New York Mets
From BR Bullpen
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Franchise Record: 3311-3677 World Series Titles: 2 (1969, 1986) National League Pennants: 4 (1969, 1973, 1986, 2000) Playoffs: 7 (1969, 1973, 1986, 1988, 1999, 2000, 2006) Franchise Players: Tom Seaver, Tug McGraw, Keith Hernandez, John Franco, Mike Piazza, Al Leiter |  New York Mets Logo |
The New York Mets were formed in 1962 in response to the baseball vacuum created by the departure of both the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants (see Expansion of 1962). Among the other names discussed for the club were Continentals, Skyliners, Jets, Meadowlarks, Burros, Rebels, Skyscrapers, NYBs and Avengers.
The Mets started play in the Polo Grounds and were a spectacular failure in the beginning. Despite the presence of stars Richie Ashburn and Gil Hodges, they went 40-120 in their first season and seriously damaged Casey Stengel's managerial winning percentage. Indeed, Stengel came up with some of baseball's most famous quotes while managing the Mets ("Can't anybody here play baseball?"). The Mets moved to Shea Stadium in 1964.
The Mets were endeared to New York City when they pulled off the "Miracle of 1969". The team had never finished higher than ninth in the previous seven seasons. However, in 1969, the Mets roared to a division title on the arms of young hurlers Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, and Gary Gentry. They upset both the Braves and Orioles, en route to winning the World Series and proving that expansion franchises could and would compete with the old guard of baseball.
The miracles continued in 1986 partially thanks to one of the most famous plays in World Series history. Facing the Red Sox in the World Series, down three games to two and 5-3 with two outs in the bottom of the 10th, the Mets used three singles, a wild pitch and, most famously, a Mookie Wilson grounder through Bill Buckner's legs to win the game, forcing a Game 7, which the Mets would win 8-5. The Mets last won the division title in 1988.
After making headlines for mediocre play and embarrasing incidents for most of the 1990s, the Mets returned to post-season play in 1999 and 2000. The Mets made an unlikely run to the World Series in 2000, falling to the Yankees in 5 games.
[edit] Retired Numbers
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[edit] Further Reading
- Dana Brand: Mets Fan, McFarland, Jefferson, NC, 2007.
- Jacob Kanarek: From First to Worst: The New York Mets, 1973-1977, McFarland, Jefferson, NC, 2008.
- Bruce Markusen: Tales from the Mets Dugout, Sports Publishing LLC, Champaign, IL, 2007.
- William J. Ryczek: The Amazin' Mets, 1962-1969, McFarland, Jefferson, NC, 2008.
- Matt Silverman: Mets Essential: Everything You Need to Know to Be a Real Fan!, Triumph Books, Chicago, IL, 2007.
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New York Mets Seasons |
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