Mets Down Cards in Critical Game at Busch Stadium

Oct. 2, 1964 - Before tonight’s game, Al Jackson’s arms were quivering, and his head rolled shakily from side to side. “I’m nervous,” he said jokingly as he dangled his hands in a pantomime of panic. “Oh, I’m nervous.”

It may have been the most important game Alvin Jackson (pictured being congratulated by manager Casey Stengel) may ever pitch. But it wasn’t important to him. So, he joked and shivered and roared with laughter before the game and then he beat the Cardinals in a game that was very important to them.

The little Met lefty beat the Cards, 1-0, tonight and would have knocked them out of first place in the National League, but the Phillies knocked off the Reds in Cincinnati and the Cardinals stayed half a game in front.

If the Cardinals beat the Mets tomorrow and Sunday, they win the pennant. Cincinnati and Philadelphia do not play tomorrow.

“Sure this game, doesn’t mean much to me or the team,” Jackson said before tonight’s game. “But there’s pride.”

After the victory, he lit a cigarette and continued the discussion. “I’ve been in big games in the minors,” he said. “But this is a different feeling. It’s something we can do. We can make a disturbance. We’re important.”

Jackson was important, and he was marvelous. He allowed only five hits and walked only one man. His biggest jam was in the eighth, when two singles and a freak umpire interference play loaded the bases with two outs. But he made Dick Groat hit a line drive right at Joe Christopher.

“That little Alvin,” Groat whispered intensely in the Cardinal clubhouse. “He’s a battler. Sure, he may say this game means nothing to him. But I know him. I’ve played with him. He’s got pride. He knows how to pitch, and he gives it his best. I never saw that little Alvin pitch a better game. He went out there, and we were overmatched.”

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