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Thursday, October 2, 1969

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

Thursday, August 18, 1969

Tom Seaver stayed in his groove, going the distance in a five-hit shutout while striking out nine Expos hitters. Ed Kranepool homered and singled to drive in both runs of the game. Seaver has now won eight consecutive games while lowering his season ERA to 2.33.

Mets 2, Expos 0.  W: Seaver (23-7)  L: Stoneman (10-18)

The Cubs strung together 3 runs in the bottom of the seventh to temporarily take the lead, only to see Philadelphia answer back with 3 runs in the top of the eighth off Rich Nye and Phil Regan to regain the lead. Chicago rookie Joe Decker started and gave up two runs in six solid innings.

Phillies 5, Cubs 3. W: Jackson (16-13)  L: Regan (12-6)

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NL EAST                             W    L    T   PCT    GB  
New York Mets                   91   58    0  .611     - 
Chicago Cubs                    87   64    1  .576   5.0