On September 10, 1969, the scoreboard said it all…
“LOOK WHO’S NO. 1”
After trailing the Chicago Cubs by ten games on August 13th, the New York Mets made it all the way back, plus one, after a doubleheader sweep of the Montreal Expos.
The Mets took the opener 3-2 in 12 innings. Jim McAndrew started and gave up two runs on four hits in 11 innings, while Ken Boswell drove in the game-winner with a single in the 12th off Bill Stoneman.
It was all Nolan Ryan in the second game as he gave up a run on three hits as the Mets completed the doubleheader sweep with a 7-1 victory.
The Mets used just three pitchers to work all 21 innings, and the Cubs helped out by losing that night’s game to put the Mets ahead in the standings by mere percentage points.
This all happened the day after that infamous black cat visited the Cubs dugout at Shea Stadium on September 9th.
