Mets welcome '69 Series heroes before Game 4

NEW YORK -- For the second straight night, the Mets trotted out legends from their past to commemorate a game that will shape their future.

Revered for their important roles in bringing the franchise its first World Series championship in 1969, Ron Swoboda and Ed Charles threw out ceremonial first pitches to a thunderous applause from another raucous Citi Field crowd before Tuesday night's matchup against the Dodgers in Game 4 of the National League Division Series.

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More than 44,000 packed Citi for Game 3 on Monday for the stadium's first postseason game, the largest crowd for a Mets game at the venue.

Those in attendance saved their loudest boos for Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley, and their loudest cheers for injured Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada. But coming in a close second was the applause for 1973 World Series legend Rusty Staub, who threw out the first pitch less than two weeks removed from a heart attack.

On Tuesday, the Mets honored Swoboda and Charles. Both played pivotal roles in what is widely regarded as one of the biggest upsets in World Series history, New York's triumph over Baltimore in five games in 1969.

Charles scored the winning run in New York's 2-1 Game 2 win at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, and Swoboda's legendary catch from Game 4 still plays on repeat during franchise highlight reels. Swoboda also hit .400 in the Series.

Video: '69 WS, Gm 4 BAL@NYM: Swoboda's catch preserves tie

Shortly before the first pitches, USO Show Troupe performed the national anthem, complete with a flyover for the second straight night.