Looks like there's been a fun little 20-year debate going on here. In my opinion, I think the smarter move was to start Stone in Game 6 and save Seaver for Game 7, with Matlack available out of the bullpen. Though he may have been accustomed to starting on short rest, Seaver's numbers on 3 days rest in 1973 were considerably worse than on 4 days rest. Plus, at this point in the season he had accumulated well over 300 innings pitched, so any extra day of rest would have gone a long way. With the A's a loss away from losing the series, they were forced into desperation mode, so they HAD to go with their best arms in Games 6 and 7. But the Mets had the luxury of not needing to be desperate.

However, a huge hat tip needs to be given to Catfish Hunter with his performance on short rest. He was excellent when Oakland needed him to be excellent. He was far from overpowering, recording just 1 strikeout over 7.1 innings, but he got good defense behind him and the Mets hit a bunch of at-'em balls that went for outs.

So ultimately, it didn't matter who the starter was in Game 6 as the Mets offense didn't do enough to support whoever that pitcher would be. Where it does matter is Game 7, as we now know Seaver likely would have been the better option than Matlack. That point is inarguable, and so, in my book, whoever it was who made the decision to go with Seaver in Game 6 definitely made the wrong choice.

Not to mention, as the game was about to get underway the broadcast brought up how Seaver had reported shoulder pain while preparing for this start. He didn't pitch like he was hurt, but it's extra evidence, on top of his poor short rest stats, that Seaver should have been saved for Game 7.

It can be said the Mets lost Game 7 based on just 2 swings. One by Campaneris, one by Jackson. Both went for 2-run homers within 10 minutes of each other. Matlack looked sharp over his first two innings but it's reasonable to say fatigue and overexposure finally caught up with him in that fateful 3rd inning. The Mets scratched out 2 runs of their own, but it wasn't enough. And this would be the final time the Mets would make it back to the postseason until 1986.

When Matlack gave up the dinger to Campaneris, not only was it the first earned run he had given up all postseason (spanning 4 starts), but it was the first home run the A's hit in the World Series. For a team that ranked tied for 6th in the majors with 147 HRs, it took them 59.1 innings to collect their first against the Mets.

There were two World Series records set in this game, both by Oakland. Darold Knowles because the first to ever pitch in all 7 games of a World Series. The only person to match him thus far is Brandon Morrow with the Dodgers in 2017. Also, Gene Tenace recorded his 11th walk of the World Series in the game, which tied Babe Ruth's record from 1926. However, that has since been broken by Barry Bonds with 13 in 2002.

I know Reggie won MVP honors and he did have a very fine series, but I feel like all of his contributions were grouped too closely together, as there were several games he was a complete non-factor. I think my MVP vote would have gone to Campaneris. He was solid throughout and seemed to be involved in every A's rally.

In the 9th inning, pinch-hitter Ed Kranepool appeared to hit into a game-ending groundout to first base, causing some overanxious members of the crowd to storm the field preemptively. However, Tenace booted the ball, allowing John Milner to score and keep the game alive. Security had to get the fans back into the stands before play could continue in a pretty comical scene.

Also, I guess back during this era players would get fined by MLB for throwing balls into the stands. Reggie did it numerous times regardless of the repercussions, which eventually earned him a stern talking-to by one of the umpires. However, I'm shocked to learn that the rule still exists to this day: MLB prohibits players from throwing balls into the stands. Only thing is, nowadays the rule is extremely rarely enforced, and instead is considered an act of public relations between players and fans. Not sure why they don't abolish the rule completely if that's the case. Anyone getting fined for the act today would surely allege discrimination and selective punishment.

The Pirates scratched 2 runs off Jon Matlack in the 6th inning, and that would be all they'd need as Jerry Reuss went the distance for his 14th complete game of the season.

The Mets scored their only run in the 8th, when Wayne Garrett sparked a 2-out rally with a single. Pinch-hitter George Theodore followed with his only double of the season, and then Don Hahn hit a single to bring home Garrett. But Felix Millan grounded out to end the inning, and, despite a leadoff single by Rusty Staub in the 9th, the Mets went down 1-2-3 as rookie Benny Ayala (batting cleanup for the first time in his career) grounded into a double play, and John Milner flew out to the left to end the game.

This was the Mets' 5th straight loss, and they very much played like a team counting down the days until it was time to go home for the winter. This was also Jack Aker's final MLB appearance. He pitched a scoreless inning of relief.

Pretty sure I was at this game; I recall going to Montreal/Mets games in 03 and 04 and on both occasions Livan Hernandez pitched a gem.