RobKirkpatrick.com

Here are the rules:

1. Assign a team/franchise to the position where it’s placed stars (HOFers, MVPs, All-Stars & Cy Youngs) throughout its history.

2. Use each team/franchise just once.

3. Arrange the franchise positions into a batting order based on each’s composite offensive skills.

1. SS Pittsburgh Pirates (Vaughn, Wagner, Groat)

2. 2B St. Louis Cardinals (Hornsby, Schoendienst, Herr)

3. LF Boston Red Sox (Williams, Yaz, Rice, Ramirez)

4. CF New York Yankees (Combs, DiMaggio, Mantle)

5. 1B NY/San Francisco Giants (Terry, Mize, McCovey, Clark)

6. 3B Boston/Milw./Atl. Braves (Matthews, Pendleton, Jones)

7. RF Detroit Tigers (Heilmann, Kaline, Gibson)

8. C Cincinnati Reds (Lombardi, Bench)

9. SP Brooklyn/LA Dodgers (Roe, Drysdale, Koufax, Sutton, Valenzuela, Hershiser)

RP Phila./Oakland A’s (Fingers, Eckersley, Street)

Have a better lineup?  Send it to me!

Tuesday, September 2, 1969

The Chicago Cubs completed one win and then won a complete game.

The June 15 game at Crosley Field between the Reds and Cubs had been suspended after 7 innings with the Cubs leading 5-4.  The game was resumed today in Cincinnati, and Ken Johnson kept things status quo by pitching two shutout innings. Paul Popvich’s home run and three RBI back in June proved to be the difference.

For the day’s originally scheduled game, Fergie Jenkins gave up two runs and struck out seven in nine full innings. Don Kessinger doubled and homered, and both Glenn Beckert and rookie Oscar Gamble had two hits and three RBI. Pete Rose was 3 for 4 for Cincinnati. The two official wins on the day increased Chicago’s division lead to five full games.

Cubs 6, Reds 5 (1).  W: Nye (3-5) L: Arrigo (2-6) SV: Johnson (2)

Cubs 8, Reds 2 (2).  W: Jenkins (19-11)  L: Cloninger (9-15)

The Mets built a lead against the host Dodgers thanks to two home runs by slugger Don Clendenon and three hits from Ken Boswell.  New York starter Gary Gentry lasted into the ninth, when Los Angeles mounted a comeback that fell one run short when Tug McGraw came on to strike out Willie Davis with men on first and third.

Mets 5, Dodgers 4.  W: Gentry (10-11)  L: Sutton (15-13)  SV: McGraw (10)

***

NL EAST STANDINGS

                                              W    L    T   PCT    GB  
Chicago Cubs                    84   52    1  .618     - 
New York Mets                  77   55    0  .583   5.0 

Monday, September 1, 1969

Jerry Koosman just didn’t have it today. Staked to a 2-0 lead, he was charged with 4 runs in just 1/3 of an inning in Los Angeles. Gil Hodges went quickly to the bullpen for Cal Koonce, who lasted 5 2/3 but allowed 10 hits and 5 runs of his own. Andy Kosco went 4 for 4 with a triple, double, and 3 RBI for the Dodgers. Tommie Agee also went 4 for 4 and hit his 23rd home run of the season for the Mets.

Dodgers 1o, Mets 6.  W: Bunning (12-9)  L: Koosman (12-9)  SV: Mikkelsen (4)

***

NL EAST STANDINGS

                                                W    L    T   PCT    GB  
Chicago Cubs                    82   52    1  .612     -  
New York Mets                  76   55    0  .580   4.5

Sunday, August 24, 1969

The Cubs won a slugfest that featured 29 combined hits in Game One.  Chicago struck for 3 in the 7th and 4 in the 8th. Ernie Banks had 3 hits and 3 RBI, Billy Williams had a single, double, and triple, and Jim Hickman hit his third home run in two days. Ron Santo also had three hits and scored thrice.

The Cubs started strong with 2 runs in the first inning of the nightcap, but Houston starter Don Wilson hung on to get the win.

Cubs 10, Astros 9 (1).  W: Regan (12-5)  L: Gladding (2-5)  SV: Aguirre (1)

Astros 3, Cubs 2 (2).  W: Wilson (16-8)  L: Johnson (0-2)

***

Ron Swoboda’s three-run double lead the comeback charge for the Mets, as they scored 4 in the 7th and downed the Dodgers at Shea.

Mets 7, Dodgers 4.  W: Koonce (6-3)  L: Sutton (15-12)

NL EAST STANDINGS

Team                             W    L    T   PCT    GB 
Chicago Cubs                    78   49    1  .614     -  
New York Mets                   71   52    0  .577   5.0 

Saturday, August 23, 1969

Jerry Grote went 3 for 4 with 2 RBI on the day, including the game-winning double in the bottom of the ninth to defeat the Dodgers. Don Cardwell pitched well (1 ER in 7 1/3 IP) as did Jim Bunning (2 ER in 7 IP) before they turned the game over to the bullpens.

Mets 3, Dodgers 2.  W: Taylor (7-4)  L: Brewer (4-6)

 Jim Hickman struck two home runs and five RBI, and Ron Santo and Ernie Banks combined for two HR and 5 RBI as the Cubs blasted the Astros.

Cubs 11, Astros 5.  W: Holtzman (15-7)  L: Gladding (2-4)

Team                             W    L    T   PCT    GB  
Chicago Cubs                    77   48    1  .616     -  
New York Mets                   70   52    0  .574   5.5 

Friday, August 22, 1969

The Mets gave Jerry Koosman an early 4-0 lead over the Dodgers and he made it hold up. Koosman pitched to Los Angeles bats, allowing 10 hits but no walks. Tug McGraw came on to tally three scoreless innings in relief.  Ron Swoboda knocked a two-run homer, Tommie Agee had two hits and scored twice, and Cleon Jones had two hits and an RBI.

Mets 5, Dodgers 3.  W: Koosman (11-8)  L: Singer (15-8)  SV: McGraw (9)

Doug Rader’s 3 hits and Jesus Alou’s 3 RBI lead the visiting Astros to a rout of the Chicago Cubs. Phil Regan failed to keep things close, as the reliever allowed 4 runs in just 1 inning of work.

Astros 8, Cubs 2.  W: Dierker (16-9)  L: Selma (12-5)

Team                             W    L    T   PCT    GB    RS   RA
Chicago Cubs                    76   48    1  .613     -   568  429
New York Mets                   69   52    0  .570   5.5   473  440

Sunday, August 10, 1969

Team                             W    L    T   PCT    GB   
Chicago Cubs                    71   43    1  .623     -  
New York Mets                   62   48    0  .564   7.0  
St. Louis Cardinals             63   51    0  .553   8.0 

Tommie Agee and Wayne Garrett continued their hot hitting and the Mets continued their dominance of the Braves.

Agee had two doubles and a home run, and Garrett went 2 for 4. Nolan Ryan left with an injury after 2 1/3, giving way to Don Cardwell, who went 4 innings. Tug McGraw then finished the game, preserving the shutout.  New York has taken six of its last seven games against Atlanta. 

Mets 3, Braves 0.  W: Cardwell (4-9)  L: Britton (6-3)  SV: McGraw (7) 

***

Don Sutton got the better of Ken Holtzman in Los Angeles. Dodgers leadoff man Ted Sizemore went 3 for 4 and scored twice. Randy Hundley went 2 for 4 with a run and RBI for the Cubs.

Dodgers 4, Cubs 2.  W: Sutton (14-11)  L: Holtzman (13-6)  SV: Mikkelsen (2)

Saturday, August 9, 1969

Tommie Agee went 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored and an RBI, and Wayne Garrett drove in two as the Mets continued their mastery of the Atlanta Braves. Bobby Pfeil and Cleon Jones also added 2 hits each.  Tom Seaver went 7 1/3 for the win, while his counterpart Pat Jarvis exited early after allowing 3 runs on 6 hits in just 2 1/3 innings.

Mets 5, Braves 3.  W: Seaver (16-7)  L: Stone (9-8)  SV: Koonce (7) 

***

Jim Hickman had two home runs and a double as Bill Hands shut out the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0.  Randy Hundley also homered.

Cubs 4, Dodgers 0.  W: Hands (14-8)  L: Foster (3-7)

Team Name                        W    L    T   PCT    GB  
Chicago Cubs                    70   42    1  .625     -  
New York Mets                   60   48    0  .556   8.0  
St. Louis Cardinals            61   51    0  .545   9.0  

Friday, August 8, 1969

The Mets split a doubleheader in Atlanta. In the first game, Cleon Jones doubled in the go-ahead run in the ninth and singles from Don Clendenon and J.C. Martin plated insurance runs; Jerry Koosman pitched a complete game. In the second, both lineups seemed tired as neither team scored in the first nine innings. Ron Reed bested Gary Gentry’s nine shutout innings with ten of his own. In the bottom of the tenth, Clete Boyer led off with a single off Ron Taylor and scored on a single from Felipe Alou.

Mets 4, Braves 1 (1).  W: Koosman (9-7)  L: Pappas (5-9)

Braves 1, Mets o (2, 10 inn.). W: Reed (10-8)  L: Taylor (6-3)

The Dodgers’s Bill Singer two-hit the Cubs in a series opener in Los Angeles. Fergie Jenkins gave up 4 runs (1 unearned) in 5 innings of work.

Dodgers 5, Cubs 0.  W: Singer (14-7)  L: Jenkins (15-10)

Thursday, August 7, 1969

Both the Mets and Cubs had off.

Wednesday, August 6, 1969

The Mets scored 2 runs in the first but went scoreless the rest of the game as the host Reds won 3-2. Ron Swoboda had 3 of the team’s 10 hits.  Jim Merritt settled down after the opening frame and went the distance for the win.

Reds 3, Mets 2.  W: Merritt (11-5)  L: McAndrew (3-4)

Don Kessinger singled to drive in Jim Hickman with the tying run, and Jimmy Wynn’s error allowed Nate Oliver to score the go-ahead run on the play, as well. Rich Nye made a spot start and got the win desite giving up 4 runs in 6 innings.  Dick Selma went 3 innings to finish out the game.

Cubs 5, Astros 4.  W: Nye (3-5)  L: Billingham (4-6)  SV: Selma (1)

Sunday, July 27, 1969

Dodgers 6, Cubs 2.  W: Drysdale (5-3)  L: Jenkins (13-9)  SV: Mikkelsen (1)

Jenkins comes back on one day’s rest, gives up 10 hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Reds 6, Mets 3.  W: Arrigo (1-2)  L: Cardwell (3-9)  SV: Granger (13)

Bobby Tolan and Tony Perez each drive in 2.

Team Name                        W    L    T   PCT    GB 
Chicago Cubs                    61   39    1  .610     -  

New York Mets                   55   41    0  .573   4.0  

Saturday, July 26, 1969

Cubs 3, Dodgers 2 (11 inn.)  W: Regan (11-5)  L: Brewer (3-4)

Billy Williams doubles and scores on Randy Hundley’s single for the game winner.

Mets 3, Reds 2.  W: Seaver (15-5)  L: Cloninger (7-13)

Seaver strikes out 8 in a complete-game victory. Agee’s single drives in 2 in the 5th.

Friday, July 25, 1969

Dodgers 4, Cubs 2.  W: Osteen (13-8)  L: Jenkins (13-8)  SV: Brewer (16)

The two teams combine for 25 hits. Jenkins leaves early after being hit in the hand by a line drive.

Mets 4, Reds 3.  W: Taylor (5-2)  L: Carroll (12-5)

J.C. Martin hits a 2-run shot as Mets rally for 3 in the 8th. 

Thursday, July 24, 1969

Cubs 5, Dodgers 3.  W: Holtzman (12-5)  L: Sutton (12-10)  SV: Regan (10)

Two RBIs from both Al Spangler and Randy Hundley.

Reds 4, Mets 3 (12 inn.).  W: P. Ramos (4-3)  L: McGraw (5-2)

Tony Perez homered in the top of the 12th.

Sunday, June 15, 1969

Don Drysdale and the Dodgers were one better than Jack DiLauro and the Mets.

In just his second start, the rookie DiLauro gave up 3 runs in 6 innings. Tommie Agee went 3 for 4 and scored once for the Mets, but seven-time All-Star Drysdale and reliever Jim Brewer held the Mets to just 2 runs in the game.

Dodgers 3, Mets 2  W: Drysdale (2-2)  L: DiLauro (0-1)  SV: Brewer (7)

***

The Cubs got one ‘F’ and one ‘incomplete.’

In the opener of a doubleheader in Cincinnati, the Reds and Cubs played another eventful contest. Ron Santo had 3 hits, including his 12th home run of the season, and Don Kessinger had his 7th and 8th hits of the series. But Tony Perez went 4-for-4 with a 2-run shot, also his 12th of the season, and Johnny Bench scored 3 times to lead Cincinnati to a 7-6 win.  Bobby Tolan’s single scored Jimmy Stewart with the winning run in the bottom of the 9th.

In the second game, second baseman Paul Popovich had 2 hits and 3 RBI, pacing the Cubs to a 5-4 lead after seven innings. Afer the Reds scored 3 runs in the bottom of the inning make it a one-run game, the game was suspended. (It would be completed on September 2.)

Reds 7, Cubs 6 (1) W: Carroll (8-3)  L: Regan (7-4)

Reds 5, Cubs 4 (2) Game suspended after 7 innings.