METS FANS SHARE THEIR MEMORIES OF THE JUNE 20, 1971 GAME:
Michael Sofranko
November 16, 2006
This was only the second game I attended. I was 11 years old. It was a Father's Day doubleheader which was also Mets Straw Hat Day.The two most outstanding memories on the day were seeing Nolan Ryan, a relative unknown at the time, walk the first three hitters he faced, then promptly struck out the next three to end the first inning. I hadn't realized until looking at the box score that the Mets actually made a fantastic comeback in the bottom of the ninth of the first game. The second memory took place in the second game which was a long home run hit out of the park in right field clearing the second bullpen wall and into the parking lot by Ken Singleton. The second game also was won by a Darren Johnson grand slam in extra innings. Mets also attempted another comeback but fell short. Our seats were first row Mezzanine section which my hncle bought from a scalper for $10 each. What a classic day it was!
Bob P
November 24, 2006
Michael, a couple of follow-up points to your excellent post: Ryan actually gave up a bunt single and two walks in the top of the first before striking out Willie Montanez, Oscar Gamble, and Ron Stone. After being given a 4-0 lead thanks to two run homers by Mike Jorgensen and Art Shamsky, Ryan gave up six runs and six hits and two walks (one intentional) in the sixth. In the first five innings Nolan had allowed just that one bunt hit. In the bottom of the ninth, the Mets loaded the bases with nobody out, and back-to-back singles by Don Hahn and Duffy Dyer gave the Mets the win, 7-6. The Ken Singleton homer in game two gave the Mets a 5-1 lead in the fourth inning, but Ray Sadecki couldn't hold it and the Mets lost in 11 innings.
YM
September 6, 2008
This was the first game I ever attended at Shea. I was six years old; we arrived during the top of the 9th inning and so the first Shea experience I ever had was a 3 run comeback. I was hooked!
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