From left infielder Ed Charles Koosman and catcher Jerry Grote celebrate after the Mets finished off the Orioles in the 1969 World Series The Mets finished 100 62 champions of the NL East Division They swept the NL West champion Atlanta Braves in the playoffs That set up a showdown with the mighty Baltimore Orioles in the World Series The American League AL champs had won 109 games that season Baltimore won the first game But the Amazin Mets didn’t travel that far to come up short Jerry Koosman took a no-hitter into the seventh inning of Jerry Koosman took a no-hitter into the seventh inning of Game 2 one of his two victories in the World Series for the Mets Game 2 one of his two victories in the World Series for the Mets Gary Gentry and Nolan Ryan combined for a shutout in Game 3 Gary Gentry and Nolan Ryan combined for a shutout in Game 3 Ron Swoboda’s run-scoring double in the eighth inning put Ron Swoboda’s run-scoring double in the eighth inning put the Mets on top in Game 5 And when left fielder Cleon Jones the Mets on top in Game 5 And when left fielder Cleon Jones settled under a fly ball for the final out the Mets had completed settled under a fly ball for the final out the Mets had completed their miracle their miracle TOM TERRIFIC Mets ace pitcher Tom Seaver tossed a near-perfect game on July 9 1969 against the Cubs at New York’s Shea Stadium Seaver struck out 11 batters and walked none in the 4 0 victory Rookie Jimmy Qualls singled with one out in the ninth to break up the perfect game Seaver went on to win the NL Cy Young Award that year posting a record of 25 7 with a 2 21 ERA
CHAPTER 2 TAKING DOWN TYSON Sometimes a team will come out of nowhere to win a championship But it can happen for individual athletes too In 1990 boxer James Buster Douglas was a 29-year-old journeyman with an unimpressive 29 4 1 pro record Many boxing fans had never heard of him when it was announced that he would fight heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in Tokyo Japan Tyson was the most feared boxer of his generation He dominated his opponents winning many matches in the first round He brought a record of 37 0 with 33 knockouts into the ring that night in Tokyo Experts predicted another easy victory for Tyson But Douglas was ready He seemed to have more energy than Tyson whose left eye became more swollen as the match went on In the 10th round Douglas threw five quick punches that sent the champion to the mat Tyson had never been knocked down as a pro fighter And he wasn’t able to get up It was a knockout for Douglas The unknown boxer was the new heavyweight champion Buster Douglas stands over a fallen Mike Tyson after delivering the final punch of their heavyweight title bout in 1990
