Amazin' Date 10/15/1969: Tom Seaver Goes Ten In Game Four Victory

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

1969

WORLD SERIES

GAME FOUR

Orioles   1

Mets       2

10 INNINGS

SHEA STADIUM

TOM SEAVER TEN INNING GEM LIFTS METS TO 3-1 SERIES LEAD OVER BIRDS

The unflappable Gil Hodges and his amazin' Mets are one victory away from clinching baseball's world championship.

• GAME FOUR: Wednesday, October 15, 1969 - BR

In a rematch of game one, Tom Seaver toes the rubber at Shea Stadium opposed by Baltimore's Mike Cuellar.  If you recall it was Seaver making an early exit from the series opener at Baltimore, and Cuellar going the distance for the win.  This time it is Cuellar making an untimely exit while Seaver pitches triumphantly through the tenth.

Also getting his second look at Cuellar is Donn Clendenon who goes 2 for 4 with a double in game one.  On Wednesday leading off the second Donn hits his second home run in his last three games.  Cuellar exits after seven innings having yielded the lone run on seven hits and no walks with five strikeouts in a no-decision effort.  Meanwhile the score remains unchanged through eight.  With one out in the top half of the ninth Tom Seaver yields consecutive singles to Frank Robinson and Boog Powell.  Then with runners on the corners Brooks Robinson strokes a low sinking liner to right field.  Ron Swoboda racing furiously to his right makes a full extension backhanded diving catch for the out.  Frank Robinson tags and scores the tying run from third.  But anything less than Swoboda's amazing catch means that ball bounces all the way to the wall.  Seaver then fans Elrod Henricks ending the threat.

Into extra-innings they go ...

Manager Hodges sends his ace back out for the tenth inning.  Tom Seaver obliges with another scoreless frame.  Leading off the bottom half of the inning against Orioles reliever Dick Hall, Jerry Grote flares an excuse me double up along the left field line.  Al Weis is intentionally walked, and the Orioles then summon reliever Pete Richert.  Pinch-hitting for Seaver, J.C. Martin pushes a bunt up along the first base side.  Richert fields it, but his attempted throw to first hits Martin.  Pinch-runner Rod Gaspar rounds third and when the ball gets away he hustles home scoring the winning run.

Tom Seaver puts forth New York's third straight dominant performance against a seemingly over matched Baltimore lineup.  He faces 38 batters, allowing just one earned run on six hit and two walks with six strikeouts through ten full innings pitched.  The Mets have now limited Baltimore to just a pair of runs and twelves hits over their last three games.  New York's defense also should not go under spoken.  Superlative glove work from Tommie Agee, Bud Harrelson, Cleon Jones, and Ron Swoboda, no doubt have had a deflating effect upon Orioles hitters.

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

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

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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 8/8/1969: Mets Split Twi-Night Double-Header at Atlanta

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AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

August 8, 1969 - Double Header

New York Mets @ Atlanta Braves 

Atlanta Stadium

GAME ONE - BR #107
Jerry Koosman Silences Braves; Lowers ERA Below Two.

Jerry Koosman toes the rubber in game one of Friday's twi-night double-header at Atlanta and is opposed by crafty veteran Milt Pappas.  J.C. Martin drives in the first run of the game with a hit to left scoring Wayne Garrett from second base.  The game remains a one run affair through the eighth.  But with Pappas out of the game by the ninth, the Mets rally for three runs against Atlanta's bullpen.  Cleon Jones and Donn Clendenon drive in runs, while J.C. Martin drives home Wayne Garrett for a second with a single to right.  With two outs in the bottom of the ninth Braves catcher Bob Tillman connects on his eleventh home run of the season ruining Jerry Koosman's shutout bid.  Otherwise Koosman goes the distance allowing the one lone run on seven hits and three walks with five strikeouts.  He improves to 9-7 for the season with a stellar 1.98 ERA.  Three Atlanta relievers join in surrendering three earned runs on four hits and a walk with no strikeouts in the ninth.  Yet, Milt Pappas takes the loss.  The Braves starter allows just one earned run on six hits and no walks with five strikeouts through eight innings.

GAME TWO -BR #108
Atlanta's Ron Reed Pitches Ten Inning Whitewash to Salvage Night Cap.

In game two Gary Gentry faces off against Ron Reed.  Neither yields a run through nine innings of play.  Gentry faces 32 batters allowing just four hits and two walks with a pair of strikeouts.  Braves manager Lum Harris sends his starter Ron Reed out for the tenth.  Reed responds with yet another scoreless inning pitched.  In the bottom half of the frame, Atlanta loads the bases against Ron Taylor pitching in relief of Gentry.  With one out Felipe Alou lines a single through the middle plating Clete Boyer with the game winning run.

The Mets are 5-5 in their last ten, but gain back a half-game on the Cubs.

• Mets Record: 60-48
• N.L. East: 2nd; 8.5 GB

Amazin' Date 7/25/1969: Mets Take Koosman Off the Hook Against Reds

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50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #94: Friday, July 25, 1969 - BR

Cincinnati Reds @ New York Mets

Shea Stadium

For seven innings Reds starter Jim Maloney and Jerry Koosman duel in game two at Shea Stadium.  Maloney allows just one earned run on five hits and four walks with one strikeout before exiting on the winning side of Friday night's affair.  Koosman on the other hand yields three earned runs on six hits and one walk with five strikeouts through seven, but with a little help from his friends escapes with a no decision.  A two run home run by J.C. Martin and an RBI from Wayne Garrett in the eighth put the Met ahead en route to a 4-3 final.  Ron Taylor gives up just one hit in two innings for the win, improving his record to 5-2 with a 2.19 ERA.  Art Shamsky goes 1 for 2 with a walk, double, and a run batted in.  Pete Rose goes 1 for 4 with an RBI, and Tony Perez clubs his 28th home run and drives in his 72nd run of the season.  The Mets even the series with Cincy and gain a full game on the Cubs whom lost to the Dodgers earlier this afternoon at Wrigley.

• Mets Record: 54-40
• N.L. East: 2nd; 5 GB

Amazin' Date July 4, 1969: Met Sweep Twin Bill at Forbes Field

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AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Games 77 & 78 / Double-Header
New York Mets @ Pittsburgh Pirates
Forbes Field

A Happy Independence Day to all.  A happy day indeed for New Yorkers back home as the Mets open a holiday weekend series at Pittsburgh by sweeping a double-header from the Pirates on Friday.  The Amazins bring their own fireworks, outscoring the Bucs by a combined 20-8 margin, and out-hitting them by a 30-18 mark.

• GAME ONE: Friday, July 4, 1969 - BR

Mets     11

Pirates   6

Starting game one, Tom Seaver yields four runs, but only three earned on seven hits and four walks with seven strikeouts through 7.2 innings pitched.  He surrenders a home run to Willie Stargell in the fourth.  Seaver improves to 13-3 on the season with a 2.62 ERA.  Cal Koonce pitches 1.1 innings for his fifth save.  The Mets tally five extra base hits including Tommie Agee's 12th home run of the season.  Donn Clendenon drives in a pair while Cleon Jones reaches 50 RBI in the Mets 77th game of the season.  Roberto Clemente drives in two runs, Bill Mazeroski knocks in one.

• GAME TWO: Friday, July 4, 1969 - BR

Mets      9
Pirates  2

The Mets keep the heat on Pittsburgh, scoring early and often against Pirates starter Doc Ellis.  With two outs in the first the Mets get RBI from Ed Kranepool and J.C. Martin.  With the bases loaded, Al Weis triples giving the Mets a 5-1 lead after one.  Freddie Patek homers off Mets starter Don Cardwell in the second, but the Pirates would score no more.  The Mets go on to score four more times on a J.C. Martin home run, two RBI from Art Shamsky, and another from Wayne Garrett.
Don Cardwell happily wins his third game of the season versus eight losses and a 3.44 ERA  He limits Pittsburgh to two runs on six hits and two walks with a strikeout through seven innings of work.  Jack DiLauro tosses two scoreless in relief for his first save of the season.

• Mets Record: 44-34
• N.L. East: 2nd; 7.5 GB

Amazin' Date 6/27/1969: Bucs Take Series Opener at Shea

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50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #69: Friday, June 27, 1969 - BR
Pittsburgh Pirates @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

For a second straight game Mets bats lay dormant.  Limited to three hits all game by Pittsburgh starter Steve Blass, the Mets score their lone run of the game in the ninth.  But it turns out being too little too late.  Blass strikes out five through 8.1 innings as the Pirates take game one of a weekend series at Shea.

Mets starter Jerry Koosman endures another disappointing loss and sees his record flatten out to 5-5 through 12 starts.  He allows just two earned runs on six hits and one walk with nine strikeouts through seven innings pitched.  Cal Koonce yields one run on two hits with a walk and three strikeouts in two innings of relief.

After climbing ten games over .500 the ever streaky Mets lose their third straight.  Friday marked their 13th game in the last ten days.  Jerry Grote and Buddy Harrelson were given the day off.  Tommie Agee, Art Shamsky, and J.C. Martin who drives in the Mets only run, account for the only Mets hits.

• Mets Record:  38-31
• N.L. East:  2nd; 7 GB

Amazin' Date 6/17/1969: Mets Split Twin Bill at Philadelphia

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AMAZIN'

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50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #57: Tuesday, June 17, 1969 - BR

New York Mets @ Philadelphia Phillies

Connie Mack Stadium/GAME ONE

Coming around the home stretch of a grueling 12-game road trip, the Mets arrive back on the east coast at Philadelphia for a series opening double-header against the Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium.

Making his 13th start of the season, Gary Gentry bests Philadelphia's Bill Champion.  In what goes down as one of the finest performances by a Mets pitcher this season, Gentry tosses a complete game shutout, facing just three over the minimum while allowing but two hits and one walk with nine strikeouts.  He retired his final eight batters faced while improving to 6-5 for the season with a 3.41 ERA.

For his part Phillies starter Bill Champion lasts eight innings, allowing the game's only run in the seventh on a two out base hit from catcher J.C. Martin scoring Ken Boswell.  He otherwise yields four hits and four walks with five strikeouts in a losing effort.

The Mets had five hits all game with Boswell accounting for two of them in three at-bats.

Game #58: Tuesday, June 17, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ Philadelphia Phillies

Connie Mack Stadium/GAME TWO

The Phillies come out swinging in game two, scoring early and often against Mets starter Don Cardwell.  Dick Allen opens with a two out home run in the first.  Four hits and an untimely error by second baseman Al Weis later and Philadelphia is staked to a 4-0 lead.  Cardwell surrenders his second home run of the game in the third, this time off the bat of center fielder Larry Hisle giving the Phillies a 6-0 lead.  Later in the eighth Hisle hit his second home run of the game.

The Mets scrap together three runs against Phillies starter Grant Jackson, but it wasn't enough.  Jackson yields six hits and three walks with nine strikeouts en route to a complete game victory.

In his first start as a member of the Mets, Donn Clendenon goes 1 for 4 with a run scored.

• Mets Record:  31-27 (.534)
• N.L. East:  2nd; 7.5 GB

Amazin' Date 5/14/1969: Cleon's Grand Slam Lifts Mets Over Braves

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AMAZIN'

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Game #32: Wednesday, May 14, 1969 - BR

Atlanta Braves @ New York Mets

Shea Stadium

Agee and Jones Win One For Seaver; Mets Knot Series

Wednesday evening's game two starters Tom Seaver and Phil Niekro dueled through five scoreless innings at Shea before Atlanta broke the deadlock with four hits and a pair of runs in the sixth.  The Braves extended their lead off Seaver in the seventh when Jesus Alou connected on his third home run of the season.  The Mets finally got on the board in the bottom half of the frame when Ken Boswell stroked a lead-off triple to the left/center gap then scored on a Cleon Jones bounce out short to first.

Niekro and the Braves would unravel in the eighth.  With the bases loaded, Tommie Agee doubled in a pair to knock Atlanta's knuckle-baller from the box.  Pitching in relief of Niekro, George Stone intentionally walked Ed Charles then hit Ken Boswell with a pitch to force another run.  With the bases reloaded, Cleon Jones connected on a bases clearing grand slam.  J.C. Martin would also triple and score giving the Mets an 9-3 lead and final margin of victory over National League West leading Atlanta.

The Mets salvage a victory for Tom Seaver, his fifth of the season against two losses.  He yielded three earned runs on ten hits and a walk with three strikeouts through eight innings.  Ron Taylor pitched a scoreless ninth.

Cleon Jones' five RBI in the game give him 23 for the season.  Tommie Agee was 1 for 3 with a double and two RBI, and is now 12 for 25 (.480) for the month of May with a double, five home runs, and ten RBI.

Thursday's rubber game will feature Don Cardwell pitching against the Braves Pat Jarvis.

• Mets Record:  15-17
• N.L. East:  3rd; 7 GB

Amazin' Date 10/11/1969: Sunday Split Give Mets Series Victory Over Houston

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AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

GAME #29: Sunday, May 11, 1969 - BR

Houston Astros @ New York Mets

Shea Stadium: Double-Header

Houston's Larry Dierker Hushes Shea Stadium Crowd

GAME ONE: Don Cardwell climbed the hill for his sixth start of the season, and was opposed by Houston's Larry Dierker.  Both pitchers appeared sharp during their first respective runs through the lineup.

Houston then achieved liftoff in the fourth and never looked back.  Leading off, Joe Morgan reached safely on Wayne Garrett's error, then promptly stole second base and scored on Norm Miller's single up the middle.  Still with no outs, big Jim Wynn connected off Cardwell for his seventh home run of the season.  With one out, shortstop Denis Menke doubled into the left/center gap, then scored on a fielder's choice for a 4-0 Astros lead.

FINAL

Astros  4

Mets     1

Tommie Agee ruined Larry Dierker's shutout bid when he connected on his fourth home run of the season in the sixth.  But the Mets would score no more.  They failed to capitalize with the bases loaded in the eighth and went down in order in the ninth.  

Dierker improved his record to 5-3 with a 2.59 ERA.  He yielded just the one run on five hits and five walks with a pair of strikeouts.  Don Cardwell, now 1-5 on the season, allowed four runs but only two earned on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts.  He was also struck by a Larry Dierker pitch in the third.

GAME #30: Sunday, May 11, 1969 - BR

Houston Astros @ New York Mets

Shea Stadium: Double-Header

Tommie Agee Hits Pair; Mets Win Rubber Game

GAME TWO: Mets bats erupted for twelve hits, with seven going for extra bases in Sunday's game two rubber match at Shea.

After Houston struck for an unearned run in the top of the first, the Mets answered right back against Astros starter Don Wilson and reliever Jim Rey.  Hits from Ken Boswell, J.C. Martin, Amos Otis, and a double from starter Tug McGraw, aided by an array of errors and a wild pitch paved the way to a 6-1 first inning lead.

Jesus Alou's RBI double in the second and Denis Menke's home run in the third cut Houston's deficit to three.  That is ... until Tommie Agee's two run home run in the fourth.  But with long ball in the air, Joe Morgan connected off Mcgraw with a solo shot leading off the 5th making it 8-5 in the Mets favor.  J.C Martin drove in a run in the bottom of the frame.  Then in the sixth, Tommie Agee's second home run of the game and an RBI from Ed Kranepool gave the Mets an 11-5 lead.  The Astros would go on to score a pair off Cal Koonce pitching in relief of Nolan Ryan and Tug McGraw.

FINAL

Astros  7

Mets   11

The Mets nevertheless gain a twin-bill split and series victory over Houston.

Tommie Agee's two home runs give him six for the season.  Two of his three RBI came with two outs.  Over his last four games, Tommie is 5 for 15 (.333) with three home runs.  Cleon Jones was 2 for 2 with four walks to maintain a .411 average.

• Mets Record:  14-16
• N.L. East:  3rd: 5.5 GB