1971 05-04 Cubs at Mets

The Thomas Paine Podcast presents a riveting, play-by-play account of Game 2 of a four-game series between the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets at Shea Stadium on May 4, 1971. Hosted by Bob Murphy with analysts Ralph Kiner and Lindsey Nelson, the broadcast captures a tightly contested battle marked by pitching duels, strategic base running, and a historic umpiring controversy. Nolan Ryan struggled with control early, walking six batters in the first four innings, yet kept the Cubs at bay with five strikeouts. The Mets took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on Bob Aspermani’s first home run as a Met, but the Cubs tied it in the fourth with a series of walks and a stolen base. The game’s turning point came in the bottom of the seventh, when a disputed call on Don Hahn being hit by a pitch sparked a 14-minute umpiring review involving all four officials. After the decision was reversed and the ball ruled to have hit Hahn’s bat first, Cubs manager Gil Hodges declared the game played under protest—a rare move in baseball history. Despite the protest, the Mets capitalized on the confusion, with a sacrifice bunt by Al Weiss, a critical error by Cubs catcher Danny Breeden, and a double play by Ron Santo. The Cubs had multiple chances to tie or take the lead, including loaded bases in the eighth, but failed to score. In the ninth, Danny Priscilla secured the save, and Billy Williams struck out to end the game, giving the Mets a 2-1 victory and a 2-0 series lead. The episode closes with a public service announcement from the President's Committee on Mental Retardation, advocating for early childhood intervention through improved maternal and child health care, nutrition, and educational daycare centers to combat developmental delays in underserved communities.