Reviews

The two "Time" magazines that I kept from the year 1969 were the one of Neil Armstrong walking on the moon and this September 5, 1969 issue with a cover cartoon by Willard Mullin reflecting the surprising season of the Miracle Mets. When the New York Mets were added to the National League in 1962 they had the second worst record in major league history, winning only 40 games while losing 120. Only twice in their first seven seasons did the Mets manage to finish out of the cellar, making it all the way to ninth out of ten teams. Then came the 1969 season when the Amazin' Mets won the World Series. Led by manager Gil Hodges and a pitching staff headed by Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman, with Tug McGraw and a young Nolan Ryan in the bullpen, the Mets swept past the Chicago Cubs to win the first Eastern Division Championship, and swept the Atlanta Braves to get to the World Series where they lost the first game before winning four in a row against the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles. Slugger Donn Clendenon, hot hitting Cleon Jones, the glove work of outfielders Tommy Agee and Ron Swoboda, and the timely hitting of platoon player Al Weis all became part of one of the most unbelievable baseball seasons in history. This wonderful "Time" cover features a cartoon by Willard Mullin, the Dean of American sports cartoonists. Mullin helped define the genre of sports cartooning by employing both respresentative portraiture along side cartoonish playfulness. Hired by the "New York World-Telegram" in 1934, it was Mullin who created the figure of the "Brooklyn Bum" who was identified with the Dogers. For the Mets Mullin created the "Kid." When the Mets were created Mullin did art for most of the team's yearbook covers through 1968 (in 1969 the Mets had the heads of All-Star players Seaver, Koosman, and catcher Jerry Grote floating over Shea Stadium). For fans of either the Miracle Mets of Mullin's art, this Art Print of the September 5, 1969 "Time" cover is a choice acquisition. You have the "Kid," with a bat bigger than he is, being urged on by dozens of "Go's" representing the Met faithful cheering on their "wunderkind." Actually, the story that went with the cover inside the magazine was not that long, but this is really a great piece of memorabilia to remember the amazin' '69 season. Notice also that the bottom of the artwork has Mullin's recognizable signature, which turns 21 diagonal lines into "Willard Mullin." How unbelievable were the Miracle Mets? American military personnel being held in prisoner of war camps in North Vietnam and eager for news of what was happening back in the world were willing to believe that Americans had walked on the moon but found it hard believe the Mets had won the World Series. Good thing I kept the "Time" covers to prove both really happened.

The two "Time" magazines that I kept from the year 1969 were the one of Neil Armstrong walking on the moon and this September 5, 1969 issue with a cover cartoon by Willard Mullin reflecting the surprising season of the Miracle Mets. When the New York Mets were added to the National League in 1962 they had the second worst record in major league history, winning only 40 games while losing 120. Only twice in their first seven seasons did the Mets manage to finish out of the cellar, making it all the way to ninth out of ten teams. Then came the 1969 season.Led by manager Gil Hodges and a pitching staff headed by Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman, with Tug McGraw and a young Nolan Ryan in the bullpen, the Mets swept past the Chicago Cubs to win the first Eastern Division Championship, and swept the Atlanta Braves to get to the World Series where they lost the first game before winning four in a row against the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles. Slugger Donn Clendenon, hot hitting Cleon Jones, the glove work of outfielders Tommy Agee and Ron Swoboda, and the timely hitting of platoon player Al Weis all became part of one of the most unbelievable baseball seasons in history. How unbelievable were the Miracle Mets? American military personnel being held in prisoner of war camps in North Vietnam and eager for news of what was happening back in the world were willing to believe that Americans had walked on the moon but found it hard believe the Mets had won the World Series.This wonderful "Time" cover features a cartoon by Willard Mullin, the Dean of American sports cartoonists. Mullin helped define the genre of sports cartooning by employing both respresentative portraiture along side cartoonish playfulness. Hired by the "New York World-Telegram" in 1934, it was Mullin who created the figure of the "Brooklyn Bum" who was identified with the Dogers. For the Mets Mullin created the "Kid." When the Mets were created Mullin did art for most of the team's yearbook covers through 1968 (in 1969 the Mets had the heads of All-Star players Seaver, Koosman, and catcher Jerry Grote floating over Shea Stadium). For fans of either the Miracle Mets of Mullin's art, this Art Print of the September 5, 1969 "Time" cover is a choice acquisition. You have the "Kid," with a bat bigger than he is, being urged on by dozens of "Go's" representing the Met faithful cheering on their "wunderkind." Actually, the story that went with the cover inside the magazine was not that long, but this is really a great piece of memorabilia to remember the amazin' '69 season. Notice also that the bottom of the artwork has Mullin's recognizable signature, which turns 21 diagonal lines into "Willard Mullin."