5 Times When the New York Mets Showed Greatness
For three-plus months in the 2021 MLB season, the NY Mets gave their fans hope that the spark was back and their World Series dreams were not in vain. Being in first place for 103 days in the NL East gave the Mets the opportunity to pull away from other struggling teams. But instead, the competition roared back, knocking the Mets down to the third-place spot and a losing season.
At least Mets fans can temper their disappointment with memories of great moments in Mets history when the team made dreams come true. During the Mets’ 60-year MLB history, the team won the World Series in 1969 and 1986. They also had three World Series appearances in 1973, 2000, and 2015. If you include the powerful Mets teams of the 90s, Mets fans have plenty of reasons to be proud. Here are five of the greatest moments in the team’s history.
The 1969 World Championship Game
The Mets began the 1969 season with a seven-year losing streak. At the beginning of the season, Mets fans and MLB experts alike wouldn’t have given the Mets a slim chance of winning the World Championship. But they eventually witnessed the team fuse a powerful combination of superb pitching and precision hitting to win 100 games, the NL East Division title, and the 1969 World Series. This incredible turnaround earned them the nickname of the “Miracle Mets.”
The stellar 1969 Mets pitching staff included Tom Seavers, Nolan Ryan, Tug McGraw (reliever), and Gary Gentry. The Mets swept the Atlanta Braves to win the National League Championship Series before beating the Baltimore Orioles 4–1 in the World Series. In the fifth game, the Mets rallied from a 3–0 deficit to close the series in the later innings.
A Dramatic Return to the World Series in 1973
The 1973 Mets struggled through the season until August when Mets chairman M. Donald Grant boosted the team with his famous speech. Inspired by Grant’s appeal, relief pitcher Tug McGraw invented the “You Gotta Believe” rally cry.
The Mets responded by rebounding strong enough to win the division. In the postseason, the Mets’ newfound adrenaline propelled them to a National League Championship Series victory before fizzling during the World Series, losing to the Oakland Athletics in game seven. However, pushing the A’s to game seven was a commendable feat for the underdog Mets because Oakland had a fantastic team that year.
Game Six of the 1986 National League Championship Series
The NY Mets’ journey to the 1986 World Series crown hedged on the outcome of an epic battle of the ages in game six of the NLCS with the Houston Astros. Staged in the Houston Astrodome, the two teams slugged it out for a World Series berth with every ounce of energy they had.
The Mets faced a nagging problem with starting Astros pitcher Mike Scott. He had already burned the Mets batters during two defeats in the series. No one in the Mets’ batting lineup could figure Scott out, and it seemed like déjà vu when the Astros jumped out to an early 3–0 lead in game six. But the Mets came back to tie the game 3–3 at the top of the ninth inning.
Mets pitcher Roger McDowell kept the game tied until the 14th inning by pitching five straight scoreless innings. Both teams scored one point each in the 14th. In the 16th inning of a grueling, hard-fought game, the Mets scored three times while the Astros scored two, giving New York a 7–6 victory over Houston and the opportunity to play the Boston Red Sox in the 1986 World Series.
National League Division Series Walk-off Home Run in Game Four
The 1999 season was a coming-out party for the re-tooled Mets. Since the team’s untimely exit from the 1988 postseason, the Mets’ front office made significant changes and additions, most notably the master trade for the great hitter and catcher Mike Piazza. As a result, after a nine-year hiatus, the Mets performed through the 1999 season like a legitimate post-season contender.
In the National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Mets jumped to a 2–1 lead with a chance to win the series in Shea Stadium. If they hadn’t won game four, the Mets would have had to return to the desert for a potentially troublesome game five. So, the Mets had a solid motivation to wrap up the series in New York.
By the eighth inning of game four, the Diamondbacks led 3–2. However, the Mets tied the game at the bottom of that inning. Then, in the bottom of the 10th inning, Mike Piazza’s backup Todd Pratt solidly hit the baseball directly toward center field. Diamondbacks outfielder Steve Finley chased after the ball as it streamed toward the top of the metal wall. He timed his reach perfectly. But when he looked into his glove, the ball was not there. The Mets won the series.
Mike Piazza Breaks the Home Run Record for Catchers
With home run number 352 on May 5, 2004, Hall of Fame Mets catcher Mike Piazza made MLB history by breaking Carlton Fisk’s all-time career home run record for catchers. He eventually finished his career with 399 home runs, which still is the catchers’ career home run record.
A month later, Hall of Fame catchers Yogi Berra, Johnny Bench, Carlton Fisk, Gary Carter, Ivan Rodriguez, and Lance Parrish attended a special ceremony to honor Piazza’s record-breaking feat. During the event, he received the plate he crossed to break the record.
The Mets’ Rich History
Although Mets fans have endured disappointment and loss for years, they have these five reasons to be proud of their home team. Of course, there are other great moments in the Mets’ history — these five highlights are just a brief look at what the Amazin’ Mets are capable of doing.
