We interrupt our coverage of the 1969 World Series for this breaking news. The sixth volume in the Diamond Legacies series is now available! Rosters are provided for all major league teams in 1969.
Diamond Legacies 1969 is available as a paperback and a Kindle e-book.
With the series moving to Shea Stadium, Mets skipper Gil Hodges tabbed rookie Gary Gentry (13-12, 3.43 ERA) to start Game 3. Earl Weaver countered with his emerging young ace Jim Palmer (16-4, 2.34 ERA).
In the bottom of the second, Mets right fielder Art Shamsky opened the scoring by blasting a mammoth drive over the bullpen beyond the right field wall. An inning later center fielder Tommie Agee added a solo shot of his own to double New York's lead.
Gentry cruised through the first five innings, but in the top of the sixth Oriole left fielder Don Buford doubled and later scored on an opposite-field single by Frank Robinson. In the bottom of the eighth, Baltimore reliever Dick Hall surrendered consecutive hits to Wayne Garrett, Cleon Jones, and Shamsky to plate a run for the Mets. Ken Boswell then laid down a squeeze bunt to add another insurance run for the home team. Reliever Tug McGraw retired the Orioles in order in the ninth to close out the Mets victory.
Game 3: New York 4, Baltimore 1
The teams returned to Memorial Stadium in Baltimore for Game 2 of the 1969 World Series. Looking to even things up, the Orioles sent 20-game winner Dave McNally to the mound. New York countered with its own stellar southpaw, 17-game winner Jerry Koosman.
The Orioles opened the scoring in the bottom of the first when Don Buford led off with a single and then stole second. He advanced to third when Frank Robinson chopped a slow bouncer that Koosman misplayed for an error. Buford scored on a ground out by Boog Powell. In the top of the fourth, Paul Blair reached when Koosman threw wildly to first for his second error of the game. Following a walk to Powell, Brooks Robinson singled to left to put Baltimore up 2-0.
McNally, meanwhile, was at the top of his game. But in the fifth inning, he hung a breaking ball over the heart of the plate that New York catcher Jerry Grote blasted over the left field wall. That solo shot proved to be the lone offensive highlight for the Mets as McNally encountered little trouble the rest of the way. Earl Weaver's star lefty allowed only five hits, while striking out 11 in a complete game victory.
Even at one game apiece, the series heads to Queens for Game 3.
Game 2: Baltimore 2, New York 1
With the release of Diamond Legacies 1969 just days away, I started a replay of the World Series from that year. The series opened at Memorial Stadium in in Baltimore. Mike Cuellar took the hill for the heavily favored Orioles, while Tom Seaver got the start for the underdog Mets. Each pitcher won his league's Cy Young Award for that season, so it is no surprise that a pitcher's duel ensued.
The game remained scoreless until the top of the fifth when New York catcher Jerry Grote doubled to lead off the frame. Cuellar struck out the next two batters, but Tommie Agee then drilled a double off the center field wall to score Grote. That lone tally was all that Seaver needed. The Franchise lived up to his name, allowing only two hits and a walk to the powerful Baltimore lineup. Seaver struck out seven in a masterful shutout performance.
Game 1: New York 1, Baltimore 0
Postseason baseball has begun! And the next volume of Diamond Legacies is not far behind.
Diamond Legacies 1969 will be available in mid-October.
I am working on the sixth volume of the Diamond Legacies series. It will be available next month.
Your clue about which season is next ... it was an amazin' year in baseball.
Kurt Bergland's Baseball World just posted a video on Diamond Legacies 1955. Many thanks to Kurt for discussing the latest volume of my game on his channel. Click the image below to watch the video.
