Mets fans are guaranteed something to celebrate in 2019 – the 50th anniversary of our improbable first World Series win. At a time when so much was going on in the world, those lovable comeback kids captivated the nation. Following seven losing seasons to begin their franchise history, the Mets leaned on a phenomenal young pitching staff to win 100 regular season games, followed by one of the greatest post season underdog stories ever told.
Actually, that story is about to be retold, as actor/director Edward Burns has teamed up with his boyhood hero, Tom Seaver, and sports writer Bill Madden to develop a documentary on the Miracle Mets. Burns, known for directing The Brothers McMullen and Sidewalks of New York, is a Queens-born, lifelong Mets fan.
The documentary will focus particularly on Seaver and his role on the team, as well as on the unlikely roster of young pitchers and veteran players who tore through the National League and beat a heavily favored Baltimore Orioles team for their first ever championship. “Tom has always been one of my idols,” Burns told Deadline.com. “It’s an honor and a thrill to bring his story to the screen.”
“Tom Seaver is one of the greatest pitchers,” Burns explains. “He’s also one of the most complex and interesting players to play the game. Seaver’s life is as compelling as any drama I could have written.” The film will feature commentary by Hank Aaron, Johnny Bench, Carlton Fisk, Ron Darling, and the late Rusty Staub, whose interview for the documentary was his last before he died. With the full cooperation of Seaver and his wife Nancy, the production company has access to family archives and previously unseen footage.
The Mets organization plans to honor the 1969 team with a celebratory weekend series at the end of June when the Atlanta Braves come to Citi Field. The weekend festivities will feature promotional giveaways, including a replica jersey, pennant, and championship ring. The Saturday game will open with an anniversary ceremony to honor the 1969 champs. Details haven’t been revealed yet, but presumably this will include a new commemorative video, on field introduction of surviving players, speeches, and, hopefully, Tom Terrific throwing out the game’s first pitch.
The Miracle Mets were certainly over matched on Paper versus The Orioles. In retrospect, it is amazing that the team could ride great pitching and “catching every opportunity” to a World series Win…what might be more amazing is the fact that they won 100 games !!!! That Position Roster!!!—- they had a lot of guys playing major time who were really not good…Rod Gaspar…Bobby Pfeil…Ed Charles—- about 1000 ab’s between them.
“The Glider” had a career that was reaching it’s end–The other guys “Never Were”…. add “stalwarts” like Garret and Boswell…… how did they win 100 games?????
well said Eraff. In fact I had written an article exploring some of these points, was going to run it next week but I will hold it off a bit.
What I remember the most about that season was the lack of pressure on the team and most of all on us fans. Just having a team play over .500 was fantastic so every other accomplishment was just a gravy sandwich.
And how did they win 100 games? Everything that had to go right, went right. There’s thousands of examples but: Al Weiss taking over at SS when Harrelson went away on two week military; Ron Swoboda hitting two home runs in a game that Carlton had 19 Ks. All 25 players had a specified role with platoons and defensive substitutions…we can go on forever.
That team during my formative years created a mindset that anything could happen.
Ive been looking forward to this since the clubs 50th celebration year. For it it was in my formative years, at age 6, when I became an Orange and Blue lifer. I have my 69 WS pennant having in my home office…sun faded though the years of hanging on sunlit walls, it’s something that reminds me it was my favorite team from the start of knowing what baseball was. I don’t recall anything about 69 first hand unlike with 73, but I was part of it in some little way then, and now. I have a few cool pieces of memorabilia from 69 Id be happy to share pix of.
For me, it will bring to mind those who won’t be able to join the celebration: Glider, Tug, A-G, WS MVP Clendenon, Cal Koonce, Cardwell, Danny Frisella…
Ron Swoboda hit 2-two run homers…the only 2 hits in the game off of Steve Carlton. That’s my memory of it…I was 10
hahahaha!!!! Wrong! 9 Hits!!!
https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN196909150.shtml
Screw it—they were the only two hits that counted!!!!
1969; the basis for all my future interest in the game.
Q: Who doesn’t get enough credit for the ’69 WS?
A: Jerry Koosman
While I totally understand Clendenon getting the MVP, I think the argument for Kooz getting MVP was fabulously strong.
GS: 2
Wins: 2
Losses: 0
IP: 17 2/3
ERA: 2.04
WHIP: 0.623
And let’s not forget the pitching staff. The 10 man squad was so dominant that Nolan Ryan wasn’t given a chance to bloom into perhaps the top 5 pitcher of all time.
Well I can’t stop now. 3rd base was so weak, the team spent the next three years trying to find someone to man the hot corner. History repeats itself.
1969 I was 15 years old. The Beatles had their last concert on the roof of their Abbey Road Studio. Woodstock gave us peace Love the music. Neil Armstrong walked on the moon.
And then the Mets won the World Series!!!!!
Tom Seaver is my all-time favorite. Met. Jerry koosman was great but in the shadow of Tom Terrific. Everyone asked how did they win 100 games? My theory, Gil Hodges. The rotunda at Citi Field should have been named after him. He died while employed as the manager and also was a player for the Mets before .
1969 was a year that molded a life philosophy for this young man. Love, Peace,Happiness and Hope that no matter what the odds are you can overcome them.
I totally agree with you 100 % that Gilbert Raymond was the man in 69. What wonderful memories I will always possess thanks to an amazing bunch of gentlemen.
Completely agree Metsense:
We should have the Gil Hodges Rotunda (works with our Ebbets field theme too), and the Jackie Robinson “grotto” or some such thing.
100% agree on the Hodges Rotunda.
To add on te Metsense. I just read a quote from Tom Seaver: if the Mets can win the world series the United States can get out of Viet Nam.
I have felt old lately, but I’ve been rejuvenated by this geezer convention. I was, in fact, alive in 1969, but insufficiently aware of The Mets (or anything else in the universe) to have any memories of it.
My first Met memory was that horrible horrible year of 1977 when they traded The Franchise. So to recall a quote of mine at the time, “If they can trade Tom Terrific, then who the hell cares about baseball?”
69 was special. Seaver was my hero. Let’s not forget about the Jets and Joe Namath. I was also a big fan if Koosman, Cleon Jones and Tommy Agee. Oh, what a year.