Jimmy Qualls, 1969 and the not-so-perfect game
Posted by Michael Hanns on Wednesday, July 13, 2011
On July 9, 1969 Tom Seaver was pitching a perfect game against the Cubs with 2 outs to go in the 9th inning when Jimmy Qualls stepped to the plate. What happened next isnt really important in the whole scheme of things, but it was a key moment in that exciting 1969 season. To get a better appreciation of that moment it helps to understand what had gone on up to that point in the season. The Cubs had gotten off to that great start and seemed to be primed to reach the post season for the first time in 24 years. Meanwhile, the Mets own path to that moment is just as significant. From the day they were conceived in 1962 up to 1968, the Mets were the joke of baseball, if somewhat colorful, but still a joke. As 1969 took shape they were still searching for their first .500 season. Also significant is the fact that the leagues had split in 2 divisions, which seemed to open the door for the Cubs, but was also a chance for the Mets to move up. Expansion also helped, because now there would be a team worse than the Mets. So the Mets were playing better and by July had reached 2nd place, just ahead of the defending champ Cardinals and the Pirates. The Cubs had struggled a little bit coming to New York, but still held a 5 and half game advantage. With Jenkins going, it seemed things looked good, especially going into the 9th leading 3-1.Boswell hit a ball that was misplayed by Don Young. Then doubles by Clendenon and Jones led to 2 runs and a single by Kranepool scored the winning run.
The actual events arent remembered as well as the aftermath. After the game, Cubs captain Ron Santo berated Young in front of the whole team and Santo became a pariah, if only briefly. Meanwhile, Durocher took Young out of the lineup and replaced him with Qualls, who was usually an infielder. But Qualls had better speed than any of his other options.
So on the evening of July 9, the Cubs faced Tom Seaver, who was already the Golden Boy of New York baseball. Seaver had originally been signed by Atlanta in 1966, but because of irregularities that signing was voided and a special lottery was held to determine who would get Tom Terrific. The Mets won the lottery and did not waste time bringing Seaver up in 1967 where he won 16 games and was Rookie of the Year. By 1969 he was ready to take his place as the leagues best pitcher. And on that night in 1969 he looked every bit like it. But Qualls would not let Seaver throw a perfect like Sandy Koufax had only 4 years earlier. Indeed, a number of '69 Cubs had appeared in that game and remembered it well. So Qualls would have the defining moment of his career and forever bound himself to the best right handed pitcher of his generation and although the Mets won the war, the Cubs had a small, yet significant victory. The Cubs would win the next night, avoiding a sweep at the hands of the young upstarts from New York and although they would lose 2 of 3 to the Mets in Wrigley Field the next week(a series marred by Seaver and his teammates complaining about Santos heel-kicking), the Cubs would recover and eventually opened up an 8 and a half game lead before hitting a more prolonged slump that would open the door for the streaking Mets to win the division and eventually shock the baseball world by beating Baltimore to become World Champs.
As for Qualls, he finished the season pretty much as the Cubs regular Center Fielder, but when the Cubs acquired Johnny Callison to play Right Field, Jim Hickman was moved there. Qualls would be traded to Montreal in 1970, after a trade to the Reds would not return to the majors until 1972 with the White Sox. However that was short lived and following a brief stint in Japan would be out of baseball by 1973. Meanwhile, this would not be the end of Seavers attempts to no hit the Cubs. He would carry another no-hitter into the 9th inning against the Cubs in 1975, but that attempt would be ended by Tarzan Joe Wallis. Seaver eventually did get his no-hitter, but not until the Mets traded him to the Reds.
But for one night, Qualls would be another member of the Hall of Obscurity. He has Tom Seaver to thank for that
The actual events arent remembered as well as the aftermath. After the game, Cubs captain Ron Santo berated Young in front of the whole team and Santo became a pariah, if only briefly. Meanwhile, Durocher took Young out of the lineup and replaced him with Qualls, who was usually an infielder. But Qualls had better speed than any of his other options.
So on the evening of July 9, the Cubs faced Tom Seaver, who was already the Golden Boy of New York baseball. Seaver had originally been signed by Atlanta in 1966, but because of irregularities that signing was voided and a special lottery was held to determine who would get Tom Terrific. The Mets won the lottery and did not waste time bringing Seaver up in 1967 where he won 16 games and was Rookie of the Year. By 1969 he was ready to take his place as the leagues best pitcher. And on that night in 1969 he looked every bit like it. But Qualls would not let Seaver throw a perfect like Sandy Koufax had only 4 years earlier. Indeed, a number of '69 Cubs had appeared in that game and remembered it well. So Qualls would have the defining moment of his career and forever bound himself to the best right handed pitcher of his generation and although the Mets won the war, the Cubs had a small, yet significant victory. The Cubs would win the next night, avoiding a sweep at the hands of the young upstarts from New York and although they would lose 2 of 3 to the Mets in Wrigley Field the next week(a series marred by Seaver and his teammates complaining about Santos heel-kicking), the Cubs would recover and eventually opened up an 8 and a half game lead before hitting a more prolonged slump that would open the door for the streaking Mets to win the division and eventually shock the baseball world by beating Baltimore to become World Champs.
As for Qualls, he finished the season pretty much as the Cubs regular Center Fielder, but when the Cubs acquired Johnny Callison to play Right Field, Jim Hickman was moved there. Qualls would be traded to Montreal in 1970, after a trade to the Reds would not return to the majors until 1972 with the White Sox. However that was short lived and following a brief stint in Japan would be out of baseball by 1973. Meanwhile, this would not be the end of Seavers attempts to no hit the Cubs. He would carry another no-hitter into the 9th inning against the Cubs in 1975, but that attempt would be ended by Tarzan Joe Wallis. Seaver eventually did get his no-hitter, but not until the Mets traded him to the Reds.
But for one night, Qualls would be another member of the Hall of Obscurity. He has Tom Seaver to thank for that