RobKirkpatrick.com

I’ll have to do a follow-up post to my piece on the Jay Cutler trade, but in the meantime, here’s the Denver Post article on last night’s preseason matchup between Jay Cutler’s Chicago Bears and the Denver Broncos, now helmed by Kyle Orton.

Remember, this is the quarterback that first-year coach Josh McDaniels wanted to trade as his first order of business with his new team…

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_13235534

Sunday, August 31, 1969

The Cubs completed a series sweep of the Braves as both teams combined for 22 hits on Sunday. Glenn Beckert went 4 for 5, Billy Williams had a 3-run homer, and winning pitcher Ken Holtzman rapped a 2-run homer and an RBI single to lead Chicago’s charge.

Cubs 8, Braves 4.  W: Holtzman (16-8)  L: Niekro (18-12)

The Mets split a doubleheader at Candlestick. Tom Seaver cruised in game one, shutting out the Giants. Ron Swoboda and Jerry Grote each drove in two runs in a five-run 4th. Bud Harrelson and Rod Gaspar both had two hits, and Al Weis drove in a pair.

In game two, the Mets tied it with two runs in the 7th but then lost when Ron Taylor walked Dave Marshall with the bases loaded in the 11th. Jim McAndrew started and gave up just two runs in nine innings pitched.

Mets 8, Giants 0 (1). W: Seaver (19-7)  L: McCormick (9-8)

Giants 3, Mets 2 (2, 11 inn.). W: Linzy (13-6)  L: McGraw (7-3)

NL EAST                          W    L    T   PCT    GB  
Chicago Cubs                   82   52    1  .612     -  
New York Mets                  76   54    0  .585   4.0

Saturday, August 30, 1969

The Cubs held on to take a second game of a weekend series in Atlanta. Handed a 3-0 lead, Chicago starter Dick Selma got just two outs and gave up two runs before Leo Durocher pulled him in favor of Ken Johnson. The veteran Johnson earned his first win of the season by going 5 1/3 before handing things over to Phil Regan. Don Kessinger and Billy Williams had two hits, one run, and one RBI apiece, and Ernie Banks struck a two-run homer, his 21st of the season.

Cubs 5, Braves 4.  W: Johnson (1-2)  L: Reed (13-9)  SV: Regan (15)

Don Clendenon hit a 10th-inning home run off Gaylord Perry and Tug McGraw finished off the game with two scoreless frames to put the Mets over the Giants.  Ken Boswell had three hits and scored twice for New York, who got 7 1/3 strong innings from starter Don Cardwell.

Mets 3, Giants 2.  W: McGraw (7-2)  L: Perry (16-11)

NL EAST                          W    L    T   PCT    GB   
Chicago Cubs                    81   52    1  .609     -  
New York Mets                   75   53    0  .586   3.5

Friday, August 29, 1969

Bill Hands outdueled Pat Jarvis in Atlanta to give the Cubs their second consecutive win. Don Kessinger went 3 for 4 and scored once, Ron Santo went 2 for 4, and Jim Hickman hit his 17th home run of the year.

Cubs 2, Braves 1.  W: Hands (16-11) L: Jarvis (10-9)

Gary Gentry got off to a rough start in San Francisco and gave up four runs in the first inning, including three on a home run by Bobby Bonds. His counterpart, Juan Marichal, dominated the Mets in yielding just four hits while striking out seven. Bobby Pfeil was 2 for 4 for New York.

Giants 5, Mets 0.  W: Marichal (16-9)  L: Gentry (9-11)

NL EAST                          W    L    T   PCT    GB    RS   RA
Chicago Cubs                    80   52    1  .606     -   614  471
New York Mets                   74   53    0  .583   3.5   498  456

Thursday, August 28, 1969

Billy Williams went 2 for 3 with a home run and both Glenn Beckert and Ron Santo had two hits as the Cubs snapped their losing streak by beating the Reds.  Fergie Jenkins was dominant, striking out eight while allowing just five baserunners, all on singles.

Cubs 3, Reds 1.  W: Jenkins (18-11)  L: Arrigo (2-6)

NL EAST                          W    L    T   PCT    GB   
Chicago Cubs                    79   52    1  .603     -  
New York Mets                   74   52    0  .587   2.5  

This summer’s B&N promotion was quite successful for 1969: The Year Everything Changed, and BookScan numbers are closing in on the goal I’d set for the book.  It’s not too late to celebrate the 40th anniversary of this wild year!  (Visit the BOOKS page, top right, and click on the direct link to 1969 at your online bookstore of choice.) 

“Kirkpatrick makes a good case that it was a year of ‘landmark achievements, cataclysmic episodes and generation-defining events.” – USA Today

“A riveting look at a pivotal year.” – Booklist

“In this compelling account, Kirkpatrick treats the tumultuous events of 1969 with the skills of a journalist, a historian, a sociologist, and a sportswriter and manages to insert moments of lightness and triviality into his grand tour.” – Library Journal

“A compelling account of the historic year.” – History Channel Magazine Club

“What a year!  [A] fast-paced, readable book.” – Rutgers Magazine

“Kirkpatrick weaves an astonishing tale.” – Sean Lahman, author of The Pro Football Historical Abstract

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090827/ap_on_re_eu/eu_netherlands_not_moon_rock