1969 – Denis Menke and Jim Wynn launch grand slams in the same inning as the Astros crush the Mets, 16-3 and 11-5 in a twinbill at Shea Stadium . The double slam was the first National League occurance in 79 years. So hot were Houston’s bats that Larry Dierker took Nolan Ryan deep in the nightcap and Fred Gladding broke an oh-for-the-decade slump with a bloop single for the only hit in his career.
Using five homers, the Braves thrash the Phils, 6 – 3, in the first game of a twinbill. Felipe Alou and Hank Aaron homer and Bob Tillman, hitting .187, hits three in a row. Aaron’s blast is the 537th of his career and moves him past Mickey Mantle on the all-time list. The Phils win the nitecap, 4 – 3. Dick Allen homers in the 2nd inning and follows a Johnny Callison homer in the 8th with his second shot of the game.
On July 29, 1969, Giants slugger Willie McCovey hit his 300th career homer. The homer came in a 4-2 win at Wrigley Field against the Cubs. “Stretch” hit 521 homers in his Hall of Fame career.
On July 28, 1969, Roy Campanella and Stan Musial join the legends of the Hall of Fame when they are inducted during a ceremony in Cooperstown. Catcher Campanella starred for the Brooklyn Dodgers, winning three Most Valuable Player Awards. Musial colleted 3,630 hits in a stellar career that included seven batting titles. Pitchers Stan Coveleski…
Seattle suffers another heartbreaker, losing 5 – 3 to Boston in 20 innings at Sicks Stadium. Joe Lahoud hits a two-run home run in the top of the 20th for Boston, and Tommy Harper matches him in the bottom of the inning for the losers. Jim Lonborg is the winner.
Willie McCovey hits two home runs as the National League beats the American League, 9 – 3, for its 7th straight All-Star Game win, with McCovey named All-Star MVP. Mel Stottlemyre starts for the AL when Denny McLainis late arriving from a dental appointment. An interesting sidelight is provided by Roberto Clemente’s sole turn at bat. He strikes out at the hands of “Sudden” Sam McDowell but, on the way there, one swing of the bat will furnish Larry Dierker’s most vivid memory from the game: “With all of the long balls, the one I remember most was hit by Roberto Clemente. The Great One hit it all the way into the upper deck, but it was foul. I had seen balls hit farther, but I had never seen a ball hit that far to the opposite field!”
On July 20, 1969, 19-year-old left-hander Vida Blue makes his major league debut for the Oakland A’s. Blue gives up a pair of home runs and loses a 7-3 decision to the California Angels. Blue will go on to win 209 games during a 17-year career.
Phillie Dick Allen’s suspension ends, but he incurs a $12,000 fine.
1969 – Back for the first time in over a month after an on-field collision with teammate Hector Torres put him in a hospital, Jesus Alou starts a four-run ninth-inning rally that topples the Reds, 7-4. Alou scores the tying run on a double by Sandy Valdespino then Joe Morgan plates Johnny Edwards with a squeeze bunt for the game-winner.
Gold Glove pitcher Jim Kaat commits three errors but still beats the Twins, 8 – 5.
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