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

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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
1John BriggsCF1Bud HarrelsonSS
2Cookie Rojas2B2Bobby Pfeil3B
3Dick Allen1B3Tommie AgeeCF
4Johnny CallisonRF4Donn Clendenon1B
5Deron Johnson3B5Ron SwobodaRF
6Ron StoneLF6Jerry GroteC
7Mike RyanC7Rod GasparLF
8Don MoneySS8Al Weis2B
9Grant JacksonP9Tom SeaverP

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.



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