A game for the Agee

Tommie Agee in the fourth inning …

Today marks the 54th anniversary of Tommie Agee’s stunning performance for the Mets in Game 3 of the 1969 World Series as the 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.

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

… and Tommie Agee in the seventh

“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.”

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.

“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.”

Check out the video of Agee’s day at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtgL-GX6pE8

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