I remember that the 1969 season was brewing with optimism coming off a pretty decent showing in 1968. Then to lose to the expansion Expos on opening day at Shea, a lot of folks said "same 'ol Mets..." In particular was the Expos pitcher hitting a 3 run homer (Dan McGinn ?), and the Mets storming back to close the deficit with Duffy Dyer hitting a pinch hit 3 run homer in the bottom of the 9th to make it 11-10. Rod Gaspar followed with a double but was left on 2nd with the potential tying run.

This was the Expos first game ever. I remember the strange sight of their tri-colored caps and the odd-shaped numbers on their backs. They truly looked foreign to me as a kid! Now their long history will be coming to a close pretty soon. As for the Mets, it was a bad day, without a hint of the magic to come that season!

The home run was by McGinn. I was at the game and distinctly recall the home run because I was in the loge level down the right field line and saw the ball hit the top of the right center field fence and bounce over the fence. I think it was the first home run ever hit by a Montreal Expo.

Went to opening game with a buddy of mine. I was leaving for 6 month military service in about a week. After watching Mets lose to expansion Ei said to my buddy "At least I won't be around to see them come in last again." BOY, DID I MISCALCULATE THIS TEAM. And I wasn't even around to see them that year.

Al Jackson did not pitch well in this game. A couple of months later he was sent to Cincy and missed the World Series.

I was 13 years old and on Easter break from school. Attended 2 games that week with school buddies and sat in the upper deck at Shea. Could not believe we lost to the Expos in their first game. Like most fans we were convinced after the first game that this was going to be another lost season.

I remember watching this game on TV and thinking the Expos in one day have accomplished two things the Mets haven't accomplished in seven years: winning on opening day and holding a share of first place.

Allen: It was the first home run ever hit by a Montreal Expo.

I cut Junior HS to see the Mets play the brand new Expos in this game and there weren't many people in the stands. A cold clammy April afternoon game.

Saw Agee hit his monster HR into the upper deck and I can't imagine there were more than 8,000 people there.

Even less if it was late in the game. But the Mets won and it was their first win of 1969.

I saw Agee a few years ago at Shea and told him I was there for his blast. He didn't seem to care or believe me. Who knows?

I've never seen footage of that HR since. Back then not all the games were televised or recorded. No diamond vision to replay it either. And no curtain call or HR apple.

I believe Agee's homer may still be the only homer in Shea history to land in the upper deck - of course there is not much of an upper deck at Shea, just down both lines.

Ed, you're right. Agee's homer was the only homer in Shea history to land in the upper deck- that was a monster home run but people don't seem to remember he had another one that day.

This game also marked the first time the Mets were ever over .500.

My error the Mets were over .500 on 4/17/66. (2-1) than proceeded to lose their next 5 games.

Actually, the first time the Mets went over .500 was after 3 games in 1966, not this game.

In addition to this being the game where Tommie Agee hit the monster home run, it was also the major league debut and first win for Gary Gentry.

Gentry pitched a 1-2-3 first inning and then the Mets got him some immediate breathing room. They put four two-out singles together and took a 2-0 lead after one. Gentry gave one back in the second on a John Bateman homer, but the Mets answered back in their half as Agee hit the first of his two home runs in the game.

Gentry did not allow another run until the ninth when he gave up two singles and a double, putting the tying runs in scoring position. Cal Koonce came in to get pinch-hitter Don Bosch and the Mets were 2-1 after three games.

My dad took me to this game, my second Met game ever. A sunny and mild Saturday afternoon. When you think of pitchers duels between the Mets and Cards in this era you think of Seaver v. Gibson or Carlton v. Koosman. But Giusti v. Cardwell??? As I recall it was a rather boring game with very little offense, obviously.

Gary Gentry became the second pitcher in Mets history to win his first two major league starts. The Mets rallied for three runs in the top of the eighth to break a 3-3 tie as Gentry was removed for pinch-hitter Ed Kranepool.

Bud Harrelson had singled in the go-ahead run with the bases loaded and two outs, then Kranepool delivered a double to score two more.

Cal Koonce retired the last six Philles without the ball leaving the infield.

Until Mike Pelfrey started his major league career with two wins in his first two starts in July 2006, this was the last time any Mets pitcher had accomplished that feat.

First Met game ever in Montreal. Koosman strained his shoulder and was relieved by Ryan in the fifth inning. Kranepool hit two homers for the offense.

This was the Mets' first game ever outside the United States. As Ed K states above, Jerry Koosman hurt his shoulder and was removed in the fifth inning. Koosman would not return to mound for nearly a month, but still recorded 17 wins in the Mets' championship season. Nolan Ryan took over for Jerry here and struck out seven batters without a walk for the win.

Kranepool's two homers for the game's only runs were the 52nd and 53rd of his career, giving him the Mets team record that had been held by Frank Thomas. Ed would go on to extend his own mark 65 more times over the next ten years.

Just listened to this game! (12/9/10). Donn Clendenon goes deep on the team he will go deep for 3 times that October!

I talked my mom into taking all my friends from the neighborhood to this Doubleheader- Wrigley was PACKED! we sat Upper Deck 3rd base Grandstands- Seaver was really "Tom Terrific" that day- He went the distance 7 SO -2bb- 9 hits , but only 2 runs - but also- got a walk , a hit and and scored a run. This was only game one...

Game 2 - Cubs Lost 1st game 3-2 to Seaver:

Next up? TUG MCGRAW- Same exact result. 3-2 Mets McGraw goes the distance 9 hits 8 SO 2 BB 2 runs- ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME AS SEAVER IN THE 1st GAME ! ! !

Hey! We heard ya twice the 1st time.

Don Cardwell had a game to remember on this night. He pitched a six-hitter for the win to end a streak of seven losing decisions that started the previous year. Cardwell also hit the last of the Mets' four home runs with a three-run job in the eighth inning. This was the only homer by a Mets pitcher in the team's world championship season.

I was 14 years old and my dad came home from work and said he got 4 freebies to this game. We went with 2 of my friends who lived on the block. One was a big Yankee fan. If I remember, the Braves were up 3-0 in the 7th. My Yankee fan friend went to buy a Braves pennant at the concession stand and as soon as he got back the Mets put up a 9-spot. I think Cleon had a big hit, and I 'm pretty sure Phil Niekro was on the losing side of the ledger.

Thanks again to retrosheet.org, I see that my earlier post on this game was not quite accurate. The Braves were indeed up 3-0 in the 7th, but the Mets got one in the 7th, then 8 more in the 8th, scoring the 8 runs with just 4 hits! Otis struck out to lead off the inning but reached first when Niekro's knuckler got by Bob Didier. Then came a single by Harrelson and Shamsky, batting for Seaver, reached on an error to load the bases. Agee doubled to drive in two and tie the score. George Stone came in to relieve Niekro and Ed Charles was intentionally walked to re-load the bases. Ken Boswell was hit by a pitch to give the Mets the lead, and then, to confirm what I said earlier, Cleon did indeed have a big hit--a grand slam! The Mets added another run on a J.C. Martin triple followed by a wild pitch.

The win took the Mets record to 14-17, but at that time that was a great record for the Mets after one month of a season. This game first got me thinking that something special could be happening at Shea in 1969!

The Mets scored eight runs in an inning for the first time ever in this game. The inning was highlighted by Cleon Jones' only grand slam of his major league career. The slam was noteworthy in that it came off George Stone, who became a key pitcher for the Mets' pennant winner four years later. It also started a rather unique tradition of Mets grand slams on May 14th. Six more bases-loaded homers would be hit by Met players on that date over the next half century.

NYB Buff, you're a little off on the eight-run inning being the first in Mets history. They also had one against the Braves in a game at Milwaukee five years earlier. Joe Christopher hit a grand slam in that one.

Jones' grand slam in this game was featured on the "Miracle Mets" vinyl disk record that came out after the season. A re-enacted Bob Murphy call of the slam started the '69 part of this record after a series of Met moments from earlier years. It would serve as a sign of things to come.

I think this was the game where Cleon lined out to a leaping Felix Millan with the bases loaded for the last out. I also believe that after this game Hodges held a team meeting to let the team know he was not happy with their play of late. Can anyone verify this ?

Retrosheet.org lists the final out of this game as "Jones popped to second." Maybe they are guilty of a little understatement? The Mets did indeed leave the bases loaded in the ninth with one out...first Ken Boswell grounded into a force play at the plate and then Cleon made the final out.

The Mets were down 6-2 but got three in the eighth to get back in it. Don Cardwell got knocked around early and took the loss to fall to 1-6. Jack DiLauro made his major league debut in this game, giving up a double to the first batter he faced but retiring everyone else in his two- inning outing.

I can't recall if there was a team meeting after the game. This loss dropped the Mets to 15-18 but came one night after a terrific come-from-behind win against the Braves which I was lucky to have attended.

This was the very first baseball game I ever went to. My Dad took me to Shea on a school day off, couldn't believe how far up we were with general admission tickets so he gave an usher a couple of bucks and we sat on the field level.

A big moment I remember was a diving catch by Cleon Jones where he ran in from LF on a line drive, rolling after he caught the ball. My dad called this a "circus catch"! I've never heard that phrase again.

The Mets threatened at the end but fell 1 run short, and my Dad told me that Hodges called a meeting about their lackluster play. Shortly after they won 11 in a row and were in the pennant race. Fond memories!

This was my first game too. I remember that my father called Hank Aaron's 2 home runs....amazed the hell out of me but it pissed me off enough to tell him to be quiet when he got up for his fourth at bat.

This was a wild game featuring a bench clearing brawl with Eddie Kranepool wrestling Reds first base coach Jimmy Bragan.

As I remember, Kranepool fielded a throw from one of the infielders and thought it was the third out. It was only the second out and Krane thoughtlessly flipped the ball to Bragan, as was the custom.

Bragan threw the ball behind him and the runner on base kept running. Kranepool realized his mistake and proceeded to pummel Bragan, who easily had to be 30 years older. Bedlam errupted. I can never forget Lindsey Nelson screaming as though he had swallowed the microphone: "There's a fight on the field...it's Eddie Kranepool and Jimmy Bragan!" At that point it looked like Big Ed had engulfed the dimunitive Bragan.

The Reds manager, Dave Bristol, got pitched from the game. He was red hot that an opposing player fought one of his coaches.

When Eddie came to the plate the fans at Crosley Field really gave it to him, but he had a good game with 3 hits. I'm sure it's a game he'll never forget.

There are a few things you can count on in life: death, taxes, women on Spanish TV wearing sexy outfits or bikinis and the Mets vs Reds in a donnybrook. Kranepool's fight with Bragan was sure a sign of things to come between two legendary National League franchises!

I'll never forget this game, not so much for what went on during the game, but for my experience before it. Three buddies and I drove down from Dayton to catch the game. I brought along my most prized possession - an autographed Ron Hunt card. Hunt was my all-time favorite Met and I thought it would be cool to have Pete Rose autograph the same card, Rose being the one to beat out Hunt for Rookie of the Year. Got there very early, sat through BP, waited patiently then move down to the rail as Rose came over to sign. There were maybe 30 others all clamoring for his attention but my Mets hat caught his eye first. "What the (bleep) do you want, Mr. Met?" "Could you please, Mr. Rose?", as I offered him the card and a pen. Upon seeing what it was he flew into a rage screaming expletives that would shock a sailor, tore it in half threw it down and proceeded to stomp all over it. He then stormed off toward the dugout. Half way there he noticed a piece of it stuck to his cleat. He ripped it off and attempted to punt it into the upper deck before leaving. The remaining autograph seekers wound up screaming at me, my friends were laughing their butts off, and I just stood there my mouth agape. To this day Ron Hunt remains my favorite Met, while Rose remains a First Class Jerk!

Looking at the box score, why would George Stone get a save in this game?

This was the Mets' first ever game against the San Diego Padres. The Padres won this game but the Mets won the next 11 games against the Padres in 1969.

This was also the first win in what would become a club record 11 wins in a row...putting the National League on notice.

OK, y'all--how does the song go? "This could be the start of something BIG..." And indeed it was; because THIS is the game that "slammed the door" on the Mets being the perennial doormat of baseball. For with the completion of this game, the day before my 14th birthday, my Mets have embarked on a never-to-be-done- before-in-their-history ELEVEN GAME WINNING STREAK with this victory over the Padres.

Oh, and it only gets better...A few days after the streak concludes, WE GET CLINK!!!!--Slugger Donn Clendennon comes to the Mets!!! Sing it again, y'all... "This could be the start of something BIG!..."

I'm from Missouri, a big Cardinal fan, by the way. But on this date in 1969 I was in New York for the first time and four of us got field box seats (3.50) and we watched the Mets beat the Padres. We were on our high school senior trip.

A good friend of mine, who was a big Mets fan at the time and a Jerry Koosman fan in particular, couldn't wait for me to get back into town to show me the box score of a game in which Koosman had struck out 15. He showed me the box score--and I then I showed him the ticket. I think we were good luck for the Mets that year.

I'm not really a Mets fan anymore, but the BEST baseball book ever written for my money is still "Can't Anybody Here Play this Game?", by Jimmy Breslin. Funniest adult baseball book ever.

I believe this was the first game of the ten game winning streak. I had just finished my last college final (a make up art exam ) and I went out to Shea to see Jerry Koosman against the expansion Padres and their adobe brown uniforms. I think Clay Kirby pitched for the Padres but the KOOS outpitched him. I also went on Friday, Sunday against SF and Wednesday against LA. What a homestand: 8-1 and we knew there was something going on with this team.

My first baseball game. I was nine years old. I wasn't even very aware of baseball before this game, but I'd have to say this game changed my life. Sat in the field box on the first base side with my father, brother and cousin. My father taught me how to keep score. From this point on, sports moved to the center of my life. It was as if something inside of me had been awakened. Looking back, it's no wonder that I prefer pitchers duels to slugfests.

This was the start of the 11-game winning steak In 1969.

My dad took packed me and about 7 friends into the family station wagon to see this classic game. McCovey homered early off Seaver and Mets trailed 3-1 heading to bottom/7th inning. Swoboda knocked in one run, Rod Gaspar hit his only major league homer and Duffy Dyer delivered a pinch-hit RBI single in the bottom/8th to decide it. It was victory #3 in important 11-game winning streak.

This was a memorial day ballgame. McCovey drills a Seaver fastball almost over the scoreboard. The ball hit somewhere near the Mets posted lineup. Agee looked up and waved at it, never moved a muscle. Why bother? Willie Mac received 45 free passes that year, at the time a major league record. Barry gets that much in a 4 game series!

This is the game that turned Tug McGraw's career around. Tug struck out Met killers Willie Mays and Willie McCovey to preserve the win. The Mets first learned how to win during this homestand sweeping the California teams. I still say that THIS was a key game changing the attitudes of both the Mets and the Met fans! McGraw gained newfound confidence and went on to have his best year in his career up to that point.

It was this game. Ed Charles drove all four runs for the Mets.

My first MLB game! I was 11 and my dad took me. Stepping into an opening in the stands and seeing that field and scoreboard in real life was amazing! We had seats in the left field upper deck that obscured the left field corner. It was hot and I was feeling queasy with the view. My dad took me down to a ticket window and I saw him fold two dollar bills under our tickets and slide them to the ticket guy and say, "do you have anything better?" We ended up in the mezzanine down the 3B line, much better seats.

I made a sign, "McAndy is a Dandy" for starter Jim McAndrew but as you can see from the boxscore, he didn't last long. It was thrilling to see Mays and McCovey on the visiting Giants and #44 didn't disappoint with a round-tripper. I also saw him pull a screamer foul down the 1B line and a gloved hand reached out from the stands to snag it.

I saw a rare triple from a catcher with Jerry Grote connecting (years later I saw one of Ron Hodges' two lifetime triples).

Even though I was a Mets fan I never wanted one of their caps because everyone had one. I was more interested in other teams' uniforms so I got my dad to buy me an orange Astros cap. In later games, I got an Expos and Padres hat. I can still recall the sight of that souvenir stand with all the NL caps stacked up.

It was quite an unusual ending to the game with Ron Swoboda walking in the winning run in the 9th. My dad wanted to leave early to beat traffic but I begged him to stay. For his sake, I'm glad it didn't go into extra innings! We went to other games that season and it wasn't until years later that I figured out why we never went to games with Seaver or Koosman on the mound - my dad didn't want to deal with the traffic from a sellout crowd! Good times...

Pete, thanks for sharing your experience of attending this game with your dad. Great story. As you described, it ended when Ron Swoboda walked with the bases loaded to force home the winning run. When looked at historically, Swoboda's base-on-balls isn't so unusual since it was the third of four times in Ron's career that he drew a walk-off walk in the bottom of the ninth inning. The victory gave the Mets a series sweep over the Giants during an eleven-game win streak that propelled them into contention for the championship they would eventually conquer.

This was an historic game in an historic season because it was the first time the Mets ever went above .500 beyond the first week of the season.

Ed Kranepool hit two home runs--the first one was a rope into the Mets bullpen off Alan Foster; the second one was a two-run, 400' shot to right center. On home run #2 good old WOR-TV was already running a videotaped highlight of the previous play, so no one got to see the replay of Kranepool's second homer.

Tom Seaver pitched.

What is really memorable was "Kiner's Korner" afterward. Since the Mets went over .500 for the first time, there was a lot of celebration in the clubhouse. Kranepool showed up as a guest on the postgame show smoking a cigar. Tom Seaver, the other guest, was giggling all the way through the show. At the end, Ralph Kiner told Kranepool, "Keep up the good work. And don't let those cigars make you sick." Seaver was laughing so hard I thought he was going to fall on the floor.

If this is the right one I think that Jack DiLauro started and threw at least nine shutout innings - clearly the finest game of his brief career - does anyone remember who was on the mound for LA?

RG, I was at the game (in fact all 3 of those Dodger games) and I think Claude Osteen was the starter. Remember Willie Davis allowing a fly ball single get past him for a triple in the 12th allowing the winning run to score?

To clear up some confusion, it was Bill Singer who started this one for the Dodgers. Singer had a perfect game for six innings before Bud Harrelson led off the seventh with a single. The only other hit Singer allowed in the nine innings he pitched was a pinch-single by Art Shamsky in the bottom of the 9th. Singer didn’t walk a batter (he hit Wayne Garrett in the 7th), and he struck out ten.

But Jack DiLauro was pretty good this night too. DiLauro allowed a leadoff first inning double to Bill Russell and a second inning double by Ted Sizemore, then did not allow another hit over his last 7.2 innings, retiring the last 19 batters he faced!

The Mets won the game 1-0 in the bottom of the 15th when Willie Davis misplayed Wayne Garrett’s single and Tommie Agee scored from first. The Mets had just four hits and two walks in 15 innings yet still won the game!

I seem to recall that Al Weis made a remarkable play to keep it a scoreless game. He was playing 2B and there was a ground ball that DiLauro nicked. Weis changed directions, fielded the ball behind the pitchers' mound and threw home for a bang-bang tag play.

Does anybody remember that or have more details? To my mind -- if my memory is correct -- it was the best play I'd seen by a middle IF until Ozzie Smith's barehand play in his rookie season.

Donnie, I watched part of the game and I remember reading about the play the next day, although I did not see it live. It was described as an unbelievable play and it kept the game scoreless. What is significant is that it came in the middle of the Mets big winning streak in early June that set the stage for the rest of the season. Retrosheet.org has the box score and PBP description.

This was one of my first games as a Mets fan. And... the seats were free; we redeemed coupons cut from milk cartons during the school year, and got seats in right field...fair territory...upper deck! I made my father stay through all fifteen innings, even though he had to be up to work the next morning. I remember seeing the ball go past Willie Davis and roll to the wall....same feeling of glee 17 years later with Mookie and Buckner. I also remember Ron Swoboda having a terrible night, yet taking the time to yell up to us when we called down to him. I'll miss Shea.

The great play by Al Weis happened in the 15th inning. He barehanded Willie Davis's ground ball that pitcher Ron Taylor got his glove on. Weis threw home to Grote, nailing Billy Grabarkewitz at the plate. It was a great play by Weis that exemplified what the rest of the Mets' season would be like.

Davis helped the Mets even further in the bottom of the inning, misplaying Wayne Garrett's single to allow Tommie Agee to score from first. Very exciting win!

After the passing of the Great Ralph Kiner, I bought "Kiner's Korner" and just finished reading his summary of the play. I sure wish I could see a video of it. I was 4 at the time and didn't really know what I was watching until about the 1971 season.

The Mets swept the Padres and recorded their tenth straight victory in this game. Tom Seaver had fourteen strikeouts in only seven innings (that's Jacob deGrom-like) and got his ninth win of the season. Meanwhile, the Montreal Expos ended their 20-game losing skid by beating the Dodgers up the coast in Los Angeles. A significant day in baseball in regard to streaks.

In news of lesser importance, Mickey Mantle had his uniform #7 retired on this day.

The Giants had won five in a row coming into this contest at Candlestick Park. Their record stood at 29 and 23, three games behind the first place Braves. A Tuesday night crowd of just 6,038 showed up to see veteran journeyman Don Cardwell of the Mets take on lefty Mike McCormick.

The home team got on board first in the third inning when Bobby Bonds tripled home McCormick. The Mets scored a run in the fourth, a run in the fifth, two in the sixth and broke it open with four in the seventh. The big blow was a three run shot by Mets first baseman Cleon Jones off reliever Ron Herbel.

The Giants scored three in the ninth but it was too little too late. The Mets who eventually caught and passed the collapsing Cubs, won 9-4.

This was the culmination of an eleven game winning streak that got fans believing that the Mets were real contenders. The Mets went into the streak 18-23 in 4th place and with this win were 29-23 solidly in 2nd place seven games out. The first seven wins were at Shea but then the Mets won four more on the West Coast. The Mets finally lost their next game in San Francisco.

I attended this game with my Little League. From our seats in the LF bleachers, we had great view of Manny Mota's throw home that nailed Ed Charles and preserved the 1-0 lead. The Dodgers had just obtained Mota and he's still with the organization 44 years later.

This was Don Drysdale's final appearance against the Mets. Drysdale had made four starts in April and was 1-2 with an ERA over 5.00, then went on the disabled list. In this, his first game back in almost two months, he pitched 5.2 innings and was the winning pitcher.

After an Andy Kosco home run opened the scoring, a sac fly by Wayne Garrett and an RBI single by Cleaon Jones gave the Mets a 2-1 lead early. But Ted Sizemore hit a sac fly in the fourth to tie it up and Jack DiLauro threw a wild pitch with the next batter up allowing Manny Mota to score from third with what would be the final run of the game.

DiLauro was the losing pitcher, his first ever major league decision.

Drysdale made seven more starts in 1969 before retiring due to a torn rotator cuff. He was just 33 when he packed it in. When Big Don retired, he was the last Brooklyn Dodger still active with the Dodgers.

Steady Eddie singled to right scoring Cleon from third (after Jones double and a ground out.) Earlier in game Art Shamsky had been thrown out at home.

I started the game in the nose bleed section of the upper deck in right field.My friend and I snuck down to the seats right behind the aux. scoreboard, also in right field. It was a matchup of Hall-of Famers, Gibson vs. Ryan. Ryan did not go the distance, but won anyway. I was 18 at that time. Lets Go Mets!

I went to see the Mets face the NL Champ cards. (I was 10.) I was sure the Mets would lose, because unfortunately, Bob Gibson was facing the Mets #5 starter, Nolan Ryan. Gibby ran into Tim McCarver under a foul popup in the first, which led to a 3-run rally, and the Mets won. Unbelievably, Gibson was losing in the 7th and batted for himself (and homered) and still trailing by a run was sent up to make the last out in the 9th. That's not how they play now. Anyway, revisionism as it were, I get to tell the world I saw Ryan beat Gibson.

I was 15. My father came home early from work, told me a friend had given him two tickets to see the Mets that night, so on the the spur of the moment we traveled from Albany, N.Y. We sat in the upper deck near the right field foul pole. As I remember it, Gibson made Agee look bad on two pitches in the first, then gave up a ringing double to right center and the Mets were on their way. At the game's conclusion, a man seated behind us said, "Man, I love this team!"

The main things that I remember is that it was banner day, and that Swoboda struck out five times! When he came to the plate the last time, the crowd was cheering the Cardinal pitcher on. Swoboda gave the fans what they wanted!

I am sorry to contradict, but this was NOT banner day. I should know. I was a banner day winner on August 17, 1969.

This doubleheader was my first major league baseball game ever. I was 11 years old, a Cardinals fan making the trip with my Dad on a bus trip from Wilkes-Barre, PA.

While my team lost, it was a watershed event for me... every time I walk up the ramp to see the field at a pro baseball game, I think of that day. That first sight of the inside of Shea Stadium was spectacular. Our seats were in the first row, behind first base. I remember waving my Cardinals pennant... getting Jerry Grote to autograph my yearbook.... my Dad drinking a very tall Shaefer beer... and a really loud shirtless guy with a crewcut and the biggest beer belly I had ever seen.

The Cardinals did very little that day. There was maybe one extra-base hit between both teams in both games. Koosman was great... and I remember the Mets hitting about 5 or 6 singles in a row in one inning, most of them seeming to go to right field in front of us.

And yes, Ron Swoboda striking out 5 times!

For Dan Styklunas: your memory is outstanding! Here is the play-by-play of the bottom of the fourth of game one from retrosheet.org:

Grote singled to right; Weis singled to right [Grote to second]; Gentry forced Grote (pitcher to third) [Weis to second]; Harrelson singled to right [Weis scored, Gentry to third, Harrelson to second (on throw)]; TAYLOR REPLACED CARLTON (PITCHING); Agee singled to right [Gentry scored, Harrelson scored]; Jones singled to right [Agee to third]; Clendenon popped to second; Swoboda struck out; 3 R, 5 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. Cardinals 1, Mets 5.

So that's five singles to right field in that inning!

And in the next day's NY Daily News was a sports page cartoon from famed illustist Bill Gallo stating "Somewhere men are laughing and somewhere children shout. But there is no joy in New York Metville, mighty Rocky has struck out, and struck out, and struck out..."

This double header happened when I was 10 years old. My dad was getting excited because it seemed like the Mets were getting good. In the second game, I'm not sure, but I think Rod Gaspar threw out Lou Brock at home plate on a single to left field. (He was at third and may have been delayed, thinking he might have to tag up.)

I attended this doubleheader with my two older brothers back in '69. 13 at the time, it remains a great memory from a remarkable season. We were sitting in the upper deck down the left field line, on the fair side of the foul pole. Rod Gaspar's assist throwing out Brock at home plate in the 8th inning is one of the best plays I've seen in person at Shea. Gaspar was out of sight below us, but the ball appeared out of nowhere as a bullet streaking to home plate to nail the speedy Brock.

It was a very warm day in the sun of the upper deck on that Sunday, but a DH sweep is something special, especially against the Cardinals, who won the NL pennant the prior season. Koosman pitched a great game for the shutout! I wish I'd kept my own scorecard of the game.

I remember this game almost like it was yesterday. I was five (I'm 50 now!) and it was the very first professional ball game I had ever seen. My Uncle got 3 tix and took me and my Dad. It was hot and sunny. I remember being impressed with how big and green the field looked to me. Had my first Crackerjacks. Sat on the first base side--pretty good seats. I remember thinking no one would score. Then in the 7th inning (I think) Buddy Harrelson tripled, and the excitement was suddenly electric. When Tommie Agree got his hit and Harrelson scored, we all went bonkers. Lou Brock (My brother's favorite player - a great base stealer) almost scored in the next inning, but was thrown out at the plate. Great Memories! I loved the Mets (still do), even though everyone else in my family are primarily Yankees fans.

Jolene, it was Rod Gaspar who threw out Lou Brock at the plate in the second game of the doubleheader.

This was the first game of a twi-night doubleheader and also the first major league game I ever saw, just about one month before my seventh birthday.

My father and I drove down from Connecticut, before we left he told my mother that we'd stay for the first game, and then if I was tired we'd leave. For years afterward he loved to tell the story of how when the first game ended he asked me if I wanted to go home and I said "no". He then proceeded to ask me the same question after every inning of the SECOND game, and I kept saying "no". So we stayed for both games!

I remember nothing about the games themselves except that the Mets won both, it was nice to be able to look at the scorecards here and get the details. This is a great website.

This was the second game of a twi-night doubleheader. I went with my Dad and two uncles...

See that run in the bottom of the 8th? That's Tommie Agee hitting one over the wall. We heard the roar of the crowd as we road down one of those giant escalators from the upper deck at Shea.

This was my first-ever lesson in the perils of leaving early. HRs by the Mets were so rare in those days, and it was a real disappointment to miss one b/c we were trying to beat traffic.

Anyway, the sweep of the doubleheader is a nicer memory than the missed HR!

LenDog, I don't know if you remember this about the twi-nighter this night, but the Phillies' Richie Allen failed to show up for the doubleheader. Gene Stone played first base in both games for the Phils.

Allen was fined $2,500 and suspended indefinitely (which turned out to be until July 20). He later explained that he had gone to New Jersey in the morning to see some horse racing and got caught in traffic on the way to Shea.

Jim McAndrew had a perfect game in the second game of the doubleheader until light-hitting shortstop Terry Harmon singled with one out in the sixth inning. The next batter was pinch- hitter Vic Roznovsky and he also singled. Then McAndrew retired the next eight batters before Ron Taylor came in to pitch the ninth. Jim had also driven in a run with a bases loaded walk in the four-run fourth inning.

Hey Bob P. - thanks for filliing in some blanks.

I barely remember this twi-nighter. I do remember McAndrew throwing a great game but details are fuzzy. I recall a beautiful night, lots of peanuts, and a Mets sweep - i.e., a dream night for a kid.

This was my 18th birthday. My father and a friend took me for my first trip to Shea and my first legal night out drinking. I remember the great time I had but few details. I still have my giant Mr Mets, and You have to believe buttons. And baseball was great then.

The Mets (14) and Phillies (13) set a National League record for ineptitude by striking out 27 times in the first nine innings of a 10-inning game. The Phils win 6–5 when rookie Dave Watkins triples and scores in the 10th. Watkins, who replaced Cookie Rojas when he was thumbed in the 5th, hits his first ML homer as well. Palmer strikes out nine in four 1/3 innings for Philley, while Nolan Ryan K's 10 in six 1/3 innings.

The Mets blew a 5-0 lead and lost in ten innings, 6-5. Rookie Dave Watkins tripled with two outs in the tenth and scored on a single by Johnny Briggs. Watkins had also hit his first major league homer off Cal Koonce to tie the game in the eighth inning. The only reason Watkins was in the game was because Phillies 2B Cookie Rojas had been ejected in the fifth inning.

Ed Kranepool had a chance to be a hero but grounded out in the bottom of the tenth with the bases loaded and two outs.

The two teams combined to strike out 27 times in the game...all in the first nine innings, setting an NL record. So half of the outs in the game through nine innings were strikeouts. Nolan Ryan started for the Mets and struck out ten in 6.1 innings; Lowell Palmer was the Phils' starter and he fanned nine in just 4.1 innings

Actually the other reason Watkins was in the game was because Dick Allen was a no-show...he went to the horse track in the afternoon and got stuck in traffic and never made it to the game. Bob Skinner had to start Ed Joseph at third and when Rojas got tossed he had to move Joseph to 2B and put Watkins in at 3B...Watkins was a third string catcher...LOL and he ends up being the hero....classic

My first Mets game. My dad took me, and his fellow NYPD friends took their own kids the night after school let out. This was Oldtimers night, but my dad told me keep your eyes on the right fielder Clemente. Although Roberto had a hard time at the plate, he made a spin around throw from deep in the right field corner to the third baseman on a line that made the crowd gasp and cheer. I remember the Mets rallying in the 9th after their horrible 8th and falling with the tying run up. Story of my life!

With this win, Tom Seaver became the winningest pitcher in Met history, passing Al Jackson.

I was 14 and an avid Met fan this year, watching every inning of every game. Although this game was relatively early in their miracle year, to me it defined their destiny more than any other game. The Mets were leading late in this game 4- 0 when St. Louis pinch-hitter deluxe Vic Davillio hit a grand slam home run, eventually sending the game to extra innings. From that point on, the Mets escaped jam after jam, with St. Louis having the winning run thrown out at home plate in the bottom of the ninth when Curt Flood attempted to score from first on a double to deep center field, and then St. Louis constantly loading the bases with nobody or one out in the extra innings but unable to score. Finally, the Mets broke through with two runs in the 14th inning and held off another St. Louis rally in the bottom of the inning to win it.

Excellent memory, Steve!

Davalillo's pinch slam came with two outs in the bottom of the 8th off Ron Taylor. Jerry Koosman had started and pitched a shutout through 7 2/3 innings, though he apparently didn't have his best stuff (seven hits and four walks).

After Flood was thrown out at home in the 9th, the Cards loaded the bases with nobody out in the 10th off Tug McGraw. But a force at home, a strikeout and another groundout got Tug out of that jam. The Cards had a runner in the 11th, two runners in the 12th, and two outs and nobody on in the 13th, but each time Tug pitched out of it.

The Mets got two in the 14th after two outs and nobody on when Agee singled, stole second, and scored on a Boswell single. The Mets got an insurance run on a bases loaded walk by Wayne Garrett.

Tug pitched SIX innings for the win. He allowed seven hits and four walks in the six innings! In fact, the Cards had 24 baserunners in the game (15 hits, 8 walks, and one HBP) and they finished with 18 left on base.

Sorry--one correction to my post of September 4 above. I meant to say the Cardinals had the bases loaded with nobody out in the 13th, not that they had two outs and nobody on!

Although I don't remember every detail of the extra innings, your corrected post of September 13 sounds correct because it seemed to me that the Cards had the bases loaded with no one out more than once. If I recall correctly, I believe the Cards also threatened again in the bottom of the 14th. In any event, a truly remarkable and nail-biter game - I have never since seen another game quite like this one.

Steve, of course you're right...the Mets never do anything easily!

In the bottom of the 14th Tug did get the first two batters out but then Bill White doubled and the tying run came to the plate, Lou Brock. But Brock had a rough night: Tug struck him out and Lou was 0-for-7 in a game where Mets pitchers gave up 15 hits and 8 walks.

This opener of a Pittsburgh twinbill began at 10:30 AM. Morning baseball has become quite rare except for Patriots Day in Boston.

To me, this is a game(s) that is a perfect example how the game has changed. And not for the better. Holiday or not, there are no more scheduled double headers. This one was at a grand old ballpark and the Mets scored the most runs in a DH in their history up to that point.

Earliest start ever for Mets - 10:30 AM for the holiday!

The Mets swept the three game series at Forbes Field on July 4th weekend with this 8-7 win. They scored 28 runs in the three games.

In this one the Mets came back from a 6-1 hole after two innings. Former Pirate Donn Clendenon hit a 3-run homer with two outs in the 6th to give the Mets an 8-6 lead. Cal Koonce pitched the last four innings, giving up one run and striking out six for the save.

This gave the Mets some momentum heading into the biggest series in the franchise's history to that point: the 3-game homestand against the Cubs that featured the remarkable 9th inning comeback and Seaver's near-perfect game.

Amazing Three runs in the last inning when we were down two runs.Just think 17 years later it happened again.I wish I could get a tape of this game if anybody knows where to get it put the info on this site Thank you!!

Wow, what a game! Once again I'm in the cheap seats, but enjoyed every moment. What I recall most vividly was the almost surreal 9th inning. Nothing but clutch hit afer clutch hit. With each hit the crowd getting more and more electric. I could be wrong, but I recall the game winning hit to be a double, one hop off the wall, by that great Monroe alumni Ed Kranepool(#7). As the wining run scored that warm late afternoon in July,I became a believer. Lets Go Mets!

Dear Mr. T:

Kranepool won the game with a bloop single to left field.

It was my 15th birthday, and I was riveted to the TV. This was around the time you knew this was a special team. What a comeback in this game!

I was sitting in upper reserved - behind third. Kranepool homered, then blooped a game-winning single. Pandemonium. I have never seen the subway as crowded as it was after that game - afternoon rush hour.

I went to the game with my father and brother. I still have the scorecard. Jenkins vs. Koosman. Kranepool bloop hit over shortstop to win the game. I was 11 years old and I remember thinking when the crowd went wild, "Could the stadium handle the noise?" I thought the stadium would collapse underneath me. It was unbelievable. I will remember it all my life.

I was at this great game that has been forgotten by many because the next day Seaver threw his almost perfect game. Don Stankus, Lumpy McDonald and I were in Section 1 in the last row and I had to convince them to stick around until the last at bat. They thanked me later (or at least they should have). Crabby Leo Durocher blamed his centerfielder Don Young for not catching a couple of Met hits in the ninth.

This game is one of the great baseball memories of my life. I was fourteen and attended the game with a friend from school. As I recall, the Kranepool hit came on a 1- 2 count. It looked to me as though he was fooled by the Jenkins pitch, and Ed did a great job getting the bat on the ball. Tom (above) is dead on about the noise and the shaking stadium. I yelled myself hoarse. My friend and I walked back to Main Street, Flushing over the bridge after the game and we kept saying we had seen something very special. Years later, living far away from the city, I still remember that day with great happiness.

I still remember feeling the electricity in the air when I got off the 7 train. My friend Joel and I turned in coupons from Dellwood milk cartons and got in the upper deck free. I remember people dancing and yelling long after the game was over. Pity that the game was overshadowed the very next night, I consider that this game showed they belonged and were expansion jokes no more.

There is a tragic but legendary story surrounding this game where a Queens man killed his wife because he was watching the Mets and she wanted to watch "Dark Shadows" (a popular soap opera at the time).

This was a great game. The fact that we could come back in the 9th inning against the first place team showed that we were real. My brother and I took two buses and walked from Main Street to get to Shea in those days. The feeling on the trip home that day was incredible.

This was the first game I ever went to. I was 9 years old. I went with my grandfather and uncle the Mets were down 3-1 going to the 9th getting only one hit, a home run by Ed Kranepool.

It was first time I saw baseball in color!

My father collected newspapers from notable events. I have the NY Daily News from when the Mets won the World Series, Jets won the Super Bowl, etc. For years I kept coming up on the Daily News from July 9, 1969. About 5 years ago it hit me. That was the game my father took me and my cousin to. I still have the program. Sadly, my father died in 1978 but his sense of history allows me to go back and relive it again. I was 6 in 1969 and I remember the Mets winning in a wild way. Crowd was crazy!

Looking at the box score and play by play of this game, at https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN196907080.shtml, why didn't Cubs manager Leo Durocher replace starter Ferguson Jenkins with a relief pitcher during the bottom of the ninth? He was clearly getting very tired, as he had allowed three doubles before Kranepool's game-winning hit with two out.

If such a game was played in 2019, there would have been a far lesser chance that the Mets would have made such a comeback, because there would have been no way that a starting pitcher would have continued pitching through the end of the game after giving up so many hits in the ninth inning. With a 3-1 lead going into the bottom of the ninth (a save situation), the manager would have taken out his starter (if he hadn't been relieved earlier, which is likely under current baseball conditions) and put in his closer to complete the save.

I was 11 years old and at this game with camp. Due to the buses, we had to leave at the bottom of the 7th. We are all sitting in the buses, waiting for them to round-up all the kids when we could hear the screaming from the stadium. I was so angry we missed it but thrilled we won! Magical 1969!

I remember watching this game on channel 9 with my buddy Frankie. I vividly recall the ninth inning and going crazy when the Mets pulled it out. One of my favorite Met memories.

I was 14. We were in a pennant race with the much hated Cubs. Things were looking bleak heading into the bottom of the ninth. As I recall, my high school buddy and I snuck down from the $1.50 upper deck seats to the "expensive" $3.50 seats behind the Mets dugout. One by one, we started chipping away at the Cubs lead until Kranepool dropped one in into left field to win it!!! I remember total bedlam and hugging total strangers. The press the next day said that the noise from Shea was audible on the Grand Central Parkway. I'll never forget it. One of the happiest days of my life and, as Bob Murphy used to say: "and now for the happy recap"

Was at this game, sat in Loge in short right field. Long afternoon because we were in the row behind Cubs fans, including one guy who kept bleating about "Fergie Jenkins one hitter". Place full of kids in day camp T shirts. Boswell bloop double, then clink double that centerfielder couldn't hold as he crashed into fence. Jones' double over third base down the line. Then Eddie's Texas leaguer.

55 years later I still see these 4 hits in my mind's eye, second only to the Mookie at bat in 86.

I went to that game, with my older brother. I was 9 years old. Like everyone. We took the bus, and walked over the bridge. Got in, with the milk box coupons. The game was extremely exciting. It was unreal. Eddie Kranepool with the base hit! The next night as everyone knows, was Seaver's imperfect game. My next door neighbor had tickets to the game, and asked me to go. My father wouldn’t let me go; it was my moms birthday! 7/9/69!!

What else can you say about this game? Following the great comeback of the day before Tom Seaver was as dominating as he ever was or ever would be.

It sent a message to the Cubs that the Mets weren't going away. Ever though they slipped in August before making their Pantheon run in September, they still had to establish to the Cubs, the world and to themselves that they had the mettle to make a run for the division, pennant and World Series.

Shea was packed and the Mets scored early. After that it was all Tom Seaver. He mowed down Cub after Cub.

Randy Hundley unsuccessful bunt, followed by Jimmy Qualls clean single to left center are burned into my memory.

With all their great pitching the Mets have never had a no-hitter thrown on their behalf, this is still their best-pitched game. This performance was as good or better than most no-hitters. (see Joe Cowley's 8-walk no-hitter in 1986).

In the days before cable we were lucky this day when a local Albany station picked up the WOR feed. Little did my friends and I know that we would see the best pitched game of our lives. We were just thrilled to be able to watch a Mets game on TV. We were heartbroken when Qualls got that one out hit in the 9th. So close but still an amazing game.

I was 9 years old and watching this game from the guest house at my grandmother's summer place. It was the first season when baseball really mattered to me and I was a rabid Mets fan. I remember that every pitch Seaver threw after the sixth inning sent the crowd into a frenzy. For me, it was the best baseball game I had ever seen and I think it still is. Seaver deserved a perfect game but it shows that life isn't fair.

My oldest friend David and I were doing our usual roaming the streets of Brooklyn on a hot muggy night. His parents rented the basement apartment to a newly wed couple, we snuck into the backyard to listen to their joyous sounds of sex, lots of it, and I guess we stumbled or giggled but at any rate, we were about to get caught so we took off and landed at my house. We turn on the game as it goes into the ninth and immediately feel the tension without hearing any commentary. Qualls steps in as we are really getting pumped and the little bastard bloops his seeing eye single and we head back out across the street to check in on newlywed Bob!

I didn't see it cos I was only a baby. But 25 years to the day, I married my wife. I told her I would never forget our anniversary because of this game, one of the most incredible clutch pitching performances in the history of baseball. I never have.

I was at this game with my dad. I was 11. We were going to get in using the Dairy-Lea coupons from the milk cartons. When we got there, the game was sold out. But, my dad had tickets to the Mayor's Trophy game that was rained out on Monday July 7. He was able to exchange them for like the last 2 seats to be found. I remember Cleon Jones HR in the 7th caused the stadium to literally shake and was the loudest sound I had ever heard. The place was rocking.

My family was at a beach rental in Long Beach Island, NJ during this week.

I was 8 years old and my bedtime coincided with approx. the 7th inning, so I was in bed but listening to the sounds of the game on the TV in the next room.

I can still remember the groan my Dad let out when Qualls got the basehit.

Here we are, 35 years later, still waiting for the 1st Mets no-hitter. I was at the Dwight Gooden 1-hitter on 9/8/84 and was in attendance when former NY Met Nolan Ryan threw his 7th.

Gooden got no-no and Cone a perfecto with the Yankees. Arrrgggh. As if being a Met fan wasn't challenging enough.

Despite the fact that Jimmy Qualls ruined what would have been the Mets only no-hitter in history, this was still the best pitched game in Mets history. Long live Tom Seaver.

I was 13 at the time and had been a Mets fan since the days of Choo-Choo Coleman. The tension was unbearable as my whole family watched the game. When Qualls got the hit, it was like air out of a balloon. It was unquestionably the greatest pitching performance I have ever seen and that's saying a lot. Seaver really deserved the no-hitter but it was not to be. I am still a Mets fan.

Jimmy Qualls. Jimmy Qualls. He hit a dying quail to short left center. I will never forget that name, I will never forget that sight. I was 19 years old, the summer after my freshman year, working a summer job in downtown NY. We were all excited, with the Mets on a streak, maybe, just maybe, catching the Cubs and getting into the Series. We were hot with emotion.

I told my mother I was going to the game that night, a sultry summer night, and I'd be home after midnight. I got a general admission ticket behind home plate, the best seats in what was always a terrible place to watch a game (the Polo Grounds; now that was a place!). But I loved it upstairs in Shea.

Ninth inning, Qualls hits this little ball, half pop up, half line drive. I still remember the look of disgust on Seaver's face.

"My imperfect game." That's what Seaver always called it. The imperfect game.

I was at the game with Dad and others. We had gotten in free after collecting the appropriate number of Bordens milk coupons. We were sitting high up in the right field grandstands. It was a great game due to the race with the Cubs and the great game that Seaver pitched. We'll never forget the name Jimmy Qualls though.

We also made it to an earlier game in that Cub series where the Mets came back in the 9th to beat Ferguson Jenkins.

Of course the story of this game was the near perfecto that Tom pitched, but I was amazed that submariner Ted Abernathy pitched more than six innings in relief. Leo was so desperate for a win he went with Abernathy in a long relief role the likes of which he hadn't done since he was with Washington in the 1950's. Cleon Jones homered off of Abernathy and I remember him on Kiner's Korner after the game saying "I think he's lost a little something off that sinker." I loved that comment for Abernathy had seemed invincible over the last two or three seasons.

Shea was electric!!! Even though I was nine years old, I can still remember the small black and white television on WOR Channel 9. Seaver was so so sharp. My heart sank when Qualls lined that clean single to left-center. After the comeback in yesterday's game, the Cubs looked as they were in last, not first. What made it even sweeter was my neighbor next door was MR YANKEE and he had to eat this!

I remember this game so well, and the awful feeling when the ball dropped in. Seaver was - still in, in my mind - the greatest.

Announcer Lindsey Nelson: "...and look at Tom Seaver. He's happy, and yet he's sad..."

Watched it at home in NJ with my parents. Probably the best game of my Mets memory. I remember the crowd when Qualls broke it up. From huge noise to sudden silence... followed by the most amazing ovation ever.

Almost a Tom Terrific perfecto. Leslie, Rudi, Leslie's dad and I made the trip to Shea from Huntington Station and saw almost history. I remember Tommie Agee and Cleon Jones running all out to snare the drive off the bat of Jimmy Qualls, but alas to no avail. A long standing ovation for Seaver after the hit.

I recall attending that game as a 15-year-old and having a standing room ticket as Shea was packed to the rafters. My dad was also there attending (me with him) and alongside the 3-homer game by Reggie in the 77 World Series which I attended, this was a great happening to have witnessed in person.

I was there with my grandfather, my father and my kid brother, three generations. It was my first live game ever and we were sitting on the rail in the Mezzanine next to two Cubs fans. I was ten years old at the time and was keeping score. I didn't even notice that Seaver was pitching a perfect game until late in the game when the Cubs fan leaned over to me and mentioned it. I am not sure I even knew what a perfect game was. I bragged on this event for many years after. It is kind of a badge of courage for Mets fans to say they were at this one.

As a 15 year old, I remember getting into the game in the bleachers by cutting out 15 coupons from Borden milk cartons. My next-door neighbor's father, who was a Cub fan drove us there.、The crowd noise was unbelievable. I remember Randy Hundley laying down a bunt about 20 feet right in front of home plate, and how exhausted Tom Seaver was after he chased the ball and threw to first base to get the out. Truly an incredible game.

I listened to this game recently, and before the game even starts, Ralph Kiner gives us an early Kinerism when he calls the Cubs center fielder Jim QUAILS, instead of the correct pronunciation. This was Ralph foreshadowing here, not only future Kinerisms, but also the "dying Quail single" (a Bob Murphy quote) in the top of the ninth to break up the perfect game.

I was surprised to hear the game being halted in the second inning because apparently some young fans had climbed on top of the batting eye in deep center, and the PA announcer had to tell them to move. Can you imagine being one of those kids and doing that at THIS GAME? Where are those kids' memories on this site?

Also, a fan came to this game with a trumpet or a trombone and was playing discordant notes at odd times that the radio microphone picked up. It reminded me of the Dodgers 'Sym-phony' at Ebbets Field, but it was only one man.

Seaver's Line for the 'Imperfect Game': 9 IP, 0 BB, 0 ER, 1 H, 11 K, 100 pitches, 72 for strikes, Game Score 96, bringing his record to 14-3 with a 2.46 ERA and the Mets to a 47-34 record, and 3.5 games out of first.

I first saw the highlight of the Qualls hit in the Mets documentary An Amazin' Era in 1986 when I was eight, and I remember being devastated, but the Mets winning the World Series a few minutes later made up for it.

Hot Foot, I heard the radio broadcast of this game just like you did. My first impression of Ralph Kiner saying "Quails" was that it was a simple misreading of Jimmy Qualls' name. Kiner wasn't known for his strange quotations just yet, so I saw this as nothing more than an innocent mistake.

However, Ralph did give a more distinctive example of his future "Kinerisms" when Tommie Agee came up to bat in the fourth inning. In referring to Agee's run-scoring double in the bottom of the second, Kiner stated that the hit had knocked Cubs' starting pitcher Ken Holtzman "out of the batter's box." Ralph's oddball quotes didn't become apparent until he was worn down at an advanced age and ready for retirement many years later. But hearing this comment at a time when he wasn't quite so old had me thinking that he could've said a few things like this before then. I don't ever remember Kiner making such twisted statements until at least the mid-1980s.

One interesting note about this almost-perfect game by Tom Seaver is that Bud Harrelson did not make an appearance in it. Bud was serving military duty at the time and wasn't at Shea Stadium that night. He returned to the Mets the following weekend.

I was 19, waiting tables that summer out on Long Island. I came into town for the weekend and decided at the last minute to go to the game. I sat down the left field line way up in the upper deck, and still have visuals of this game in my head. After taking the 7 back into Manhattan--I was staying at my dad's place-- I still remember the mixed feelings of ALMOST seeing a perfect game, the excitement of beating the Cubs and maybe getting close enough to them to contend. What an exciting night that was!

This was the only game of this 3-game series that I wound up going to. The Mets played a terrible game. After the game Durocher gave his famous quote, "Those were the real Mets," which really got me POd.

I attended this game with my day camp (so you KNOW our seats sucked), but despite the Met momentum stopping that day, Cleon made a catch (I believe off Ron Santo) with Agee standing right next to him that robbed a homer. The photo has become a rather famous one, but not quite like those Agee would provide a few months later.

This was the doubleheader in which Hodges walked out onto the field and removed Cleon from the game for not hustling - one of many "turning points". There was a demonstration between games of a game called "Cast-A-Ball" - or something like that. People were attaching balls to fishing rods and casting them over the right-field fence - it was weird. I was sitting in what I consider the best seats in the house - loge right behind the plate! I had my knishes and hot dogs and Cokes - heaven for a 12-year-old!

Sorry to contradict people, but this WAS NOT the day Hodges yanked Cleon. That happened in a double header vs Houston, when Denis Menke and another Astro both hit grand slams in one game.

Chris -perhaps you were thinking of the 2nd game when Cleon was removed not by Hodges but by the umpire for arguing an out call on an attempted steal. I was there, my first game, and remember the cries of "we want Cleon" from the fans. Don't remember the fishing; see my posting on game 2.

This second game of a doubleheader was a masterpiece of drama that I will always remember. I was there, my first baseball game ever, only age 8.

In the second inning with the Mets already behind, Jones singles and then puts his lithe legs to work, attempting to steal second. There is a close play at second, and Jones is called out. If I did not already love Cleon, at that moment there is no doubt that I adopted him as my own, when I saw him sink to the knees and plaintively and passionately argue his disagreement with the big, burly umpire standing apposite.

Jones pleads and pleads, and the fans are excited, riled up. "We want Cleon" they scream There is an unstated query rumbling through us: will Jones be tossed? The unthinkable happens. The umpire jerks his thumb through the air, much more violently then he did when announcing Jones’ failure to reach the bag ahead of the tag. You’re out, he screamed. Cleon tossed from the game! Impossible.

Jones himself is transfixed for a moment by the cruel piercing of the umpire’s gesture, then degenerates into apoplexy, leaving his knees and going face to face with the umpire, screaming. They are separated by the Mets manager, the former Brooklyn Dodger, Gil Hodges. Jones leaves the field, and the Mets fans scream over the unfair crucifixion of their star player. After all, from any angle in the ballpark the reality could be plainly seen: my father, and 50,000 other fans cried: he was safe!

But although my endless day of summer would soon re-enter the bounds of time, I secured a baseball Neverland that summer and every other summer since by faithfully consuming a daily dose of baseball.

This was a frustrating loss for the Mets. Bill Hands was dominating for the Cubs. My most vivid memory of the game is Ken Boswell's at-bat leading off the top of the eighth inning. He hit a hard grounder that bounced off Ron Santo's glove and a few feet into foul territory. Boswell should have stayed at first base but tried to get to second on the play. He was easily thrown out by Santo. That was the Mets' last scoring opportunity.

At Wrigley, the Cubs top the Mets 1–0 to give Bill Hands (11–7) the win over Tom Seaver (14– 4). Billy Williams singles home the winner, boosting the Cubs lead to five 1/2 games. After the last out, Ron Santo jumps up and clicks his heels, igniting a roar from the crowd. The Mets think it's bush.

How is it that this premier third sacker is NOT in the HOF? Along with Gil Hodges, a blatant ommission.

This was a key game in the Mets' pursuit of overtaking the Cubs in the National League East Division race. The team took the lead for good when Al Weis broke a tie with a three-run homer in the fourth inning. It was Weis's first home run of the season and fifth of seven (plus one in the '69 World Series) he would have during his ten major league seasons. Weis homered again the next day in another Mets win over Chicago. Al's unexpected slugging was as much of a sign as any that the miracle was in progress.

An interesting thing happened in the fifth inning of this game. With the bases loaded, Wayne Garrett singled to drive home Ken Boswell and put the Mets ahead by a run. Cleon Jones also tried to score on the play, but was out on Rusty Staub's throw to catcher Ron Brand. Jones then started a fight with Brand, whose return punch landed right in the face of umpire Bill Williams. Cleon was thrown out of the game, but Brand wasn't and stayed in the rest of the way. I wonder why Brand didn't get the old heave-ho as well. Obviously, he should have been ejected.

My only regret in life is being only 3 yrs old in 1969. I always wished that I was much older to remember the 1969 World Champions. But I have read countless stories on the Miracle Mets (i.e. Seaver's near perfection, Hodges sending a message to Cleon Jones etc, the black cat, beating Leo and the Cubs, then the Braves and then the Orioles). I have read this story and it's AMAZING. After their split with the Expos and the All-Star break beckoned; their plane had mechanical problems at the Montreal airport; while waiting for the plane to be fixed, Gil Hodges and the Amazin's watched another great moment from 1969: Neil Armstrong making history by saying "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind". Someone once said "Man will land on the moon before the Mets win the World Series". They were right!

Bobby Pfeil won this with an RBI bunt single in the top of the 10th.

This one has particular relevance for me since it was the first Major League game that I ever attended. My Dad, myself and three of our friends sat in the press-box and I vividly remember being astounded by the beauty of the Stadium and the electricity of the game itself. Gary Gentry started against Reds southpaw Jim Merrit and I believe Merrit actually homered in the game. The Reds had Johnny Bench behind the plate, Pete Rose in left and Tony Perez at third not to mention the likes of Lee May, Vada Pinson and Bobby Tolan to boot. I was eleven years old and became totally addicted to the sport since that balmy July evening. We stayed from batting practice through the entire twelve innings and I recall thinking that if there was a Heaven on Earth that it was located in Flushing Meadow at the Willets Point stop on the 7 Train.

Sorry to be the fact police, but Vada Pinson was played for the Cardinals in 1969, contrary to the previous post.

This was a comeback win for the Mets that typified their 1969 season. The team was down by two runs in the eighth inning when Art Shamsky got a double that went off center fielder Bobby Tolan's glove and advanced Cleon Jones to third base. Wayne Garrett grounded out to drive home Jones and, with two outs, J. C. Martin hit a line drive that bounced off the top of the fence and into the bullpen for a two-run homer to put them ahead. With a runner at second in the top of the ninth, Bud Harrelson made a diving catch of Jimmy Stewart's liner for the game's last out. Three things that went in the Mets' favor to produce a victory.

This was one of those late afternoon 4:00 games. My aunt and uncle took me for my birthday and I saw a gem by Tom Seaver. The most memorable play was a successful pickoff play at second base between Seaver and Bud Harrelson. The other memorable aspect of the game was the song "Ma Cherie Amour" by Stevie Wonder. As we were going through the parking ticket booth the girl had on the radio and that song was playing. I have not gone through that booth since without thinking of that song!

My very first game. I was 10 years old and my dad and I sat in the RF box seats (I think $4.50 per ticket, still have the stub packed away somewhere) and I saw my idol pitch a great game and win. Like any kid at his first game, I was star-struck. Like the other commenter, I remember it was one of those 4 pm starts, the Mets used to promote those as days you could spend time at the beach and then come to Shea to see the game, although we didn't go down the shore first. I also remember it being a long-since discontinued promotional day, Player Family Day, in which the Mets' kids (and remember this was a young team, so the kids were mostly pre-schoolers) "played" against their dads, and it was fun. But I also remember that the next day was Batting Helmet Day and my dad was somewhat perturbed when he learned that if we had gone that day instead of to this game, we could've gotten the same helmet he bought me (for probably about $2) for free.

I was 12 years old and I remember the game like it was only yesterday. It was my first Met game ever, and it was also batting helmet day. I remember seeing all the hot dog wrappers and the plastic from the batting helmets blowing around in right field where Pete Rose was playing. I remember Nolan Ryan striking out 4 or 5 batters in 2 innings pitched. Also I remember Tony Perez hitting a home run, I think off of Tug McGraw. Mets lose the first game I ever went to, but who cares it was the year of the miracle Mets. I spent many future summers going to Shea Stadium. I used to call Shea Stadium my second home.

Like Richard this was also my first game. My mother had Diamond Club passes and seats on Press Level that belonged to the Queens Borough president. I remember riding the 7 train and seeing the orange, sky blue, and teal(?) art deco metal hanging from cables on the outside of the stadium and then seeing the green grass and huge scoreboard. I remember the PA announcer and the Reds players names I heard in the starting lineup: Pat Corrales, Chico Ruiz. I saw 3 Hall-of-Famers that day: Ryan, Rose, Bench and that started a love affair that continues to this day. I was 6 and 1/2. This site has enabled me to pin this game and countless others down. I knew it was a Sunday and Cardwell started and the two Reds I mentioned were in the starting lineup and that the Mets lost 5-3 I think.

It was my first game, as well, at the age of 7. Batting Helmet Day made Shea look like a sea of blue. I'd love to know what the attendance figures were for this game. I'm pretty sure it was sold out. All through the game, I kept asking my father, "Why don't I hear Bob Murphy, Lindsey Nelson, and Ralph Kiner?" Their voices were so ingrained in my mind that I took for granted that it was a live game I was watching. I remember that Don Cardwell started, and that Cleon, Tommie, and Buddy were in the starting lineup. I also remember Tony Perez hitting a home run, with Bench and Rose in the Reds lineup. Finally, some fans ran into the outfield late in the game, and everyone was having a good time watching the police try to catch them. It was the first of many games I've enjoyed at Shea, and the beginning of a love affair with live baseball games.

Here is your answer Mr. Shawn Davis for your attendance question. According to retrosheet.org: 55,391.

My first game, too. My most vivid memories are the batting helmets all over the place, and Don Cardwell getting hammered. Pete Rose led off the game with a double (I believe) off the left center field wall. I remember being crushed that Bud Harrelson was not in the lineup that day.

I miss Shea.

This was my first game as well. Don Cardwell vs. Gerry Arigo. Rose hit the first pitch off the wall in left center for a double. Rose confirmed this at an event in Bethlehem Pa. in 2016. Bobby Tolan hit a three run homer in the first and the game was pretty much over. I recall a full house and also the fan who ran on the field in, I believe the 7th inning. Twenty years later at Shea, I mentioned to a friend of this important anniversary and three nearby fans bought me beers and would not accept my attempts to return the favor. Magical times!

Second Met game for me. Went with Cub Scout 144 from Central NJ. Had tix down right field line in the press level mezzanine. Flew banner. Heckled Pete Rose below us all game. Great Memory.

In the glory year of '69, this is one of the days my father decides to take me to Shea. An absolute disaster. Two embarrassing losses to Houston. Two grand slams in ONE inning by the Astros (Menke and Wynn, I think). It's the day that Gil Hodges made the long walk to retrieve Cleon from left field. But what really compelled me to write is this: when the Mets got spanked last night -- July 30, 2002 --- the score was 16- 3. I thought, the score, the opponent, the date, they sound familiar. Sure enough, the Astros beat the Mets 16-3 in the first game of this doubleheader disaster on the same exact date in 1969. 16-3! Then a repeat performance against the same team exactly 33 years later. Can't make this stuff up. Let's Go Mets!

In addition to the walloping the Mets took from their biggest '69 nemesis, there is one noteworthy thing about Jim Wynn's grand slam (the Astros' second of the ninth inning after one by Denis Menke.) The runner on third was Houston relief pitcher Fred Gladding, who got on base with a single that drove home Curt Blefary. This was Gladding's only hit of his 63 at-bats (an average of .016) over thirteen major league seasons. It was also the only run Gladding ever scored in his career.

This was game 2 of a doubleheader necessitated by a rainout the day before. I was psyched by the rain the day before because it meant I was going to see 2 games! It was the annual Blessed Sacrament (Cypress Hills, Brooklyn) Altar Boy trip to Shea. Instead of hiring a bus, a bunch of Dads drove all of us there. The first game saw the Mets get some runs in the 8th to close to 6-3, but the Astros put up a 10-spot in the ninth to win 16-3. Most of the crowd went home. My brother, Brendan, Ralph Chieco, and I convinced Father Lewk (a Yankee fan, but still a good guy) that it was ok to leave us at Shea to watch the second game while everyone else went home (including the Dads with the cars). The Astros scored early and often in the second game. I think we left in the fifth inning, probably my earliest exit ever from a baseball game.

When Manager Hodges went to the edge of dirt infield in front of the left field outfield grass and removed the N.L. batting leader (Cleon Jones was not trying hard enough), in front of a full house, you knew who was in charge of the Mets. They lost both games, but the players knew they had a winner in Hodges. And Gil produced a winner.

Sat in box seats along the first base line.....seated a few rows in front was the gorgeous Nancy Seaver, who kindly signed my scorecard. She had beautiful handwriting. Weekday afternoon game.

First game I ever attended. I think it was a rainout makeup game.

My first Mets game. Grote hit a homer into the left field bullpen. At the time, I always rued when Cardwell was starting, because he was getting bombed a lot. He didn't last long in this game. Actually, beyond Seaver and Koosman, the Mets starting pitching wasn't that stong, with Gentry a .500 pitcher with an average ERA, Ryan usually hurt, and Cardwell and Koonce ineffective.

My first major league game!!! I was 10 years old and our little league sponsered a trip to Shea to see this game. What memories! We got to the park for a pregame dinner in the Diamond Club, hot dogs, etc. The big surprize was when Tug McGraw and Bud Harrelson showed up for us. Wow.. The ball signed by them sits behind my desk on the bookshelf, somewhat scuffed and muddied (we didn't always have a ball back then, so 10 year olds will forget the future to enjoy the present). We sat in the mezzanine on the 1st base side, near some loud ( and a little drunk) fans. I remember everytime Jim McAndrew got a strike, the guys yelled out "That a way Jimmy Baby!!!". Soon us little leaguers joined in (the shouting, not the beer). McGraw finished the game. It was the NLCS preview and we didn't know then. The thing that sticks the most though, is that this was the first and last game I ever went to with my Dad. My parents split up soon after that. My boys, on the other hand, have already been going to games since they were 3 years old. Hope to have many more, too.

Cleon Jones had the night off. I think he had some sort of mild injury. Anyway comes the seventh inning and he had to go to work. He singled in the game's only run and then was pinch run for by Tom Seaver. On Kiner's Corner that night Ralph said to Cleon "You're on the show so much you might just take it over." Cleon replied, "Ah Ralph, you can keep it another year."

This marked my first visit to Shea Stadium. Seats were in the upper deck about halfway between 1st base and the right-field foul pole. I remember my disappointment that neither Seaver or Koosman were the scheduled starters but that was forgotten when Jane Jarvis hit the first notes on the organ to play "Meet the Mets." Jerry Grote's line drive into the right field bullpen ended the game in the 11th inning. When I look back I can say I saw Hank Aaron play in person. I was fortunate to also see Mays, Mantle, Killebrew, Stargell and others during my pre-teen and teenage years growing up in the New York area.

I remember this game because my brother was born on this day. And it was Tom Seaver's first win in a streak of ten wins in a row to lead the Mets to their first Division title. Thanks, Tom.

Seaver as a pinch runner? Can You imagine today?

Hodges always wanted to win, but to use a future Hallof Famer, Cy Young pitcher to pinch run... tells me this was Gil's team. After Kooz lost the lead, I was hoping for next year. Little did we all know 38-12 for the remainder of 1969. Mets always had problems in that Dome.

The Mets hit bottom on this day in 1969. After being swept in the three-game series in the Astrodome (they lost 10 of 12 to Houston in 1969), they fell into third place a game behind the Cards and a full ten games behind the streaking Cubs. But the Mets went 38-11 the rest of the way, the Cubs collapsed and the rest is history.

Tom Seaver won his 17th with eight innings of shutout ball. Ron Taylor came on to pitch the top of the ninth. Tommie Agee and Bobby Pfiel drove in the Mets runs.

As noted on the earlier posting for game two of this doubleheader, Tommy Davis did not have a grand slam in these games; in fact, Davis never played for the Padres. Davis started the 1969 season with the Seattle Pilots and finished it with the Houston Astros.

The doubleheader win on this date in 1969 started the Mets push for the Eastern Division title.

I was 16 and a diehard Yankee fan, but the neighbor had tix and offered to take me along. I remember rooting against them but Seaver won a game and Tommy Davis hit a grand slam (I thought, but the scores don't reflect that).

This was a banner day doubleheader and my mother and I took the train to New York from Connecticut. We had Field Level seats down the right field line. About the third inning I went for some refreshments behind home plate. A gentleman came up the isle and gave me four tickets for the seats behind home plate 2 rows back. I got my mother and we enjoyed the doubleheader from a pair of great seats! This game was a makeup from earlier in the season. In fact they played the Padres in back to back doubleheaders and got the Mets on the roll that ultimately sent them roaring past the Cubs. The only memory I have specifically is a Duffy Dyer home run which may have come in the second game. I don't remember.

Game 2 of a doubleheader. I was 11 years old, and in the 3rd inning, a message was put up on the scoreboard announcing that my best buddy and I had won a prize in the Banner Day parade.

The Mets swept four from San Diego that weekend, and we were given tickets to a future game, a weeknight vs the expansion Expos. Little did we know, the Expo game would be the night the Mets would move into first place for the first time in their history.

Obviously, this day will be a Met highlight for me forever.

This was a fantastic game!!! Me and my boys from Harlem went to this one; it was a hot August night game...and (here's the best part!) WE BEAT THE GREAT JUAN MARICHAL ON A 14TH INNING HOMERUN BY TOMMIE AGEE!!! That's right--Juan Marichal pitched ALL 14 INNINGS for the Giants!!! He had excellent stuff that night, as he struck out a slew of Mets. He had either some kind of sinker or other breaking pitch going that night--because I remember the Mets swinging and missing on a lot of pitches that ended up being caught low by the catcher.

But that '69 team was a team of destiny, y'all...and Mr. Agee took care of "the whole ball of wax" with one swing in the bottom of the 14th!!!

Cleon leaped over the fence to take a homer away from McCovey to set up Agee's blast in the 14th to win the game for the Mets.

Due to a series of strange circumstances I wound up with six mezzanine box seat tickets to this game in back of home plate. We invited my grandfather, a pure Met fan, but he didn't want to go because Marichal was pitching and he knew the Mets would lose. My uncle convinced him to go anyway. As Charles above described it he seems to have a pretty good memory about the game. There were some gentlemen sitting a few rows in front of us who were passing $20 and $50 bills back and forth all night betting on every pitch Marichal threw. Gentry and McGraw stopped the Giants. Cleon did leap over the fence, but he also didn't quite catch the ball, but he managed to get his glove under the ball after he stopped it over his head, he caught the ball while he and the ball were coming down in a four man McCovey outfield! Of course Agee hit the home run off starter Marichal in the 14th! Lucky for us fans that night the Met pitchers went 14 innings without allowing a run. All the Met fans went home happy the following morning (1 a.m. or so), especially my grandfather.

At the time I was a Giants/Mets fan and Marichal was my absolute hero. We sat near the third base bag and were treated to a gem as Gentry and Dandy hooked up.

I think Marichal struck out the side in the 12th inning and looked like he could go all night if need be before Agee caught up with one for a game ending blast.

You'll never see a pitcher go 13 innings any more, this I promise you!

This was the first Met game I ever went to. It was my 6th birthdady and we stayed for the entire game!!!

Amazing game -- even more so in this day and age.

As with almost all Shea games in the 60's, I was sitting in the Mezz level down the 3rd base line. Had even worse seats that year for Seaver's imperfect game. What a year!

Marichal's (or Gentry's!) double-digit innings perrformance could never happen in the current era.

Extra comment (I posted above) -- Thanks to ultimateMets.com new Walkoff Wins and Losses I now know that the home run by Agee was the first home run in Mets history to produce a 1-0 walkoff victory.

I remember sitting in the upper deck on the first base side. We couldn't believe Marichal kept coming out to pitch inning after inning. The 10th, 11th and so on. Strange, I remember having on a yellow windbreaker and being chilly up there. Wonder if it was windy since it was in usually hot August?

I was also at this game. I was 10 years old. One amazing thing was that my old man let us stay and watch till the very end was past midnight. I think he sensed we were watching history. The best game I ever saw. Agee, Jones, McGraw McCovey and Marichal were larger than life. Will never forget that Willie Mays played in this one too.

From where we were sitting somewhere high up on the first base side, I saw Agee's homer bounce on the TOP of the wall and go over the other side. Does anyone else remember that point?

This was the first baseball game I ever went to! In the 13th inning, my dad squeezed my hotdog full mustard and it shot out of the bun like a missile, plopped over the railing and down, landing all over the gentleman in front of us! We had tears in our eyes, trying not to laugh! So, in the bottom of the 14th inning, Dad, still wanting that hotdog, sent me to the concession stand and, while waiting on line, Shea Stadium absolutely erupted with cheers. “What happened?! I asked someone what happened and he joyously screamed, “Tommie Agee hit a HOMERUN!!” It was 0-0 the whole game - I missed it, didn’t see the home run and, I never got that hotdog!

I was there as an excited 10 yr old. Sat in the upper deck first base side. What I remember is during that 14th inning walking down to the lower level and watching Agee hit the home from behind home plate. Back then they had not closed off that area or put the screens up, so you could see the game by standing in that area. I found the NY TIMES box score, game ran 3 hours and 44 min, which means it was just before midnight with the 8:05 start time.

This night marked the first time I ever witnessed our heroes emerge victorious at the big Shea. McAndrew pitched more like Christy Mathewson on this early August Eve as he proceeded to make Mays and Stretch Mcovey look more like Abbott and Costello. Agee and Jones dialed eight on that shameless Disciple of saliva Gaylord Perry and I made a solemn promise to BIGSTRO Sr. to never name any boy of mine Gaylord . All in all it was another magical summer evening in a summer that was abundant with magical summer evenings and an indescribeable thrill for a curly haired Sicilian kid from Greenwich Village.

One correction to Bigstro's earlier post on this game: the only Mets homer this night was by Art Shamsky, a three-run shot in the bottom of the fifth. Art also drove in the first Mets run with a first inning double.

Tommie Agee did single to drive in a run for the Mets.

One of the best Mets games I ever saw, although they lost. It was a thriller. All I remember is Dave Marshall making a circus catch in LF for the Giants. He later came to the Mets. Also, I remember looking at the World Trade Center going up across the Hudson from my Dad's office in Jersey City before we left for Shea. That's now a very sad memory, of course.

I was at this game - and the one the next night too. Big thrill for a 12-year old. What I remember is: 1) Willie Mays not playing - big disappointment. 2) Bonds hitting the two home runs - he was hyped as a coming star. 3) Seaver not pitching to form - also disappointing. But what the heck - a great game. I also thought that McCovey hit a home run too, but the box does not show that. Oh well, advancing age.

This was the first major league game I ever saw - I recently found the scorecard and ticket stub to learn the date. I was 10 and Tom Seaver was my favorite so my father tried to pick the day in the rotation that Seaver would start. I remember him not pitching well. I also remember that Ron Swoboda had a good game which shows in the box score. My memory was that Swoboda tied the game to send it to extra innings. I also remember being very disappointed that they lost.

Jim Z, you are correct...Swoboda had an RBI single as the Mets put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game.

The Giants won it in the eleventh when 39-year- old reliever Don McMahon singled and came around to score on a two-out triple by Ken Henderson.

Tom Seaver gave up a leadoff homer in the second to Bobby Bonds, and then Bobby took him deep again with two on and two out in the seventh to give the Giants a 6-2 lead.

The Mets rallied for three in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI double by Bobby Pfiel and a two- run single by Tommie Agee, who had also homered in the first to give the Mets a 1-0 lead. But the Mets left two men on in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings and could not push the winning run across. In fact, the Mets had ten of their fourteen hits in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings.

I was 14 and went to see the game with my friend Peter. We were hanging out by the left field foul pole in the 7th inning when Bobby Bonds hit his two-run home run against Seaver. I caught the ball! Wish I could see the video of that home run.

I was at this game - I had been to the game the day before, and then my Uncle took me to the Jets practice the next day, and to lunch with Gerry Philbin, who was a client of his, and then to the Mets game that night. The highlight of my 12 year-old life to that point!! And my favorite Met, Ron Swoboda, hit a homer to help win the game! (Kooz was my favorite pitcher, and he won the game, so doubly good.)

James, Gerry Philbin was one of my favorite Jets!

The Mets won this Friday night game to start a six-game winning streak. It was the middle of a larger streak that saw them go 12-1 in a thirteen game stretch. At the start of the stretch they had fallen to third place, 9.5 games behind the Cubs. But by the end of the streak on August 27 they were just two games out of first.

The Mets jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in this game thanks in part to Swoboda's two-run homer off Bill Singer in the second inning. But Kooz wasn't at the top of his game this night, allowing ten hits in six innings and committing two balks. The Dodgers got to within one run in the seventh but Cleon Jones knocked in an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth and Tug McGraw retired the last seven batters he faced for the save.

Jim Bunning pitched this game for the Dodgers. It was a critical game in the Mets' drive for 1st. I sat way up in the upper deck during this Afternoon game. It was a full house, and for once there were more people there to see the Mets than the "Dah-jes". Shamsky HRed and the game ended with a bloop single by Grote between Wills and the second baseman.

The first major league game I ever went to. I sat in the upper deck behind home plate with my Grandfather and Uncle on a beautiful sunny day at Shea Stadium (Jets flying overhead to add to the Shea atmosphere). There's nothing like seeing the green grass and the well-manicured diamond of a major league field for the first time! I remember Jim Bunning continually losing his cap as he delivered pitches to home plate. An exciting finish as the game ended with the winning run scoring on a Jerry Grote short fly ball to centerfield. Maury Wills had the best chance to make the catch, but seemed to have trouble locating the ball as he scrambled out from shortstop with his back to home plate.

I recently found an old scorecard from this game with my late Father's handwriting. What a treasure! I was six years old, and I wish I remembered more about being there. Does anyone have more information about this game - anything at all would be so great to hear?

At 44 now, I take my boys (4 & 5) to the games and love carrying on the tradition from those days with my Dad so long ago.

This was my first major league game. I went with my father, grandfather and my cousin who had just returned from the Vietnam War. We had upper deck seats and could not believe not only how green the grass was but how red the clay that encircled the field was.

I remember Shamsky's home run and the tremendous roar that came from the crowd as it sailed over the right field fence. I recall Jerry Grote hitting the bloop towards left center field. I remember Wills at short, the centerfielder (Willie Davis) and the left fielder (Manny Mota) converging on it but it fell in and the runner on first was able to score because he was running on the pitch because it was 3 and 2 with two outs.

On my ride home I remember looking out the back window of the car and seeing the Goodyear blimp flying above the stadium. After that game I was a Met fan forever.

The greatest Mets game I have ever witnessed in person! Gentry vs. Don Sutton. Mets were charging hard, and I watched the scoreboard all day as the Cubs split a doubleheader against the Astros in Chicago.

Swoboda had a huge day, including a bases loaded walk in the first, and a great throw from right field to third base to nail a runner trying to go from first to third on a single. But the Mets trailed 4-3 as they came to bat in the seventh. They loaded the bases again, and this time Swoboda rapped a double into the left field corner to score all three runners for a 6-4 lead. Grote single him home to complete the scoring, and Cal Koonce finished them off. Gentry had a bad outing and left early.

The packed house was deafening (so were the jets that day), and it was an incredible day that I feel fortunate to remember vividly.

My second ever Mets game. I remember the explosion of noise after Swoboda's double. Afterwards taking the 7 train (old sky blue and white subway cars) back to the Bronx and everyone being excited on the platform and overhearing many say that there is still a chance. One man told his sons well boys we're not going away....

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.

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.

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.

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.

I was 7 years old and my dad, a lifelong Giants fan, would take my brothers and me to the games at Candlestick Park and we would sit in the right field bleachers for 99 cents. My dad with glove on and his boys would stand in the open area in front of the bleachers behind the right field fence when a big hitter like McCovey, Mays, or Clendenon came up in hopes of catching a home run ball. I remember vividly the Clendenon home run going over the fence and the ball coming off my dad’s glove and I scampering after and retrieving it as I excitedly held it up to the crowd. My dad wrote the game score and date on it and home run Donn Clendenon. I still have the ball and a cherished memory of my dad.

Collared his first four times up, Willie Davis hits a double in the 9th inning to stretch his hit streak to 31 games. The double drives in the winning run as LA tops the Mets 5–4. The Mets had tied in the 8th when Tommie Agee and Donn Clendenon each homered with a man on.

My father took me to this game when I was an 11-year-old boy. We moved from New York to L.A. in 1967, but I remained a Mets fan.

Jerry Koosman starts his 3rd game against the Dodgers in two weeks. He had been knocked out in the 1st inning two days before and Hodges brought him back for this game.

My dad took me to this game. It was on a Friday evening, if I remember correctly and it was thrilling to see him become the first Met pitcher to reach 20 wins in a season! (I also seem to recall that Richie Allen, the Phillies' first baseman, had his first game back after being suspended (yet again) by Philadelphia management!)

My father took me. It was definitely a day game (which were not unusual on weekdays in April and September then). Agee and Shamsky both hit home runs into the Mezzanine in the first inning.

The game was indeed a Friday night at Shea. The game where Agee and Shamsky hit first inning homers was two days later, Sunday afternoon September 7.

Funny how we have different memories. This was a 1 of 2 games the Mets played that night. It was the first baseball game I ever attended, part of a twi-night doubleheader. It was windy in the upper deck and we had blankets. I remember Jerry Grote hitting a home run. I also have a vague recollection of fly-fishermen demonstrating how far they could cast their lines between games. I've been to 60 or 70 games since then but I'll never forget my first night at Shea!

My Mom and Dad took me to Shea for my first big league games on this day. This was the first game of a twi-night doubleheader, and Tom Seaver got his twentieth win to become the first to achieve that mark in Mets' history, although I was not aware of it at the time. I was six years old and remember the excitement I felt as the train got closer to the Willets Point station on our trip from Long Island and first caught a glimpse of the inside of the left field side of the stadium. It still gives me chills. Remarkably, I cannot remember anything specific from either game, but I do recall we sat in the mezzanine just beyond first base and I do have a distinct memory of a girl gymnast jumping on a trampoline set up on the infield for between games entertainment. My Mom took me to a souvenir stand during the game and bought me a copy of the 1969 yearbook, which was only fifty cents, a badge with Cleon Jones on it, and a replica batting helmet, which I broke the next day. However, I still have the Jones badge. What a great time!

My first Mets game at age 10. Brought by my Uncle Frank and Aunt Evelyn. It was Camera Day and we were supposed to be able to go on the field and take pictures with the players. But it absolutely poured all morning so no one was allowed on the field. Major disappointment. A Mets win soon cured that!

My first Mets game. Rained before game thus cancelling camera day event.

I was 8 years old and it was the first game I ever attended. My Dad took me. We sat on the first base side at the mezzanine level at Shea stadium. I remember I was very excited. I brought my glove with me just in case a ball came our way. I was a beautiful Sunday afternoon and the grass was so green. I was so happy that day. I remember cheering on the Mets as only an 8 year old could. My Dad bought me a hot dog, soda and an ice cream. We also had a Mets program that cost about 20 cents. That was one of the nicest days of my life, just me and my Dad at a ball game. I sure miss my Dad. The world was so young and full of promise then.

This was the "Black Cat Game." I was there. It rained before the game and Gil Hodges wanted the game to start. He walked to home plate with the lineup card and it miraculously stopped raining.

The black cat crossed in front of Leo Durocher and the Cubs on deck circle. That's also the game where Randy Hundley can be seen jumping up and down 5 feet off home plate to protest a call.

Koosman beat Bill Hands. Agee, after being decked to lead off game, hit a big HR next time up. Mets moved into first within the next few days of this game and stayed there . Exiting the game after this win everyone sang "Good-bye Leo" to the tune of "Goodnight Ladies." The song echoed throughout the cement ramps and exits of the stadium.

In 2000 it was, "Who Let The Dogs Out?" But that year it was "Who Let the Black Cat Out?"

This was a monumental in your face game in what was rapidly becoming a bitter rivalry. Hands did indeed deck Agee but Tommie did not wait until the next at bat. He instead hammered the Parsippany New Jersey native's next pitch over the centerfield fence. This set the tone immediately and Koosman God love him nailed that notorious heel-clicker Ron Santo in the ribs as retalliation. Randy Hundley apparently not subscribing to the theory that white men can't jump vaulted at least four feet off of the ground on what he misconstrued as a botched call by the plate umpire. The black cat had nothing to do with this one as Chicago's luck had run out long befoe that memorable game.

If you look at the video tape of the game. Randy Hundley was right. The umpire made a bad call. But as "BIGSTRO" stated, Chicago's luck had run out. They were well into the infamous 8-game losing streak. (They lost 10 of 11 during that span.)

Bill is wrong. This was the Black Cat, Goodbye Leo Game. Sorry, Bill, but the Mets got out to a big lead pretty early in the game, which emboldened Mets fans to serenade Leo for the last few innings. That never would have happened in a 1-run game as you describe. Get your facts straight instead of letting your teary memories of 69 get the best of you. It was also the last game of the Cubs series and the last time the Cubs ended a game in first place.

It was awesome (I was there with my dad and three brothers). For the last 3 or 4 innings, everyone was waving handkerchiefs and throwing confetti. My brother ripped up a medical book that a neighboring med student had stowed under his chair and my dad had to make good to the guy to the tune of $30.

Friday the 13th fits squarely into the realm of sports superstitions, curses, and all things unlucky. On Sept. 9, 1969, the Cubs faced the Mets at Shea Stadium. Six days earlier, Chicago had been five games up on New York in the National League pennant race. But by the 9th, the lead was down to 1 1/2 games. As the day's leadoff batter, Don Kessinger, stepped into the box against Mets ace Tom Seaver, a black cat scooted out from under the stands, and took good long glares at Kessinger and Cubs third baseman Ron Santo, awaiting his turn on the on-deck circle.

Then the cat ambled over to the visitors' dugout, headed for Leo Durocher, raised its tail, and hissed at the manager.

"I knew right away we were in trouble," said Santo. "I wanted to run and hide."

Seaver pitched the Mets to a 7-1 win that day, giving the Mets a two-game series sweep and reducing the Cubs' lead to a half-game. Chicago ended the season in second place, eight games behind New York.

As a 9 year old at this game my memories of the game itself are not clear. I do remember my dad getting my attention to point out the black cat in front of the Cubs dugout. I remember shredding up The Daily News to make confetti, which was flying all over the stadium! The chorus's of "Good-Bye Leo" started while the game was still in progress, and continued as we were exiting down the ramps. I vaguely remember chants of "We're number 1", although we weren't in first place yet. For a 9 year old kid it was a summer to remember, first men walking on the moon and the Mets winning the World Series!

I was ten, going to the game with my uncle and grandfather to meet my dad at the game. To this day I have no idea where we parked. I remember them running out of programs, the goodbye Leo serenade, and the black cat. Our seats were in the left field corner, so when Seaver hit his double we weren't sure that it wasn't a home run.

A great game, a great year.

I was 11 years old at the time and my Dad, my friend and his dad attended the Black Cat game on Sept 9th. I remember everyone cheering when Santo looked at the cat running around on the field. When the game ended I remember walking down the ramps when slowly the Goodbye Leo chant started. It became louder and louder until you could hear it clearly across all the ramps. It was one of the two games my dad took me to in September and the other was the clincher on Sept 24th. I still can see in my mind's eye Harrelson flipping to Weis to start the gam-ending DP.

It took the Mets 140 games to finally get into 1st place that season. Once they got there, there was no looking back. The game even took an agonizing 12 innings to do it. For a 10 year old kid, it seemed like an eternity for me.

The Expos pitched a kid named Mike Wegener, who caught a line drive off Cleon's bat that to this day I can't understand how it didn't kill him.

Didn't help though. McAndrew went 11 innings and the Mets won in 12.

Ralph's call of the game-winning hit is a classic. He told you the years, months, and days it took for the Mets to finally reach 1st place EVER. The roaring crowd in the back chanting "We're #1" still brings chills to the bone.

I remember watching this on TV. It was a twi- night doubleheader. What a thrill that they finally won it in the 12th and "for the first time in their history" went into first place by percentage points over Leo the Lip's Cubs.

This was a first game of a twilight doubleheader. The end result was the Mets ended the game in first place which they achieved in the 12th inning when Cleon Jones (as usual for 1969) scored the winning run. When the game ended the Mets were in first place for the first time in the history of the team. The crowd went wild later on as the scoreboard showed that the Mets were .001 points ahead of the Cubs, as a result of the Cubs playing two more games than the Mets, and were indeed in first place. As the night progressed, during the second game, the Cubs lost which meant more cheering and a genuine claim on first place by a half game. Of course UltimateMets.com shows that the Mets won the second game as well leaving them one full game up at the end of the night.

I was at both games on Sept 10, 1969.

Sec 4 Row E Seat 18 Mezzanine Reserved for $2.50 face for the doubleheader.

Mets won both and the scoreboard showed the Mets in first place for the first time in their history.

Watched both games on TV. Remember the chants of we're number one and seeing Mrs. Joan Payson flashing the # 1 sign as she walked from her box seat.

This Mets win combined with a 4-3 loss by the Cubs in Philadelphia (the eighth straight loss for the Durochermen) gave the Mets a two-game lead with twenty games remaining.

Gary Gentry pitched a six-hit shutout (all singles), walking two and striking out nine.

Tommie Agee scored the first run on a passed ball by Expos' catcher John Batemen. A Ken Boswell double knocked in Cleon Jones to give the Mets a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning, and the Mets missed an opportunity to blow the game open as they loaded the bases with nobody out but couldn't get anyone else home.

Art Shamsky had an RBI single in the sixth, and Rod Gaspar drove in a run in the eighth with a single.

There is one special memory of this game for me anyway, and I did not realize it until 1998, when my mother was moving from Uniondale to East Meadow. She came across these tickets and it was from Sept. 11th, which is irony in itself, but it was the first game that my father ever took me to, and I was just 4 years old. On the back of the ticket, it said "Ange's ist game with Carmine" [my dad]. It got me choked up. (It is so awesome to see the game summary on this site, to know this game was an indeed a reality. Before Shea goes this year I'm going to sit in those seats, and even though dad is not with us anymore, it'll still be special.

This game and the following game which made up this doubleheader are together truly remarkable. I was 9 years old at the time, but here's what I seem to remember [unless someone tells me that I dreamed this]: I'm pretty certain that, incredibly, the Mets won both ends of this doubleheader by 1-0 scores --AND, in each game, the pitcher drove in the only run of each game! That had to make us all realize at the time that the Mets were destined to w

Does anyone realize that this was Koosman's only R.B.I. for all of 1969??!! Good timing, no luck. No, but a World Championship in the making.

A truly unique and perhaps an unprecedented or unparalleled event on this doubleheader. Both games were 1-0 games, and in each game, the Mets pitcher drove in the game's only run. In the opener, Koosman got the win and singled in the only run, and Cardwell won the nightcap, also driving in the only run of the game.

My first games in person and a doubleheader to boot. I went with my Dad and Uncle. We were in box seats slightly to the right of home plate. A budding Pirates fan, I was just thrilled to be at the ballpark and didn't care the Bucs didn't score. I do remember that only the pitchers for the Mets drove in the only runs of the day. Forbes Field was an aging gem in the middle of Oakland but the doubleheader win spoke to the Mets magic of 1969. I'll never forget the day and how special baseball felt...it lives on in my memory.

Pitchers Jerry Koosman and Don Cardwell both hurl 1–0 wins and drive in the winning runs, as the red hot Mets sweep the Pirates. The Cubs, meanwhile, win, snapping their 8-game losing streak, but now trail by two 1/2 games.

I vividly remember listening to most of the second game on the car radio, we were stuck in traffic on the Sunrise Highway heading back to Brooklyn from Valley Stream.

My dad, the MET-HATER, kept harping on about seeing eye hits and lucky calls, I didn't care, we were heading closer towards history.

It had been an especially tough week in college at the University of Dayton, but my roomate had the perfect remedy. ROAD TRIP! Hey! The Mets are playing a twi-nighter in Pittsburgh! We should make it there at least in time for the second game. Less than two hours later we were walking into Forbes Field. (The ticket takers had apparently already gone home.) We found a couple of unoccupied seats (there were plenty) in the mezzanine behind home plate. Just in time for the top of the fifth. Little Buddy doubles and the Kooz (yeah that slugger Jerry Koosman) singles him home. Jerry cruises the rest of the way. Mets win 1-0. Game two. Journeyman Don Cardwell facing a slightly diminished Bucs lineup (no Clemente) is in total control for eight after driving in the go ahead and only run in the third. The icing on the cake - the Tugger closes out the ninth. Walking out the left field exit of old Forbes with my right index finger held high chanting "We're Number One!" May very well be my fondest Miracle Mets memory.

If I remember correctly, listening on the radio, the last out was a long drive by Stargell that was caught against the CF wall, which was a very long way from home plate.

I remember watching this game on TV at my childhood home (now my current home) - beautiful sunny hot late summer afternoon. At the time, Ron Swoboda was my hero. The Mets loaded the bases (i think Amos Otis was on third), and my father was saying come on Ron, just a single, get two runs in. My friend was over and I was hoping for the granny. I don't remember who was pitching, but Ron swung and hit the ball deep to left center field - there it went over the ball. Absolute delerium in my living room!

Great memory, George. I'd like to point out that in the inning when Ron Swoboda hit his grand slam, Amos Otis laid down a sacrifice bunt and was not on base for it. The three runners were Bud Harrelson, Tommie Agee and Donn Clendenon. Also, the Pirates' pitcher against whom Swoboda slammed was reliever Chuck Hartenstein.

The victory gave the Mets a ten-game winning streak and a division lead of three and one-half games over the Chicago Cubs in the National League East. It was also Tom Seaver's seventh consecutive winning decision and twenty-second of the season.

Stayed up late and listened on the radio. This game will ever be etched in my mind, as Steve Carlton set a then-record 19 strikeouts in a single nine-inning game. And yet, the Mets won 4-3 on two two-run homers by none other than the immortal Ron Swoboda!

I remember watching this game on TV. I remember Swoboda's two home runs, but I also remember him making two running, diving, sliding catches in the outfield; Swoboda single-handedly won that game in the stretch run to the World Series after being swept in Chicago. Am I wrong in my memory of these catches?

Carlton strikes out 19 and the Mets still beat him!!! Remember this as an 8-year-old. The most amazing game in Met history. Only the Amazin' Mets pull that off!

Les Rohr's last game as a Met in his brief MLB career. the former Number #1 Draft pick had been called up in September and this was his only game with the Mets in the championship year. He got hit hard in the 8th and 9th innings. Needless to say, he did not get a championship ring. He never made it back to the bigs because of arm injuries.

I arrived late for this game because my mom didn't want to get there on time because it was a double-header. The game was over before the 7 train we were on pulled into Willets Pt. Blvd. Somehow this game didn't make it onto the Hall of Fame highlight reel of one Lynn Nolan Ryan. On the bright side, they scored two runs, which is two more than they scored in each of the next two games, which includes Bob Moose's no-hitter.

Second game of a Friday night twi-night doubleheader that was over almost as soon as it began. Notable(?) for Jesse Hudson's lone major league appearance. I suffered through this twin killing and as if this wasn't bad enough I went the next day only to see Bob Moose no-hit the Mets. This game was not atypical of their anemic offense and adds to the mystique of them winning the Series despite their weak hitting. They were the living embodiment of the adage "Good pitching stops good hitting."

The very first major league game I ever attended - and the source of a running joke in my family (to wit: I went to my first Met game in 1969, but I didn't see them get their first hit until 1970).

Being the baseball neophyte that I was, I didn't realize that a no-hitter wasn't all that common. Now, of course, I know better.

Bob Moose of the Pirates pitched a no-hitter against the Mets in this game.

I remember flipping over to NBC's Saturday Game of The Week after this no-hit loss. The Pirates were on their way to beating the Cubs 13-4, so the Mets didn't lose any ground in the standings.

I was there. It took a special talent to see a game the Mets lost in September 1969. I remember the Mets botching a rundown early on in the game allowing a runner to score. The Mets best chance for a hit was a Wayne Garrett hit that Roberto Clemente caught against the wall, relatively late in the game. My first and only no hitter. Needless to say, 35 years later, us Mets fans are still waiting to see our first Mets no hitter!

I was a young 11 year old die-hard Mets fan living in Bayonne NJ at the time. I went to this game with my Cub Scout pack as part of a field trip. We had great seats and we had a great time. I could NOT believe that Bob Moose pitched a no-hitter! I'll never forget the Pitates jumping all over Bob Moose after the final out was made. I was so shocked, but the memory of this game is forever embedded in my mind. I tell my 3 boys that about this game all the time. I collect sports memoribila today and my one regret is that I did't keep my ticket stub from this game... Oh well! I was sad to hear that Bob Moose died on his birthday in 1976 in a car crash.

For the record, I believe Art Shamsky made the last out of this game with a ground out to 2nd.

I was at this game and had attended the twi- night double header the night before. If the Mets had won all 3 games this game would have clinched the division. This game convinced me that I was a jinx as I managed to attend five games at Shea that year and they lost 4 of them (My parents insisted we go home after 12 innings before they won the 5th game I went to that went 16 innings back in June). I was so mad that they got no-hit and, at 10 years old, did not appreciate the historical significance of this game until years later.

My girlfriend and I were sitting behind the auxiliary scoreboard in right field and we couldn't see the big scoreboard, the only place where hits were tallied. We weren't keeping score; we were just there to see the Mets win and to be part of the excitement. No hitter? Yup. The only no-hitter I've seen live in fifty years of watching baseball. The trouble is we didn't realize that we had seen it till it was over and saw the Pirates jumping all over Bob Moose.

I attended this game at Shea. When the game was over, most of the fans remained standing at their seats for about 20 minutes, intently watching the scoreboard to see the outcome of the Cubs game that was still in progress. Even at that late date in the season, I believe the standings were pretty close.

I was at this game. I was 8 years old, with my dad and grandfather and I remember the wild pitches that scored the Pirates runs, more than the no-hitter. Funny.

My older sister took me and my twin sister to this game, the day before our birthday. We all sat high up in the upper deck. I remember it being rather cold and windy - especially up there. Attendance was one of Shea's biggest, over 50,000. No-hitters might be a little historic, but (especially if you are a fan of the opposing team) this one, on an uncomfortable day, high up, was not fun. I attended a handful of games in 1969, also the years before and after. It was wonderful to be a Mets fan.

I was at this game too. My problem is that I recall the place being jam packed. I remember having to sit on the concrete steps in the grandstands (upper deck). The attendance is reported in the record books at around 38,000. I thought it was at least 56,000+ to capacity. Does anyone here recall that?

I was at this game, too. I was 15 years old and went in with a friend. We bought general admission tickets and then bribed an usher (my friend's dad taught us how to do this) for about $5 if I remember correctly and he seated us behind home plate under the screen about 15 rows back. We were, of course, diehard Mets fans and they were in the hunt for their 1st pennant. After about the 5th inning once we realized that Bob had a no hitter going we started rooting for him. Bob's wife was sitting about 4 rows in front of us and I can remember her crying and everyone hugging her when the game was over. I was also at game 6 of the 86 world Series sitting at the front of the 2nd deck right on the 1st base line. I don't know which experience was better, it was all good!

This was my first MLB game as well. We went with either the Cub Scouts or Levittown Little League, not sure which. I seem to remember the stands being very full--it had to have been 50,000. Sure gave me a great story to tell for the next 40+ years. Man, I'm old.

Roberto Clemente made a great catch in right field. Mets fans were rooting for the no-hitter at the end.

I was at the game too--my first game. I was 6 and 1/2 years old. I also remember the wild pitches that scored the Pirates runs. We lived in NJ, and my mother (obviously not a baseball fan) made my dad take us home early. We left in the 8th inning. I remember getting in the back of our VW in the parking lot at Shea, and we were the only ones in the lot. Dad tuned the game on the radio and that is how we found out that the no-no was completed.

I was at this game with my high school friend who had saved Bordon Milk coupons giving us free admission to the game. The Mets, not having any premonition of a miraculous season, had designated certain games as Coupon Games during the 1969 Season. Because of this promotion and the fact that the Amazing Mets were in first place, Shea Stadium was packed to the rafters. I truly believe this was the largest crowd ever. There was not a seat to be found anywhere within the stadium. We stood at the left field foul pole above the visiting team Bullpen. The official announced attendance was in the 30,000 range. This would include only PAID Attendance. That is why the other memories of a full stadium are valid. I remember Clemente's catch preserving the no-hitter. Again, I had never seen the stadium as full even during World Series games.

I was at that game. I was 11 years old at the time. My father and I were sitting in the upper deck between home plate and third base. If I remember correctly, the stadium was packed that day. Like Lucille, I also remember staying after the game ended to watch the progress of the Cubs game on the scoreboard. Growing up in Richmond Hill, Queens, I have many great memories of Shea.

My Father brought us to this game with Borden Milk coupons as well. The coupons got us to our first game in several years since money was tight and with 5 kids we drank a lot of milk, so the coupons were a perfect promotion for us. It was my first trip to Shea. We sat way up in the upper deck and I remember it being packed and cold and feeling like I could reach up and touch the planes flying overhead. I was sure we were closer to the planes than to the field. I remember thinking it was pretty special to attend a no-hit game, and after the World Series thinking that it was even more special to see the eventual WS champions no-hit at home in the stretch run. The great Roberto Clemente saved the game for Bob Moose, though I don't remember that play. Sad that they both died young and in accidents.

Basically, remember it being very cold. Drank hot chocolate there. What I really need to know is what Game No. is on the ticket for this game? Does anyone have an image of a Grandstand Ticket they could send me? Thanks

I don't know whether this is discouraged, but I found something on YouTube that is not state of the art, but gives us something. Really only valuable for the celebration. I was at the game too and I think it was the milk cartons I have to thank for that.

8mm footage from Bob Moose's no-no

Although I was at this game, I only recently learned, more than a half century later, that this was, in fact, the last game the Mets lost at Shea in 1969.

My first Mets game at Shea Stadium. I became hooked for life a few days earlier when Ron Swoboda hit a grand slam to beat the Pirates (September 13); I *had* to go. I don't remember too much about the game itself, except Seaver was terrific and when the game was over the scoreboard flashed, "The Mets Magic number is now 3," with a really huge 3 that filled the entire scoreboard.

This was a bonus home game for the Mets. It was supposed to be played in St. Louis the previous week, but got rained out and rescheduled for Shea Stadium. Tom Seaver pitched a four-hitter and contributed a run-scoring single as he notched his 24th win of the season. Just another thing that fell into place for the Mets en route to the championship.

This game ended with Bud Harrelson hitting a single to drive home Ron Swoboda with the winning run in the 11th inning. On the "Miracle Mets" vinyl disc record that came out after the season, Bob Murphy's voice is heard describing the hit. I don't know if the broadcast was a re-enactment or not, but Bob did not mention Harrelson's name in it. It must have been about five or six years after I heard this record that I found out that Bud was the one who got that single.

I attended this game with my dad and one of his pals. We had great seats field level halfway between third base and left field. The crowd was raucous through out, back in the days when cigar and cigarette smoke filled the air at sporting events. This was the night before the clincher and even though the Mets had been hapless for their entire existence, success seemed inevitable on this night. I would love to see a pitcher pitch eleven innings again. I also had the Miracle Mets Album referenced by quality Met. I haven't heard it in years. There were some highlights that seemed re created based on the crowd noise. This was one of them. I also think that Harrelson's single went through Curt Floods legs which enable Swoboda to score.

Bob, I recently came across both Mets and Cardinals radio broadcasts of Bud Harrelson's winning single from this game. Lindsey Nelson and Harry Caray each called the hit by saying that Curt Flood made a throw to the plate in an attempt for a play on Ron Swoboda, who slid in safely. The ball did not get through Flood's legs.

As for the re-enacted call of Bud's hit on the "Miracle Mets" album, it was badly written. Bob Murphy not only failed to identify Harrelson, but he also said that Swoboda scored the run by standing up instead of sliding as Nelson indicated. The tie-clinching moment from the '69 season was screwed up on that terribly-made record.

The clincher, and on my birthday! I was watching on good old Channel 9 and I can still hear Lindsey Nelson (after Joe Torre grounded into the game-ending DP) "At 9:07, the Mets...." I forget the rest, but he sounded excited, and so was I.

I had my own TV in my room, age 8. It was considered a luxury back then, and my friends were jealous. It was a black and white piece of junk.

Anyway, I put a towel under my door so the light from the TV would not show. I was not supposed to be up at 9:07 on a school night, but I watched the whole game.

Bob Murphy's radio call of this moment is on "The Miracle Mets", a highlight LP I still have. It will send chills down your spine...

"Gentry working hard. The crowd chanting we're number one, we're number one....groundball to short, Harrelson to Weis, there's one, on to first -- double play!! Ohhhhh, the roar going up in this crowd!"

I was there sitting in a loge seat behing 3rd base. As a 17 year old, I was a fan since day one at the Polo Grounds. I still have the program, ticket stub and grass from the outfield that remains in my ex-house in Franklin Square. As for Sports memories, this is and always will be the number one moment in my life. I have the video from channel 9 including the entire wild clubhouse scene.

I was nine years old at the time, and had seen some great games that year, including Tom Terrific's near-perfect game (Jimmy Qualls... I STILL hate you!) Winning the division championship, at 9:07 pm, was magical!

The game I became a Met fan. Loge seats, Fan Appreciation Day, key chain giveaway, the last home game of the season. 13 years old. Oh what a night. Carlton 1/3 of a inning.

For some reason I don't remember much of the game except the last play and Lindsey Nelson saying "at 9:07 on Sept 24th" but a friend brought over a mutt, asked us if we wanted him, we begged our parents until they relented. We needed a name for him. My uncle Buddy who was a my reason becoming a Met fan suggested Champ, and so it was.

My mom took us all. 5 kids. Loge behind 3rd. I distinctly remember before the game it was cloudy but there was a circular opening with a small trace of sunlight coming through it. It was a sign. Singing "good bye Carlton" and watching his butt crawl back to that dugout. Screaming "we’re # 1" for an hour and never leaving. Mad at my mom because she wouldn’t let me run on the field. Just a 10 year old at the time. Lost my keychain. Regretting that into my 60’s now.

I went to the game with my friend Cheo. I recall the key chain given for fan appreciation day. We were glad to be part of the history of watching the NY Mets win their 1st championship. The fans went nuts when Don Clendenon’s 2 homers.

The crazy part about that evening we were both 15 years old and had to go to school the following day. After the last out we both rushed out of the stadium, jumped on the subway back home and missed the celebration, looking back, our biggest regret was missing the celebration!!!!

When I was 8 (in the summer of 1986), I rented the videotape An Amazin' Era, the 25th anniversary video of the Mets. My family had two VCRs so we made a copy (I hope the FBI isn't reading this) and I must have watched An Amazin' Era over 50 times that summer, and over 100 times throughout the '80s. I was with my mom when we rented it; I think she even pointed it out to me. She was a Mets fan, more so than my dad. I remember watching An Amazin' Era with her, and the highlight of the Mets winning this game and clinching came on the TV.

The announcer, Lindsey Nelson, says the date, and right at that moment, my mom said, "That's my birthday. I remember that." The sight of hundreds of fans rushing the field at Shea and tearing up the turf made an impression on me; it was the first time I'd seen it. And now when I watch that clip, I get goosebumps and chills. Even though I wasn't alive in 1969, I still felt like I saw it live that day in 1986 when I saw it with my mom, you know what I mean? Vicariously, through my mom, I have warm memories of the 1969 team, especially this game.

As a postscript, I remember that not long after I had rented and copied An Amazin' Era, I was hungry for more baseball documentaries. My mom and I were at the video store and I found a documentary about the 1961 Yankees. I told my mom I wanted to rent that one, and she said, "No. You're a Mets fan."

The fall of 1969 I was 12 years old . I converted to a Mets fan from my beloved Mickey Mantle when I was 7 because no one from my hood would drive up to the Bronx and the subway ride was too complicated for the adults. Now here I sit full blooded Mets man for five years finally believing I did the right thing.

We were up in nose bleed heaven; cheapest seats in the house. Four boys and the strictest Mom in the neighborhood at the end of the row. We are screaming our heads off the whole game not believing our eyes what was unfolding. We all wanted to run out on that field because that was the buzz going around the stadium. But we knew our beloved chauffeur and school teacher Hood mom would discipline us back to the little blue Corvair and herd us back to city line. But then right at the moment of out three Mrs M. stands up, shouts very sternly down the row that we will all meet at the 410 mark at 11:00 sharp let’s go. I say thank you Jesus and the rest is history.

A childhood dream unfolded and I can’t thank Mrs M enough. God Bless you wherever you are??

I was 7 and it was my dad's 30th birthday. We celebrated with dinner at my abuelita's in the Bronx and she baked a BEAUTIFUL cake for her son. My mom worked a 9 to 5 job and she my two aunts and their husbands sang happy birthday and rushed to the TV set for the early 7 PM start. I remember sitting in the floor and clapping with everyone after the final double play. On a somber note I remember my mom making a federal case about getting home since I had 2nd grade the next day and it was past my bedtime. My dad telling her to knock it off that this was a big deal and he'd wake me up in the AM. Many years later trying to rush me home after Chambliss HR beat the Royals in 76. One of the reasons I do nothing now with her. Justice is MINE!

I was in 6th grade and my dad took me to the game. We sat on the right field side. We drive from Monticello to Shea Stadium. I was a big fan of Lou Brock and Curt Flood. Saw them both. Then the bottom of the first inning could NOT believe what we saw. 55 years ago today we saw the Mets take charge with Donn Clendenon taking over with 2 home runs along with Ed Charles' home run. After the game we saw fans rush on the field. Later on we bought the record LP of the Amazing Miracle Mets. My dad's pic was in the crowd on the LP. I treasure this night with my dad. It was a night to remember. RIP Pop... EMM

On the same night that The Brady Bunch first appeared on television, this game's story was of a man named Koosman - Jerry, that is. The Mets' top left-hander pitched a four-hit shutout against the Phillies as a sequel to Gary Gentry's blanking of the Cardinals to clinch the division two nights earlier. The Mets then kept the Phils scoreless over the rest of the weekend for four consecutive shutout victories.

The 100th and last victory for the Mets in the 1969 Miracle season. Bob Johnson finishes it off by pitching a scoreless twelfth inning for his first major league save. The Mets would go on to win seven of eight post-season games and claim the World Championship.

According to William Bike, author of The Forgotten 1970 Chicago Cubs: Go and Glow, a woman came out of the Wrigley Field bleachers and gave rookie third baseman Wayne Garrett "a big smooch" in this game. Sounds like a perfect ending to the regular season, especially if you're 21 like Wayne Garrett was at the time.

That beautiful moment resulted in Wayne becoming an offensive powerhouse during that year's NLCS. He hit a home run, drove in three, and had a .385 batting average and a 1.236 OPS in the three game sweep of Atlanta.

I believe that Gentry was pulled after 4 innings to give Cardwell a chance to even his record at 9-9.

Amazing. This is a word that describes not only the 1969 Mets, but also the fact that nobody has commented on this game yet - the team's first ever in post-season play. Trailing by a run, the Mets scored five times in the eighth inning for a 9-5 win over the Braves. Three Atlanta miscues in the inning helped the Mets' cause. On Ken Boswell's missed bunt attempt, Cleon Jones (who had singled to tie the game) got caught in a rundown and advanced to third base on catcher Bob Didier's high throw. Jones scored the go-ahead run when Ed Kranepool hit a grounder to first base on which Orlando Cepeda made a throwing error. With the bases loaded, pinch-hitter J. C. Martin got a two-run single that Tony Gonzalez misplayed in the outfield and allowed a third Met run to come home. Gonzalez then threw out Martin at third to end the inning, but enough damage was done to give the Mets a one-game lead in the first ever NLCS.

With the exception of two games (1972 ALCS Game Two and 1973 NLCS Game One), the video broadcast of every League Championship Series through 1975 has been lost because NBC decided to wipe the full games and only keep highlight reels. Even with the saved highlights, the only video that I've found from the 1969 NLCS is from Game 3 played at Shea, and it's just a few highlights from that game.

However, today's (and future) baseball fans must be thankful for those intrepid souls who recorded audio of the radio broadcasts from this era. Thankfully, the audio of this game is on YouTube, so we can place ourselves back to that cool Sunday afternoon in October, imagining the Mets in the bright daylight at Fulton County Stadium in their road uniforms. The Braves' uniforms of that era were a dark navy blue, almost black, so I can imagine myself as a young Mets fan seeing this series as a true battle between the good guys in the bright blue and orange uniforms and the bad guys with the black hats.

The Braves pitcher (and former NBA player, according to Lindsey Nelson) Ron Reed came into this one with a lifetime record against the Mets of 4-1, but on this day he did not have good control. After giving up a single to Agee, he walked Garrett, then Jones. He then got Shamsky and Boswell to strike out, but Kranepool singled to right to drive Agee in.

In the 2nd inning, Koozman was given a 3-0 lead after he walked and then Agee homered. The Mets kept hitting the Braves starter hard in the second, with Jones doubling and Shamsky driving him in with a single, knocking Ron Reed out of the box after 1.2 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, good for an ERA of 21.60.

The Mets scored two more runs In the top of the 3rd to make it 6-0, then two more in the 4th inning to make the score 8-0. A single by a Braves hitter in the bottom of the 4th made the score 8-1, but then the Mets got that run back in the top of the fifth to make the score 9-1. With Koozman pitching, things were looking pretty good for the Mets. However, Jerry could not get out of the 5th inning, allowing 6 ER and ending his day with 4.2 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 4 BB, and an 11.57 ERA, slightly better than Reed.

With the score 9-6 Mets, Ron Taylor pitched the good guys out of trouble in the fifth and also pitched a scoreless sixth.

In the top of the 7th, Agee was also part of a scary play when he narrowly avoided a line drive that just went over his head on an attempted steal of home. The "wicked line drive" (as Bob Murphy put it) by Cleon Jones seemed to barely miss Agee's head, and both players needed to take a moment to compose themselves. According to the New York Times, in the dugout right after the play, Gil Hodges said, "the Mobile Express almost got derailed." Two pitches after that near disaster, Cleon hit a two-run homer to left to make it 11-6 Mets.

Tug McGraw pitched three scoreless innings for the save, sending the Mets back to New York with a 2-0 lead in the series.

By the way, Casey Stengel was in the stands, as well as Joan Payson. Casey was apparently being considered by the team as something of a good luck charm because he travelled with the team and rode on the team bus to the games in Atlanta.

After the game, Casey was asked what he thought of the Mets and he responded, "This team has come along slow but fast."

October, 1969, I was seven years old and fell in love with the Braves. But, as they did for a decade and a half, they broke my heart. Though favored, with more veterans, than New York the Braves were simply outclassed. T. Daiss, Savannah, Georgia

My father tricked me. I was a Met's fan from the start- and now I was 11. I had a broken wrist that fall. My folks went under the cover of a check-up at the Doctor. Mom took me in to Dad's office in Brentwood and then we were to go to the Doctor. Dad asked me "Do you think the Mets will win?" and I said, "Yes- I know they'll win!" He laughed and held up the tickets- and I remember saying "You're kidding!" We headed off to Shea. Parking was so bad that day that Dad sheeplishly said- "I don't think we can find a parking space." Well I started to cry and he found one pretty fast. When we got to the gate we heard a crack of the bat and the crowd groaned. Henry Aaron hit a massive home run off of Nolan Ryan. But the Mets roared back. Gentry relieved Ryan- and the crowd poured on top the field. I asked my Dad if we could get some turf- and that's where he drew the line. My younger brother has never quite forgiven me for going to game three of the first NLCS. But I never will forget what my Dad did for an 11 year old with a cast on his arm.

Richard, it's not my style to email posters on this site directly, so I'll just say here that although you wrote your post on this game in 2004, I have to say that it made me cry.

I only read your comment on this game after my post on the previous game had been published. Reading your story of your dad's surprise led to an emotional outburst, a kind of a purging of the mourning for my father that I have kept inside for over four years now. I never cried when my dad passed in 2019, but my tears after your post made up for that.

Your wonderful story of your dad surprising you with tickets to this game is one of the heartwarming stories I think I have ever heard in my life, just because it reminds me of that special connection that baseball can bring between young boys and their fathers.

Honestly, before 1986, I was a momma's boy and therefore somewhat distant from my dad because he was working so much, but the 1986 Mets brought us closer together. We went to eight games that year.

Being a single dad (after December 1986), he didn't have the means to surprise me with playoff tickets like your dad did, but I remember in 1988, he and and my uncle took me to the game for my birthday (a tradition that started in 1986) he had the Shea Stadium scoreboard wish me a 'Happy Birthday' (along with about 10 other names).

It was just before the 7th inning I think, and I needed to go to the bathroom or get a soda or a pretzel and was about to go down the ramp, but my dad stopped me and made me look at the scoreboard, and it flashed HAPPY BIRTHDAY (with my name after in all caps) and that is a memory I will never forget.

It must have been great to see this game in person. I'm just as envious as your brother, but also extremely thankful that you shared your story so that it can be an example to all dads out there of the best a dad can be.

I remember coming home for lunch from Catholic school, 2nd grade in the Bronx, and my father and 2 uncles getting in the car and heading to the Big Shea. One of the uncles worked on Wall Street and got his firm's tickets. My dad told me years later that after they went over the Whitestone they found a spot in the marina and walked over since the parking was difficult. They did the same for the Jets Chiefs playoff game over 2 months later. I remember rushing home two blocks and leaving my grandmother in the dust to watch the last inning and change!

I was born on this date. My dad tells of he and the Doctor watching the game and asking my mom to wait to have me until the game was over. My dad loves baseball and he and the doctor did see the end of the game and then I was born.

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon and I was in Beaver Stadium watching a Penn State football game. I remember the public address announcer gave the football scores then the results from the WS game. I was disappointed but at least Penn State won the game.

We couldn't get tickets for the games at Shea, so my father drove us from Far Rockaway, Queens to Baltimore to see the game. Incredably, it wasn't sold out..(Baltimore isn't a sports town). My family stood where the left field stands meet the foul line during batting practice. We had Mets banners and were yelling encouraging words to the players. Reliever Ron Taylor threw my Dad a ball during practice. We were the only Mets fans at that game. During the game, a local fan paraded through the aisles with a sign that said "Save The Railroad." My father, a Brooklynite, shouted "Forget the railroad. You betta save the Orioles from the Mets!!!"

Jerry Koosman held the Orioles hitless through the first six innings and the Mets won their first World Series game. Donn Clendenon homered and Al Weis got an RBI single to break a tie in the top of the ninth. In the 7th, Ed Charles made an outstanding grab of Dave Johnson’s hard grounder for an inning-ending force play. This was one of many defensive gems turned by the Mets in the Series that got overshadowed by the catches Agee and Swoboda made over the next two games. Charles looked much like his third base counterpart, Brooks Robinson, on the play. He was even wearing the same uniform #5 in front of the Baltimore crowd! Ed’s stellar stop was a sign of things to come at Shea later in the week.

Recent talk about banning The Shift set off this legendary memory: Didn’t Mgr. Hodges send Al Weis from 2B to the OF in the B-9, G2 of the 1969 WS?Yes, specifically LF, w/2out & nobody on and Frank Robinson at bat. Jerry Koosman pitched around him, so either way Robbie was denied a EBH. After Boog Powell walks, Gil waves-in Ron Taylor, who runs a 3&1 count to Brooks Robinson. This is where the Mets came dangerously close to blowing it: Brooksie swings through a pitch that would’ve been a third consecutive walk. On 3&2 with the runners moving, Taylor induces a grounder to 3rd, a tricky multi-hopper. Ed Charles is tempted to step on 3rd-base for the force-out, but judges quickly that Frank Robinson is slightly ahead of him. However, he makes a short-hop throw to 1st, where Donn Clendenon, proving furthermore why he was WS-MVP, scoops it up, averting a now-unthinkable ending.

The 1969 Mets were known for their youth, but look at 4 of the aforementioned: the vets, with their experience & knowledge delivered under this crucible.

That entire 9th inning is one of the most dramatic in history, with 2 of the subjects playing a crucial role in T-9: 3 consecutive singles with 2 out off Dave McNally, starting with Ed & ending with Al’s GWr. -in-between which was Jerry Grote’s ditto.

This was the most crucial of the 4 wins : if the Mets fail to hang on, the WS returns to Baltimore the next weekend, where anything could’ve happened. Thanx to these heroes, we will, mercifully, never know!

Larry, you described the ninth inning very well, but you were off on one fact. It was pinch-runner Merv Rettenmund who moved to third base and forced Charles to throw to first. As for the shift, it's gotten a bit out of hand and probably should be banned. Putting Weis into the outfield wasn't really necessary, was it?

When my husband called me at work to say he had tickets for this game, I found 2 babysitters for my kids, a 3 year old and 10 month old. The tickets were at a ticket agency in NYC & we lived in NJ. We just arrived in time to see Tommie Agee make the catch of a lifetime. We sat at the 3rd base side of the field about 25 rows back. I can still remember the sore throat I had for about a month from screaming. Being a Met fan from the beginning truly paid off!! Both those kids are Met fans today especially the 3 year old who is now 34 and living within 30 minutes of Camden Yard. When he graduated from Georgetown University, he and six friends spent the summer in a Winnabago driving to all the National League parks. We also have a special guardian angel who is also the biggest Met fan and is smiling today after last night's win!!! Let's go METS!!!

The first World Series game ever at Shea. My dad scored 4 tickets for he and his 3 sons. (Myself , Eddie & Chris.)

Agee makes the two catches and Eddie is in the bathroom each time and misses both of them. Amazing.

Agee homers, Kranepool homers, and there is nothing better than being in 7th grade, skipping school, to go to Shea for the series.

We put a pennant on the antenna for the ride home and I remember the wind ripping it off. I still have the ticket stub.

That October day had a gray overcast and it was definitely jacket weather. But at Shea it was electifying - the first World Series game ever played at the ballpark. I had waited in line for two hours to buy an upper deck ticket (for $8!) and now was the payoff. The World Series was tied 1-1 and all true Mets fans believed we would take it all, even though the Orioles had a far better team, at least on paper. Agee led off the Mets half of the first inning with a huge homer over the center field fence. Later, pitcher Gary Gentry, who wasn't a good hitter, lined a 2-run double over Paul Blair's head in center field to give them a 3-0 lead. Then came the two amazing catches by Agee that saved the game. Kranepool's homer gave them a 5-0 lead, and Nolan Ryan got the save. We all went home happy, and two days later the Mets were World Champs. A great day to be a 14-year-old Mets fan.

I can remember being in the 3rd grade at ps 20 in Staten Island. I can remember those two great catches made by Tommie Agee as though it was today and just happening. To have the precious memories of those catches at age 42 is something that I will always be greatful for.

What a memory!

Had 2 standing room tix. Stood down the right field line in a gap by the rear of the box seats.

I call this day "Tommie Agee" day.

What a showcase to have your greatest single game performance ever!

A 400 ft + BOMB of a home run, 2 of the greatest outfield catches in WS history.

I still get choked up just thinking about it, and forget about watching the replay!

Tommie Agee was incredible. A home run, and then the catches. One of those catches, when he came out of nowhere and caught a snowcone at the warning track, still sends chills up my spine when I watch the replay.

I'll never forget this. I was in 5th grade. In detention for some horrible thing I'd done that day. Staying after school. Boo hoo.

But I had my transistor radio and an earplug in my ear as I sat in the back of the classroom writing "I will not do [something]" 500 or whatever times. Didn't get caught, but I had to watch the highlights later.

I was in 9th grade. I bought one ticket the week before when my friends and I stood in line at Shea starting at midnight. My friends bought tickets for game 5. I bought a ticket for game 3. I wanted to be at the first World Series game at Shea and, in case there was a sweep, I wanted to guarantee seeing a World Series game.

I sat right behind home plate in the highest row of the stadium. Agee had two unbelievable catches and a lead off HR. Kranepool also hit a home run.

It was bliss!

This was the game that ended on J.C. Martin's bunt, with Rod Gaspar coming around to score the winning run in the bottom of the 10th. Seaver pitched a 10-inning complete game. If it happened today, even a pitcher as great as Seaver probably wouldn't have gone all 10.

It was fitting that this game ended on a bunt, as the Mets relied a lot on small ball in 1969. I also think Ron Swoboda made his incredible catch in this game (correct me if I'm wrong). Ron Swoboda wasn't really a great outfielder but that catch was one of the most incredible catches I've ever seen to this day. Watching the replay of him flying so low to the ground, I can't tell if he's Ron Swoboda or Superman or Michael Vick.

This game is the defintive answer to the question of who was better: Seaver or Clemens. Seaver goes 10 and gets the W. That's why Seaver was "The Franchise". Swoboda's catch was unbelievable, especially to him. He was the most surprised person at Shea that he made that catch. A wink, a nod and a smile as to whether or not JC Martin was in fair territory when he was hit with the throw that allowed "Ron" Gaspar, who pinch ran for Grote, to score the winner from second.

Martin was clearly out of his lane and into fair territory when the throw struck him. But umpires only call that play when the runner is intentionally trying to interfere with the throw or is grossly out of the lane, which he wasn't. Besides any catcher will tell you when you make that throw you have to anticipate the runner to cheat a little to the inside - which Hendricks did not.

J, the throw to which you refer was made by Orioles pitcher Pete Richert, not Elrod Hendricks. Martin was pinch-hitting for Tom Seaver when he put down the bunt. Richert picked up the ball and threw it to first, but it hit J. C. on the wrist and rolled away. Rod Gaspar, who was pinch-running for Jerry Grote, scored all the way from second on the play. It was Martin's only World Series appearance of his 14-year career.

I remember my mother let me stay home from school so I could watch the game.

I remember sitting up high in the upper deck with the wind blowing at our back. Very cold, but very confident in the Mets and not at all surprised that they won.

I remember reading Frank Robinson calling Gaspar Rod Stupid in jest after they swept the Twinkies. Like Felix Unger said La Fortsa De Destino !

I had been a Met Fan since their inception in 1962, the year I was discharged from the Army. This team was going to help me forget the departure of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Of course, they didn't. I was depressed every season. In February of 1969, my ex- wife gave me a belated anniversary gift. Season tickets to Shea. I watch the Miracle Met season from right behind the Met's dugout. When they won the pennantI was overjoyed, even though I was sure that they couldn't win the Series against the powerful Orioles with Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Davie Johnson, et al. I watched the series from right above the left field scoreboard (the best seats I could get, even as a season-ticketholder. I'll never forget the outstanding plays in the outfield by the late and lamented Tommie Agee and that diving grab by Swoboda. Even now when I see the highlight film I think "this time he won't get it". And there was Don Clendenon and the homer by Weis. The Mets had completed the impossible dream. Last place to first, defeating one of the most powerful offensive teams of the time. After the last game, knowing where Gil Hodges lived on Bedford Avenue, I went to stand there when he got home. There was a huge crowd. It was one of the best years of my life.

I was 11 years old and living in Las Vegas, NV. I was the only Mets fan at my school. I slipped out of my classroom when the teacher wasn't looking and talked the janitor into turning on the only television in the school which was in the auditorium. I will never forget watching the last 2 innings, standing there with the janitor, who just happened to be an Oriole fan. I was so thrilled that the Mets were actually going to do it. By the time Cleon had made the last catch, my teacher had found me. All he said was, "Man! Those Mets!" The janitor mumbled something about "pure luck". I just smiled at both of them. Words couldn't describe how happy I was.

I've still never been to Shea Stadium. Maybe one of these days.

The most underrated box score item ever.

HBP - CLEON JONES

That one little piece of info is all you need to see if you are a Mets fan to know that 1969 was a fait accompli.

Gil Hodges was a master manager at work that whole season. Each and every move he made produced a positive result for some sort.

From each and every platoon move that he did (imagine doing that today??) to the slow walk out to left field on the bleakest day of that great season, when the Mets were being trounced in a make up double header against the Astros with 2 double digit innings, asking Cleon Jones if he was ok, and upon Cleon saying yes pulling him out of the game for dogging it on a fly ball, sending a message as to what the manager expected (try doing THAT today!)

How Mr. Hodges is NOT in the HOF is a travesty of justice and fair play.

1969 truly the greatest NY Mets season EVER!

I attended school for 19 years... kindergarten grade school high school college grad school

In those 19 years, I only had ONE teacher who was a Met fan...Miss Ryan, 3rd Grade teacher, St. Agnes School, Clark, NJ.

She was our teacher in 1969-1970...so, WE WATCHED THIS GAME IN SCHOOL INSTEAD OF DOING SCHOOL WORK!

One Met fan teacher in 19 years of attending school, and she taught me during the 1969 World Series! No other teacher would have allowed us to watch this game.

There is a God....and THANK YOU, MISS RYAN, wherever you are.

PS: Four years later, we had an angry, senile nun for 7th grade teacher, so we had to sneak in transistor radios for the Mets/Reds playoff games.

This was the triumph of the Miracle Mets. The Orioles had Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Boog Powell, Dave Johnson, and the best pitching staff in baseball history, and the Mets still won the Series in 5. Let's go Mets

I recently met Cleon Jones, and despite the message that was sent on that game that Joey C talks about, he is a real gentleman. The real travesty was that I never had a chance to see these guys play, and I have never seen a world championship by the Mets, except on video.

I was able to attend all 3 World Series Games against the mighty Orioles. I remember bringing my French grammar book to the game because I had a test that night at City University in Queens. After the final out I went on the field and the red clay from the warning track stained my book cover, then it was off to the hospital to visit my ebuillent dad who was recovering from a herniated disc. He might have been in pain but the victory in game 5 was the greatest pain killer my dad could have taken.

I turned 12 in June of 1969. It had already been the most incredible summer of my life. Having suffered through years of absolute hopelessness I would have been happy if the Mets just won as many games as they lost... but here we were on a bright October afternoon just one game away from Nirvana. Back then, World Series games were played in the afternoon when most kids were in school. Fortunately my middle school was right across the street from my house. We were all lined up like sprinters for the 3 o'clock bell, waiting to race home and catch the last few innings.

I lived on the 9th floor of a housing tenement in Newark New Jersey. Bypassing the elevator I would sprint up 9 flights of stairs and burst through the front door. My mom was a huge baseball fan so I knew the game would be on. Usually the game was only halfway through when I arrived. I got to see the amazing Swoboda catch (still ranks as the greatest catch in World Series history in my book), the clever shoe polish demonstration by the great Gil Hodges, J.C. Martin getting struck in the back with the throw to first, etc.

We had history class from 1pm to 3pm the day of the 5th game. Most of us would have been completely worthless during those two hours. I guess our teacher, Mr. January, must have realized this because on this day he surprised all of us by rolling in a 15 inch black and white TV. "Today we are going to witness history," he said as he tuned in NBC channel four. We most certainly did. It was part of the most amazing run in New York sports history. Baltimore? Not so much.

I was nearly 3 yrs old at the time but watching the footage of 1969 still gives me goosebumps. I feel it's only appropriate that I post about 1969 season on the heels of the Monster Blizzard of December 2010. In February of 1969, a similar snowstorm hit New York City and many parts including Queens WEREN'T plowed for days and blame was put on then-Mayor John Lindsay. Lindsay lost the primary but decided to run for re-election on another ticket. Meanwhile, the Mets start their Miracle run to the championship and Lindsay, who wasn't a big baseball fan, was seen a lot in the Mets clubhouse after every home game during the stretch run and in the post-season. The Mets won the WORLD SERIES (of course) after beating the mighty Baltimore Orioles and Lindsay won re-election after beating mighty odds and lots of snowstorm blame. Not everybody likes a blizzard but a lot of good can come out in the wake of a storm.

I was born October 16th 1969 at the moment the Mets won the World Series. My parents had a best friend who was a sports reporter who was on the scene that day, who was able to get the entire team to sign a ball. This ball was given to my parents as a birth gift. It was in a round plastic case and I remember it from a very early age. I used to play with it and my parents didn't think it was very valuable and none of us are sports fans. Eventually I took the ball out of the case and played with it for years until all the names wore off and the ball was eventually thrown out. Someone told me recently that this ball would be worth between 20-40 grand today! Man were my parents stupid to let me play with it.

I got a book called "1969" in paperback, it talks about all the events of that year: the Vietnam war, Ted Kennedy and Mary Jo, the Stonewall riots, Nixon entering the WH, the Tate- LoBianco murders, Woodstock, Altamont and Apollo 11. But it gives healthy chapters of when Shea Stadium of Flushing beat Memorial Stadium of Baltimore twice in 9 months courtesy of Broadway Joe and the Jets upsetting the mighty Colts in Super Bowl III in Miami and then the Mets upending the mighty Orioles.

I was in the fourth grade and they announced it over the loudspeaker that the Mets just won the World Series. The Miracle Mets

Crazy what I remember. The nuns in our Catholic school refusing to put the games 3 and 5 on the TV and confiscating transistor radios. Game 4 I was able to watch complete since Wednesdays we had half days so the public school kids got Catechism. Once again at 3 pm I raced home leaving my grandmother in the dust and watched the whole 9th with my dad and uncles. My dad and one of the uncles were NYPD and had 12 to 8 shift but made sure not to miss history.

I remember going out after the final out at 317 and everyone on the block imitating Cleon's kneel down. I remember the tortured look on my dad and uncles' faces when Davey Johnson hit the ball. It looked gone at first.

Went to the Bronx this Xmas with my wife daughter and granddaughter and did the Cleon kneel down on the same corner for a goof. Great days, both of them!