Padres @ Shea, 1969-1986

[G-Fafif]

There's one and there's everything else.

Here's the one:

TOTAL DISCONNECT, 4/22/70
--Tom Seaver strikes out 19 Padres, the last 10 in a row

Here's everything else:

THE START OF SOMETHING BIG, 5/28/69
--Bud Harrelson singles in Cleon Jones to touch off eleven-game winning streak that turns Miracle season toward its destiny; Mets win 1-0 in 11; Kooz allows four hits in 10 IP; is not pulled for Duaner Sanchez

THE RESTART OF SOMETHING BIG, 8/16/69
--Doubleheader sweep begins 38-11 stretch that overtakes Cubs

LOUSY LERON, 7/4/72
--Seaver carries no-no into ninth; with one out, Leron Lee singles; Seaver wins 2-0; we are clear-Lee still waiting

GREETING RANDY RUDELY, 6/16/73
--Randy Jones' big league debut torched by Willie Mays' 656th career homer in 10-2 Mets rout; Randy wreaks revenge by stealing Jerry Koosman's 1976 Cy Young, sticking Mets for mysterious contract, 1981-1982

SKY WHO? 7/29/77
--Dave Kingman returns after trade to San Diego; 13,000+ show up; Mets prevail; Jerry Koosman's record rises to 8-11; will finish '77 at 8-20

PERFECTLY FRANK, 5/1/79
--Frank Taveras strikes out five times against future Hall of Famers Gaylord Perry and Rollie Fingers on Mets Student Journalism Night (I get to see the press box; it is not impressive)

PERFECTLY TYPICAL, 7/6/79
--Mets load bases in eleventh inning; nobody out; HOW CAN THEY NOT SCORE? They don't -- a Youngblood pop fly and a Taveras DP does them in. Mets lose in 12. But at least Frank didn't strike out.

YOU COULD'VE SAVED YOUR STRENGTH, 8/26/80
--Henderson double, Younblood single ties it in the ninth. Mets and Pads play 18. Guess which team doesn't have the eventual winning run driven in by Willie Montanez.

WHAT MIGHT'VE BEEN, 7/10/82
--Foster, Kingman, Valentine combine to go 5-for-12 with two homers and four ribbies in 9-7 win that no doubt fools me for another day

WELCOME, ASTRAW, 5/17/83
--Darryl blasts first Shea homer; movement to rename place Strawberry Fields fails to pick up steam; also my first Seaver start since 1976; I leave early because of massive headache; I never go to another game without packing plenty of Tylenol and/or Advil

JESSE CHANNELS SCHOENEWEIS, 9/3/83
--Seaver leaves with lead in seventh; the otherwise dependable Jesse Orosco gives it away two batters later on a wild pitch, but Frank Howard leaves him in through the ninth. Whole bullpen sucks...it up from there and Mets win in 15th on Brian Giles sac fly -- remember when Brian Giles used to help the Mets and hurt the Padres?

FIRST HINT THAT SHEA'S NOT FOR HIM, 9/1/84
--Minor league callup Calvin Schiraldi gives up five runs and eight hits and fails to get out of the fourth. But his mates jump on eventual N.L. champs for 10-6 win.

HE WOULD NEVER DO THIS AGAIN, 8/25/85
--Doc Gooden wins 20th game of the season, improving his record to 20-3; it's his 14th straight victory

OFFICER TRAINING PROGRAM, 9/7/86
--Stanley Jefferson debuts, leads off, plays centerfield, gets a hit; joins Mazzilli, Wilson and Dykstra as part of living, breathing, active centerfield dynasty

(Padres @ Shea, 1987-2008 to come when I'm not so sleepy.)

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

]JESSE CHANNELS SCHOENEWEIS, 9/3/83 --Seaver leaves with lead in seventh; the otherwise dependable Jesse Orosco gives it away two batters later on a wild pitch, but Frank Howard leaves him in through the ninth. Whole bullpen sucks...it up from there and Mets win in 15th on Brian Giles sac fly -- remember when Brian Giles used to help the Mets and hurt the Padres?

Vague memories of this one