Remembering Mets History (1969) Mets Pitchers Shut Out & Drive in Only Runs of 1-0 Twin Bill Sweep
They brought the greatest show in baseball to Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, for a double header. The Mets fans also arrived, as a large contingent came fully equipped with banners & their loud voices, invading Pittsburgh's Forbes Field. "Lets Go Mets" was the battle cry heard everywhere in 1969.
The Mets main strength in 1969 was no doubt great pitching. Not only did the Amazing's sweep the twin bill, but they also won both games on 1-0 shut outs & their pitchers drove in the winning runs in both games.
At this point the Mets were on an eight-game win streak & had taken over first place leading the second place Cubs by two games. 19,303 showed up in Pittsburgh with many Mets fans making the trip as Gil Hodges Mets (87-57) took on Larry Shepard's Pirates (76-66) in third place.
At this point the Mets were on an eight-game win streak & had taken over first place leading the second place Cubs by two games. 19,303 showed up in Pittsburgh with many Mets fans making the trip as Gil Hodges Mets (87-57) took on Larry Shepard's Pirates (76-66) in third place.
First Game: Jerry Koosman had an easy 1st inning. In the top of the 2nd, Roberto Clemente singled & Koosman walked Jose Pagan. After a sacrifice bunt from Al Oliver, Koosman also walked Jerry May to load the bases. Fred Patek grounded to third baseman Bobby Pfeil who threw home & got Roberto Clemente forced out at the plate. Kooz then struck out pitcher Bob Moose to end the inning. It was the only inning the Pirates had a runner reach second base.
He allowed just two more hits & one more walk the rest of the way. The Mets defense turned double plays along the way as well.
Kooz went the distance earning his 14th win of the year (14-9) lowering his season ERA to 2.37.
In the top of the 5th for New York, Bobby Pfeil & Duffy Dyer both singled, putting two men on for Koosman. He drove a base hit to right field bringing in Pfeil with what was the only run of the game. It was also the only run Koosman would drive in all year.
Trivia: Jerry Koosman was a good hitting pitcher, with a career .119 average, two HRs 12 doubles & 46 RBIs.
Bob Moose took the loss (10-3) allowing one run on five hits while striking out ten. He was so frustrated at the lone Mets run; he hit Bud Harrelson with a pitch when he came to bat after Koosman.
Night Cap: In the second game, it was the so called "old man" of the Mets staff Don Cardwell's time to shine. At 33-years-old Cardwell, was two years older than reliever Ron Taylor at 31, while all other pitchers were in their early to mid-twenties.
Cardwell made 30 appearances for the '69 Mets making 21 starts & nine relief efforts. This was to be his finest outing of the year.
Doc Ellis Trivia: His opponent was Doc Ellis. In a twelve-year career Ellis won 12 or more games seven times, with a career high 19 wins in 1971. In 1970 he famously said he was on LSD when he tossed his no-hitter. He spent part of 1979 with the Mets (3-7 / 6.04 ERA).
Today Ellis allowed one run & six hits while striking out a season high 11 but took a tough loss.
In the bottom of the 1st, Matty Alou led off with a walk but was quickly doubled up. Willie Stargell who always seemed to hit Mets pitching, then singled but Al Oliver grounded to Wayne Garrett at second base to end the inning.
In the top of the 2nd inning, with two outs, Bud Harrelson doubled, his tenth of the year. Don Cardwell then singled to center easily scoring Harrelson with what was to be the game's only run.
Cardwell Batting Trivia: Cardwell would bat .170 on the year with a HR & five RBIs. In his career Don Cardwell was a fine hitting pitcher, he batted .135 with 15 HRs 10 doubles a triple & 53 RBIs in 698 at bats in 416 games over 14 seasons.
Cardwell scattered just three more hits along the way. The Mets defense turned two more double plays in this night cap.
In the bottom of the 9th, Tug McGraw came on to get his 12th save. Cardwell earned the win (7-9). On the season he went to 7-9 with a 2.93 ERA. He pitched one scoreless inning of Game #1 in the World Series.
The win was the Mets pitchers third straight shutout & their 22 on the season. The staff would toss 28 shut outs that Amazing season.
Quotes- Mets Manager Gil Hodges: "Holy Cow, I never saw anything like that before".