1965 05-21 Mets at Cardinals

The Thomas Paine Podcast presents a gripping recap of the May 21, 1965, matchup between the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium, capturing a pivotal moment in the early season rivalry. The game was tightly contested, with both teams trading blows through six innings, ending in a 2-2 tie before the Mets surged ahead on Ron Swoboda’s 10th home run of the season and a key two-run blast in the seventh. Al Jackson struggled on the mound, allowing seven hits and three walks, but showed resilience by retiring seven straight batters after the sixth. The Cardinals’ Ray Washburn also delivered a strong performance before being pulled after six and two-thirds innings. The atmosphere was electric, fueled by a packed crowd for Teenage Night and the growing star power of young players like Swoboda and Johnny Lewis, whose defensive play in center field proved crucial. Manager Casey Stengel’s strategic lineup adjustments, including moving Lewis to center, were highlighted as key to the Mets’ early success. However, the game’s climax came in the bottom of the ninth inning, where the Cardinals loaded the bases with no outs thanks to a sacrifice bunt by Julian Javier and a walk to Lou Brock. Relief pitcher Larry Bernard retired Kurt Flood, but a rushed throw by Roy McMillan on a ground ball from Ken Boyer allowed two runs to score, sparking controversy over whether a fourth out was made. The umpires upheld the call, and the Cardinals won 5-4, with Boyer named MVP for his game-winning RBI. The broadcast, featuring legendary voices Bob Murphy, Lindsey Nelson, Ralph Kiner, and Rob Geiner, delivered rich play-by-play commentary and nostalgic reflections on baseball’s golden era, while sponsors like Rheingold beer, Viceroy cigarettes, Shell Oil, and Ryan Gold beer added period authenticity to the production.