Remembering Mets History (1969) Mets Win Streak Ends At 11

Tuesday June 10th, 1969: As the New York Mets went up the coast arriving in San Francisco, everyone in baseball, especially the first place Chicago Cubs were talking about the Mets ten game win streak. 

Tonight's game on the Bay at Candlestick Park had Gil Hodges second place Mets (29-23) go against Clyde Kings third place Giants (29-24) who were just three games back of the Atlanta Braves & two behind the LA Dodgers. Don Cardwell (1-6) got the start for New York against Mike McCormick (3-2).

In the bottom of the 3rd, the Giants pitcher McCormick led off with a base hit. Bobby Bonds then tripled bringing in McCormick for the first run. Bonds would hit six triples in 1969 & ten the next year (3rd most in the NL), he had 66 career triples.

In the top of the 4th, Tommie Agee answered with a solo HR, a 420 foot blast, his eighth of the year & first of two on the day.

 In the 5th, New York got a double from Jerry Grote, Al Weis' bunt got Grote to third. Don Cardwell just missed a HR of his own, sending Giants outfielder Ken Henderson all the way to the wall for a long sac fly, bringing home Grote to make it 2-1.

In the sixth, the Mets knocked out McCormick, after Rod Gaspar single, Cleon Jones was walked intentionally. Then McCormick lost Swoboda to another walk & Ed Charles "The Glider" it a sac fly to bring in Gaspar. Jerry Grote then singled home Jones to make it 4-1. Ron Herbel a former Met was brought in to pitch for the Giants.

He didn't have much luck either, In the 7th Cardwell singled for his second hit on the day. Herbel then made a throwing error on Bud Harrelson's weak grounder sending Cardwell all the way to third base. 

Tommie Agee collected his third hit of the day, with a base hit to right Field, Cardwell scored making it 5-1. 

Then it was the leagues leading hitter, Cleon Jones who blasted a three run HR, blowing the game open to 8-1 Mets. For Cleon he was now hitting .351 with 8 HRs. 

Joan Hodges holds her husbands' Gil Glove, 

with a ball looking for Mets 12th straight win.

In the 9th with future Met, Ray Sadecki on the mound for the Giants, Agee blasted another HR, his second of the day, ninth of the year. It was his fourth hit on the day & third run batted in with three runs scored. Jerry Grote & Don Cardwell both had three hits on the day as well.

Cardwell received a lot of run support on this day, a poor 9th inning where he gave up HRs to Willie McCovey (his league leading 20th) & Jack Hiatt (a two run shot) didn't matter. Ron Taylor came in & got the last two outs (5th save) as the Mets romped 9-4.

Trivia: The Mets win streak was now at 11 games, their best in 1969. It would end there as they were defeated the next night. At this point it was their longest win streak in team history. It also was the best streak for any team in 1969 up to that point. 

Wednesday June 11th 1969: For the Giants it was the Hall of Famer; Gaylord Perry who finally stopped the Mets win streak at 11, beating them 7-2. Perry went the distance, holding the Mets to two runs on four hits, while striking out just four & walking four. 

He went to 9-5 on the year where he would go 19-14 with a 2.49 ERA. He would win 19 or more games, including two twenty plus win seasons in four of the next five seasons (1969-1973).

For the Gary Gentry was knocked out in the 4th inning taking the loss to go 5-5. 

Trivia: From this point on the rest of the season, the Mets will win 71 of the 110 remaining games.