About the New York Mets

William Shea told everyone a new MLB league would play in 1961 that included a New York team. Their attempt was ruined when four of the new teams were accepted to the NL and AL, including the New York Mets debuting in the NL in 1962. Using colors from the departed Brooklyn Dodgers (blue) and New York Giants (orange) the New York Mets were very nostalgic.

Two years later, Shea Stadium was built, the first to hold both football and baseball games and known for the sound of landing planes from LaGuardia. New York Mets pitching legend Tom Seaver came onto the losing team in 1966 and by 1969 he helped them to a first place finish and, along with Don Clendenon, Al Weis, and Jerry Koosman, the New York Mets won their first World Series that year. Willie Mays was playing in his first full season with the New York Mets when they won the NLCS again in 1973. while they did have a pair of winning seasons, the New York Mets were a losing team for the next ten years until Keith Hernandez joined in 1983. He did his part in the 1986 run when the New York Mets scraped by in the World Series for the second championship in their history.

After another NL East win, they slowly faded away for almost another ten years. The first time the New York Mets and New York Yankees clashed in the regular season was in 1997 when the New York Mets began winning again. In that game, the New York Yankees were shut out. Mike Piazza and Robin Ventura were on the team when they got into the 1999 NLCS through the Wild Card, but lost that series.

They again got to the NLCS through the Wild Card when Bobby Jones pitched the best game ever by a New York Mets pitcher. After winning the pennant, the New York Mets took part in the first Subway Series in 40 years against the New York Yankees. After barely being above .500 in 2001, the New York Mets of 2002 lost quite a bit, but Al Leiter pitched a win over the Arizona Diamondbacks to be the first pitcher to beat all 30 teams and Armando Benitez' third consecutive 30 save season was the first time a New York Mets pitcher pulled that trick. 2003 was wretched for them, but rookie hitters Jose Reyes and Ty Wigginton set New York Mets and league records.

Despite a bad second half, the New York Mets were not bad in 2004. after adding Kaz Matsui and Mike Cameron they were contending for first but got nailed with injuries to Reyes, Matsui, Piazza, and Cliff Floyd to do them in for that second half.
In 2002 the New York Mets made an official list of their all time team. It had Gil Hodges managing, Hernandez at first base, Alfonzo at second, Buddy Harelson at shotstop, Howard Johnson at third, and Piazza catching. Mookie Wilson, Darryl Strawberry, and Lenny Dykstra were listed for the outfield. Seaver and Koosman were the starting pitchers with Roger McDowell and John Franco relieving. Two pinch hitters: Rusty Staub and Ed Kranepool.

While Kranepool and Strawberry hold many of the hitting records for the club, Piazza and Alfonzo are not far behind and can take over those records in a few seasons. The same cannot be said of the pitching records with Seaver and others from his era dominating the numbers. Alfonzo and Rey Ordonez are two of the best fielders in the team's history. Kranepool and Bud Harrelson are also noteworthy.