With a night off from regular and postseason Major League Baseball games, SiriusXM’s MLB Network Radio channel presented a special documentary to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Miracle Mets World Series championship.
The special premiered Monday, September 30th at 8pm and will continue to air at various times throughout the week, also being available to SiriusXM subscribers on demand.
After seven losing seasons to open the franchise’s history, the “Miracle Mets” shocked Major League Baseball by winning the World Series in 1969. SiriusXM’s special documentary features new interviews with members of the ’69 Mets, including Nolan Ryan, Ed Kranepool, Cleon Jones, Ron Swoboda, Jerry Koosman, Jerry Grote, Duffy Dyer, Rod Gaspar, Wayne Garrett, J.C. Martin, Jim McAndrew, Bobby Pfeil, Art Shamsky and Al Weis.
“Nobody can say that we backed into the World Series or Chicago lost it. The Mets won it,” original Met Ed Kranepool said during the SiriusXM special. “We had such a streak, everyone was really playing hard, everyone wanted to get to the ballpark – it was the first time that any of us felt that, you know. There was no reason to go to the ballpark in the first seven seasons after the All-Star break. You know, you were playing for individual records, and that’s not the same as playing for a championship. It’s exciting going to the ballpark expecting to win and seeing at the end of the tunnel, you know, that there’s a chance to get into the playoffs. We had that feeling going and I’ll tell you what, there was no looking back.”
The manager of the ’69 Mets, Gil Hodges will be represented by his wife Joan and son Gil Jr. on the special. Also interviewed in the documentary is Maxine Agee, the wife of popular centerfielder, Tommy Agee. Hosted by SiriusXM’s Ed Randall, the special will offer previously recorded memories from Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver, who recently stepped back from the public eye because of advancing dementia.
Brandon Contes is a freelance writer for BSM. He can be found on Twitter @BrandonContes. To reach him by email click here.