Remembering Mets History (1969) World Series Game #3: Tommie Agee Makes Two Spectacular Catches, Helping Gary Gentry & Nolan Ryan in a Combined Shut Out
The series was tied at one game each, after the split in Baltimore.
Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme sang the National Anthem.
The festivities got under way, as Roy Campanella was honored in a pre-game ceremony & tossed out the ceremonial first pitch. Surrounded MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn & Joe Dimaggio, Mets manager Gild Hodges was delighted to see his old teammate & friend.
The Stars Came Out: Many celebrities & former great baseball players were in attendance, including Joe DiMaggio, Roy Campanella & former Mets manager Casey Stengle. Broadway star Pearl Bailey & Met opera singer Robert Merrill.
The former first lady Jacklyn Kennedy Onasis with her new husband, Aristotle Onasis, children Caroline & John Kennedy Jr. New York State Gouverner Nelson Rockefeller was also on hand.
The Mets rookie Gary Gentry (13-12 / 3.43 ERA / 154 Ks) went to the mound against O's future Hall of Famer, Jim Palmer (16-4 / 2.34 / 123 Ks). In the NLCS Gentry had pitched just two innings before getting removed allowing two runs on five hits.
Gary Gentry Trivia: Just four years earlier, Gentry had pitched the second longest game in the history of the College World Series.
Quotes- Gary Gentry: "I could feel the nervousness, I'm glad. I think you have to be nervous to pitch well. It makes you concentrate more."
Jim Palmer had last pitched the final Game of the ALCS throwing a complete game where he allowed two runs on ten hits earning the win & clinching the series.
Roy Campanella was a former Brooklyn Dodger teammate of Mets Manager Gil Hodges. Campanella was a three-time MVP winner who played in five World Series.
A tragic car accident going to his home in Glen Cove Long Island in January of 1958 left him paralyzed requiring a wheelchair for mobility.
In the top of the 1st inning an excited Shea crowd settled in for the big game. Gary Gentry took the mound & struck out Don Buford to start the game for the first out.
Paul Blair flew out for the second out. Gentry then walked Frank Robinson, but he got Boog Powell to ground out to second base to end the inning.
In the bottom of the 2nd inning, Jim Palmer Ken Boswell to ground out then Ed Kranepool to pop up to short. Catcher Jerry Grote drew a walk, then Bud Harrelson followed with a single into center field.
Next up, Mets pitcher Gary Gentry came up & surprised everyone with a double down the left field line scoring both Jerry Grote & Bud Harrelson, giving the Mets a 3-0 lead. During the regular season, Gentry batted .081 (6-84) a double & one RBIs.
On the mound, after the 1st inning walk to Frank Robinson, Gary Gentry retired eight Orioles in a row.
In the top of the 4th Gentry started the inning by striking out Paul Blair looking. Then Frank
Robinson & Boog Powell both reached with base hits. In a big spot, Gentry struck out future Hall of Famer, Brooks Robinson for the second out.
The spectacular catch, saved two runs & was the third out of the inning, ending the Orioles threat. The Shea crowd went wild, standing & cheering in amazement. Even NBC broadcaster Curt Gowdy let out a surprising scream of excitement as Agee made the catch
In the bottom of the 5th, Jim Palmer walked Wayne Garrett with one out, then Cleon Jones flew out to right field & Art Shamsky to grounded out to Davey Johnson.
In the top of the 6th, Gentry got the first two outs & then walked Frank Robinson. Boog Powell followed with a base hit to right field sending Frank Robinson to third base.
In the bottom of the 6th, Ken Boswell led off with a base hit. Ed Kranepool grounded out & Boswell advanced to second. Jerry Grote then doubled to left field, scoring Boswell giving the Mets a big 4-0 lead.
The Mets Gary Gentry rolled along into the 7th inning. In the top of the 7th, Elrod Hendricks hit a fly ball that was close to going out but it was caught in deep right center field. Davey Johnson then flew out to Agee in center as well for the second out.
Mets manager Gil Hodges came out of the dugout, knowing Gentry had tired & took the ball from him. The Shea Stadium crowd gave the rookie pitcher a nice ovation for his great effort.
Ryan got the winning decision allowing two runs on three hits while striking out seven & walking two.
The Orioles threat & the inning was over. Tommie Agee had made two of the greatest catches in World Series history, both in the same game, saving at least four runs. Agee certainly helped demoralize the mighty Orioles with another nail in their coffin.
But the Orioles reliever stopped the Mets there, retiring the next three batters ending the inning.
In the bottom of the 8th, original Met, Ed Kranepool added a solo HR off Dave Leonhard making it 5-0 Mets.
Manager Gil Hodges stuck with the youngster & Nolan Ryan struck out Paul Blair looking at a third strike to end the game.
In the top of the 1st inning an excited Shea crowd settled in for the big game. Gary Gentry took the mound & struck out Don Buford to start the game for the first out. Paul Blair flew out for the second out. Gentry then walked Frank Robinson, but he got Boog Powell to ground out to second base to end the inning.
In the bottom of the 1st, Mets leadoff man Tommie Agee who had gone hitless in the first two games, gave the Shea Stadium crowd something to cheer about right away. Agee blasted a HR to left center field, putting the Mets on the board with a 1-0 lead.
Agee Trivia: It was the fifth time Agee had led off a game that season with a HR. Upon his return to the dugout, he told his teammates Palmer wasn't that fast today.
Next up, Mets pitcher Gary Gentry came up & surprised everyone with a double down the left field line scoring both Jerry Grote & Bud Harrelson, giving the Mets a 3-0 lead. During the regular season, Gentry batted .081 (6-84) a double & one RBIs.
On the mound, after the 1st inning walk to Frank Robinson, Gary Gentry retired eight Orioles in a row.
Robinson & Boog Powell both reached with base hits. In a big spot, Gentry struck out future Hall of Famer, Brooks Robinson for the second out.
Next Catcher, Elrod Hendricks came to bat & ripped a Gary Gentry pitch in to the left center field gap. Tommie Agee ran a long way from right center field, stuck out his glove & made a spectacular catch grabbing the ball backhanded in the glove's webbing.
Agee ran up against the green Shea Stadium wooden wall, with the ball, like a snow cone hanging on the top of his glove.
Quotes- Curt Gowdy: "what a grab, Tom Agee saved two runs".
In the bottom of the 4th inning, with two outs Jim Palmer walked Bud Harrelson. Palmer had Harrelson picked off of first base, but his throw was wild. As Harrelson tried to advance, he ran into the leg of the big first baseman Boog Powell. Home plate umpire Larry Napp called interference as Harrelson advanced to second. But he was left stranded as Gary Gentry struck out.
In the bottom of the 4th inning, with two outs Jim Palmer walked Bud Harrelson. Palmer had Harrelson picked off of first base, but his throw was wild. As Harrelson tried to advance, he ran into the leg of the big first baseman Boog Powell. Home plate umpire Larry Napp called interference as Harrelson advanced to second. But he was left stranded as Gary Gentry struck out.
In the top of the 5th, Gentry got three straight ground ball outs to short stop Bud Harrelson. Davey Johnson led off the inning as Harrelson made a fine grab in the hole on Johnson's bouncer then threw him out at first base. Harrelson was showing off his skills in the national spotlight as it was noted by broadcasters Curt Gowdy & Tony Kubek.
In the bottom of the 5th, Jim Palmer walked Wayne Garrett with one out, then Cleon Jones flew out to right field & Art Shamsky to grounded out to Davey Johnson.With runners on the corners, Brooks Robinson flew out to Art Shamsky in right field, ending another O's threat.
Jerry Grote Trivia: Grote had now had a four-game hit streak, hitting safely in five of post season six games.
Jim Palmer then struck out Bud Harrelson & Gary Gentry to stop any more damage.
The Mets Gary Gentry rolled along into the 7th inning. In the top of the 7th, Elrod Hendricks hit a fly ball that was close to going out but it was caught in deep right center field. Davey Johnson then flew out to Agee in center as well for the second out.Gary Gentry, then got wild, as he walked three straight Orioles, first Mark Belanger, pinch hitter Dave May & then Don Buford loading the bases.
Mets manager Gil Hodges came out of the dugout, knowing Gentry had tired & took the ball from him. The Shea Stadium crowd gave the rookie pitcher a nice ovation for his great effort.
Gary Gentry pitched 6.2 shutout innings, allowing three hits, striking out four & walking five.
From the bullpen, came the young fire ball throwing, Nolan Ryan. Ryan's last appearance was in Game Three of the NLCS, pitching seven innings of relief of Gentry at Shea Stadium, sealing the pennant for the Mets.
From the bullpen, came the young fire ball throwing, Nolan Ryan. Ryan's last appearance was in Game Three of the NLCS, pitching seven innings of relief of Gentry at Shea Stadium, sealing the pennant for the Mets.
Agee's Second Amazing Catch: Nolan Ryan served up a fastball to Orioles outfielder Paul Blair. Blair blasted a shot to the right center field gap. Once again, Tommie Agee got on his horse, this time dashing to his left, stretching out his glove making a sliding diving grab, saving at least two more runs from scoring.
Quotes- Tommie Agee: "Ryans the fastest but Blair's got a quick bat. I was hitting the ground & catching the ball t the same time. As far as defense I don't think I ever played a better game."
Quotes- Nolan Ryan: "I held my breath for a minute. But then I saw him tap his glove I knew it was all right. Every time he does that, I know he's going to catch it."
The Shea Stadium crowd cheered Agee once again, with a standing ovation. Today in the national spotlight everyone was in America was witnessing the Amazing Mets.
Tommy Agee secured his place in World Series history & in the hearts of Mets fans forever.
In the bottom of the 7th inning, the Shea crowd of 56,335 gave Agee another standing ovation as he led off the inning. Agee reached on a walk from reliever Dave Leonhard.
But the Orioles reliever stopped the Mets there, retiring the next three batters ending the inning.In the top of the 8th, Nolan Ryan breezed through the inning, getting Frank Robinson to fly out, albeit to deep left center field.
Ryan then struck out Boog Powell looking as he blew a fastball right by him. Brooks Robinson then struck out swinging to end the inning. The Shea crowd went wild once again.
In the bottom of the 8th, original Met, Ed Kranepool added a solo HR off Dave Leonhard making it 5-0 Mets.
Quotes- Ed Kranepool: "This could be the only one I play, so I was really thrilled to hit it out."
Kranepool Trivia: For Ed it was his first HR of the post season. It was his fourth hit as he had hit safely in all four games he played in. Kranepool drove in two runs & scored three runs.
In the top of the 9th, Nolan Ryan got Elrod Hendricks & Davey Johnson to both fly out to right field. Ryan then walked Mark Belanger. Pinch hitter, Clay Dalrymple then reached with an infield single. Next Ryan walked Don Buford to load the bases.
Manager Gil Hodges stuck with the youngster & Nolan Ryan struck out Paul Blair looking at a third strike to end the game. Quotes- Bud Harrelson: "How about that last pitch? Blairs shoes are still out on the field".
In relief, Nolan Ryan pitched 2.1 scoreless innings of the combined shut out, giving up one hit, striking out three & walking two earning the World Series save.
Trivia: In his 23-year career this was the only time Nolan Ryan pitched in a World Series game.
New York took a two game to one lead in the World Series getting two games closer to the Miracle.
Quotes- Gil Hodges: "I guess we picked up a few more non-believers. With Seaver & Koosman all set, I couldn't plan for anything better. I'd have to say we're in good shape."
Quotes- Tom Seaver: "I think we may not have to go back to Baltimore".
