Remembering Mets History (1969) The Mets Win the Pennant !

Monday October 6th, 1969, NLCS GAME #3- Shea Stadium, New York: There is no doubt that Shea Stadium in New York City was the place to be on this historic day in Mets history. 54,195 excited Amazing Mets fans filled Shea Stadium with the hottest ticket this side of the moon. 

It was the first Post season game in Mets history to be played at Shea Stadium. It was actually the first Championship Series game ever played in New York baseball history too for that matter.

The Mets had taken the first two games of the series in Atlanta & were looking to clinch in a sweep at home. 

Mets Manager: Gil Hodges sent young rookie pitcher, Gary Gentry (13-12 / 3.43 ERA / 154 Ks) to the mound, as Atlanta Braves Manager; Lum Harris sent Pat Jarvis (13-11 / 4.43 ERA / 123 Ks) to oppose him. 

All the world tuned in to NBC to watch the Amazing Mets make history.

In the top of the 1st, the Braves hottest hitter: Hank Aaron got Gentry for a two run HR, putting Atlanta up on the board first. 

Trivia: Aaron would hit .357 (5-14) in the series with 3 HRs 7 RBIs. Aaron drove in seven of the Braves 15 runs.

In the home 1st, Tommie Agee led off with a double. But he was erased online drive back to the pitcher, in which Jarvis turned into a double play. Cleon Jones singled but the inning was over when Art Shamsky got caught looking at a third strike.

In the top of the 3rd inning Gentry surrendered two hits to start the inning, a single to Tony Gonzalez & a double to Hank Aaron.

Manager Gil Hodges felt he saw enough in Gentry; he took out Gentry and brought in his young fireballer Nolan Ryan (6-3 / 3.53 ERA / 125 Ks).

The young Nolan Ryan who was still known to be wild & have control issues, was a bold choice for Manager Gil Hodges. 

But since it was a long relief situation, he felt the youngster was the right guy & was he ever. 

Ryan came on & first struck out Rico Carty. Then after an intentional pass to Orlando Cepeda loading the bases, he struck out Clete Boyer looking. With two outs, the catcher Bod Dider hit a fly ball to left field, that Cleon Jones snagged to end the inning & leave the bases full.

Tommie Agee got the Mets on the board in the 3rd inning with his second HR of the Series, a solo shot off Pat Jarvis, making it 2-1. 

In the home 4th, Art Shamsky singled to right field to lead off the inning. Then it was second baseman, Ken Boswell once again, all of a sudden, he was the new Mets slugger as he hit his second HR of the Series, a two-run shot, giving the Mets a 3-2 lead. 

Nolan Ryan would give up a two run HR to Orlando Cepeda in the 5th. Cepeda's HR put Atlanta ahead once again 4-3. but that would be it. 

The 1969 Mets never stayed down for too long, in the bottom of the frame, Nolan Ryan led off with a base hit. 

Then Wayne Garrett, who had hit just one HR all season in 400 at bats, blasted a shot over the right field fence putting the Mets ahead 6-4. The Mets never lost the lead & never looked back.

Cleon Jones doubled, knocking out the starter Pat Jarvis, he was removed in favor of future Mets pitcher, George Stone. Stone got Shamsky to ground out for the second out.

Next, the hot hitting Kenny Boswell singled, bringing in Jones to make it 6-4 Mets. 

For Boswell, it was his third hit & third RBI of the day. Boswell would lead all Met hitters with five RBIs in this NLCS. His four hits were second best to Tommie Agee & Wayne Garrett, who both collected five hits.

In the top of the 6th, Nolan Ryan got Bob Dider & Gil Garrido to ground out, then struck out George Stone to end the inning. 

In the home 6th, Jerry Grote led off with a double to right field off Atlanta pitcher George Stone.

He was sacrificed over to second base by Bud Harrelson. Tommie Agee then added another hit, as he singled to left field bringing in Grote with the Mets seventh run.

It was Agee's fourth RBI of the Series, topping off the 7-4 Mets win & eventually clinching the pennant. 

In the 7th inning Ryan again retired the side in order, getting Felix Millan to line out to left, striking out Tony Gonzales & getting Henry Aaron to pop up.

In the 8th the Braves got two base hits but in between the singles, he struck out Orlando Cepeda & Clete Boyer, both looking, electrifying the crowd. 

In seven innings of work, the flame throwing Ryan struck out seven, four of them left looking at the third strike as it blew by right them. He gave up two runs on two hits with two walks. It was one of his biggest outings as a Met or in his career, up to that point in his young history.

The Shea Stadium crowd were on their feet & ready to explode as the 9th inning began. Nolan
Ryan took the mound as the anticipation & the excitement built.

First, Bob Aspromonte, flew out to Agee in center for the first out. Next (future Met) Felix Millan, then grounded out to short stop Bud Harrelson for the second out.

The crowd were now ready to storm the field, as the unthinkable was about to happen. 

Ryan pitched to Braves batter Tony Gonzales, who grounded to third baseman Wayne Garrett, he threw the ball to first baseman, Ed Kranepool for the final out. The first part of the Miracle happened, The Amazing New York Mets won the N.L. Pennant & were headed to the World Series!

Mets broadcaster: Lindsey Nelson proclaimed, " the Mets win the pennant, the Mets win the pennant". 

The Shea crowd went absolutely nuts, charging onto the field & tearing it apart. The Mets players ran to the dugout for their safety. 

By the time the fans were done & had all exited, The Shea Stadium playing field looked like the surface of the moon.

The Miracle Mets or the Amazing Mets as they were also known as, were the National League Champions, winning the hearts of millions & forever becoming the face for all underdogs. 

They celebrated in the locker room as the champagne flowed. 

The New York Mets had five days to prepare for the World Series where they would play the Baltimore Orioles & represent the National League. It was a wild scene. 

Nolan Ryan & Joe Pignatano during post-game interview

Jerry Grote & Rod Gaspar celebrate with NY Mayor John Lindsay

Joan Hodges congratulates her husband, Gil.

After all the celebrations on the field & in the locker room, pitchers Tom Seaver & Gary Gentry went back on the field to view the damage on the playing surface. It was to be quite a job for the grounds crew to fix up for the World Series!