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New York Mets   Rating: (4.0 / 10)    Views: 311

Submitted By: hiskeyd on 10/3/2006. (  |  Share  |  Clikk It! )   

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New York Mets


Link: http://mets.mlb.com
 1959-1960: Two years after the Dodgers and Giants departed New York, attorney William Shea announces the formation of a third major league, the Continental League, to begin play in 1961. One of the charter teams for the league would be placed in New York. The AL and NL saw a real threat in third league, and made a deal to expand for the first time in 60 years in exchange for the Continental League's folding. The AL and NL each took 2 of the League's charter franchises including the New York franchise which would become the Mets. Many people credit Shea for the new era of expansion and he is eventual rewarded by having a Stadium named in his honor.

1962: The Mets inaugural season is nothing to write home about. It took them 10 games just to get their first win. The Mets would not win much that first year losing 120 games the most in the 20th Century. However the Mets would be very popular despite the losing as they would be referred to as the "Lovable Losers", as the players went out of their way to entertain the fans.

1963: The Mets introduced the first Major League Mascot Mr. Met .Two career milestone Home Runs for two totally different players highlight the final season of baseball at the Polo Grounds. First there was Hall of Famer Duke Snider who hit a walk off HR for the 400th round tripper of his career. The second was the 100th by the eccentric Jimmy Piersall. Piersall would shock everyone by circling the bases backwards after hitting the career century mark off Dallas Green of the Phillies. The move would earn Piersall a one-way ticket out of New York, as manger Casey Stengel remarked there was "room for only one clown on the Mets". However the Mets were not much better on the field as they again finished with a league worst 51-111 record.

1964: The Mets move to Queens, in the new state of the art Shea Stadium in Flushing Queens, where for the first 2 seasons the Mets would be a side attraction to the World's Fair which was going on across the street from the new ballpark. The Mets would continue to play poor baseball with a 53-109 record, but they played in packed houses. The Mets would also host that years All-Star Game that was won by the NL on homer by the Phillies Johnny Callison in the 9th Inning.

1965: The long managerial career of Casey Stengel comes to an end after a slip in the shower, caused an injury that required hip replacement surgery. The Mets would once again lose more then 100 games, with a record of 50-112, as onetime New York Giants catcher Wes Westrum took over for Casey.

1966: The Mets win a lottery for USC star pitcher Tom Seaver, while another future Hall of Fame pitcher would make his debut Nolan Ryan who earns his first career strikeout on his way to his over 5,000 K record. The Mets also escape the cellar for the first time finishing in 9th place with a 66-95 record.

1967: While the Mets took a step backward losing 101 games and returning to last place signs of a bright future were not hard to miss as Tom Seaver had a successful debut season earning the NL Rookie of the Year.

1968: Under new Manager Gil Hodges the Mets show flashes of a winning team, as they finish with a 73-89 record. Rookie Pitchers Jerry Koosman, and Nolan Ryan give the Mets a solid young rotation to build around, while the acquisition of Tommie Agee does not look good at first, the young OF would have a good second half to build off after struggling most of the season.

1969: The Mets who never finished higher than 9th would enter the era of divisional play in spectacular fashion by actually contending for the top spot in the NL East. However the season will get off to a shaky start as the Mets lost the first game of the season to the expansion Montreal Expos. The signs this was a magic year first came in June when Tom Seaver pitched 8 2/3 of Perfect Baseball before a base hit by Jimmy Quals of the Cubs broke up the gem. However, the Mets would make their presence felt that series by gaining ground on the first place Chicago Cubs. Shortly after the series the Mets would acquire 1B Donn Clendenon from the Expos to sure up the offense. The Mets would stay close to the Cubs throughout the summer, as all of baseball expected them to wilt in the Dog Days. As September began it was the Cubs who would begin to wilt, as the Mets enter a key 2 game series at Shea with Cubs in early September. The Mets who trailed by 2.5 games would need a sweep to realistically stay in the race, and with a dash of black magic, and good baseball the Mets would sweep the Cubs. At one point during the sweep a black cat appeared and walking past the Cubs dugout out before darting down the visitors' clubhouse ramp. The Mets would go on to win 100 games while finishing 8 games better then the deflated Cubs. The Mets would go on to face the Atlanta Braves in the very first NLCS, surprisingly it was no contest as the Mets swept the Braves to claim their first ever NL Pennant. The Mets who were not even supposed to be in the World Series are not given a chance against the powerful Baltimore Orioles. After losing Game 1, Jerry Koosman out dueled Dave McNally 2-1 to even the series at a game apiece heading to Shea. The first game in Shea would quickly become the Tommie Agee show as the Mets won 5-0 thanks to a lead off homer, and two amazing catches by the CF. Both catches saved extra base hits with runners on base, as Nolan Ryan got the save in his only World Series appearance during his long illustrious career. Game 4 would be another pitchers duel as Tom Seaver battled Mike Ceullear. The Mets would take a 1-0 lead on a Donn Clendenon HR, but the Orioles would tie the game in the 9th. However, it could have been allot worse had it not been for RF Ron Swaboda, who made a diving catch that allowed only 1 run to score, instead of a 2. The game would go into extra innings when J.C. Martin's sacrifice bunt was thrown away allowing the winning run to score giving the Mets a 3-1 series lead. In Game 5 the Orioles would score 3 quick runs off Jerry Koosman, but the young lefty, would not allow another as the Mets crept back into the game on HRs by Donn Clendenon, and the unlikely Al Weis. The Mets would go on to win the game 5-3 to complete the biggest upset in World Series history. Donn Clendenon who hit 3 key HRs in the series was named World Series MVP, as the city embraced its Amazin' Mets. In a strange side not Mayor John Lindsay, was reelected largely thanks to the good feelings around the surprise World Champions.

1970: The Mets finish with an 83-79 record, as the magic that surrounded them in 1969 does not carry over. The pitching would continue to be strong as Tom Seaver ties a Major League record with 19 strikeouts in a game.

1971: After another 83-79 season the Mets make one of the worst trades in baseball history dealing Nolan Ryan and 3 minor leaguers to the California Angels for a washed up Jim Fregosi.

1972: Tragedy strikes the Mets on April 2nd as Gil Hodges, who playing golf during a short player's strike suffers a massive heart attack and dies. He would replaced by Yogi Berra as manger. The Mets would also make news they acquire Willie Mays, who returns to New York to finish out his career. The move would help more at the gate then in the field as Mays' best playing days are well behind him. Again the Mets would be surrounded by mediocrity as they again finish in 3rd place with an 83-73 record.

1973: Though out most of the season the Mets suffered through injuries, and languished in last place. However in a bad NL East they were not out of the race. In August, M. Donald Grant, the Mets Vice President who was involved with most of the day to day running of the Mets called for a team meeting to say that management still believed in the team. At that moment Mets reliever Tug McGraw stood up and shouted "You Gotta Believe!" That would be the Mets rallying cry the rest of the season, as the Mets began to gel. There were even flashbacks to the 1969 magic as Rusty Staub nailed a runner out at the plate on ball that bounced of the top of the fence. The Mets would go onto to claim the top spot in the NL East despite finishing with a mediocre 82-79 record. The Mets would stun baseball again in the NLCS against the Cincinnati Reds. The upstart Mets frustrated the Big Red Machine by splitting the first 2 games in Riverfront Stadium, while keeping their powerful lineup off balance with superb pitching. This frustration would boil over in Game 3 as Pete Rose and Mets SS Buddy Harrelson got tangled up in an ugly brawl. After the fight Rose was forced to wear a helmet in the OF from fans who were throwing objects his way. The Mets would go on to win the series in 5 games as Tug McGraw recorded the final out on a shovel from 1B John Milner. The Mets would face the powerful Oakland A's in the World Series, and were big underdogs again. However, the Mets would prove to a pesky challenge to the defending World Champions by getting 3 games to 2 lead heading back to Oakland for Game 6. However, the miracle would end there, as the A's would shut down the Mets in the final 2 games to claim their 2nd straight World Championship.

1974: The Mets would struggle mightily, as they would finish in 5th Place with a 71-91 record; things were so bad even Tom Seaver struggled with injuries finishing with only a 13-13 record.

1975: While the Mets struggled to finish 82-80, Tom Seaver bounced back nicely off a poor 1974, to win his 3rd career Cy Young while winning 22 games. The year would end on a sad note as both Mets owner Joan Payson, and Casey Stengel, the club's first manager pass away shortly after the season, within a few days of each other. .

1976: The Mets finish in 3rd place again with an 86-76 record, while long time fan favorite Jerry Koosman wins 20 games for the first time in his career, Also putting up big numbers was Dave Kingman who launched homers into the deepest parts of Shea on the way to a League leading 37 round trippers.

1977: The Mets get off to a terrible start and find themselves floundering in last place from the start of the season. However, the situation off the field may have been worse as the bad blood between ace pitcher Tom Seaver, and Mets Chairman M. Donald Grant began to boil over. As the struggling continued the desperate Mets fired manager Joe Frazier, and named 1B Joe Torre Player-Manager. Meanwhile the troubles between Seaver and Grant got worse and talk of a trade began to creep up. On June 15th the unthinkable happened Seaver was trade to the Cincinnati Reds for 5 mediocre players, that same day the popular Dave Kingman was also traded to the San Diego Padres. The moves were called the "Midnight Massacre", and singled trouble times for the Mets, who would finish in last place with a 64-98 record.

1978: The Mets continue to languish in last place with a 66-96 record, playing in front of an empty Shea Stadium with a team made up of players that belonged in the minor leagues.

1979: In the midst of a 3rd straight last place season, attendance hits rock bottom the Mets on the way to an awful 63-99 record were put for sale by Lorrinda deRoulette, the daughter of Joan Payson. Shea Stadium became a virtual ghost town among an awful season, in which the lone bright spot was Lee Mazilli's All-Star Game heroics. The sale would finally come at the end of the season when Publishing Magnate Nelson Doubleday, a distant relative to fabled baseball inventor Abner Doubleday, brought the team, and pledging to turn things around.

1980: One of Doubleday's first moves as owner was to hire Frank Cashen to be the club's General Manager. Cashen had past success in building the powerful Baltimore Orioles teams of the 60's and 70's. One of the 1st moves Cashen made was drafting Los Angeles High School star Darryl Strawberry with the 1st overall pick. While the move was for the future, the Mets played solid baseball for most of the season hanging around .500, before fading in the end to finish with a 67-95 record.

1981: In a season cut in 2 halves from a player's strike the Mets continue to struggle not challenging for first place in either half of the split season while finishing with an overall record of 41-62.

1982: The Mets would make wholesale changes heading into the season, first manager Joe Torre, was fired, and replaced by George Bamberger, The Mets than went out and acquired star OF George Foster from the Reds, which led to the trade of Lee Mazzilli at the end of spring training. The trade was blasted at first, but in the deal the Mets acquire 2 minor leaguers, would benefit the Mets in the future. Despite the changes the Mets continued to play poor baseball finishing in last place with a 65-97 record, which was only made worse with a midseason 15-game losing streak.

1983: The season began with optimism, as Tom Seaver is reacquired from the Reds, and pitches in front of a sold out Shea Stadium on Opening Day. Darryl Strawberry made a big splash in his first season by smacking 26 HR, to earn him Rookie of the Year honors. While the Mets continued to struggle, finishing in last palace with a 68-94 record, while going through 2 managers, attempts were made to improve the team in the middle of the season with the acquisition of steady-handed 1B Keith Hernandez from the St. Louis Cardinals. Hernandez at first rejected to the trade, not wanting to join a downtrodden team, but he would come to accept the move, as he was sold on the Mets future. That future would show itself bright as the Tidewater Tides (AAA) took the International League championship.

1984: The future that appeared so bright in Tidewater, would find itself in Shea Stadium, as Tides manager Davey Johnson, who ironically made the last out for the Orioles in the 1969 World Series took over the reigns of the young Mets. The Mets would suffer an early publicity hit as Tom Seaver is allowed to walk away and sign with Chicago White Sox. However, it only cleared the way for some for the young arms to make their way up to New York. While Ron Darling, the key pitcher in the Lee Mazzilli had a strong first full season; he was over shadowed by a 19-year old phenom Dwight Gooden. Gooden, who earned the name Dr. K, made big splash winning the Rookie of the Year while setting a new rookie strikeout record. This proved the catalyst as the Mets challenge the Chicago Cubs all season for the NL East title before finishing in 2nd with a 90-72 record.

1985: Not satisfied with second, the Mets would make a big splash acquiring the best catcher in baseball Gary Carter in a blockbuster trade with the Montreal Expos. Carter would pay immediate dividends hitting a walk off extra inning HR on opening day. The Mets would get off to a flying start and were in 1st place most of the fist 6 weeks of the season. However, the Mets would hit a bump in the road as RF Darryl Strawberry tore thumb ligaments making a diving catch. The injury put Strawberry on the DL for 6 weeks, and was among a number of key injuries the Mets suffered, as they fell in out of first and down in the standings. By the time Strawberry and the Mets returned the St. Louis Cardinals had taken over the top spot, and the Mets had a big climb ahead of them. With the Straw back in the mix the Mets would go back to the 1st place ball they played in April, and would make a charge. The Mets would battle the Cards tooth and nail to the last week of the season heading into a 3 game series in St, Louis in which the Mets need a sweep to stay alive. The Mets would take the first game on a majestic Strawberry HR, and the 2nd with the suburb pitching of Dwight Gooden who won the pitchers triple Crown on the way to becoming the youngest Cy Young winner of all-time. However, the Mets would lose the 3rd game and would wind up a few games short of 1st place with a 98-64 record.

1986: Coming off their solid 98-win season the Mets added Bob Ojeda to give them another solid lefty starter, something they lacked down the stretch. The Mets would have a shaky first week losing 3 of their first 5 games, but the struggles would not last long as the Mets closed out April with an 11-game winning streak. The winning streak was highlighted by a 4-game sweep of the Cardinals in St. Louis. The sweep was trigged by a dramatic game tying 3-run HR by Howard Johnson in the first game of the series. The sweep would serve to deflate the Cards, and spurred the Mets on to a dominating season. The Mets would run away and hide from the NL east competition getting contributions from everyone winning a club record 108 games. On the way to their 108-54 record the Mets developed a reputation of arrogance, which came from their HR curtain calls at Shea Stadium. The reputation was only fortified by 4 bench-clearing brawls that involved the hard-nosed team. The season would also see the return of one time fan favorite Lee Mazzilli, who replaced George Foster who was released after four and half largely unproductive. Mazzilli would allow both Lenny Dykstra and Mookie Wilson to play at the same time and gave the Mets a valuable bat off the bench heading into the postseason. Perhaps the roughest stretch of the regular seasons was a 3-game post all-star break losing streak to the Astros in Houston. The 3 losses were only made worse, when 4 Mets were arrested for drinking outside a Houston nightclub. The Mets would return to Houston for the NLCS. In Game 1 Dwight Gooden only made one mistake giving up a HR to Glen Davis. However, it was enough as Astros pitcher Mike Scott, a one-time Met shut down the Mets to give the Astros the opener. The Mets would bounce back behind the stellar pitching of Bob Ojeda in Game 2. As the series shifted to Shea, the Astros jumped out on the Mets quickly in Game 3 grabbing a 4-0 lead. A 3-run HR by Darryl Strawberry would tie it, but the Astros take a 5-4 lead into the 9th Inning. Wally Backman would lead the 9th off by reaching 1st Base on a drag bunt. He would then be moved over to 2nd on a sac bunt, which set up Len Dykstra with a chance to tie the game with a hit. However, the man they call Nails did them one better by hitting a dramatic 2-run HR to give the Mets a 6-5 win. After Mike Scott dominated the Mets in Game 4, the Mets were in the middle of another pitchers duel in Game 5 between Nolan Ryan, and Dwight Gooden. Neither would factor into the decision as the game went into extra innings, where Gary Carter who suffered through a miserable 1 for 20 slump knocked home Backman with a 12-inning single. The win gave the Mets a 3-2 series lead heading back to Houston. For the Mets Game 6 of the NLCS might as well been Game 7, as a loss would see the Mets face Mike Scott again. Scott who had dominated the Mets twice already in the series, was in the Mets heads as the team suspected him of scuffing the ball. However, the Mets had a tough enough time hitting Bob Knepper in Game 6 as he held them to just 1 hit, as the Astros held a 3-0 lead heading into the 9th Inning. However, the Mets would rally to send the game to extra innings knotted at 3. From here the game would become a marathon as nether managed to dent the scoreboard until the 14th Inning. The Mets would score in the top of the 14th, and set up Jessie Orosco to close the deal, but Billy Hatcher hit a HR of the foul pole to tie the game up and send it to a 15th Inning. The Mets would take the lead again in the 16th inning, but Orosco now in his 3rd inning of work began to tire. The Astros scored twice, and had the tie and winning runs on base with 2 outs as Orosco labored. Exhausted and pitching on fumes Orosco some how mustered up enough strength to strikeout Kevin Bass, to send the Mets on to the World Series.

1986: The Mets would go on to face the Boston Red Sox, who had won a dramatic ALCS of their own in the World Series. The Mets would get off to a bad start losing the first 2 Games at Shea Stadium. Desperately needing a wake up call Lenny Dykstra led off Game 3 with a HR sparking a 4-run 1st inning, which was enough cushion for Bob Ojeda who beat his former team 7-1. The Mets would then even the series in Game 4 as Gary Carter took advantage of the Green Monster nailing 2 Home Runs, and a double. However, the Red Sox would win Game 5 as Bruce Hurst shut the Mets down for a second time while Dwight Gooden was shelled for a second time. The Mets would go on to face the Boston Red Sox, who had won a dramatic ALCS of their own in the World Series. The Mets would get off to a bad start losing the first 2 Games at Shea Stadium. Desperately needing a wake up call Lenny Dykstra led off Game 3 with a HR sparking a 4-run 1st inning, which was enough cushion for Bob Ojeda who beat his former team 7-1. The Mets would then even the series in Game 4 as Gary Carter took advantage of the Green Monster nailing 2 Home Runs, and a double. However, the Red Sox would win Game 5 as Bruce Hurst shut the Mets down for a second time while Dwight Gooden was shelled for a second time. Down 3 games to 2 Game 6 was a must win for the Mets, but to do so they had to beat Roger Clemens, who dominated AL hitters all season long. The Mets would fall behind early only to catch up and tie the game at 2 in the 6th inning. The Sox would retake the lead in the 7th Inning on a Ray Knight error, but once again the Mets rallied. The game would go to extra innings where Sox OF Dave Henderson hit a lead off 10th Inning HR of Rick Aguilera. The Red Sox would pad their lead with another run, as the Mets look all but dead. The Sox quickly recorded the first two outs, as the trophy, and champagne were ready in the clubhouse, as the Shea Stadium's scoreboard congratulated them for winning the World Series. However, the Mets had not given up and Gary Carter singled to keep the Mets hopes alive. Kevin Mitchell who had to hurry up to the plate after he started to get undressed followed Carter with a single of his own. Ray Knight would keep the rally alive with a single of his own driving in Carter, and sending Mitchell to 3rd with the tying run. The Red Sox would bring in Bob Stanley to face Mookie Wilson. Stanley, would promptly throw a pitch in the dirt to bring home Mitchell with tying run, and moved Ray Knight to 2nd with winning run. Only seconds ago the Mets were given up for dead, but the ghost of "You Gotta Believe" came back. However, with a chance to win the game Mookie Wilson hit a slow roller down the 1st baseline that Bill Buckner bent down for, but the ball went through his legs allowing Ray Knight to score the wining run to set up a 7th and deciding game. After a one-day rain delay Bruce Hurst had the Mets hitters scratching their head again as the Red Sox grabbed a 3-0 lead. However, the Mets would rally with a 3 run 6th inning rally, which was sparked by a key pinch-hit from lee Mazzilli. The Mets would then take the lead for good on a 7th inning HR by Ray Knight who was named Series MVP, as the Mets won their 2nd World Championship with an 8-5 victory.

1987: The Mets chances of a repeat are hurt from the start as Dwight Gooden misses the first 2 months while sitting in Drug Rehab. The Mets would play good baseball for the most part, but not the type that won the World Series. Helping to lead the offense was Darryl Strawberry and Howard Johnson, who became the first teammates to have 30 HRs and 30 SBs in the same season. Once again the Mets would battle the Cardinals for the division title, but when Terry Pendleton hit a HR in a key