tommie Agee and Gary Gentry Star in Game Three Victory Over Birds

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR.MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

1969

WORLD SERIES

GAME THREE

Baltimore Orioles    0

New York Mets        5

FINAL

SHEA STADIUM

METS WIN FIRST EVER WORLD SERIES GAME AT SHEA STADIUM; TAKE 2-1 LEAD OVER BIRDS.

TOMMY AGEE TAKES FOOD FROM THE BIRDS

• GAME THREE: Tuesday. October 14, 1969 - BR

Six months after crushing perhaps the most majestic home run of his career, Tommie Agee puts forth arguably the greatest performance of his career in game three of the World Series at Shea Stadium.  The Mets lead-off batter puts New York on the board straightaway when he deposits Jim Palmer's fourth offering of the game far beyond the center field wall for a prompt 1-0 New York lead.  His domination of game three continues not at the plate, but in the field.  With two outs and runners on the corners in the fourth, Agee races far to his right making a running backhand stab of Elrod Hendrick's deep fly to left/center field.  Then with two outs and the bases loaded in the seventh, Tommie Agee this time runs far to his left punching the palm of his glove twice before making a remarkable diving catch of Paul Blair's liner hit towards the right/center field gap.

Mets starter Gary Gentry helps his own cause in the second inning with a two-out double scoring Jerry Grote and Bud Harrelson giving the Mets a 3-0 lead.  Jerry Grote's run scoring double in the sixth, and Ed Kranepool's home run in the eighth give the Mets a 5-0 final margin of victory.

Gary Gentry limits the Birds to just three hits through 6.2 scoreless innings pitched, with five walks and four strikeouts.  Nolan Ryan fans three while yielding just one hit through 2.1 scoreless innings in relief of Gentry.  In taking a 2-1 series lead, Mets pitchers have limited the Orioles to just one run on six hits over their last two games.

Game Four Starters: Mike Cuellar (23-11; 2.38) vs. Tom Seaver (25-7; 2.21)

Amazin' Date 10/5/1969: Slugging Mets Take 2-0 Series Lead Over Atlanta Braves

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

GAME TWO

Mets    11

Braves  6

FINAL

New York scores early, often, and late, en route to an 11-6 victory, and two game lead against the Atlanta Braves in this best of five National League championship series.

• GAME TWO: Sunday, October 5, 1969 - BR

The Mets knock Braves starter Ron Reed out of the box with haste.  Ed Kranepool's clutch two-out hit with the bases loaded in the first plates Tommie Agee for the game's first run.  In the second Reed issues a base on balls to counter-part Jerry Koosman.  It brings up Tommie Agee whom makes Reed pay dearly with a home run hit deep into the seats in left.  Cleon Jones keeps the line going with a double to left, and Art Shamsky strokes a single to right scoring Jones.  Manager Lum Harris can stand no more and yields to his bullpen before the second inning is through.

The Mets continue pressing for three more runs against relievers Paul Doyle and Milt Pappas.  First baseman Orlando Cepeda finally gets Atlanta on the board in the fourth.  But Cleon Jones' second hit of the game in the top of the fifth stakes the Mets to a 9-1 lead.  Hank Aaron's three run home run and Clete Boyer's two run single in the bottom half of the frame cut the Braves deficit to three.  That is, until Cleon Jones puts the game out of reach in the seventh with a two run home run off reliever Cecil Upshaw.  Jerry Koosman takes his lumps, allowing six earned runs on seven hits and four walks with five strikeouts before yielding to Ron Taylor with two outs in the fifth.  Taylor pitches through the sixth.  After which Tug McGraw closes out the game with three scoreless innings for the save.

Cleon Jones goes 3 for 5 with a double, home run, and three runs batted in.  Ken Boswell homers and drives in a pair.  Bud Harrelson drives in his third run of the series.  Art Shamsky goes 3 for 5 with a run batted in, and Tommie Agee goes 2 for 4 with a home run and two runs batted in.  The Mets generate 21 hits and 22 runs through two games at Atlanta.

The series now shifts to Shea Stadium for game three on Monday.

Amazin' Date 10/4/1969: Mets Surge Past Braves in Opening Game of National League Championship Series

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

GAME ONE

New York Mets   9

Atlanta Braves   5

FINAL

New York Mets Defeat Atlanta Braves in Game One of First Ever National League Championship Series.

• GAME ONE: Saturday, October 4, 1969 - BR

The New York Mets overcome a 4-5 deficit with five runs in the eighth inning en route to an opening game victory over the Atlanta Braves.  With Phil Niekro on the mound, a passed ball by catcher Bob Didier in the second, and errors by first baseman Orlando Cepeda and center fielder Tony Gonzalez in the eighth inning pave the way for five unearned runs.  Otherwise neither starter is particularly sharp Saturday afternoon at Atlanta.  Tom Seaver yields five earned runs on eight hits and three walks with two strikeouts through seven innings.  He surrenders home runs to Tony Gonzalez in the fifth and to Hank Aaron in the seventh.  Wayne Garrett doubles leading off the eighth inning, and Cleon Jones promptly drives him home with a hit to center.  Art Shamsky then follows with a hit to left.  After which the Braves defense betrays Phil Niekro.  Tom Seaver is the beneficiary.  Ron Taylor throws two scoreless innings in relief of Seaver with two strikeouts to earn the save.  Bud Harrelson goes 1 for 3 with a triple and two runs batted in.  J.C. Martin also drives home two runs.  Ed Kranepool and Cleon Jones drive in one run apiece.

Amazin' Date 9/18/1969: Tom Seaver Whitewashes Expos for 23rd Victory of Season

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #149: Thursday, September 18, 1969 - BR
New York Metss @ Monteal Expos
Parc Jarry

Following Jerry Koosman's performance on Wednesday, Tom Seaver hurls the second of back to back Mets shutouts against the Expos at Montreal.

With two outs in the first inning, Ed Kranepool singles home Tommie Agee with the game's first run.  Kranepool then hits his eleventh home run of the season in the sixth off Expos starter Bill Stoneman giving the Mets a 2-0 lead.  Tom Seaver takes care of the rest.  He allows no runs on five hits and three walks with nine strikeouts for his 23rd victory of the season.

The Cubs lose to the Phillies at Wrigley Field.  Chicago has now lost 12 of their last 16 games.  Meanwhile the Mets are now 15-4 in September and own a five game lead over the Cubs with 13 games left in the season.

The Mets return home for their final home stand of the regular season.  They will host the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals before ending the season on the road against the Philadelphia Phillies and Leo Durocher's fading Chicago Cubs.

• Mets Record: 91-58
• N.L. East: 1st Place; 5 Games Up

Amazin' Date 8/17/1969: Mets Sweep Consecutive Twin Bills From Padres

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

San Diego Padres @ New York Mets
Double-Header
Shea Stadium

• GAME ONE; Sunday, Aug. 17, 1969 - BR

San Diego takes a 2-0 lead after four and a half on runs batted in from center fielder Ivan Murrell and second baseman Jose Arcia.  In the bottom half of the fifth Duffy Dyer connects off Padres starter Joe Niekro with two men on, and just like that the Mets give Jerry Koosman a 3-2 lead.  Koosman goes the distance allowing two earned runs on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts en route to his tenth victory of the season against eight losses with a stellar 2.23 ERA.

• GAME TWO; Sunday Aug. 17, 1969 - BR

How do you put a 4-7 road trip in the rear view mirror?  Answer: win four games in the span of two days at home.  The Mets do just that with back-to-back double-header sweeps this weekend against the expansion Padres.

Mets starter Don Cardwell and San Diego's Clay Kirby duel through six scoreless innings.  Ed Kranepool opens the bottom of the seventh with a single to right, and is replaced with pinch-runner Al Weis.  After Jerry Grote draws a base on balls, Bud Harrelson clears the bases with a triple to right/center.  Still with no outs J.C. Martin lofts a sac-fly to center scoring Harrelson.  Cardwell exits on the winning side of a three run game, having allowed no runs on eight hits and three walks with three strikeouts through seven full.  However San Diego strikes for a pair in the eighth off Cal Koonce whom faces three batters and fails to record an out.  Manager Hodges summons Ron Taylor to put out the fire.  Taylor obliges with two scoreless innings of one-hit ball for his 12th save.  Cardwell earns his fifth victory.  The Mets gain one game on the first place Cubs.

• Mets Record:
• N.L. East: 2nd; 8 GB

Amazin' Date 8/12/1969: Astros Continue Domination Over Mets

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #112: Tuesday, August 12, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ Houston Astros
Astrodome

Different day, same result; make that eight straight losses against the Astros.  The Mets amass eleven hits; Tommy Agee is 2 for 4 with four RBI; Ed Kranepool is 2 for 4 with a home run and three RBI.  But it's not enough as Jerry Koosman gets roughed up for seven runs, six earned, on eight hits and two walks with four strikeouts through 6.1 innings pitched.  Houston first baseman Curt Blefary connects on a three run home run off Koosman in the sixth whom suffers his eighth loss of the season.  Adding insult to injury, second baseman Joe Morgan triples off Koosman in the seventh then steals home.  Dan Gladding earns his second consecutive save and his 25th of the season.  Starter Don Wilson earns his 15th win of the season against seven losses.

The Mets fall nine games back of first as the Cubs whitewash the Padres at San Diego.  It ties their largest deficit of the season.

• Mets Record: 62-50
• N.L. East: 2nd; 9 GB

Amazin' Date 8/11/1969: Astros Defeat the Mets, Again

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #111: Monday, August 11, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ Houston Astros
Astrodome

Look what the Houston Astros did to the Mets, again!  Monday's series opening defeat at the Astrodome makes it seven straight losses for the Mets against their expansion brothers.  This time Houston starter Tom Griffin gets the best of the visiting New Yorkers, limiting them to just four hits and four walks with nine strikeouts through eight innings for the victory.  Fred Gladding pitches a scoreless ninth en route to completing the shutout and picking his 24th save of the season.  Ed Kranepool accounts for two of the Mets five hits.  Jim McAndrew yields three earned runs on seven hits and three walks with five strikeouts through six innings pitched for the loss.

• Mets Record: 62-49
• N.L. East: 2nd; 8 GB

Amazin' Date 7/30/1969: Houston Astros Dominate Twin Bill at Shea Stadium

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Games #97 & #98
Houston Astros @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

Clean up on Roosevelt Avenue, please.  Houston makes a complete mess of the Mets in both games of Wednesday's doubleheader at Shea Stadium, outscoring their fellow expansion brothers by an overall 27-8 margin.

GAME ONE: July 30, 1969 - BR

Houston's 16-3 victory marks the most runs allowed in one game by the Mets this season.  The Astros initially hold a modest 5-3 lead through the eighth.  But in the ninth Cal Koonce and Ron Taylor prove completely ineffective and the game goes awry.  Houston strikes for eleven runs, sending 15 batters to the plate, and getting home runs from Denis Menke and the toy cannon Jim Wynn.  Jerry Koosman admittedly struggles, yielding five runs, three earned, with five walks and two strikeouts.  He is credited with the loss and sees his record drop to 8-6 with a still fine 2.08 ERA.  Ed Kranepool drives in his 40th run of the season with a two out single in the fourth.

GAME TWO: July 30, 1969 - BR

The Astros explode for another ten runs in the third inning en route to an 11-5 final in game two.  Mets starter Gary Gentry is knocked out of the box after just 2.2 innings pitched, but not before surrendering eight earned runs on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts.  Houston then roughs up Nolan Ryan for another three earned runs on four hits and two walks, with seven strikeouts.  Astros starter Larry Dierker pitches to the scoreboard, allowing five runs, four earned, on 12 hits and one walk with nine strikeouts for his 13th victory of the season.  Ed Kranepool is 3 for 4 with a double, home run, and four more RBI on the day.

The Mets fall to 2-6 against the Astros this season.  They are now just 2-4 on this home stand.

• Mets Record: 55-43 (.561)
• N.L. East: 2nd; 5.5 GB

Amazin' Date 7/19/1969: Expos Upend Seaver in Game Two

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #90: Saturday, July 19, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ Montreal Expos
Parc Jarry

Tom Seaver losses back to back decisions for the first time this season.  Expos third baseman Coco Laboy opens the scoring with a lead-off home run in the second.  Then with two outs and runners on the corners Remy Hermoso singles home Montreal's second run.  Center fielder Mack Jones doubles leading-off the third and first baseman Bob Bailey singles to right giving the Expos a 3-0 lead.  It is then manager Gil Hodges decides Seaver just doesn't have it.  Jim McAndrew enters in relief and with one out yields a run scoring single to catcher Ron Brand.  Easily his worst outing of the season, Seaver is charged with four runs on seven hits and one walk with three strikeouts through two official innings pitched.  Coco Laboy drives in his second run of the game in the fifth off McAndrew for a 5-0 Montreal lead.  The Expos seemingly try giving the game away in the seventh.  The Mets capitalize best they can on Montreal fielding errors in left field and at shortstop along with run scoring hits off the bats of Wayne Garrett, Ed Kranepool, and Ron Swoboda.  Starter Bill Stoneham regroups to earn a complete game victory.  He yields four runs, none earned, on six hits and one walk with ten strikeouts through nine full innings pitched.

• Mets Record: 52-38
• N.L. East: 2nd; 4 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 7/10/1969: Cubs Salvage Series Finale at Shea

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #82: Thursday, July 10, 1969 - BR
Chicago Cubs @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

Chicago salvages a victory in the series finale at Shea and end the Mets winning streak at seven.  The Cubs reclaim a game in the standings and now lead the second place Mets by 4.5 games.  Tommie Agee opens the scoring with a lead-off home run off Cubs starter Bill Hands.  Ernie Banks ties the game in the fourth, but Ed Kranepool puts the Mets back out in front in the bottom half of the frame with his 34th RBI of the season.  However, Mets starter Gary Gentry's effort comes undone in the fifth when Chicago strikes for five including a Ron Santo home run en route to a 6-2 victory at Shea.

Gentry fails to make it through the fifth, surrendering six runs (five earned) on seven hits and two walks through 4.1 innings pitched.  Cal Koonce and Don Cardwell join for 4.2 innings of scoreless, three-hit relief.  Chicago's Bill Hands goes the distance for his tenth victory of the season.  He limits the Mets to just three hits.

• Mets Record: 47-35 (.573)
• N.L. East: 2nd; 4.5 GB

Amazin' Date 7/8/1969: First Place Cubs Bow to Mets in Series Opener at Shea

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #80: Tuesday, July 8, 1969 - BR
Chicago Cubs @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

Mets Upend Fergie Jenkins in 9th Inning; N.L. East Leading Cubs Fall in First Visit to Shea Stadium.

Back home from a successful 6-2 road trip, the highly anticipated showdown against the first place Chicago Cubs is finally at hand.  The excitement leading up to this series is palpable.  The Mets and Cubs previously split four games at Wrigley Field back in May.  Just over two months later they meet again for game one of a three game series at sold out Shea Stadium on Tuesday. 

The game features a classic duel pitting Mets starter Jerry Koosman against Chicago's two time 20-game winner Fergie Jenkins.  They duel to a three all tie after eight innings of play.  Koosman yields three earned runs on eight hits and four walks with six strikeouts through eight.  He surrenders home runs to Ernie Banks in the sixth, and Jim Hickman in the eighth.  Second baseman Glenn Beckert's RBI single in the sixth accounts for the Cubs third run.  Jenkins on the other hand surrenders one run on just one hit - an Ed Kranepool home run in the fifth - with no walks and eight strikeouts through the first eight innings of play.

Koosman then pitches a scoreless ninth inning, retiring the side in order.  With Jenkins still in the game, Ken Boswell leads off the the home half of the ninth with a double to straightaway center.  With one out pinch hitter Donn Clendenon doubles but Boswell is held up at third.  Cleon Jones then drives them both home with yet another double to left.  Jenkins issues an intentional walk to Art Shamsky.  With two outs and two runners in scoring position, Ed Kranepool again comes through with a clutch single up the middle scoring Cleon Jones with the game winning run.

Koosman goes the distance winning his sixth game of the season against five losses with a stingy 1.78 ERA.  Fergie Jenkins sees his record fall to 11-6 with a 2.60 ERA.

Describing this game as a huge victory is clearly under stating the situation.  The Mets are now 12 games above .500 and only 4.5 games behind the division leading Cubs.  The Mets also now lead the Cubs 3-2 in head-to-head action.  Game two is scheduled for Wednesday evening at Shea Stadium where another huge summer crowd is expected.

• Mets Record: 46-34
• N.L. East: 2nd; 4.5 GB

Amazin' Date 6/28/1969: Bucs Extend Mets Skid to Four

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #70: Saturday, June 28, 1969 - BR
Pittsburgh Pirates @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

Mets rookie Gary Gentry duels veteran and perhaps one day Hall of Famer Jim Bunning through seven innings during which each pitcher yields two runs.  Ed Kranepool opens the scoring with a home run in the second plating Cleon Jones for a 2-0 lead.  The visiting Pittsburgh Pirates strike back in the fourth.  With two outs, left fielder Jose Pagan doubles home Manny Sanguillen.  Then with Bill Mazeroski at the plate, Gentry unleashes a wild pitch permitting first baseman Al Oliver to score the tying run from third.

When Gentry walks Willie Stargell leading off the eighth manager Gil Hodges summons Tug McGraw from the bullpen.  After which Bunning becomes the beneficiary of a five run eighth, two of the unearned variety.  Ed Kranepool's error and another wild pitch unleashed by McGraw are contributing factors.

The Mets would rally for two runs in the ninth on a Cleon Jones home run and a run batted in from Al Weis, but ultimately fall short in a 7-4 final.  Gentry's sees his record fall to 7-6 with a 3.26 ERA.

The Pirates take their second straight at Shea and extend the Mets losing streak to four.  While still in second place the Mets have lost three games in the standings in their last four games.

• Mets Record:  38-32
• N.L. East:  2nd; 8 GB

Amazin' Date 6/24/1969: Mets Sweep Second Straight Double-Header at Shea

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Mets win their third and fourth games in a row upon sweeping Tuesday's double-header against the Philadelphia Phillies at Shea Stadium.

Game #66: Tuesday, June 24, 1969 - BR
Philadelphia Phillies @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium/ GAME ONE

With two runs in the third off Phillies starter Woodie Fryman, the Mets hold on to win game one by a slim 2-1 margin.  In the third, Bud Harrelson triples home Al Weis, and Cleon Jones singles home Harrelson.  Tom Seaver goes the distance, yielding seven hits including a fifth inning home run to Larry Hisle, while walking one and fanning nine for his 11th victory of the season against three losses.

Game #67: Tuesday, June 24, 1969 - BR 
Philadelphia Phillies @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium/GAME TWO

Jim McAndrew and Ron Taylor join to whitewash the Phillies in the night-cap.  McAndrew tosses a gem yielding just two hits and no walks with two strikeouts through eight innings en route to his first victory of the season.  Ron Taylor pitched a scoreless ninth with two strikeouts for his sixth save of the season.  The Mets score four times in the fourth on runs batted in from Art Shamsky, Wayne Garrett, Ed Kranepool, and even Jim McAndrew.  Tommie Agee hit his tenth home run of the season in the eighth.  The Mets knocked Phillies starter Jerry Johnson out of the box after 3.1 innings pitched.

That's back-to-back double-header sweeps for the Mets (Cardinals/Phillies).  Don't look now ... but the Mets are ten games above the .500 mark.

• Mets Record: 38-28
• N.L. East: 2nd; 5 GB

Amazin' Date 6/18/1969: Jerry Koosman Blanks Phillies

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #59: Wednesday, June 18, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ Philadelphia Phillies

Connie Mack Stadium

Making his tenth start of the season, Jerry Koosman goes the distance in leading the Mets through to a 2-0 victory over the Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium.  Koosman and Phillies starter Rick Wise duel through five scoreless innings until Ed Kranepool finally breaks through with an RBI single scoring Cleon Jones in the sixth, and Wayne Garrett singles home Tommie Agee in the seventh staking the Mets to a 2-0 lead.  The Mets southpaw handles the rest, completing his whitewashing of the Phillies, yielding just four hits and one walk with six strikeouts en route to his fourth victory of the season.

Koosman evens his record at 4-4 to go along with a stellar 1.59 ERA.

The Mets gain a full game on the first place Cubs who lost in extra innings against the Pirates at Pittsburgh.

• Mets Record: 32-27 (.542)
• N.L. East: 2nd; 6.5 GB

Amazin' Date 6/11/1969: Giants Bring Soaring Mets to Screeching Halt

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #53: Wednesday, June 11, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ San Francisco Giants
Candlestick Park

Mets Bow to Giants 7-2 at Candlestick Park; Win Streak Halted at Eleven.

The Mets enter game two at Candlestick Park undefeated (4-0) against the Giants this season, and in the midst of a season altering eleven game winning streak.  By close of business Wednesday, starter Gaylord Perry and Willie Mays had put an end to all of it.

The Giants line-up waste little time getting after Mets rookie starter Gary Gentry.  With one out in the bottom of the first, former Mets all-star second baseman Ron Hunt triples into the left/center gap.  Willie Mays delivers Hunt with a single, and soon after would come around to score giving San Francisco an early 2-0 lead.  Mays is at it again in the fourth, doubling home two more runs and knocking Gentry out of the box.  With Tug McGraw pitching in relief of Ron Taylor in the sixth, Willie McCovey knocks in his 48th run of the season with a double as the Giants score three more times for a 7-0 lead.

Ed Kranepool finally put the Mets on the board with a lead-off home run in the seventh.  Cleon Jones makes it a 2-7 deficit with an RBI in the eighth.

Gaylord Perry completes the game, allowing the two runs on just four hits and four walks, with four strikeouts.  He improves to 9-5 on the season.  Gentry lasts 3.1 innings while yielding four runs (three earned) on six hits and three walks with two strikeouts.  His record evens out at 5-5 for the season with a 3.79 ERA.

Willie Mays goes 3 for 5 with a double and two RBI and a run scored.  Ron Hunt is 3 for 5 with two runs scored against his former team.  Ed Kranepool's home run was his sixth of the season.

• Mets Record:  29-24 (.547)
• N.L. East:  2nd; 7 GB

Amazin' Date 6/3/1969: Tom Seaver Hurls Mets to Second Straight Win Over Dodgers

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #47:  Tuesday, June 3, 1969 - BR
Los Angeles Dodgers @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

Mets Climb Above .500 and Into Second Place of National League East

The Amazins' hit the trifecta on Tuesday at Shea Stadium.  On the strength of Tom Seaver's right arm, the Mets not only take their second straight from the Los Angeles Dodgers, and extend their winning streak to six games, but the game marks the first time they've risen above .500 this deep into the regular season for the first time in their now eight year existence.

Seaver was staked to a 4-0 lead after six, with all runs coming off Dodgers starter Alan Foster whom yielded five hits and a walk with nine strikeouts over a seven inning losing effort.  Ed Kranepool connected on his fourth home run of the season in the fifth.  And with two outs in the sixth, Wayne Garrett singled, then scored when Cleon Jones tripled to right.  Next in, Ed Kranepool promptly followed with his second home run of the game off Foster.

Right fielder Andy Kosco cut the Dodgers deficit by half in the seventh with a two run home run off Seaver.  But the Mets recouped a run in the bottom half of the frame, when, with Ed Kranepool at the plate Wayne Garrett stole home for a 5-2 Mets lead an ultimate final margin of victory.

Tom Seaver improved his record to 8-3 on the season and lowered his ERA to a 2.51 mark, yielding two earned runs on a mere three hits and two walks with nine strikeouts.  Tug McGraw, fast emerging as manager Gil Hodges go-to-guy out of the bullpen, pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save of the season.

Despite their win streak and resulting ascension into second place for the first time this season, the Mets still continue having trouble gaining ground on the division leading Cubs who presently are in the midst of their own five game winning streak, and thus still hold an 8.5 game lead over the Mets.  The Cubs posted a 16-9 record in May whereas the Mets at least played up to par with a 12-12 record.

• Mets Record:  24-23 (.510)
• N.L. East:  2nd; 8.5 GB

Amazin' Date 5/16/1969: Mets Seventh Inning Outburst Overwhelms Reds

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #34: Friday, May 16, 1969 - BR

New York Mets @ Cincinnati Reds

Crosley Field

Tommie Agee caps comeback; Koonce holds on for victory

It's the Reds turn to host the Mets.

Starting in place of Jerry Koosman, Tug McGraw climbed the hill in game one at Crosley Field on Friday.  The Mets jumped Reds starter Jack Fisher straightaway for six hits and two runs, knocking him out of the box after just 1.1 innings of work.  However, McGraw would surrender an RBI single to left fielder Alex Johnson in the third, then yield Lee May's eighth home run of the season in the fourth.

FINAL

Mets  10

Reds    9

After trading runs in the fifth, Ed Kranepool led off the top of the sixth with a double, then scored the go ahead run on Tug McGraw's bouncer to second (fielder's choice).  But the Mets lead was fleeting.  Leading off the bottom half of the frame Tommy Helms and Johnny Bench stroked consecutive singles off McGraw.  Manager Hodges relieved McGraw with Ron Taylor.  Pinch hitter Jimmy Stewart promptly introduced himself with a three run home run for a 6-4 Reds lead.

Wayne Garrett led off the seventh with a hit, then advanced to second on a passed ball.  With two outs, the Mets proceeded to bat around the order, mustering six runs on another seven hits for an abrupt 10-6 turnaround.  Undaunted, Cincinnati rallied for three runs off Cal Koonce in the bottom half of the frame, which included a Johnny Bench home run.

Koonce regrouped to retire seven of his next nine batters to close out the Reds and earn his second victory of the season.

Tommie Agee's onslaught continues - he went 2 for 5 with a triple and two decisive runs batted in.  Rod Gaspar also had two RBI.  Ed Kranepool went 3 for 5 with one RBI just as Bud Harrelson was 3 for 5 also with an RBI.

• Mets Record: 16-18 (.470)
• N.L. East: 3rd; 7.5 GB

Amazin' Date 5/6/1969: Cardwell Gem Lifts Mets to Third in a Row

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #27: Tuesday, May 6, 1969 - BR
Cincinnati Reds @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

Don Cardwell Offers Reds No Quarter at Shea Stadium

Such is the game of baseball and its law of averages.  After several hard luck performances and an 0-4 record to start the season, it was only a matter of time before the Mets 33-year old veteran would earn his just reward for a job well done.  Making his fifth start of the season, Don Cardwell pitches a glittering gem to finally gain his first victory of the season.

After sweeping a double-header from the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Sunday, the Mets returned home where after a day off they rolled the visiting Cincinnati Reds at Shea Stadium on Tuesday.

Leading off the bottom of the fourth Ken Boswell connected off Reds starter Jim Maloney for his second home run of the season.  However, the Mets lead did not last long.  With one out in the top of the fifth, Lee May tied the game with his fourth home run of the season.

After which Cardwell bottled up the Reds for good, allowing just the one earned run on six hits and a walk, with eight strikeouts en route to complete game triumph.  After striking out Tony Perez to open the ninth, Cardwell yielded a single to Lee May.  Second baseman Tommy Helms then grounded into a game ending double play - Boswell to Harrelson to Kranepool.  Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, and Perez were a combined 0 for 11 with four strikeouts against Cardwell.

The Mets on the other hand scored late, and often.  Even Cardwell himself joined the slug fest hitting a three run home run off Reds reliever Wayne Granger in the eighth.  The Mets struck for eight runs overall on eleven hits with additional home runs off the bats of Ken Boswell, Wayne Garrett, and Cleon Jones.

Although officially listed as active, Tommie Agee remains out of the starting lineup.  He again served as a late inning replacement, and scored on Cardwell's home run.  Cleon Jones kept his average above .400 going 2 for 3, including his fourth home run of the season.

• Mets Record:  12-14 (.461)
• N.L. East:  4th; 6 GB