Chicago Blackhawks' Pat Stapleton sprawls after the puck as the Rangers' Jean Ratelle (19) and Rod Gilbert move in on the action, Oct. 22, 1969, at Madison Square Garden. Photo Credit: AP/Dave Pickoff
It was the night before the Mets won the World Series.
Channel 2 was showing “The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour,” with Don Ho as a guest. Channel 7 had “The Flying Nun,” and on Channel 11, Joe Garagiola was hosting a syndicated game show called, “He Said, She Said.”
Meanwhile, to little fanfare on Oct. 15, 1969, on a channel that did not yet have an official name, the Rangers were hosting the North Stars at Madison Square Garden in what now is considered a landmark in local sports television.