Why did Major League Baseball lower the pitching mound and narrow the strike zone in 1969?

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Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants swings his bat after hitting his record-breaking 756th home run, with the catcher, umpire, and a cheering crowd behind him at AT&T Park. — History of baseball Giants legend Barry Bonds hitting his record-setting 756th career home run, August 7, 2007.

Major League Baseball lowered the pitching mound and reduced the size of the strike zone in 1969 to help reverse a decline in offensive productivity.1

Throughout baseball history, officials have frequently adjusted the balance between offense and defense to maintain the game's competitive nature. By the late 1960s, pitching had become so dominant that scoring had dropped significantly. These specific rule changes were implemented to make it easier for hitters to produce runs and hits, thereby restoring a more favorable balance to the game.1