Remembering Mets History (1969) Tom Seaver Becomes First Met Pitcher to Win Twenty 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 4.5 games back as they hosted George Myatt's fifth place Philadelphia Phillies (54-80) in tonight's 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 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 on five hits as he struck out seven, walking just one batter.
The win put him at 20-7 with a 2.48 ERA. He became the first Mets pitcher to win twenty games in a season.

For Seaver 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 would win that years Cy Young Award at 25-7 (first in wins) 4th in ERA (2.21) 10th in strike outs (208).

Nancy Seaver Cheers on
 Her Husband Tom
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 then singled 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.

Rod Gaspar also tried to score & an error on the catcher Mike Ryan, 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 the 5-1 Mets win.





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