2009 New York Mets

The New York Mets finished the 2008 season a respectable 2nd place in the NL Central, though fans were painfully disappointed that they missed the playoffs. Determined to make it to the playoffs in the 2009 season, the Mets addressed their biggest problem, a weak bullpen, by adding All-Star closer J.J. Putz (who will be their main setup man) and the record-holder for single-season saves Francisco Rodriguez (who will be their closer) and by getting rid of the dead weight that likely cost them the past two NL East titles, dropping seven members of the bullpen including Joe Smith, Aaron Heilman and Scott Schoeneweis. They also picked up pitchers Freddy Garcia and Tim Redding, who will be competing for the fifth spot in the rotation. Is the 2009 team the one that fans have been waiting for? See for yourself at the New York Mets’ new home, Citi Field, with tickets from Coast to Coast!

A Rocky Start

The New York Mets Franchise got off to an inauspicious start when they were founded in 1962. The 1962 Mets set a modern day record for futility by winning only 40 games that first season. This was despite having Hall of Famer Casey Stengel managing the team. Unfortunately Stengel’s roster was filled with far past their prime stars and unwanted castoffs from other teams. The Mets floundered until 1969 when, led my Manager Gil Hodges and young pitchers Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, and Tug McGraw, they finally turned things around. Seaver won the Cy Young award and the Mets beat the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles in their first World Series appearance.

The Mets young core continued to prosper reaching the World Series again in 1973. Unfortunately beloved Manager Gil Hodges suffered a fatal heart attack prior to the season and was replaced by former Yankee great Yogi Berra. In 1973, Seaver once again captured the Cy Young award, but the Mets lost the World Series to the Oakland A’s.

1986 World Series

In 1986 the Mets won a franchise record 108 games capturing their 3rd NL pennant on the way. With stars like Darryl Strawberry, Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter, and Dwight Gooden the Mets ran away with the Eastern Division before barely beating the Astros to reach the World Series. The 1986 World Series was one of the greatest and most dramatic ever played. The Mets were one strike away from elimination in Game 6 when two crucial Boston errors allowed the Mets to win forcing a crucial Game 7, in which the Mets came from behind to win. The Mets kept the nucleus of the 1986 team intact, but reached the postseason only once more with those players.

The early 1990’s were not kind to the Franchise but by the mid-90’s they began to improve after acquiring All Star catcher Mike Piazza, reliever John Franco, and starting pitcher Al Leiter. Those stars led the Mets back to the World Series in 2000 where they lost to the Yankees in 5 games.