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