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 New York Mets faced off against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday, September 23, 1970, at Connie Mack Stadium. The Mets, who had won the World Series in the previous season, were looking to regain their championship form, while the Phillies were in the midst of a rebuilding phase. On the mound for the Mets was Ray Sadecki, a seasoned left-hander who had been acquired from the San Francisco Giants in 1969. For the Phillies, Chris Short, a reliable veteran and two-time All-Star, took the start. This was a time when the league was witnessing a surge in offensive power, marked by an increase in home runs and batting averages.
The game kicked off with a back-and-forth between the two teams. The Phillies drew first blood in the first inning, capitalizing on a Mets' error. The Mets responded in the third inning to even the score. However, the Phillies took a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning, thanks to a two-run homer by Larry Hisle. The Mets clawed back in the sixth inning, tying the game at 3-3, only for the Phillies to regain the lead in the bottom half. The Mets' batters, however, were undeterred. In the eighth inning, Donn Clendenon hit a two-run homer, giving the Mets a lead they would not relinquish.
In the end, the Mets emerged victorious with a 5-4 win. The game was notable for its pitching changes, with the Mets using five pitchers and the Phillies three. Tug McGraw, who would later become a Phillies legend, earned the win for the Mets, while Dick Selma took the loss for the Phillies. Clendenon was the offensive star of the game, with his eighth-inning home run proving to be the game-winner.
The 1970 season was a mixed bag for both teams. The Mets, despite their victory in this game, could not replicate their championship run from the previous year, finishing in third place in the National League East. The Phillies, on the other hand, ended up in the cellar of the same division. However, this season marked the beginning of their slow climb to their first World Series title in 1980. As for the league, the season was dominated by the Cincinnati Reds, who won the National League pennant, and the Baltimore Orioles, who won the World Series. The 1970 season also saw Johnny Bench of the Reds and Boog Powell of the Orioles winning the Most Valuable Player awards in their respective leagues.
On May 1, 1970, a tightly contested matchup took place at San Diego Stadium...
1970 New York Mets vs San Diego Padres - Radio Broadcast / On May 1, 1970, a tightly contested matchup took place at San Diego Stadium between the New York Mets and the San Diego Padres. The Mets, led by their ace pitcher Tom Seaver, were looking to build momentum early in the season. San Diego, with Al Santorini on the mound, aimed to fend off the visiting Mets in front of their home crowd. This game came during a period when both teams were establishing their identities in the league, with the Mets still riding high from their miraculous 1969 World Series win and the Padres continuing their struggles as a relatively new franchise established in 1968.
The game's tempo was set by dominant pitching, with Seaver and Santorini both keeping runs off the board through the first two innings. The Mets broke the deadlock in the third inning when Bud Harrelson doubled and later scored along with Tommie Agee, driven in by a clutch single from Donn Clendenon. This burst gave the Mets a lead they managed to maintain throughout most of the game. The Padres responded in the sixth with a solo home run from Chris Huntz, but they struggled to capitalize further despite several opportunities, which included leaving runners in scoring positions in the later innings.
The Mets held on to win the game 2-1, a typical example of their season's reliance on strong pitching performances and timely hitting. Tom Seaver's excellence on the mound was a recurring theme throughout the year as he led the Mets with dominant performances, encapsulating the era's pitching-driven approach to the game. Although the Mets did not repeat their World Series appearance, they remained competitive, while the Padres ended the season at the bottom of their division, reflecting their ongoing growing pains as a franchise.
In a captivating showdown at Shea Stadium on June 26, 1967, the New York Mets...
New York Mets vs Pittsburgh Pirates - Full Game Radio Broadcast / In a captivating showdown at Shea Stadium on June 26, 1967, the New York Mets faced the Pittsburgh Pirates in a night game that promised excitement. The Mets, with Bob Shaw on the mound, were looking to make a mark in their relatively young franchise history. The Pirates, with Steve Blass as their starting pitcher, were also eyeing victory. The game took place amid a season filled with its own narratives, including Roberto Clemente's stellar performance and the Mets' ongoing efforts to climb up from their expansion team struggles.
The game unfolded with a tense pitchers' duel, as both Shaw and Blass held the line through the early innings. The Pirates managed to break through first, with a run in the third inning, followed by a solo home run by Bill Mazeroski in the seventh. The Mets, however, kept the game within reach, showcasing resilience in their batting lineup. The real turning point came in the eighth inning when Ken Boyer hit a crucial two-run homer for the Mets, leveling the score. This set the stage for a dramatic ninth inning, where the Mets seized their opportunity to clinch a narrow victory.
The final score, Mets 3, Pirates 2, was a testament to the competitive nature of the 1967 season. This game, while just a single chapter in the long baseball season, was indicative of the Mets' fighting spirit and the Pirates' formidable play, reflective of Clemente's impressive season performance. As the season progressed, both teams continued to contribute to the rich tapestry of the 1967 baseball season, a year remembered for its close pennant races and memorable individual performances.
On June 3, 1965, the New York Mets faced the Pittsburgh Pirates at Forbes Field....
1965 New York Mets vs Pittsburgh Pirates - Radio Broadcast / On June 3, 1965, the New York Mets faced the Pittsburgh Pirates at Forbes Field. The Mets, struggling in the bottom half of the National League standings, were looking to gain some momentum mid-season. Starting for the Mets was Galen Cisco, aiming to improve his record, while Pittsburgh's starting pitcher was Joe Gibbon, who had yet to secure a win this season. The Pirates, featuring star players like Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell, were in contention for a strong finish and were looking to close the gap with the league leaders.
The game began slowly, with both teams held scoreless through the first two innings. The Mets broke through in the third inning, with Galen Cisco contributing both on the mound and at the plate. The fourth inning proved pivotal for New York, as they exploded for six runs, capitalizing on pitching struggles by Pittsburgh. Ed Kranepool and Joe Christopher led the charge with timely hits. The Pirates remained scoreless until a dramatic eighth inning, when Willie Stargell and Jerry Lynch each hit home runs to fuel a six-run rally, narrowing the gap significantly.
Despite the late surge by the Pirates, the Mets held on for an 8-6 victory. Cisco earned his first win of the season, and Dennis Ribant secured the save. For the Mets, the win was a small bright spot in a challenging season. The Pirates, despite the loss, continued to be competitive and had their sights set on the postseason, with Clemente and Stargell both having standout seasons.
