1969 New York Mets
World Series Champions
National League Champions
National League East Champions
Bullpen coach Joe Pignatano, third base coach Eddie Yost, and first base coach Yogi Berra in September 1969.
Bullpen coach Joe Pignatano, third base coach Eddie Yost, and first base coach Yogi Berra in September 1969.
LeagueNational League
DivisionEast
BallparkShea Stadium
CityNew York City, New York
Record100–62 (.617)
Divisional place1st
OwnersJoan Whitney Payson
General managersJohnny Murphy
ManagersGil Hodges
TelevisionWOR-TV 9
(Lindsey Nelson, Bob Murphy, Ralph Kiner)
RadioWJRZ–AM 970/WABC-FM 95.5
(Lindsey Nelson, Bob Murphy, Ralph Kiner)
StatsESPN.com
BB-reference
Seasons

The 1969 New York Mets season was the team's eighth as a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise and culminated when they won the World Series over the Baltimore Orioles. They played their home games at Shea Stadium and were managed by Gil Hodges. The team is often referred to as the "Amazin' Mets" (a nickname coined by Casey Stengel, who managed the team from their inaugural season to 1965) or the "Miracle Mets".

The 1969 season was the first season of divisional play in Major League Baseball. The Mets were assigned to the newly created National League East. In their seven previous seasons, the Mets had never finished higher than ninth place in the ten-team National League and had never had a winning season. They lost at least one hundred games in five of the seasons. However, they overcame mid-season difficulties while the division leaders for much of the season, the Chicago Cubs, suffered a late-season collapse. The Mets finished 100–62, eight games ahead of the Cubs. They went on to defeat the National League West champion Atlanta Braves three games to none in the inaugural NLCS, and defeat the American League champion Orioles in five games. First baseman Donn Clendenon was named the World Series' most valuable player on the strength of his .357 batting average, three home runs, and four runs batted in.

On Saturday, August 22, 2009, many of the surviving members of the 1969 championship team reunited at the New York Mets' present park, Citi Field.[1]

Offseason

Trades

Date Details
December, 1968Jerry Buchek traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for Jim Cosman
December 2, 1968Drafted Wayne Garrett from the Atlanta Braves in the 1968 rule 5 draft
Tommie Reynolds drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 1968 rule 5 draft
Juan Rios drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 1968 rule 5 draft
Bill Short drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 1968 rule 5 draft
February 5, 1969Greg Goossen and cash traded to the Seattle Pilots for a player to be named later. Received Jim Gosger three months later to complete the trade.

Spring training

The Mets held spring training at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida, for the 8th season.

Regular season

Shea Stadium prior to a game in September 1969.

The Mets had never finished higher than ninth place in a ten-team league in their first seven seasons. As an expansion team, they went 40–120 in 1962, the most losses by an MLB team in one season in the 20th century, and the 1962 Mets' .250 winning percentage was higher than only the .248 posted by the 1935 Boston Braves.

The Mets never had been over .500 after the ninth game of any season. Seven years after their disastrous inaugural season, "The Amazin' Mets" (as nicknamed by previous manager Casey Stengel) won the World Series, the first expansion team to do so.

1969 was the first year of divisional baseball, precipitated by the expansion of each league from 10 to 12 teams.[3] The Kansas City Royals and Seattle Pilots joined the American League. The San Diego Padres and Montreal Expos joined the National League. Before 1969, the first place team in each league advanced directly to the World Series. Under the new structure, each league was divided into East and West divisions, each comprising six teams, with the divisional winners facing off in a best-of-five playoff for the right to represent their league in the World Series. The Mets were slotted into the National League Eastern Division, along with the Chicago Cubs, the Philadelphia Phillies, the Pittsburgh Pirates, expansion Montreal Expos, and the St. Louis Cardinals, who had been World Champions in 1964 and 1967 and losers of the 1968 World Series. For the first time since joining the National League in 1962, the Mets could finish no lower than 6th.[4] The New York Times journalist, Joseph Durso, predicted the Mets would finish 4th in the East, ahead of the Pirates and the Expos.[5]

On Tuesday April 8, with 44,541 fans in attendance at Shea Stadium, the Mets and the Expos played the first international baseball game in major league baseball history. The Mets had lost seven straight opening day games since joining the national league in 1962. That dubious record reached eight when the Expos prevailed in an 11-10 slugfest, despite the Mets scoring four runs with two down in the bottom of the ninth, highlighted by a pinch hit three-run homer by Duffy Dyer. Apparently, this was axiomatic Mets baseball, as one columnist described the Mets as "masters of the lingering death."[6]

The Mets took the next two games from the Expos, but then lost six of the following 7 games, bringing their record to 3–7. After a 9–14 start, the Mets won 9 of their next 13 games, including consecutive shutouts in late April against the Cubs and Expos. When Tom Seaver shutout the Atlanta Braves 5–0 on May 21, the Mets were 18-18, their best start in franchise history. But the Mets lost their next five games, starting with a 15-3 drubbing from the Atlanta Braves, followed by a 3-game sweep by the Astros, who outscored the Mets 18–4, and finishing with a loss at Shea Stadium to the lowly Padres.[7] At the end of play on May 27, the Mets' record stood at 18–23. Then, in late May, the Mets reeled off a club-record 11 straight wins, which included three walk-off wins and dominant pitching, as the Mets pitching staff yielded a stingy 2-runs per game. Starting with their 42nd game, the Mets went 82–39 (a .678 winning percentage), including an astonishing 38–11 in their last 49 games.[8]

Despite that performance, the Mets suffered two mid-season three-game series sweeps at the hands of the Houston Astros, who manhandled the Mets all season, taking 10 of the 12 games the teams played. They were also no-hit by Bob Moose of the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 20, only five days after becoming the first major league team to strike out 19 times in a nine-inning game, a game they won, 4–3, on a pair of two-run home runs by Ron Swoboda, against the Cardinals' Steve Carlton.

Trailing the Chicago Cubs for much of the season, the Mets found themselves in third place, 10 games back, on August 14[9] but they won 14 of their last 17 games during August, and 24 of their 32 games during September and October, to surge past the Cubs, finishing 100–62, eight games ahead of the Cubs. That 18 game differential is one of the largest turnarounds in MLB history.

Season standings

National League East

NL East W L Pct. GB Home Road
New York Mets 10062 0.617 — 52–30 48–32
Chicago Cubs 9270 0.568 8 49–32 43–38
Pittsburgh Pirates 8874 0.543 12 47–34 41–40
St. Louis Cardinals 8775 0.537 13 42–38 45–37
Philadelphia Phillies 6399 0.389 37 30–51 33–48
Montreal Expos 52110 0.321 48 24–57 28–53

Record vs. opponents

Record Games Left
OpponentHomeRoadTotalHomeRoadTotal
NL East
Chicago Cubs5–45–410–8–––
Montreal Expos7–26–313–5–––
Philadelphia Phillies5–47–212–6–––
Pittsburgh Pirates4–56–310–8–––
St. Louis Cardinals6–46–212–6–––
NL West
Atlanta Braves4–24–28–4–––
Cincinnati Reds3–33–36–6–––
Houston Astros2–40–62–10–––
Los Angeles Dodgers6–02–48–4–––
San Diego Padres5–16–011–1–––
San Francisco Giants5–13–38–4–––
Grand Totals52–3048–32100–62–––
Month Games Won Lost Pct.
April20911.450
May241212.500
June28199.679
July271512.556
August312110.677
September30237.767
October211.500
Totals16210062.617

Schedule and results

Regular season

1969 Regular Season Game Log (100–62) (Home: 52–30; Road: 48–32)
April (9–11) (Home: 4–8; Road: 5–3)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceStadiumRecordReportRankGB
1April 8Expos10–11Shaw (1–0)Koonce (0–1)Sembera (1)44,541Shea Stadium0–1Boxscore4−12:05 PM ESTWOR-TV
2April 9Expos9–5McGraw (1–0)Stoneman (0–1)Ryan (1)13,827Shea Stadium1–1Boxscore3−12:05 PM ESTWOR-TV
3April 10Expos4–2Gentry (1–0)Jaster (0–1)Koonce (1)8,608Shea Stadium2–1Boxscore3−12:05 PM ESTWOR-TV
4April 11Cardinals5–6Koosman (0–1)12,591Shea Stadium2–2Boxscore3−2WOR-TV
5April 12Cardinals0–1Cardwell (0–1)19,510Shea Stadium2–3Boxscore3−2WOR-TV
6April 13Cardinals1–3Seaver (0–1)25,314Shea Stadium2–4Boxscore4−3WOR-TV
7April 14@ Phillies1–5McAndrew (0–1)13,070Connie Mack Stadium2–5Boxscore5−47:35 PM ESTWOR-TV
8April 15@ Phillies6–3Gentry (2–0)Koonce (2)2,880Connie Mack Stadium3–5Boxscore4−47:35 PM ESTWOR-TV
9April 16@ Pirates3–11Koosman (0–2)7,666Forbes Field3–6Boxscore5−58:05 PM ESTWOR-TV
10April 17@ Pirates0–4Cardwell (0–2)8,097Forbes Field3–7Boxscore5−68:05 PM ESTWOR-TV
April 18@ CardinalsPostponed (rain); rescheduled for July 1Busch Memorial Stadium–6
11April 19@ Cardinals2–1Seaver (1–1)20,716Busch Memorial Stadium4–7Boxscore4−6WOR-TV
12April 20@ Cardinals11–3Ryan (1–0)Koonce (3)19,065Busch Memorial Stadium5–7Boxscore3−5½WOR-TV
13April 21Phillies1–2
(11)		Taylor (0–1)9,286Shea Stadium5–8Boxscore3−6WOR-TV
April 22PhilliesPostponed (rain); rescheduled for September 5Shea Stadium−5
14April 23Pirates2–0Koosman (1–2)7,274Shea Stadium6–8Boxscore3−4½WOR-TV
April 24PiratesPostponed (rain); rescheduled for September 19Shea Stadium–5
15April 25Cubs1–3Jenkins (3–1)Seaver (1–2)18,548Shea Stadium6–9Boxscore4−5WOR-TV
16April 26Cubs3–9Cardwell (0–3)16,252Shea Stadium6–10Boxscore5−6WOR-TV
17April 27Cubs6–8Koonce (0–2)N/AShea Stadium6–11Boxscore4−6WOR-TV
18April 27Cubs3–0McGraw (2–0)37,437Shea Stadium7–11Boxscore4−6WOR-TV
19April 29@ Expos2–0Ryan (2–0)8,577Jarry Park8–11Boxscore3−6½4:05 PM EDT
20April 30@ Expos2–1Seaver (2–2)19,024Jarry Park9–11Boxscore3−5½8:05 PM EDTWOR-TV
May (12–12) (Home: 7–5; Road: 5–7)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceStadiumRecordReportRankGB
21May 1@ Expos2–3Cardwell (0–4)7,741Jarry Park9–12Boxscore4−64:05 PM EDT
22May 2@ Cubs4–6Gentry (2–1)14,702Wrigley Field9–13Boxscore5−7
23May 3@ Cubs2–3Koonce (0–3)23,228Wrigley Field9–14Boxscore5−82:15 PM EDTWOR-TV
24May 4@ Cubs3–2Seaver (3–2)N/AWrigley Field10–14Boxscore4−6WOR-TV
25May 4@ Cubs3–2McGraw (3–0)40,484Wrigley Field11–14Boxscore4−6WOR-TV
26May 6Reds8–1Cardwell (1–4)12,291Shea Stadium12–14Boxscore4−6WOR-TV
27May 7Reds0–3Gentry (2–2)9,242Shea Stadium12–15Boxscore4−6WOR-TV
May 9AstrosPostponed (rain); rescheduled for July 30Shea Stadium–5
28May 10Astros3–1Seaver (4–2)14,981Shea Stadium13–15Boxscore3−5WOR-TV
29May 11Astros1–4Cardwell (1–5)N/AShea Stadium13–16Boxscore3−5½WOR-TV
30May 11Astros11–7Koonce (1–3)19,456Shea Stadium14–16Boxscore3−5½WOR-TV
31May 13Braves3–4Reed (5–1)Gentry (2–3)Upshaw (8)12,332Shea Stadium14–17Boxscore3−7WOR-TV
32May 14Braves9–3Seaver (5–2)Niekro (5–2)Taylor (1)15,365Shea Stadium15–17Boxscore3−7WOR-TV
33May 15Braves5–6Jarvis (3–2)Cardwell (1–6)Upshaw (9)14,370Shea Stadium15–18Boxscore3−7½
34May 16@ Reds10–9Koonce (2–3)11,736Crosley Field16–18Boxscore3−7½8:05 PM EDTWOR-TV
35May 17@ Reds11–3Gentry (3–3)8,925Crosley Field17–18Boxscore3−6½8:05 PM EDTWOR-TV
May 18@ RedsPostponed (rain); rescheduled for August 5Crosley Field–6
36May 21@ Braves5–0Seaver (6–2)Niekro (5–3)14,669Atlanta Stadium18–18Boxscore3−5½WOR-TV
37May 22@ Braves3–15Jarvis (4–2)McGraw (3–1)Stone (1)12,574Atlanta Stadium18–19Boxscore3−6½WOR-TV
38May 23@ Astros0–7Gentry (3–4)10,825Astrodome18–20Boxscore4−7½WOR-TV
39May 24@ Astros1–5Koosman (1–3)17,911Astrodome18–21Boxscore4−8½8:30 PM EDTWOR-TV
40May 25@ Astros3–6Seaver (6–3)22,716Astrodome18–22Boxscore4−9WOR-TV
41May 27Padres2–3McAndrew (0–2)11,772Shea Stadium18–23Boxscore4−9WOR-TV
42May 28Padres1–0
(11)		McGraw (4–1)11,860Shea Stadium19–23Boxscore4−9WOR-TV
43May 30Giants4–3Seaver (7–3)Taylor (2)52,272Shea Stadium20–23Boxscore3−9WOR-TV
44May 31Giants4–2Gentry (4–4)McGraw (1)32,178Shea Stadium21–23Boxscore3−9WOR-TV
June (19–9) (Home: 9–5; Road: 10–4)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceStadiumRecordReportRankGB
45June 1Giants5–4Taylor (1–1)41,294Shea Stadium22–23Boxscore3−9WOR-TV
46June 2Dodgers2–1Koosman (2–3)22,600Shea Stadium23–23Boxscore3−8½
47June 3Dodgers5–2Seaver (8–3)McGraw (2)24,212Shea Stadium24–23Boxscore2−8½WOR-TV
48June 4Dodgers1–0
(15)		Taylor (2–1)31,331Shea Stadium25–23Boxscore2−8½WOR-TV
49June 6@ Padres5–3Gentry (5–4)Taylor (3)11,203San Diego Stadium26–23Boxscore2−8½11:00 PM EDT
50June 7@ Padres4–1Koosman (3–3)10,827San Diego Stadium27–23Boxscore2−8
51June 8@ Padres3–2Seaver (9–3)Taylor (4)8,568San Diego Stadium28–23Boxscore2−7½WOR-TV
52June 10@ Giants9–4Cardwell (2–6)Taylor (5)6,038Candlestick Park29–23Boxscore2−711:00 PM EDT
53June 11@ Giants2–7Gentry (5–5)3,935Candlestick Park29–24Boxscore2−74:00 PM EDTWOR-TV
54June 13@ Dodgers0–1Koosman (3–4)20,042Dodger Stadium29–25Boxscore2−8½11:00 PM EDT
55June 14@ Dodgers3–1Seaver (10–3)McGraw (3)26,727Dodger Stadium30–25Boxscore2−8½11:00 PM EDT
56June 15@ Dodgers2–3DiLauro (0–1)28,086Dodger Stadium30–26Boxscore2−94:00 PM EDTWOR-TV
57June 17@ Phillies1–0Gentry (6–5)N/AConnie Mack Stadium31–26Boxscore2−7½
58June 17@ Phillies3–7Cardwell (2–7)17,259Connie Mack Stadium31–27Boxscore2−7½
59June 18@ Phillies2–0Koosman (4–4)5,608Connie Mack Stadium32–27Boxscore2−7WOR-TV
60June 19@ Phillies6–5Taylor (3–1)McGraw (4)6,871Connie Mack Stadium33–27Boxscore2−6WOR-TV
61June 20Cardinals4–3Ryan (3–0)McGraw (5)54,083Shea Stadium34–27Boxscore2−6WOR-TV
62June 21Cardinals3–5DiLauro (0–2)29,628Shea Stadium34–28Boxscore2−6WOR-TV
63June 22Cardinals5–1Gentry (7–5)Koonce (4)N/AShea Stadium35–28Boxscore2−5WOR-TV
64June 22Cardinals1–0Koosman (5–4)55,862Shea Stadium36–28Boxscore2−5WOR-TV
65June 24Phillies2–1Seaver (11–3)N/AShea Stadium37–28Boxscore2−5WOR-TV
66June 24Phillies5–0McAndrew (1–2)Taylor (6)39,843Shea Stadium38–28Boxscore2−5WOR-TV
67June 25Phillies5–6
(10)		Taylor (3–2)27,814Shea Stadium38–29Boxscore2−6WOR-TV
68June 26Phillies0–2Cardwell (2–8)15,360Shea Stadium38–30Boxscore2−7
69June 27Pirates1–3Koosman (5–5)42,276Shea Stadium38–31Boxscore2−7WOR-TV
70June 28Pirates4–7Gentry (7–6)48,398Shea Stadium38–32Boxscore2−8WOR-TV
71June 29Pirates7–3Seaver (12–3)27,455Shea Stadium39–32Boxscore2−8½WOR-TV
72June 30@ Cardinals10–2McAndrew (2–2)17,476Busch Memorial Stadium40–32Boxscore2−7½9:00 PM EDTWOR-TV
July (15–12) (Home: 6–7; Road: 9–5)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceStadiumRecordReportRankGB
73July 1@ Cardinals1–4Ryan (3–1)N/ABusch Memorial Stadium40–33Boxscore2−86:00 PM EDTWOR-TV
74July 1@ Cardinals5–8DiLauro (0–3)19,799Busch Memorial Stadium40–34Boxscore2−88:29 PM EDTWOR-TV
75July 2@ Cardinals6–4
(14)		McGraw (5–1)14,928Busch Memorial Stadium41–34Boxscore2−89:00 PM EDTWOR-TV
76July 3@ Cardinals8–1Gentry (8–6)11,070Busch Memorial Stadium42–34Boxscore2−8
77July 4@ Pirates11–6Seaver (13–3)Koonce (5)N/AForbes Field43–34Boxscore2−7½10:35 AM EDTWOR-TV
78July 4@ Pirates9–2Cardwell (3–8)17,631Forbes Field44–34Boxscore2−7½1:57 PM EDTWOR-TV
July 5@ PiratesPostponed (rain); rescheduled for September 12Forbes Field–6½
79July 6@ Pirates8–7Taylor (4–2)Koonce (6)11,552Forbes Field45–34Boxscore2−5½1:35 PM EDTWOR-TV
80July 8Cubs4–3Koosman (6–5)Jenkins (11–6)55,096Shea Stadium46–34Boxscore2−4½WOR-TV
81July 9Cubs4–0Seaver (14–3)50,709Shea Stadium47–34Boxscore2−3½WOR-TV
82July 10Cubs2–6Gentry (8–7)36,012Shea Stadium47–35Boxscore2−4½
83July 11Expos4–11McAndrew (2–3)36,012Shea Stadium47–36Boxscore2−4½WOR-TV
July 12ExposPostponed (rain); rescheduled for September 10Shea Stadium–5
84July 13Expos4–3Koosman (7–5)N/AShea Stadium48–36Boxscore2−5WOR-TV
85July 13Expos9–7Koonce (3–3)Taylor (7)40,653Shea Stadium49–36Boxscore2−5WOR-TV
86July 14@ Cubs0–1Seaver (14–4)37,473Wrigley Field49–37Boxscore2−6
87July 15@ Cubs5–4Gentry (9–7)Taylor (8)38,608Wrigley Field50–37Boxscore2−5
88July 16@ Cubs9–5Koonce (4–3)Jenkins (12–7)Taylor (9)36,795Wrigley Field51–37Boxscore2−4
89July 18@ Expos5–2Koosman (8–5)23,507Jarry Park52–37Boxscore2−4WOR-TV
90July 19@ Expos4–5Seaver (14–5)21,493Jarry Park52–38Boxscore2−4NBC
91July 20@ Expos2–3Gentry (9–8)N/AJarry Park52–39Boxscore2−5WOR-TV
92July 20@ Expos4–3
(10)		DiLauro (1–3)27,356Jarry Park53–39Boxscore2−5WOR-TV
July 23: All-Star Game (NL wins—)9–3Carlton (STL)Stottlemyre (NYY)45,259RFK StadiumWashington, D.C.
93July 24Reds3–4
(12)		McGraw (5–2)30,934Shea Stadium53–40Boxscore2−6WOR-TV
94July 25Reds4–3Taylor (5–2)37,470Shea Stadium54–40Boxscore2−5WOR-TV
95July 26Reds3–2Seaver (15–5)25,259Shea Stadium55–40Boxscore2−5
96July 27Reds3–6Cardwell (3–9)55,391Shea Stadium55–41Boxscore2−5WOR-TV
July 29AstrosPostponed (rain); rescheduled for July 31Shea Stadium–5½
97July 30Astros3–16Koosman (8–6)N/AShea Stadium55–42Boxscore2−5½
98July 30Astros5–11Gentry (9–9)28,922Shea Stadium55–43Boxscore2−5½
99July 31Astros0–2Seaver (15–6)6,683Shea Stadium55–44Boxscore2−6½WOR-TV
August (21–10) (Home: 12–1; Road: 9–9)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceStadiumRecordReportRankGB
100August 1Braves5–4Koonce (5–3)Niekro (14–9)Taylor (10)34,779Shea Stadium56–44Boxscore2−6½WOR-TV
101August 2Braves1–0McAndrew (3–3)Reed (10–8)McGraw (6)37,442Shea Stadium57–44Boxscore2−6½WOR-TV
102August 3Braves6–5
(11)		Taylor (6–2)Raymond (2–2)34,696Shea Stadium58–44Boxscore2−6½WOR-TV
103August 4@ Reds0–1Koosman (8–7)13,228Crosley Field58–45Boxscore2−7½
104August 5@ Reds5–8Seaver (15–7)N/ACrosley Field58–46Boxscore2−8WOR-TV
105August 5@ Reds10–1Ryan (4–1)31,062Crosley Field59–46Boxscore2−8WOR-TV
106August 6@ Reds2–3McAndrew (3–4)17,452Crosley Field59–47Boxscore2−9WOR-TV
107August 8@ Braves4–1Koosman (9–7)Pappas (5–8)N/AAtlanta Stadium60–47Boxscore2−8½WOR-TV
108August 8@ Braves0–1
(10)		Reed (11–8)Taylor (6–3)42,838Atlanta Stadium60–48Boxscore2−8½WOR-TV
109August 9@ Braves5–3Seaver (16–7)Stone (9–7)Koonce (7)28,194Atlanta Stadium61–48Boxscore2−8½NBC
110August 10@ Braves3–0Cardwell (4–9)Britton (5–3)McGraw (7)18,224Atlanta Stadium62–48Boxscore2−7½WOR-TV
111August 11@ Astros0–3McAndrew (3–5)21,798Astrodome62–49Boxscore2−8
112August 12@ Astros7–8Koosman (9–8)22,283Astrodome62–50Boxscore2−9WOR-TV
113August 13@ Astros2–8Gentry (9–10)30,590Astrodome62–51Boxscore3−108:30 PM EDTWOR-TV
August 15PadresPostponed (rain); rescheduled for August 17Shea Stadium–9½
114August 16Padres2–0Seaver (17–7)Taylor (11)N/AShea Stadium63–51Boxscore2−9WOR-TV
115August 16Padres2–1McAndrew (4–5)McGraw (8)19,940Shea Stadium64–51Boxscore2−9WOR-TV
116August 17Padres3–2Koosman (10–8)N/AShea Stadium65–51Boxscore2−8WOR-TV
117August 17Padres3–2Cardwell (5–9)Taylor (12)35,711Shea Stadium66–51Boxscore2−8WOR-TV
118August 19Giants1–0
(14)		McGraw (6–2)48,968Shea Stadium67–51Boxscore2−8WOR-TV
119August 20Giants6–0McAndrew (5–5)48,414Shea Stadium68–51Boxscore2−7WOR-TV
120August 21Giants6–7
(11)		Taylor (6–4)42,795Shea Stadium68–52Boxscore2−7WOR-TV
121August 22Dodgers5–3Koosman (11–8)McGraw (9)50,460Shea Stadium69–52Boxscore2−6WOR-TV
122August 23Dodgers3–2Taylor (7–4)40,974Shea Stadium70–52Boxscore2−6WOR-TV
123August 24Dodgers7–4Koonce (6–3)48,435Shea Stadium71–52Boxscore2−5½WOR-TV
124August 26@ Padres8–4Seaver (18–7)N/ASan Diego Stadium72–52Boxscore2−3½
125August 26@ Padres3–0McAndrew (6–5)8,873San Diego Stadium73–52Boxscore2−3½
126August 27@ Padres4–1Koosman (12–8)5,525San Diego Stadium74–52Boxscore2−2½
127August 29@ Giants0–5Gentry (9–11)13,843Candlestick Park74–53Boxscore2−4
128August 30@ Giants3–2
(10)		McGraw (7–2)14,436Candlestick Park75–53Boxscore2−4
129August 31@ Giants8–0Seaver (19–7)N/ACandlestick Park76–53Boxscore2−4½
130August 31@ Giants2–3
(11)		McGraw (7–3)32,327Candlestick Park76–54Boxscore2−4½
September (23–7) (Home: 13–4; Road: 10–3)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceStadiumRecordReportRankGB
131September 1@ Dodgers6–10Koosman (12–9)28,079Dodger Stadium76–55Boxscore2−5WOR-TV
132September 2@ Dodgers5–4Gentry (10–11)McGraw (10)25,676Dodger Stadium77–55Boxscore2−5
133September 3@ Dodgers4–5DiLauro (1–4)26,625Dodger Stadium77–56Boxscore2−5
134September 5Phillies5–1Seaver (20–7)N/AShea Stadium78–56Boxscore2−4½
135September 5Phillies2–4McAndrew (6–6)40,450Shea Stadium78–57Boxscore2−4½WOR-TV
136September 6Phillies3–0Cardwell (6–9)McGraw (11)20,477Shea Stadium79–57Boxscore2−3½WOR-TVNBC
137September 7Phillies9–3Ryan (5–1)28,937Shea Stadium80–57Boxscore2−2½WOR-TV
138September 8Cubs3–2Koosman (13–9)43,274Shea Stadium81–57Boxscore2−1½WOR-TV
139September 9Cubs7–1Seaver (21–7)Jenkins (19–13)51,448Shea Stadium82–57Boxscore2-½WOR-TV
140September 10Expos3–2
(12)		Taylor (8–4)N/AShea Stadium83–57Boxscore1+1WOR-TV
141September 10Expos7–1Ryan (6–1)23,512Shea Stadium84–57Boxscore1+1WOR-TV
142September 11Expos4–0Gentry (11–11)10,713Shea Stadium85–57Boxscore1+2
143September 12@ Pirates1–0Koosman (14–9)N/AForbes Field86–57Boxscore1+2½6:05 PM EDT
144September 12@ Pirates1–0Cardwell (7–9)McGraw (12)19,303Forbes Field87–57Boxscore1+2½8:49 PM EDTWOR-TV
145September 13@ Pirates5–2Seaver (22–7)10,440Forbes Field88–57Boxscore1+3½4:15 PM EDTWOR-TVNBC
146September 14@ Pirates3–5Ryan (6–2)11,324Forbes Field88–58Boxscore1+3½1:35 PM EDTWOR-TV
147September 15@ Cardinals4–3McGraw (8–3)13,086Busch Memorial Stadium89–58Boxscore1+4½9:00 PM EDTWOR-TV
September 16@ CardinalsPostponed (rain); rescheduled for September 22Busch Memorial Stadium+4
148September 17@ Expos5–0Koosman (15–9)10,422Jarry Park90–58Boxscore1+4
149September 18@ Expos2–0Seaver (23–7)13,280Jarry Park91–58Boxscore1+5
150September 19Pirates2–8Ryan (6–3)N/AShea Stadium91–59Boxscore1+4
151September 19Pirates0–8McAndrew (6–7)51,885Shea Stadium91–60Boxscore1+4
152September 20Pirates0–4Gentry (11–12)38,784Shea Stadium91–61Boxscore1+4WOR-TV
153September 21Pirates5–3Koosman (16–9)N/AShea Stadium92–61Boxscore1+4½WOR-TV
154September 21Pirates6–1Cardwell (8–9)55,901Shea Stadium93–61Boxscore1+4½WOR-TV
155September 22Cardinals3–1Seaver (24–7)23,267Shea Stadium94–61Boxscore1+5
156September 23Cardinals3–2
(11)		McGraw (9–3)32,364Shea Stadium95–61Boxscore1+6WOR-TV
157September 24Cardinals6–0Gentry (12–12)Carlton (17–11)54,928Shea Stadium96–61Boxscore1+6WOR-TV
158September 26@ Phillies5–0Koosman (17–9)6,288Connie Mack Stadium97–61Boxscore1+7WOR-TV
159September 27@ Phillies1–0Seaver (25–7)4,297Connie Mack Stadium98–61Boxscore1+8
160September 28@ Phillies2–0Gentry (13–12)Taylor (13)6,875Connie Mack Stadium99–61Boxscore1+8
October (1–1) (Road: 1–1)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceStadiumRecordReportRankGB
161October 1@ Cubs6–5
(12)		Taylor (9–4)Johnson (1)10,136Wrigley Field100–61Boxscore1+92:30 PM EDT
162October 2@ Cubs3–5Decker (1–0)Cardwell (8–10)9,981Wrigley Field100–62Boxscore1+82:30 PM EDT
Legend
Mets win Mets loss All-Star Game Game postponed Clinched
"GB" legend
1st (NL East) Not in playoff berth Tied for 1st (NL East)

All times are EASTERN time

  • All games broadcast on WJRZ and METS RADIO NETWORK

Postseason

1969 Postseason Game Log
National League Championship Series vs. Atlanta – New York (NL) wins series 3–0
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceStadiumReportGame TimeLocal TVNational TV
1October 4@ Braves9–5Seaver (1–0)Niekro (0–1)50,122Atlanta StadiumBoxscore4:10 PM EDTWOR-TVNBC
2October 5@ Braves11–6Taylor (1–0)Reed (0–1)McGraw (1)50,270Atlanta StadiumBoxscore4:10 PM EDTWOR-TVNBC
3October 6Braves7–4Ryan (1–0)Jarvis (0–1)54,195Shea StadiumBoxscore1:10 PM EDTWOR-TVNBC
World Series vs. Baltimore – New York (NL) wins series 4–1
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceStadiumReportGame TimeLocal TVNational TV
1October 11@ Orioles1–4Cuellar (1–0)Seaver (0–1)50,429Memorial StadiumBoxscore1:00 PM EDTWOR-TVNBCNBC
2October 12@ Orioles2–1Koosman (1–0)McNally (0–1)Taylor (1)50,850Memorial StadiumBoxscore2:00 PM EDTWOR-TVNBCNBC
3October 14Orioles5–0Gentry (1–0)Palmer (0–1)Ryan (1)56,335Shea StadiumBoxscore1:00 PM EDTWOR-TVNBCNBC
4October 15Orioles2–1 (10)Seaver (1–1)Hall (0–1)57,367Shea StadiumBoxscore1:00 PM EDTWOR-TVNBCNBC
5October 16Orioles5–3Koosman (2–0)Watt (0–1)57,397Shea StadiumBoxscore1:00 PM EDTWOR-TVNBCNBC
Legend
Mets win Mets loss

All times are EASTERN time

Attendance

Attendance Rank
2,175,373 1

Roster

1969 New York Mets
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

 Outfielders Manager

Coaches

The final out

With two outs in the top of the ninth inning, starting pitcher Jerry Koosman faced Orioles second baseman Davey Johnson (who later managed the Mets to their second World Series championship in 1986). After taking a pitch of two balls and one strike, Johnson hit a fly-ball out to left field which was caught by Cleon Jones.[10]

Hall of Fame members who played in the 1969 World Series

Two future Hall of Fame members were on that Mets' roster: pitcher Tom Seaver (who won twenty-five games en route to winning the Cy Young Award) and a young Nolan Ryan (playing in his third season). Seaver was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992 and Ryan in 1999. Manager Gil Hodges was elected to the Hall in 2022. Bench coach Yogi Berra and Director of Player Development Whitey Herzog are also in the Hall of Fame.

The Baltimore Orioles boasted four future Hall of Famers on their roster: pitcher Jim Palmer, outfielder Frank Robinson, third baseman Brooks Robinson, and manager Earl Weaver.

Opening Day starters

Notable transactions

Player stats

= Indicates team leader

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI
CJerry Grote11336592.252640
1BEd Kranepool11235384.2381149
2BKen Boswell102362101.279332
3BWayne Garrett12440087.218139
SSBud Harrelson12339598.248024
LFCleon Jones137483164.3401275
CFTommie Agee149565153.2712676
RFRon Swoboda10932777.235952

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI
Art Shamsky10030391.3001447
Al Weis10324753.215223
Rod Gaspar11821549.228119
Bobby Pfeil6221149.232010
Donn Clendenon7220251.2521237
J. C. Martin6617737.209421
Ed Charles6116935.207318
Amos Otis489314.15104
Duffy Dyer297419.257312
Kevin Collins16406.15012
Jim Gosger10152.13301
Bob Heise4103.30000

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Tom Seaver36273.12572.21208
Jerry Koosman32241.01792.28180
Gary Gentry35233.213123.43154
Don Cardwell30152.18103.0160
Jim McAndrew27135.0673.4790

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Nolan Ryan2589.1633.5392
Jack DiLauro2363.2142.4027

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G W L SV ERA SO
Ron Taylor5994132.7242
Tug McGraw4293122.2492
Cal Koonce406374.9948
Al Jackson910010.6410
Danny Frisella30007.715
Jesse Hudson10004.503
Bob Johnson20010.001
Les Rohr100020.250

NLCS

Game 1

Saturday, October 4, 1969, at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta

Team123456789RHE
New York0202000509101
Atlanta0120101005102
WP: Tom Seaver (1–0)   LP: Phil Niekro (0–1)
Home runs:
NYM: None
ATL: Tony González (1), Hank Aaron (1)

Game 2

Sunday, October 5, 1969, at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia

Team123456789RHE
New York13221020011131
Atlanta000150000693
WP: Ron Taylor (1–0)   LP: Ron Reed (0–1)   Sv: Tug McGraw (1)
Home runs:
NYM: Tommie Agee (1), Ken Boswell (1), Cleon Jones (1)
ATL: Hank Aaron (2)

Game 3

Monday, October 6, 1969, at Shea Stadium in Queens, New York

Team123456789RHE
Atlanta200020000481
New York00123100X7140
WP: Nolan Ryan (1–0)   LP: Pat Jarvis (0–1)
Home runs:
ATL: Hank Aaron (3), Orlando Cepeda (1)
NYM: Tommie Agee (2), Ken Boswell (2), Wayne Garrett (1)

World Series

Game 1

Saturday, October 11, 1969, at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland

Team123456789RHE
New York000000100161
Baltimore10030000X460
WP: Mike Cuellar (1–0)   LP: Tom Seaver (0–1)
Home runs:
NYM: None
BAL: Don Buford (1)

Game 2

Sunday, October 12, 1969, at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland

Team123456789RHE
New York000100001260
Baltimore000000100120
WP: Jerry Koosman (1–0)   LP: Dave McNally (0–1)   Sv: Ron Taylor (1)
Home runs:
NYM: Donn Clendenon (1)
BAL: None

Game 3

Tuesday, October 14, 1969, at Shea Stadium in Flushing, Queens, New York

Team123456789RHE
Baltimore000000000041
New York12000101X560
WP: Gary Gentry (1–0)   LP: Jim Palmer (0–1)   Sv: Nolan Ryan (1)
Home runs:
BAL: None
NYM: Tommie Agee (1), Ed Kranepool (1)

Game 4

Wednesday, October 15, 1969, at Shea Stadium in Flushing, Queens, New York

Team12345678910RHE
Baltimore0000000010161
New York01000000012101
WP: Tom Seaver (1–1)   LP: Dick Hall (0–1)
Home runs:
BAL: None
NYM: Donn Clendenon (2)

Game 5

Thursday, October 16, 1969, at Shea Stadium in Flushing, Queens, New York

Team123456789RHE
Baltimore003000000352
New York00000212X570
WP: Jerry Koosman (2–0)   LP: Eddie Watt (0–1)
Home runs:
BAL: Dave McNally (1), Frank Robinson (1)
NYM: Donn Clendenon (3), Al Weis (1)

In the movie Oh, God!, God, as played by George Burns, explains to John Denver that "the last miracle I performed was the 1969 Mets."

Part of the movie Frequency is set in Queens, New York, in 1969, as firefighter and avid Mets fan Frank Sullivan (Dennis Quaid) and his family follow the "Amazin's" throughout the World Series.

In Moonlighting, Season 2, Episode 13, "In God We Strongly Suspect", when David is attempting to define the parameters of Maddie's skepticism and atheism by inviting her to provide logical explanations for various phenomena seemingly beyond man's understanding, he mentions the "'69 Mets" which she immediately dismisses as "a myth and a hoax".

In his song "Faith and Fear in Flushing Meadows", twee/folk artist Harry Breitner makes mention of Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman.

In the TV sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond episode "Big Shots", Ray and Robert visit the Baseball Hall of Fame to meet members of the '69 Mets.

In the film Men in Black 3, set shortly before the Apollo 11 launch in July 1969, Griffin, an alien from the fifth dimension who can see the future, says the Mets' title is his favorite human history moment for "all the improbabilities that helped".

In the TV show Growing Pains, the family's name was the Seavers and their neighbors were the Koosmans.

In the TV Sitcom The Simpsons episode MoneyBart, Homer Simpson says the 1969 Mets will live on forever.

Awards and honors

Awards

Nolan Ryan's 1969 championship ring on display at the Nolan Ryan Exhibit Center
Nolan Ryan's 1969 championship ring on display at the Nolan Ryan Exhibit Center
Regular Season
Player
Award
Al WeisBabe Ruth Award
Tom SeaverNational League Cy Young Award
Associated Press Athlete of the Year[13]
Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year
Playoffs
Player
Award
Donn ClendenonWorld Series Most Valuable Player Award
Regular Season
Manager
Award
Gil HodgesAssociated Press NL Manager of the Year

40th Major League Baseball All-Star Game

Outfielders

Pos # Player League AB H RBI
LF21Cleon JonesNational League
Starter		420

Pitchers

# Player League IP SO
36Jerry KoosmanNational League1.21
41Tom SeaverNational Leaguedid not pitch

Draft

Date Round Pick Player Position Hometown/School
June 5, 196914Randy SterlingRHPKey West, Florida
228Joe NolanCSt. Louis, Missouri

Farm system

Level Team League Manager
AAA Tidewater Tides International League Clyde McCullough
AA Memphis Blues Texas League Pete Pavlick, John Antonelli
and Roy McMillan
A Visalia Mets California League Roy McMillan, Chuck Estrada
and Harry Minor
A Pompano Beach Mets Florida State League Joe Frazier
Rookie Marion Mets Appalachian League Jack Cassini

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Memphis [14]

Notes

  1. ↑ "Seaver, Ryan and Koosman highlight Miracle Mets gathering to celebrate 40th anniversary of 1969 World Series Championship - mets.com: Official Info". mlb.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  2. ↑ Don Bosch at Baseball Reference
  3. ↑ /New York Times, Sunday April 6, 1969
  4. ↑ Id.
  5. ↑ Id.
  6. ↑ Joseph Durso, New York Times, April 9, 1969
  7. ↑ "1969 New York Mets Schedule".
  8. ↑ Id.
  9. ↑ "Events of Wednesday, August 13, 1969". www.retrosheet.org.
  10. ↑ snarfmatic (March 16, 2011). "New York Mets Win 1969 World Series". Archived from the original on December 21, 2021 – via YouTube.
  11. ↑ Al Jackson at Baseball Reference
  12. ↑ Donn Clendenon at Baseball Reference
  13. ↑ "Associated Press Athlete of the Year (male)". www.nndb.com.
  14. ↑ Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (1997). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (2nd ed.). Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America. ISBN 978-0-9637189-8-3.
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