Remembering Mets History (1969) World Series Game #2: Koosman Takes No Hitter to The 7th Inning

Sunday October 12, 1969-Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland: After all the hype & opening excitement of the World Series wore 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 ran out of steam & had finally met their match.

But solid play, key hits and the best pitching staff in baseball were the reasons the Mets got to the World Series. 

On this day in Baltimore, on national TV in front of all of America, it showed.

Pre-Game Mets Starting Line Up Introductions

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). But this was Koosman's day as he shined in the national spotlight, taking a no hitter into the 7th inning.

Jerry Koosman struck out Orioles leadoff batter Don Buford, in the 1st inning to set the tone for his game. Two fly ball outs ended the inning quickly.

In the 2nd inning he struck out slugger Boog Powell to start the inning. With one out he walked Davey Johnson but got Buford to line out to end the inning.

The Mets got a lead off base hit from Al Weis in the 3rd inning, then a two walk to Bud Harrelson put two men on for the Mets best hitter, Cleon Jones. But McNally got Cleon to line out to left field.

An excited Mets dugout congratulates Donn Clendenon on HR

In the top of the 4th inning, Donn Clendenon led off the inning with a solo HR off Dave McNally, it was his first HR of the World Series. Clendenon would hit two more before the Series was over, earning the MVP Award.

Ron Swoboda then struck out, Dave McNally then retired Ed Charles & Jerry Grote on ground balls to keep it at 1-0 Mets lead.

In the 5th inning Koosman retired the side in order. He did the same in the 6th inning as well, setting down seven straight Oriole batters. Koosman would retire 14 batters in a row & up to that point he had himself a no hitter through the first six innings. 

In the home 7th, Paul Blair led off with a base hit, ruining Koosman's no hit bid & giving the Orioles life. Koosman got Frank Robinson to line out to Agee in center field & then Boog Powell to pop out to Bud Harrelson for the second out.

Paul Blair stole second base & with two outs Brooks Robinson came to bat. He singled to centerfield scoring Blair with the Orioles first run of the game. 

The next batter was Davey Johnson, Koosman got him to ground out finishing off the inning, as the game was tied 1-1.

The Mets went down in order in the top of the 8th as Dave McNally was cruising along very nicely himself, he had only allowed one hit since the Clendenon HR, a double to Ed Charles in the 7th.

Koosman came out for the 8th inning, he got Andy Etchebarren to line out, then struck out Mark Belanger looking & got the pitcher McNally to fly out for the third out.

"The Glider" Ed Charles singles & slides safely into second base after Jerry Grote's base hit

Dave McNally started out the top of the 9th, by striking out Clendenon. Ron Swoboda then grounded out. 

With two outs, "The Glider" Ed Charles got his second hit of the day, a single to left field. Jerry Grote followed up with a base hit of his own, putting two men on for New York.

Next up Al Weis, a .215 hitter during the regular season, who already had a hit on the day, came through big time. 

The "mighty might" as broadcaster Lindsey Nelson would name him, singled to left field, as the Glider came home, putting the Mets up 2-1. 

Weis would bat .455 (5-11) in the World Series.

Gil Hodges stuck with Koosman; Jerry came up to bat with runners on first & third but grounded out to Belanger at short to end the inning.

Al Weis

Koosman came on to pitch the 9th inning. He got Don Buford to fly out to Swoboda in right
field for the first out. He then got Paul Bair to ground out to Bud Harrelson for the second out.

But with two outs, Koos walked Frank Robinson. Earl Weaver put in Merv Rettenmund to pinch run. 

Mets Manager Gil Hodges had now seen enough. He went to the mound & took the ball from Koosman, calling for his reliever; Ron Taylor to get the last out.

As Koosman exited after his outstanding pitching performance, the Baltimore fans gave him a nice ovation as he walked to the Mets dugout. 

The Mets top reliever in 1969, Ron Taylor came in to close it out. He got Brooks Robinson to ground out to Ed Charles at third base. The Mets had won their first World Series game in their team history and were coming home to New York tied at one game each.

Jerry Koosman pitched 8.2 innings, allowing one run on just two hits with three walks, while striking out four, to earn the victory.

For Baltimore, McNally pitched himself a good game as well, he threw all nine innings, allowing two runs on six hits, with three walks & seven strike outs, taking the loss.