RetroSeasons recaps past sports seasons through stories, photos, videos, and stats from every team, league, and stadium in history. Coverage includes the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL, as well as vintage media from defunct teams and leagues.
The 1969 Major League Baseball season was contested from April 7 to October 16, 1969. It included the third Major League Baseball expansion of the decade, with the Kansas City Royals, Montreal Expos, San Diego Padres, and Seattle Pilots each beginning play this season. The season was also celebrated as the 100th anniversary of professional baseball, honoring the first professional touring baseball team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings of 1869.
This was the first season of the "Divisional Era". With each league expanding from 10 teams to 12 teams, both leagues were divided into two six-team divisions. Teams continued to play 162-game schedules, in place since 1962, by now playing the other five teams in their own division 18 times each (90 games) and playing the six teams in their league's other division 12 times each (72 games). The winners of each division would advance to the postseason and face each other in a League Championship Series, then a best-of-five series, to determine the pennant winners that would face each other in the World Series.
The Baltimore Orioles won the AL East with an MLB-best 109–53 record, and then defeated the AL West champion Minnesota Twins in three games in the first American League Championship Series. The New York Mets won the NL East division with an NL-best 100–62 record, and then defeated the NL West champion Atlanta Braves in three games in the first National League Championship Series. The "Miracle Mets", having joined the league in 1962, were the first expansion team to win a pennant.
The upstart Mets went on to upset the heavily favored Orioles in the World Series, four games to one, in what is considered one of the greatest upsets in World Series history.
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1977 ALCS G2 - Kansas City Royals vs New York Yankees - Radio Broadcast
On October 6, 1977, the New York Yankees faced the Kansas City Royals in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium. Ron Guidry took the mound for the Yankees, while Larry Hassler started for the Royals. The Yankees were in pursuit of their 23rd American League pennant, coming off a strong season under manager Billy Martin. Key players like Reggie Jackson and Thurman Munson led their lineup. The Royals, on the other hand, were making their first postseason appearance after winning the AL West, with stars such as George Brett and Hal McRae at the forefront of their campaign.
The game began slowly, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm. The Royals struck first in the third inning when Freddie Patek's sacrifice fly put them ahead 1-0. The Yankees responded in the fifth inning as Chris Johnson hit a home run to give them the lead. The sixth inning proved pivotal for the Yankees, who scored three runs, aided by a critical error from George Brett that allowed two unearned runs to score. As the game progressed, the Yankees' lineup depth shone through, with Thurman Munson and Willie Randolph contributing significant hits, while the Royals struggled to match their offensive output. The Yankees ultimately won the game 6-2, taking a commanding lead in the ALCS.
In 1969, amidst a transformative era for Major League Baseball, a radio interview featuring Ted...
Ted Williams Radio Interview / In 1969, amidst a transformative era for Major League Baseball, a radio interview featuring Ted Williams, one of the sport's most revered figures, took place. By this time, Williams had already cemented his legacy as one of the greatest hitters in baseball history, having retired as a player in 1960. His post-retirement career saw him transitioning into various roles, including that of a manager, notably taking the helm for the Washington Senators in 1969. This interview offers insights into Williams' perspectives on baseball, his managerial philosophy, and his reflections on a storied playing career that spanned over two decades. The interviewer, navigating the conversation, draws out Williams' deep knowledge of the game, his approach to leadership, and his thoughts on the current state of baseball.
This exchange serves not only as a historical record but as an intimate exploration of the mind of a baseball legend at a pivotal moment in his post-playing career. The year 1969 marked Williams' entry into managing, a role that would challenge him to impart his wisdom to a new generation of players. The interview illuminates the challenges and rewards of this transition, providing a rare glimpse into Williams' aspirations and challenges as he embarked on this new chapter. It's a compelling listen for anyone interested in the evolution of baseball legends and the insights they carry beyond their playing days.
Historian Eugene C. Murdock interviewed several former baseball players that had been active in baseball in the 1920s and 1930s.
SABR Speech by Baseball Player Mike Shannon / Historian Eugene C. Murdock interviewed several former baseball players that had been active in baseball in the 1920s and 1930s. Murdock was chairman of the history department at Marietta College. The interviews were not professionally recorded, and the audio quality is variable.
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I sincerely appreciate the research work, and the information being shared. It is important and interesting history.
I sincerely appreciate the research work, and the information being shared. It is important and interesting history.