October 6th 1969, NLCS GAME #3: Over 54,000 fans crowded into a sold out Shea Stadium for the hottest ticket this side of the moon. It was the first Playoff game in Mets history at Shea Stadium, and the first Championship Series game in New York baseball history. Gil Hodges sent young rookie Gary Gentry to the mound against Atlanta’s Pat Jarvis.The hottest Brave hitter Hank Aaron greeted 
Gentry in the 1st inning with a two run HR. In the top of the 3rd inning Gentry surrendered two hits to start the inning and Gil Hodges saw enough. He yanked Gentry and brought in his fireballer Nolan Ryan. Ryan who was still known to be wild in those day, was a bold choice for Hodges. Tommie Agee got the Mets on the board in the 3rd inning with his second HR of the Series. In the 4th it was Ken Boswell once again, hitting his second HR of the Series, a two run shot scoring Art Shamsky.
Gentry in the 1st inning with a two run HR. In the top of the 3rd inning Gentry surrendered two hits to start the inning and Gil Hodges saw enough. He yanked Gentry and brought in his fireballer Nolan Ryan. Ryan who was still known to be wild in those day, was a bold choice for Hodges. Tommie Agee got the Mets on the board in the 3rd inning with his second HR of the Series. In the 4th it was Ken Boswell once again, hitting his second HR of the Series, a two run shot scoring Art Shamsky. In the 5th inning Ryan surrendered a two run HR to Orlando Cepeda putting Atlanta out in front. But the ’69
Mets never stayed down to long, Ryan led off the bottom of the inning with a single. Then Wayne Garrett who had hit 1 HR all season in 400 at bats blasted a shot over the fence putting the Mets ahead for good. Cleon Jones doubled knocking out Jarvis & the hot Kenny Boswell singled him home. For Boswell It was his third hit & third RBI of the day. Boswell led all Met hitters with 5 RBIs in the Series and his four hits were second to Tommie Agee & Wayne Garrett’s five hits. Agee added another hit & his fourth RBI of the Series.
Mets never stayed down to long, Ryan led off the bottom of the inning with a single. Then Wayne Garrett who had hit 1 HR all season in 400 at bats blasted a shot over the fence putting the Mets ahead for good. Cleon Jones doubled knocking out Jarvis & the hot Kenny Boswell singled him home. For Boswell It was his third hit & third RBI of the day. Boswell led all Met hitters with 5 RBIs in the Series and his four hits were second to Tommie Agee & Wayne Garrett’s five hits. Agee added another hit & his fourth RBI of the Series..jpg)
Nolan Ryan had one of his first moments in the national spotlight as he went the distance for the win. Ryan pitched seven innings, and allowed two runs on the Cepeda HR. He only gave up two hits, two walks, while blowing away seven Brave hitters with his fastball. In the 9th inning Tony Gonzales grounded to Wayne Garrett and as he threw the ball to Ed Kranepool for the out Shea Stadium erupted as 54,000 fans charged the field tearing it apart. The Met players ran to the dugout for safety on their way to their first World Series. It was an amazing feat, as the Mets won the hearts of millions going from last to first becoming the ultimate underdogs. .JPG)
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