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Don Cardwell of Miracle Mets, 72
Newsday
Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Obituary of former Mets pitcher Don Cardwell.

Tags: Don Cardwell



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NYB Buff
March 27, 2023
Don was the biggest unsung hero of the 1969 Miracle Mets. His stats for that season didn't stand out too much, but the experience factor he brought to the team was immeasurable. Don was a 12-year major league veteran at the time and commanded a certain respect that even Tom Seaver couldn't ignore. Seaver himself points out in this article that if Cardwell had something to say, people listened.

Cardwell had two significant moments in '69. In addition to hitting the only homer among Met pitchers that season, he also singled to drive in the only run of a 1-0 New York victory in a doubleheader nightcap after Jerry Koosman did the same in the opener at Pittsburgh on September 12th. Don pitched eight innings of that game before Tug McGraw finished it off in the ninth. This was Cardwell's 20th and final win during his time with the Mets.

The greatest game of Don's career is also covered in the story. Just two days after being traded by the Phillies, he pitched a no-hitter for the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Just like '69 in Pittsburgh, this moment from nine years earlier came in the second half of a doubleheader. I wonder how long it took the Philadelphia team to get over that!



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