CUBS AND METS LEAVE WITH SERIES WINS
Thursday, July 3, 1969
Seven was the lucky number as Chicago’s 7-run, 7th-inning outburst led them to victory in Montreal. Don Kessinger’s double, Billy Williams’s single, and Ron Santo’s home run each drove in two runs in the rally. Dick Selma gave up 3 runs, 1 earned, through 6 innings to record his 9th win of the season.
Cubs 8, Expos 4. W: Selma (9-3) L: Wegener (3-6)
***
Gary Gentry looked great in St. Louis, giving up just 1 run on 5 hits in 9 full innings against the Cardinals. Tommie Agee also kept up his hot hitting with a home run and 2 RBI. Cleon Jones was 2 for 3, and Don Clendenon went 2 for 5 with 2 runs and 2 RBI. Former Expos opening-day starter Mudcat Grant took the loss for St. Louis.
Mets 8, Cardinals 1. W: Gentry (8-6) L: Grant (4-9)
Wednesday, July 2, 1969
Jimmy Qualls had 2 doubles and triple and drove in 2 runs as Bill Hands went the distance in Montreal. Glenn Beckert went 3 for 5, giving him 5 hits in his first two games back after missing a month with a broken writst. Pete Reiser managed the Cubs bench in place of the ailing Leo Durocher.
Cubs 4, Expos 2. W: Hands (9-6) L: Stoneman (4-11)
A long one at Busch Stadium as the Mets prevailed over the Cardinals in 14 innings.
New York led 4-0 with two outs and no one on in the bottom of the 8th. But starter Jerry Koosman proceeded to walk the bases loaded and gave way to reliever Ron Taylor, who was greeted by pinch-hitter Vic Davaillo’s game-tying grand slam.
St. Louis loaded the bases in the 10th but couldn’t score. The game remaining scoreless until Tommie Agee collected his 4th hit of the game in the top of the 14th, stole second, and was singled in by Ken Boswell. Later, Wayne Garrett, the hitting star with 4 hits and 4 RBI, walked to force in Boswell with an insurance run. Tug McGraw more than earned the win, pitching 6 scoreless innings in relief.
Mets 6, Cards 4 (14 inn.). W: McGraw (5-1) L: Willis (1-2)
‘1969′ IN THE SUMMER OF ‘09
Be on the lookout this summer for 1969: The Year Everything Changed at Barnes and Noble, where the book will be featured in a special promotion to commemorate the 40th anniversary of that eventful “Summer of ‘69″!
The moon landing…Woodstock…the Amazin’ Mets…Easy Rider…Charles Manson…and more. The stories from that summer grabbed the headlines and left indelible impressions upon an entire generation of Americans. As the subtitle implies, 1969 left our nation forever changed.
- Rob
CUBS, METS STRUGGLE ON THE ROAD
Tuesday, July 1, 1969
A pair of 5-run rallies in the 2nd and 3rd powered the Expos over the Cubs at Jarry Park. Ken Holtzman took just his 3rd loss of the season after surrendering 9 hits and getting charged with 9 runs (2 unearned) in just 3 2/3 innings. Bob Bailey doubled twice and had 3 RBI for Montreal, while Gary Sutherland scored three times and knocked in 2. Don Kessinger and Willie Smith each went 3 for 5 in a losing effort.
Expos 11, Cubs 4. W: Renko (1-1) L: Holtzman (10-3) SV: Face (4)
The Mets dropped a doubleheader in St. Louis. Steve Carlton pitched the Cards to a 4-1 win in the opener, allowing just 3 hits while striking out 9. Nolan Ryan had trouble finding the plate, walking 7 and suffering his first loss of the year.
In the nightcap, the Mets scored 3 runs off starter Mike Torrez in the 1st inning, but St. Louis charged back with 8 runs off starter Jack DiLauro and reliever Don Cardwell. Cleon Jones, Art Shamsky, Wayne Garrett and Don Clendenon each recorded 2 hits in the second game.
Cardinals 3, Mets 1 (1). W: Carlton (9-5) L: Ryan (3-1)
Cardinals 8, Mets 5 (2). W: Torrez (2-4) L: DiLauro (0-3) SV: Hoerner (8)
Team Name W L T PCT GB Chicago Cubs 49 28 1 .636 - New York Mets 40 34 0 .541 7.5
Monday, June 30, 1969
Dave Lemonds took the loss in his first start for Chicago after leaving with 2 outs in the 3rd. The rookie gave up just 2 runs but allowed 4 hits and 3 walks to the host Expos before departing. Phil Regan and Ted Abernathy yielded another 3 runs over the next 3 innings, as Coco Laboy led the Montreal charge with 2 hits and 3 RBI.
Expos 5, Cubs 2. W: H. Reed (3-1) L: Lemonds (0-1) SV: McGinn (3)
Jerry Grote’s 3-run blast highlighted a 6-run Mets rally in the opening innning in St. Louis. Rod Gaspar went 2 for 4 with 2 runs and 2 RBI, and Art Shamsky added a home run. Jim McAndrew started and finished the game for New York, allowing 2 runs on just 3 hits and while also singling in 2 runs in the 6th inning.
Mets 10, Cardinals 2. W: McAndrew (2-2) L: Briles (6-7)
FAITH AND FEAR IN FLUSHING
I wanted to post a quick review of a new book called Faith and Fear in Flushing: An Intense Personal History of the New York Mets, by Greg Prince (Skyhorse Publishing, 2009). With a cover that includes images from the 1986 World Series and Yadier Molina’s home run off Aaron Heilman in the 2006 NLCS, Prince’s memoir chronicles both the triumphs and heartbreaks of the Mets team - not from the jaded lens of a reporter but from the unique perspective of a fan who grew up at the same time the Mets franchise did. There are many books out there covering the Mets championship seasons, but Prince is the type of fan who remembers 1970s team favorite Steve Henderson just as clearly as he does the Amazin’s’ overcoming Dave Henderson’s home run in Game 6. (He might have titled his book Praying for Ron Hodges.) In this day of naming rights, luxury-suite ballparks, and alternate batting-practice jerseys, Prince reminds us of the true charms of being a baseball fan.
- Rob
STONEWALL RIOTS, 40 YEARS AGO
In a year of riots and protests - including the Harvard Student Strike, People’s Park, the War Moratorium, the Days of Rage, and the occupation of Alcatraz - perhaps the most pivotal in terms of lasting influence were the Stonewall Riots, which occurred 40 years ago this weekend in Greenwich Village. The uprising of patrons of the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar on Christopher Street, against a police raid inspired local residents, gay and straight, to join in. Forty years later, it stands as one of the most important rallying moments in the history of the gay and lesbian rights movement in America.
Read this recent New York Times story on Stonewall here: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/22/police-records-document-the-stonewall-uprising/?hp
…and, of course, you can read more about the Stonewall Riots in 1969: The Year Everything Changed, available now from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders, or directly from the publisher. Visit my book page for links to purchase.
Ps. I also discuss Stonewall, as well as other colorful incidents from the year, in the upcoming History Channel program Sex in ‘69: The Sexual Revolution in America. Air date coming soon!
- Rob
WILLIAMS SETS ALL-TIME NL MARK, CUBS EXPAND LEAD OVER METS IN WEEKEND SERIES
Sunday, June 29, 1969
Bob Gibson struck out 10 batters but Fergie Jenkins got the win Sunday afternoon at Wrigley.
Jenkins gave up just 3 hits and 1 run, while Willie Smith was the hitting star for Chicago, going 3 for 4 with a homerun and 2 RBI.
Game two was a blowout. The Cubs pounded out 12 runs while starter Dick Selma got a complete-game,10-strikeout win. Ernie Banks hit a 3-run homer in the 1st. Ron Santo was 3 for 4 with a homerun and 5 RBI. And Billy Williams was 4 for 5 with a double, triple, 3 runs and 3 RBI. Williams appeared in his 895th and 896th straight game to break Stan Musial’s NL record.
Cubs 3, Cardinals 1 (1). W: Jenkins (10-5) L: Gibson (10-5)
Cubs 12, Cardinals 1 (2). W: Selma (8-3) L: Grant (4-8)
***
With Tom Seaver on the mound, 7 Mets runs were plenty against Pittsburgh. Recent acquisition Don Clendenon, who came into the day hitting just .118 as a Met, went 2 for 4 with 3 RBI, and Cleon Jones and Ed Charles both knocked in 2. Tommie Agee scored twice.
Mets 7, Pirates 3. W: Seaver (12-3) L: Veale (4-9)
Team Name G W L T PCT GB
Chicago Cubs 76 49 26 1 .653 -
New York Mets 71 39 32 0 .549 8.0
Saturday, June 28, 1969
Bill Hands gave up just 3 hits and 1 run to St. Louis at Wrigley. Willie Smith and Don Young both homered for the Cubs.
Cubs 3, Cardinals 1. W: Hands (8-6) L: Giusti (3-7)
***
A 5-run Pirates rally in the 8th inning broke open a Saturday night game at Shea. Cleon Jones went 3 for 4, scored twice, and drove in a run in a losing effort. Ed Kranepool had 2 hits and 2 RBI, and Al Weis added 2 hits and an RBI.
Pirates 7, Mets 4. W: Bunning (7-5) L: Gentry (7-6) SV: Gibbon (4)
Friday, June 27, 1969
The Cubs rapped out 10 hits but managed only 1 run against Steve Carlton and the Cardinals. The St. Louis lefty tossed a complete game and worked around trouble by striking out 12 Chicago batters. Ken Holtzman gave up jst 2 runs in 7 innings but took his second loss of the season. Ron Santo went 2 for 4 and knocked in Paul Popovich for the only Cubs run.
Cardinals 3, Cubs 1. W: Carlton (8-5) L: Holtzman (10-1)
***
Steve Blass outpitched Jerry Koosman in a pitcher’s duel at Shea Stadium. The Mets managed only 3 hits, with J.C. Martin driving in Art Shamsky for the sole New York tally.
Pirates 3, Mets 1. W: Blass (8-4) L: Koosman (5-5) SV: Gibbon (3)
CUBS WIN HOMERUN DERBY; METS SHUT OUT, LOSE GAME IN STANDINGS
Thursday, June 26, 1969
The wind was blowing out on Ladies Day as the Pirates and Cubs combined for 7 home runs and 22 total hits.
Both teams notched 11 basehits, and both had 5 runs at the end of 9 regulation innings. Home runs from Billy Williams, Ken Rudolph, and Ron Santo matched blasts from Willie Stargell, Manny Sanguillen, and Roberto Clemente. Jim Hickman stepped up to the plate with Rudolph on first and 2 outs in the 10th, and sent a game-winning shot over the ivy-covered walls of Wrigley.
Cubs 7, Pirates 5 (10 inn.). W: Regan (9-5) L: Dal Canton (5-2)
***
Another hard luck loss for Mets starter Don Cardwell, who suffered his 8th defeat in 10 decision. Cardwell pitched well, giving up just 2 runs through 7 1/3 at Shea, but Phillies hurler Grant Jackson bested him with a sparkling 4-hit, 10-strikeout performance. Cleon Jones went 2 for 3 to raise his season average to .353.
Phillies 2, Mets o. W: Jackson (8-6) L: Cardwell (2-8)
Team Name W L T PCT GB
Chicago Cubs 46 25 1 .648 -
New York Mets 38 30 0 .559 6.5
TIM ROBBINS DIDN’T CALL ME, BUT…
Tune in now to the SNY (SportsNewYork) television station to see Miracle in New York: The Story of the ‘69 Mets, narrated by Tim Robbins, on the story of an Amazin’ year: http://www.sny.tv/index.jsp
JENKINS DOMINATES BUT RYAN, METS LETS ONE SLIP AWAY
Wednesday, June 25, 1969
Fergie Jenkins limited the Pittsburgh Pirates to 2 runs on just 2 hits while striking out 10. The Cubs managed just 3 hits themselves, but 2 Pirate errors contributed to 5 Chicago runs. Jim Hickman had an RBI triple in the 2nd inning.
Cubs 5, Pirates 2. W: Jenkins (9-5) L: Veale (4-8)
***
The Mets blew a 5-0 lead as Philadelphia fought back to win in 10 innings. Cleon Jones and Al Weis both knocked in 2 runs to put New York out in front, but neither Nolan Ryan nor the Mets bullpen could protect the lead.
Phillies 6, Mets 5 (10 inn.) W: Wilson (2-2) L: Taylor (3-2) SV: Boozer (3)
Team Name W L T PCT GB Chicago Cubs 45 25 1 .643 - New York Mets 38 29 0 .567 5.5
METS MOUND MASTERS SWEEP PHILS, SANTO’S HR PLATES 3 IN CUBS WIN
Tuesday, June 23, 1969
Tom Seaver gave up just one run, on a solo shot by Larry Hisle, through nine innings in pitching the Mets to a 2-1 win in game one of a doubleheader at Shea. Bud Harrelson accounted for both Met runs when he tripled in Al Weis in the 3rd inning and then scored on Cleon Jones’s single. Woody Fryman struck out 10 New York batters but still took the loss.
Jim McAndrew took the baton in the second game and earned his first win of the year by pitching eight shutout innings for New York. Tommie Agee led a 9-hit Mets attack with a home run and two singles.
Mets 2, Phillies 1 (1). W: Seaver (11-3) L: Fryman (6-4)
Mets 5, Phillies 0 (2). W: McAndrew (1-2) L: J. Johnson (3-7) SV: Taylor (6)
***
Ron Santo’s 3-run blast powered the Cubs over Jim Bunning and the Pirates at Wrigley. Bill Hands went the distance to improve his record to 7-6.
Cubs 3, Pirates 2. W: Hands (7-6) L: Bunning (6-5)
NL EAST
Team Name W L T PCT GB
Chicago Cubs 44 25 1 .638 -
New York Mets 38 28 0 .576 4.5