On April 22, 1970, New York Mets ace Tom Seaver ties a major league record by striking out 19 batters in a 2-1 victory over the San Diego Padres. Seaver also strikes out the last 10 batters he faces, setting another big league mark. Earlier in the day, Seaver was officially presented with the 1969 National League Cy Young Award.
Nolan Ryan strikes out 15 batters and pitches a one-hitter as the New York Mets defeat the Philadelphia Phillies, 7 – 0, at Shea Stadium. It is the first shutout of Ryan’s career.
1969 – The New York Mets win their fourth straight game from the Baltimore Orioles with a 5 – 3 triumph behind pitcher Jerry Koosman, who throws a five-hitter, to take the World Series in five games. In the 3rd inning, Baltimore takes a 3 – 0 advantage after home runs by pitcher Dave McNally and outfielder Frank Robinson. After a strong argument by Mets manager Gil Hodges in the bottom of the 6th inning, Cleon Jones is awarded first base when shoe polish on the ball proves he was hit by a pitch, and Jones scores on a home run by Donn Clendenon. An inning later, Al Weis ties the game, 3 – 3, with a solo home run, and in the 8th, Ron Swoboda’s double and two Baltimore errors give New York two more runs and the World Championship. Clendenon is named Series MVP.
In Game 4 of the Fall Classic at Shea Stadium, Tom Seaver and the Mets beat the Orioles in ten innings, 2-1. The game features an outstanding run-saving diving catch of Brooks Robinson’s sinking line drive with two on in the ninth inning by right fielder Ron Swoboda and a controversial play in the tenth when J.C. Martin unquestionably gets in the way of Pete Richert’s throw, without the umpire not calling interference on the baserunner.
Al Weis’s timely ninth-inning hit, combined with the two-hitter tossed by Jerry Koosman and Ron Taylor, enable the Mets to even the Fall Classic with the Orioles at one game apiece. New York will win the next three games, all played at Shea Stadium, to finish their amazing season with a World Championship.
1969 10 06 NLCS Game 3 New York Mets vs Atlanta Braves
On September 24, 1969, the New York Mets clinch their first post-season berth, wrapping up the first National League East title. The Mets defeat the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-0, At Shea Stadium to officially eliminate the Chicago Cubs from contention. The Mets will go on to win the World Series… Mets starter Gary Gentry four-hits…
1969 – Bob Moose of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches a 4 – 0 no-hitter against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium.
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.
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,…
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