Trivia: The 1969 Dodgers led by manager Walt Alston, were 85-77 finishing in fourth place in the NL West. Alston was in his 16th year as Dodger manager, he would manage the team for 23 years, winning four World Series titles & seven NL Pennants.
The Dodger pitching staff consisted of two twenty game winners in Claude Osteen & Bill Singer.
Trivia: Don Drysdale was still on the staff (going 5-4 in 12 games) & would retire at the end of the year, to begin a popular broadcast career that lasted until his death in 1993.
Hall of Famer Don Drysdale one of the most intimidating pitchers of his era, he was known for his brush backs & led the league in hit by pitches five times. He was a two time twenty game winner who led the league in strike outs three times, starts three times & won a 1962 Cy Young Award. He & Sandy Koufax were one of the best one two combos ever.
Starting Lineups
1
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RF
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2
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CF
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3
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1B
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4
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LF
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5
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3B
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6
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2B
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7
|
SS
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8
|
C
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9
|
P
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1
|
SS
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2
|
RF
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3
|
CF
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4
|
1B
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5
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LF
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6
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3B
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7
|
C
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8
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2B
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9
|
P
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This would be a fine pitching matchup, with the Mets Jerry Koosman going up against the Dodgers' Claude Osteen. Koosman, making his first start since his ten inning, 15 K performance five nights earlier.
On this night, he would pitch one of his 16 complete games of the season, allowing just one run, a HR to rookie short stop Bill Russell. He gave up just five hits & struck out eight. The win got him to 2-3 with a 2.22 ERA.
Quotes- Jerry Koosman: "I didn't have my good curve & my fastball while it was good, wasn't going where I wanted it to. I didn't have my rhythm. But I will say, when they got that man to third, I was able to reach back & fire".
In the home 4th, Tommie Agee singled & Ed Charles walked with two outs. Jerry Grote then singled home the Mets first run & Al Weis' double brought in the Glider with run #2. It was 2-0 Mets. Osteen didn't give up any other runs, going seven innings scattering seven hits, with three walks 7 three Ks. Pete Mikkelsen pitched a scoreless 8th. METS WIN STREAK @ 5.
Tuesday June 3rd 1969: On this Tuesday night it was Tom Seaver's turn again in the rotation. A crowd of 24212 came to Shea Stadium as Seaver & the Mets went up against Alan Foster.
Starting Lineups
1
|
LF
| |
2
|
CF
| |
3
|
1B
| |
4
|
RF
| |
5
|
C
| |
6
|
3B
| |
7
|
2B
| |
8
|
SS
| |
9
|
P
|
1
|
SS
| |
2
|
CF
| |
3
|
3B
| |
4
|
LF
| |
5
|
1B
| |
6
|
RF
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7
|
C
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8
|
2B
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9
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Seaver, the 1969 Cy Young winner was amazing once again. He allowed two runs on just three hits, as he struck out nine Dodgers & walked two in eight innings of work. The Dodger runs were scored on Andy Kosco's two run HR. Kosco would lead the Dodgers with 19 HRs & 74 RBIs in 1969.
Seaver lowered his ERA to 2.51 while earning his 8th win of the year. Tug McGraw pitched a perfect 9th inning, earning his second save.
In the 5th inning, Ed Kranepool led off with a HR, the first hit Alan Foster had given up. In the 6th inning, Wayne Garrett singled & was brought in by Cleon Jones. Jones tripled, his third of the year. Jones was one of the NL's leading hitters all season, he was batting an NL best .358 at this time.
Kranepool followed hit his second HR of the game. For Kranepool it was his 5th HR of the season with his RBI total up to 23.
The Mets added some excitement in the 8th inning, when Wayne Garrett stole home, topping off the 5-2 win. METS WIN STREAK @ 6
Quotes- Gil Hodges: "They are playing ball the way I thought they might be able to". When asked if it was time to break out the champagne Gil said with a semi smile: " Maybe there will be a time soon, to consider it".
The fans were ecstatic & the papers thought the Mets were nuts, being this good, this far into the season. It had never happened in their short seven year history.
Wednesday June 4th 1969: As the Mets went for the sweep of the Dodgers, a good mid week crowd of 31331 came to watch the Mets Jack DiLauro take the hill against the Dodgers' Bill Singer. Tonight's' game turned out to be a legendary pitchers duel, staying scoreless for 14 innings.
Starting Lineups
| 1 | Bill Russell | RF |
| 2 | Willie Davis | CF |
| 3 | Wes Parker | 1B |
| 4 | Andy Kosco | LF |
| 5 | Bill Sudakis | 3B |
| 6 | Tom Haller | C |
| 7 | Ted Sizemore | SS |
| 8 | Paul Popovich | 2B |
| 9 | Bill Singer | P |
| 1 | Bud Harrelson | SS |
| 2 | Tommie Agee | CF |
| 3 | Wayne Garrett | 3B |
| 4 | Cleon Jones | LF |
| 5 | Ed Kranepool | 1B |
| 6 | Ron Swoboda | RF |
| 7 | Jerry Grote | C |
| 8 | Al Weis | 2B |
| 9 | Jack DiLauro | P |
Jack DiLauro gave up a double in each of the first two innings then did not allow hit for the next seven innings, retiring 19 in a row before he exited.
In the 10th inning, Tug McGraw came on & pitched four scoreless innings of relief to get to the 13th. Ron Taylor came on shutting down Los Angeles for two more frames.
The Dodgers pitching was just as good, Brewer also allowed just two hits through nine innings & he fanned ten Mets. Jim Brewer pitched two more scoreless innings getting to the 11th. Al McBean pitched three more innings allowing no runs & one hit.
Alston brought in Pete Mikkelson in the 15th. He gave a lead off walk to Bud Harrelson, Tommie Agee then grounded out erasing Harrelson. Next the Amazing Met magic struck again, Wayne Garrett singled to center, centerfielder Willie Davis made an error on his throw, allowing the quick footed Agee to score all the way from first base. Quite an exciting walk off win.The Mets swept the Dodgers, getting to two games above .500 at 25-23. The Mets were now in second place one game over the Pittsburgh Pirates & eight & half in back of the Cubs. METS WIN STREAK @ 7
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