1986 World Series New York Mets vs. Boston Red Sox

1986 World Series matched the heavily favored New York Mets against the championship draught stricken Boston Red Sox. The New York Mets had won 108 regular season games and had a great balance of hitting and pitching.

Game 1 of the 1986 World Series in New York City’s Shea Stadium became a pitching duel, where the Boston Red Sox starter Bruce Hurst threw 8 shutout innings and won 1-0. The winning run was unearned on a Mets error.

Game 2 of the 1986 World Series put the Mets 1985 Cy Young award winner Dwight Gooden against the 1986 Cy Young award winner Roger Clemens. Both starters were taken out by the end of the fifth inning and the New York Mets bullpen let up some costly runs that blew the game wide open. The game 2 final score 9-3 made it look like the Boston Red Sox were about to silence the Curse of the Bambino and win the World Series as the next three games were going to be played in Boston.

However, 1986′s Game 3 opened with the Mets scoring 4 runs in the first inning. After switching teams between the Red Sox and the Mets during the off-season, Mets starting pitcher Bob Ojeda threw a gem of a game pitching 7 innings and limiting the Red Sox offense.

Game 4 in Fenway Park of the 1986 World Series evened the series. The New York Mets fan favorite catcher Gary Carter hit 2 home runs and added a double to lead the Mets to a 6-2 victory. Lenny Dykstra also hit a home run that bounced off of Red Sox outfielder Dwight Evans’ glove.

The very pivotal 1986 World Series game 5 pitted the opening game starter Bruce Hurst against the Mets ace Doc Gooden. The New York Mets bats came alive for 10 hits during the game but only resulted in 2 runs. The Red Sox bats produced more runs and knocked Doc Gooden out of the game in the 5th inning en route to a 4-2 win.

The New York Mets were on the rope as another victory by the Boston Red Sox would give them the World Series Championship and end a 68 year long streak of not winning a World Series. However, the Mets were going back to New York and the Shea Stadium crowd was fully behind the Mets.

Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens went to the mound to square off against the Mets Bobby Ojeda during Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. Both pitchers had strong outings and the game was tied after nine innings 3-3. The Boston Red Sox broke the game open in the top of the tenth inning by scoring the go ahead running on Dave Henderson’s leadoff home run and added another run when Marty Barret singled home Hall of Famer third baseman Wade Boggs. The 2 run lead looked like enough to secure the championship for the Red Sox, and Red Sox nation was thrilled to see relief pitcher Calvin Shiraldi retire the first two Met batters in the bottom of the tenth inning. With the Boston Red Sox one out away from winning the 1986 World Series, the Miracle Mets began one of the greatest comebacks in sports history.

The New York Mets hit three straight singles which resulted in a run closing the score to 5-4. The Red Sox manager John McNamara brought in reliever Bob Stanley who immediately threw a wild pitch allowing the run to score to tie the game. Facing a full count, Mets batter Mookie Wilson hit a routine ground ball towards 1st baseman Bill Buckner who improbably misplayed it and allowed the ball to go right between his legs and into the outfield. Ray Knight scored on the error and the Mets had tied the World Series at 3 games a piece.

The 1986 World Series now went to a deciding game 7. The Boston Red Sox jumped out to a 3-0 lead on solo home runs by Dwight Evans and Rich Gedman. However, the magic in Shea Stadium brought the Mets back when they tied the game in the sixth inning and took the lead with 3 more runs in the seventh. Jesse Orosco completely shut down the Red Sox in the eight and ninth innings and the New York Mets had won the 1986 World Series.

1969 World Series New York Mets vs. Baltimore Orioles

1969 Major League Baseball World Series featured one of the greatest team of all time Baltimore Orioles against the expansion team New York Mets who for the first time in their franchise history finished the season with a winning record. The American League’s Baltimore Orioles had won 109 regular season games and were heavily favored to crush the New York Mets during the World Series. On the other hand, the NY Mets had finished the season on a tear to win the pennant and finish the regular season with 100 wins. The NY Mets turnaround was remarkable, considering every year since their inaugural 1962 season they had losing records and in 1968 they finished ninth in the National League.

1969 Major League Baseball World Series Game 1 opened in Baltimore and the Orioles came to play baseball. Winning 4-1 over the Mets behind strong pitching from their season long ace Mike Cuellar who threw a complete game and only gave up 6 hits. Mets ace Tom Seaver gave up a leadoff home run to Don Buford who also had an RBI double.

World Series 1969 Game 2 was a different story, as NY Mets pitcher Jerry Koosman went eight strong innings allowing just two hits and one run. The Baltimore Orioles starter Dave McNally matched Jerry Koosman’s outing by also allowing just one run through eight innings. Two outs in the top of the ninth, NY Mets’ hitters Ed Charles, Jerry Grote and Al Weis hit 3 consecutive singles scoring the go ahead run. The heart of the Baltimore Orioles lineup was due up, and Jerry Koosman got the first two Orioles out before giving up back to back walks to Frank Robinson and Boog Powell. With the equalizer on second base and the winning run on first, Mets manager Gil Hodges went to the bullpen to bring in reliever Ron Taylor to face Brooks Robinson. Taylor got Robinson to ground out for the New York Mets first ever World Series game win.

Game 3 of the 1969 World Series was played at Shea Stadium in the Queens Borough of New York City. The momentum from the upset win in Baltimore carried over as New York Mets pitcher Gary Gentry and Nolan Ryan allowed 4 hits combined. NY Mets batters were alive as Tommie Agee and Ed Kranepool each hit solo home runs and Mets starting pitcher Gary Gentry had two runs batted in as well. The NY Mets defense also played great led by Tommie Agee’s highlight reel plays in center field to keep Baltimore from scoring. The New York Mets won the game 5-0 giving them a 2-1 World Series lead.

Game 4 of the 1969 World Series featured a pitching rematch of aces from game 1, Tom Seaver for the the Mets and Mike Cuellar for the Orioles. New York Mets Donn Clendenon broke open a scoreless tie in the second inning with a solo home run. In the ninth inning the Baltimore Orioles tied the game at 1-1, and nearly took the lead but right fielder Ron Swoboda made an amazing diving catch to rob Brooks Robinson. In the bottom of the 10th inning, the New York Mets capitalized on some fielding mistakes by the Baltimore Orioles including a throwing error by Orioles pitcher Pete Richert on a attempted sacrifice bunt that allowed pinch-runner Rod Gaspar to score the game winning run. The dramatic win gave the NY Mets a 3-1 World Series lead and gave them the chance to win the World Series at home in Game 5.

1969 World Series Game 5 the Baltimore Orioles came out swinging and took an early 3-0 lead in the 3rd inning. NY Mets pitcher Jerry Koosman regained control after that and did not allow any more runs. The New York Mets close the gap to 3-2 in the sixth inning when Mike Cuellar’s inside pitch hit Cleon Jones in the foot, with the umpire seeing shoe polish on the ball to prove he had been hit. The next batter, Donn Clendenon hit his third home run of the World Series. Still down 3-2 in the 7th inning, NY Mets batter Al Weis tied the game on a solo home run. Al Weis only hit 7 home runs in his entire career, but none were bigger then this monumental one that tied the game. The Mets scored twice more in the 8th inning on two doubles and two Oriole throwing errors. The Miracle Mets closed the door in the ninth inning winning the game 5-3 and winning the 1969 World Series 4 games to 1. The final call by announcer Curt Gowdy was “There’s a fly ball out to left. Waiting is Cleon Jones…the Mets are World Champions! Jerry Koosman is being mobbed! Look at this scene!”

The shocking upset was the 2nd major upset in 1969 by a New York team over a heavily favored Baltimore team. In January 1969, the Joe Namath led New York Jets upset the Baltimore Colts in Superbowl III.

2000 World Series New York Mets vs. New York Yankees

The 2000 World Series will always be known as the Subway Series between the New York Yankees and the New York Mets. 44 years earlier in 1956 was the last Subway Series in New York between the Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers. The 2000 Subway Series version matched a dynasty forming New York Yankees team who were looking for their third consecutive World Championship and 4th in 5 years against their cross town rivals New York Mets team who had shocked the National League winning their way through the post season as a wild card team. New York Yankees Manager Joe Torre and his faced off against New York Mets Manager Bobby Valentine.

2000 World Series Game 1 in Yankee Stadium matched playoff reliable Andy Pettite against Al Leiter. A scoreless game through most of first six innings, New York Mets 3rd baseman Todd Zeile hit a two out drive to deep left that bounced off the top of the fence and was fielded by David Justice. With Timo Perez rounding the bases from first to try to score, David Justice threw to the cutoff man, short stop Derek Jeter who threw a bullet toward catcher Jorge Pasada and get Timo Perez at the plate and end the Mets threat. Justice would follow in the bottom of the inning with a go ahead 2 run double to the gap in left-center. The Mets did not quit, Benny Agbayani and Jay Payton scored a run in the 7th inning with singles. Following a Todd Pratt walk, pinch hitter, Bubba Trammell hit a clutch base hit that scored two runs and tied the game at 3-3. In what set the record as the longest World Series game in history at four hours and fifty one minutes, New York Yankees Jose Vizcano’s RBI base hit against Mets reliever Turk Wendell with two outs in the 12th inning ended Game 1.

2000 World Series Game 2 had Mets pitcher Mike Hampton facing off against Roger Clemens. The Yankees dominated the first 8 innings, scoring 6 runs and holding the Mets to just 2 hits. However, trailing 6-0 in the ninth, the Amazing Mets nearly made one of the greatest 9th inning comebacks in history. Mike Piazza and Jay Payton each homered for the Mets in the 9th inning, but eventually closer Mariano Rivera ended the comeback bid with the Mets losing by one run 6-5.

Needing to win Game 3 of the 2000 World Series, the New York Mets went home to Shea Stadium and opened the scoring with 3rd baseman Robin Ventura’s leadoff home run to start the bottom of the 2nd inning. Clutch Derek Jeter answered in the third inning with a two out single to get on base which was followed by a David Justice RBI double. Tino Martinez scored the go ahead run in the 4th inning for the Yankees on right fielder Paul O’Neill’s triple to the gap in right-center. Todd Zeile answered for the Mets with an RBI double to tie the score at two apiece. Bases loaded for the Mets in the sixth inning with no outs, Yankees starting pitcher Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez got out of the inning without allowing a run to score. However, the Mets would not quit and scored two runs in the eighth inning to give them a hard fought 4-2 win and were now only trailing 2 games to 1 game in the Subway World Series. Rick Reed pitched well as the Mets starter, long time closer John Franco got credited with the win by pitching the 8th inning and closer Armando Benitez earned the save by shutting down the Yankees in the 9th inning.

Game 4 of the 2000 World Series was a very close game in which 9 total pitchers were used. Derek Jeter opened the game with a first pitch home run. Scott Brosius added a run in the 2nd inning on a sacrifice fly. Another Yankees run in the third when Derek Jeter led off the inning with a triple and scored on a ground ball made it 3-0. The Mets All Star catcher Mike Piazza hit a 2 run home run in the bottom of the third inning to make it 3-2. Piazza had another chance in the fifth inning with two runners on base and no outs. Yankees manager Joe Torre surprisingly took out started Denny Neagle to allow David Cone to face Piazza. The move worked as Piazza popped out and the Mets were unable to score in the inning. The Yankees Jeff Nelson, Mike Stanton, and Mariano Rivera shut down the Mets the rest of the game to extend their World Series lead 3-1.

The World Series clinching Game 5 of the 2000 World Series was a tightly fought contest with Game 1 starters Andy Pettite and Al Leiter facing each other again. An early home run by Bernie Williams gave the Yankees a 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning, but the Mets answered with 2 runs in the bottom of the inning giving the Mets a 2-1 lead. The clutch Derek Jeter tied the game in the 6th inning with a home run. The score remained tied until the 9th inning, when a two out base hit by Luis Sojo gave the Yankees the go ahead run. The Yankees added one more run in the 9th inning before Mariano Rivera came in to close the door on the Mets by earning the save. The 4-2 victory gave the Yankees a 4 games to 1 game World Series victory and the club’s 26th World Championship. With 2 home runs and 6 runs scored to go with his phenomenal defensive performance, Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter was named 2000 World Series MVP.

1973 World Series New York Mets vs. Oakland Athletics

The 1973 World Series was a match-up between the “Amazing Mets” and the heavily favored, defending World Champion Oakland Athletics. The New York Mets finished the regular season with a very average record of 82-79, barely over .500. The Miracle Mets upset a more talented Cincinnati Reds team in a close five game National League Championship series. The Oakland A’s had beaten the “Big Red Machine” Cincinnati Reds team in the 1972 World Series. The Dick Williams managed A’s were building a dynasty of their own with one of baseball’s all time best lineups. Reggie Jackson, Sal Bando, Gene Tenace and Deron Johnson led the attack while Jim “Catfish” Hunter, Ken Holtzman, Rollie Fingers and Vida Blue led the talented pitching staff.

The 1973 New York Mets were managed by legendary New York Yankee and Hall of Famer Yogi Berra. Yogi Berra began the series by controversially starting a losing pitcher in Game 1 of the 1973 World Series, Jon Matlack who was 14-16 during the regular season. Matlack surprised everyone with a strong outing, only allowing two runs and three hits in six innings but Ken Holzman out pitched him by allowing only one run.

Game 2 of the 1973 World Series became the longest post-season game in history. Four hours and thirteen minutes over 12 innings was one of the most exciting games during the series. The Mets bats came alive behind home runs by Cleon Jones and Wayne Garrett, but the headlines were about the last game that legendary great and Hall of Famer Willie Mays would ever get a hit. With two outs in the ninth inning, the Oakland A’s managed to tie the game. In his final season before retiring, New York Mets outfielder Willie Mays had the RBI hit in the 12th inning that gave the New York Mets the lead. The Mets added two more runs in the 12th on a fielding error by John Milner, who let a ground ball go through his legs and gave the New York Mets a 10-7 advantage which was enough to earn them the victory and tie the series.

1973 World Series Game 3 shifted from west coast to east coast as the next three games would be played at Shea Stadium. In another extra inning game, Oakland A’s took a 2 games to 1 game lead over the Mets when Bert Campaneris hit an RBI single in the 11th inning. Mets superstar Tom Seaver pitched well and Wayne Garrett hit his second home run of the series for the Mets.

1973 World Series Game 4 had a repeat pitching match-up from Game 1 between Mets Jon Matlack and A’s Ken Holtzman. Matlack again pitched well, allowing only three hits in eight innings. However, the post game focus was all about right fielder Rusty Staub who exploded at the plate by going four-for-four with 5 RBI’s. Rusty Staub got things going for the Mets early with his 3 run homerun in the 1st inning. The 6-1 victory evened the series at 2 games apiece.

The pivotal 1973 MLB World Series Game 5 matched New York star Jerry Koosman with Oakland’s Vida Blue. Jerry Koosman and reliever Tug McGraw combined for a three hit shutout performance that put the Mets ahead 3 games to 2. The 2-0 victory moved the Amazing Mets within one win of their second World Series Championship, but it is as close as they got in 1973.

Tom Seaver took the mound for the Mets in the 1973 World Series Game 6 to face Catfish Hunter. A couple of early runs for the A’s proved to be the difference as Oakland was able to hold onto the 3-1 victor and send the series to a Championship deciding Game 7.

1973 World Series Game 7 matched for the third time pitchers Jon Matlack and Ken Holtzman. Oakland bats lit up the scoreboard early in Game 7

Reggie Jackson, whose nickname “Mr. October” was defined by his unbelievable World Series play throughout his career, joined Bert Campaneris with 3rd inning 2 run home runs to give the A’s a 4-0 lead. The Amazing Mets did not have an answer for the large deficit and lost the game 5-2 giving the Oakland Athletics their second consecutive World Championship. Reggie Jackson and his series leading 6 RBI’s (tie with Rusty Staub) and Bert Campaneris with his series leading 6 runs scored were named World Series MVP’s by the Babe Ruth variation and Sports Magazine variation respectively.