First, if someone had said that New York’s top two hitters from their everyday lineup, leadoff man Tommie Agee and third-spot slugger Cleon Jones, would hit a combined .162 (6 for 37) in the series – and that Art Shamsky, the only other Met (aside from Jones) to post a .300 average in the regular season, would be hitless in 6 at-bats in the World Series after hitting .538 against the Braves in the NLCS - one might have thought Baltimore had swept the series. 

So how did the Mets win?  Simple: pitching.  True, New York had a less than amazin’ .220 team average in the series, but their pitching staff held the O’s to an anemic .146 team mark in the five games. After scoring 4 runs off Tom Seaver in Game One, the AL champs scored just 5 runs over the final 4 games.  Jerry Koosman, the team’s second best hurler in the regular season, was its best in the series with a 2-0 record and a 2.04 ERA in 17 2/3 innings. With Koosman’s two wins bookending Gary Gentry’s 6 2/3 scoreless innings in Game Three and Seaver’s 10-inning masterpiece in Game Four, New York subdued the Birds by holding them to just 4 extra-base hits across the 5 games. Out of the bullpen, Ron Taylor, Nolan Ryan, and Don Cardwell threw 5 2/3 innings without allowing a run.

The top two men in the Baltimore lineup, Paul Blair and Don Buford, had just 4 hits in 40 at-bats. Boog Powell led the Orioles with a .263 average but had no home runs or RBI.

Meanwhile, the Mets got enough offense from two members of their right-handed platoon lineup - one expected and one unexpected. Seeing the majority of the action at their positions with southpaws Mike Cuellar and Dave McNally starting 2 games aipiece for the O’s, cleanup hitter Donn Clendenon hit .357 with 3 home runs, and eighth-place hitter Al Weis opened eyes with 5 hits in 11 at-bats (.455) including the game-winning RBI in Game Two and a game-tying home run in Game Five. As they had throughout their 100-win campaign, the 1969 Amazin; Mets used timely hitting and dominant pitching to bring a happy end to a miracle season.

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At the end of a season that began so promisingly, the Cubs saved a little face with a win against the Mets at Wrigley in the regular season finale for both teams.

New York jumped out to two runs in the first, both on a single by Ken Boswell. Gary Gentry, the team’s projected no. 3 starter for the playoffs, gave up one run in a four-inning tuneup.  Don Cardwell took the loss, giving up four runs in two innings. Ernie Banks had a triple, home run, and three RBI for the Cubs. Ron Santo also homered. Bill Hands allowed three runs in five innings before rookie Joe Decker came on to earn his first Major League win with four scoreless innings in relief.  Chicago won despite committing four errors in the field.

Recapping from 1969: The Year Everything Changed:

During the season finale on October 2, one member of the Bleacher Bums tossed a smoke bomb onto the field near Cleon Jones that sent a stream of red smoke wafting into the air. Later, a procession of Bums left their seats, made their way past the Wrigley Field ushers, and found their way down to the top of the home and visitor dugouts, where they tried to take over the show. They eventually returned to the left-field stands, and after the last out of a meaningless win, they climbed over the ivy-covered outfield wall and jumped onto the field. Some ran around the infield and slid into bases, urged on by civilian base coaches. In the ugliness, one girl severely hurt her back and was taken to the hospital, and another girl suffered an ankle injury. Amid the commotion, the park’s organist mockingly played “Happy Days Are Here Again.” The season had come to a bitter conclusion. As one player had said before the final game, “This is just like the last day of school. I can hardly wait for it to end.”

Cleon Jones went 2 for 5 and finished third in the National League with a .340 average. Pete Rose won the batting title with a .348 mark, and Roberto Clemente finished strong at .345. Next up for Jones and the Mets: Game One of the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday, October 4.

Cubs 5, Mets 3.  W: Decker (1-0)  L: Cardwell (8-10)

FINAL NL EAST STANDINGS          W    L    T   PCT    GB    RS   RA
New York Mets                  100   62    0  .617     -   632  541
Chicago Cubs                    92   70    1  .568   8.0   720  611
Pittsburgh Pirates              88   74    0  .543  12.0   725  652
St. Louis Cardinals             87   75    0  .537  13.0   595  540
Philadelphia Phillies           63   99    0  .389  37.0   645  745
Montreal Expos                  52  110    0  .321  48.0   582  791

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The Mets rebounded after getting no-hit the day before to sweep a Sunday doubleheader at Shea and take a big step toward claiming the National League Eastern Division title.  Jerry Koosman and Don Cardwell gave the New York bullpen the day off by each going nine full innings.  Art Shamsky went a combined 4 for 7 with a home run, 4 runs scored, a two RBI; and Ken Boswell went 3 for 6 on the day. 

The Mets’ magic number is now 4. 

Mets 5, Pirates 3 (1).  W: Koosman (16-9)  L: Ellis (10-17)

Mets 6, Pirates 1 (2).  W: Cardwell (8-9)  L: Blass (15-10)

Fergie Jenkins has been a workhorse for the Cubs in ‘69, and on Sunday he threw his 22nd complete game and collected his 21nd win. Reserve shortstop Paul Popovich went an impressive 3 for 3 and scored twice, and Randy Hundley hit a two-run shot for Chicago.

Cubs 4, Cardinals 3.  W: Jenkins (21-14)  L: Taylor (7-5)

***

NL EAST                             W    L    T   PCT    GB   M# 
New York Mets                   93   61    0  .604     -      4 
Chicago Cubs                    89   66    1  .574   4.5    -

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Jerry Koosman and Don Cardwell were a pair of one-act men for the Mets in Pittsburgh.

Koosman tossed a three-hit shutout in game one of a doubleheader at Forbes Field and also chipped in with an RBI single in the fifth inning to score the only run of the game.

Not to be outdone, Cardwell threw eight shutout innings in the nightcap and also produced the only run of the game with his second inning single to drive in Bud Harrelson. Cardwell got out of a jam in the eighth, after his wild pitch moved the potential tying run to third, by striking out pinch-hitters Jose Pagan and Roberto Clemente. Tug McGraw then came on to pitch a scoreless ninth and preserve the doubleheader sweep.

The first-place Mets have now won nine games in a row. 

Mets 1, Pirates 0 (1).  W: Koosman (14-9) L: Moose (10-3)

Mets 1, Pirates 0 (2). W: Cardwell (7-9)  L: Ellis (9-16)  SV: McGraw (12)

After giving up a single run in the first inning, Chicago’s Bill Hands settled in and held the Cardinals scoreless the rest of the way at Busch Stadium. Ernie Banks led the comeback charge for the Cubs with an RBI single in the seventh and a bases-loaded double in the eighth.

The win broke Chicago’s eight-game losing streak 

Cubs 5, Cardinals 1.  W: Hands (17-13)  L: Taylor (7-3)

NL EAST STANDINGS

                                          W    L    T   PCT    GB  
New York Mets              87   57    0  .604     -  
Chicago Cubs               85   60    1  .586   2.5

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The Pirates manhandled Fergie Jenkins en route to a 19-hit attack and a second straight rout of the Cubs at Wrigley. Jenkins lasted just 2 1/3 innings, allowing 8 hits and 6 runs. Don Nottebart fared even worse in relief, getting touched for 3 runs while retiring just one batter. Ted Abernathy also gave up 4 runs in 3 innings of work. Matty Alou, Gene Alley and Al Oliver each had 3 RBI, and Carl Taylor went 4 for 5 with 2 RBI for Pittsburgh. Bobby Veale, meanwhile, pitched a complete game and struck out 10 Cubs.

Pirates 13, Cubs 4.  W: Veale (17-11)  L: Jenkins (19-12) 

Don Cardwell and Tug McGraw combined on a shutout of the Philadelphia Phillies at Shea. Eighth-place hitter Bud Harrelson was  for 3 and scored twice and Jerry Grote homered for the Mets.

Mets 3, Phillies 0.  W: Cardwell (6-9)  L: Johnson (6-12)  SV: McGraw (11)

***

NL EAST STANDINGS

                                            W    L    T   PCT    GB   

Chicago Cubs                  84   55    1  .604     -  
New York Mets                79   57    0  .581   3.5  

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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

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The Mets put up 6 runs in the first two innings and held on for a 9-5 win to take a second series from the Chicago Cubs this month.

New York jumped early on starter Fergie Jenkins, who allowed three straight hits to start the game. Jenkins was charged with 5 runs in just 1 inning of work.

Staked to an early lead, though, ex-Cubs starter Don Cardwell was unable to make it out of the second innings for the Mets. Chicago drew to within 6-5 after 3 innings, but New York’s Cal Koonce righted the ship with 5 scoreless innings in relief, and Ron Taylor added 2 of his own to finish out the game and the series at Wrigley.

Art Shamsky went 3 for 5 with 2 RBI, Tommie Agee had a double and home run, and Cleon Jones went 2 for 5 and scored three times. J.C. Martin has 2 hits and 2 RBI, and Ken Boswell also had 2 hits and an RBI.

The win pulled the Mets back to within 3.5 games of the first-place Cubs.

Mets 9, Cubs 5.  W: Koonce (4-3)  L: Jenkins (12-7)  SV: Taylor (9)

***

Team Name                        W    L    T   PCT    GB
Chicago Cubs                    57   36    1  .613     -
New York Mets                   51   37    0  .580   3.5

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The Mets opened up the fireworks for a doubleheader at Forbes Field.  Al Weis went 5 for 9 on the day with 5 RBI, and Tommie Agee went 5 for 10 with a home run and 5 RBI.  Cleon Jones went 3 for 6 in the first game and Art Shamsky went 3 for 4 in the second.

Mets 11, Pirates 6 (1).  W: Seaver (13-3)  L: Veale (4-10)  SV: Koonce (5)

Mets 9, Pirates 2 (2).  W: Cardwell (3-8)  L: Ellis (4-9)  SV: DiLauro (1)

***

Fergie Jenkins and Bob Gibson staged an amazing pitcher’s duel in St. Louis as both men pitched into the 10th inning having given up just a single run. But Gibson faltered in the 10th, when Don Kessinger, who went 3 for 5, led off with a single, stole second, and scored after Glenn Beckert’s single and Billy Williams’s double. Ron Santo then singled in Beckert. Jenkins pitched a clean 10th for the complete-game, extra-inning win, striking out 10 on the day.  Gibson K’d 9 Chicago batters.

Cubs 3, Cardinals 1 (10 inn.)  W: Jenkins (11-5)  L: Gibson (10-6)

Team Name                        W    L    T   PCT    GB   
Chicago Cubs                    52   28    1  .650     -  
New York Mets                   44   34    0  .564   7.0

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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)

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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)

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