Remembering Mets History (1969) Independence Day Double Header Sweep

-
Friday July 4th 1969: Gil Hodges New York Mets (43-34) had just come off a four game split in St. Louis against last years World Champs.

On this Independence Day double header they went to Pittsburgh's Forbes Field to take on Larry Shepard's Pirates (38-41).

Former Pirates Ralph Kiner, now a Mets broadcaster & Donn Clendenon enjoyed returning to see their former team & friends.

Tom Seaver was going for his 13th win of the year, against two losses, facing off with the Pirates, Bob Veale. From 1964 thru 1967, Veale had won 16 games or more each season.

Starting Lineups


 In the 2nd, Rod Gaspar reached on an error advancing to second base. Catcher, Jerry Grote singled, bringing home Gaspar with the 1st run. In the 3rd, utility man, Bobby Pfeil doubled (one of his none doubles on the year). Cleon Jones then singled him home with the Mets second run. Jones would finish the game batting at .358.

The Pirates tied it in the 4th, as slugger Willie Stargell hit his 12th HR of the year & catcher Jerry May hit an RBI sac fly.

In the 5th, Cleon Jones & Don Clendenon had back to back doubles, putting the Mets ahead. Veale gave way to reliever, Bruce Dal Canton. Later in the inning, Al Weis drove in Jones & Wayne Garrett who had drawn a walk, making it 6-2 New York.

In the 8th, Seaver led off with a walk& then Tommie Agee hit his 12th HR of the year, making it 8-2.

In the home 8th, Seaver tired, allowing two runs on three hits, giving way to reliever Cal Koonce. Koonce would allow a 9th inning RBI double to Roberto Clemente, but by then the Mets lead had grown to 11-4.

The Mets beat up the five Pirate pitchers in this game, getting Veale for four runs, Dal Canton for two runs, Lou Marone for two runs & Bob Moose for three more runs in the 9th.

In the 9th, Grote walked, Weis singled & then three consecutive singles from Koonce, Agee & Pfiel.

Seaver earned his 13th win to go 13-2.

Night Cap: In the second game, Gil Hodges sent Don Cardwell to the mound, Cardwell was struggling for wins as he entered the game 2-8. He faced off against a young Doc Ellis.

Starting Lineups


Cardwell allowed two runs on six hits through seven innings pitched. Willie Stargell tripled in a run & little Freddie Patek hit a solo HR. Jack DiLauro came on to pitch two scoreless innings.

The Mets bats started right away, in the 1st, Tommie Agee led off with a single & with two outs Art Shamsky walked. Wayne Garrett singled to load the bases. Ellis then walked Ed Kranepool & surrendered a single to J.C. Martin. Next Al Weis tripled, clearing the bases making it 5-0 Mets.

In the 2nd, Art Shamsky drove in Tommie Agee for the sixth run. In the 3rd, J.C. Martin hit his 3rd HR of the year making it 7-2.  In the 9th, four straight Mets singles made it 9-2, as Shamsky got another RBI & Wayne Garrett an RBI as well.

The Mets swept the twin bill, improving to ten games above .500 (44-34) 7 1/2 games behind Chicago, fourth best record in the NL.

The usually light hitting Al Weis had himself a big day with the bat, as he collected five hits, two doubles, a triple & five RBIs.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Remembering Bobby Ojeda's Tragic Boating Accident (1993)

-
Image
Steve Olin, Tim Crews & Bob Ojeda March 22 nd 1993: was an off day from Spring Training, for three Cleveland Indians pitchers; Former Mets 1986 World Champion pitcher; Bobby Ojeda, Tim Crews & Steve Olin. The three friends, took out an 18-foot open-air bass boat & went out fishing & gator hunting in the darkness of the evening on Lake Nellie in Clermont, Florida. Tragedy struck, when the boat rammed into a private dock that jutted out some 250 feet into the still waters. Two other Cleveland Indians personnel had arrived to meet the fishing party just as the horror took place. They heard Bob Ojeda saying they needed help. The two men jumped into the water and called out for someone to call 911. 27 year old pitcher; Steve Olin was killed instantly. 31 year old pitcher; Tim Crews was alive but was struggling to breathe suffering from massive head wounds. Bobby Ojeda was in & out of shock, he was suffering from head lacerations but was coherent. The
Read more

Remembering Vixen Founder / Guitarist; Jan Kuehnemund (1961-2013)

-
Image
centerfieldmaz was shocked to learn of the sudden passing of Jan Kuehnemund, the founding member of the all female metal band Vixen. Jan was a fantastic guitarist, song writer & women pioneer in Heavy Metal. I am a huge fan of hard rock all girl bands & Vixen were one my long time favorites. Janice Lynn Kuehnemund was born November 18th, 1961 in St. Paul Minnesota. The female guitarist formed one of the first all female Metal bands in Minnesota with singer Janet Gardner while in high school in 1980. By 1985 they moved the band to Los Angles California, to be part of the Heavy Metal scene. In 1987 the classic Vixen line up of Jan Kuehnemund (lead guitar) Janet Gardner (vocals/ guitar) Share Pederson (bass) & Roxy Petrucci (drums) formed & released their debut album the following year. Vixen 1988 In a world of all male Heavy Metal bands during its heyday, Vixen were groundbreaking in being an all female metal band. The Runaways, with Joan Jett & Lita Ford
Read more

The 1970's Oakland A's Ball Girls- (MLB's First)

-
Image
In the days of the early seventies the Oakland A's won three straight Championships & changed the face of baseball forever.  The team's controversial owner was known to be cheap in paying his star players & known to meddle in the teams on field affairs. He drove managers crazy & even had Dick Williams resign after winning his second straight World Series. But Finley also revolutionized baseball in many other ways. He was instrumental in getting the designated hitter in the American League & have the World Series played at night, so fans could attend after work. He gave his players fancy names like Catfish, Blue Moon & True Blue.  When his star Reggie Jackson refused to shave his beard, he encouraged the whole team to grow facial hair by paying them $200 each.  The A's team even grew their hair long, a sign of the times. But before that baseball players had not had facial or long hair since the 1800's.  He introduced bright colored yello
Read more

The Odd Couple TV Show's Beloved Supporting Cast

-
Image
On this the 45th Anniversary Season of when my favorite television show of all time The Odd Couple first debuted it's time to pay tribute to the great supporting  cast. Murray Greshler was a  big hit with fans as the simple minded bumbling NYPD Officer: Murray the Cop . Murray was a long time friend of Oscar Madison & usually becomes the subject of Oscar's jokes. Some great lines referenceing Murrays nose are "N ose' Feliciano" / "Tokyo Nose" & "Come inside Murray, your sucking up all the air in the hallway".  Even Felix chimed in asking him if the other army reserve soldiers made fun of him saying "when you look up it looks like a two car garage". Murray would become one of both Felix & Oscars best friends appearing 73 of the 114 Odd Couple episodes . Murray wouldn't think twice about double parking his patrol car double parked outside the Park Avenue or Central Park West building where Felix & Oscar
Read more

Fictional Mets Infielder Chico Escuela ( of SNL) Visits Mets Spring Training (1979)

-
Image
Bill Murray interviews (Garrett Morris) Chico Escuela In March 1979, original Saturday Night Live cast member; Garrett Morris joined the Mets at Miller Huggins Field for Spring Training. At the time the Mets were still holding Spring Training in St. Petersburg Florida.  Morris was filmed being interviewed by his SNL cast mate, Bill Murray as the fictional Mets player: Chico Escuela who wore uniform #5 (cinque).  Escuela was famous for his spoof of the Latin players of the time, who did not speak much English. His famous quote "baseball been berry- berry good to me" began the previous year on SNL's weekend update. Bill Murray & Ed Kranepool It was said during the mock 1979 Spring Training interview, that Chico who was a nine time All Star second baseman, had given up his job at the Weekend Update Sports desk to make a comeback with the Mets at age 41.  Chico had fictionally written a tell all baseball book; "Bad Stuff About the Mets" which tick
Read more