40th Anniversary of the 1969 Season

[kenhutchings]

It just occurred to me that this year is the 40th anniversary of the 1969 season. I'm curious for those who were old enough to have memories of that season what you remember after all these years.

1. I still can't believe that the Mets defeated the Orioles in the World Series.
2. I remember Reggie Jackson getting off to a super hot start. He hit 47 homeruns that season, but he had 30 by the All-Star break, and I recall that some people were wondering if he might surpass then Roger Maris' single season home run record.

:)

[MFL536]

I remember it was the first year that the leagues were broken down into divisions 2 in each league east & west.First year of playoffs winner of east in AL & NL played winner of Wesy in AL & NL
Mets beat Atlanta Braves 3-0
Orioles beat Twins 3-0

[buster j ratt]

Jim Maloney of the Reds no-hit the Astros on April 30 dropping the Astros record to 4-20 On May 1 Don Wilson no-hit the Reds and the the Astros got hot enough to get back in the race into early Sept before finishing 81-81 for their first .500 season ever

[kenhutchings]

I remember back to back no hitters which occurred in the 1968 season, where Gaylord Perry of the Giants no hit the Cardinals, and the following day Ray Washburn of the Cardinals tossed a no-no against the Giants. I didn't remember that occurring again in the 1969 season until reading the last post.

Most pitchers are fortunate if they even toss one no hitter in their careers; the back to back no hitters by Maloney and Wilson was the second one pitched for both of them.

[LMBombers]

I don't remember it at all. I was 4. The first year I remember paying attention to baseball was when I started collecting baseball cards in 1973. My family were Red Sox fans since the Sox trained in the city I grew up in and after watching the 1975 World Series on TV I was hooked on baseball for life. :D

[buster j ratt]

[quote:79acbde512="kenhutchings"]I remember back to back no hitters which occurred in the 1968 season, where Gaylord Perry of the Giants no hit the Cardinals, and the following day Ray Washburn of the Cardinals tossed a no-no against the Giants. I didn't remember that occurring again in the 1969 season until reading the last post.

Most pitchers are fortunate if they even toss one no hitter in their careers; the back to back no hitters by Maloney and Wilson was the second one pitched for both of them.[/quote:79acbde512]

I remembered Perry and Washburn but could not remember if it happened before or after Maloney Wilson

[Rick Smith]

Early in the 1969 season Don Drysdale retired, soon thereafter I was able to attend "Don Drysdale Day" at Dodger Stadium. That and Maury Wills returning to the LA are about my only memories of that year. It was also my first exposure to Strat-O-Matic, I got a game board and the 1968 teams that summer.

Rick Smith

[GFDWARF07]

With Billy at the helm, Rod Carew stole home seven times (a record) and played very exciting ball.

But Billy also decked Dave Boswell (one of his 20 game winners!) in a fight outside a bar in Detroit (supposedly while Allison held Boswell) in August and caused 20 stitches!

The lost three straight to Baltimore (which all of you know was very good based on the card set) but recall that game one was a 4-3 12 inning game, Game 2 was 1-0 in 11 innings. Martin started Bob Miller (a personal favorite of his) over some better possible options in game three and the Twins got shelled 11-2.

Calvin Griffith used the game 3 Miller choice as part of his explanation for firing Billy. Many Twins fans never forgave Calvin.

[buster j ratt]

So come celebrate the 40th in TSN 10161

We need 6

[pwootten]

The Earl Weaver era got fully started as the Birds appeared in their first of 3 consecutive world series. I was 10 years old in 1969 and from that point until the early 80's I never knew what it was like to root for a team that wasn't in pennant contention.

I moved to Missouri and became a Royals fan in the early 90's. God has balanced the scales. :cry: