S-O-M Game of the Day: 69 Mets at 69 Cubs

billy williams 1969Strat-o-Matic is a baseball simulation that began as a cards and dice game in the early 1960s before entering the computer age.

These featured games on Shoestring Catches are part of season replays or tournaments played with cards and dice.

Today’s game matches the 1969 New York Mets and the 1969 Chicago Cubs.

With the current Mets and Cubs meeting for the first time in the post-season, it will be interesting to see what the outcome of the 2015 National League Championship Series will be.

In the meantime, here is a look at match-up during a memorable season.

WILLIAMS AND JENKINS LEAD CUBS TO VICTORY

CHICAGO — The bat of Billy Williams and the right arm of Fergie Jenkins helped the Chicago Cubs to a 5-3 victory over the New York Mets.

fergie jenkins 1970Williams had three hits and knocked in three runs to the delight of the Wrigley Field faithful, while Jenkins held the Mets to six hits.

In the bottom of the first inning, Williams gave the Cubs a 1-0 advantage with a RBI double against Mets starter Tom Seaver.

Tommie Agee tied the game for the Mets with a solo homer in the third inning, but the Cubs were able to answer in the bottom of the frame.

Glenn Beckert and Don Kessinger started the third with back-to-back singles and then Williams doubled to score both runners.

With the Cubs leading 3-1 heading into the fourth, New York shortstop Bud Harrelson got the Mets to within a run with a double that scored Cleon Jones, who led off the inning with a walk.

Jenkins and Beckert added runs scoring singles in the sixth to put the Cubs in front 5-2.

cleon jones 1969Jones added a homer for the Mets in the eighth.

Jenkins went the distance on the mound for the Cubs allowing six hits with seven strikeouts.

Seaver took the loss for the Mets. He worked six innings and gave up all five runs on nine hits with 10 strikeouts. Ron Taylor tossed the seventh and eighth for the Mets and didn’t allow a base runner.

IN REAL LIFE: New York won the World Series over the Baltimore Orioles in 1969.

The Mets had a 10-8 edge in contests against the Cubs, who finished eight games behind them in the NL East.

The Mets swept the Atlanta Braves in the initial NLCS to reach their first World Series.

Williams was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987. A six-time all-star, Williams was the NL Rookie of the Year in 1961. In 1969, Williams hit 21 homers with 95 RBI and a .293 batting average.

Like his teammate, Jenkins was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1991. Jenkins was three-time all-star and won the NL Cy Young Award in 1970. He was 21-15 with a 3.21 ERA in 1969.

Jones made the only all-star appearance of his 13-year career in 1969. Jones posted a .340 batting average, which was third in the NL. He finished the season with 12 homers, 75 RBI and 16 stolen bases, while leading NL left fielders in with a .991 fielding percentage. He also caught the final out of the 1969 World Series.