The Amazing Mets Win the 1969 World Series

October 16th 1969: The miracle finally happened, all the dreams came true. The Mets who were a 100-1 favorite to win the 1969 World Series did it. They became the first team to ever go from last to champions and forever would define the underdog winner in sports. As Bud Harrelson recently said, any under dog team that ever comes back to win is always compared to the '69 Mets. In just eight short season, a team that had finished last six times was now the champions of the world. What a way to end the sixties.

Jerry Koosman got the call for Game #5 vs. the Orioles Dave McNally. There was no stopping the Mets on this day even after they fell behind. Koosman had a shaky 3rd inning. He allowed a two run HR to the opposing pitcher, of all people, and one to old Frank Robinson. Koos came in to the dug out angry at himself, he thre his glove down. He told the team "I'll hold them right there, you guys go out & score some runs."

It wasn't until the bottom of the 7th when the Mets made their come back. It all started when Gil Hodges pulled the famous "shoe polish incident". McNally's pitch ball bounced or hit batter, Cleon Jones' foot, then rolled into the Mets dugout. Hodges picked up the ball, then walked out of the dug out to home plate umpire Lou Dimuro. He showed him a ball with shoe polish on it as proof Jones was hit by the pitch. Dimuro awarded Cleon 1st base and the miracle continued. Baltimore manager Earl Weaver who had already been thrown out of one Series game came out to argue, but pretty much knew he was done. Next up World Series MVP Donn Clendenon followed with his 3rd home run of the Series, putting the score at 3-2, sending Shea Stadium into a 1960's mad house. In the Mets 7th, Al Weiss who had never homered at Shea Stadium, and only hit two all season in 247 at bats, hit a home run over the left field wall to tie the game. The whole city of New York went nuts, and little guys every where found a new hero in Weiss.

In the bottom of the 8th Cleon Jones doubled to lead off the inning. Then came Ron Swoboda, he got his second hit of the day and his 5th in two days, as he doubled down the left field line scoring the go ahead run. Swoboda too would score when Jerry Grote reached 1st base on a pitchers error.

Koosman Came out to complete his five hit victory. His line score, nine innings, three runs, five hits, five strikeouts & one walk. It was his second win of the Series going 2-0, allowing only seven hits in 17.2 innings. He could have easily been the Series MVP as well, but the honors went to Don Clendenon who set a Five game Series record at the time hitting three Hrs . The last out was made on future Mets manager Davey Johnson's a fly ball to left field, Cleon Jones got down on one knee and sealed the Championship.