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Ecology Flag designed by underground artist Ron Cobb in 1969

Tomorrow is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, and as the following link reminds us, the day was inspired in part by the infamous Cuyahoga River fire on June 23, 1969:

http://whoknew.news.yahoo.com/?vid=18555867

I discuss the Cuyahoga fire in my “Green Mind” chapter in 1969: The Year Everything Changed, along with the Santa Barbara Oil slick from ‘69, the People’s Park riots, and the beginnings of Earth Day–or, I should say, Earth Days, as the phrase was applied to two different dates and celebrations.  The first one took place on March 21, 1970, organized by faith-based activist and pacifist John McConnell as a regional event in San Francisco to be held on the spring solstice, and to draw attention to the need for peace and environmental balance.  Wisconsin senator Gaylord Nelson prompted a nationwide “teach-in” day on the environment for April 22. Nelson said later, “John McConnell may have used the phrase Earth Day before we did, [but] ours was a political exercise. His was a peace exercise.” 

John McConnell's Earth Flag from the early 1970s, featuring the "Big Blue Marble" photo taken during Apollo 17.

McConnell, who also designed the Earth Flag (left) said decades later, “The most damaging lie about the environment is that statement that ‘Earth Day is April 22.’” But the April date is the one that has grown into an international celebration.

You can read more about the international Earth Day by clicking on the following links:

http://www.earthday.net/node/77

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Day

Monday, September 22, 1969

Is there any better pitcher on the planet right now than Tom Seaver?

Working on three days’ rest, the man they call The Franchise notched his seventh victory in seven starts - all complete games – and his ninth in his last nine decisions.  Seaver allowed just one run on four hits to the visiting St. Louis Cardinals, and he also drove in a run with his seventh-inning single.  Art Shamsky had an RBI single and Jerry Grote went 2 for 3 for New York.

With the Cubs idle on Monday, the Mets’ magic number for clinching the division is down to 2. 

Mets 3, Cardinals 1.  W: Seaver (24-7)  L: Briles (15-13)

NL EAST                               W    L    T   PCT    GB    M#
New York Mets                   94   61    0  .606     -     3
Chicago Cubs                     89   66    1  .574   5.0    -

BONUS GAME

The Minnesota Twins claimed the crown in the American League West with a 4-3 victory over the Royals in Kansas City. Leadoff man Cesar Tovar went 3 for 5 and drove in two runs. Veteran hurler Bob Miller carried a three-run lead into the ninth, but an Ed Kirkpatrick single and a double from Lou Piniella brought the tying run to bat with no outs. On came reliever Al Worthington, who got Joe Foy on a fly to center for out number one. Jerry Adair and Buck Martinez punched one safely into rightfield, but a quick-thinking Tony Olivia fired to second to nab pinch-runner Scott Northey. Worthington then got Paul Schaal to ground to first base for the final out.

Twins 4, Royals 3.  W: Miller (5-4)  L: Rooker (4-15)

Elsewhere in the majors, the Baltimore Orioles have clinched the American League East and the San Francisco Giants hold a slim half-game lead over the Atlanta Braves in the National League West.

AL WEST                          W    L    T   PCT    GB
Minnesota Twins                 92   61    0  .601     -
Oakland Athletics               81   71    0  .533  10.5
California Angels               68   85    1  .444  24.0
Chicago White Sox               64   88    0  .421  27.5
Kansas City Royals              64   89    1  .418  28.0
Seattle Pilots                  60   93    1  .392  32.0

Friday, August 15, 1969

Giants ace Juan Marichal dominated the Chicago in San Francisco. The high-kickin’ righty struck out nine Cubs while allowing just four hits and no runs in nine full frames. Dick Dietz hit a two-run homer off Ken Holtzman in the sixth, and Willie Mays added a solo shot off Phil Regan in the eighth.  Glenn Beckert was two for four in the loss.

Giants 3, Cubs 0.  W: Marichal (14-8)  L: Holtzman (13-7)

NL EAST STANDINGS

Team                             W    L    T   PCT    GB  
Chicago Cubs                    73   44    1  .624     -  
St. Louis Cardinals             65   53    0  .551   8.5  
New York Mets                   62   51    0  .549   9.0  
Pittsburgh Pirates              60   55    0  .522  12.0  
Philadelphia Phillies           47   69    0  .405  25.5  
Montreal Expos                  38   81    0  .319  36.0