Remembering Mets History: (1971) Seaver Closes Out the Year with His Third Career One Hitter Followed By his 20th Win

Sunday September 26th, 1971: Gil Hodges third place Mets (82-77) were closing out the regular season, with just four more games to play. Obviously, they were not making the post season but were still going to give the fans some last thrills. 

That season the Mets had displayed some exciting young players for the first time, pitchers Jon Matlack & Buzz Capra. Hitters John Milner, Ken Singleton, Mike Jorgensen, Tim Foli & Leroy Stanton. And it was to be a busy off season at a time with no free agency as the Mets traded to get some much-needed offense.

This week the Met's pitching star, "The Franchise" Tom Seaver (18-10) would make his last two starts of the year in the Mets final four games. Seaver would get the start in today's matinee at Shea & five days later on Thursday night.

Tonight, it was Seaver taking on Steve Blass (15-7) of Danny Murtaugh's first place & eventual World Champion, Pittsburgh Pirates in front of 30,519 at Shea Stadium.

Seaver would be outstanding, certainly thrilling the fans once again. 

In the top of the 1st, he began by striking out Dave Cash & Vic Davalillo. Seaver rolled along retiring the first twelve batters in a row.

In the 5th inning he struck out the side, fanning Willie Stargell, Milt May & Bob Robertson. 

In the 6th, Seaver struck out Jose Pagan & Gene Alley to get to nine K's on the day. He then got Steve Blass to ground out to end the inning.

Through the first six innings, Seaver had retired the first 18 batters he faced. The crowd began to stir & the tension was in the air. It was a familiar scene once again, as Tom Seaver was flirting with a no hitter & a perfect game.

By now the Mets offense had provided Seaver with three runs. In the 1st inning, three straight base hits from rookie Ken Singleton, Cleon Jones & Don Clendenon led to the first Mets run. 

In the home 5th, Tom Seaver walked & advanced on a sacrifice bunt from Bud Harrelson. Cleon Jones brought him in with a base hit & Tommie Agee followed with another RBI hit making it 3-0 Mets.

As Seaver took the mound in the 7th inning, he received a big ovation. The perfect game was ruined when he walked the leadoff man, Dave Cash. Then Vic Davalillo spoiled the no hit bid with a single to right field.

Trivia: Vic Davalillo had a long 16-year career playing for six teams, he was a lifetime .278 hitter. In 1971 he batted .285 sandwiched between two seasons where he hit .310 or better. He finished out his career playing for two Dodger pennant winners in the late 1970's as a good pinch hitter.

The crowd gave Seaver a standing ovation & he went back to work. Al Oliver followed with a sac fly to centerfield that scored Cash making it 3-1. He then got Willie Stargell to ground into a double play to end the inning.

Seaver held the 3-1 lead retiring the next six batters to finish the game with another one hitter. It was his third career one hit game & the eighth one hitter in Mets history up to that point.

On the day Seaver struck out ten & walked one, earning his 19th win of the year.

Thursday September 30th, 1971:  Tonight's game was the last game of the 1971 regular season. The Mets gave their fans woolen winter hats on Fan Appreciation Night. A good crowd of 42,344 came out to get their hats for the upcoming winter & watch Tom Seaver go for his 20th win of the season. 

Tonight, Gil Hodges Mets (83-79) hosted Red Schoendienst's second place St. Louis Cards (90-72) in an 8:05 evening start.

Trivia: No one knew at the time, but this was to be the last game Gil Hodges would manage as he would pass away from a heart attack at the end of Spring Training 1972.

Seaver's fastball was blazing once again tonight, he struck out Lou Brock to start the game & then Luis Melendez to end the inning.  

In the 2nd inning, he gave up a single to Ted Kubiak but struck out the other three Cardinal batters, to collect five K's in the first two innings.

In the 4th he struck out two more & got Daryl Patterson to strike out looking to end the 5th inning. 

At that point Seaver had at least one strike out in every inning. He would strike out at least one batter in every inning except the 6th & 9th innings. 

In the home 6th, the Mets sent nine men to the plate, collecting four hits & two walks all with two outs. 

Cleon Jones doubled & Ed Kranepool was walked intentionally leading to Ken Singleton's three run HR. It was the rookie's 13th HR of the year.

Wayne Garrett walked & Jerry Grote singled, they advanced on Jerry Ruess' wild pitch. Tim Foli then singled diving in both runners.

In the top of the 7th, Seaver struck out Joe Hague for his tenth K of the game. He then got Jorge Roque on strikes, then got Ted Kubiak to ground out to end the inning.

In the 8th, Jose Cruz tripled & scored on Lou Brock's double for the only St. Louis run.

Seaver would finish the night with 13 strike outs, going into double figures in strike outs for the
13th time on the season. 

He would finish the year with a career high 289 strike outs, leading the NL for the second straight year. He would also lead the league in ERA (1.76) for the second straight season.

The win was his 20th victory on the year, it was the second time he reached that mark in his young five-year career as well.