In a matchup between the 2nd-seeded 1969 World Champion Miracle Mets vs. the 15th-seeded 1997 NY Mets, it seemed on paper to be a mismatch.
Early on, the 1997 Manager, MMO writer Jorge Eckert expressed concern with his rotation…grimacing at the matchups
Game 1- Tom Seaver vs. Rick Reed
Game 2- Gary Gentry vs. Bobby Jones
Game 3- Jerry Koosman vs. Dave Mlicki
Game 4- Nolan Ryan vs. Armando Reynoso
The ’69 Manager, Mike Lloyd, a long-time MMO commenter, set his rotation with confidence. Surprisingly, manager Eckert’s concerns were largely unfounded- and the 1997 Mets proved to be more than they showed historically in the series.
Game 1
After an early flourish against Tom Seaver, and an early 4-0 lead, capped by a mammoth bases-clearing double from ’97 slugger Butch Huskey. The ’97 Mets seemed to have Seaver on the brink; Tom Terrific settled down. Rod Gaspar, playing hero with a three-run blast to tie it at 4-4.
The ’69 Mets turned to small ball to combat the power of the vaunted ’97 Mets offense, using sacrifices to get runners in scoring position, good situational hitting, and a suicide squeeze to build a lead and come away with a hard-fought 9-7 victory vs. The ’97 Mets.
McAndrew, Ron Taylor, and Tug McGraw, in relief of Seaver, provided just enough…McAndrew the winner. ’69 Mets lead ’97 Mets 1-0.
Game 2
The ’69 Mets brought in Jack DiLauro in the sixth to pitch to John Olerud, and the Southpaw specialist did his job neutralizing Olerud and the Mets pen behind DiLauro and Cal Koonce closed it out, securing the victory for Gentry and the ’69 Mets, who took a 2-0 series lead.
Dave Mlicki carving up the ’69 Mets like a holiday turkey, scattering six hits over eight innings, and with the help of Greg McMichael, who pitched the 9th, shut down the ’69 Amazins with a 5-0 shutout victory. The ’69 Mets series lead was cut to 2-1.
Game 4
In Game 4, the ’97 Mets were looking to tie the series at 2-2 apiece.
The ’97 Mets went right to work on young Mets swingman Nolan Ryan. In the fifth, Olerud touched him up for a long home run, and things then remained quiet until the third when Hundley of the ’97 Mets stepped to the plate, with the highlight of the game, a long three-run homer over the auxiliary scoreboard.
That would be all the ’97 team would need, Reynoso working both sides of the plate and confounding the ’69 team. McMichael and J. Crawford lent a hand, and the ’69 team is shutout 5-0 again. The Series is tied 2-2!
*At this point, it was important to acknowledge the pitching exhibited by the ’97 team. They have 19 straight scoreless innings.
Game 5
In Game 5, Tom Seaver took the ball for the ’69 team, back as the home team, and tried to get the team back on track.
The ’69 Mets offense, having been shut down for 19 consecutive innings vs the ’97 Mets rotation, finally broke through. Art Shamsky hit a solo shot in the second. Ending the scoreless streak at 19 innings and making it 1-0. In the fourth, with Seaver cruising, Reed pitched to Shamsky, who connected for a double, driving in Cleon Jones for the Mets second run.
In the sixth, the ’69 team’s offense finally got on track and put up a five-spot in the fifth highlighted by a Tommie Agee run-scoring double.
The ’69 Mets then went to Jim McAndrew after Seaver pitched 7 1/3, and McAndrew shut down the ’97 team to secure the 9-1 victory.
–Of special note. In the top of the eight, with one out, Rey Ordonez strode to the plate, breaking up Seaver’s shutout and hitting a 430 ft. HR to straightaway CF. (Manager Eckert’s favorite moment and my most perplexing)
The ’69 Mets lead the series 3-2.
Game 6
With ’69 team up 3-2 in the series, Mgr. Eckert turned to Bobby Jones. Jones and the ’97 team had no plans to go quietly onto the night. In the first, Gentry walked Edgardo Alfonzo; after getting a strikeout, Gentry pitched to Hundley. The power bat proceeded to hit a long two-run home run, and the ’97 Mets took a 2-0 lead early in the first in Game 6.
In the sixth, Butch Huskey tacks on a sacrifice fly, and the ’97 Mets take a 3-0 lead. The ’69 Mets go quietly the rest of the way and the series is now heading to a pivotal Game 7.
Game 7
In Game 7, we have our pitching matchup from Game 3, where Dave Mlicki re-introduced himself to Mets fans with his six-hit shutout in Game 3. Both managers will let it all hang out. Full rosters are available except for the game 6 starters.
In the first, the ’69 Mets get on the board early; Ron Swoboda, in the leadoff spot, walks. After two outs, Swoboda advanced to second on a fielder choice, Art Shamsky singles, bringing Swoboda in and giving the ’69 Mets an early 1-0 lead.
In the second, with one out, hits by Ken Boswell and Buddy Harrelson give the ’69ers a chance. Leadoff hitter Swoboda, who had sat against the right-handed Mlicki in Game 3, proved his manager correct with a two-run double to give the ’69 Mets a 3-0 lead.
In the fourth, with Koosman cruising, the ’97 Mets managed to scratch out a run with a hit and run and fielders choice throw that enabled Olerud to score after a Hundley single.
Things remained quiet till the sixth, when Agee, who struggled mightily this series, stepped to the plate. The center fielder took Mlicki deep, and Nolan Ryan and Ron Taylor were ready in the pen. The ’69 team led 4-1 after six.
Ryan pitched 2 1/3 innings before left-hander Tug McGraw was called upon to get the last out. McGraw secured the 4-1 victory and closed the seventh game to win it for the ’69 Mets.
Outfielder Cleon Jones was the only player in the series with double-figure hits, and he had a whopping 12. Jones is no stranger to success in big series, and he had a .800 OPS during postseason play in his career.
On the losing side, Hundley had a huge series for the 1997 Mets, including four home runs and eight RBIs.
The 1969 Mets will now take on the 1988 Mets in the second round of our Mets Madness tournament.
Other Mets Madness series recaps:
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