Championship Connections

[JPS]

Just a tidbit to lighten things up in an otherwise dreary season:

The Mets beat the Baltimore Orioles in the 1969 World Series and the Boston Red Sox in the 1986 World Series.

The star of the 1969 Mets was Tom Seaver. Seaver spent his last days in uniform for the Red Sox in the 1986 World Series, even though he didn't pitch.

The '69 Mets righthanded ace in the bullpen was Ron Taylor who was 9-4, 2.72 and 13 saves (one more save than lefty Tug McGraw). The '86 Mets righthanded ace in the bullpen was Roger McDowell, who was 14-9, 3.02 and 22 saves (one more save than lefty Jesse Orosco).
Taylor and McDowell both wore #42.

The 1969 World Series MVP was Donn Clendenon. The 1986 World Series MVP was Ray Knight.
They both wore #22.

The '69 Mets starting shortstop was Bud Harrelson (395 AB, 0 HR, 1 SB). The '86 Mets starting shortstop was Rafael Santana (394 AB, 1 HR, 0 SB).
They both wore #3.

’86 Mets General Manager Frank Cashen was the executive vice-president of the ’69 Orioles.

Orioles second baseman Davey Johnson made the final out of the '69 World Series. Jerry Koosman threw the final pitch for the Mets. Nine years later, Koosman was traded to the Minnesota Twins for Jesse Orosco. Eight years after that, Orosco threw the final pitch of the '86 World Series for the Mets.
His manager was Davey Johnson.

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"What's to get excited about? We haven't done anything yet. You go get Marv Throneberry and Richie Ashburn and the rest of those original Mets and have a champagne party with them, then come back in September when we clinch first place and celebrate with us."
~ Tom Seaver on May 22, 1969, speaking to reporters who were excited about the Mets reaching .500 (18-18) for the first time this late in a season.

[milladrive]

Heh, now this is a cool thread.

[tomzpc]

Good stuff.

Never realized this one:

The 1969 World Series MVP was Donn Clendenon. The 1986 World Series MVP was Ray Knight.
They both wore #22.

That's a good trivia question...

[NYMets523]

I'm sure everyone knows that Davey Johnson made the final out in the 1969 World Series.

[AJbaseball00024]

Another fact tidbit that I know of about the Mets two World Series Championship Years is that a major space flight event occured in both years. In 1969, you had the moon landing, and in 1986 you had the Challenger disaster.

[JPS]

Heh, now this is a cool thread.

Thanks. I try, y' know? I enjoy good, intelligent baseball discussions, but some of the arguing and petty sniping get so tedious, so I like to get in some lighter stuff now and then.