Reversal of Misfortune...A Mets Dynasty

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What a series (and post-season) for Roberto Clemente.

In the fall classic, Clemente batted .560 (14 for 25) with nine runs, 12 RBI, four doubles, a triple and three home runs.

Below are his 1970 playoff numbers...

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Just coming out of our World Series celebration hangover and about to embark on the defense of our crown.

Meet the Mets, the 1971 Mets

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After an extensive layoff, I've resumed this endeavor.

When last we left, the Mets were reveling in their 1970 World Series crown. Fast forward, we are into June of the '71 season and here's how things stand...


Our offensive numbers..


And, our staff numbers...

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Can't complain as the Amazins hit the All-Star break atop the National League East with the second-best record in the league.


Here is what our offensive numbers look like...


And our pitching stats...


Vida Blue and Wilbur Wood will be members of the National League pitching staff for the Summer Classic while Joe Morgan with be the starting second baseman and 1B Don Mincher is a reserve.

Some wild pitching numbers..

From June 13 to June 20 - a stretch of eight games - the Mets spun a mind-blowing six shutouts, including a dominating performance in a four-game weekend set with the Phillies. The Mets outscored Philly, 19-0, to sweep the series in emphatic fashion.

Vida Blue recorded three straight shutouts in June and in the fourth outing of the string - a 5-2 triumph over the Expos - he set a franchise record with 16 strikeouts.

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The Mets go 20-6 in the month of July and have opened a sizeable cushion in the NL East. Only blip was a four-game losing skid before the All-Star break.



And, time to start paying attention to the season Wilbur Wood is putting together. Dude has gotta be the frontrunner for the Cy Young Award in the NL.



Truth be told, there may be another contender for that award...his teammate Vida Blue. The two are tied for most wins and Blue actually boasts a higher WAR

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Mets used August to widen the gap in the NL East and push themselves to a whopping 42 games over .500, despite an 18-11 showing during the month that included a six-game losing streak.

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Job well done!
The Mets cruised to the NL East title and secured a date in the NLCS against the Houston Astros. It will be Detroit vs. Minnesota on the AL side.

Catching the worst possible matchup for the Amazins. New York dropped the first seven encounters with the Astros and finished 4-8 versus Houston in the regular season.

The final standings


Final National League Offensive Leaders


Final National League Pitching Leaders


Here were the final regular season offensive stats for the Mets


And, the impressive compiled totals of our pitching staff

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Kind of hated to do it, but we're pursuing another world championship, so, unfortunately as sacrilege as it may sound, The Franchise be damned.

Mets did exactly what was necessary in Game 1 of the 1971 NLCS, tagging Tom Seaver for runs early and entrusting Vida Blue to match him pitch for pitch on the bump.

A quick start, coupled with the complete-game magic of Blue landed the Mets a 3-0 shutout and put the Amazins up, 1-0, in the best of five series.

Blue was gritty, going the distance on a six-hitter with six strikeouts and three walks and the defense played flawless, capped by Willie Crawford's diving grab along the warning track that robbed Astros' catcher Jerry Grote of an extra-base hit with two runners aboard and stamped the victory.

Mets manufacture two runs in the bottom of the first, sparked by Joe Morgan's leadoff walk. He moved to second on a Roberto Clemente ground out and scored easily when Willie Crawford tripled to right. Tony Perez ensued with a sac fly to extend the lead to 2-0.

Morgan tacked on some insurance in the third with a solo home run to right.

Huge win against a Houston squad that boasted an 8-4 record against the Mets in the regular season.

Game 2 features Steve Blass on the hill for the Astros opposite Wilbur Wood for the Mets.

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It's extremely difficult to figure out who is more deserved of a Cy Young this season, Vida Blue or Wilbur Wood? Both fashioned sensational seasons that included 20+ wins.

Blue set the tone for the NLCS with a complete effort in a Game 1 shutout and Wood was almost as brilliant. The southpaw allowed four hits, a walk and fanned five over eight superb innings as the Mets seized a 2-0 advantage in the NLCS with a 4-1 decision over the Astros.

Wood was most likely going to get the ninth for a shot at a complete game, but the Mets in the midst of a mild rally in the eighth, Wood was lifted for pinch-hitter Ken Boswell, who grounded out and stall the uprising.

Willie Crawford got the Mets going with a solo homer in the third. Johnny Bench and Buddy Harrelson each singled home a run in the fourth when the edge extended to 3-0.

Lee May narrowed the gap with a towering solo home run to left in the sixth but Roberto Clemente rebuilt it in the seventh with his base hit scored Harrelson to make it 4-1.

The two clubs will enjoy a travel day to Houston for Game 3 where Bert Blyleven gets the ball with a chance to complete the sweep for the Mets against Pat Dobson.

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Desperate times called for slightly desperate measures.

On what would probably have been his throw day, Tom Seaver was summoned from an unfamiliar place - the Houston bullpen - to keep the Astros' post-season hopes alive.

Seaver answered the call, pulling his feet from a ninth-inning fire and the Astros' offense responded by walking matters off in the bottom half of the frame to grab a 2-1 victory in Game 3 of the NLCS and narrow the Mets' lead in the series to 2-1.

Brutal loss for Mets, who left runners on third three times and a couple guys struggling in the lineup were blindingly illuminated during this setback.

Just to get the formalities out of the way, Tug McGraw took the loss. After retiring Rusty Staub to open the ninth, he was tagged by Lee May for a double. McGraw rebounded to fan Willie Horton before Jerry Grote ended it with a single to right. Roberto Clemente, who made a pair of spectacular diving grabs during the game, was unable to throw May out at the plate.

Now, back to the Mets. Joe Morgan and Johnny Bench have been absolute no-shows at the plate in the series. Morgan more so in this one for he stepped to the plate twice with runners on third and failed each time to deliver a clutch knock.

Thus far, Morgan is 1 for 12 in the leadoff spot. Coincidence, the both times he's reached in the series - twice in Game 1 - he's scored. We need him on base.

Bench is 1 for 11.

Come right back for Game 4. Mets roll Steve Carlton against Astros' Jack Billingham.

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A lethargic start gave way to an explosive finish to propel the Amazins back to the World Series to defend their crown.

New York erupted for eight runs over the final three innings - outburst that accentuated the depth of the lineup - and dispatched the Astros, 11-5, in Game 4 to seize the National League pennant, three games to one.

The auspicios conclusion erased a rough start by Steve Carlton, who was tagged for four runs on five hits in the bottom of the first as Houston quickly transformed a 1-0 deficit into a 4-1 advantage.

The Mets closed the gap to 4-3 when Johnny Bench, who was publicly admonished for his disapperance at the plate over the first three contests, accepted the challenge and roped an RBI single the closed the gap to a run.

Houston widened its lead to 5-3 before Bench tagged a two-run double in the seventh that knotted the game.

In the eighth, Roberto Clemente, who was 4 for 6 in the game and 7 for 18 in the series, led off by reaching on an error by SS Gene Alley. Willie Crawford, who tied the National League playoff record with five hits in six at bats during the contest and who hit .562 in the series (9 for 16), doubled to put runners at second and third. Tony Perez followed with a tie-breaking RBI single, Reggie Smith back it with another run-scoring knock and, after Don Mincher was walked to load the base in Houston's hope of a double play, Bench lifted a sac fly to make it 8-5.

Tug McGraw, who fired three scoreless innings in relief of Carlton, who settled in over six innings, added to the offensive joy with an RBI single and a throwing error on the play enabled a second run to score, expanding the cushion to 10-5.

Clemente stamped the triumph in the ninth with a solo home run. At 37, Clemente once again proved how immune he is to the pressure of the post season.

The Mets await their opponent in the Fall Classic. With two wins at home, the Twins evened their ALCS with Detroit at 2-2 heading back to the Motor City for Game 5.

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DETROIT - There were a ton of reasons why the Oakland A's and Cincinnati Reds were baseball titans in the early to mid '70s.

And, quite a few are instrumental reasons these Mets are such a force. From Vida Blue's mastery on the mound to Tony Perez's precision at the plate, the Mets were a tour de force in Game 1 of the 1971 World Series, emphatically upending the host Detroit Tigers, 6-2.

Blue fashioned 5 1/3 innings of no-hit craftsmanship on the hill, neutralizing the AL champ. Bill Freehan broke up the gem, looping a single in center.

Meanwhile, Perez was powering the offense for New York, going 5 for 5 with a homer, two runs scored and three RBI. He joined Willie Crawford as the second Met to collect five hits in a game this post season.

Perez delivered run-scoring singles in the first and third innings and blasted a solo home run in the ninth. Johnny Bench slugged a three-run homer in the sixth.

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Ok, I'm being dramatic.

Short story long, after my Game 1 win in the 1971 World Series, I exited OOTP, blogged the result in this string and came back on Monday night to play Game 2.

Oddly, when I fired up the dynasty, Game 1 of the World Series was the next game to be played (see above posts to look at the actual box and log from Mets' victory), meaning the game I'd already played inexplicably did not save.

Out of childish frustration, I quick played Game 1 and the Mets lost. Already preturbed by the developments, I quick played all games thereafter with the Mets bowing to the Tigers in six.

Which only got me more heated. I'm chill now. I won't be posting the boxes from this "bogus" series (which, as luck would have, absolutely saved) but, instead, will be moving on to 1972....completely pissed at an opportunity for two straight titles gone.

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Congrats to the following post-season award winners...

NL Cy Young Award winner was Wilbur Wood


NL Fireman of the Year Award went to Tug McGraw


NL Manager of the Year was Gil Hodges

And, SS Buddy Harrelson earned an NL Silver Slugger Award

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Solid first half for the '72 Mets, who find themselves atop of the NL East


Sidenote: Mets opened season dropping a three-game set to Pittsburgh and they endured a bruising nine-game losing streak in May. We come out of the break with three against the Pirates.

Offensive numbers...


Pitching lines...

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The 1972 Mets are heading back to the playoffs.

Mets will battle the Reds while in the American League, it's Red Sox vs. Twins.

Cruised to NL East title..


Final offensive numbers...


Of note, Gene Clines, who was a huge surprise as such a prolifice offensive force for us, reached base in 44 consecutive games and boasted a 20-game hitting streak. Look at the numbers on Bench, who is starting to show the signs of a HOF career. So, too, Morgan, who has become a perennial contender for the stolen base crown.

Final pitching stats...


Can Wilbur Wood win a second straight Cy Young?

Final NL Offensive Leaders...


Final NL Pitching Leaders...

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The Mets used a 3-2 victory in Game 4 of the NLCS to finish off the Cincinnati Reds and advance to the World Series for a third consecutive season.

The Minnesota Twins, who outlasted the Boston Red Sox in Game 5 to clain the AL pennant, await the Mets in the Fall Classic.

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There's no arguement. Roberto Clemente is a legend.

Since acquiring him from the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964, Arriba has been the quiet, steady cornerstone of our franchise, a leader by example and the beacon for our younger players to emulate.

All five tools have been displayed over his time with the Mets and his particular embrace of the post-season has quite simply been invaluable. Clemente delivered once again, the focal point of a late-game rally that lifted New York to a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins in Game 1 of the World Series.

Two-out hits are one of the few things that have eluded the Mets for most of the season and playoffs, but under that setting in the bottom of the eighth, the right man strode to the plate to rectify that deficency. With the bases loaded, a full count and the Mets trailing, 3-1, Clemente rocketed a dramatic three-run double to thrust New York in front.

His timing could not have been more theatrical...nor appreciated.

A tip of the cap also goes to Steve Carlton for eight gritty innings of work. He leaked in the fifth with the biggest crime being concession of a two-out single to counterpart Dave Morehead, which left the door open for Bobby Tolan and Don Money to rope back-to-back RBI singles. He also gave up a solo blast to Harmon Killebrew in the sixth that dug New York into a 3-1 hole.

Back at it for Game 2. Twins send Nolan Ryan to the hill opposite Mets' Nelson Briles.

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Nolan Ryan carved up the Mets over eight innings and the Twins exemplified the power of the two-out hit en route to dominating New York, 5-0, in Game 2 of the World Series.

Ryan shoved in a vintage 131-pitch performance that featured nine strikeouts against a measly two hits. Minnesota supplied all the run support he needed in the top of the fourth when Harmon Killebrew slugged a two-run homer - his second of the series - with two outs.

In the fifth, starter Nelson Briles retired the first two batters before Ryan tagged him for a double and Bobby Tolan ensued with an RBI single.

Series shifted to Minnesota with teams deadlocked at a game apiece. Bert Blyleven gets the rock for the Mets verus Joe Coleman.

Over first two games, Mets' lineup has generated just eight hits, unacceptable for this potent crew. Conversely, Twins have collected 14.

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The Mets are operating in the 1972 World Series in a fashion that leaves them with minimal room for error.

But, it was exactly one of those defensive miscues that peeled the first bit of fabric that unfolded into an unraveling, costing the Mets Game 3.

Third baseman Katsuhiro ****anishi booted a ground ball to open the bottom of the seventh, unlocking an inning that the Twins capitalizing upon by scoring twice and springing Minnesota to a 5-3 triumph and 2-1 series advantage.

Yes, the error was a stinging mistake, but, blame must be shared by an ineffective pen. Reggie Cleveland replaced starter Bert Blyleven after the latter issues a leadoff walk and sac bunt in the sixth. Cleveland served up an RBI double to Paul Sullivan to break a 2-2 tie. Grant Jackson stepped in for Cleveland to retire the next two hitters to minimize the damage.

Mets countered in the seventh with Joe Morgan earning a two-out walk and stealing second to get in scoring position, but the threat was doused when Johnny Bench struck out.

****anishi's error to start the seventh enabled the Twins to tack on two more, marked by Harmon Killebrew's RBI double. That one was on me; should have pitched around him.

Shook up the lineup, slipping in Willie Crawford and Reggie Smith in seach of sparking our bats. They responded admirably.

Now, Game 4 becomes must win. Its Wilbur Wood for New York against Mike Kekich.