Tom Seaver the franchise
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Tom Seaver’s near perfect game, immortalized as “The Imperfect Game,”

On July 9, 1969, At Shea Stadium in front of record, 59,083 fans 24-year-old Tom Seaver of the New York Mets comes within two outs of pitching a perfect game. Seaver surrenders a bloop single to Jimmy Qualls of the Chicago Cubs, Qualls was hitting 242 at the time. Seaver will settle for a one-hitter,…

Ron Santo rips into CF Don Young for two misplays in the outfield

Ron Santo rips into CF Don Young for two misplays in the outfield

With three runs in the 9th inning, the Mets beat the Cubs, 4 – 3, cutting Chicago’s lead in the National League East to four games. Ron Santo rips into CF Don Young for two misplays in the outfield. Santo will apologize tomorrow for criticizing Young, who left early and doesn’t take the team bus. Santo will get booed in his first game back at Wrigley Field.

Roberto Clemente’s final assault on 436. Roberto revisits the scene of the crime, as it were, recalling his overwhelming 1966 assaults on the once-seemingly-impregnable 436-foot Forbes Field barricade. “Clemente’s third hit of the game will provide conversation for at least the rest of the week,” reports Bill Christine of the Pittsburgh Press. “It went over the gate in right-center field, just to the right of the light standard and the 436-foot mark.” Charley Feeney of the Post Gazette elaborates: “Clemente’s drive, off Bill (No-Hit) Stoneman, carried well over the wall in centerfield. Few hitters have hit a ball out of the ballpark in this sector, which is to the right of dead center between the exit gate and the light stanchion.”

Roberto Clemente’s final assault on 436. Roberto revisits the scene of the crime, as it were, recalling his overwhelming 1966 assaults on the once-seemingly-impregnable 436-foot Forbes Field barricade. “Clemente’s third hit of the game will provide conversation for at least the rest of the week,” reports Bill Christine of the Pittsburgh Press. “It went over the gate in right-center field, just to the right of the light standard and the 436-foot mark.” Charley Feeney of the Post Gazette elaborates: “Clemente’s drive, off Bill (No-Hit) Stoneman, carried well over the wall in centerfield. Few hitters have hit a ball out of the ballpark in this sector, which is to the right of dead center between the exit gate and the light stanchion.”

AL East leader Baltimore breaks a 3-game losing streak as Dave McNally (12-0) wins his 14th straight game, 9 – 3 at Detroit. Detroit OF Mickey Stanley plays his 220th straight errorless game and C Bill Freehan picks Paul Blair off third base unassisted. Blair, on third with a triple, strolls too slowly back to the bag after the bat flies out of the hands of Frank Robinson.

AL East leader Baltimore breaks a 3-game losing streak as Dave McNally (12-0) wins his 14th straight game, 9 – 3 at Detroit. Detroit OF Mickey Stanley plays his 220th straight errorless game and C Bill Freehan picks Paul Blair off third base unassisted. Blair, on third with a triple, strolls too slowly back to the bag after the bat flies out of the hands of Frank Robinson.

At Kansas City’s Municipal Stadium, Bob Oliver becomes the first player in Royals history to hit a grand slam. The center fielder’s eighth-inning blast comes off Jim Bouton of the Pilots in an eventual 13-2 KC victory.

At Kansas City’s Municipal Stadium, Bob Oliver becomes the first player in Royals history to hit a grand slam. The center fielder’s eighth-inning blast comes off Jim Bouton of the Pilots in an eventual 13-2 KC victory.

The Dodgers take first place in the National League West by sweeping a doubleheader against the Braves in Los Angeles, winning 6 – 7 and 7 – 3.

The Dodgers take first place in the National League West by sweeping a doubleheader against the Braves in Los Angeles, winning 6 – 7 and 7 – 3.

At Los Angeles, Lee May hits a 2-run homer in the 11th and the Reds beat the Dodgers, 4 – 3. For May, second in the National League to Willie McCovey (27) in dingers, it is his 23rd homer, matching his birth date and uniform number (his younger brother Carlos May will also have his birth date as his uniform number). Wayne Granger, the third Red pitcher in the 11th, stops the Dodger rally.

On July 3, 1969 At Los Angeles, Lee May hits a 2-run homer in the 11th and the Reds beat the Dodgers, 4 – 3. For May, second in the National League to Willie McCovey (27) in dingers, it is his 23rd homer, matching his birth date and uniform number (his younger brother Carlos May will also have his birth date as his uniform number). Wayne Granger,…

Reggie Jackson Oakland A's

Reggie Jackson Oakland A’s All Star hammers 3 Homeruns vs Seattle Pilots

On July 2, 1969, Reggie Jackson Oakland A’s slugger, hits three homers against the Seattle Pilots. It was Jackson’s eighth multi-homer game of the season, giving him 33 home runs in 71 games. He would finish the season with a career-high 47 homers. All three of Jackson’s home runs are solo shots, 2 coming off…

Reds hurler Gerry Arrigo ties a National League record by hitting three Braves in the 2nd inning of a 9 – 4 Atlanta win. Reds hurlers plunk two more and the Braves set a post-19th century major-league record of five hit batters in one game. It won’t be matched till April 19, 2000.

On July 2, 1969 Reds hurler Gerry Arrigo ties a National League record by hitting three Braves in the 2nd inning of a 9 – 4 Atlanta win. Reds hurlers plunk two more and the Braves set a post-19th century major-league record of five hit batters in one game. It won’t be matched till April 19, 2000.   Source: Baseball Reference July 2