National League Standings, August 30, 1969
METS FANS SHARE THEIR MEMORIES OF THE AUGUST 30, 1969 GAME:
Jim Madden
February 25, 2002
Great finish. Tying run on first, Bob Burda with one out. Willie McCovey up, and Hodges puts on the McCovey shift moving the outfield to the right field side. McCovey slices a fly ball down the vacated left field line and just falls in fair. Burda tries to score all the way from first and Rod Gaspar retrieves the ball and throws out Burda at the plate. Jerry Grote, thinking it was the 3rd out, rolled the ball toward the mound, McCovey tried to take 3rd and Donn Clendenon picked up the ball and threw to Bobby Pfiel for the out that ended the inning and the threat.
johnmn55
January 23, 2003
Actually, I think the incident described above happened two days later in a game they eventually lost. In any event, I recall Clendendon hitting the winning homer in the top of the 10th in this one.
Bob P
February 15, 2005
Just to clear up some earlier postings on this game, Jim Madden's description of McCovey's double and Grote rolling the ball back to the mound with two outs did indeed take place in this game, Saturday afternoon, August 30.
This wild play happened in the bottom of the ninth with the score tied. Then the Mets came up in the tenth, and as Johnmn55 recalled, Donn Clendenon hit a two-out home run off Gaylord Perry, and Tug McGraw pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the tenth for the win.
NYB Buff
January 30, 2023
The Mets turned exciting double plays in two consecutive innings of this game. With one out in the bottom of the eighth, Jim Davenport popped out to second baseman Ken Boswell with the bases loaded. Boswell then made a throw that hit Giants' first base coach Wes Westrum. Donn Clendenon picked up the ball (still in play) and threw it to Jerry Grote for an out at home on Ken Henderson to end the inning.
With Bob Burda on first base the ninth, Willie McCovey hit a one-out double to left field. Rod Gaspar fielded the ball and made a long throw to Grote that caught Burda trying to score. After Grote sent the ball back to the mound, McCovey broke for third. Clendenon got it and threw to Bobby Pfeil to nail McCovey for another inning-ending double play that included an out at the plate.
Clendenon connected for a home run in the top of the tenth to give the Mets the victory. Even with Gaspar's amazing throw that cut off the winning run, it was Donn who became the ultimate hero with his heads-up fielding and clutch slugging.
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