It is October and the League Championship Series are in (yes) full swing. The Astros took the Red Sox 5 to 4 in Game 1 of the ALCS and meet again today. The Braves meet the Dodgers this evening. If you’ve followed the game for 50 some-odd years like me, as you enjoy today’s games, you will surely note that it was today, October 16, that the Mets won the 1969 World Series.
The expansion Mets had never previously had a winning season and became the Amazin’ Mets by simply making it to the World Series. They were up agains the world-class Orioles and the likes of Frank and Brooks Robinson, and pitchers like Jim Palmer and Jerry Koosman. The Mets, managed by the great Gil Hodges, had future greats with now familiar names like Tom Seaver and Nolan Ryan, whose appearance in Game 3 was his only World Series game in 27 years pitching.
When the season started in April, the Mets had a 100 to 1 chance of winning the World Series. Tom Hanks may have said there’s no crying in baseball, but now and then there are miracles. Looking back on my life not that long ago, that serendipity inspired this little piece, that seems appropriate to share today.
