Remembering Mets History (1969) Tom Seaver Becomes First Met To Win 20 Games

Friday September 5th, 1969: A large crowd filled up Shea Stadium in New York, as this was the "happening place to be" in the Fall of '69.

Gil Hodges, New York Mets were continuing their run at catching the Chicago Cubs in the National League East. At this point the Mets (78-56) were just four 1/2 games back as they hosted George Myatt's fifth place Philadelphia Phillies (54-80) in a twi-night double header.

Tonight, Seaver also had a personal goal at stake. If he earned the victory he would become the first Mets pitcher in their brief seven year history to win twenty games.

Starting Lineups

	Philadelphia Phillies				New York Mets
1	John Briggs	CF		1	Bud Harrelson	SS
2	Cookie Rojas	2B		2	Bobby Pfeil	3B
3	Dick Allen	1B		3	Tommie Agee	CF
4	Johnny Callison	RF		4	Donn Clendenon	1B
5	Deron Johnson	3B		5	Ron Swoboda	RF
6	Ron Stone	LF		6	Jerry Grote	C
7	Mike Ryan	C		7	Rod Gaspar	LF
8	Don Money	SS		8	Al Weis	2B
9	Grant Jackson	P		9	Tom Seaver	P

Tom Seaver certainly knew what was at stake tonight, personally & for his hot ball club. The Mets ace certainly didn't want anyone else helping him achieve his goals. Seaver went the distance, allowing just one run one five hits as he struck out seven, walking just one batter.

The win put him at 20-7 with a 2.48 ERA. It was his fifth win in a row, on a stretch that had him winning his last ten decisions of the year, eight straight games.

Seaver never lost another game in 1969 after August 5th.

He was that years Cy Young Winner at 25-7 (first in wins) 4th in ERA (2.21) 10th in strike outs (208).

After falling behind 1-0, the Mets went ahead in a wacky 2nd inning. Jerry Grote reached on an error as Ron Swoboda & Rod Gaspar walked to load the bases.

Nancy Seaver Cheers on Her Husband Tom

Al Weis the singled to tie the game. Next Tom Seaver grounded to second base, a force at that base accounted for the second out as Swoboda scored.

 Gaspar also tried to score & an error on the catcher led to him sliding in safely as the second Mets run scored on the play making it 3-1. 

In the 8th inning Jerry Grote hit a two run HR, his 5th of the year finishing up up the 5-1 Mets win.