Remembering Mets History (1969) Donn Clendenon Drives In Twelve Runs In Five Games As Amazing Mets Get Closer To First Place

Tuesday July 1st, 1969: Donn Clendenon had only been with his exciting new Mets team for two weeks. Gil Hodges perused Clendenon & he was brought in to add much needed power & run production to the lineup. When he arrived, Hodges determined he was to mainly share time at first base in a platoon with Ed Kranepool. 

 In his first ten games, Clendenon collected four hits in 22 at bats driving in four runs. As July began, he settled in with his new club driving in run in five straight games. Clendenon collected 11 RBIs with nine hits, two doubles & a HR in that stretch. 

July 1st, 1969: This evening the Mets dropped a double header to the Cardinals in St. Louis. In the nightcap game they took an 8-5 loss with Clendenon going 2-2 with RBI singles off Mike Torrez & Joe Hoerner.

In the top of the 14th, Ken Boswell hit an RBI single & rookie Wayne Garrett walked with the bases loaded with the winning runs.

Wednesday July 2nd, 1969: In this 14 inning 6-4 Mets win in St. Louis, Clendenon had his second straight multi-hit game, including a 4th inning RBI single off Dave Guisti.

Thursday July 3rd, 1969: In the last game of a five-game series in St. Louis, rookie pitcher Gary Gentry pitched a one run five hit complete game victory. This started a seven-game win streak with the Mets proving they were for real. Tonight, the offense provided eight runs, with Clendenon having a multi- two RBI game as well as his third straight multi-hit game.

In the Mets four run top of the 4th inning Clendenon provided a two-run single off Mud Cat Grant. Tommie Agee also drove in two runs in the game & hit his 11th HR of the season.

July 4th, 1969: As America celebrated its Independence Day, the Mets were starting a series at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh with an afternoon double header. Donn Clendenon had spent his first eight years with the Pirates (1961-1968) hitting 106 HRs & driving in 488 runs in those years. This was his first return to the Steel City since his highly publicized trade to Houston the previous January.

With him threatening to retire, the Commissioner stepped in & he was sent to the new franchise in Montreal, eventually leading to his arrival in New York. At this point in time, the Pirates were about to be a powerhouse team of the seventies, winning five of the next seven NL East titles, interrupted both times by the New York Mets (1969 & 1973). They would also win two World Series (1971 & 1979).

In the top of the 5th inning of the first game of the twin bill, Clendenon broke a 2-2 with a two-run single off Bob Veale scoring Bobby Pfeil & Cleon Jones. The Mets went on to an 11-6 win from there behind Tom Seaver's 13th victory. Tommie Agee also homered for the second straight game & drove in three runs. 

The Mets swept the twin bill, but Clendenon sat out the night cap.

On Sunday July 6th, 1969: After a rain out, a small crowd of just 11,552 came out on Sunday for the finale. The Mets completed the series sweep, with Clendenon having another multi-hit multi-Rbi game as well as providing the go-ahead winning runs. 

In the top of the 1st inning, he doubled off Luke walker scoring Bobby Pfile with the Mets first run. 

In the top of the 6th inning, the Mets were down 6-4. Ron Swoboda & Jerry Grote both singled, then with two outs Clendenon hit his first HR as a New York Met. The three-run shot off Chuck Hartenstein proved to be the game winner in the 8-7 win. 

This was the run production Gil Hodges expected when he went after Donn Clendenon.

Tuesday July 8th, 1969: The second place Mets arrived back in New York for the biggest series in their seven-year history at this pointy in time. Now just 4.5 games back, they hosted the first place Chicago Cubs. Clendenon did not get the start as Ed Kranepool started against the right hander Fergie Jenkins.

In the top of the 9th, the Mets were down 3-1to the Hall of Famer Jenkins. Ken Boswell doubled &
with one out Gil Hodges sent Clendenon in to pinch hit.

Donn hit a shot to left center field that outfielder Don Young chased down, the ball popped out of his glove as he ran into the Shea outfield wall. Boswell had to hold up at third with Clendenon credited with a double. The next batter, Cleon Jones then doubled down the left field line scoring Boswell & then Clendenon with the tying run. The Mets won it on Ed Kranepool's walk off single. 

This was a huge win for the Mets, the following night Tom Seaver threw his classic "imperfect game' losing the perfect game with two outs in the 9th inning. The Mets won the game took two of three from Chicago letting everyone know that they were for real.

Donn Clendenon's bat was crucial to the Amazing Mets Championship from the day he arrived until the champagne was popped & he was named the World Series MVP at Shea Stadium in October.