centerfield maz

Tuesday October 14th, 1969- Shea Stadium, New York:  For the very first time in its history, Shea Stadium hosted a World Series game. 56,335 Mets fans filed into Shea Stadium to see Gil Hodges Amazing Mets (100-62) go against Earl Weaver's A.L. Champion Baltimore Orioles (109-53).   The series was tied at one game each, after the split in Baltimore. The Stars Came Out: Many celebrities & former great baseball players were in attendance, including Joe DiMaggio, Roy Campanella & former Mets manager Casey Stengle. Broadway star Pearl Bailey & Met opera singer Robert Merrill.   The former first lady Jacklyn Kennedy Onasis with her new husband, Aristotle Onasis, children Caroline & John Kennedy Jr. New York State Gouverner Nelson Rockefeller was also on hand. Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme sang the National Anthem. The Mets rookie Gary Gentry (13-12 / 3.43 ERA / 154 Ks) went to the mound against O's future Hall of Famer, Jim Palmer (16-4 ...

Sunday October 12, 1969-Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland: After all the hype & excitement of getting to the World Series had worn off, the Mets found themselves down one game to nothing to the Baltimore Orioles. The O's felt they were right where they were supposed to  be. Baltimore & rest of the world believed that the Mets had run out of gas having now met their match against their mighty lineup. In the first game, Baltimore beat the Mets ace Tom Seaver, that years NL Cy Young winner scoring four runs on six hits in five innings of work. Mike Cuellar held the Mets to one run, a sac fly from Al Weis, on six hits. Mets Lefthander Jerry Koosman (17-9 / 2.28 ERA / 180 Ks) took the mound against Dave McNally (20-7 / 3.22 ERA / 166 K's).  McNally won twenty games for four straight seasons, having gone 20-7 that season. In the ALCS he pitched an 11 inning three hit shut out over the Twins. One of the best pitchers of his era, McNally lost his fastball by ...