If you don’t like Peter O’Brien you’ll hate Jim Qualls
If you were annoyed at Marlins first baseman Peter O’Brien when he caught David Wright’s pop up in foul ground, in what would be his final at-bat on September 29, 2018 then wait to you hear about the Cubs’ Jim Qualls.
To put the O’Brien play in perspective, he was just doing his job. After the game he said he never thought about dropping the ball. As it probably shouldn’t ever cross his mind. Peter said he was more concerned with running in to the wall in foul ground. That’s cool Pete, the wall was a much bigger concern than neglecting you opportunity to prolong the career of one of the greatest players in Mets history.
Peter O’Brien didn’t know at that moment his actions would forever connect him to baseball history. He would always be the guy who caught David Wight’s final out. It would tie him to the Cubs center fielder Jim Qualls for something he did nearly 50 years before to Tom Seaver on July 9, 1969.
The Mets entered that game 4.5 games behind the Chicago Cubs in the standings, after making up a game the night before as Jerry Koosman bested Fergie Jenkins, 4–3.
That night over 50,000 fans packed Shea Stadium as Tom Seaver took the hill.
Tom Terrific was just that…Terrific. He mowed down the Cubs powerful lineup that boasted Billy Williams, Ron Santo and Ernie Banks in the heart of the order. Seaver fanned five of the first six batters he faced to start the game and the Flushing Faithful knew they could be in for a treat that night.
The Mets got an RBI double from Tommie Agee in the first. Then in the second inning Seaver helped his own cause with an RBI single, Agee added another RBI double, his second in as many innings, staking the Mets to a 3–0 lead after two.
Seaver continued to dispose of Cubs in order. Three up, three down. That was the story for the first eight innings. Seaver entered the ninth with a chance at history. No Met had ever thrown a no-hitter at that time, and it wouldn’t happen until 2012, when Johan Santana would record the franchise’s first.
Seaver started the ninth as he did the first eight innings, forcing Randy Hundley to groundout. The number eight hitter Jim Qualls stepped in the plate. Qualls was 0-for-2 with a fly out to right and a groundout to first.
At this point Shea was in a frenzy. Two. More. Outs. Plus, with the number eight hitter and the pitchers spot as the only two batters standing between Tom and history there was reason to get excited.
Qualls would single in that ninth inning at-bat.
History would have to wait. Seaver proceed to retire Willie Smith the pinch-hitter and Don Kessinger in his complete game — one hitter.
Jim Qualls like O’Brien was just doing his job. Playing the game the right way. He wasn’t going to roll over to hand the Mets their first no-hitter. Could you really blame him? If you really wanted to be upset with someone you should look at Hundley who tried to bunt for a hit to open the ninth. Come on! Seaver is throwing a perfect game and you were really going to break it up a bunt single!? Hundley was not ejected for his lack of sportsmanship and the score sheet to this day simple reads a mundane 1–3 groundout.
It was a disappointing 4–0 Mets win. Qualls only played the 1969 season for the Cubs. He only played in 63 games over three seasons in the majors. He had 31 hits in his career, none more upsetting than his hit on the evening of July 9, 1969.
