Remembering Mets History (1973): World Series Game #3 - Tom Seaver vs. Catfish Hunter At Shea
Tuesday, October 16th 1973 World Series Game #3
Shea Stadium, Queens New York

Pitcher Jerry Koosman said "I'll be sitting in the dugout, and the crowds will get going and I'll feel a chill up and down my spine."
Pre Game Meeting At Home Plate |
NBC Broadcasting Team For Game #3 Curt Gowdy, Lindsey Nelson & Tony Kubek |
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Mets Radio Broadcaster: Bob Murphy Prior to Game Three of 1973 World Series |
This was also the first game back at Shea Stadium, since the fans had torn it up a week earlier at the conclusion of the NLCS win over the Cincinnati Reds. The grounds crew worked as hard as they could to make repairs to the turf & dirt areas, but it was a tough job.
Everybody knows that the grass part of an infield is supposed to be higher than the dirt part. Here it's the other way around. Unless you get a ball on a long hop you're in trouble."
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A's Captain Sal Bando Answers Questions for NY Press |
In Game #2, Dick Williams had brought in veteran infielder; Mike Andrews to play second base late in the game. This was a common practice for the A's who usually replaced regular second baseman Dick Green during the course of a game.
Andrews was charged with two errors in the same inning & after the game was forced to sign a waiver that he was injured.
This came down from owner; Charlie Finley, in hopes of activating infielder Manny Trillo in his place.
The news got out & it was top baseball news. Eventually the Commissioner stepped in as did Players Union boss Marvin Mitchell.
Andrews was to be reactivated & would join the team the next night.
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Dick Williams Resigns as Manager- Telling His Team At Shea Stadium In Closed Door Meeting |
As for the actual game, Mets had evened up the Series in Game Two & had their Cy Young Award winner Tom Seaver (19-10 / 2.08 ERA / 251 Ks) going up against the A's top pitcher; Catfish Hunter (21-5 / 3.34 ERA / 124 Ks) in a marquee billing. These were two of the top pitchers in the game at the time & there was a lot of anticipation over the match up.
Casey Stengel & Commissioner Bowie Kuhn |
Oakland Athletics | New York Mets | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Bert Campaneris | SS | 1 | Wayne Garrett | 3B | |
2 | Joe Rudi | LF | 2 | Felix Millan | 2B | |
3 | Sal Bando | 3B | 3 | Rusty Staub | RF | |
4 | Reggie Jackson | RF | 4 | Cleon Jones | LF | |
5 | Gene Tenace | 1B | 5 | John Milner | 1B | |
6 | Vic Davalillo | CF | 6 | Jerry Grote | C | |
7 | Ray Fosse | C | 7 | Don Hahn | CF | |
8 | Dick Green | 2B | 8 | Bud Harrelson | SS | |
9 | Catfish Hunter | P | 9 | Tom Seaver | P |
After getting Bert Campaneris to foul out the start the game, Seaver allowed a double to Joe Rudi. But he then struck out Sal Bando (swinging) & Reggie Jackson (looking) to end the inning.
In the second inning, Seaver struck out the side & then did it again in the 5th inning, giving him nine Ks up to that point, already.
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Wayne Garrett Hits Mets Leadoff HR |
In the bottom of the 1st inning, Wayne Garrett led off with a HR, blasted to deep right field. It was his second homer of the World Series, he had hit a HR off Vida Blue in the 3rd inning of Game Two in Oakland.
Len Dykstra would accomplish the feat again in the 1986 World Series, against the Boston Red Sox.
After Garrett's HR, Felix Millan & Rusty Staub both dove base hits to left field. Then with Cleon Jones up, Hunter threw a wild pitch allowing Millan to score with the Mets second run.
Catfish settled in, striking out Jones. He then made an error on a John Miner ground ball & had two men on with one out. But he struck out Jerry Grote & got Don Hahn to line out to centerfield.
In the top of the 2nd inning, Seaver struck out the side, getting Gene Tenace, Vic Davillio & Ray Fosse.
In the top of the 3rd, Campaneris singled with two outs, but Seaver got Joe Rudi to ground out.
It was the only inning, Seaver pitched that he did not strike out at least one batter.
In the 4th, with two outs, Seaver walked Gene Tenace & Vic Davillio singled. But Seaver got Ray Fosse to ground out to Bud Harrelson to end the inning.
In the bottom of the 4th, Don Hahn hit a ground rule double down the left field line. Then Bud Harrelson flew out & Tom Seaver struck out.
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Seaver was on fire, he struck out the side in the top of the 5th. Through the first five innings, Seaver already had nine strike outs.
Milner would be left stranded on first base, as Jerry Grote & Don Hahn both flew out tp left field. The score remained 2-0 Mets.
In the A's 6th inning, Seaver ran into trouble. First, Joe Rudi hit a deep fly ball to left center field, that Dohn Hahn jumped against the wall for, making an outstanding catch to save a hit.
The next play wasn't so lucky. Sal Bando hit a shot over Hahn's head to straight away centerfield, for a double. Hahn had misplayed the ball & looked a bit confused in center field.

Hahn, who was use to his position in center at Shea Stadium, was thrown off by the longer warning track.
In the bottom of the 6th, Bud Harrelson led off with a base hit but was stranded as Hunter struck out Seaver & Garrett. Felix Millan drilled a liner to left center field, but Vic Davillio snagged it with a running catch.

A's reliever, Darold Knowles (6-8 / 9 saves / 3.09 ERA) came in to pitch for the A's. It was his third appearances in three Series games. Knowles would pitch two innings, giving up just one walk, holding the Mets scoreless.
Joe Rudi then delivered for Oakland, with a base to right field, tying up the game as Campaneris crossed the plate, it was a 2-2 game. Sal Bando sacrificed Rudi to second.
The Two best pitchers in baseball were both done on the night, and neither would earn a decision.
The A's put pinch runner, Allan Lewis in to run. Manager, Yogi Berra went to the bullpen & Tug McGraw (5-6 / 25 saves / 3.87 ERA).
McGraw got the next three A's out in order; first he nailed Davillio at third base on a bunt attempt by Ted Kubiak.
The Shea Crowd cheered, next McGraw struck out pinch hitter Angel Mangual & then got Campaneris to fly out.
In the bottom of the 9th, Dick Williams brought in Paul Lindblad to pitch (1-5 / 2 saves/ 3.69 ERA). Garrett popped out to shirt & Millan grounded out to Campaneris for the second out.
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Tug McGraw All Fired Up |
In the 10th, McGraw after Joe Rudi lined out, McGraw allowed a single to Sal Bando, he advanced to second on an error. McGraw got Reggie Jackson to ground out, moving Bando to third.
The Mets intentionally walked Gene Tenace with two outs. McGraw then got Vic Davillio to fly out right field, ending the inning.
In the bottom of the 10th, Grote & Hahn both grounded out to second base. Then Bud Harrelson had two out single.
It was to be the final at bat of his Hall of Fame career.
Mays grounded out to short stop Bert Campaneris, the force was made at second base, inning over.
Harry Parker Pitches the 11th |
The A's pitcher; Paul Lindblad led off, he lined out to Bud Harrelson for the first out. Then second baseman, Ted Kubiak drew a walk.
Angel Mangual Strikes Out but the Ball Gets by Jerry Grote |
Quotes: Jerry Grote: " the ball had been scuffed on one side & had been sailing, apparently Harry had turned the ball around with out realizing it & the ball went in the other direction a little bit. And being a little bit on the tired side at this stage of the game, I just couldn't react quick enough to catch ball."
He singled to centerfield, scoring Kubiak in what would be the winning run.
Campy was thrown out at second trying to stretch it to a two base hit, for the third out, but the damage was done.
In the bottom of the 11th, Lindblad was still on the mound. Wayne Garrett led off with a single.
Dick Williams then went to his ace reliever; Rollie Fingers. Felix Millan sacrificed Garrett to second base. Fingers then got Rusty Staub to fly to center field & Cleon Jones to ground out. The game was over, with the Mets taking a heartbreaking 3-2 loss.
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