The 1969 New York Mets season was the team’s eighth as a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise….which culminated when they won the World Series over the Baltimore Orioles….as they played their home games at Shea Stadium….and were managed by Gil Hodges. The team is often referred to as the “Amazin’ Mets” ….which was a nickname coined by Casey Stengel….who managed the team from their inaugural season to 1965…..or the “Miracle Mets”.
The 1969 season was the first season of divisional play in Major League Baseball….and the Mets were assigned to the newly created National League East division. In their seven previous seasons, the Mets had never finished higher than 9th place in the ten-team National League….and had never had a winning season. In fact, they lost at least one hundred games in five of the seasons….however, they overcame mid-season difficulties….while being the division leaders for much of the season….as the Chicago Cubs suffered a late-season collapse….as the Mets eight games ahead of the Cubs….and finished the season with a 100 – 62 record.
The Mets went on to defeat the National League West champion Atlanta Braves three games to none in the inaugural National League Championship Series….then went on to defeat the American League champion Baltimore Orioles in five games…..as Mets 1B Donn Clendenon was named the series’ most valuable player on the strength of his .357 batting average, three home runs, and four runs batted in.
