Today is the 51st anniversary of Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Bob Moose temporarily interrupting the Miracle Mets’ postseason push with a no-hitter at Shea Stadium.
On Saturday, September 20, 1969, Moose struck out six and walked three to lead the Pirates to a 4-0 win over New York. My father and my two oldest sisters were at the game, but I was left at home that day because I was only 11 months old.
The Cubs lost, too, so the Mets maintained a four-game lead in the newly formed National League East division. Wayne Garrett nearly notched a hit in the sixth inning with a deep fly to left, but Roberto Clemente chased it down.
“I thought it was gone when he hit it, but then I saw the wind hold it up” Moose told Daily News writer Phil Pepe. “I knew if any right-fielder was going to catch it, Clemente would.”
Here is some 8mm footage of the game taken by my dad:
