The 1969 New York Mets- were the Amazing Mets. The doormat of the National League for the first seven years of their existence with 5 10th place [last place] finishes and 2 9th place finishes. In 1968 they finished 9th with a record of 73-89 24 games out of first place. It was their best record ever. While they were showing improvement no one would have predicted the miracle of 1969- when the New York Mets- the lovable losers- would win the World Series. Everything went perfectly that year for the Mets. There were certainly no expectations. They really only had two everyday players in their starting line-up -outfielders Cleon Jones and Tommie Agee. The rest of the positions were platoon- who started depended on whether it was a left handed or right handed pitcher going against them. It all worked perfectly. The players knew their roles and they all seemed to rise to the occasion when it was needed. They also had a very good pitching staff led by the great Tom Seaver [the greatest pitcher I have ever seen.] Nolan Ryan was also on that team but at this point he was 22 years old and a star of the future [but not with the Mets.] One of the scrubeenies who had his moments of fame that year was outfielder Ron Swoboda.
In 100 years Ron Swoboda will still have a secure place in baseball history. He was one of the Met heroes that amazing summer/fall. He hit .400 in that World Series against the Orioles but what he will always be remembered for his diving catch on Brooks Robinson’s line-drive to right field. The Mets were up 1-0- and the Orioles did score on this play- the runner at third tagged up and scored- but this catch helped to save the day for the Mets- who would win in the 10th inning and take a 3 games to 1 lead over the Orioles. One of the great catches -and moments in World Series history. Swoboda wasn’t known for his glove. When he came up to the Mets in 1965 manager Casey Stengel said of Rocky Swoboda ‘ Amazing strength. Amazing bat. He will be great, super, wonderful. Now if he could only learn to catch a flyball.” Who would have known- that is place in history would be -his amazing diving catch of a flyball.
slicethelife 
I wish I could have seen Seaver pitch. The best pitcher I’ve ever seen would be Maddux. I’ve watched some replays of that World Series…it looked great from the shoe polish on the ball to Weaver being ejected from a World Series game.
A little off topic but there is a fictional scifi movie built around the 69 World Series… “Frequency” that I liked a lot.
I haven’t heard of that movie- will have to find it.
I think you would like it Hans. I was going to use it in the draft.
just ordered it up on the library.
Oh cool…it involves time travel and the 69 World Series…you can’t get much better than that.
Growing up a young Met fan in the NYC suburbs I heard the Swoboda and Agee catches told almost as folk tales.
Was a Cub fan during those days. Hated it when the Mets started catching fire. But once they got to the WS, got converted to the Mets.
The Cubs just ran out of gas in September-
Yes, i still remember that vividly. But in the end, i cheered that Swoboda diving catch too. From chumps to champs!
I remember that catch. Back when you didnt get swamped with great highlights.
sure was a different era as far as coverage of the sport.
Yeah it’s overkill for me. Probably not a real fan like you. I just find so much fluff and people that really dont have a lot to say or real good insight. There are others that do catch my interest.
Last night, Jordan Luplow made a similar diving catch to save the Indians with the based loaded snare in the 9th at Detroit. .