1969 04-08 Phillies at Cubs

The Thomas Paine Podcast presents a three-part retrospective of the historic 1969 opening day matchup between the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field, culminating in a dramatic 7-6 victory for the Cubs in 11 innings. The game, played before a record-breaking crowd of 40,796 fans—the largest opening day attendance in Wrigley Field history—was a rollercoaster of emotion and momentum. Ernie Banks delivered a legendary performance, hitting two home runs in the first and third innings to reach 476 career home runs and move into 10th place on the all-time list, driving in five runs and becoming the game’s emotional centerpiece. The Phillies fought back with a pair of home runs from rookie Don Money in the ninth inning, tying the game and threatening a collapse. However, manager Leo Durocher made a pivotal decision to pull starter Ferguson Jenkins and bring in relief pitcher Phil Regan, setting the stage for rookie Willie Smith to deliver a walk-off line drive to right field in the 11th inning, scoring Randy Hundley and sealing the win. The broadcast, hosted by Lou Boudreau and Vince Lloyd in Part 1 and continued by Thomas Paine in the final segment, captures the electric atmosphere, defensive gems, and clutch performances that defined the game. The Cubs’ resilience, strategic management, and the emergence of young talent like Smith and Don Young underscored a promising start to the 1969 season.