1968 NY Mets win KOT Championsip

Game 1. Tom Seaver started the first game of the World Series for 68 manager Tom Davis while Aaron Heilman was an interesting choice fo 04 manager Mike Kenney. But Heilman proved up to the task, virtually matching Seaver out for out until he ran out of gas in the bottom of the 6th. His only mistake was a little too good fastball in the middle of the plate which Ron Swoboda swatted over the fence in the bottom of the fifth with a man on. The two runs were all Seaver needed. Seaver ran into trouble in the ninth, allowing a leadoff single to Kazuo Matsui and then to Joe McEwing, Ed Charles booted Mike Piazza;s groundball and 04 suddenly had the bases loaded with no one out. Seaver was rattled as he walked Mike Cameron to force in a run. But the right hander gathered himself, and struck out both Chris Floyd and Eric Valent. Pinchhitter Victor Diaz flied to left to end the game and give the 68 Mets a 1-0 Series lead.

Game 2 Jerry Koosman started for 68 while the 04 team went with Steve Trachsel. Koosman had pitched in hard luck all year even though he entered the game with a 1.36 ERA in his nine starts, he was only 5-0 due to insufficient run support. 68 got the on the board first in the third when Ken Boswell led off with a single and scored on Cleon Jones' double. Jones led off the 6th with a homer and with one out Jerry Grote singled and Ron Swoboda walked. Both came home on Art shamsky's double and 68 led 4-0. Koosman continued to cruise, scattering nine hits, but 04 tallied two runs on a solo homer by Jason Phillips in the 7th and a scarifice fly by Gerald williams in the 8th. The final was 4-2 and 68 led the Series 2-0

Game 3 04 trotted out their ace, Tom Glavine (7-0, 1.47 era). Opposing him would be long in the tooth don cardwell who may well have been having his finest professional season (5-0 2.22 era). 68 openedthe scoring in the 5th when Glavine walked Bud Harrelson with the bases loaded. Glavine ran out of gas in the 6th and in the 7th 68 jumped all over 04's relievers. Harrelson led off the 7th with a double. Al Weis pinch hitting for a tiring cardwell walked. Tommie Agee bunted thm up and Phil Linz singled home Harrelson. Jones brought brought weis home on a sacrifice fly and Linz later scored on a Grote single. 04 got a run back in the bottom of the 7th on a willie Delgado triple and a pinch hit single by Diaz. 68 would another run in the 8th and then cal Koonce closed out the game. The 5-1 final gave Glavine his first loss of the season and 68 took a 3-0 Series lead.

Game 4. Al Leiter was Manager Kenney's choice to try to continue the series beyond Game 4 and he responded by getting the 68 team 1-2-3 in the first. As Nolan Ryan took the mound in the bottom of the first, uber Mets fan Marc Weiss rose up behind the 68 dugout and started waving a broom, chanting "Sweep, Sweep Sweep." Ryan stopped his warmups to look at the fan an shake his head. He could be seen muttering the words, "Bleeping Jinx." Ryan was more right than Weiss. Matsui led off the 1st with a double, moved to third on McEwing's bunt and scored on Piazza' sacrifice fly. This was the first lead of the Series held by 04. It was short lived. 68 came back in the top of the second with consecutive leadoff singles by Grote, Swoboda and Greg Goosen. Harrelson singled and Agee drove home another run for 2-1 lead. Again Weiss started chanting "Sweep" and 04 responded with a homerun by David Wright. As Ryan returned to the dugout at the end of the inning, his eyes shot daggers at Weiss. With two out in the 6th, Ryan was safe on a David Wright error, moved to second on a walk to Agee and scored on Linz' single. 68 would add another run on a wild pitch and went into the bottom of the sixth with a 4-2 lead. Again the chants of Sweep filled the ball park. But 04 again came back with a sinle by Valent and a homer by Phillips. As Ryan angrily left the mound at the end of the inning, he gestured at Weiss and shouted,"Somebody throw that (bleep) out of here." Weiss was escorted from the ballpark by ushers. Ryan would leave the game after striking out 2 in the 7th. Piazza led of the 8th with a single off reliever Ron Taylor. Piazza was replaced at first by pinch runner Jose Reyes. Reyes wuld steal second and then third and score on pinchhitter shane Spencer's sacrifice fly. Mik Stannton closed out the ninth ad 04 won their first game o the Series 5-4. To this point they had held a lead for 1 and one half innings.

Game 5 Tom Seaver again took the mound for 68,again facing Aaron Heilman. In the top of the first, Ken Boswell singled and scored on Cleon Jones double. Seaver looked impressive in the bottom of the first, and it looked like one run might be enough. Just to be sure, 68 tossed seven more on the board in the top of the second. 04 would pick up one in the 4th and another in the fifth on a McEwing homer, but the game, with Seaver on the mound was anticlimatical. The final was 9-2 and the real life 9th place 68 Mets would follow the 46 Tigers as the second champion of the all franchise KOT.

--submitted by Tom "Crash" Davis, Manager 1968 New York Metropolitan Baseball Club--

Classic 5 game series see's 2004 Mets best 1983 squad...Winner to face 1968 and Tom "Crash" Davis in the "7-Train Series"

Game 1: 2004 (3), 1983 (0)
2004 Ace Tom Glavine would improve to 6-0 scattering 2 hits in 7.1 innings. He carried a no hitter to the 5th. 83 Met Walter Terrell also pitched well allowing 7 hits in 7 IP 2 ER 6 K's he fell to 6-2 on the year. Matsui led the 04 bats going 2-3 from the plate.

Game 2: 2004 (1), 1983 (0)
The 1983 scoring drought would extend to 19 innings as four 2004 Met pitchers would combine for the shutout John Franco picked up his first win of the season to close out the game. Richard Hidalgo would deliver the GW base hit and Mike Cameron scored the winning run. 83 got another good pitching performance this time starter Ed Lynch pitched 6 innings of shutout ball. Jose Oqeundo paced the 83 bats going 2 of 3.

Game 3: 1983 (5), 2004 (1)
The 1983 Mets scoreless streak would go to 21 innings in this series before the spark was struck. Following a Piazza error Hubie Brooks slapped a double to knock in Bob Bailor. Piazza's error would be the first of 3 by the 04 club. "It's been our achilles all year", stated manager Kenny. 83 would get another strong outing from it's starter Mike Torrez scattered 5 hits in a 9 inning CG win to improve to 4-3. He would whiff 9 on the day. Brian Giles led the 83 hitters going 2 of 4 with 3 RBI's.

Game 4: 1983 (6), 2004 (3)
With renewed hope the 83 squad came out firing again and were aided by 4 more errors by the 2004 team including David Wright's 12 at the hot corner. Who has split time behind Ty Wiggington. Tom Seaver and Scott Holman would combine for the pitching win walking 0 and striking out 6. The tired 04 BP would allow 4 ER's in 4 innings of work. Holman also helped himself out stroking a hit with 2 RBI's.

Game 5: 2004 (6), 1983 (0) - Rain shortened after 5 1/2 innings
The pivotal game would send Gm 1 starters back to the mound 6-2 Terrell vs Glavine 6-0. The error bug struck the 1983 squad this time. The bats were also hot for 04 as they jumped out 6-0 after 3. That's when the rain's came! The Shea turf already water logged from on and off rain all week. The umpires had no choice but to call the game despite the best efforts of the field crew. "Luck was on our side this time" exclaimed manager Kenny. "Our bullpen was on fumes and Tommy was on his last leg" Glavine had thrown 123 pitches in just 6 innings of work struggling all day with his control. He would walk 5 but only allowed 1 hit. Mike Cameron would deal the fatal blow launching his 10th HR some 430 feet scoring 3. Hard luck pitcher Walter Terrell surrendered only 3 ER. 2004 Mets (27-14) will meet the 1962 Mets (27-9) and manager Tom "Crash" Davis in the Metropolitan World Series. --submitted by Mike Kenney--

2004 Amazin's sweep '62 and clinch Div Title

Game 1:
We didn't think this one would ever end. A see-saw battle with numerous lead changes finally ended dramatically with Vance Wilson slugging a pinch hit walk off 3 run shot in the bottom the 9th. MVP front runner Frank Thomas paced the 62 squad going 3 of 4 with 5 RBI's. 2004 was lead by Matsui's 4 hits and Mike Cameron's 5 RBI's.

Game 2:
Both managers were praying for some better pitching and they got it. 1962 starter Alan Jackson scattered 5 hits in 7 innings. It wasn't enough though as 2004 again came from behind to win in the bottom of the 9th. This time by unlikely hero Todd Zeile who ripped a 3-2 curve into the RF corner scoring pinch runner Jose Reyes.

Game 3:
Another see-saw battle early would see 2004 grab the lead and hold on behind the good pitching of Steve Traschel who scattered 10 hits in a 9 inning complete game to even his season record at 4-4. Mike Cameron and Cliff Floyd would provide the batting going a combined 6 of 9 with 4 RBI's and scored 5 runs.Woodling would pace 1962 going 3 for 4 with a HR his 3rd on the year.

Game 4:
Manager Mike Kenny certainly did not play for a sweep literally starting all backups with the exception of Catcher Jason Phillips. Nobody could've predicted the great pitching performance by Seo either in 6 IP he only allowed 3 hits and would only allow 1 ER. His season ERA had been 11. Eric Valent would provide the offensive punch for 04 going 2-4 with 3 RBI's and slamming his 2nd HR of the season. Hickman lead 62 going 1-1 with a double and 3 walks. Manager Randy Ragsdale would state solemnly "We can't even beat your B team""I've only had a couple of sweeps and this had to be the toughest, any one of those could've went the other way" "Credit the guys for making plays when they needed to" "Hopefully we can take this momentum into the playoffs"

'68 takes 3 of 4 from '92

Rain interrupted the first game in the third inning of the first game, sending Don Cardwell to the showers, but barely affecting Bret Saberhagen who worked into the seventh inning. Howard Johnson hit his first homer of the season off Bill Short to open the scoring in the fifth. 92 added a run in the top of the seventh but 68 came back with three in the bottom of the fram, two unearned. That was the scoring, Saberhagen took the loss and Cal Koonce earned the win.
Tom Seaver started for 68 in the second game and his team backed him with 8 runs. He only needed one of the runs as he tossed a complete game shutout. 8-0
Sid Fernandez allowed only one run in a complete game performance in game three. However he was opposed by Jerry Koosman who won his fourth game of the season throwing a 4 hit shutout.
Dwight Gooden opposed Nolan Ryan in the final game of the set. Although Ryan would go the distance, he gave up solo homers to Bobby Bonilla and Chico Walker. Gooden need relief help to earn his first win 3-2 (1-3)

'67 and '79 split

Lafayette High School in Brooklyn has become famous for producing star lefties like Sandy Koufax and John Franco. Unfortunately for the 1979 Mets Pete Falcone wasn't one of them. The only 2 things he had in common with the other two gentleman was the fact that they were all southpaws and all attended the school next to the El Train. Besides fighting lack of talent Falcone had the bad luck to be matched against Tom Seaver, who gave up only 3 earned runs in almost 7 innings of work. Falcone gave up 9 in 6 innings and his successor Andy Hassler (2 runs in 3 IP) didn't fare much better. Rocky Swoboda had 4 hits including a homer off of Falcone in the 2nd. Bobby Heise and Ken Boyer each had 3 hits, as did Joel Youngblood in a losing effort.
Craig Swan rebounded from a shakey start (3 runs in the 1st) pitch 8 innings of 4 (earned) run ball. Swanny couldn't find his control in the first and walked the first two batters (Harrelson/Johnson), who scored on a Tommy Davis double. Davis later scored as "the Glider" Ed Charles singled him home. The '79 boys scored 3 of their own off of '67's starter Cal Koonce in the 4th. Maz led off with a double and Youngblood singled him home. Grave digger Hebner doubled Youngblood home and Montanez scored Hebner on a sac fly. '79 took the lead in the 5th as Maz doubled home Frank Taveras who had a lead off single and stolen base. In the top of the 8th the '67 team took the lead as Johnson singled and Tommy Davis doubled him over to third. Steady Eddie Kranepool singled them both home off of a tiring Swan to take the lead at 5-4. Dick Selma came on board for the '67 team and promptly surrendered a run in the 8th as pinch hitter Elliot Maddox singled home Hebner. As good ole Bob Murphy would have said, "sit back and fasten your seat belts for exciting Mets baseball", the bottom of the 9th provided all the excitement one could want. Maz led off with a single. Youngblood layed down a perfect bunt and moved Maz over to second. Hebner, who had been killing the '67 team all series wasn't allow a chance to hit and was given a free pass to 1st. with runners on 1st and 2nd and 1 out the "dude" John Stearns lifted a weak fly to center. With 2 outs Willie Montanez fought off an inside fastball and sliced one down the left field line to score Maz with a walk off single. Neil Allen, who pitched 1 scoreless inning in relief got the win and Ron Taylor who came on with 1 out in the 9th took the loss.
The 3rd and 4th games of the series were complete blow outs. Don Cardwell got rocked in game 3 and Kevin Kobel was equally ineffective in game 4 as the teams split the series. Interesting side note. After torching the '67 team in the first 3 games Rich Hebner got drilled and had to leave for a pinch runner. Hebner's sore ribs forced him to miss game 4, although there was a good chance he was not going to start since '67 had lefty Bob Hendley on the hill and Hebner has had trouble against southpaw's.

67 vs 68...1 year and a whole bunch of the same guys.

Game 1 featured a match up between Tom Seaver, 67 version against 68. And 67 prevailed, throwing a 3 hit shutout against his future self. Rookie manager Kim "Milo" Miller, saw his team jump out for a run in the first inning. Jerry Buchek salted this one away with a two run homer in the 6th. 4-0

Game 2 featured a matchup of lefthanders Bob Hendley and Jerry Koosman. This time the 68 squad scored a run in the first. Kossman made it stand up until Cleon Jones hit a solo homer in the top of the 6th. However, he got the lead back when Cleon Jones was hit by a pitch and singles by Jerry Grote, Ken Boswell and Greg Goosen produced two runs. He never relinquished the lead thereafter. 3-1

Game 3 had Nolan Ryan on the mound for the 68 team opposing Jack Fischer. Ryan only struck out three during his complete game, but also only walked one and gave up only three hits, one going for the distance off the bat of 68's manager's namesake Tommy Davis. Ryan was backed by homers from Ed Kranepool and Ed Charles as he won by the smae score of Game 2, 3-1 After the game, 68 Mets manager was heard to say about the former Dodger batting champion. "I know he plays for the other team, but its hard not to root for a guy with such a marvelous name."

Game 4 was the only game that was not close. Aging former stars Don Cardwell (for the 68 team) and Bob Shaw (for the 67 Mets) opposed each other. Shaw was not up to the task however and gave up 6 runs in only 5 innings of work. Cardwell looked like his early 60s self, surrendering just one run in 7 innings before tiring and giving way to Cal Koonce. 68 manager Tom Davis said of Cardwell, "At his age, I don't expect him to go all the way, but he gives us leadership and experience and with all the young arms on this team (referring to Seaver, Koosman and Ryan) we need that. I was just glad we could find some relief help to giet him the win." Art Shamsky was the hitting star for the 68 team going 3-5 with two rbis. 7-1

--contributed by Tom Davis--

'93 and '04 split series...1st three games had 2-1 scores

Series 1: 1993 Mets (Jim Halpin) vs 2004 Mets (Mike Kenney)

Game 1: 04 Mets 2 93 Mets 1
A Mike Cameron 2 run single in the third inning stood up as the 04 Mets hold on to win 2-1. 93's lone run came in the 4th on a Jeromy Burnitz single. Ricky Bottalico struck out Jeff Kent in the 8th with the tying run on 2nd base.
Tom Glavine goes 7.2 innings giving up 5 hits for the win. Vince Coleman goes 3-3 in a losing effort.

Game 2: 93 Mets 2 04 Mets 1
Single runs in the 1st and 2nd hold up as the 93 Mets hold on to a second consecutive 2-1 game.
Jeromy Burnitz hits a Home run in the second that proves to be the game winner. 04 Mets lone run came from a Richard Hidalgo SF. Tanana and Anthony Young shut down potential rallies in the 6th and 8th innings when both times the 04 Mets had runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 out.
Frank Tanana goes 6 Inns scattering 4 hits for the win. Jeromy Burnitz and Jeff Kent had 3 hits each.

Game 3: 04 Mets 2 93 Mets 1
In a third consecutive 2-1 game the 04 Mets prevail. The 93 Mets scored in the first on a Jeff Kent double, but Al Lieter gets out of trouble getting Jeremy Burnitz to ground out with runners on 2nd and 3rd. 04 Mets get on the board in the 6th on a Wilson Delgado HR, he hit only 2 all year in 04. The 04 Mets untied it in the 9th when Cliff Floyd singles, stole 2nd and scored on a Mike Cameron double. Things got tight in the bottom of the 9th, Tim Boger doubled to lead off the inning, was sacrificed to 3rd by PH Jeff McKnight. Ricky Bottalico then got Dave Gallagher to ground back to the pitcher to hold the runner on 3rd, then Joe Orsulak struck out to end the game. Mike Cameron goes 3-4 and an RBI, his second game winning RBI. Also Wilson Delgado goes 2-4 with a HR.

Game 4: 93 Mets 8 04 Mets 4
Finally showing some offense, 93 Mets beat the 04 Mets 8-4. The 93 Mets score single runs in the 1st and 2nd before exploding for 5 runs in the third off starter Jae Weong Seo. Jeff Kent hit a HR in the 2nd and a 3 run hommer in the 3rd. Bobby Bonilla hit a solo homer in the 5th. Eric Hillman was cruising giving up only 2 hits over 8 innings. 93 Mets manager tried to give Hillman a CG shutout, but an Eddie Murray error opened the flood gate leading to 4 runs in the 9th.
Jeff Kent went 2-4 with 2 HR and 4 RBI. Eric Hillman goes 8.1 giving up 5 hits and 1 ER.
Vance Wilson hit a PH 2-run double in the 9th.

--submitted by Jim Halpin--