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Ernie Banks probably wishes the Mets hadn't played two on this date in 1969. One day after completing a two-game sweep of the Cubs, the Amazins welcomed the Montreal Expos to Shea for a twinbill and swept that, too. Ken Boswell made the home crowd happy in the opener, lacing a walk-off single to center field in the bottom of the twelfth inning for a 3-2 win. The Mets also scored three earned runs in the night cap, but the Expos augmented those with four of the unearned variety. That was more than enough support for Nolan Ryan, who went the distance, fanning eleven and letting a lone 'Spo cross the plate in the process. The two wins, coupled with another Chicago loss, leap frogged the Mets into first place for the first time in team history. For the Cubs, the ousting ended a streak of 155 days in the division's top slot. They would spend the remainder of the 1969 season looking up at New York.
Transactions
Looking to bolster their pitching staff down the stretch, the Braves acquired swingman Tom Hausman from the Mets in exchange for Carlos Diaz on this date in 1982. Though Atlanta wound up taking the NL West crown, the Mets easily won this deal. Hausman appeared in just three games down the stretch before fading into minor league obscurity, while Diaz turned into a valuable bullpen piece. In 1983, he posted a 2.05 ERA that was 78% better than league average. That gaudy number attracted the eye of the Dodgers, who offered Sid Fernandez to the Mets for the reliever in the offseason.
At the Polo Grounds on September 10, 1963, the Mets took a 4-2 contest against the stadium's previous tenants, the Giants. Carl Willey scattered six hits over nine innings to earn the complete game victory. In a fun little fluke, Willey worked a scoreless eighth by retiring all three Alou brothers-Jesus, Matty, and Felipe-in order from youngest to oldest. Jesus would later play for the Mets, as would his nephews Moises Alou and Mel Rojas.
Amazin'-ly Tenuous Connection
September 10 is National Children's Day in Honduras. According to Baseball Reference, only one child born in the tiny Central American country has grown up to become a major leaguer. Outfielder Gerald Young was drafted by the Mets in 1982 and played two years in the low minors before getting traded to the Astros in the Ray Knight deal.