Braves Are Surprise, Too, but Oh, Those Metsi by WILT BROWNING the Atlanta Journal
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Braves Are Surprise, too, But Oh, Those MetsI By WILT BROWNING The Atlanta Journal In the history of the New York Mets, May 21, 1969, ranked as a milestone. To pitcher Tom Seaver, it was "nothing." The hour was late and the right-handed pitcher who was to become the biggest winner in the history of the club that leases Shea Stadium had just shut out the Atlanta Braves, 5-0, in Atlanta Stadium. For the first time ever, the Mets owned a .500 record in May. The latest the New Yorkers had ever been even with the world had been in April at 4-4. It therefore, historically at least, ranks as one of the major points of interest on the Mets' uphill climb to the Eastern Division championship this season. "But to me, it's nothing," Seaver had told writers in a group that included a number from New York who had written for years but less about winning baseball than frus trations, embarrassments and the humor of '1 Marv Thorn berry and the philosophy of a Casey Stengel. To them, Seaver was wrong. A .500 record in M ay was "something," something special. "But we're better than .500," proclaimed Seaver to an audience who listened, wrote it and forgot it. "You still have the image of that 1962 team, or whatever it was, in your minds,' Seaver continued. "This is not that 1962 team. For that team, .500 would have been fabulous. Terrific. For this team, nothing. "It's right in the middle. Nowhere. Neither here nor thcr ," Seaver continued. " Ask E d Kranepool how it fe els to b .500. He wi ll remember." Kranepool is the only Met to have survived the slow, painful transition from baseball poverty recordwi. e to prosperity. It is this team, a team "bett r than .500," which has reached the point in history Seaver relishes most-a play off date against the Atlanta Braves. It is also a first in the history of the major league game, a scheduled playoff. But it's no n w experience for the Braves though it is something new fo r all but one of the players who make up the 1969 Western Division champions. Only Hank Aaron, historically speaki ng the number three man in home runs ever, can remember the last time the Braves appeared in a playoff. T he Milwaukee Braves had won two straight ational League pennant and one World Series championship but fi nished even with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1959. Two games later, the Braves had been dethroned. The Dodgers had won the Series berth by defeating the Braves two straight in a two-of-three series. It has taken the Braves more than a decade to get another chance. It starts against the Mets and there may be one measure of consolation. Based on the Sl:ason record, the Braves may be rated the underdog. The Mets defeated Atlanta eight times in 12 games in the new divisional setup this season. As champions two years running in 1959, the Braves FELIX MILLAN , retiring Johnny Bench of Cincinnati above, earned starling berth on National League All-Star team for Braves in 1969. Tommie Agee were then given the imaginary edge over th e Dodgers. It sparkled in field for Mets and had big comeback at the plate for New York didn't turn out that way. in 1969. CHAMPIONSHIP PRO GRAM 5 Bowie Kuhn-Everybodys Rookie of the Year "SEATTLE(AP)-Bowie Kuhn, who is 6-feet-5 to begin Promoting baseball with a gala 100th anni versary cele with, stands today as the tallest figure in America's national bration at the All-Star game that included a presidential pastime after his election as commissioner of baseball at reception at the White House, and touring the major league the top salary ever paid a holder of the office." cities to win good will wherever he went, Kuhn was an That press dispatch, coming just seven months after impressive newcomer to the Commissioner's chair. Kuhn was named an "interim" commissioner in a meeting He also earned respect by helping to bring about a solu of club owners at Miami, announced his new status as the tion in the argument last February over the player pension. man permanently installed to guide the game's future. Among the benefits accruing to players after the settlement were retirement benefits, increased pensions, lowering of the basic pension requirement from five to four years, a dental program, and lowering of the minimum age of draw ing pension benefits from 50 to 45 . Without going to bat a single time or throwing a single pitch, he easily qualified for the title, "Baseball's Rookie of the Year." "I have a dream about baseball," Kuhn said, appearing on CBS television and radio's "Face the Nation" program on the eve of the 1969 season. "It (baseball) can build bridges between peoples of all colors. It can build bridges to countries .. as it has built bridges to Canada, Japan, and South America." A 43-year-old New York City lawyer, Kuhn had been associated since 1950 with the law firm handling National League legal affairs. "In my judgment, he's probably exactly what we need," said Braves executive Tom Reynolds, Ir. after Kuhn's appointment. "Bowie is a very quiet, but strong person. He won't tolerate any nonsense from anybody. And you'll never hear 'It's a league matter' out of him. He takes into consideration all of the facts and conditions, and he makes decisions." In July, Kuhn visited Atlanta. "I'm talking to a lot of people and, more. important, lis tening to a lot of people," he said. "It's nothing of earth shattering importance we talk about, but rather just little things that can make a better game for the fan. "About the only place I hear any complaints," he con tinued, "is in the elevators and at parties from people who style themselves as fans. The people who are at the park are more interested in the team than in complaining. After all, I'm basically a fan myself." At Miami Beach after his initial appointment, Kuhn said, "It is far more important that Denny McLain and Bob Gib son be household words than Bowie Kuhn . The players and the way the game is played are the most important things. "Think of the magic of Babe Ruth years after his death. Those are the most important things to baseball." Baseball's Five Commissioners Kennesaw Mountain Landis, January 12, 1921 until his death November 25, 1944. Albert B. Chandler, April 24, 1945 until July 15, 1951. Ford C. Frick, October 8, 1959 until December 14, 1965. William D. Eckert, December 15 , 1965 until December 6, 1968. Bowie K. Kuhn, February 4, 1969 to date. BIG MAN. BIG JOB-Commissioner Bowie Kuhn watches balling practice at Atlanta Stadium. He toured the stadium, addressed a press conference. and visited with players here July 1. CHAMPIONSHIP PROGRAM 27 Warren Spahn, left, is rated by many observers as not only the greatest Braves lefthander, BURDETTE AARON but Baseball's top lefty of all time. Lou Burdette was the hero of the '57 World Series. Hank Aaron, right, was voted by fans the No. 1 Braves player of all time. Outfielder Henry Aaron has becn of the vote, compared to Aaron's 71 voted by Atlanta Braves fans the club's per cent. The "Greatest Player Ever." Runners-up for the team were: Braves fans also named Hank the Orlando Cepeda, first base; R ogers team's greatest right fielder in history. Hornsby, second base; Clete Boyer, "Greatest Felipe Alou, also of the current club, third base; Johnny Logan, shortstop; was named the team's top centerfielder Rico Carty, left field ; Tommy Holmes, of all time. right field; Bill Bruton, centerfield; Joe Braves The 1957 Milwaukee world cham Torre, catcher; Charles 'Kid' Nichols, pions dominated the all-time Braves righthanded pitcher; and George Tyler, team. Right fielder Aaron, first base left handed pitcher. man Joe Adcock, second baseman Red Hornsby (30), Boyer (40), Logan Ever" Schoendienst, third baseman Eddie (32) and Torre (21) were the only Mathews, catcher Del Crandall, right runners-up to receive 20 per cent or By MARION JACKSON handed pitcher Lou Burdette and left more of the votes for their rcspective Sports Editor, A tlanta Daily World handed pitcher Warren Spahn all are positions. "Greatest Ever" selections and played for the '57 team. The other "Greatest Ever" Braves HOW FANS VOTED are shortstop Walter 'Rabbit' Maran THE TEN BEST ville and left fielder Hugh Duffy. Maranville, who was 5-5 anc\ 1B-Joe Adcock, 19~3-62 weighed 155 pounds, died in January, 2B-Red 5choendienst, 1957-60 1954, the same month he was elected 3B-Eddie Mathews, 1953-66 to the Hall of Fame. He hit 103 triples, 55-Walter Maranville, 1912-20, a club record, betweenJ9 12 and 1935. 1929-35 Duffy compiled the majors all-time LF-Hugh Duffy, 1892-1900 highest batting average, .438 for Bos CF-Felipe Alou, 1964 ton in 1894. RF-Hank Aaron, 1954 The approximately 700 fans who LHP-Warren Spahn, 1942-64 submitted ballots over the nine-week RHP-Lou Burdette, 1953-63 voting period gave only two players other than Aaron serious consideration Greatest Brave Ever for "Greatest Brave Ever." Spahn got Hank Aaron 12 per cent and Mathews six per cent 2B NATIONAL LEAGUE Tom Gives Mets Fans SEAVER FEVER The arm that carri d the New York Mets from the cellar of the National League t the champion hip of the East rn DivisIOn belongs to 24-year-old Georg Thomas Seaver, winner of 24 games through Sept.