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Catching up on Recreating the Miracle Season, we find the Mets climbing the standings of the National League East at the beginning of the summer of ‘69… 

Sunday, June 22, 1969

The Cubs split a Sunday doubleheader.  Chicago’s 4-run rally in the bottom of the 9th of the first game climaxed in Jim Hickman’s game-winning 2-run homer.

Cubs 7, Expos 6 (1).  W: Selma (7-3)  L: Shaw (1-5)

Expos 5, Cubs 4.  W: Face (4-1)  L: Reynolds (0-1)  SV: McGinn (2)

***

At Shea Stadium, Gary Gentry and Jerry Koosman pitched gems as the Mets limited the Cards to just one run in a doubleheader sweep.

Mets 5, Cards 1 (1)  W: Gentry (7-5)  L: Carlton (7-5)  SV: Koonce (4)

Mets 1, Cards 0 (2)  W: Koosman (5-4)  L: Torrez (1-4)

NL EAST STANDINGS

Team Name                        W    L    T   PCT    GB   
Chicago Cubs                    42   25    1  .627     -  
New York Mets                   36   28    0  .563   4.5 

Saturday, June 21, 1969

The Expos edged the Cubs by one run. Ernie Banks drove in Chicago’s only 2 runs.

Expos 3, Cubs 2.  W: Reed (2-1)  L: Jenkins (8-5)  SV: Shaw (1)

***

Jack DiLauro gave up just 2 runs in 6 innings but Nelson Briles and the Cards prevailed over the Mets.

Cardinals 5, Mets 3.  W: Briles (6-5) L: DiLauro (0-2) 

Friday, June 20, 1969

The Cubs got just 4 hits but won as Bill Hands tossed a 5-hit shutout in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field.

Cubs 2, Expos 0.  W: Hands (6-6)  L: Robertson (1-4)

***

Agee and Boswell both went 2 for 4 as the Mets jumped out to a lead against Bob Gibson and held on for the win.

Mets 4, Cardinals 3.  W: Ryan (3-0)  L: Gibson (9-4)  SV: McGraw (5)

Thursday, June 19, 1969

Art Shamsky homered in the 6th and then again in the 8th, and then Ken Boswell’s 2-out single in the 9th scored the tying and go-ahead runs in a thrilling Mets comeback.

Mets 6, Phillies 5.  W: Taylor (3-1)  L: Raffo (0-2)  SV: McGraw (4)

Wednesday, June 18, 1969

In Pittsburgh, Roberto Clemente answered Ron Santo’s 2-RBI triple in the top of the 8th inning with a 2-run homer in the bottom of the inning. Clemente then doubled and later scored the winning run in the 10th.

Pirates 3, Cubs 2 (10 inn.).  W: Gibbon (2-3)  L: Regan (7-5)

Jerry Koosman evened his record at 4-4 with a 4-hit shutout of the Phils. Agee, Garrett and Jones each had 3 hits for New York.

Mets 2, Phillies 0.  W: Koosman (4-4)  L: Wise (6-6)

Tuesday, June 17, 1969

The Mets split a doubleheader in Philadelphia’s Connie Mack Stadium. In the first game, J.C. Martin singled in Ken Boswell in the 7th for the only run of the game. Gary Gentry pitched a 2-hit shutout, striking out 9.  In the nightcap, the Phillies jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first against Don Cardwell and cruised to a 7-3 win,

Mets 1, Phillies 0 (1)  W: Gentry (6-5)  L: Champion (1-2)

Phillies 7, Mets 3 (2)  W: Cardwell (2-7)  L: Jackson (6-2)

 ***

Meanwhile, the Cubs dropped played a twinbill in Pittsburgh. Fergie Jenkins was the hard-luck loser in the first, striking out 11 but losing 1-0. The bullpen couldn’t hold a lead in the second game, as the Pirates scored 3 runs in the final 2 innings to prevail 4-3.

Pirates 1, Cubs 0 (1).  W: Veale (4-7)  L: Jenkins (8-4)  SV: Dal Canton (3)

Pirates 4, Cubs 3 (2).  W: Blass (7-3)  L: Abernathy (4-1)

Thursday, May 1, 1969

Montreal salvaged the final game of its series with the Mets.

Expos third baseman Coco Laboy hit a sacrifice fly with one out in the bottom of the ninth to beat Don Cardwell and the Mets 3-2.  Montreal’s Roy Face got the win in relief after starter Bill Stoneman allowed 12 Mets to reach base but yielded just 2 runs through 6 2/3 innings.

Cleon Jones continued his torrid hitting for the Mets, going 3 for 3 to raise his average to .432. He also accounted for New York’s only 2 runs. He led off the 2nd with a single and later scored on Jerry Grote’s bases-loaded walk, and Jones followed in the next inning with a home run.

Cardwell pitched decently but gave up home runs to Donn Clendenon and Mack Jones before surrendered the game-winning run in the ninth. The luckless pitcher is now winless in four starts for New York.

Expos 3, Mets 2  W: Face (1-0)  L: Cardwell (0-4)

***

The Cubs were off on Thursday.

NL EAST STANDINGS AFTER MAY 1

Team Name                        W    L   PCT    GB
Chicago Cubs                    16    7  .696     -
Pittsburgh Pirates              13    9  .591   2.5
St. Louis Cardinals             10   12  .455   5.5

New York Mets                    9   12  .429   6.0
Philadelphia Phillies            8   11  .421   6.0
Montreal Expos                   8   13  .381   7.0

RECREATING THE MIRACLE SEASON is a look back at the storied division race between the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets in 1969.  Keep checking back throughout the 2009 season to get the game stories from 40 years ago to the day. This on-going feature is brought to you by the book 1969: The Year Everything Changed, available now from Skyhorse Publishing.

Wednesday, April 30, 1969

Woody Fryman allowed only one run as he dominated the Cubs on Wednesday night in Philadelphia.

Chicago’s Randy Hundley reached base on a hit-by-pitch, advanced to second on a fielder’s choice, moved to third on Don Young’s infield single, and scored on pitcher Bill Hands’s ground ball out. It was the only run the Cubs would score off Fryman through 9 innings. The Phillies, meanwhile, touched Hands for 3 runs on 8 hits in 6 innings. Dick Allen’s RBI double in the 5th put the home team ahead 2-1, and one inning later Mike Ryan added an insurance run with a solo shot.

Phils 3, Cubs 1  W: Fryman (3-1)  L: Hands (3-2) 

***

The Mets seem to enjoy playing the expansion Expos.

Behind the pitching of Tom “The Franchise” Seaver, New York won its fourth of five games against Montreal. Cleon Jones tripled in the 2nd of Mike Wegener and scored on Ed Kranepool’s sac fly. It was the lone run of the game until the catcher and eighth-place hitter John Bateman homered off Seaver in the home half of the 7th. But in the 9th, Rod Gaspar led off with a single and stole second. Ken Boswell followed with a single to put the Mets back up, 2-1. Seaver then put the Expos down 1-2-3 in the 9th to pick up the victory. The win moved New York into third place in the National League East.

Mets 2, Expos 1  W: Seaver (2-2)  L: Wegener (1-1)

NL EAST STANDINGS AFTER APRIL 30

Team Name                        W    L   PCT    GB
Chicago Cubs                    16    7  .696     -
Pittsburgh Pirates              13    8  .619   2.0
New York Mets                    9   11  .450   5.5
St. Louis Cardinals              9   12  .429   6.0
Philadelphia Phillies            8   11  .421   6.0
Montreal Expos                   7   13  .350   7.5

RECREATING THE MIRACLE SEASON is a look back at the storied division race between the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets in 1969.  Keep checking back throughout the 2009 season to get the game stories from 40 years ago to the day. This on-going feature is brought to you by the book 1969: The Year Everything Changed, available now from Skyhorse Publishing.

Tuesday, April 29, 1969

Ed Kranepool enjoyed his first Major League game outside the United States.

The original Mets was responsible for all the scoring in the game at Jarry Park in Montreal. The first baseman belted two home runs, both off starting pitcher Mudcat Grant, to lead New York to victory.  Bud Harrelson and Ron Swoboda also went 2 for 4.

Jerry Koosman started and pitched well but left with an injury with one out in the 5th. Nolan Ryan came on to hold the Expos scoreless the rest of the way while striking out 7.

Mets 2, Expos 0  W: Ryan (2-0)  L: Grant (1-2)

***

The Cubs exploded for 10 runs Tuesday night at Connie Mack Stadium. Leadoff hitter Don Kessinger scored 4 runs and knocked in 2 more, and cleanup hitter Ron Santo had a home run and 4 RBI.

Staff ace Fergie Jenkins held the Phillies gave up only 4 hits, 2 to Dick Allen, and struck out 7 batters in a complete game shutout.

Cubs 10, Phillies 0  W: Jenkins (4-1)  L: Jackson (2-2)

***

NL EAST STANDINGS AFTER APRIL 29

Team Name                        W    L   PCT    GB
Chicago Cubs                    16    6  .727     -
Pittsburgh Pirates              12    7  .632   2.5
New York Mets                    8   11  .421   6.5
St. Louis Cardinals              8   11  .421   6.5
Philadelphia Phillies            7   11  .389   7.0
Montreal Expos                   7   12  .368   7.5

RECREATING THE MIRACLE SEASON is a look back at the storied division race between the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets in 1969.  Keep checking back throughout the 2009 season to get the game stories from 40 years ago to the day. This on-going feature is brought to you by the book 1969: The Year Everything Changed, available now from Skyhorse Publishing.

CUBS SPLIT TWINBILL IN CANADA

Fergie Jenkins struck out 10 Expos in Game One of a doubleheader Sunday at Jarry Park. After 5 innings, the Cubs had touched pitchers Carl Morton and Steve Shea for 6 runs, and Jenkins made the lead stand as he threw a complete game. Ron Santo scored 3 runs and Al Spangler knocked in 3 for Chicago.

In Game Two, Donn Clendenon’s touched Joe Niekro for a 3-run homer in the 1st inning. Second baseman Gary Sutherland collected 3 hits for Montreal, and Coco Laboy tallied 2. Expos rookie Mike Wegener went 7 2/3 innings for the win. 

Cubs 6, Expos 3 (1) W: Jenkins (2-1) L: Morton (0-1)

Expos 4, Cubs 2 (2) W: Wegener (1-0) L: Niekro (0-1) SV: McGinn (1)

***

CATCHER GROTE LIFTS METS OVER CARDS

Mets bats busted out in a big way at Busch Stadium on Sunday.

The Cardinals came out swinging and put up a 3-spot in the first inning off New York starter Jim McAndrew. St. Louis would never score again, but the Mets did. Jerry Grote got his team started with an RBI double in the top of the 2nd. Then in the 5th, his leadoff walk sparked a rally that included a home run from Kevin Collins and 2-run homer from and Ron Swoboda. By the end of the frame, the Amazin’s had batted around and rung up 5 runs off St. Louis starter Nelson Briles. New York scored exploded for 5 more runs in the final three innings. In the 9th, the Mets catcher’s opposite field double with the bases loaded scored all 3 runners.

A Mets lineup that had been sluggish in the early season recorded 14 hits in the game.   Cleon Jones went 3 for 4 and scored 4 runs, Grote was 3 for 4 with 4 RBI, and Ed Kranepool and Swoboda combined for 5 RBI. Fastballer Nolan Ryan came got the win by pitching 4 2/3 scoreless innings in relief.

Mets 11, Cardinals 3  W: Ryan (1-0) L: Briles (0-2) SV: Koonce (3)

NL EAST STANDINGS AFTER APRIL 20

Team Name                        W    L   PCT    GB
CHICAGO CUBS                    11    2  .846     -
Pittsburgh Pirates               8    4  .667   2.5
Montreal Expos                   5    7  .417   5.5
NEW YORK METS                    5    7  .417   5.5
St. Louis Cardinals              4    8  .333   6.5
Philadelphia Phillies            3    8  .273   7.0

This is the latest installment to an the on-going recreation of the storied 1969 division race between the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets, brought to you by 1969: The Year Everything Changed, available now from Skyhorse Publishing. Keep checking back throughout the season for a look back 40 years ago to the day.

WILLIAMS’ RBI BREAKS SCORING DROUGHT IN 12TH

Major League Baseball owners entered the 1969 season hoping the lowered pitching mounds would help increase offense, but today’s game between the Cubs and Expos at Wrigley Field seemed straight out of 1968 and the Year of the Pitcher.

Chicago starter Joe Niekro and Montreal rookie hurler Carl Morton matched each other with 9 shutout innings. The Cubbies threatened in the bottom of the 9th when rightfielder Al Spangler’s sacrifice moved catcher Randy Hundley to second with one out, but Morton struck out Jim Qualls and then induced Willie Smith to ground out. Expos reliever Carroll Sembera and the Cubs’s Ted Abernathy kept the game scoreless into the bottom of the 12th. With two outs, shortstop Don Kessinger walked and stole second. Dan McGuinn came on for Montreal to face leftfielder Billy Williams, and Williams smacked a single into center to drive in Kessinger for the winning run and move Chicago’s record to 4-0.

Cubs 1, Expos 0  W: Abernathy (1-0) L: Sembera (0-1)

***

CLEON PLATES 3 BUT CARDS OUTLAST METS

The defending National League champion St. Louis Cardinals visited the Mets at Shea Stadium, and the two teams combined for 11 runs and 23 hits in a wide-open contest.. Mets pitchers did their job against the two speedsters at the top of the St. Louis lineup, Lou Brock and Curt Flood, who went hitless in 10 at-bats. But the middle of the Cards lineup – rightfielder Vada Pinson, first baseman Joe Torre, and third baseman Mike Shannon – combined for 7 of the team’s 11 hits. Trailing 3-0 in the 6th, the Mets rallied for 2 runs after rightfielder Rod Gaspar, second baseman Ken Boswell, and leftfielder Cleon Jones led off with consecutive singles of Cards starter Steve Carlton. But Koosman gave a run back to St. Louis on Torre’s home run in the 7th. Jones scored on a sacrifice fly from Jerry Grote in the 8th to close the gap to 4-3, but again the Redbirds responded when Shannon struck a 2-run double off Jim McAndrew in the 9th. Jones’s 2-run shot in the bottom of the inning drew the Mets to within one run again, but then reliever Joe Hoerner got third baseman Ed Charles looking to end the game. Gaspar, Boswell, and Jones combined for 8 of New York’s 12 hits and scored all 5 Mets runs in the loss.

Cardinals 6, Mets 5  W: Carlton (1-0) L: Koosman (0-1) SV: Hoerner (1)

NL EAST STANDINGS AFTER APRIL 11, 1969

Team Name                        W    L    PCT     GB
CHICAGO CUBS                     4    0    1.000    -
Pittsburgh Pirates               4    0    1.000    -
NEW YORK METS                    2    2     .500   2.0
Montreal Expos                   1    3     .250   3.0
St. Louis Cardinals              1    3     .250   3.0
Philadelphia Phillies            0    4     .000   4.0

This is the latest installment to an the on-going recreation of the storied 1969 division race between the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets, brought to you by 1969: The Year Everything Changed, available now from Skyhorse Publishing. Keep checking back throughout the season for a look back 40 years ago to the day.

SANTO SOCKS TWO IN SWEEP OF PHILS

Two home runs from third baseman Ron Santo and one from catcher Randy Hundley propelled Chicago to a sweep of Phillies at Wrigley Field. Cubs starter Ken Holtzman battled all day long, scattering 11 hits but allowing only 2 runs in a complete game victory. Philadelphia’s Woody Fryman surrendered 3 earned runs in 5 1/3 innings and picked up the loss. Santo, the Cubs cleanup hitter, went 3 for 4 and scored 3 times, and shortstop Don Kessinger had 2 hits and 2 RBI in the leadoff spot. Phillies third baseman Tony Taylor went 3 for 5 and scored his team’s 2 runs, both knocked in by controversial slugger Dick Allen. Catcher Mike Ryan went 2 for 4 but ended the game on a baserunning blunder when he tried to advance from second to third on Taylor’s grounder to Kessinger, who threw to Santo for the tag out.

Cubs 6, Phillies 2  W: Holtzman (1-0) L: Fryman (0-1)

***

AGEE’S PAIR GIVES ROOKIE GENTRY FIRST WIN

First-inning RBI hits by third baseman Ed Charles and leftfielder Ron Swoboda got the Mets’ scoring started, and centerfielder Tommie Agee added two solo shots off Montreal starter Larry Jaster. In his first start in the Majors, 22-year-old rookie Gary Gentry turned in an impressive debut by giving up just 4 hits and 2 runs over 8 2/3 innings. Things got rocky in the ninth when third baseman Coco Laboy notched his third hit of the game and closed the game to 4-2. Mets manager Gil Hodges pulled the tiring Gentry and brought in Cal Koonce to get the last out of the game. Koonce walked pinch-hitter Manny Mota to load the bases, and up came former Mets outfielder Don Bosch to bat for the pitcher. Bosch connected on one but lined it to Agee, who collected it for the game’s final out. The Shea crowd got a head start on rush-hour traffic with their team having taken two of three from the expansion Expos and sitting one game over .500.

Mets 4, Expos 2  W: Gentry (1-0) L: Jaster (0-1) SV: Koonce (1)

NL EAST STANDINGS AFTER APRIL 10, 1969

Team Name                        W    L    T   PCT    GB
CHICAGO CUBS                     3    0    0 1.000     -
Pittsburgh Pirates               3    0    0 1.000     -
NEW YORK METS                    2    1    0  .667   1.0
Montreal Expos                   1    2    0  .333   2.0
Philadelphia Phillies            0    3    0  .000   3.0
St. Louis Cardinals              0    3    0  .000   3.0

This is the first entry in what will be a season-long recreation of the storied pennant race between the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets in 1969.

Many writers picked the Chicago Cubs as the team with the best chance to unseat defending the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals.  The Cubs opened their 1969 season with a 7-6 win over the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field.  In spring training, future HOFer Ernie Banks had beamed “The Cubs are gonna shine in ‘69!” and the 38-year-old first baseman carried Chicago on his back in this Tuesday afternoon opener with 2 HR and 5 RBI. Fergie Jenkins took a 5-2 lead into the top of the 9th but then surrendered a 3-run homer to Philly shortstop Don Money. The game went into extra innings, and in the 11th Money doubled to knock in his fifth run of the game. But pinch-hitter Willie Smith hit a 2-run, walk-off HR in the bottom of the inning to send the North Side crowd home happy.

Cubs 7, Phillies 6  W: Regan (1-0) L: Lersch (0-1)

***

Meanwhile, the expansion Montreal Expos played their inaugural contest against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium in Flushing, Queens. It was a wild affair, and Expos starter Mudcat Grant lasted only 1 1/3 innings while giving up 6 hits and 3 runs. Tom Seaver, the franchise pitcher for the Mets, also had a rocky start and allowed 9 baserunners and 4 runs – 2 unearned, thanks to a first-inning error by second baseman Ken Boswell – through 5 innings. After Seaver departed, relievers Cal Koonce, Al Jackson (who’d started the very first Mets game back in 1962) and Ron Taylor poured gasoline on the fire by giving up 7 more runs. The Mets staged a 4-run rally in the 9th but came up one run short against an Expos team that belted three home runs, including one from future Mets outfielder Rusty Staub. Centerfielder Tommie Agee and pinch-hitter Duffy Dyer knocked in 3 runs each, and catcher Jerry Grote scored 3 runs in a losing effort.

Expos 11, Mets 10 (11 inn)  W: Shaw (1-0) L: Koonce (0-1) SV: Sembera (1)

NL East Standings after April 8, 1969

Team Name                        W    L    T   PCT    GB
Chicago Cubs                     1    0    0 1.000     -
Montreal Expos                   1    0    0 1.000     -
Pittsburgh Pirates               1    0    0 1.000     -
New York Mets                    0    1    0  .000   1.0
Philadelphia Phillies            0    1    0  .000   1.0
St. Louis Cardinals              0    1    0  .000   1.0