1969 NL East Race Finale

Lore & Background

The Cubs held first place for 155 days, leading the division by as many as 9 games on August 16. However, from September 2 onward, the Cubs lost 17 of their last 25 games while the Mets went 23–7, overtaking the Cubs and finishing 8 games ahead. The collapse is considered one of the most astounding in history. Manager Leo Durocher, age 64, was criticized for overusing regular players, with five position players finishing with over 150 games played. The pitching staff also faltered: in the first 118 games the Cubs averaged 4.7 runs scored and 3.5 runs allowed per game, but in the last 45 games they averaged 3.7 runs scored and 4.5 runs allowed. A black cat ran onto the field near third baseman Ron Santo during a game against the Mets, which fueled the myth of the Curse of the Billy Goat, though the curse itself originated in 1945.

In Their Own Story

On September 28, 1969, the air inside Wrigley Field grew heavy as the final out was recorded. The scoreboard confirmed what everyone felt: the Cubs had lost 10-5 to the Mets, surrendering the division title in a single afternoon. Ron Santo walked off the field after going 1-for-4, while Ernie Banks tipped his cap to a handful of loyal fans who refused to leave their seats despite the verdict. In the dugout, manager Leo Durocher sat motionless, his usual fire extinguished by the reality of the ten-game skid. The stadium lights hummed over empty bleachers as players realized they hadn't just lost a game; they had lost an era.

Reader's Guide

The Cubs finished 92–70, 8 games behind the Mets in the NL East. No tiebreaker occurred. The Cubs' largest lead was 9 games on August 16; by September 2 the lead had fallen to 5 games. The Cubs' longest losing streak in September was 5 games (September 3–7), not 10. The Mets' longest winning streak that month was 9 games (September 9–17). The black cat incident is often cited in connection with the Billy Goat Curse, but the curse itself dates to 1945.

Did You Know?

• The Cubs led the NL East for 155 days in 1969.
• On August 16, the Cubs held a season-high 9-game lead over the second-place Mets.
• The Cubs lost 17 of their final 25 games, while the Mets went 23–7 to win the division by 8 games.
• A black cat ran onto the field near Ron Santo during a game against the Mets, later linked to the Curse of the Billy Goat.
• Five Cubs regulars played over 150 games that season, a factor cited in the team's late-season fatigue.