A game for the Agee

Tommie Agee’s catch of Elrod Hendrick’s fourth-inning drive

Today marks the 56th anniversary of the stunning performance of the Mets’ Tommie Agee in Game 3 of the 1969 World Series.

The Mets’ center fielder prevents five runs from scoring off New York starter Gary Gentry and reliever Nolan Ryan with a pair of two-out, running catches off the bats of Baltimore’s Elrod Hendricks and Paul Blair in the fourth and seventh innings, respectively.

Robbing Paul Blair in the seventh inning

Blair’s bases-loaded drive into the gap in right-center comes on the third pitch Ryan throws in relief of Gentry.

“I held my breath for a minute,” Ryan tells Newsday after the game, “but then I saw (Agee) tap his glove and I knew it was all right. Every time he does that, I know he's going to catch it.”

“I was hitting the ground and catching (the ball) at the same time,” Agee says of his second catch, the one off of Blair in the seventh inning. “As far as defense, I don’t think I ever played a better game.”

Agee starts his day with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first inning off Orioles starter Jim Palmer, a drive to center field that turns out to be enough offense as the Mets win 5-0 to take a 2-1 lead in the Series before a Tuesday afternoon crowd of 56,335 at Shea Stadium.

“We had one run in the last 18 innings (of Games 2 and 3),” Orioles manager Earl Weaver says, “and Agee (saved) five today. If they had to play without him, we’d have won.”

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