An Unlikely Game One

The first game of the 1969 National League Playoffs on October 4, 1969 wasn’t supposed to be like this.

It was two future Hall of Famers facing each other, the Mets’ Tom Seaver vs. the Braves’ Phil Niekro. You would think the score would be something like 1–0, 2–1 or at worst, 3–2.

Instead, the Mets erupted for five runs in the top of the eighth inning at Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta to rally for a 9–5 win.

“That’s what made our club so great.” said left fielder Cleon Joes who singled home Wayne Garrett, who had doubled with the tying run. “We always did what it took to win.”

J.C. Martin’s two-run pinch hit single was the big blow of the frame.

“I know our manger Gil Hodges had to have made some bad decisions during the year but I really don’t recall any,” said Martin who was the Mets second catcher behind Jerry Grote. “Gil had a knack for putting in the right guy at the right spot and I was lucky enough to deliver.”

Seaver worked seven innings and allowed five runs on seven hits for the win. Ron Taylor worked two innings with no runs and two hits for the save.