New York Mets: A Crucial Win against the Padres in May?

The memory is as vivid today as it was on May 28, 1969. I was driving my 1962 Nova on Booth Memorial Ave near the Kissena Golf Course. The radio was tuned to 970, WJRZ, which was broadcasting the New York Mets game .

Sometimes, a fan recognizes a pivotal game. I knew that this game against the San Diego Padres was such a game. Baseball fans understand.

Jerry Koosman started against Clay Kirby as the Mets were attempting to break a five-game losing streak. A few short days ago, Tom Seaver had beaten the Atlanta Braves to even the Mets' record at 18-18. They had never had been at the .500 mark so "late" in the season.

The Mets couldn't score off Kirby. The Padres couldn't score off Koosman. Both pitchers retired the opposition in the ninth inning without a score to maintain the double shutout.

Koosman pitched a scoreless 10th, ending the frame by getting Ivan Murrell with a called third strike to record his 15th strikeout. Yes, Mets fans, Koosman was that good.

Tommie Sisk took over for Kirby. When Art Shamsky led off with a walk batting for Koosman, Mets fans' hopes rose.

Gil Hodges, who knew a thing or two about winning games, sent in Amos Otis to run for Shamsky. Hodges' next move would never happen today, but if Hodges was still managing, he would run rings around every manager, with the possible exception of Jim Leyland.

Tommie Agee, who finished the season with 26 home runs, bunted Otis to second. Who thinks that Joe Girardi or Freddie Garcia would bunt with Alex Rodriguez or Hanley Ramirez?

Anyway, left-hander Billy McCool took over for Sisk, and Hodges countered by putting in Ed Charles to pinch hit for Wayne Garrett. Preston Gomez ordered an intentional pass, bringing up Ken Boswell.

I always feared Boswell. After hitting safely, Lindsay Nelson invariably told us "And there's another Boswell base hit."

Boswell hit the ball on the nose, sending a screaming line drive just to the right of second base.

For an instant it appeared that the game was over, but John Sipin, who was playing his only season as a major leaguer, lunged, caught the ball and fired to first for the double play.

Our friend Tug McGraw (yes, even to a Yankees fan, he was a friend) retired the Padres in the 11th inning. The Mets loaded the bases in their half of the inning, bringing up Bud Harrelson with one out to face right-hander Frank Reberger.

Harrelson sent a line drive into left field that sent Cleon Jones, who had opened the inning by reaching first on an error by shortstop Tommy Dean, home with the game's only run.

The Mets broke their five-game losing streak and stood at 19-23. They were in fourth place, nine games behind the division-leading Chicago Cubs.

I didn't believe that the Cubs were for real. The St. Louis Cardinals, the defending National League champions who added Vada Pinson to give them an outfield of Pinson, Curt Flood and Lou Brock, were odds on favorites, but they were struggling.

After beating the Padres, the Mets won four more consecutive game to reach .500 again. Soon, nobody would ask, "Can anybody here play this game?"