$\"Jerry$ <\/a>

Jerry Koosman … 20-game winner for the Mets and the Twins.<\/p><\/div>\n

On this date (September 12) in 1969, the Mets \u2013 on their way to a World Series title \u2013 were in Pittsburgh for a doubleheader against the Pirates. Both games ended 1-0 in favor of the New Yorkers \u2013 and in both contests, the winning pitcher also drove in the only run.<\/em><\/p>\n

In Game One, the Mets\u2019 Jerry Koosman<\/strong><\/span> went the distance, giving up just three hits and three walks, while fanning four. He also drove in the winning (and only) tally with a single to right field off Pirates\u2019 starter Bob Moose in the top of the fifth inning. It was Koosman\u2019s fourteenth win of the season (versus nine losses).<\/p>\n

In Game Two, the Mets\u2019 Don Cardwell<\/strong><\/span> picked up his seventh win (versus nine losses), giving up just four hits over eight innings, while walking one and fanning three. (Tug McGraw pitched the ninth for his 12^{th<\/sup> save.) In the top of the second, Cardwell drove in the game\u2019s only run with a single to left-center off Pirates\u2019 starter Dock Ellis.<\/p>\n}

Now, you still see the occasional doubleheader, shutout and pitchers\u2019 game-winning RBI (that final occurence more often in the NL, of course).\u00a0 However, this game did cause me to reflect on \u201chow the game has changed\u201d over the years. \u00a0(Also, it gave me a chance to feature a Minnesota “favorite son,” Jerry Koosman – a career 222-game winner, who starred for the Mets and also was a 20-game winner for the Twins.)<\/em> Here are just a few observations spurred by the anniversary of the New York\/Pittsburgh double-dip. \u00a0Special note: \u00a0These are just observations, not judgements.<\/p>\n

It was a doubleheader<\/strong>.<\/span> (Don\u2019t see many of those anymore.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
In 1969, MLB teams played 176 doubleheaders. Thus far, in 2017, there have been 29 doubleheaders (mostly split). Side note: The Boston Braves played a record 46 doubleheaders in 1945 and a record nine consecutive doubleheaders between September 4 and September 15, 1928 (18 games in 12 days).\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
USED TO LOVE THOSE SUNDAY DOUBLE HEADERS<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
I always loved those Sunday two-for-one doubleheaders.\u00a0 Of the 176 doubleheaders in 1969, 71 were Sunday twin bills. Over the course of the 1969 season, there were only three Sundays that didn\u2019t feature at least one MLB doubleheader.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\n
Total playing time for the TWO 1969 games was four hours and 21 minutes.<\/strong> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The QUICKEST two MLB games from yesterday (September 11) took a combined 5 hours and 37 minutes.<\/p>\n
THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
In 1969, the average MLB game took 2 hours and 32 minutes.\u00a0 In 2017 (through September 11), the average is 3 hours and 9 minutes.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\n
The Mets and Pirates used a total of seven pitchers<\/strong> <\/span>(and remember no DH) in that 1969 double-dip.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
THE MORE THE MERRIER?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
In 1969, fans could expect to see an average of 5.2 pitchers per game (both teams).\u00a0 In 2017 (through September 11), that average is about three pitchers higher (8.3).<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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The starting pitchers in the Mets\/Pirates twin bill were on the mound for 33 of the 36 innings.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
The two winning pitchers fanned just seven batters in 17 innings.<\/strong> <\/span>(The losing hurlers – Dock Ellis and Bob Moose – fanned 21 in 16 frames.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
FANNNING FOR THE FANS?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
In 1969, a fan could expect to see an average of 11.6 strikeouts per game (both teams).\u00a0 In 2017 (as of September 11), that average is up to 16.7.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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Jerry Koosman\u2019s complete game shutout in the first game of the DH was his 13^{th<\/sup> complete game of the season \u2013 and his fourth complete-game shutout.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nKoosman ended the season with 16 complete games and six shutouts and finished tied for ninth in the NL in compete games (Bob Gibson led with 28) and tied for fourth in shutouts (Juan Marichal led with eight). This season, as of \u00a0September 11, Erwin Santana of the Twins leads all of MLB in complete games with five and shutouts with three. Only Santana and Corey Kluber have more than two complete games and only Santana, Kluber and the Cardinals\u2019 Carlos Martinez have more than one shutout.<\/p>\n
\nThere were, of course, no home runs in the doubleheader.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nFANS DIG THE LONG BALL?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
In 1969, MLB teams averaged approximately 1.6 home runs per game (both teams).\u00a0 In 2017 (as of September 11) that average is 2.5. While that is only about one extra long ball per game, it is an increase of 57.5 percent. \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Again, just observations, no judgements. \u00a0Plus, a chance for younger fans to get a feel for how the game has changed over the years.<\/p>\n
I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT<\/h3>\nFollow\/Like the Baseball Roundtable Facebook page, here<\/a>. \u00a0Blog post notifications, additional baseball commentary and PRIZES.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Member: Society y for American Baseball Research (SABR); The Baseball Reliquary; the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; Baseball Bloggers Alliance.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
On this date (September 12) in 1969, the Mets \u2013 on their way to a World Series title \u2013 were in Pittsburgh for a doubleheader against the Pirates. Both games ended 1-0 in favor of the New Yorkers \u2013 and in both contests, the winning pitcher also drove in the only run. In Game One, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7388,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n}