New York Mets (1962-Present)

Historical Moments:
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 Cleon Jones 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 game at Shea Stadium in September the Mets chances for a repeat were finished as they ended up in 2nd with a 92-70 record.

1988: The Mets would get off to a flying start on opening day as Darryl Strawberry hits the rim of Olympic Stadium in Montreal. The Mets were in first from the start of the season, and would fend easily fend off a challenge from the Pittsburgh Pirates to win the Division with a record of 100-62, as pitcher David Cone came of age winning 20 games. However, as the Mets celebrated the Division Title a problem began to develop, as Bob Ojeda was lost for the season after nearly slicing off his finger with a hedge trimmer. In the NLCS the Mets would face the Los Angeles Dodgers, and would grab a quick 2 games to 1 series lead. The Mets would enter the 9th Inning of Game 4 with a chance to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. However, a 2-run HR by Mike Scioscia off a tiring Dwight Gooden sent the game to extra innings where Kirk Gibson won it with a HR. the Dodgers would go on to take the series in 7 games on the way to an improbable World Championship.

1989: The Mets struggled from the start of the season as Rookie Greg Jeffries, who had been labeled can't miss was struggling mightily, while rubbing his teammates the wrong way. In attempt to shake things up Lenny Dykstra is traded to the Phillies for Juan Samuel, who spends a miserable half season in New York. In another unexplained move longtime Mets hero Mookie Wilson is traded to the Toronto Blue Jays. With the Mets struggling but still in the race, a panic move was made as Frank Viola was acquired from the Twins for 5 young pitchers. The Mets would go on to finish in 2nd Place with an 87-75 record. Howard Johnson would be the biggest bright spot, as he once again became a member of the 30-30 club.

1990: The Mets get off to a shaky start, and sit below .500 after 41 games, when Manager Davey Johnson is fired, and replaced by longtime Met Buddy Harrelson. The move served as a wake up call as the Mets began to play solid baseball led by a strong pitching staff that had 4 of the top 5 strike out leaders in the NL. The strikeouts were almost necessary as the Mets led the Majors in errors. The Mets would challenge the Pittsburgh Pirates all season, before fading in September to finish in 2nd with a 91-71 record. After the season the Mets would take a hit as Darryl Strawberry, who had feuded with GM Frank Cashen all season signed with Los Angeles Dodgers.

1991: Just 5 years after the World Champions the Mets looked quite differently as most of the stars from the team were departed, ripping the heart out of the franchise. To replace Strawberry the Mets decided to go in a different direction singing Free Agent speedster Vince Coleman. The Mets would play solid baseball most of the first half staying close to the first place Pirates, as HoJo was well on his way to his third 30-30 season. However, the Mets problems would catch up to them all at once, as Dwight Gooden was sidelined with a rotator cuff injury. The Mets would suffer through a miserable 2nd half finishing in3rd place with a 77-84 record. The lone highlight at the end of the season came in the final game of the season when David Cone tied the NL record by striking out 19 Phillies

1992: The Mets completely overhaul the team signing switch hitting Legend Eddie Murray, who hits his 400th career HR, trading for pitcher Bret Saberhagen, hiring manager Jeff Torborg, and signing Pirates star slugger Bobby Bonillia, a New York native. Bonillia in signing his big money deal would say there was no way you could wipe the smile off my face. The press saw this as challenge, and despite 2 HRs on opening Day in St. Louis the smile was gone pretty quickly as he became one of the biggest free agent busts in baseball history. The Mets struggled throughout the season, as the Mets were never in the Eastern Division race finishing in 5th place with a record of 72-92. The Mets would then stun their fans further by trading away ace pitcher David Cone to the Toronto Blue Jays for 2 unproven commodities. Cone would go on to be a key contributor to the Blue Jays World Championship run.

1993: In a nightmarish 59-103 season which featured the Mets wearing gaudy uniforms with traditional Mets script now featuring an underscore. The Mets would be an embarrassment on and off the field from the start when Bobby Bonillia challenged reporter Bob Klapish to a tour of the Bronx. Meanwhile on the field Anthony Young continued to lose, continuing a personal losing streak he started after winning his first 2, and losing his last 14 decisions in 1992. It would get worse OF Vince Coleman who was a Mets killer with the Cardinals stays a Mets killer in his 3rd season with Mets. Coleman whose three Mets season were marked by injury and squabbles with coaches would give the Mets organization a black eye one day after a game in Los Angeles. Coleman, who always hated the fans, showed his disdain for autograph seekers by throwing a pack of firecrackers into a crowd causing a few fans to receive minor injuries, and nearly causing permanent hearing loss to a 5-year-old. Coleman would never play with the Mets again, while Anthony Young and the Mets kept losing. Things continued to get ugly in the Mets clubhouse, as Pitcher Bret Saberhagen decided to lighten the mood by loading a Super Soaker with bleach. Saberhagen would then do his best Rambo impersonation soaking half of the press core following the Mets in bleach. Anthony Young meanwhile would go see his losing streak extend to a Major League all-time worse 27 games before a dramatic 9th inning rally saved him from loss number 28, and gave him his first win of the year.

1994: Dwight Gooden's Mets career comes to embarrassing end as he is suspended for testing positive to drugs. Despite the loss of Gooden the Mets would play respectable baseball, and were only a few games below .500 at 55-58 on August 12th when the seasons ended prematurely due to a player's strike. In the surprise bounce back season 1B Rico Brogna became a fan favorite.

1995: The Mets get off to a bad start dooming any chances for the postseason. However, Rookie pitchers Bill Pulsipher, and Jason Isringhausen make there debuts and help lead the Mets to a good second half that took the Mets form the dregs of last place 20 games below .500, to finish 69-75.

1996: Labeled Generation K: Pulsipher, and Isringhausen, are joined by Rookie Paul Wilson, as Mets fans have hopes again. The Mets would get off to a promising start as Rey Ordonez threw a runner out at home from his knees down the OF foul line. However Generation K, fizzled like New Coke, as all 3 suffered season ending arm injuries that would adversely affect their entire careers. Manager Dallas Green would be the fail guy as he is replaced by Bobby Valentine in late August. The Mets would go on to finish with a 71-91 record. The highlight if the disappointing season had to be Todd Hundley who became the first catcher to hit 41 HRs in a season, and Lance Johnson who found the RF corner to his liking collecting 17 triples.

1997: On April 15th after a 3-9 start the Mets play host to Jackie Robinson night as number 42 is retired throughout all of baseball. The Mets would win the game, and would start to play solid baseball, as Bobby Valentine's sometimes-unorthodox managing style seemed to work. The Mets would rise form the ashes to climb above .500, and challenge for the NL Wild Card. The Mets would fall short but with a record of 88-74 snapped a span of 6 consecutive losing seasons.

1998: The Mets start the season short handed as Catcher Todd Hundley is out recovering from elbow surgery. The Mets entered the season with a solid pitching staff led by the newly acquired Al Leiter, but without Hundley had no offensive leader. Opening Day would be a preview of the early season as the Mets and Phillies battled 15 innings without scoring a run on unusually warm early spring day. The Mets would eventually win the game 1-0, but the offensive struggles would not end there. For most of the first 6 weeks the Mets played .500 baseball as they struggled to score runs, and draw fans. While the Yankees were on the way to a record-breaking season the Mets seemed doomed for mediocrity again. While the Mets struggled many questions began to surround the future of Todd Hundley, and if he would ever be the same. While Hundley recovered, an opportunity came to the Mets when Mike Piazza, was dealt to the Florida Marlins for the Los Angels Dodgers. The Marlins were just a weigh station for Piazza, who was clearly going to be traded again. Owner Nelson Doubleday seeing an opportunity urged GM Steve Phillips to acquire the star catcher, and on May 21st the deal was made, as Piazza became the Mets first superstar in years. The acquisition of Piazza would anger Hundley who tried to convert to LF, but failed miserably. However, that would be the only negative as the Mets were in the thick of the NL Wild Card race until the very end of the season. However in the end the club just ran out of gas losing their final 5 games to finish 88-74, which kept them only 1 game out of the playoffs.

1999: Spurred by the strong season the bolster their offense by signing 3B Robin Ventura. Ventura would make an early highlight when he belts a grand slam in both games of a May 20th Double Header against the Milwaukee Brewers. However, for most of the first 2 months the Mets struggled and after losing 7 games they would fall below .500. In an attempt to shake things up 3 coaches are fired, the move would work as the Mets would start playing the type of baseball that was expected. Over the next 6 weeks the Mets moved into first place, heading into the All-Star break. However, the Mets stay in 1st would be short lived as they had trouble beating the Braves. With a chance for a Division title the Mets entered a key 3-game series with the Braves in Atlanta. The Mets were swept triggering a 7-game losing streak knocking them out of the Wild card Spot in the final week of the season. Faced with their 2nd straight September collapse the Mets found themselves 2 games out of the wild card with 3 games to go. The Mets would win two straight games over the Pirates and with some help form the Milwaukee Brewers would tie the Cincinnati Reds going into the last game of the season. The Mets would win that last game on a Brad Clontz wild pitch to earn a one game playoff for the Wild Card in Cincinnati. The Mets would never trail in the 1-game playoff, as a first inning 2 run HR by Edgardo Alfonzo, and a complete game 5-0 shutout by Al Leiter spurred the Mets on to the postseason for the first time in 11 years. In the NLDS the Mets would face the Arizona Diamondbacks. In Game 1 they would face the unenviable task of facing Randy Johnson. However, a1st Innings HRs by Edgardo Alfonzo, and John Olerud gave the Mets an early lead. The D-Back would comeback to tie it, but Alfonzo played the hero again belting a 9th inning Grand Slam. The Mets would eventual win the series in Game 4 when Todd Pratt playing for an injured Mike Piazza defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks with a dramatic 10th inning walk off homer. In the NLCS the Mets would fall behind 3 games to 0 to the Atlanta Braves. However, the Mets refused to give up winning Game 4 with 2 runs in the 8th. The Mets would also win Game 5 in 15 innings on a "Grand Slam Single" by Robin Ventura. The Mets would fall behind quickly 5-0 in Game 6, but battled back to take a brief lead before falling on a bases loaded walk in the 11th Inning.

2000: The Mets open their season in of all places Tokyo, Japan playing a 2-game series with the Chicago Cubs. After losing the first game the Mets earn the split on a 9th inning Grand Slam by Benny Agbayani. The Mets would find themselves in another interesting 2 game series on July 8th when they played a Day/Night Double Header against the Yankees with Day game at Shea and night game on the road at Yankee Stadium. The first game was won by the Yankees as Dwight Gooden made his Shea Stadium return to shut down his old team. The nightcap, which was also won by the Yanks, was plagued with controversy as Mike Piazza was beaned by Roger Clemens, when he aimed a 90-mph fastball at the Mets star catcher's head. Piazza and the Mets would recover as the Mets gained the Wild Card spot for the second year in a row. After losing Game 1 of the NLDS to the Giants in San Francisco, the Mets saw their playoff lives pass before them, as JT Snow hit a dramatic 3-run HR to send the game to extra innings. The Mets would bounce back to send the series tied 1 game apiece to She Stadium. The Mets would win Game 3 on a dramatic 12th Inning HR, by Benny Agbayani, that served to deflate the Giants. The Mets would finish them off the next day as Bobby J. Jones pitches a 1 hitter to advance the Mets to the NLCS. The Mets would go on to face the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS. Surprisingly it would be no contest as Mets lefty Mike Hampton pitches 2 complete shutouts earning the NLCS MVP, and sending the Mets on to their 4th World Series. The World Series would see a rematch with Yankees in the first Subway Series in 44 years. The Mets would let several opportunities slip out of their fingers in Game 1, as Armando Benitez was unable to hold a 1-run lead in the 9th. The Yankees would go on to win that key game in 12 innings. The Yankees held off a late Mets charge in a Game 2, which was marred when Roger Clemens threw the barrel of a bat at Mike Piazza. As the series moved to Shea Stadium Yankees pitching kept the Mets off balance, but a 8th inning rally off a tiring Orlando Hernandez kept the Mets in the series with a 4-2 win. The Yankees would jump out quickly in Game 4 on a leadoff HR by Derek Jeter, the Yankees would take a 3-0 lead, before Mike Piazza hit a HR to get the Mets within a run. However, the Yanks pen kept the Mets off the scoreboard, and gave the Yankees an insurmountable 3-1 series lead. The Yankees would go on to beat the Mets in 5 Games, as the winning runs scored on a 9th Inning single off the bat of Luis Sojo.

2001: Coming of the NL Championship the Mets do little to improve the team, while suffering the free agent loss of pitcher Mike Hampton. The Mets get off to a terrible start, with the worst offense in baseball. Not even Mike Piazza is immune as his Average dips to .250 in May. While Mike Piazza began to get his numbers near normal the Mets offense continued to struggle, and the Mets toiled below .500. Out of the race the Mets began dumping players, to get ready to retool for next year. The Mets just could never get it going as they fell 14 games below .500 on August 17th. However the Mets would find something within themselves to turn the season around, and on September 9th were only 2 games below the break-even mark. On the morning of September 11th the world changed forever, as terrorist took down the World Trade Center. No team took the attacks, as personal as the team that has the New York Skyline in its logo. While all of sports took a week hiatus, the Mets landed a hand to rescue workers who were using Shea Stadium, as a parking lot. The Mets would even agree to donate 1 game's salary to the victim's families. When play resumed the Mets took off their regular caps, and wore those of Emergency Service Personal, who were involved in rescue efforts, after losing many of their brothers in the Towers, collapse. The Mets would play inspired baseball rising above .500 for the first time since early April heading into a September 21st game at Shea against the Braves. The game which came 10 days after the attacks, was the first official sporting event in New York since that terrible morning, had the feeling of USO show as Rescue Workers were honored. Before the Game Diana Ross sung a stirring rendition of God Bless America, as the game took on a World Series feeling. The 7th Inning stretch would see more entertainment as Liza Minnelli sung New York, New York surrounded by New York's finest and bravest. However, the biggest roars of the night were saved by Mike Piazza whose mammoth 2-run 8th inning HR, which had Fireman and Police jumping out of their seats. The win would keep the Mets on a role, but most importantly it gave a moment of joy to a city that had gone through much sorrow. The Mets hot streak would last another, before a heartbreaking loss in Atlanta a week later ended any chances for a miracle comeback. The Mets would go on to finish with a 82-80 record.

2002: After struggling offensively the Mets made several key off season moves, signing Free Agent Roger Cedeno, while trading for slugging 1B Mo Vaughn, OF Jeromy Burnitz and Roberto Alomar, the best all around 2B in baseball. However, what would end up happening would be a repeat of 1992 as the Mets sputtered from the start of the season, while playing through off the field distractions that included ridiculous rumors that star catcher Mike Piazza was gay. The season would slowly snowball down hill hitting rock bottom in August as the team went winless at home while losing 13-straight overall. In September the Mets would finally crash into last place finishing with a disappointing 75-86 record, as rumors of rampant Marijuana use surrounded the team. After such an embarrassing year the Mets had no choice but to fire Manager Bobby Valentine replacing him with Art Howe.

2003: Hoping to rebound off a disappointing last season the Mets started Free Agent Acquisition Tom Glavine on Opening Day hoping to get the season started off on the right foot. However, the Mets were slammed by the Chicago Cubs 15-2, and it will just be the start of another terrible season. Roberto Alomar and Mo Vaughn continued to struggle, as things went from bad to worse in May when Mike Piazza suffered a serious groin injury. The Mets would settle into last place and pile up the losses as the franchise decided to shift direction, and go for a youth movement. Vaughn was sent to the sidelines with a degenerative knee condition that ended his career, while Alomar was traded for prospects, as were Armando Benitez, and Jeremy Burnitz in separate deals. While the old was going out the door Jose Reyes the Mets top prospect would arrive and bring some excitement to a dreary summer batting over .300, and becoming an instant fan favorite with his enthusiasm and hustle. Also earning fan support was Cliff Floyd who played through pain most of the season and gave the Mets everything he had before going for surgery in August. September would bring more gloom for the Mets as Reyes was lost to an ankle injury and Piazza who returned from injury struggled badly to regain his form, as the Mets finished in last place with a record of 66-95. The end of the season would also mark the end of an era as longtime Mets announcer Bob Murphy retired after 41 seasons; sadly Murphy would pass away less then a year later.

2004: The Mets began the season with Mike Piazza splitting time between 1B and Catcher as he perused the all-time record for Home Runs as a Catcher, Piazza would finally get the record on June 5th, as the Mets played close to .500 baseball most of the first half. The solid play would continue into July where they swept the New York Yankees in a 3-game series over the July 4th weekend winning the season series against their cross-town rivals for the first time. However it would all go downhill from there. Piazza would struggle as he was uncomfortable at first while hitting a .266 and only driving in 54 RBI, as the Mets started the second half with losing 5 of 17. With their playoff hopes all but gone the Mets started to retool trading Ty Wiggington to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Kris Benson, who they hoped to build their future rotation around. Meanwhile, David Wright a slugging 3B was called up from Norfolk and made an impressive debut hitting 14 homers in 69 games while batting a solid .293. However, the Mets would play terrible baseball in August and September posting a 21-35 record on the way to finishing in 4th place with a 71-91 record. After the season the Mets would undergo a complete transformation as they said good bye to long time reliever John Franco and Al Leiter who left through free agency, as Manager Art Howe was fired. Left to rebuild the Mets was new GM Omar Minaya, who made an immediate splash by signing the two top free agents in the market Carlos Beltran and Pedro Martinez, while naming Willie Randolph, as the Mets new Manager.

2005: With all the new additions there was a new buzz around the Mets who in promos were called the "New Mets." That buzz looked good through most of Opening Day as Pedro Martinez had a solid game and Carlos Beltran hit a Home Run as the Mets led the Cincinnati Reds 6-4 going to the 9th Inning. However, Closer Braden Looper struggled giving up hits to all three batters he faced including back-to-back homers as the Reds won the game 7-6. The stunning loss would have the Mets reeling right away as they dropped their first 5 games. In danger of starting 0-6, the Mets would rely on Beltran and Martinez again as Pedro held the Braves to 1-run, as Beltran sparked a late inning rally for a 6-1 win. The spark would carry over into their first homestand as the Mets swept Houston Astros and took the first 2 games of a series against the Florida Marlins to climb above .500. It would be this type of play that would symbolize the Mets Helter Skelter season, as a long losing streak would be followed by a long winning and vise versa. Through most of the season the Mets were within 3 games of .500, either above or below, actually hitting the .500 mark 27 different times during the season never being more the 5 games under or 8 games above. Some individual highlights included Mike Piazza returning to Catcher and finally passing Carlton Fisk for the most home runs hit in a career as a catcher, while Pedro Martinez became an instant fan favorite with a 15-8 record with a solid 2.82 ERA, as the bullpen blew several of Pedro's leads led by Looper who by the end of the season was booed every time he entered the game at home. The hitting was supplied by Cliff Floyd in the first half and David Wright in the second half, as Floyd led the team in Homers with 34 while driving in 98 RBI, as Wright in his first full year drove in a team high 102 RBI with 27 homers. While Piazza was setting milestones his time with the Mets was clearly in his final days as gone was the buzz when he came up to the plate as he just 19 homers while hitting a career low .251. Also struggling was Carlos Beltran who never quite lived up to expectations hitting .266 with just 16 homers. Despite the struggles of Beltran the Mets were in the race as September began as they were on a hot streak at the end of August, but as they did all season it was followed by perhaps their biggest slump of the year as they were in a scramble just to avoid last place in a competitive NL East in which all 5 teams were .500 or better. In the end they would wind up in 3rd place at 83-79.

2006: The Mets began the season celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the 1986 Mets, with a buzz as with the addition of players like Carlos Delgado and Billy Wagner the Mets had a deep line up and a proven closer that seemed capable of doing great things. From the start they would not disappoint winning eight of their first nine games as they grabbed first place right from the very start of the season. The Mets would go on to finish April with a 16-8 record winning two of three against the Atlanta Braves on the road to hold a six game lead. Along the way Julio Franco became the oldest player to hit a HR at the age of 47. May would have some bumps in the road as injuries to the pitching staff forced the Mets to start piecing together the back end of the rotation, something they would be forced to do the rest of the season. None the less the Mets stayed in first and in June pulled further away from the pack with a 9-1 road trip. The Mets could win in many ways they could jump on a team early thanks to dynamic leadoff hitter Jose Reyes who continued to bud into the most exciting player in baseball. Reyes with greater plate discipline would hit .300 while leading the league in stolen bases at 64, and triples with 17 as he scored 122 runs. The Mets even had the ability to win games late as they had one of the best bullpens in baseball allowing them to win 31 come from behind games. The Mets would continue to hold a comfortable lead through out the summer putting the Braves away once and for all with a three game sweep at the end of July. August would see some personal milestones achieved as Carlos Delgado became the first player to hit a Grand Slam for his 400th career home run igniting an 8-7 comeback win capped by a walk off home run from Carlos Beltran on August 22nd against the St. Louis Cardinals. As the Mets came down the stretch some problems would arise as injuries ended Pedro Martinez season, forcing him to undergo rotator cuff surgery. Meanwhile the line up was exposed as being vulnerable to left handed pitchers. The Mets would post a losing record in September at 14-15, but their lead was so large it did not matter as they won the NL Eastern Division with a solid 97-65 record.

2006: Before the playoffs even started the Mets thinning pitching staff was dealt another blow as Orlando Hernandez strained a calf muscle prior to starting Game 1 of the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Starting the opener instead was John Maine, who was originally the throw in to the deal that sent Kris Benson to the Baltimore Orioles for Jorge Julio. Maine who was a spot starter early became one of the Mets most reliable arms by the end of the season. Maine would get in early trouble as the Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. However, it could have been worse as Paul LoDuca tagged out two Dodgers at home on one play to keep the inning from getting out of control. Led by Delgado four hits and David Wrights three RBI the Mets would win the game 6-5. Game 2 would be won by the Mets pitching as Tom Glavine allowed just four hits over six innings in a 4-1 win. Going for the sweep in Los Angeles the Mets jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in Game 3 only to see the Dodgers battle back to take a 5-4 lead against an ineffective Steve Trachsel. However, the Mets would grab the lead right back led by former Dodgers Paul LoDuca and Shawn Green, as they completed the sweep with a 9-5 win. In the NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals, Glavine was the star of Game 1 as he allowed just four hits over seven innings as Carlos Beltran hit a two run homer, in a 2-0 win. The Mets appeared to be on the way to a 2-0 series lead in Game 2, but their usually reliable bullpen faltered as the Cardinals rallied for a 9-6 win. The Mets would also falter in Game 3 as Trachsel was roughed up in a 5-0 loss. Needing a win in Game 4 the Mets offense provided the thunder as Delgado drove in five runs, while Beltran hit two home runs to back up the Mets latest fill in pitcher Oliver Perez who was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates at the trade deadline as a throw in for the deal that sent Roberto Hernandez back to the Mets for Xavier Nady. Perez who had a 3-13 record in the regular season would get the win as the Mets won 12-5. The Cardinals would bounce back to win Game 5, putting the Mets on the brink again. However, with John Maine on the mound allowing just two hits the Mets would force a seventh game with a 4-2 win. Game seven would see a pitching match up that was not in the Mets favor as they turned back to Oliver Perez to face Jeff Suppan who blanked the Mets in Game 3. The Mets and Cards would trade early runs, but the rest of the way it was nothing but zeroes as the Mets and Cardinals battled late into Game 7 tied 1-1. The Mets had kept the tie thanks to an amazing catch by Endy Chavez robbing Scott Rolen of a two run homer in the 6th Inning. However, in the bottom of the inning with Shea still buzzing the Mets blew an opportunity with the bases loaded and one out as Jose Valentin struck out, and Chavez popped out. The Cardinals would take the lead in the 9th on a two run homer by Ya