Mlb: 1969 World Series - Ny Mets Vs Baltimore Review

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(More customer reviews)In late 1969 when new American prisoners were brought to North Vietnamese prison camps they were always questioned by their fellow P.O.W.'s as to what was happening in the real world. When they were updated on the big news events the men who had been held captive for a while were willing to believe that America had landed a man on the moon, but they could not accept the fact that the New York Mets won the World Series in 1969. The Amazin' Mets had never had a winning record before 1969, but behind a pitching staff led by starters Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman and Gary Gentry (in their third, second and first seasons in the majors, respective) and with Tug McGraw and some kid named Nolan Ryan in the bullpen, the team became the Miracle Mets that year.
This was the first season of division play and after the Mets came from behind down the stretch to pull away from the Chicago Cubs and actually win 100 games, they swept the Atlanta Braves in three games to go on and face the Baltimore Orioles led by future Hall of Famers Frank and Brooks Robinson. Mike Cuellar defeated Seaver 4-1 in the first game in Baltimore and it looked like the Met's bubble had finally burst. But then Koosman out dueled the O's other 20 game winner, Dave McNally 2-1. When the series went back to Shea Stadium Gentry and Ryan combined on a 5-0 shutout defeating Jim Palmer. Game 4 saw Seaver redeem himself for being the only Met pitcher in history to lose a World Series game (at that point), with a 2-1 victory over Cuellar in 10 innings. Koosman picked up his second series win with a complete game 5-3 victory as the Mets claimed the title.
This first World Series title will always be the sweetest for Met fans, balls rolling through Bill Buckner's legs to the contrary. The video looks like it is from another century, but all of the moments you remember are preserved: the great plays in the outfield by Tommy Agee and Ron Swoboda, J.C. Martin's pivotal bunt, the three homers by Donn Clendenon, and the blazing bat of utility infielder Al Weis. My favorite memory is the home run by Ed Kranepool in the one game he started under Manager Gil Hodge's platoon system, since the left-handed first baseman had been with the team since coming up in that first season when they set a record for losing games. But the sight of Met's third baseman Ed Charles leaping in the air in celebration after what would prove to be his final professional game, is also still vivid.
Personal Note: We were living in Japan listening to the World Series games in the middle of the night on Armed Forces Radio in 1969. I thought I had learned the previous year, when the Tigers came back from a 3-1 deficit to win the series in 7 games, that every time I listened to a game the team I wanted to win ended up losing. But after missing Game 1 in 1969 it became clear that if I listened the National League team won. Since I was rooting for the Mets I had to get up for the next four games. But for Game 5 I did not wake up until the game was half over and the Orioles were up 3-0, at which point the Mets scored five runs in their last three at bats to clinch the title. Unfortunately, we moved back to the United States and I was not able to influence any more World Series games, having done so successfully 12 games in a row.

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