1986 – 25th Anniversary

October 27, 2011 marks the 25th Anniversary of the second and most recent New York Mets championship season in the franchise’s 50 year history dating back to their inception in 1962. The Mets set many franchise records such as wins (108) in the regular season but ultimately should be remembered for their tenacity, fight, and confident arrogance throughout the magical 1986 campaign that culminated in a Game 7 win in the World Series to, finally, finish off the Boston Red Sox.

The Amazin’ Mets of 1986

The Numbers

The Games

Click here for a complete Game Log of the 1986 regular season.

National League Champonship Series (NLCS) vs Houston Astros

• NLCS Game 1
• NLCS Game 2
• NLCS Game 3
• NLCS Game 4
• NLCS Game 5
• NLCS Game 6

World Series (WS) vs Boston Red Sox

• WS Game 1
• WS Game 2
• WS Game 3
• WS Game 4
• WS Game 5
• WS Game 6
• WS Game 7

Final Thoughts

The 1986 season will always be remembered by Mets fans and anyone related to that particular team, however, the season overall was one for the ages as it was arguably the greatest postseason in baseball history. We saw the Red Sox come back from being down three games to one and defeat the, then, California Angels in a thrilling seven game series. While the Mets series with the Astros only went six games it is widely regarded as the greatest LCS ever played with heroics all abound with walk-off homers and hits and tremendous pitching performances as the Mets defeated the ‘Stros in 16 innings in Game 6 to win the series thus avoiding a matchup with their nemesis, Mike Scott (RHP) who had beaten them twice in the series already, in a Game 7. We then get a World Series that features two powerhouse teams with two of the greatest true power pitchers of all-time (the thinking at that juncture at least) going the distance of seven games with the Amazins finding a way to ultimately hoist the trophy. As a kid I could not think of another time better to have “your” team be part of such an amazing season. I had turned 11 that September and my fondest thought is of the famous or infamous (Red Sox fans) Game 6 that saw many ups and downs. Before the game began I had taped a Roger Clemens’ baseball card to my bedroom door as a target of sorts, needless to say, the card did not make it through the night as the Mets needed to fight and claw their way back all night culminating with these wonderful words coming out of the great Vin Scully’s mouth…

“a little roller up along first, it gets through Buckner, here comes Knight and the Mets win it!!! The Mets are not only alive, they are well, and will play the Red Sox in Game 7 tomorrow.”

Another fond and chilling moment was in Game 7 when the entirety of Shea Stadium was singing or chanting “We Will Rock You” by Queen in unison. We all know the end to this somewhat tragic story of how Doc, Kid, Mex, Nails, Straw, etc should have won more championships but what they did give us was one special team and season for the record books and one in which will never be forgotten.