Remembering Mets History (1969) An Independence Day Double Header Sweep in Pittsburgh
On this Independence Day double header, they were at Pittsburgh's Forbes Field to take on Larry Shepard's Pirates (38-41).
Former Pirates slugger Ralph Kiner, now a Mets broadcaster & Donn Clendenon another former Pirate enjoyed returning to Pittsburgh to see their former team & some old friends.
For the Mets, 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.
In the top of the 3rd, utility man, Bobby Pfeil doubled, one of his nine doubles on the year, then Cleon Jones drove him in with a single to left field for the Mets second run. Cleon Jones was leading the league batting at .358.
In the bottom of the 4th, slugger & Mets killer, Willie Stargell hit his 12th HR of the year to put the Pirates on the board. Roberto Clemente reached on Bobby Pfeil's error, Al Oliver followed with a single. Catcher Jerry May hit an RBI sac fly scoring Clemente to tie the game at two.
In the bottom of the 4th, slugger & Mets killer, Willie Stargell hit his 12th HR of the year to put the Pirates on the board. Roberto Clemente reached on Bobby Pfeil's error, Al Oliver followed with a single. Catcher Jerry May hit an RBI sac fly scoring Clemente to tie the game at two.
In the top of the 5th, Bobby Pfeil led off with a walk. Cleon Jones & Don Clendenon hit back-to-back doubles, with Clendenon's two bagger scoring Pfeil & Jones putting the Mets ahead 4-2. The Pirates Bob Veale gave way to reliever, Bruce Dal Canton. He walked his first batter; Wayne Garrett then retired the next two Mets. But then Al Weis delivered a double to left field bringing in both Cleon Jones & Wayne Garrett making it a 6-2 New York lead.
In the top of the 8th, Tom Seaver led off with a walk. Tommie Agee then hit his 12th HR of the year, the two run HR made it 8-2.
In the top of the 8th, Tom Seaver led off with a walk. Tommie Agee then hit his 12th HR of the year, the two run HR made it 8-2.
In the bottom of the 8th, Seaver tired, allowing a double to Clemente, then an RBI base hit to Bill Mazeroski. With two outs, Jerry May doubled to left scoring Clemente with his second run scored in the game as it was an 8-4 Mets lead.
In the top of the 9th, the Pirates Bob Moose retired the first two Mets then walked Jerry Grote. The Mets the collected five straight singles, as Cal Koonce. Tommie Agee & Bobby Pfeil all collected RBIs to make it an 11-4 Mets win. Seaver earned his 13th win.
Bobby Pfeil would have back-to back multi-hit games, collecting four hits in the doubleheader with an RBI & two runs scored. The scrappy hitter collected 11 multi-hit games on the season.
The Mets beat up the five Pirate pitchers getting Bob Veale for four runs, Bob Moose for three runs, Bruce Dal Canton & Lou Marone for two runs each.
young Doc Ellis. Don Cardwell was struggling for wins as he entered the game 2-8.
Then with two outs Art Shamsky walked. Wayne Garrett reached on an infield single to load the bases. Doc Ellis then walked Ed Kranepool for the Mets first run. J.C. Martin then reached on the Mets second infield single to short in the inning, Shamsky scored giving New York a 2-0 lead.
Next Al Weis cleared the bases with a three-run triple making it 5-0 Mets.
Al Weis Trivia: 
In this double header, Al would collect five hits, with two doubles & a triple. He would have two-multi-RBI games driving in five runs. On the season, he would have 23 RBIs with nine doubles & two triples. Al would also have five multi-RBI games of the year.
In this double header, Al would collect five hits, with two doubles & a triple. He would have two-multi-RBI games driving in five runs. On the season, he would have 23 RBIs with nine doubles & two triples. Al would also have five multi-RBI games of the year.In the bottom of the 1st, Manny Sanguillen doubled & Met Killer Willie Stargell brought him in with a triple.
In the top of the 2nd, Tommie Agee led off with a base hit, then with two outs, Art Shamsky singled bringing in Agee for the sixth run.
In the bottom of the 2nd, Fred Patek hit a HR for the Pirates second run.
In the top of the 3rd, J.C. Martin hit his third HR of the year making it a 7-2 Mets lead.
In the top of the 9th, with one out, the Mets collected four straight singles with Art Shamsky & Wayne Garrett collecting RBIs capping off the Mets scoring with nine runs.
Art Shamsky led the Mets with three hits, as Al Weis, J.C. Martin, Wayne Garrett & Bobby Pfeil all had two hits each.Don Cardwell earned his third victory, his first since June 10th, as he allowed two runs on six hits, with a strike outs & two walks through seven innings pitched. Jack DiLauro came on to pitch two scoreless innings earning a save.
Mets Trivia: The Mets swept the twin bill, improving to ten games above .500 (44-34) getting to 7.5 games behind the Chicago Cubs with the fourth best record in the NL. It was the Mets fourth double header sweep of the year, they would have eleven that season.