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.
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.
On August 26, 1975, the New York Mets took on the San Diego Padres at...
1975 New York Mets vs San Diego Padres - Radio Broadcast / On August 26, 1975, the New York Mets took on the San Diego Padres at San Diego Stadium. The Mets, managed by Yogi Berra, were looking to stay competitive in the National League East while the Padres, under John McNamara, were trying to close the gap in the standings. The starting pitchers were rookie Craig Tate for the Mets and Bill Freisleben for the Padres. Tate, who had struggled during the season, was aiming to rebound and secure a much-needed victory for New York. The Padres were hoping to see offensive contributions from players like Dave Winfield and veteran slugger Willie McCovey to back up Freisleben.
The game opened with the Padres scoring an unearned run in the first inning, but the Mets quickly responded in the fourth inning, tying the game at 1-1 and then taking the lead with a key hit from Rusty Staub. New York built on their lead in the fifth inning, highlighted by clutch hitting from Dave Kingman and Wayne Garrett. Tate settled into a groove after the early run, scattering hits while limiting San Diego’s offense. The Mets added two more insurance runs in the seventh inning with a triple by Jerry Grote, effectively putting the game out of reach. The Padres threatened early but were held to just two runs, unable to break through against Tate, who pitched a complete game.
The Mets' 7-2 victory over the Padres kept them in the race in the National League East. Craig Tate secured his fifth win of the season, while Freisleben's struggles on the mound continued as he took his 14th loss. The Padres, despite some solid performances from their lineup, could not keep pace with the Mets’ consistent offense.