Remembering Mets History (1969) Tom Seaver Becomes First Met Pitcher to Win Twenty Games
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 4.5 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.
Tom Seaver 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.
In the top of the 2nd, Seaver walked Johnny Callison. Deron Johnson followed with a triple scoring Callison with the first run.
After falling behind 1-0, the Mets went ahead in a wacky 2nd inning. Jerry Grote reached on an error by first baseman Dick Allen. Grant Jackson then walked both Ron Swoboda & Rod Gaspar to load the bases.
Next, the eighth hitter, Al Weis singled to center field to tie the game up at one. The next hitter was Tom Seaver, he grounded to second base, a force at that base accounted for the second out but Ron Swoboda scored on the play making it 2-1.
Rod Gaspar also tried to score & an error on the catcher Mike Ryan, led to Gaspar sliding in safely making it 3-1.
Tom Seaver retired 11 batters in a row until Johnny Briggs doubled to lead off the 6th inning. Seaver the retired the next eight batters before another Phillies hit.
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Seaver went the distance, allowing just one run on five hits as he struck out seven, walking just one batter.
First Mets 20 Game Winner: The win was Seaver's fifth straight, giving him twenty on the season (20-7) making him the first twenty game winner in franchise history.
Thru his 31 starts on the season up to that point he had 182 strike outs & was posting a 2.48 ERA. From August 8th thru the end of the regular season, Seaver won ten straight decisions going 10-0 with a 1.34 ERA, 62 strike outs pitching eight straight complete games in his final eight starts.
He would win that years Cy Young Award leading the NL in wins 25-7coming in 4th in ERA (2.21) & 10th in strike outs (208).
