Millan's error cost us the two unearned runs and you could say the Series. I can still see that ball going right under his glove and through his legs. A ball he caught thousands of times before, a ball a little leaguer could have caught.

I was a 9 year-old at the game by myself. My dad was able to get one ticket and he gave it to me. I sat at the top of the stadium, but I remember Ken Holtzman's double down the left field line and the thrill of getting to see Willie for the last time. I was fortunate enough to see him with the Giants at Candlestick against the Pirates in the 71 playoffs. Growing up in the East Bay, I was a huge A's fan. What a crazy, talented team they were in those days.

I remember this is the World Series where Reggie Jackson earned his nickname "Mr. October" - mostly for his explosive bat in Games 6 and 7. But oddly in this game Tug McGraw actually walked Bando intentionally to get to Jackson to go with the percentages (Lefty vs. Lefty). Grote just missed a 2-run HR (barely foul) late in the game that would have won it. You can make an argument the Mets should have won all of the first 5 games - but it just didn't happen. They never had a chance in 6 or 7 - Thanks to "Mr. October", who either scored or batted in 5 of the A's 8 runs those last 2 games.

The Mets were clearly the better team on this day, but a handful of costly mistakes in the 3rd inning wound up costing them the game.

With 2 outs in the 3rd, opposing pitcher Ken Holtzman hit a double down the LF line but was set to be stranded when Bert Campaneris hit a grounder a shade to Millan's right. The second baseman was in position to field it, but allowed a short hop to bounce through his legs, allowing Holtzman to score. It was just his 10th error all season, and it couldn't have come at a worse time. Matlack then threw over to first about 4 times, and on the 5th time he had Campaneris picked off. But the throw was high to John Milner, and Campaneris made it to second without a throw. Joe Rudi then hits a single to center to chase home Campaneris, and that would be all the A's would need.

But it's not like the Mets weren't hitting. They stranded 9 runners on base, getting men into scoring position multiple times but were unable to come up with the big hit. It seemed like every out from the 6th inning on was a line drive right at somebody. And as J mentioned, Grote just missed a 2-run homer that went foul in the 6th that hypothetically wins the game for the Mets. Tough luck.

Oakland went with Reggie Jackson in CF in this game, which was his first time playing CF since May. But he looked good out there (not withstanding airmailing his throw when trying to get Cleon Jones at the plate on Milner's RBI single in the 4th), flagging down several flyballs in the gap. There's good reason he was named the 1973 AL MVP, which surprisingly was his only time winning the award.

This was also the last time Willie Mays would start a game in his career.

This was the attempted sac fly by Felix Millian. Bud Harrelson trying to score from third only to be called out on a blown call by the umpire. On constant replays of 1973 highlight film he was safe.

I have seen replays of this game on ESPN Classic. Watching this game shows how baseball has changed in the past 30 years. It is remarkable to see Tug McGraw, a relief pitcher, go six full innings in this game. A relief pitcher would never go this long today. Also, this game was historically significant because it was the last game that Willie Mays ever played.

The thing I remember about this game was that Catfish Hunter and Tom Seaver were both warming up in the bullpen. Dick Williams knew how to manage. He got Hunter up and Yogi responded by getting Seaver up.

I remember thinking about this game in 1999 when Valentine let Kenny Rogers walk in the series winning run against the Braves. He could have brought in Rick Reed, who was scheduled to pitch game 7.

It's crazy how, as a lifelong Mets fan, the 1970s are a huge blackhole for me. There's no way this shouldn't be absolute classic in team history, and yet I knew nothing at all about it.

At the onset, the announcers on NBC made a big deal about how the hitter's eye at the Oakland Coliseum contained a hint of cement, making it hard for the batters to pick up pitches in Game 1. That proved to be much ado about nothing, as the teams combined to score 17 runs in Game 2. It was the sun that proved to be the bigger problem, as numerous outfielders lost flyballs all afternoon.

Jerry Koosman had his worst start of the season, pounded for 2 doubles and 2 triples in just 2+ innings of work. He departed after his own error loaded the bases with 1 out in the third. Thankfully, the A's got a little too cute and wound up botching a suicide squeeze attempt for the second out, and then Ray Sadecki, in his first appearance in about 3 weeks, struck out Dick Green to get out of the inning without any runs scoring.

Trailing 3-2, the Mets then had one of their patented magical innings in the 6th. With the bases loaded and 1 out, Don Hahn tapped a swinging bunt to third to tie the game, and Harrelson followed with a clean single to CF for another run. After the Mets announced Ed Kranepool to pinch hit for the pitcher, the A's countered by bringing in lefty Darold Knowles, and the Mets countered by swapping in Jim Beauchamp for Kranepool. Beauchamp hit one right back to Knowles, but in his haste to try to turn a double play, Knowles rushed the throw home while falling down, and the ball bounced past the catcher. It went as a 2-run error, and the Mets went up 6-3.

Yogi then brings in McGraw in what I can only assume was designed to be a 4-inning save, despite McGraw having thrown 2 innings the day before. A run in the 7th made it 6-4, and that's where the score stood going into the bottom of the 9th. Deron Johnson led off with a double to CF that Mays fell down attempting to get to. After McGraw retired the next two with no trouble, Sal Bando walked, bringing up AL MVP Reggie Jackson. A part of me wanted McGraw to work around Reggie to bring up Gene Tenace, who had yet to get a hit in the series. Instead, Jackson grounds one into RF for an RBI single, and Tenace follows with another single to tie the score. It's McGraw's first blown save since July 7. Jesus Alou grounds out next, and we're headed to extras.

A wild top of the 10th almost saw the Mets regain the lead, but Harrelson gets called out at the plate trying to score on Millan's shallow fly to LF. I wasn't convinced watching replays that the wrong call was made, but the Mets went berserk arguing the call. Mays was on his knees pleading to have the call changed (see Newsday photo below), while Yogi, Bud, the third base coach and Cleon Jones all crowded home plate umpire Augie Donatelli. This was actually Donatelli's final game umping behind home plate, as he retired after 1973.

The Mets put 2 more on in the 11th but couldn't score, but their luck changed in the 12th. Harrelson led off with a double and McGraw, still in the game after 6 innings of relief work, looked to bunt him to third. His bunt, however, went over the head of the charging third baseman, and now there are runners on 1st and 3rd, nobody out. Garrett strikes out and Millan pops out, so it's all up to Willie. Mays raps one back through the box for a single to score Buddy, and pitcher Rollie Fingers throws his glove up in the air in disgust after almost getting out of the inning without any damage done. It's Mays' final hit of his career (though not his final game, as Ken had mentioned earlier. He'd also appear in Game 3 of the series). Cleon then singles to load the bases, the A's go to a new pitcher, and then Milner and Grote hit back-to-back grounders to Mike Andrews at 2B. One he lets go through his legs, the other he throws wildly to first base. Both plays result in errors, with 3 more runs scoring. Andrews was particularly known for his miscues in the field, as he led the AL in errors by a 2B three years in a row from 1970-72.

After the game, the A's had Andrews fake an injury to remove him from the World Series roster, but the commissioner found out about the scheme and forced the A's to reinstate him. The plan was concocted by A's owner Charlie Finley, who I guess had a history of meddling in his teams' affairs. In a show of solidarity, the players and coaching staff rallied in Andrews' defense, sporting his number on their sleeves as a form of protest. However, Andrews only got into one more game before Finley demanded he be benched for the remainder of the series.

McGraw, STILL PITCHING, gives up a lead-off triple to Jackson that Mays again lost in the sun, and Jackson hobbles into third barely ahead of the throw apparently injured, but he'd stay in and be fine. McGraw then walks Tenace and is finally relieved by George Stone, making his fist relief appearance since May. Alou greets him with an RBI single and it's starting to look like the Mets are going to blow it. But Stone settles down, eventually getting Bert Campaneris to ground out to end an absolute wild game. It's the first World Series game to last 12 innings since 1945, and sets the record for longest World Series game by time elapsed at 4 hours and 13 minutes. That record would stand until the Phillies and Blue Jays broke it in Game 3 in 1993.

Game 3 of the 1973 World Series, the last game Willie Mays played.

At age 42, Mays was well past his prime, but he started Game 1 and played in the field in Game 2. His final appearance was as a pinch-hitter, stepping in for reliever Tug McGraw. He grounded into a forceout and never played again in the series, quietly ending one of the greatest careers of all.

Still the best ballplayer that I've ever seen and I'm sure that he never needed a steroid!

Met catcher Jerry Grote dropped the third strike from Harry Parker in the top of the 10th inning which lead to Oakland scoring the lead run.

Wasn't there but what coulda been. Without the Grote passed ball, maybe the Mets win the game and the series in 5 (as they won the next two). That arguably would have gone down as the biggest WS upset after the Miracle Mets 69 win.

Game 3 of the 1973 World Series was my very first World Series game that I attended. Shea Stadium was rocking. I can still see all the great highlights of the game. Wayne Garrett's first inning home run. Tom Seaver striking out Reggie Jackson three times and Willie Mays batting for the last time in his career. Even though the Mets lost the game being at a Mets World Series game is the greatest.

This game played out much like Game 1 of the NLCS did: Mets grab an early lead but get shutout the rest of the way, allowing the opposition to steal a victory away from Tom Seaver.

Seaver struck out 12, which is still the Mets World Series record. But he noticeably started running out of the gas in the later innings, giving up a run in the 6th and a run in the 8th. Meanwhile, the Mets left a runner on base every inning but the 8th, completely unable to come up with a big hit. Bert Campaneris, my vote for MVP thus far in the series, finally drove in the go-ahead run with 2 outs in the 11th inning, and the Mets wasted a lead-off single by Wayne Garrett in the bottom of the 11th to suffer the loss.

After throwing nearly 100 pitches in Game 2, Tug McGraw was right back at it in Game 3. He was summoned into the game in the top of the 9th after the first two batters of the inning reached base off an unlucky Ray Sadecki, and McGraw stranded them both. He then worked in and out of trouble in the 10th before getting pinch-hit for. Such is life for clearly the only pitcher Yogi Berra trusts in the bullpen at the moment.

They made mention on the broadcast this was the first time the World Series featured back-to-back extra-inning games since 1933.

Also, it later came to light that Oakland manager Dick Williams told his clubhouse he was going to resign after the end of the series, win or lose. He had finally reached a breaking point with owner Charlie Finley's intrusions after the Mike Andrews fiasco, which caused Oakland to only have 23 of a possible 25 players available for Game 3. Williams held to his word and was set to manage the Yankees in 1974 before Finley filed a protest, which forced Williams to begin the season unemployed if he did not manage the A's.

And we think the rift between Bobby V and Steve Phillips was bad.

At the outset of that 4th game of the 70th World Series between the Athletics and Mets in the since-demolished Shea Stadium, (God rest his soul) the late Nelson Briles, who was pitcher at that time, sang the "Star-Spangled Banner" (the U.S. National Anthem).

This was my first World Series game, and only baseball game that I went to with my Dad (RIP). What I remember most about this game that Rusty drove in 5 of the 6 runs and Ken Holtzman not getting out of the first inning.

This victory really boiled down to 2 players: Jon Matlack on the mound and Rusty Staub at the plate.

Matlack, who the Mets opted to pitch on short rest instead of going with George Stone, was absolutely brilliant, scattering 3 hits over 8 innings and only allowing 1 unearned run. In 3 postseason starts thus far, he has yet to allow an earned run. What a beast.

Staub snuck a 3-run homer over the left/center field wall in the first inning, and also delivered a 2-run single to break it open in the 4th. He finished with 5 RBI and 4 hits, both of which are still Mets World Series records (though Lenny Dykstra also had 4 hits during the 1986 World Series).

Oakland starter Ken Holtzman faced just 6 batters before getting yanked, recording only 1 out. It was the shortest start by a pitcher in the World Series since the Mets' own Ray Sadecki while he was pitching for the Cardinals vs. the Yankees in 1964.

Before the game, NBC broadcast the Joe Garagiola Show, and on it he interviewed Reggie Jackson. Mr. October was quite candid, revealing that the A's players did not like team owner Charlie Finley, and that he had indeed requested a trade out of Oakland to escape the drama. He wouldn't get his wish until 1976. Catfish Hunter was also interviewed prior to the game and shared his disdain for Finley as well. It's amazing how much turmoil surrounded the A's team during this era, and yet they still managed to be so successful.

This game also marked the final Major League appearance of Mike Andrews, who was the centerpiece of the World Series controversy that made Finley public enemy #1. When he pinch hit in the 8th inning, the Mets crowd gave him a standing ovation, and he got another one after grounding out. This apparently embarrassed Finley enough to force manager Dick Williams to bench Andrews for the remainder of the series. He had an ego only George Steinbrenner and Marge Schott could rival.

I think Cleon Jones played this game with 102 fever and the flu. I was only 7 at the time but I remember the announcers saying this. And Jones had a good game going 2 - 4 with a run scored! Another great post-season start by Kooz with McGraw finishing it up. It looked like the Mets were on their way to winning it all.

After this game I remember my father saying "well no matter how it turns out at least they (the Mets) won 2 out of 3 for the home crowd." This was of little consolation to me after the A's won the series in 7.

I was at this game. I remember Tug McGraw coming in to relieve all psyched up, tossing his mitt to the batboy and jumping off the golf cart before it even came to a stop. The crowd going wild with that Irish Jig music that accompanied his entrance. If memory serves, he struck out the side in the 9th on nine pitches. But, if it didn't happen that way, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

This was also the game Mike Andrews got the standing ovation from Mets fans when Charlie Finley was forced to restore him to the roster after Finley tried to replace him following a game in which Andrews made two errors.

How about the Scoreboard flashing......

Miricle number 2...Just 3 Thousand miles away

Sorry, Rich, but your memory is unfortunately failing you. It took Tug 15 pitches to get through the 9th, and he only struck out 2. Also, it was Game 4 in which the crowd gave the standing ovation to Andrews. He did not appear in Game 5.

Buzz recollects correctly, however, as Cleon Jones was fighting the flu and was doubtful to play in Game 5. The cameras actually caught him throwing up in the outfield during a pitching change in Game 3, so he had been battling symptoms for a few days at this point. But it would have been hard to tell by his play, as he doubled in his first at-bat, flew one out to the wall in the 6th that left fielder Joe Rudi made a spectacular catch on, and also made some nice plays in the outfield himself.

John Milner had the game's first RBI with a single in the 2nd, and Don Hahn had the second with a triple in the 6th. It was his first triple since the 1971 season.

During the game, the NBC telecast made a point to show a banner in the crowd that read "LSD: Let Staub Destroy." Interesting thing to give air time to.

Tug McGraw played the hero once again, getting out of a 1-out, bases loaded jam in the 7th, and ultimately tossing 2.2 scoreless innings of relief to get the save. If the Mets were to win the series, I would imagine he was the heavy favorite to win MVP honors.

Now headed back to Oakland with a 3-2 series lead, I wondered if the Mets should instead use George Stone to start Game 6 instead of Tom Seaver on short rest. The rationale being the Mets would then have a fully rested Seaver in Game 7, if it were necessary, with Jon Matlack available out of the bullpen. Wouldn't you want to save your best pitchers for when it mattered most? Sure, you can go for the kill in Game 6 with Seaver, but he proved throughout 1973 he did not pitch well on short rest, and I loved the idea of having him start with Matlack in reserve. Kinda like Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling for Arizona in 2001.

I was ten then; I'm forty now. I've had thirty years to think about it, and I still don't understand it. Why did Yogi pitch Seaver on three days rest when he had a 3-2 lead? Imagine how tough the Mets would have been in game 7 with Seaver starting and Matlack in the bullpen. I didn't get it then. I don't get it now, and my best guess is that I won't get it when I'm seventy.

I still don't understand why Yogi pitched Seaver on three days rest when he was one win away from their second World Championship in 5 years. This decision still frustrates me 33 years later.

Ok, I too have been wondering and have been bothered about all this for 35 years. Let's go over what preceded it. The Mets rotation went Seaver-Matlack-Koosman-Stone. When the Mets were up 2 games to one against the Reds, with a game they could afford to lose, Yogi went with Stone. Bear in mind that Stone had a career year, going 12-3, and pitched very well against the Reds, giving up only one run and getting a no-decision. The Mets lost the game in 12 innings but had a well-rested Seaver in Game 5, which they obviously won.

Now we get to the World Series. An almost identical situation, except the Mets were on the road in Oakland for the last two games. They had been home against the Reds.

Anyway, the Mets were up 3 games to 2 and could afford to lose one. What is crucial for younger fans to understand is that Tom Seaver was the biggest proponent of the fourth day of rest. He was very vocal about it his entire career. And there is no doubt that Seaver was simply not as dominant on three days rest.

But Yogi chose to go with Seaver in game 6 and Matlack in Game 7. And we all know what happened.

For years, I have given Yogi the benefit of the doubt, but I've changed my mind for two reasons. Last year, I heard the 1973 Oakland manager Dick Williams say he was shocked at what Yogi had done, and felt the A's simply could not have beaten a well-rested Seaver in a Game 7.

Then just last week, in an All-Star game interview on WFAN, Ed Kranepool, who said the 1973 Series loss was the most devastating point in his career, criticized Yogi's decision.

Kranepool said that Yogi was worried about being criticized in the press for not going with his two best pitchers.

Yogi should have started George Stone this game and saved Seaver for Game 7. Stone was 12-3 2.40 for the year winning his last 8 decisions and he deserved to start. And Seaver would have been well-rested for Game 7. Seaver did not pitch terrible in Game 6 but he did not have his best stuff. Could you imagine this happening today with SNY, ESPN, WFAN and all the sports coverage out there now? This decision would have been analyzed and re-analyzed then second-guessed ad nauseum. I was only 7 in 1973 and I remember a big deal being made about it back then.

I saw Stone at a baseball card show with a friend like 10 years ago and asked him about it and he definitely wanted the ball in Game 6. We'll never know what could have been.

It doesn't make a difference whether or not Yogi pitched Stone. Why don't they criticize Dick Williams for pitching Catfish on 3 days rest, or Holtzman for that matter. Rusty Staub could have put the Mets ahead, but struck out in game 6 (only because of his separated shoulder). Matlack was the hottest Met pitcher down the season stretch. It made sense pitching him in game 7. Tom Seaver said so himself, repeatedly, that it was the right move. Injuries were the plague of the 1973 season. If the Mets were completely healthy, they would've won over 90 games and be world champs!

Joe is correct, Matlack was darn near unhittable the last month of the season. Berra would have been skewered by the press if he pitched Stone in 6 and Seaver in 7 and pushed Matlack out of a start - who would know Matlack would stink it up in Game 7? Hindsight is 20/20. There are lots of fingers you can point at why the Mets lost this World Series: Millan's error, Grote's passed ball, Reggie Jackson's 2 GREAT catches playing CF for an injured Bill North, Tenace and Bando's clutch hits in Game 3, Staub's K in Game 6, Mets inability to drive in runners in scoring position in tight games. Definitely a shame. It was still an amazing 6 weeks for this third grader. I can still feel the sinking feeling when Garret's pop up came to rest in Campy's glove. Weren't we all sure they would win?

The fact to the matter is, no one questioned why Seaver started game 6 until after the World Series over. It's always easy to second guess.

If you followed Tom Seaver's career, he has been no stranger to 3 days rest. He had 3 days rest when they won the NL pennant. It is not unusual. No one worried about pitch counts in those days.

Here's something else to think about: The Mets had a 3 games to 2 lead. Did they really want to face Catfish in game 7? As a result, they faced Holztman. Better odds I think.

Frank The Met:

In the NLCS Game 4, Yogi had to go with Stone because Seaver pitched Game 1, and they played 5 straight games without a day off.

Jimmy B is Right! No one questioned why Seaver started game 6. During the game after the game, or after the series. All hindsight years later. Here's my second guessing, should've, could've would've criticism:

Harrelson should've led off instead of Garrett. Better OBP than Garrett, good bunter, and good speed around the bases. Rusty Staub shoud've played game 1 and play 1B with his sore arm. He was no stranger to 1B, as he played it before in Houston and Montreal. John Milner in left field. And if Mays was healthy, I would have started him in CF. Willie was an excellent defensive field captain. But because of those bad knees and his injured ribs. Hahn was the better choice.

Here is my line up:

SS Harrelson
2B Millan
1B Staub
RF Jones
LF Milner
CF Mays or 3B Garrett
3B Garrett or C Grote
C Grote or CF Hahn
P

You are playing the "what if" game. Since the Mets scored only 1 run in game 6... Stone and the rest of the Mets staff would have had to throw a shutout to win. The Mets scored only 2 runs in game 7. Yes... that obviously could have been enough with Seaver pitching in game 7... but it's not a guarantee either. Starting pitchers pitched on 3 days rest all the time in this era. Sandy Koufax pitched a shutout in game 7 of the '65 World Series on 2 days rest. You can't fault a manager for wanting to go with his best starters in a World Series. Catfish Hunter also pitched on 3 days rest in game 6 and went 7 1/3 IP & allowed only 1 earned run and got the win. To say Yogi blew it because he didn't realign his starting rotation especially after Matlack had thrown 8 innings allowing 0 earned runs in his previous start... is preposterous. Also... you can't predict what stuff a starting pitcher will have each start. Again... Yogi went with his best. You can second guess him... but again to say he "blew it" is ridiculous.

What people failed to realize is that Seaver hounded Berra for a game 6 start according to many reports. Should've gone with Stone. Outscored the A's 24 21 and should've won this series...

Looks like there's been a fun little 20-year debate going on here. In my opinion, I think the smarter move was to start Stone in Game 6 and save Seaver for Game 7, with Matlack available out of the bullpen. Though he may have been accustomed to starting on short rest, Seaver's numbers on 3 days rest in 1973 were considerably worse than on 4 days rest. Plus, at this point in the season he had accumulated well over 300 innings pitched, so any extra day of rest would have gone a long way. With the A's a loss away from losing the series, they were forced into desperation mode, so they HAD to go with their best arms in Games 6 and 7. But the Mets had the luxury of not needing to be desperate.

However, a huge hat tip needs to be given to Catfish Hunter with his performance on short rest. He was excellent when Oakland needed him to be excellent. He was far from overpowering, recording just 1 strikeout over 7.1 innings, but he got good defense behind him and the Mets hit a bunch of at-'em balls that went for outs.

So ultimately, it didn't matter who the starter was in Game 6 as the Mets offense didn't do enough to support whoever that pitcher would be. Where it does matter is Game 7, as we now know Seaver likely would have been the better option than Matlack. That point is inarguable, and so, in my book, whoever it was who made the decision to go with Seaver in Game 6 definitely made the wrong choice.

Not to mention, as the game was about to get underway the broadcast brought up how Seaver had reported shoulder pain while preparing for this start. He didn't pitch like he was hurt, but it's extra evidence, on top of his poor short rest stats, that Seaver should have been saved for Game 7.

I distinctly remember that gargantuan Jack-ass Reggie Jackson homering off of Matlack and standing at Home- Plate for about a week and I half to admire it.. I was 15 years old at the time and watching at my Uncles house in South Beach,Staten Island and recall thinking that if I were on the mound this shameless Hotdog would be tasting dirt the next time up.I remember my anguish when Wayne Garrett popped up to end it but then I realized what a truly remarkable season it had been. If Tom Seaver would have beaten Catfish Hunter the day before we would have been World Champions, but it was not to be.

I was nine going on ten when I watched this game. From late August until Game 7, it was probably the best stretch of Mets baseball I had ever seen. (And that includes '86!)

Only time I ever cried after a Mets game. Why did Yogi not rest Seaver until Game 7?

This was the game Seaver should have pitched. This was the game that might not have even happened if Yogi hadn't started Seaver on three days rest the day before. But it was not to be. As a New York sports fan (who despises the Yankees), there are four players in sports history who stand out as villains. There is Reggie Miller, Chipper Jones, Derek Jeter, and Reggie Jackson. When Jackson hit that monster blast off Matlack you could tell it was over, but it was a great season. However, after this season their team fell apart at the seams and they would not become contenders again until the Doc Gooden age.

I was a 14 year old girl, this team was my life, and this game devastated me. I remember thinking that we fans had willed this over-achieving team into the WS, and that it was destiny. I loved these guys.

After the last out, my mother called us in for spaghetti dinner. I was crying silently, absolutely devastated. I couldn't even talk. My mother asked my sisters, "What's wrong with her?" They all said, "The Mets lost the WS." She didn't say much to me, but she didn't force me to talk or eat. I didn't eat a bite of my favorite meal. I went upstairs to my bedroom and cried my eyes out. It was a sad day.

I was 7 years old when I saw this game. I watched Games 6 and 7 in Virginia because my parents had friends there that we were visiting. This was the first time I experienced real disappointment as a child to the point where it hurt.

And I'm still not totally over it years later. Matlack was a great pitcher for the Mets but he just did not have it on this day. I will always wonder what could have been if George Stone pitched Game 6 and a well-rested Seaver started Game 7 (if necessary!)

I have read the preceding comments and I sadly have to agree. It has been 40 years and I have not gotten over this loss. Nothing can console me, not even the 1986 World Series win. To be one game away, to be up three games to two, to come so close and not win, well, it has been devastating. A win in this World Series would have given the Mets a wonderful narraive - two World Series championships in a 5-year period with basically the same players - the Seaver, Jones, Harrelson, Koosman, McGraw era. Indeed, it should have been Stone in Game 6 and then Seaver in this game. Still, the 1973 Mets will also be a beloved group to the Met fans who remember the wonderful run in September and October. It was truly magical.

I was heartbroken then, but 40 years has allowed reality to set in: this was the true Miracle Mets, insofar it was Amazin' that a team so erratic and in last place only two months earlier could find themselves in Game 7 of the World Series. The 1969 team likewise was offensively weak, but steady and well managed. Yogi's inability to give Seaver and Matlack more breathing room and pull off the Gil Hodges-type moves proved fateful, but the story of this Series: the better team won. But a dramatic run, no doubt. A team that wins a pennant with the super platoon of Don Hahn and Davey Schneck in center field because it's better than Willie Mays? The Miracle of 1973!

Matlack was the right call. Since July (before the fateful last Game 7 inning) he had a 2.13 ERA, 7 complete games and 4 shutouts including a complete game shutout against the Reds in the NLCS. In 25 post season innings that October (prior to the last one) he gave up no earned runs. He pitched well on 3 days rest during that stretch, who was to know it would fall apart. I wonder what Grote thought of his arm the first two innings.. They could have won each one of the first 6 games. It will always be the Series of what might have been.. "of all the words of tongue and pen, none are more painful than 'what might have been' ".

Like some of the other commenters, I was about 10 years old and still not over it, all of these years later. Jon Matlack was a great pitcher, it happens how it happens. Lots of people would like to see NYC focused on the Mets this year and win it for Yogi. He was a great manager and his humor is right up there with how baseball affects society for the better.

Jon Matlack threw a good pitch to Bert Campaneris. But he reached out and slapped it over the fence. Years later they both talked about it, when they were teammates in Texas.

They were both shocked and amazed.

The pitch to Reggie however.. his grandmother could have hit it.. hanging curve ball.

I wonder if it would have been wise to walk him, and take your chances with Gene Tenace. There were 2 outs with Joe Rudi on first. Walking Reggie would have put Rudi in scoring position. Who knows? It's all second guessing.

It can be said the Mets lost Game 7 based on just 2 swings. One by Campaneris, one by Jackson. Both went for 2-run homers within 10 minutes of each other. Matlack looked sharp over his first two innings but it's reasonable to say fatigue and overexposure finally caught up with him in that fateful 3rd inning. The Mets scratched out 2 runs of their own, but it wasn't enough. And this would be the final time the Mets would make it back to the postseason until 1986.

When Matlack gave up the dinger to Campaneris, not only was it the first earned run he had given up all postseason (spanning 4 starts), but it was the first home run the A's hit in the World Series. For a team that ranked tied for 6th in the majors with 147 HRs, it took them 59.1 innings to collect their first against the Mets.

There were two World Series records set in this game, both by Oakland. Darold Knowles because the first to ever pitch in all 7 games of a World Series. The only person to match him thus far is Brandon Morrow with the Dodgers in 2017. Also, Gene Tenace recorded his 11th walk of the World Series in the game, which tied Babe Ruth's record from 1926. However, that has since been broken by Barry Bonds with 13 in 2002.

I know Reggie won MVP honors and he did have a very fine series, but I feel like all of his contributions were grouped too closely together, as there were several games he was a complete non-factor. I think my MVP vote would have gone to Campaneris. He was solid throughout and seemed to be involved in every A's rally.

In the 9th inning, pinch-hitter Ed Kranepool appeared to hit into a game-ending groundout to first base, causing some overanxious members of the crowd to storm the field preemptively. However, Tenace booted the ball, allowing John Milner to score and keep the game alive. Security had to get the fans back into the stands before play could continue in a pretty comical scene.

Also, I guess back during this era players would get fined by MLB for throwing balls into the stands. Reggie did it numerous times regardless of the repercussions, which eventually earned him a stern talking-to by one of the umpires. However, I'm shocked to learn that the rule still exists to this day: MLB prohibits players from throwing balls into the stands. Only thing is, nowadays the rule is extremely rarely enforced, and instead is considered an act of public relations between players and fans. Not sure why they don't abolish the rule completely if that's the case. Anyone getting fined for the act today would surely allege discrimination and selective punishment.

Went to this game and sat about six rows behinds the Mets dugout. It was an overcast day, and about 18,000 people in the stands. Piazza and Beltran both hit long home runs as the Mets scored seven in the fifth inning.

We originally bought tickets for this game to see Mike Piazza return as DH for the Athletics. His long stint on the DL prevented this. However, in a nice touch for the home fans, Mike brought out the lineup card before the game to much applause. The game itself was a taut pitchers' duel otherwise distinguished by Paul LoDuca's wild temper tantrum over being called out on strikes. This set the stage for Ramon Castro taking his place and setting up the only run of the game.

HOW SWEEP IT IS!!! The boys are back. Reyes the ignitor gets it started off, Valentin and Gomez follow suit with 3 hits a piece. Nice weekend for the Mets and hopefully this continues. Maine looked solid in his second consecutive strong start. Here come the CARDS for a four game set and then a huge four game set in Philly. Mets are getting hot at the right time

A good game to have been in attendance to finish off the sweep. At least this game wasn't the cause of the collapse!

Went to my second walk off win in three days this week. Excellent come back with Wilmer once again crushing one to end it. Even in a disappointing season there are great games.

If you Google "Pete Alonso DEMOLISHES His Seventh Homer of the Season", you will see him do exactly that in a highlight from this game.

Note, "DEMOLISHED" is in all caps. It had to be that way.

Of all of the home runs in Pete's portfolio, this one to deep left field in the sixth inning (off the facing of the second deck) is his most impressive. It also turned a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead.

Pete DEMOLISHED that ball.

In the top of the ninth with one out and the Mets down 3-2, Pete Alonso hit one of the most impressive home runs I've ever seen (deep center field off the concrete facing of Oakland Coliseum) to tie the game.

Watching a Pete Alonso monster shot like that reminds me of the days of Darryl Strawberry. Only Darryl could hit one as high and as far as the one Pete hit on this day.