My dad passed away on Monday April 18, 2005, and this game has special meaning because it was my first baseball game. I remember buying tickets from a scalper for I think 15 dollars and sitting in the left field bleachers not being able to see practically anything and Koufax pitched. In the second game we moved to seats behind the plate and saw the Mets pull off a triple play if my memory serves me correctly.

The former Brooklyn Dodgers made their first appearance in New York as the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first game of this Memorial Day doubleheader at the Polo Grounds.

The Dodgers jumped out to a 10-0 lead on their way to a 13-6 win. Sandy Koufax pitched a complete game despite giving up 6 runs and 13 hits. One time Brooklyn hero Gil Hodges had a home run off Sandy in the fourth inning for the first run ever allowed in New York by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Other notable New York firsts from this game for the LA Dodgers: First at bat-Maury Wills. First hit-Wills (leadoff single to right). First out- Jim Gilliam. First run scored-Ron Fairly. First RBI-Frank Howard. First home run-Willie Davis. First inside the park home run-Maury Wills.

In the 2nd game Harry Chiti dropped a 3 and 2 foul tip. On the next pitch Frank Howard hit a home run which turned out to be the game-winner.

The Mets lost a doubleheader to the Dodgers that day. It was my first time at the Polo Grounds. Koufax started the first game for the Dodgers and Drysdale pitched the second. Maury Wills hit 2 home runs in the first game. An inside the park and a 'Bobby Thompson' short porch home run to left. Koufax also hit a home run. The Mets pulled their first triple play in the nite cap.

The first-ever Met triple play was in the top of the 6th of the nightcap of the doubleheader. Willie Davis hit a liner that Chacon caught and flipped to Neal at 2B who flipped to Hodges at 1B. Maury Wills and Jim Gilliam were the runners caught off base.

To clear up what jroth said, Johnny Podres pitched the 2nd game, (not Drysdale) and as he was walking to the clubhouse when he was removed from the game , a fan leaned over the bleacher screen and spit in his face. Also, Koufax did not hit a HR in the first game. It was quite day at Coogans Bluff even though our Mets lost 2 games to the team that broke the hearts of all Brooklynites in 1957.

A Long Islander and former Dodger fan, I attended the doubleheader of the Mets and Dodgers on May 30, 1962. I recall during the first game, the crowd was clearly cheering for the Dodgers. But in the second game, the sentiment of the fans swung in favor of the Mets. Perhaps the ineptitude of the team gained the fans' sympathy. The Mets were then in the midst of what turned out to be a 17-game losing streak. I stuck with the Mets all these years since, and was elated (and won a $10 wager against my colleague) when the Mets beat Baltimore in the 1969 World Series. I live in California now, but want to visit NYC and attend a Mets game in 2022.

This was my first major-league baseball game. I was 12 and a Dodgers fan from Connecticut. The team had moved out on us but my dad and I were still loyal to the team, and he took my and my brother to this game, a night game at the Polo Grounds, God rest its soul. It was a thrill for us that the Dodgers won. Fans were allowed to walk across the field to exit the stadium at the end of the game, and that's what we did -- another thrill. I bought a Dodgers pennant, which I still have. Its blue long ago faded to gray and its felt is pretty fragile, but it is a precious relic to me. Crossing the field at the end of the game, I stuck my tongue out at a kid who was a Mets fan. I don't remember if he provoked me but I'm still ashamed of that. When we got outside the stadium, newspaper vendors were hawking the early editions of the tabloids. "Eichmann Hanged," the front page said. That's how I've always been able to place the date of the game. If only I'd gotten to see Ebbets Field as well!

The Mets only win against the Dodgers out of 18 games in 1962 and the game was at night on the west coast so few people heard it all the way through. My recollection is that the Mets only had a handful of hits but 10 or 12 walks by Dodger pitchers helped them win the game.

Don't remember this game but ten runs on four hits... musta been ugly!

This game was the first of four career no-hitters by Dodger pitcher Sandy Koufax.

This game was televised from the coast - an 11 PM start. I fell asleep during the second inning. I vowed never again to leave a game until I saw a team get their first hit. Finally paid off a couple years later when I saw Jim Bunnings perfect game - ignoring all my friends screaming at me from outside to come out and play stickball!

If my memory serves me correctly this was a Friday night game (Koufax no-hitter). I don't even think the results were in Saturday's Newsday. I don't remember WOR televising the late West Coast games until around 1969. Anybody?

This game was on Saturday night, televised on WOR-9 and it was not the first time they faced Koufax. In the first inning Sandy threw 9 pitches striking out the side.

It has gone unnoticed but it was Ray Daviault's best major league performance.

Koufax was pitching. The game was starting after 11pm. I had a little league game the next morning and we had to be at the field to set up at 8am. My father said the only way I could stay up to watch it is if he strikes out the side in the 1st inning. I said that it wasn't fair but I had no choice so we shook on it. He struck out the side on 9 pitches. I never laughed so hard. He pitched a no-hitter. He was the greatest!!

This was the first game I ever went to. I will never forget it. Walking under the stands, you could hear the buzz from the crowd. And emerging from the tunnel to see that green grass and brown dirt! Unbelievable. The Polo Grounds had that huge center field with the big clock over the club house. How cool is it that I can tell everyone that on my first game, I saw Koufax, the greatest pitcher of his generation? Awesome!

This was the first game that I saw at the Polo Grounds. Somewhat stargazed, not so much by the Mets whom I loved out of sentiment, but because of the ex-Brooklyn players on the LA roster; the Dodgers appeared to be heading to the World Series. [They lost to the Giants in a playoff]. Maury Wills broke Ty Cobb's season record for stolen bases, and I believe that he stole three in this game. In batting practice, Frank Howard reached the right field bleacher on a bounce, and Duke Snider pulled a ball into the second deck of the right field grandstand. Craig Anderson, who was about the luckless of all the Met pitchers, failed to arise to the occasion, despite my cheers.

It was a good year. National League baseball was was returning to N.Y. I had arranged for a group of co-workers and friends to go to the game. It was also Old-Timers Day, and the heroes of my youth would be there: Jackie, Gil, Duke and Pee Wee.

In eary June I started dating a lovely girl named Flo. We had a lot in common and our relationship started to blossom. One night Flo said, "I have to attend a wedding on July 14th., will you escort me?" I hesitated for a second and said, "No, I have to go to the Mets game on that day."

"You're kidding." she said. "Well, if you won't take me I'll go with someone else." I started to think should I go to the wedding with a girl I really liked, or should I go to the game? Mets or Flo? Flo or the Mets? I went to the game.

I'm sitting there in the old Polo Grounds saying to myself, "What am I doing here? The Mets are being crushed, and my girl is dancing with someone else." Later that evening Flo called me and we decided to meet. We agreed that we wouldn't date anyone else as we were made for each other. Flo said, "From now on, we'll go to the Mets games together."

That was 43 years ago, and my wife Flo and I are still rabid, enthusiastic Mets fans.

I did not attend this game but I remember the newspaper account. The account mentioned there was an Old-Timer's Game preceeding this game, and went on to say that afterwards "then the Mets went out against the Dodgers and played like old old old timers".

No wonder of course. The score - just look at it!

Scores of some other Dodger wins over the Mets that season were 17-8, 13-6, 16-5. I dreaded Mets-Dodgers games their first 3 seasons - 2-16, 2-16, 3-15 for a 7-47 record 1962-64. In 1965 they finally solved the Dodgers and were a "respectable" 6-12 against them.

My whole family went to this game. I was ten years old. My father born and raised in Brooklyn was thrilled to have NL baseball return to NYC. The "Dodgers" had ceased to exist upon Walter O'Malley uprooting the team to LA. From that point forward my father would only refer to that team as "the Los Angeles team."

There was, if my memory serves me right, an Old Timers Game that preceded this game (unless that was the Mets game we saw in '63 - it been a while). My older brother Tom, kept score and I still have the scorecard! The Amazings got crushed.

I remember my brother and his best friend Peter Kaiser, who was also with us, chanted "Go, go, go!" with a large contingent of fans each time Maury Wills got on base.

For the rest of that 1962 Summer, I spent many hours batting rocks with a splintered bat, going through each lineup from that July 14th game. I've been a diehard Mets fan ever since, and so are my kids Nicole and Reubem. In fact, even though I felt devastated and betrayed by M. Donald Grant trading Tom Seaver, I recovered to become (I'm pretty certain) the only human on the planet having a scrapbook of the 1978 Mets.

I write these words on the Friday before Game 1 of the 2015 NLCS. The Mets have a chance to go all the way. This I know because the Mets have a whole lot of soul!

David Robbins, Met fan

I hope my memory of this game is correct. This was my first major league game at age 11...as I grew up in Syracuse and we were in NYC for my (much older) cousin’s wedding. My father took my brother and me to the game. We sat in the right field upper deck and the Mets lost to the Dodgers by a very lopsided score, and Roger Craig may have pitched. Beforehand the Mets held an Old Timers game and re-enacted Ralph Blanca pitching to Bobby Thomson, who popped out. But I vaguely remember they gave him a second chance. I hope these memories are correct.

I was supposed to attend this game, but my appendix flared up and I spent the weekend in the hospital, while my father, grandfather, and two brothers went. I contented myself with watching it through a glass wall in the children’s wing of the hospital. I remember that Duke Snider or someone threw the ball he caught for the final out in the OT game up and over the roof of the ballpark. I remember Richie Ashburn saving face a little for the Mets in the real gane with his 3-run HR. Weird thing I recall too was how although the Dodgers came in to play the Mets on Friday and Saturday, the Giants played the Mets on Sunday (and I think Monday). Weird scheduling.

My 14th birthday was July 15 1962. I went to the game with my father and younger brother. I was and still am a big Dodger fan from their days in Brooklyn. Duke Snider was my favorite player. Seeing the old timers was thrilling. They invited the upcoming Hall of Fame inductees- Zack Wheat, Bill Mckechnie. Rube Marquade. The Dodgers killed the Mets 17-3. Rich Ashburn hit a home run and hit .308 that season, then retired (said he couldn't take the losing). Stan Williams pitched a complete game. Of course he later broke our Dodgers hearts in the playoff against the Giants , just like happened in 51. Maybe if Sandy didn't have to shut down the last couple of months of the season things would have been different!.

I was 15 and went to this game. The Dodgers beat the Mets 17-3 as I recall. However my biggest memory of the game was of the Old Timers game beforehand. I was sitting in the Polo Grounds bleachers. Playing centerfield at that 2 inning game was Edd Roush, who was the NL batting champion on 1917 and 1919, and had just been elected to the Hall of Fame. He was in good shape for a 69 year old - he lived to be 95- and I wondered why Casey Stengel didn't hire him for the Mets- he couldn't have been any worse than the actual Mets. Also, he was the happiest man I've ever seen, with a big smile- he was 29 again, for a few minutes, anyway.

This game ticket was my main 13th birthday present. My dad was a lifelong Dodger fan so that was passed on to me at an early age. I remember how excited I was to see some of the remaining Bums still on the team. Couple of memories: Chuck Connors of the Rifleman was there. He had been a Dodger farmhand. He came out with his rifle and let off some blanks in a goofy skit. Stan Williams hit a home run into the lower left field bleachers below where we were sitting. And then broke my heart in blowing the final playoff game against the Giants. Still have my tickets from the game.

In the 111th game of their first season, the Mets lose for the 82nd time, thereby assuring that they will finish with a losing record in 1962 -- even if they were to finish the season with a 51 game winning streak!

If I've got this right this was Gil Hodges night at the Polo Grounds. I was overwhelmed with the park but more impressed with how much everyone loved this man. Although I was twelve, I was still a Brooklyn Dodger in my soul. Hodges changed that for me. I remember him not only as a great player, but as a man of integrity. Where are these qualities today? I remember the game as such: Jay Hook beat Don Drysdale 6-3. Homers by Kanehl,Coleman,Throneberry.

Just read digittydog's recap on Gil Hodges Night at Polo Grounds on August 24, 1962, which differs from mine, but while The Dig was 12, I was only 11, so don't hold me to this. My recap has Don Drysdale starting for L.A., and the Dodgers holding a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth. The Mets loaded the bases, and up steps Hot Rod Kanehl, who rips a double up the right- center field gap and clears the bases for a 4-3 Mets victory. That's the story I've been telling people for 42 years. Hope someone can clear things up.

OK, further to some earlier posts...retrosheet to the rescue!!

I have bad news for Mighty Quinn...Diggitydog's account of the game is correct.

The game was tied 3-3 going to the bottom of the eighth, Jay Hook and Don Drysdale on the mound. The Met runs had come on solo homers by Choo Choo Coleman, Marv Throneberry, and Rod Kanehl.

In the eighth the Mets loaded the bases with nobody out on a single and two walks, then Kanehl singled to left scoring one run but Frank Howard threw out Throneberry at the plate. Gene Woodling came in to pinch-hit, and Walter Alston countered by bringing in Ron Perranoski. Woodling singled to drive in another run, and then Jay Hook drove in the sixth run with an infield hit (it may have been a bunt). Richie Ashburn grounded into a DP, but the damage was done.

Hook retired the Dodgers 1-2-3 in the ninth for his eighth win of the season. It was the only loss for the Dodgers at the Polo Grounds in 1962.

I attended Gil Hodges Night. The Mets had a 3-run 8th inning to break a 3-3 tie. The 8th inning rally included a drag bunt single by pitcher Jay Hook to drive in a run. The first 3 runs were scored on solo HR's by Kanehl, Coleman and Throneberry. The 9th inning featured fantastic fielding by Throneberry (who was regarded as a poor fielder), had 2 infield assists, and then made a diving catch on a Willie Davis line drive to end the game. It was the first home Met victory over the Dodgers.

The night had more drama - in the stands I heard the loudspeaker announcement requesting that if a doctor was in the stadium, he should report immediately to the Dodger clubhouse. I later learned that Leo Durocher, then a Dodger coach, had been stricken with an allergy attack, and required an adrenaline shot in his vein. The trainer was only authorized by law to give such an injection into the muscle. According to the papers, Durocher told Manager Walt Alston "if this it Walt, go get 'em." Fortunately it was not, Durocher received treatment and he lived until 1991.

I regard this game as one of the greatest in the history of the Mets.

My dad and I were there in the lower left field stands (near where Bobby Thompson hit his “shot.”). We had obstructed view as I recall. Great game!

I have my dad's scorecard (15 cents) from this game. The Dodgers hit 4 home runs (Gilliam, Willie Davis, Tommy Davis, Fairly) off Craig and MacKenzie.

My first baseball game ever -- 7 years old. A quirky double play when one of the Dodgers lost track of the outs and wandered off second base after a fly out.

Don Drysdale beats the Mets allowing just two hits---home runs by Tim Harkness and Duke Snider.

Johnn Podres shuts out the Mets on four hits, with the only run coming on a sixth inning homer by John Roseboro off Carlton Willey.

In his last start July 5, Podres had shut out the Reds, 1-0, pitching a two-hitter and getting the only run he needed in the seventh on a Frank Howard home run.

The loss is the eleventh in a row for the Mets, on their way to 15 straight. Over these eleven games the Mets were outscored 54-17.

The game ended in an incredible manner. The Mets had a man on first and one out. Frank Thomas hit what looked like a home run. I was sitting in a box seat with my father. The entire crowd jumped up and started celebrating. Most of the Dodgers started walking to the centerfield clubhouse. All of a sudden, a player had a ball and threw to 1st. The first baseman tagged the bag and an umpire raised his right hand indicating the end of a double play. It turns out Tommie Davis had climbed the wall and made a great catch and the relays doubled up the runner. Some claim Davis never caught the ball. That play ended the game.

I believe this was my 1st game I saw. Did Jesse Gonder hit 2 HR's in this game? I also seem to remember Don Drysdale pitched this game. Can this be confirmed?

Frank, here we are a year and a half after your posting! I can indeed confirm that Drysdale faced Roger Craig in this game, but as for Jesse Gonder, I've been unable to find whether he did or didn't hit two homers. Jesse only hit 3 all season, so while it is unlikely, it is possible! Hope this helps!

Well, further to some earlier postings...it turns out that I was at this game and just as Frank Caputo remembered, Jesse Gonder did indeed hit two homers!! He had a 2-run homer in the third inning to give the Mets a 3-2 lead, the hit a solo homer leading off the sixth to pull the Mets to within one run.

Ron Fairly homered in the second for LA's first run,and Fairly drove in another run in the three- run fourth inning.

I remember the headline in the paper the next day: Jesse Tried!

Box score almost resembles a Dodger intrasquad game with ex and future Dodgers like Harkness, Hunt, The Duke, Burright, and Roger Craig on the Met side!

This game was the first Major League game I ever attended, with my father and my siblings. (Mom must have been happy to have the night off.) This is a wonderful website that brings back a lot of memories.

my second and last trip to the Polo Grounds...i believe it was family day. I remember Frank Howard hitting a ball completely out of the Polo Grounds to left field

LA catcher Doug Camilli had the only home run of this game as Sandy Koufax threw a three-hit shutout and struck out 13 Mets. Sandy retired the last fourteen batters he faced, striking out seven of them.

Camilli's homer came leading off the second inning.

I spent the whole summer with my family at a place we owned in Monroe, NY. I was a Dodgers fan and remember listening to it on WABC radio. You can now buy a copy of that game on CD. Amazing!

This is the game that I became a Met fan. I was 7 years old. It was my only trip to the Polo Grounds. I'm from Secaucus NJ. My Uncle Joe Olfern took a group of kids from the neighborhood to the game. Thanks Uncle Joe.

I remember Jim Hickman made two errors from third including a throw that missed first base by 45 feet (it seemed!)

I was at this game with my dad and saw Jim Hickman make one of the world's worst throws on a ground ball to third; he must have missed the first baseman by about 45 feet.

This was the 2nd Mets game I had ever attended! I got to witness Sandy Koufax at his best. I was only 11 years old and do not recall all of the details. I can remember Sandy sailing along until the 9th inning, when Ron Hunt hit a solo home run right down the left field line to break up the shutout. A few hits later and a Dodger error forced Koufax out of the game! With 2nd and 3rd and two outs, Casey sent "Duke" Snider to pinch hit against relief ace Ron Peronoski. He struck out by a pitch 3 feet in the dirt! LA 3 Mets 2.

I was 14 years old when I attended this game, which, as I will explain shortly, I still regard as one of the highlights of my life! I sat in the left field grandstands in the upper tier--for the princely sum of $1.25--a section or two on the fair side of the foul pole. It was a great thrill to see Sandy Koufax start against my Mets. And in the third inning, Frank Howard lofted a fly ball in my general direction, which miraculously wound up in my glove. A home run! I treasure the ball to this day. The game ended with the Mets down by one run, a runner on second base, and Duke Snider pinch-hitting for the Mets. OK, no magical ending, but I treasure the memories of this game.

I was 9 years old and already a Dodger fan when my dad took me and my brother to the Polo Grounds. I remember Drysdale dominating, the Dodgers sweeping, and my view from right field being obstructed by a beam.

This was the final game played by the Dodgers at the Polo Grounds. LA swept this doubleheader--and the four-game series--and as the sun set this Sunday evening the Dodgers had a 6-game lead on the Cardinals and Giants. The Mets fell to 35.5 games out.

The Dodgers' winning pitcher in their final appearance at the Polo Grounds was a 19-year-old righty named Dick Calmus. Calmus got into 21 games with the 1963 Dodgers and had a 3-1 record. After 1963 he made only one more appearance in a major league game, and that was in September of 1967 for the Cubs against the Mets.

Tommy Davis gave the Dodgers the lead in the fourth inning with a two-RBI single, and Calmus, in relief of Pete Richert, pitched five innings allowing just one hit and one walk.

The final Dodger at bat at the Polo Grounds was a groundout to second base by Wally Moon. John Roseboro had the final Dodger hit at the Polo Grounds, an eighth inning single to right.

In his final tuneup before the World Series, Sandy Koufax pitched five scoreless innings and Bob Miller and Ron Perranoski combined for four more as the Dodgers shut out the Mets, 1-0.

Roger Craig was the hard-luck loser in the game, his fifth 1-0 loss of the 1963 season. Craig could partly blame himself for this one: in the first inning he retired the first two batters, then gave up singles to Wally Moon and Tommy Davis. Craig tried to pick Davis off first and threw the ball away. Moon came around to score what would be the only run of the game.

In their brief history, the New York Mets had not had much success against their ancestor who used to live in Brooklyn.

In fact, prior to this game, the two teams had played each other 39 times and the Dodgers were 35-4 against the Mets. Los Angeles had outscored New York 223-112 in those games.

Things changed---for one night, anyway--when the World Champion Dodgers played their first ever game at brand new Shea Stadium on a Friday night in early June in front of 54,790 people.

This night belonged to the Mets! Galen Cisco held the Dodgers down, allowing just four hits (two by Dick Tracewski, a career .213 hitter) and pitching the first shutout of his major league career.

The Mets scored seven off Dodgers LHP Joe Moeller in the botton of the third. Ed Kranepool had a three run homer (his first of the season) in the inning and Charley Smith followed as the Mets went back-to-back. The Mets added a run in the fourth off Jim Brewer and had themselves an 8-0 win. It was the first time the Mets had ever shut out the Dodgers, and it was also their largest margin of victory over LA.

My first game. Was a scheduled Sunday doubleheader. I was 8 years old and my dad took me with many people from work. We sat in the mezzanine level (blue seats) and I had that great overwhelming experience of coming through the runway and seeing the huge field of green grass for the first time.

Don Drysdale pitched a complete game victory for the Dodgers and hit a home run into the left field bullpen.

The second game was rained out after 5 innings. Score was tied 1- 1. I didn't want to leave!

This was the 2nd game of a sunday doubleheader and the first time I ever visited Shea stadium. I believe that the game was called on account of rain,the crowd was huge(55000 or more) and Nick Willhite, who later became a Met pitched for the Dodgers,

First tie home game in Met history. they previously had a tie in Houston in 1962.

I was there! Summer vacation in Hollywood in each year as a kid. This game was my first ever, visiting from NY. Don't remember too much except Maury Wills hit a foul ball that came directly towards us. It actually hit my grandfather and I but the kid behind me reached down and grabbed the ball from behind my seat. I also remember Tracy Stallard was pitching and the Mets lost a close game. I was 8 yrs old.

My mother took me to the 1964 World's Fair, this just a few days after my 7-26-64 Milwaukee Braves twinbill which was my first Shea game. After 7 hours of boppin' around Flushing Meadow I recall sneaking a peak at the scoreboard as we walked towards the trains. I think Koufax zipped the Amazin's on a 5 hitter!

I was at this game and Hawk Taylor crushed a 3 run home run off of Koufax.

Funny how the memory can play tricks on you. I recalled Hawk Taylor's homer and thought it was in the Tug McGraw victory over Koufax. But that victory came the following year on 8-26-65. In this game, the Dodgers came from behind in the late innings to bail Sandy out.

Before the game Willie Davis and a several other Dodgers sang happy birthday to Casey Stengel.

I believe this was my first game at Shea -- and my first MLB game as well. Sat in upper deck (3rd base side) with my father, my grandfather and my brother. I too remember it was Casey's birthday. Al Jackson and Mr. Met presented him with a birthday cake at home plate.

I should add that this was the first time that Koufax did not beat the Mets. In 20 starts, he had a 17-2 record against the Mets and one no-decision - this game. He lost games in 1965 and 1966 against Tug McGraw who won the first one and got a no-decision in the rematch.

Opening day. I remember that Starting LA pitcher Don Drysdale hit a home run in this game.

As Joel said in August 2003, Don Drysdale hit a two-run homer in this game off Al Jackson as the Mets continued their Opening Day misery, losing to the Dodgers, 6-1 at Shea.

Don Drysdale slugs his 2nd opening day homer, this one a 2-run shot off New York's Al Jackson. LA wins 6–1 at Shea Stadium.

It was a Tuesday season opener, I rushed home from school to watch the last few innings.

There was a guy with a bullhorn at this game, yelling stuff like "THIS IS IT DRYSDALE!" "WE'RE GONNA GET YOU NOW, DRYSDALE." Somehow he managed to last most of the game without getting tossed or at least disposed of his bullhorn.

Ron Swoboda talks about this game in Peter Golenback's worthy but uneven oral history of the Mets "AMAZIN'S." It was his first day in the bigs and he sat on the bench never dreaming that he would be called on to pinch hit. When Casey came down the dugout he tried to make himself as small as he could. Wonderful, funny stuff.

Starting pitcher AL JACKSON gets my vote as most under-rated Met in their history. Ron Hunt, who the Associated Press voted as the best 2nd baseman in either league over the winter did not start due to a hand injury from handball.

There exists a great posed photo of the entire starting lineup in batting order, on the steps of the dugout listening to Casey.

This is the first game ever in which the uniforms have numbers on the front (lower left) something that lasts to this day.

Newsday wrote in the next day's headline - "Mets and Spahn ripen with age." Casey came out to get Spahn after a rally by Dodgers in bottom of 9th but pitching coach Spahn (double role) talked him out of it. He then retired next batter on a comebacker - tying run out at home and then a strikeout to end game. A game I'll never forget.

Another tough one for Spahn. About a month after losing to the Phillies 1-0 on a home run by the opposing pitcher (Bunning), he loses one 2-1 on a home run by the opposing pitcher (Drysdale).

The Mets were getting some pretty good pitching this year, but talk about a bad hitting ball club. Looking at that line up might not even scare a Double-A pitcher.

Attended this Saturday afternoon game. Koufax pitched. He had a no hitter for about four innings. When the first Met hit blooped into right field you could sense the fan disappointment. I think every fan in the stadium was rooting for a no-no. Koufax had an aura about him. I don't think anyone disliked him. It's a shame the mindset of the sixties was for a pitcher to complete every game he started. Koufax may have avoided arthritis and lasted a lot longer.

Accoring to retrosheet, Koufax gave up his first hit to Hawk Taylor with one out in the second, a clean single to CF.

Al Jackson pitched well (outstanding by today's standards, 3ER in 7 innings) but it wasn't good enough with Sandy on the mound. Koufax retired ten of the last eleven batters in the game and did not allow a hit after the sixth inning.

I was 13 years old and a zealous Dodger fan living in Connecticut. (How that came to be is another story.) I remember watching the Friday night game on tv. Hard to imagine what station would have been carrying the game in northern Connecticut. During that game, I seem to remember a pause in the action while the Dodger trainer had to come out to the mound to pop Don Drysdale's arm back into its socket after a pitch. Hard to believe that's accurate, but I remember it pretty strongly.

During the game the next day's starters were announced. Koufax going for the Dodgers! Well, my father, younger sister, and I were taking a bus trip to the 1965 New York World's Fair that Saturday with a Polish cultural organization (I still have the replica of the "Pieta" I bought at the Vatican pavilion that day after seeing the real thing bathed in a blue light.) On the way down to Flushing I told my father, "Koufax is pitching today." Well, being a loving father, while the rest of the group toured the fair, he walked my sister and I across the highway overpass from the fairgrounds to Shea.

When we got to a ticket window I asked the vendor for three seats behind the Dodger dugout. I believe it was Ladies Day as well.

Well we got three seats behind the dugout, in the last row of the upper deck behind third base. From up there I am not able to attest that Sandy was actually on the mound. Any ball hit in the air looked like it could be a home run or a foul back.

I would love to find the photos taken on my old Kodak Instamatic of the Dodgers and Sandy on the field. No zoom back then. You'd have to trust me that the picture has Koufax in it.

Sorry Met fans, but that Dodger lineup contained mythological figures to this young Dodger worshipper - Wills, Davis, Gilliam et al. and KOUFAX!!! The greatest. Can't remember many details from the game, but very thankful to this site for the box score which triggers very strong memories.

During this same time period, I sent separate letters to three Dodgers: Sandy, Drysdale, and Wills - c/o Dodger Stadium, Chavez Ravine, Los Angeles, CA.

"Dear Sandy (or Don or Maury). Would you please autograph the piece of paper enclosed and send it back in the self addressed stamped envelope. thank you, ______"

I didn't get anything for a while, but can you imagine how I felt upon opening an envelope with my handwriting on it with a postmark from the unimaginable land of California and finding the 3 by 5" piece of paper inside with simple "Sandy Koufax" written on it? (Never got anything back from Drysdale or Wills.) I really don't care if Sandy signed it himself, or a secretary or whomever, but forever - KOUFAX WAS/IS THE GREATEST!!!

That was my first visit to Shea. My father took me and my cousin to one other Dodger/Mets game a few later. A game the Mets won despite a Ron Fairly home run off the right field foul pole. That night, there was a sign on the scoreboard saying that Willie Mays and the Giants would be coming in for a visit. You don't know what you got till it's gone. I can also remember my father complaining about the preponderance of semi trucks on the highway on the way home to Connecticut while my cousin kept tormenting me by singing "Meet the Mets".

long live Shea and Mr. Met and Choo Choo and Koos and Swoboda and Cleon and Grote and Jane Jarvis.

Drysdale the stud!! I swear I remember watching Dodgers/Mets on tv in June 65 when his shoulder popped out during a pitch, my memory is that I could hear it pop over the tv speaker. The trainer came out, popped it back in, and Don was good to go. The next day, my dad, sister, and I took a bus trip to the New York World's Fair with a Polish group from Enfield. Well, I told my dad "Koufax is pitching today" so after some fair visiting we walked over the highway to Shea Stadium, my dad bought 3 tickets and we saw Sandy defeat the Mets. At least I think it was Sandy. At the ticket window I asked the man for seats behind the Dodger dugout. It was Ladies' Day so my sister got a discount. Well we got tix behind the Dodger dugout alright but they were in the top row of the stadium. From up there it could have been Alston pitching for all we knew, and he probably could have beat that Met lineup. I took a picture of the Dodgers and Sandy on the field with my Kodak instamatic. Wish I knew where that photo is.

This doubleheader drew 57,175 in attendance - an all-time record that still stands for the regular season. Of course, the Mets lost both games!

The crowd came to its feet with applause when Podres strode in from the bullpen.

Great memories with my father on a Father's Day (and my birthday) doubleheader seeing Spahn, Koufax and Drysdale all pitch from our nosebleed seats on a sold-out Sunday; Koufax bested Spahn with a one hitter, but Spahn had a courageous end-of-career performance!

Father's Day wasn't good for the Mets in those days. A year after getting a perfect game thrown at them on Father's Day, in Shea Stadium by Bunning, they get a one-hitter thrown at them in Dodger Stadium by Koufax. Koufax got them out in order in the first three innings, and the first guy out in the fourth, so that was 37 consecutive Mets going down on Father's Day over two years. Hickman's hit was a HR, so Koufax didn't even get a shut out.

A recording of the broadcast of this game is available for listening, and it sounds like, except for that one shot by Hickman, the Mets didn't even bring their bats up to the plate. It was like, "Why bother?" Also, all three Met announcers pointed out (several times) that this was the first time the Dodgers ever started both Koufax and Drysdale in a double header. I see the Mets beat Drysdale in the second game, which would have raised their all-time record vs. Drysdale (up to that point) to 2-15.

The Mets were still 0-for-August after this 1-0 loss to Don Drysdale. It was their tenth straight loss to start the month and they would make it eleven before beating the Astros on August 13.

Gordie Richardson, who came to the Mets with Johnny Lewis from the 1964 World Champion Cardinals, took the loss in relief in this game. Maury Wills and Jim Gilliam singled in the seventh inning, and Wills scored on a passed ball by Chris Cannizzaro.

Went to this game 55 years ago with my father to see Al Jackson pitch. Remember Chris Cannizzaro, who had a rocket for an arm, throw Wills out stealing and then later picking him off first. Down 3-1 in bottom of 9th, Mets score 3 to win on John Stephenson's bases-loaded pitch-hit double. Jackson pitched a tough 8 innings, but unfortunately didn't get the win.

I sat in Johnny Murphy's (Mets GM) seats, second row behind home plate with my 3 friends, one of which had a sister that married J. Murphy's son! I talked him out of going to the Sandy Koufax game, the the Mets had never beaten him. Boy! Was he upset the next day after the Mets beat Koufax. I remember we talked to Joe Christopher before the game and he promised us a home run. I remember that he did hit a homer that game, but I can't find the box score of the game to verify my childhood memory!

This should be the game where Tug McGraw beat Sandy Koufax.

Yes, Mets beat Koufax for the first time ever! SK had been something like 20-0 against them over the years, including a no-hitter in '62. Considering that Koufax lost only 8 games in '65 and the Mets won only 50, this was a rare occurance for both sides!

It was a warm, humid night and the game had an electicity about it. I was with a group of guys from work and our seats were in deep left field. The only Dodger player I can specifically recall was the left-fielder Len Gabrielson who was right below our field of vision of the field. It was a classic match-up of David against Goliath with the great KOOFOO matched against the Tugger. Over the years, I have never forgotten the score of 5- 2 and I was hopeful in reading the most recent biography of Sandy Koufax that some mention of this game would have been made. Were it not for the Tugger's grave condition today, I never would have thought about doing a look-up. Tug was the man over Koufax on that great and wonderful night and he provided many other wonderful thrills in the pennant years of 1969 and 1973. He was the quintessential man playing a boys game and his enthusiasm and can do attitude "You Gotta Believe" made the players around him play better.

Yes, I was there with my Dad; it's one of those great memories. The news of Tug's condition led me to look up the game as well. It was indeed, one of the dog days of August and one of the first noteworthy Met victories. The Met were still a terrible team. Imagine, beating Sandy Koufax! Great fun. God bless my Dad, and God bless Tug.

My first Met game. Dad got us mezzanine box seats a few feet away from the left field foul pole, providing us with a view of the Worlds Fair fireworks set off at 9 pm if I recall.

Yep, McGraw became the first Met to ever beat Koufax, and from 1966 at least thru 1973 [the You gotta believe year], McGraw's Topps baseball card reminded you of this fact.

But the best part of the game for this 5 year old was watching Joe Christopher and Ron Swoboda (?) hit back-to-back homers, both of which cruised right past me on the fair side of the pole.

Len Gabrielson was not on the Mets or Dodgers in the 1965 season, he was on the Giants. I was a big Koufax fan and this game made me sick. Ron Swoboda I remember making a lucky catch to save two runs. Big deal the Mets beat Sandy Koufax. As if he never lost in his life! This was his first game after the Roseboro - Marichal incident.

Was at the game with my friend Paul and his Dad. I remember that the traffic was so bad driving out from NJ that we didn't get to our seats (upper deck, right field) until the 3rd inning.

I was/am a huge Giants fan so I loved every minute...for some reason I also remember that Don Drysdale pinch-hit for Sandy that night.

I was 9 years old and sitting along the right field sideline with my dad. He kept telling me, "This is incredible, nobody beats Koufax." I read of Tug's passing today and I had to find this game. Did my childhood imagination make this up? Did it really happen? It happened. Tug beat Koufax.

Yes, this was the FIRST time ever the Mets beat Mr. Koufax. I too was there that night sitting on the first base side field level seats! My dad, mom and 3 older brothers were rooting for the Dodgers (what with them starting their baseball years with the Brooklyn Dodgers) and I was the lone Mets fan among us! Well, I was not a happy camper when I found out KouFou was pitching, but I was as honored as can be just to watch him pitch live and in person! A foul ball also landed in the box next to ours, the closest I've ever come to one, but I would have been crushed by my brothers in a fight for it. But, I got the happy ending by Tug beating perhaps the greatest pitcher of ALL time and I was there! The ride home was quiet since my brother told me to be quiet when I brought up the win!

My brother and I were there with our parents. I was 13 at the time. We were big Sandy Koufax fans. We took a bed sheet and wrote "All the way with Sandy K" on it and hung it on a railing before the game started. I remember many Dodger fans cheering when we unfolded it. We were sorry to see Sandy lose.

I'm trying to find out if the game was video recorded and if a recording of it is available, either from the Mets, the Dodgers or the TV station that broadcast the game, if in fact it was on television.

Can anyone give me an idea on how to find out if a video recording of it exists?

I was at that game as a 14 year old. As I recall, when Koufax was pulled from the game he shrugged his shoulders and threw his mitt into the dugout. At least that's how I remember it.

I was 13 years old, when I attended this game with my Dad and my 12 year old brother. I was very excited to see the fabulous Koufax and curious too about the new pitcher the Mets were starting that night, a kid named Tug McGraw. Tug who was 19 was making if not his first one of his first starts in the major leagues. It seemed a true David and Goliath confrontation.

We sat in the left field upper deck, right in front of a large group of sailors. It was early in the game when the Mets scored some runs against Koufax, later after Sandy had left the game, Ron Swoboda and Joe Christoper hit back to back home runs. I was thrilled to see my Mets finally breaking through against the invincible Sandy! Tug was great keeping the 1965 World Champs in check. Later that week the newspapers ran a photo of Tug M, who had done some barbering in the Marine Corps, giving a haircut to Yogi Berra, then the Mets first base coach.

My story about this game concludes with another very special memory. It was just a few days after the death of Tug McGraw in 2004 and I was returning from Florida with my wife from a visit to my mother-in-law in W.Palm Beach. After landing at LaGuardia, we went to an airport parking lot to reclaim our car when I recognized Ed Kranepool picking up his vehicle. I realized Ed was returning from Tug's funeral in Florida, and I introduced myself as a fan and of course I offered my condolences on the death of his friend and teammate. I then told Ed that I had attended the game the night that Tug had beaten Koufax and remarked what at great game that was. Ed's face and mood brightened immediately and as we shook hands he said "Yeah, that was a great game."

I saw this game as a 16-year-old with a high school friend. Pure luck that we choose a game Sandy Koufax started. As I recall, The Beatles had performed at Shea about a week earlier and you could still see some some spots where the turf hadn't recovered yet in the area behind 2nd Base. I remember thinking it looked hopeless even before the top of the 1st was completed as the Dodgers scored. I was sure the Dodgers would score more and the Mets would never catch up. But, amazingly, they tied it and then went ahead in the bottom of the first. Roy McMillan, a good fielder, but not so distinguished at the plate, got a double. I thought he'd be an easy out for Koufax. I remember the back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the 7th. Johnny Podres had come on and I remember being about excited about seeing the hero of Brooklyn's 1955 World Series win. I guess I learned something about aging athletes when Joe Christopher and Ron Swoboda hit high arcing homers that easily cleared the wall. Many were still cheering Christopher's homer when Swoboda hit a nearly identical one. For a moment, there was disbelief as back-to-back homers by the Mets against Dodger pitching seemed unimaginable.

This, along with the 1964 All-Star game, are the games I most remember.

This game is the reason I became a Mets fan. My father took me to my first MLB game - my 9th birthday was the next day, and the excitement of a sold out stadium, and seeing for the first time the deep expanse of green grass of a major league park was breathtaking. When the game ended, I thought, if the Mets can beat the best pitcher in baseball, they must be a good team to root for. The rest is history.

I was single and a "maniac" met fan. I had a bet with the bartender at my local saloon hangout. It was to be a shot of Power's Gold Irish whiskey for the winner of the bet. Well, I won and because of Tug's fantastic victory, it resulted in an unlimited amount of a Powers! I will never forget that night!

I was there too as an 8-year-old with my dad. Then a few years ago I took my son to a game on August 26th. They had a "on this date in history" and it was McGraw's victory. Great memories of my dad and new ones with my son.

Lived in Liberty, NY and five of us drove to Shea Stadium. We were seated on the third Base side a little high off the field. I never stopped talking about that game. The next day many of my friends and customers told me they had seen me on TV that evening since a camera must have been right in back of us. Four years later I moved to the Tampa Bay area and now root for the Rays!! That was a very special game.

I was there as well to see Tugger's great win; however somehow I remember it as a day game. I may be getting old, but that win was one to remember, particularly after so many spankings by the Jewish kid from Bensonhurst with the murderous fastball!

Looking it up, I see that the Mets had a 4-game series vs the Dodgers from 8/23/65 to 8/26/65. Drysdale beat us in the first game but then the Mets (miraculously) took the next three. Al Jackson was the winner on 8/24, "Fat Jack" Fisher defeat Claude Osteen on the 25th and then the unforgettable win over Koufax on the 26th by the rookie Tug McGraw. Ex-Brooklyn Dodger World Series hero Johnny Podres came on in relief for Sandy in the 9th. A 21 year old rookie named Ron Swoboda, was batting clean-up for the Amazins. The other future Miracle Met playing that night was Ed Kranepool. I remember the games on the 25th and 26th, now 54 years ago, like they were yesterday because I was 10 at the time and was staying for a few nights at my grandmother's apartment on Grant Ave in Brooklyn. She let me stay up to watch the games. Staying up late was a big deal to this 10 year old! Nana was a big Mets fan as well!

This is one of the few individual Met games I remember. I was sitting way out in left field near the foul pole and just above the auxiliary scoreboard. These were the best seats we could get because of Koufax's immense popularity. I remember the back of Sandy's uniform was soaked because of the heat and humidity, also that when he came to bat late in the game trailing with men on base, a guy near me yelled, "Do it to yourself, Sandy!" He didn't and the Mets beat him for the first time, and behind Tug McGraw, who is not remembered as a starter. All of us Met fans went wild because of this unexpected victory. Ah, memories!

My dad and I were at Shea that night in 1965 when rookie Tug McGraw went up against Sandy Koufax and became the first Met pitcher to beat him. I was only 10 years old then, but among the things I remember include my dad returning home the next morning before breakfast after his weekly run to the bakery with a copy of The Daily News where the front page headline screamed "METS KO SANDY." Among the highlights of the game, I remember a towering fly ball that left the park way over the left field wall fairly early in the game. If I'm not mistaken, wasn't Ron Swoboda the one who hit it?

Did Yogi come to the on-deck circle at some point when the Mets had two outs? One aspect of the game that box scores and comments thus far haven't told. I was entering second grade, this my first live baseball game, my Dad grew up in Brighton Beach and I couldn't have imagined til being a grown adult what seeing Sandy Koufax pitch against the Mets meant to him, just that something special was going on when he took me on a school night to my Grandma's on Brighton third street to pick up tickets that his cousin had connections on, close behind the Mets dugout.

Did Yogi come to the on-deck circle? I remembered the back to back home runs, my Dad explaining that the Dodger fans standing when the Dodgers were at bat and the Mets fans standing when the Mets were at bat, and vaguely, my Dad fixated at a time when, if my distant little kid memory recalls it right, like my Dad was the little kid wanting Yogi to come to bat against Sandy Koufax.

Do any of you remember?

Two outs, maybe men on base, and Yogi coming on deck? It was more than only my Dad, people all around noticing, wanting, hoping, but then the batter made and out and I never did get to see Yogi at bat live. Can you imagine my first baseball game ever, seeing Yogi batting against Sandy Koufax, in Yogi's last at bat ever? Do any of you remember that happening? I just can't remember more than vaguely thinking that it did.

Barry, I'm guessing that you were referring to the bottom of the eighth inning when you saw Yogi Berra in the on-deck circle. I cannot verify that he was there, but it is possible with catcher Chris Cannizzaro being the next batter in the Mets' lineup when the inning ended. Wes Westrum may have intended to send Berra up as a pinch-hitter for Cannizzaro and then left him in to catch in the top of the ninth. However, it didn't work out that way.

I don't mean to disappoint you here, Barry, but Sandy Koufax was removed from the game after seven innings. Yogi would've batted against reliever Johnny Podres, who was pitching for the Dodgers in the eighth.

A scoreless pitcher's duel for four innings between Claude Osteen and Jack Hamilton, but the Dodgers broke through first.

In the fifth Osteen led off with a triple and Maury Wlls drove him in with a single. Wills was sacrificed to second by Wes Parker, and scored on a Willie Davis single. The Dodgers added four more in the sixth as Osteen singled to drive in John Roseboro, then after a Wes Parker hit, Tommy Davis hit a three run homer off Gordie Richardson. Gordie would pitch again the next day, get creamed, and never pitch in the majors again.

The Mets runs came on a sixth inning triple by Ed Bressoud followed by a Jerry Grote single, and in the seventh Dick Stuart and Ron Swoboda had RBI singles.

This was the one and only time I saw Sandy Koufax pitch in person. Arrigo was knocked out of the box early by the Dodgers. Wes Parker hit two home runs. The crowd was huge because of Koufax's appearance. The only surprise was that the Mets scored as many as 3 runs against him.

This was my 1st game. I was 8 and my parents and I sat in Upper Reserved, directly over home plate. Traffic was backed up on the Whitestone Expressway so we got to the game a little late. I seem to remember Gerry Arrigo hitting a double but getting removed (I asked my parents why he was being taken out.) On the way to the game, my mother told me about the 7th inning stretch and the flags above the stadium that show the standings.

The game details are fuzzy but I can say I saw Koufax!

This was also the one and only time I saw Koufax in person. I was eight. It was standing room only, and my brother, his fiancee and me were among the standing. Just before the game started, Koufax, finished with his warmups, walked from the bullpen to the dugout and the crowd applauded politely, respectfully, as if (and I am not the first to note this) applauding a maestro about to conduct an orchestra. The Dodgers scored seven runs in the seventh inning -- and Koufax was on base twice in that innning.

I seem to remember that it was 90 degrees and my dad and I were sitting together in one section and my cousin and his dad (my father's cousin) in another section. The great Koufax, who never ever got on base because he was such a lousy hitter, hit a double, clearing the bases which were loaded (I think.) I may be wrong, but in the second game of that doubleheader Tug McGraw started for the Mets, but I may be wrong about that. I was 17 then. Long time ago.

Also remember it being very hot. And how bizarre it seemed to see Koufax wearing his warm-up jacket when he was on base.

If I remember correctly, Mets won 2nd game when Perranoski (sp?) threw a wild pitch w/bases loaded & 2 outs in the 9th.

Nice web site! Brings back many good memories!

I got hooked on the Mets back in 62 and saw them at the Polo Grounds on my birthday on 9/15/62. Marv went deep! Once Shea opened my Dad would always take my brother and I down from Hartford for Dodger doubleheaders. My brother was a Dodger fan.

I remember this game quite well. I thought Arrigo looked like the best lefty the Mets had since Al Jackson. Therefore, I thought this was going to be quite a matchup. Well Arrigo fooled the Dodgers for awhile, but when they timed his heat it was pretty ugly. Got out of hand fast. To add insult to injury, Koufax, a notoriously bad hitter drilled a double late in the game against one of the many stiffs that came out of the Met Bullpen. I think he would up on 3rd after the Mets kicked the ball around.

We were in the upper deck behind the plate so we had a very good vantage point. Koufax was simply amazing. Everyone talks about his blazing fastball, but I was most impressed with that slow curve he threw. No chance.

Things improved in the 2nd game as the Mets squeezed out a win, which made for a happy ride home. I still have the program from this game.

Yes this was a very warm day; besides Sandy thwarting the Metropolitans, Ron Hunt hit a inside-the-park home run.

I was so excited to see the games that I didn't sleep much the night before. I went with a friend and his dad. We sat behind third base in the lower boxes. I was really excited to see Koufax pitch and see my fav Met, Roy McMillan. He got the entire Met team to autograph a baseball for me that my aunt, who lived in the same apartment building asked him to autograph just for me. It was a really hot day and I just really enjoyed being with my best friend and watching major league baseball.

I was 15 when I and a few friends with their dads went to Shea that Sunday. We didn't know Koufax was to pitch till a few days before- not knowing the rotation. We were lucky, as we had Right Field Box Seats. It is still the largest crowd ever at Shea. I think it was over 58,000 with SRO in Right Field. Koufax came out to warm up on the sidelines and got a nice round of applause. He then dominated the Mets. One inning he struck out the side, and during one warm up between innings I remember him breaking off the best curve anyone will ever see. The whole place yelled in unison. Only one run was earned, and that came when Ron hunt hit a sharp single to center and Wes Parker charged it only to have it bounce over his head all the way to the wall. Wes the great first-sacker should have been at first and not in center. I am 65 now, but this memory will last a lifetime. The man was so fast that day with an incredible curve, but he only k'd nine. An off day for the best pitcher in the last 60 years!

I was a Yankee fan but when I found out that Koufax was pitching, and I lived relatively close to Shea Stadium, I had to go. He did not disappoint. What was surprising was that Koufax, a notoriously bad hitter, had two hits that day. It was in the 90's and he asked for a warmup jacket after hitting a double. An unforgettable day.

I was there and all the memories above are correct – the size of the crowd, the heat, Koufax, getting couple of hits to help win the game and the Mets winning the second game (started by Don Drysdale) of the doubleheader on a wild pitch by an extraordinary great reliever Ron Peranowski. What no one has mentioned was the fact that it was “Helmet Day, and that may have contributed as much to the crowd – at the time – largest in Shea Stadium history then the fact that the two Hall of Fame were pitching. What made the games extra thrilling for me as a 12-year-old was the fact that my father, sitting next to me, caught a foul tip off the bat of Dodger catcher Johnny Roseboro

Sandy Koufax beats the Mets. Lou Johnson hits a homer for LA and Eddie Bressoud hits one for the Mets off of Koufax. I remember Sandy after the game on Kiners Korner.

My dad and I went to this game and I was so excited to see Sandy Koufax pitch. Being a Met fan I had mixed emotions, wanting to see a no-hitter and the Mets beating Koo.

Got neither. Lou Johnson hits a three-run homer of Bob Shaw in the first, Ron Hunt leads off bottom half with a single to left and scores when Ron Swoboda just beats the throw at first on a two-out infield single.

Also remember the fan sitting next to us complaining about Bob Murphy, Ralph Kiner and Lindsey Nelson advising people to buy their tickets early when the upper deck was only half filled.

Reading the book 'Koufax' right now, on loan from a friend... remembering when Dad brought me to see this game, just 13 years old, and not knowing it would be Koufax' last year. I do remember Dad chiding Swoboda's infield single, which was a dribbler near the plate mostly based on Ron's inability to hit Koufax, as if that singled him out! Thanks, Dad, and thanks, Sandy, for great Shea memories.

A Saturday night game. I went with my father, sister and firend. The Mets got a couple of runs off of Don Drysdale, but then Johnny Roseboro homered for LA. The Mets tied it up in the 9th on a wild pitch by Phil the Vulture Regan. LA won it though in extra innings (we left after 8 innings and I saw the end of the game on TV). The stadium was electric that night and there were as many Dodger fans there as there were Mets fans.

Don Sutton pitches a complete game victory for an Dodger sweep of the 3 game series. The only Mets run was on a Ken Boyer 9th inning sacrifice fly. Johnny Roseboro hit another HR for LA.

I believe this was the first game I ever attended-- I hope someone can verify (maybe by looking at a 1966 yearbook?) if this was batting helmet day. I just remember sitting in the left field corner in the upper deck, and being overwhelmed by the size of the (sold out) crowd.

Sutton blows the METS out fanning 11. Ribant touched up early. We saved up a bunch of milk carton coupons ( Dellwood?) to get in. Chuck Hiller led off at 3b, Ken Boyer played 1b.

My first Mets game. It was a Friday night, Shea was packed. Wes Parker homered for L.A. while we were still in the parking lot. Later, Wes Covington drilled a pinch HR for them. But Mets smacked Koufax around -- one of only two career losses he suffered to N.Y. I think it may have been Tug McGraw's birthday and I believe he started for the Mets that night.

As a Met fan from back in the day this was my favorite Met victory until the 1969 season. If my memory is accurate it was the first time the Mets defeated Sandy Koufax after some 20 odd tries. I believe it was the 2nd earliest Koufax had been knocked out of the box (I believe 1 1/3 innings). That was my first recollection of (Frank) Tug McGraw!

I remember the game well. It was billed as a rematch between Koufax and Tug McGraw -- the only Met to have beaten him. Shea was packed. It was the last time Koufax was knocked out of the box in a regular season game. As he walked back to the dugout, he gave a shrug, saying, "I just didn't have it today."

The early Mets were an amazingly weak hitting club. Choo Choo Coleman had a career total of 26 RBIs. Opposing pitchers like Gibson, Carlton, Marichal would routinely throw 2-3 hit shutouts at Shea. One time that year my friend Eddie & I took the #7 train to Shea. We arrive for the bottom of the 1st, score: 2-0 Phillies. Final score: 2-0 Phillies. What a miserable ride back on the #7 train.

We rode the #7 that night to see young Tug McGraw face Koufax. Since the Mets were so dismally absent talent, we were drawn to the 'colorful.' Tug McGraw breathed some life into a team that was otherwise abysmal. Eddie & I were thrilled. The bats came alive, the Met pitching was decent. It felt like for once youth and inspiration could overcome strength and power, which was heartening for skrawny 11-year-old like us.

I recall my Dad taking my brother, Charlie, and me to this game when I was nine. Though a Mets fan, I was distraught because my hero Sandy Koufax was knocked out early. If I remember right, Don Drysdale, of course a good hitter as well as a terrific pitcher, pinch hit into a double play to end the game.

I was at this game too. Sat in the box seats 3rd base side. I love the Dodgers. I figured out the rotation so that we could see Koufax pitch. I was at the other game that Tug won too. I think that was 4-2 and the Dodger 3rd baseman made 2 errors to cost Koufax the win.When I was old enough I moved out west, following the Dodgers. But I will always have great memories of being "grown up" enough for my best friend and I to take the bus from NJ and the subway from the Port Authority to Shea.The Worlds Fair and Sunday double headers.

My dad was from Brooklyn and so I became a Dodger fan though we lived in northern Connecticut and the Dodgers had moved just as I was becoming of baseball fan age. I got my dad to take me to this game because Koufax would be pitching -- and he got knocked out of the game in the third inning! Well, of course the poor old Mets had a win coming but in was not a happy night for a 16-year-old who had taken a three-hour road trip down and back home for this game.

Ahh, the good old days. Today if a pitcher gets knocked out after 1 1/3 innings, it would take AT LEAST five pitchers to finish the game. When was the last time a Met reliever pitched 7+ innings?

I was only 7 years old, but I remember it well. Traffic was awful because of the huge crowd. My Dad and I made it to our seats in the second inning and got to see the Mets pound Koufax. Only a few years ago did I learn that he was 17-2 lifetime against the Mets and my Dad and I were there for this one!

Ron Perranoski of the Dodgers struck out the first six batters he faced in relief helping the Dodgers beat the Mets and Tug McGraw.

Rookie SS Bud Harrelson successfully pulled off the hidden ball trick on Dodger OF Lou Johnson in the 6th.

My first ever Met game! I was 9 years old at the time. It was unusually cold that night. Unfortunately the Dodgers beat us down pretty good, but little did we know it at the time, but we had a future Hall of Famer on our pitching staff - Tom Seaver

Probably the only game of the many Mets games I have seen in person that I remember the score. Why? It was my first time ever to a major league baseball game! I was 11. Shea Stadium, my Dad, lifelong memory. (I am now 53.) Thanks for the memories!

This was the first time I was able to see the Mets in person on my birthday. All I ever wanted for my birthday was a trip to see my Mets. Since I'd always been told that my Dad had taken me to the Polo Grounds in 1963 at age 2 and the Mets were always on the road on July 22 until that 1967 season, this was the first chance for me as an already eager young Mets fan to see in person on my "special day," the team which has evolved into the love of my life. Well I suppose after that woman I married (twice) and that kid we brought into this world 31 years ago.

I was always lucky to go to Shea somewhere around my birthday but this game will forever be etched in my memory since it fell on my birthday and my hero Jerry Grote (I was already a catcher in little league) had 2 hits including a homer. I recall not really understanding why Sandy Koufax was not pitching. (My first realization of pitching rotations.)

I remember us losing the game (but shockingly do not have any memory of the "great" Jerry Buchek getting 3 of the Mets 10 hits..LOL. I do recall my Dad buying me a felt "METS" pennant which got bent somewhere along on the bus ride home on that hot, humid Saturday. That pennant hung on my bedroom wall above the poster I got for Christmas of Tom Seaver (one of the ones with the dirt on the knee of his trail leg) for what seemed like forever.

I'm sure I was fortunate enough to have seen "My Mets" on other occasions on "my day" but that first time will always be special to me.

I was at this game!! Hendley outpitched Drysdale, of all people. I also remember my favorite Met, Ron Swoboda, caught a long fly ball that would have just sneaked over the rightfield wall if he hadn't pulled it in. I think Drysdale hit the ball in question. Beautiful summer day, I had just turned 10, and I think it was the first time that I saw the Mets win (maybe the 2nd) in person. Just finished reading the new Koufax book, in which Hendley figures prominently as the losing pitcher in Sandy's perfect game - and Hendley pitched a 1-hitter, with the run scoring on a throwing error.

Andrew, you're correct about Don Drysdale hitting a drive that Ron Swoboda jumped up and caught just in front of the right field fence. It came in the third inning and took away a hit from Drysdale on his 31st birthday. Swoboda also made a leaping catch at the wall on Wes Parker's fly ball in the ninth for the game's last out.

Bob Hendley pitched a four-hitter in which Al Ferrara homered for the Dodgers' only run. Tommy Davis started the Mets' scoring with a home run to lead off the bottom of the fourth. It was Davis's 100th career homer and first ever against his former Los Angeles team. The Mets also scored twice in the fifth on some erratic Dodger fielding and added another run on Swoboda's sacrifice fly in the sixth.

One other note about this game is that it was Hendley's 48th and final win in the major leagues.

The last game Wes Westrum managed for the Mets and appropriately they lost it. When it became clear he would not be re-hired for 1968, he resigned and Salty Parker managed the last eleven games of the 1967 season.

The next day was the Mets last off day for the season, so poor Wes reportedly could sense the bell about to toll.

The Dodgers weren't much good this season, but, in winning this game, Don Drysdale ran his lifetime record against the Mets to an mountainous 21-4.

This was a big night for Bill Graham. He pitched a six-hitter over the Dodgers for his first major league win. At bat, Graham helped his own cause with a run-scoring single for the only hit and RBI of his career. He also threw a called third strike past ex-Met Ron Hunt to end the game.

This turned out to be Bill Graham's last game in baseball. For anyone who might be wondering, he didn't move into a life as an evangelical preacher. That was someone else of the same name.

First MLB victory for Koosman - a four hit shutout!

Nolan Ryan's first start at Shea.

First batter for Dodgers, Wes Parker, an excellent contact hitter walked back to the dugout shaking his head in apparent disbelief after striking out on Ryan's "heat" to start the game.

Unfortunately, catcher Tom Haller homered late in the game to offset a homer by Swoboda and the Dodgers won.

Game ended with Grote being called out at first base on a lousy call with the tying run on base that even in 1968 had the fans chanting "ump sucks" and "ump beats his wife."

This is also the game that Nolan Ryan became the first Met ever to strike out the side on nine pitches.

Nolan Ryan struck out the side on nine pitches in the third inning.

This was the first baseball game I ever went to. I learned to love baseball that day... and how to schmoosh a packet of mustard that sprayed all over some guy's pants next to us. If anyone else was at this game - or if it too was your first ballgame, get in touch with me. I would love to talk.

BTW - We stayed for the whole second game, too! Not only were there doubleheaders in those days but you could actually enjoy them and still get to work/school on time.

Ron Swoboda created Mets history when he became the first Mets player to hit a home run in each game of a 4 game series

Dick Selma starts. Cardwell 4 shutout innings. Agee HR to go along with .156 avg. I think Purdin went for LA.

It was Don Drysdale who pitched for the Dodgers. I remember being there with my Dad.

Took the #7 train, only to find no tickets remaining. Shut out. Back onto the train, and back home. What a disappointment. Only time this ever happened to me.

This was the first game I ever attended. I was not quite 10 years old. It was helmet day at Shea. Who knew I was watching a future HOF pitcher (Ryan) ?!

This game is a very special memory for me.

This was the first game I ever attended. It was helmet day, and it had the largest paid attendance of any game at Shea--56,738. Nolan Ryan vs. Bill Singer. I have been a lifelong baseball fan, and this game was very significant to me. Bought the yearbook with Gil Hodges on the cover. Also, I remember having a color photo taken of me with the helmet on in my backyard when I got home. I wish I could find a radio recording of the game or television clips so I can relive the day.

This was the first game I went to. My Dad bought tickets in the sky but it was a great memory to share with my Dad who passed away in 2003. Nolan Ryan for a first game. If only the Mets knew what they were trading...

Swoboda's single in the 7th inning broke up this no-hit bid by future Yankee Kekich in his rookie year. He was 2-10 for the Dodgers (who finished in 8th place just ahead of the Mets) in his rookie year and this was one of his two victories. It was also the only shutout of his major league career.

My first baseball game as a kid. Nine years old. Remember Stahl's home run to RF. (He then played for the Padres the next year.) Koosman was great! Game really moved along. A lot of journeymen for the Dodgers. Note: Mudcat Grant ph -really?

This was an historic game in an historic season because it was the first time the Mets ever went above .500 beyond the first week of the season.

Ed Kranepool hit two home runs--the first one was a rope into the Mets bullpen off Alan Foster; the second one was a two-run, 400' shot to right center. On home run #2 good old WOR-TV was already running a videotaped highlight of the previous play, so no one got to see the replay of Kranepool's second homer.

Tom Seaver pitched.

What is really memorable was "Kiner's Korner" afterward. Since the Mets went over .500 for the first time, there was a lot of celebration in the clubhouse. Kranepool showed up as a guest on the postgame show smoking a cigar. Tom Seaver, the other guest, was giggling all the way through the show. At the end, Ralph Kiner told Kranepool, "Keep up the good work. And don't let those cigars make you sick." Seaver was laughing so hard I thought he was going to fall on the floor.

If this is the right one I think that Jack DiLauro started and threw at least nine shutout innings - clearly the finest game of his brief career - does anyone remember who was on the mound for LA?

RG, I was at the game (in fact all 3 of those Dodger games) and I think Claude Osteen was the starter. Remember Willie Davis allowing a fly ball single get past him for a triple in the 12th allowing the winning run to score?

To clear up some confusion, it was Bill Singer who started this one for the Dodgers. Singer had a perfect game for six innings before Bud Harrelson led off the seventh with a single. The only other hit Singer allowed in the nine innings he pitched was a pinch-single by Art Shamsky in the bottom of the 9th. Singer didn’t walk a batter (he hit Wayne Garrett in the 7th), and he struck out ten.

But Jack DiLauro was pretty good this night too. DiLauro allowed a leadoff first inning double to Bill Russell and a second inning double by Ted Sizemore, then did not allow another hit over his last 7.2 innings, retiring the last 19 batters he faced!

The Mets won the game 1-0 in the bottom of the 15th when Willie Davis misplayed Wayne Garrett’s single and Tommie Agee scored from first. The Mets had just four hits and two walks in 15 innings yet still won the game!

I seem to recall that Al Weis made a remarkable play to keep it a scoreless game. He was playing 2B and there was a ground ball that DiLauro nicked. Weis changed directions, fielded the ball behind the pitchers' mound and threw home for a bang-bang tag play.

Does anybody remember that or have more details? To my mind -- if my memory is correct -- it was the best play I'd seen by a middle IF until Ozzie Smith's barehand play in his rookie season.

Donnie, I watched part of the game and I remember reading about the play the next day, although I did not see it live. It was described as an unbelievable play and it kept the game scoreless. What is significant is that it came in the middle of the Mets big winning streak in early June that set the stage for the rest of the season. Retrosheet.org has the box score and PBP description.

This was one of my first games as a Mets fan. And... the seats were free; we redeemed coupons cut from milk cartons during the school year, and got seats in right field...fair territory...upper deck! I made my father stay through all fifteen innings, even though he had to be up to work the next morning. I remember seeing the ball go past Willie Davis and roll to the wall....same feeling of glee 17 years later with Mookie and Buckner. I also remember Ron Swoboda having a terrible night, yet taking the time to yell up to us when we called down to him. I'll miss Shea.

The great play by Al Weis happened in the 15th inning. He barehanded Willie Davis's ground ball that pitcher Ron Taylor got his glove on. Weis threw home to Grote, nailing Billy Grabarkewitz at the plate. It was a great play by Weis that exemplified what the rest of the Mets' season would be like.

Davis helped the Mets even further in the bottom of the inning, misplaying Wayne Garrett's single to allow Tommie Agee to score from first. Very exciting win!

After the passing of the Great Ralph Kiner, I bought "Kiner's Korner" and just finished reading his summary of the play. I sure wish I could see a video of it. I was 4 at the time and didn't really know what I was watching until about the 1971 season.

I attended this game with my Little League. From our seats in the LF bleachers, we had great view of Manny Mota's throw home that nailed Ed Charles and preserved the 1-0 lead. The Dodgers had just obtained Mota and he's still with the organization 44 years later.

This was Don Drysdale's final appearance against the Mets. Drysdale had made four starts in April and was 1-2 with an ERA over 5.00, then went on the disabled list. In this, his first game back in almost two months, he pitched 5.2 innings and was the winning pitcher.

After an Andy Kosco home run opened the scoring, a sac fly by Wayne Garrett and an RBI single by Cleaon Jones gave the Mets a 2-1 lead early. But Ted Sizemore hit a sac fly in the fourth to tie it up and Jack DiLauro threw a wild pitch with the next batter up allowing Manny Mota to score from third with what would be the final run of the game.

DiLauro was the losing pitcher, his first ever major league decision.

Drysdale made seven more starts in 1969 before retiring due to a torn rotator cuff. He was just 33 when he packed it in. When Big Don retired, he was the last Brooklyn Dodger still active with the Dodgers.

I was at this game - I had been to the game the day before, and then my Uncle took me to the Jets practice the next day, and to lunch with Gerry Philbin, who was a client of his, and then to the Mets game that night. The highlight of my 12 year-old life to that point!! And my favorite Met, Ron Swoboda, hit a homer to help win the game! (Kooz was my favorite pitcher, and he won the game, so doubly good.)

James, Gerry Philbin was one of my favorite Jets!

The Mets won this Friday night game to start a six-game winning streak. It was the middle of a larger streak that saw them go 12-1 in a thirteen game stretch. At the start of the stretch they had fallen to third place, 9.5 games behind the Cubs. But by the end of the streak on August 27 they were just two games out of first.

The Mets jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in this game thanks in part to Swoboda's two-run homer off Bill Singer in the second inning. But Kooz wasn't at the top of his game this night, allowing ten hits in six innings and committing two balks. The Dodgers got to within one run in the seventh but Cleon Jones knocked in an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth and Tug McGraw retired the last seven batters he faced for the save.

Jim Bunning pitched this game for the Dodgers. It was a critical game in the Mets' drive for 1st. I sat way up in the upper deck during this Afternoon game. It was a full house, and for once there were more people there to see the Mets than the "Dah-jes". Shamsky HRed and the game ended with a bloop single by Grote between Wills and the second baseman.

The first major league game I ever went to. I sat in the upper deck behind home plate with my Grandfather and Uncle on a beautiful sunny day at Shea Stadium (Jets flying overhead to add to the Shea atmosphere). There's nothing like seeing the green grass and the well-manicured diamond of a major league field for the first time! I remember Jim Bunning continually losing his cap as he delivered pitches to home plate. An exciting finish as the game ended with the winning run scoring on a Jerry Grote short fly ball to centerfield. Maury Wills had the best chance to make the catch, but seemed to have trouble locating the ball as he scrambled out from shortstop with his back to home plate.

I recently found an old scorecard from this game with my late Father's handwriting. What a treasure! I was six years old, and I wish I remembered more about being there. Does anyone have more information about this game - anything at all would be so great to hear?

At 44 now, I take my boys (4 & 5) to the games and love carrying on the tradition from those days with my Dad so long ago.

This was my first major league game. I went with my father, grandfather and my cousin who had just returned from the Vietnam War. We had upper deck seats and could not believe not only how green the grass was but how red the clay that encircled the field was.

I remember Shamsky's home run and the tremendous roar that came from the crowd as it sailed over the right field fence. I recall Jerry Grote hitting the bloop towards left center field. I remember Wills at short, the centerfielder (Willie Davis) and the left fielder (Manny Mota) converging on it but it fell in and the runner on first was able to score because he was running on the pitch because it was 3 and 2 with two outs.

On my ride home I remember looking out the back window of the car and seeing the Goodyear blimp flying above the stadium. After that game I was a Met fan forever.

The greatest Mets game I have ever witnessed in person! Gentry vs. Don Sutton. Mets were charging hard, and I watched the scoreboard all day as the Cubs split a doubleheader against the Astros in Chicago.

Swoboda had a huge day, including a bases loaded walk in the first, and a great throw from right field to third base to nail a runner trying to go from first to third on a single. But the Mets trailed 4-3 as they came to bat in the seventh. They loaded the bases again, and this time Swoboda rapped a double into the left field corner to score all three runners for a 6-4 lead. Grote single him home to complete the scoring, and Cal Koonce finished them off. Gentry had a bad outing and left early.

The packed house was deafening (so were the jets that day), and it was an incredible day that I feel fortunate to remember vividly.

My second ever Mets game. I remember the explosion of noise after Swoboda's double. Afterwards taking the 7 train (old sky blue and white subway cars) back to the Bronx and everyone being excited on the platform and overhearing many say that there is still a chance. One man told his sons well boys we're not going away....

Collared his first four times up, Willie Davis hits a double in the 9th inning to stretch his hit streak to 31 games. The double drives in the winning run as LA tops the Mets 5–4. The Mets had tied in the 8th when Tommie Agee and Donn Clendenon each homered with a man on.

My father took me to this game when I was an 11-year-old boy. We moved from New York to L.A. in 1967, but I remained a Mets fan.

Jerry Koosman starts his 3rd game against the Dodgers in two weeks. He had been knocked out in the 1st inning two days before and Hodges brought him back for this game.

We went to this one, it was a weeknight game. Some of my favorite baseball names were part of this one.

I remember filling in the scoresheet names like Von Joshua, Sandy Vance, Billy Grabarkewitz, Bill Sudakis, Andy Kosco, Joe Foy and Nolan Ryan.

For some reason, the speedy young Dodger leadoff hitter, Joshua impressed us. Might have been a nice running catch or a baserunning deal but this game and his play stayed with me.

Joshua put together a few good years and was a similar but not as good version of another great sounding name, Al Bumbry!

But,say hey, What's In A Name?

This game took place 10 years prior to my existence, so I hadn't heard of almost any of the players that started for the Dodgers on this day. The only one that rang a bell was Maury Wills. The lineup was really a hodgepodge of youngsters and journeymen, but they found a way to win 87 games in 1970, not to mention score 4 times off Nolan Ryan and beat him for the second time in 10 days.

Ryan gave up more hits in this game (8) than he had in his first three starts combined (6). It didn't seem like he had his best stuff, as he allowed 4 doubles and only struck out 5 over 7 innings, with his last strikeout coming in the 4th inning. He didn't strike out any of the final 17 batters he faced.

Despite allowing 2 runs in the 6th and ending the inning at over 120 pitches, Ryan stayed in to pitch the 7th. He allowed 2 more to score before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the frame. I know this was a different time, but in hindsight the management of the pitching staff back in the day is a constant source of consternation for someone like me. I just can't get over the laissez-faire attitude managers had for their starting pitching.

It was the combination of Sandy Vance and Fred Norman who shutout the Mets. Norman went the final 4 to pick up his only save of the season. To this point the Mets had been goose-egged three times in 1970, all at the hands of Dodger pitching.

I saw this game on TV. Wes Parker of the Dodgers hits for the cycle in this game.

Parker's triple to complete the cycle came in the tenth inning and drove in the winning run. He had doubled in the second, grounded out in the fourth, homered leading off the seventh, and singled in the eighth.

Parker became the first opponent ever to hit for the cycle against the Mets in this game. Only Ray Rankford (9-15-91) and Vladimir Guerrero (9-14- 03) have done so since.

This is the first baseball game I ever attended. I was 9 1/2 years old, and had first become aware of baseball -- and first become a Met fan --during the 1969 World Series, nine months before.

My family and I lived in New York City but spent the summer of 1970 in Santa Ana, CA. I attended this game at Dodger Stadium with a man named Chuck. At the time Chuck was working with my Dad for Nawal, a conglomerate of NBC and Walt Disney. Nawal was producing the first "Disney on Parade", and my dad was the company manager.

This game involved a classic Mets come-from-behind win. Their bats were dormant most of the game, but they rallied from 3-1 deficit for 1 4-3 win. I was one of the only fans at the quiet Dodger stadium cheering during the comeback.

I was there,too.I had to make up my mind who to root for because I liked both teams. In the 5th, I think it was, the Mets pulled a classic "you take it, no you take it" play where three players let an easy pop fall in. Classic Mets except this was the new Mets and they came back.

This one was a real nail-biter...Singer vs Koosman. In the bottom of the 10th, with two outs and the bases loaded, Tommie Agee stole home with Cleon up!

In the bottom of the tenth, Tug McGraw singled to cf. Tommie Agee tried to bunt him over, but bunted too hard. Wes Parker fielded the bunt and fired to 2b only to have Billy Grabarkewitz drop the ball. Al Weis ran for McGraw at 2b and got picked off. Agee stole 2b and went to 3b on a wild pitch while Bud Harrelson struck out and Ken Singleton walked. Donn Clendenon batted for Mike Jorgensen and also walked to fill the bases. With the count on Cleon Jones 1-1, Agee stole home to win the game.

The crowd numbered around 54,000 this night. I remember Agee's game-winning SB and then crossing paths with announcer Bob Murphy as we headed toward the parking lots. Years later I was supposed to interview Murph at the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fall, but he was too sick to travel to North Carolina. He left us shortly afterward.

To date, this is the only walk-off steal of home plate by a Met.

I think I still have the photo I cut out of the New York Times taken just after Tommie stole home. It shows home plate umpire Shag Crawford falling onto Dodger catcher Tom Haller while giving the "safe" sign. Tommie has just evaded the tag and is getting up with satisfied look on his face.

Other than being a run-of-the-mill regular season game won by the Mets 6-4, two interesting events occurred. Dave Marshall basically won the game in bottom of 7th with a pinch-hit 3-run home run to put Mets ahead to stay. But far more interesting was the great cover photograph of the 1971 Mets Yearbook of Manny Mota sliding into Jerry Grote...this occurred in this game during an action-packed Dodger 6th inning...Mota was attempting an inside-the-park homer on an RBI triple to right when Swoboda hit Garrett (playing 2B that day) on cut-off, who threw home to nail Mota at the plate.

Two interesting events occured in this game. First, in the top of the 6th Inning, the Dodgers had a busy offensive inning, highlighted by a great play at the plate. After Grabarkewitz led off with a double, Manny Mota had an RBI triple to right and attempted an inside-the-park homer...Wayne Garrett (playing 2B that day) made a relay to Grote the plate and nailed Mota. A photographer captured this play at the plate, and the photo became the shot we all know that is the cover of the 1971 Mets yearbook. That cover occurred in this game. The second event of interest is Dave Marshall-- who hit for Frisella in the 7th-- hitting a pinch- hit 3-run homer which put the Mets ahead to stay.

Take a look at the box score. Wayne Garrett hit two home runs but was still pinch hit for. He wasn't taken out because of injury etc. It was a pure lefty righty switch! Two home runs and still pinch hit for! So much for being on a roll!

This was my first ever major league game. It featured a matchup of two future hall of fame pitchers, Don Sutton for the Dodgers and Tom Seaver for the Mets. A Met loss

Former Yankee and New Jersey native Al Downing goes the distance, shutting out the Mets and tallying a season-high 8 strikeouts. It's the Mets 5th loss in their last 6 games, dropping them to 3.5 games in back of 1st, the farthest out they've been so far in 1971.

Not like the Dodgers did much on offense, either. Maury Wills delivered a 2-out, 2-run single in the 5th to account for all their runs. Nolan Ryan and Danny Frisella combined for 12 strikeouts, which tied the most a team tallied vs. L.A. during the season.

The only positive I took away from this game was that I listened to the Dodgers radio broadcast, featuring the immortal Vin Scully. There simply weren't any better at calling the game.

I went to this game with my friend David from Midwood High School as a pre graduation day treat (we had morning schedules our senior year so we got out of school before noon time). Anyway the Mets Mike Jorgenson hits two home runs off of LA pitcher Bill Singer. I also remember that future Mets manager Bobby Valentine was playing 3rd base that day for the Dodgers and there were a lot of his fans and friends from Connecticut who were cheering him on that afternoon.

One minor correction to Joel's post from August of 2003: Mike Jorgensen did hit two homers in this game, but only one came off Bill Singer. His second home run came in the bottom of the eighth off reliever Jose Pena.

Jerry Koosman made a rare relief appearance in this game, pitching 1.1 innings in relief of Charlie Williams.

My dad took me to my first game. We sat in RF - box seats. Took the subway from Manhattan. Seem to remember I skipped school that day! Jorgensen hit two - both deep drives to rf. Thought I remembered a Dodger (Mota or Wills) stealing home -or caught stealing home. Box score doesn't show it though.

I attended this game (the first of a Saturday afternoon twinbill) as an 11-year-old, and I remember the Mets scoring 6 first-inning runs off Claude Osteen (a pretty fair lefty) and Richie (not yet known as Dick) Allen playing 3B for the Dodgers IN A BATTING HELMET!!!

I am incredibly lucky enough to have just picked up an almost mint copy of the program from this game. It is scored through all nine innings so I have all of the player names and what they did PLUS...it is signed by Sandy Koufax on the front!!

Returning to this page to reminisce about the last time the Mets swept a twinbill from the Dodgers until tonight - April 27, 2010...I was 11 then and 49 now!

My dad took me to this, my first major league game (I was 7), and it turned out to be a doubleheader due to a rain out the night before. Some great names involved that day: Gil Hodges as manager, Seaver starting for the Mets. Walter Alston as manager, and Maury Wills, Willie Davis, Richie Allen, and 48-year-old Hoyt Wilhelm in relief for the Dodgers, who also had youngsters like Bill Buckner, Steve Garvey and Bobby Valentine. I remember Cleon Jones won the nightcap with a walk-off homer before they were known as walk-offs.

My first ever Mets game(s). I was 7. I believe this double-header day was due to a rainout on Friday, so I couldn't have been luckier than to see 2 games, both Mets wins, Seaver in a blowout, and a 2nd game walk-off (did we call them walk-offs back then?). My first memory of Shea is coming out of the concourse tunnel and seeing green green grass everywhere, and colored seats. Picture is forever in my mind. We sat 3rd base side, looking out towards Cleon Jones. Dudes screaming "Hot Dawgs" all over the place, slapping mustard on them right at your seats. Those were the days.

This was the first game I ever went to. Bright sunny day, sat right behind Dodger dugout, and don't remember any detail other than the starting playyers I entered onto the scorecard that I still have. OF was Hahn, Jones, and Singleton. Garrett, Harrelson, and Aspromonte started in the infield, Sadecki pitched, and I think that Kranepool and Grote also started. Bill Singer pitched for the Dodgers. This was the only game that I never saved the ticket stub. Although I don't remember, I'm sure I saw Nolan Ryan and Gil Hodges, and Dick Allen as a Dodger.

Based on the boxscore provided, I correct my memory above that Aspromonte was the Mets 2B...it was Boswell. And it appears that this was a very interesting game, as Allen and Singleton homered, a young Steve Garvey was at 3B, Bobby Valentine was at SS, and the game was won in the bottom of the 9th on a pinch-single by Tommie Agee!

This game was historic, at least from the perspective of the Dodgers, because it was the day that Bill Russell unequivocally became their regular shortstop.

I went to this game with my father and two sisters. We sat in the upper deck behind the Mets' dugout. It was the first game of a day- night doubleheader against the Dodgers. The Mets won, 2-1, as Tom Seaver got his 100th career victory and Ed Kranepool hit a home run. There was also a rumor going around Shea Stadium that the Mets had just acquired Willie Mays, which turned out to be true.

Dad bought souvenirs for all three of us. He got a Mets' Yearbook for me and, for my sisters, a pen and pencil set and a Mr. Met rag doll. The total cost of all of these items was $4.25!

We all went home happy that day with our souvenirs and memories of a Mets win on a sunny Thursday afternoon at Shea.

As Hank M mentioned in his entry on this game, this was Tom Seaver's 100th career win which came on the same day as the trade for Willie Mays. The news headlines covered Willie's return to New York much more than they did Tom's milestone. It was probably the only time Seaver was ever overshadowed as a Met.

This game was the latter half of a day-night doubleheader that concluded a very eventful day in Mets history. It started with the acquisition of Willie Mays, after which came Tom Seaver's 100th career win. Also, this nightcap was the last Mets loss before a team-record tying 11-game winning streak.

There was one item worthy of note from this game. Jim Beauchamp, who had worn uniform #24 over the first month of the season, donned #5 for the first time. Jim (understandably) had to change his number with Mays about to join the team.

One more event that occurred on this night was the Rangers losing the last game of the Stanley Cup Finals to the Boston Bruins. It was truly a day of highs and lows in New York sports.

I have a video of about 4 innings of this game. Players in the line-up that day included Mays, Fregosi, Beachamp (replaced at 1B by Kranepool), Dyer, Martinez, Garrett, Harrelson, Milner. Starting OF of Staub, Agee, and Jones were all injured. In Dodgers line-up was Buckner, Lacy, Parker, Wills, Lefebre, Sims, Davis, and Frank Robinson! Pretty uneventful game..but there was a great play at the plate, where Seaver attempted a suicide squeeze off Osteen with Dyer on third after Dyer had doubled off the wall in the gap in right. He was called out after the replay clearly showed safe, and Berra and Dyer argued the call. Fregosi looked terrible at plate.

There is footage of this game on good old You Tube courtesy of KTTV 11 Los Angeles. Here's some irony for you: Part of the footage has Seaver pitching to a young Dodgers phenom by the name of.....Bill Buckner. Who would of thought that 14 years later that Buckner and Seaver would be teammates on the Red Sox. You can seriously do comparisons between the 1969 and 1986 World Series just like Abe Lincoln-John Kennedy and even John Belushi-Chris Farley.

The first game of a west coast road trip finds the Mets and Dodgers playing 19 innings at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers are up 3-1 after three innings, then they don't score for the next 16 innings. The two teams combine for 41 hits, and 37 of them are singles. Willie Davis has six singles for the Dodgers, and Rusty Staub has five hits--four singles and a double--for the Mets.

Tug McGraw pitched five innings of shutout relief for the Mets and he was followed by George Stone who pitched six more. Dodgers LHP Doug Rau gave up four hits and a walk in the top of the 19th and Jim McAndrew pitched the bottom of the 19th for his only save of the 1973 season.

The longest game in Dodger Stadium history took place on May 24, 1973 when the Mets outlasted the Dodgers by a 7-3 score in 19 innings. The Mets four run 19th was keyed by RBI doubles off the bats of Rusty Staub (who had five hits on the game) and Ed Kranepool. Willie Davis had six hits, all singles, for the Dodgers.

I was living in Brooklyn at the time, still at home. I remember struggling to stay awake while listening to the radio play by play.

As a follow-up to my post on this game in February of 2004, the Dodgers actually set a major league record by "banging out" 19 singles without an extra base hit.

The Dodgers went on to break their own record 15 years later when they had 22 singles without an extra base hit in a 1988 game against the Reds.

I have a portion of this on CD. Willie Davis got like 6 hits to raise his average 150 points or some such. I have the Mets explosion and you hear crickets and the Mets bench clapping that it was thankfully over lol.

This is weird, but I was 10-years-old when this game was played and this is the game which made me a Dodger fan for life. I started following baseball in 1971 and was a big Mets fan (I lived on Long Island). So, the week of this particular game, me and my family were visiting my grandparents in Flushing, Queens. The game was on T.V. but late at night, so I fell asleep before it was over. When I asked my Dad the next morning who won, he told me the Dodgers did. I asked him how and he said, and I remember this like it was yesterday...."Willie Crawford hit a grand slam home run." Since the game was in L.A., I figured Willie Crawford would be a god having done such as a great thing in front of the home town fans, and I figured he was a god for just hitting a grand slam and beating the Mets. From then on, I was fixated with the Dodgers, and I'm a fan to this day...All because of one grand slam in a game I fell asleep to.

I was 11 years old when I went to this game. My Dad belonged to The Knights of Columbus, and the group planned a trip out to big Shea via bus. I was thrilled to go! It was my 2nd Mets game. We sat down the 1st base line in the loge reserve section. Other then the sheer thrill of seeing the Mets in person at Shea, the only other thing I can recall was being sad that the Mets lost.

After the old timer's game at Shea, Willie Mays puts on his own show with a homer and circus catch and the Mets top the Dodgers, 4–2. Willie, older than a half dozen of the old Mets, hits #655 of his career. Rusty Staub drives in two runs to back Jon Matlack. In the old timers game, the Brooklyn Dodgers/Yankees lose to the Mets, 1– 0, in two innings.

I had turned 12 a couple weeks earlier and these tickets were a Birthday gift. We arrived very early to the game and watched the Old-timers arrive. Spotted DiMaggio, and walked up to Willie Mays' pink Cadillac, "Say Hey" on the plates and phone in the car, touched the door handle knowing this was as close as I would ever get. The Mets were in their early 70's heyday and the Old-timers crowd was charged. Roy Campanella wheeled to home plate, Mantle, DiMaggio etc, very emotional. Then to top it all off Willie Mays hits #655 and the crowd went berserk. An old-timer on old-timers day, Willie was long past his prime but we were urging him on like no one would believe. Today, at 44, it remains one of my all time emotional baseball memories. I saw the Great Mays hit one out!

An interesting rundown play occurred in the 7th inning of this game. The Dodgers' Dave Lopes got caught between first and second on a pick off attempt. After a few throws, Rusty Staub, seeing that no one was covering second, ran in from right field to cover the base. Rusty tagged Lopes out, then threw home to Duffy Dyer to nail Tom Paciorek at the plate.

It was a double play in which five or six Mets' players touched the ball. It also served a the game's most crucial play as it protected the lead for good. The alertness of "Le Grande Orange" made it happen.

The Mets retired Gil Hodges' number at this Old Timer's day.

Willie Mays gave new meaning to Old Timers Day here. After players from the past were recognized in pre-game ceremonies, the 42-year-old Mays seemed to extend the festivities with a great catch in center field and a home run that put the Mets ahead to stay. The game's biggest moment, however, came later with a double play that featured a crazy rundown on which the batter never hit the ball. With Bill Buckner (yes, the same guy of '86 infamy) at the plate, Jon Matlack made a pickoff throw that got Dave Lopes caught off first base. A few more throws were made involving three Mets infielders, but it was Rusty Staub who tagged Lopes out at second after rushing in from right field. Staub then threw to Duffy Dyer for an out at home on Tom Paciorek. For those who were keeping a scorecard, their numbers for describing the play looked like this: 1-3-6-3-4-3-4-9-2. Not the usual way to turn a DP, but it played a key part in a Mets win.

I went to this game with my church group from NJ. The bus ride over to the stadium was fun. As they always are---when you're 15. It was another beautiful sunny, breezy Sunday afternoon at Shea with the usual mix of popcorn, beer, cigar smoke and hotdog odors wafting in the air. We sat in the loge. Koos had his stuff. Only problem was that Claude Osteen was better. Mets scattered 3 measly hits and I think I remember speedy Teddy Martinez reaching 1st on a very close play. Masterful pitching job by Osteen. You knew the Mets wouldn't win this one. Everyone wanted to leave the park early to "beat the crowd" I wanted to stay but in the end I had to abdicate to adult authority and we all kind of watched the Dodgers put together two more insurance runs in the 9th as we made our way down the escalators and out of the stadium. At least the bus ride back to Jersey was fun. We sang "99 bottles of beer on the wall". I don't think the church fathers cared for that.

Not to be the fact police but...

Teddy Martinez led off the ninth with a double to right field for his only hit of the game. The other two Met hits reached the outfield too: Felix Millan singled to center in the 4th, and Jim Fregosi singled to left in the 7th.

Martinez did ground out twice in the game, so maybe your memory had him being safe on a close play, but it looks like he was out!

I attended this game as a 13-year-old. I believe the Mets were in last place at the time, and as we approached the entrance to Shea, my brother saying, "it sure looks like the Mets aren't going anywhere this year."

This game served as somewhat of a preview for the Mets' amazing comeback to the division championship. Ray Sadecki and Don Sutton each gave up a run on four hits through eight innings and the Dodgers were retired in order by Sadecki in the top of the ninth. With two outs in the bottom half, John Milner singled off Sutton to score Wayne Garrett with the winning run. It was an exciting victory that would be repeated in a similar fashion one night later.

I saw this game with my dad - Mets got one or two in the ninth to win!!! (Can't remember exact details, but I think Felix knocked over the catcher to score the winning run.)

Note the winning pitcher - Tug McGraw, who came into the game 0 - 6 on the year. This was the night that turned him around in '73. He was awesome after this...went from 0 - 6 to 4 - 6 in 1.5 months.

I was at this game too. The Mets scored twice in the 9th. Staub got the winning hit. Andy Messersmith started for the Dodgers. He dropped a 2 out pop-up behind the mound with the bases loaded to let in the first 2 Mets runs (5th or 6th inning I think). Then they won it in the 9th, and McGraw was saying "You gotta believe!"

Hey Kevin - yeah, Andy M. dropping the pop-up. I can still see it. He was on the mound, I think. Not on the grass. My Dad reminded me that a pop-up is never a pitcher's ball cause he doesn't have the angle on it. I think of that play every time I see a pitcher field a pop-up or get called off by an infielder.

Actually, John Milner got the game-winning hit. McGraw batted for himself with the Mets down a run in the 9th, bunting the tying run to second base. Garrett grounded out to first, moving the runner to third. With two outs, Felix Millan tied it with a clutch single. Staub then singled and LA pitcher Jim Brewer was taken out with lefty Pete Richert coming in. On the very first pitch, Milner singled to center, with Millan knocking over Steve Yeager with the winning run.

I remember this game very well. I was 10 years old and we had box seats behind first. I remember the dropped pop by Messersmith and Milner's game-winning hit to right field between first and second. It was kind of a turnaround game--I think Mets moved out of last place that night.

On this, the 40th anniversary of this thrilling game, I'm thinking of my Dad, who took me.

He died in 2004 and he has a Mets hat in his casket.

Also, thinking of Tug McGraw, who turned it around on this night, and John Milner, who got the base hit to win it.

Great memories... the type Fred and Jeff seem powerless to provide.

This game was a case of lightning striking twice. After winning on a walk-off single by John Milner the previous night, the Mets beat the Dodgers the same way here. Behind by a run in the ninth inning, Cleon Jones led off with a pinch-hit single and moved to second base on Tug McGraw's sacrifice bunt. Jones went to third on a fly ball and scored on Felix Millan's single. Rusty Staub singled and Milner followed with a single to drive home Millan for a Met victory. It was a fantastic finish in which The Hammer delivered a game-winning hit in the bottom of the ninth for the second night in a row.

Tom Seaver pitched twelve innings in this game, allowing just three hits. The first Dodger hit was a fifth inning leadoff home run by Steve Garvey. Tom also allowed singles in the eighth and twelfth innings. He walked two and struck out sixteen. Wow.

Wayne Garrett's home run off Andy Messersmith (who pitched a pretty good game himself) tied it at 1-1 in the eighth, and it stayed tied until a bases loaded single by Garvey off Harry Parker in the bottom of the fourteenth.

I was at this game. This was the only time I saw Cleon Jones, my all-time favorite Met, hit a home run in person.

The Mets just came up short this night.

It was the first big league game I had ever been to. I went with my cap league team (ages 8-9) with all the other players. Rusty Staub hit a home run, and we all cheered like crazy. We were too young to be cool, so we wore it on our sleeves that day. I was able to find out the date of that game by visiting Rusty Staub's restaraunt in NYC some 25 years later. It's nice to be able to put something like the date and box score next to a lifelong memory.

This game occurred on Father's Day 1974. Seaver left the game after walking pitcher Andy Messersmith with the bases loaded. I wonder how few times Tom ever walked the pitcher with the bases full? I was sitting up in the right field mezzanine with my Dad, and Tom argued the ball four call with home plate ump so vociferously that we thought Tom had been ejected. It doesn't show up as an ejection in retrosheet, so apparently Yogi just removed him from the game. This was Tom's first frustrating year as a pro, with his being hindered by a sciatic injury over much of the season.

This was the only complete game of Harry Parker's career, a nine-hitter won by the Mets, 3-1. John Milner had a solo home run.

Andy Messersmith was the losing pitcher, only his third loss of the year on the way to a 20-6 record.

For more details on the game, please see my comments under Harry Parker.

I remember this game because it was my first Met game in Shea. I also remember The Hammer's homer was a very long one off the scorboard.

I remember the crowd roaring after Milner's homer hit halfway up the scoreboard. Parker pitched an excellent game that night...

Only 8 at the time. My third trip to Shea. The first trip with a happy recap as the Mets came back against Mike Marshall. Watching Marshall in the World Series that year, I thought if Mets can beat him, they can't be that bad. Experience has tempered that early optimism.

I remember that my Grandfather was on vacation and took me to this weekday afternoon game. Sat in the mezzanine, third base side.

I have always remembered the Mets coming back against Marshall in this one. But not until looking at the box score here was I reminded that Marshall was being asked to complete his 4th inning of relief. This from a man who would appear in 106 regular season games as well as the post season.

As I recall Rusty Staub lined the game winning hit over the drawn in outfield. I also had a memory of Davey Lopes stealing 2nd and coming up from his head first slide choking from the dirt, but looks like he was thrown out on the play.

And how about that noted speedster Bill Buckner with 2 stolen bases giving him 26 on the way to a career high 31. Who could have predicted what fate had in store for him on this very field?

This was my first game at Shea Stadium, in fact the first time I had seen a game in person, at the age of thirteen. I went with my aunt, uncle and cousins, who were also all Mets fans. The trip seemed too long at the time (4 hours). Today, the trip seems so much shorter. No one ever forgets the feeling of walking up tunnel from under the stands and seeing the green playing field for the first time. I've been to many games since then, and the feeling is still the same. My most vivid memory of this game is of Rusty Staub getting the game winning hit in the bottom of the 9th. He was my first favorite Met and will always be a favorite.

The first game I ever went to with my Dad! I remember taking the bus from the S.I. Ferry terminal and the bus driver did not know the way to Shea! What stands out for me the most though was that Tug pitched two scoreless innings and got the win in this game! It was a shame that he was gone at the end of the season! It was the first and only time I got to see Tug pitch! I had forgotten that Tom Seaver had started this game. Still, it was a great day at Shea all the same!

Philip J Fry was born right after the Mets won this game. His mom was listening to it on the radio during labor.

Hard to believe it is 50 years ago today that my vacationing grandfather took me to this weekday afternoon game.(Or that I first commented on this game 19 years ago.) I also realize I am older today than my grandfather was on this day. Thanks Pop Pops!

This wasn't your typical Seaver win. He was on the verge of losing it in the ninth inning, when the offense bailed him out against Andy Messersmith, a good pitcher. Wayne Garrett had been hobbled by ankle problems and came up to pinch hit with two on and hit a ball that hit the top of the fence and bounced over for a game-winning homer in the bottom of the ninth. I was sad when Garrett was traded in 1976, but at least I had this fond memory of him from that day, watching on TV in my living room in Roselle Park.

On a less positive note, my dad also got mad at me that day and ripped up some of my Mets baseball cards. I taped them together and still have most of them, including a Garrett card which was ripped in half, almost right down the middle.

I was at this game. I remember seeing Wayne Garrett and Bob Gallagher around the bat rack. I'm glad they chose Garrett.

I was at this game also! 10 years old. Garrett was my fave Met for a few weeks after that.

I was at this game, sitting in a loge reserved seat just to the first-base side of the catcher. That's prime territory for foul balls from right-handed batters, and Dave Lopes hit one and Jimmy Wynn hit two that came near us. My neighbor almost caught one, but it hit the railing in the front of our section and bounced to the loge box seats.

I was surprised when the Dodgers brought in Andy Messersmith in relief because he was usually a starter.

After the game, when we were walking to the car, we passed the area where the players park. I could recognize the cars of Ed Kranepool and Mike Phillips by their vanity plates. Unfortunately, I can't remember what kind of cars they were.

If you look at the boxscore for this game it will appear that Ken Sanders came into the game to pitch in the top of the eighth but did not face a batter. That is exactly what happened--Sanders was warming up and was hit in the eye by a throw and had to leave the game. Skip Lockwood came in to pitch the last two innings.

This was the first game I ever attended. I was six, and have been a Mets fan ever since. (And I miss Shea Stadium.)

I believe this is the game that Mike Vail legged out an infield hit with two out and no one on in the first to start a six run rally. I always remember this when the Mets are in need of a big rally when there are two outs and no one on.

I was not quite 10 years old and couldn't stay up late for this West coast game that started at 10 or 10:30 pm. But I rememberthe back of the NY Daily News, something like, "KONG blasts 3 Hrs, with 8 RBIs!" At the time, I never heard of such a game for one player.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has heard Tom Lasorda's post game interview from this typical Kong performance. It's hilarious!!! You can find it in a KAZAA search under the name of Lasorda and Kingman. The reporter starts off by asking Tommy "so what did you think of Kingmans performance tonight?" Lasorda's response is a classic baseball moment. He uses every f word in the book to portray his anger, great listening.

The crowd at Dodger Stadium on June 4, 1976 saw perhaps the most awesome power display ever at that facility, fortunately the star performer wasn't a member of the Dodgers. New York's Dave Kingman crushed three homers and drove in eight runs to spark an 11-0 Mets win. Kingman hit a two run homer off of Los Angeles' Burt Hooton in the fourth, hit a three run homer off of Hooton in the fifth and slugged another three run homer in the seventh (off of Al Downing).

Kingman's blasts accounted for 8 runs and provided Tom Seaver with plenty of support. It was a Friday night game and we were living on Staten Island partying with friends while watching the game on WOR.

You can hear Tommy Lasorda's now-famous or infamous tirade on a new 4-CD/book called the Great American Baseball Collection which I purchased from QVC. Jay Johnstone was selling it on that channel; I called up, bought it and got it in a few days. Also, I tend to recall that the day before vs the Cubs, Dave struckout in the 9th with the bases loaded and after the game; he proceeded to smash everything in his locker.

This was one of those late night west coast games. I stayed up just long enough to see Kingman's first homer. After finding out that he hit two more, I regretted going to bed.

The Tom Lasorda tirade noted in the above entries did not occur after this game. At this time, Lasorda was not yet the Dodger manager (and probably not handling post-game press conferences.) Walter Alston was still there with Tommy as his third base coach. He took over as manager in September that year.

His outburst over the "Kingman's Performance" question actually came on May 14, 1978. On that date, Kingman hit three home runs for the Cubs against the Dodgers. The CD "Baseball's Greatest Hits" lists an incorrect date for when this happened.

I went to bed with my little blue transistor radio under my pillow. I remember Kingman's first home run and then fell asleep. In the morning, I bought the paper and saw he had hit 3 homers that night! Not sure if it was the Daily News or NY Post, but the headline on back of paper read something like "King Kong invades LA"

I loved those days, I was 12. Pretty sure it was a Friday night and that we visited our cousins in Patterson NJ the next day.

15 years old with dad. Mobil Oil box seats. Seats behind visitors dugout 3-4 rows up closer to home plate. Buckner strikes top 8 1-1 game throws his bat in our direction and screams an obscenity. I laughed. My dad tells me that a pro doesn’t react like that and he will get his just reward. 10 years and couple months later!!!

Went with my dad and his NYPD friends and remember Seaver pitching his heart out again with no support. He actually only needed 6 wins for 20 and would've done it except for lack of runs. Kingman hit a foul ball just to the left of the foul pole early in the game and it probably would've landed past Agee's historic shot if it had stayed fair. While we were all buzzing, he feebly struck out on the next pitch.

Kingman's home run in this game went an estimated 515 feet. One of the last great memories of this horrible season.

My 3rd major league game! It was a beautiful spring Saturday for my Dad to take me to the big ballpark. Koosman was honored in a ceremony before the game for his pitching performance in 1976. I think it was for 20 wins. I remember HRs by Reggie Smith and Rick Monday. There was a picture in the NY Sunday Times the next day of Koosman getting the award and I could see my face and my Dad's sitting in the Loge.

My first MLB game (and first professional sporting event). I was a month shy of my 7th birthday. Gorgeous spring day. We sat in box seats between 3rd base and LF foul pole. I was a Yankees fan (my dad was Mets fan). No hope of going to see a Yankees game because my dad didn't want to take his wife and two little kids to the Bronx!!

Reggie Smith homered to RF in the 1st and the ball barely cleared the wall. I remember my dad griping that if Dave Kingman were playing RF (instead of Mike Vail), he would have robbed Smith of the homer (his rationale being that Kingman was much taller than Vail). Kingman started the game at 1st base.

I also recall that we were sitting near some teenage girls who loved Lee Mazzilli and each time he came to the plate, one of them would encourage him to shake his rear while waiting for the pitch.

I also recall buying a $1 Mets Yearbook with Jerry Koosman on the cover (he'd won 20 games the previous year). I still have the yearbook.

This was a "spur of the moment" game for me. I was coming back from college in West Virginia at 2:00 and the Met game was just beginning. At that moment I saw the exit for the Whitestone Bridge and I decided to go to the game. I got there in the second and saw a great pitcher's duel between Seaver and Andy Messersmidt (sp?). Unfortunately the mood around Shea in 1977 had gotten ugly and the fans were all over Seaver, the Mets, and Mets management. I got so disgusted I left in the 7th inning. The game went extra innings and I heard the game all the way home to New Haven and saw the end of the game on TV. The other memory I have of that game is watching Del Unser play a great centerfield.

It's not my intention to be the "fact police," but a couple of corrections to an earlier post on this game:

It was a great pitcher's duel, but Tom Seaver and Burt Hooton were the starters in the game. They combined for 17 innings pitched, 2 runs, 16 hits, and 13 strikeouts. Andy Messersmith was with the Braves in 1977.

Also, the Mets starting outfield that day was Bruce Boisclair, Lee Mazzilli, and Dave Kingman. Mike Vail entered the game in the 11th inning. Del Unser was with the Expos in 1977.

The Mets lost the game on a two-out infield single by John Hale off Bob Apodaca in the top of the 12th. In the bottom of the inning, the Mets had runners at second and third with nobody out but Jerry Grote (he played third base in this game), and pinch-hitters Ron Hodges and Felix Millan could not deliver.

Good catch Bob.Unser was traded the summer before along with Wayne Garrett to the Expos for Jim Dwyer and Pepe Mangual, a centerfielder with enough speed to get to any ball, and then drop it. Unser would go on to be one of the best pinch hitters or the late 70's and early 80's with several clutch hits for the 1980 champion Phillies.

This game typified my wasted Mets childhood -- it was all downhill from '73 (other than Joe Frazier's first year as manager) until Darryl got drafted. Two outs, bottom of the ninth, a two- run lead and Davey Lopes lifts a flyball down the right field line into foul territory. Bruce Boisclair drops what would have been the third out. If memory serves, it was the next pitch that Lopes hit out for a game-winning three-run homer. It just wasn't suitable for viewing by an impressionable 13-year-old.

Sorry, but here is a memory from a 1970's Dodger fan :) This was my very first game I went to, and I'll never forget it!!

My first Met game and they won it for me. At least that's what I thought at the time. I think it was Mazzilli drilling a single past Steve Garvey that finally won it. I'm lucky they won it in the 14th, because my parents weren't going to wait around at Shea for many more innings. What a thrill.

This game was on Monday Night Baseball. I was just a kid so I never made past the 5th inning, and I had already given up. (rare for me in those days, I usually would "Never Say Die" until the last out. But I gave up and missed a great ending.

I was 9 years old and it was my second Mets game. The Mets were down by 6 by the middle of the game but inched up throughout the later innings. I can still see Tim Foli rounding third in the 9th inning on a throwing error to score the winning run. The crowd went crazy!

Joel Youngblood connected for his first major league home run in this game. It began the bottom of the fourth inning and tied the score at 2-2. Joel hit this homer in the 183rd game and 273rd at-bat of his career. One season later, Youngblood was the Mets' team leader in home runs with 16.

I actually have a tape of this game. No, not of the broadcast of the game... a tape of the GAME. I brought with me a small cassette tape recorder with me to Shea this day, and turned it on as I sat in the stands with my dad. (For some reason, I thought this might be illegal, so I kept it hidden in a paper bag.) Although the quality is not that great, you can clearly hear Jane Jarvis playing "Meet the Mets" and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." The tape lasts for a couple of innings.

(Speaking of Jane Jarvis, whatever happened to organs at ballparks? Next to seeing this incredibly beautiful expanse of bright greens and browns in front of me when I entered Shea, hearing the organ fill the park was the greatest thrill. Now all they do is play recordings of dopey rock tunes at bust-yer-eardrums decibels.)

This day was also "Happy Days Day" and you can hear Bob Murphy introduce the cast down at homeplate. They played a few innings of softball against the Mets' wives. It was also "Roy Campanella Day" that day, where they honored Campy and he spoke a few words. I got it all on tape!

In addition to hearing the PA announcer announcing all of the Mets and Dodgers names for each at bat, you can also hear the vendors hawking their wares nearby. And evidently one guy was right nearby, because you hear him say "45 cents, please." Geez, talk about a piece of history--what can you get at a ballpark these days for 45 cents?

Anyway, as I recall, Lockwood was fantastic that day, but the Mets ended up blowing the lead in the ninth and lost. To make things worse, most of the Shea faithful cheered at the last out!

Apparently I was at this game too. I was eleven years old and I remember the Mets lost but I thought the margin of defeat was much greater. I seem to recall Vic Davalillo hitting a pinch- homer. True? I guess I'll find out when the box score is up.

Since I was eleven, and watched Happy Days religiously, it should come as no surprise that I remember more about the Happy Days vs. Mets Wives softball game the actual baseball game.

1. Henry Winkler pitched for Happy Days.

2. Happy Days won 10-0.

3. Someone from Happy Days hit a pop-up on the infield and Sharon Zachry made the catch. Pat Zachry, who was umpiring, "fainted" in shock.

My mom has told me this was the first Mets game I ever went to. I don't remember much of it, (I was 4) but whatever I saw made me a fan for life. I joke that my loyalty began in utero as my mom was pregnant with me during the 73 season as I was born the day after their last home game. Undoubtedly, I watched their upsetting loss to the A's, but I learned loyalty and how to root for the underdog. Now only if I could get a copy of Jim's tape.

In this game, Lee Mazzilli became the first Met switch-hitter to hit homers from both sides of the plate in the same game.

There was nothing memorable about this game, except that it was televised in an uncommon way for its time. The game was covered nationally by NBC and was shown on the New York NBC affiliate, Channel 4.

Back then, a game on national TV was not aired on the national station in the market of the teams playing. Local coverage was provided by the stations that usually carried the teams' games. Normally, WOR-TV Channel 9 would have carried this game for the New York audience and NBC for the rest of the country.

But on this day, Channel 9 showed a hockey playoff game between the Islanders and Rangers instead of the Mets. Therefore, the local blackout was lifted and the game was shown on Channel 4 for New Yorkers.

Watching your team via a national, and not local, broadcast was rare at this time. With this game, an exception was made.

The game stats for this game, I think, are wrong. I remember this game because I was there. I was a big Dodger fan and my parents took me to see this night game on the way back to Florida after visiting my aunt and uncle on Long Island. We sat about ten rows up from the top of the left field fenc, about two aisles to the foul side of the foul pole. Home plate was a galaxy away, but I didn''t care. Anyway, what I remember is my boyhood idol, Steve Garvey, making it a game I would never forget when he stroked a late-inning laser beam over the left field wall with two on. The ball was out of the park in less than four seconds, and Garvey hadn't reached first base. Thanks, Steve.

Oh, about the wrong stat. You don't credit Dodger right-fielder Gary Thomasson with an error for dropping a simple, short fly ball. I know he did because I saw it, and I remember thinking that was typical for the Dodgers that evening. No way the scorekeeper would have awarded the batter a hit on the play. I think Thomasson was too focused on getting the runner tagging from third.

Wow! 8 runs in the 1st inning! The next time the Mets would score 8 runs in the 1st inning at home would be 40 years later against the lowly Marlins

I believe there was a bench clearing brawl in this game. Zachry drilled Ron Cey and Cey waddled out to the mound and off they went...

I was visiting my mother in Connecticut when I got a job teaching summer school back in my district in Northern Virginia. I was planning to see the Mets on my visit and my sudden wave of good fortune did not send me immediately back to Virgina. I had to see the Mets first. It was a great pitcher's duel and was deadlocked at 2 after 9. In the 10th Mike Jorgenson hit a grand slam homer to win the game 6 to 2. My adrenline was pumping so hard through me that it kept me awake for the next three hours on my way home to Virginia. I got home at 6:00 AM, took a shower and taught my first day of summer school. It was worth it.

I was 11 years old and my Grandfather got tickets first row behind the Mets dugout. When Jorgensen hit that Grand Slam in the 10th to win it, me and my brother were jumping up and down on top of the dugout like they just won the World Series. I went to a lot of games at Shea in the early 80's and I have forgotten most of them, but that moment I will never forget.

Jorgensen's homer was a great moment in my LIFE! Hey, I caught the ball!! I brought it to Shea the next night to get his autograph on it. Pete Falcone was signing autographs and took it into the clubhouse for me, and brought it back, signed by Jorgensen. By some chance, if someone out there just happens to have a video tape of this home run, (they used it later in the season in commercials for Fireworks Night) please email me!

I was home from college and there with friends sitting along first. When Jorgy jacked it we were jumping around, I was hugging strangers. My friends gave me grief, but I didn't because the Mets won and it was a happy recap.

I remember this game well. I was just shy of 17 and being able to drive to games now with my cousin who just got his license. I remember sitting in the right field boxes, this was a great game pitched by Swan. I remember watching Jorgensen's home run sail over our heads, I believe into the loge boxes in right field above the auxiliary scoreboard. Nice catch to David. It was a real thrilling win, which didn’t happen often back then. I remember looking up at the scoreboard and there was only one other game played in a majors that day. A day game and it was between the Orioles and A's and ironically that game was also won by a walk off grand slam by Tony Armas in the 14th inning.

One of three or four Mets games I attended with my Dad, God rest his soul. The crowd went bananas - Dad & I were under the mezzanine, so we couldn't follow the mostly line-drive trajectory of Mike Jorgensen's walk-off grand slam, but we saw it land in the seats near the right field foul pole! So fantastic to hear Bob Murphy's call of this play on YouTube more than 40 years later! ("Ah, The Magic Is Back at Shea!" - followed by the Happy Recap.) This is probably THE moment when I embraced the Mets as my team for life. This is a terrific website - thanks for helping us relive these memories!

I believe it was before this game that the Mets took part in a filming for the TV show "Eight is Enough". Eight players (what other number should there have been) appeared in the episode of the show titled "And Baby Makes Nine."

The real star of the day, though, was someone who was not in the show. Claudell Washington, acquired earlier in the month, made team history. He became the first Mets' left-handed hitter, and third player, to hit three home runs in one game. This performance was more than enough for a win.

On a day when his new teammates went Hollywood, Claudell put on an act that was much more entertaining than a prime time drama.

Now this game I do remember. It was perhaps one of the most memorable games I have paid to see. Washington did hit the three home runs in his signature performance. I should have known that Dave "Gopher Ball" Goltz was pitching in that game. Myself and my friend were among a smattering of Met fans at the game, and the home crowd as usual left the stadium REAL QUICK!

This was the game the Dodgers held 'camera day' on the field before the game - the players would make the rounds from the 3rd base dugout to left field, center field and around to right, with fans allowed on the field to photograph them from up close. Great fun!

My Dad and I came to this game, it was our 3rd Dodger game and we hadn't seen them win one yet. This would not be the day! I remember Claudell Wasthington's dingers clearly - at least one of them went out down the right field line not far from where we sat.

Two previous entries for this day mention interesting things. Prior to the start of the game, fans took pictures of Dodger players in Camera Day activities while a taping for 'Eight Is Enough' was going on in the Mets bullpen. The ballpark scene in that episode of the TV series has the PA announcer saying that it's Camera Day at Dodger Stadium just before the focus is shifted to the Mets.

In the game itself, Claudell Washington was the one who grabbed center stage. He hit three home runs to lead the Mets to victory. If the Eight Is Enough crew had just decided to film actual game action for the show, Claudell would have become an instant celebrity!

This television appearance is a forgotten part of Mets history. It could have been either an idea of the show's producers or an attempt for publicity by the team's new ownership in its first year. However it came about, it was the Mets' one moment in the spotlight during a long, rough period between the 1973 World Series and the start of the Davey Johnson regime. The 'And Baby Makes Nine' episode of Eight Is Enough can be found online and should be considered Must-See TV for Mets fans.

This game was just posted on YouTube today; I'm listening to it now. The recording is the Dodgers' broadcast which means an enjoyable time listening to broadcasting legend Vin Scully.

So now I'm back in the summer of 1980 and Pacella just got the hook. Vin Scully counted every time Pacella's hat fell off. It fell off 23 times in an inning and two thirds. Homeboy needed a smaller hat.

Vin got really excited every time the hat fell off. It was cute.

The Mets had been flirting with .500 until mid- August when they fell apart. By September 1st, there was nothing to do but think about the future and they called up from Tidewater Wally Backman, Mookie Wilson, and Hubie Brooks who were their top draft choices of 1977 and 1978. The team was on the west coast and none of the three rookies got into the September 1st game, probably because of travel time. But Mookie and Wally started in this game on September 2nd and got three hits between them. All three of them got much playing time over the last month of the season.

Believe it or not I was at this game with a friend who had moved to LA. This was the first time in Dodger Stadium and it was strange rooting for the Mets as the home team challenged for a pennant. It also was the first time I had seen the Dodgers at home since I was a kid and my dad took to me to Ebbets Field. What struck me was the different setting the Dodgers now played in, compared to playing at Ebbets Field. Even though it was close most Dodger fans left in the 7th inning. I remeber seeing Mookie that night as well and I then followed them down the coast to San Diego.

Fernando Valenzuela's debut at shea. Mike Scott gives up a first inning run. My first met game since 1975. Double Play in 7th does in the Mets. first of many games to come. Sat in mezz section 8. Decent crowd to see fernando. Excellent pitching duel.

Fernando-mania hits Shea. Valenzuela matches up against Mike Scott. First inning: Mets load the bases with one out for clean-up hitter Dave Kingman. Would Kong homer? Would he strike out? Neither! He grounds into an inning ending, rally killing double play. The Mets never threaten again and Valenzuela beats Scott in a 1-0 pitchers duel.

Scott held his own with Valenzuela this night, but Fernando improved to 7-0. The Dodgers' run came in the top of the first and was unearned, thanks to an error, a balk, and an RBI single by Dusty Baker. Fernando pitched a complete game and struck out eleven but he gave up seven hits and five walks. The Mets left eight men on base in the first three innings. Scott went seven innings allowing the one unearned run along with four hits and a walk, and struck out six.

I went to this game as a young teenager with a bunch of friends. I remember the game well because of Fernandomania, and finally a real big crowd at Shea. The crowd was obviously there for Valenzuela, but it didn't matter to us. If I remember correctly, this was the waning days of the free Dairylea Milk 'grandstand' Mets tickets (and Fernandale Milk Yankee seats - not that I would collect anything for the hated Yanks). We used to get the 'nose-bleed' seats on the arm, and by the 3rd inning be seated in the lower level. There was no one ever there, but that night the place was packed. Even though our team lost, they fought hard against the eventual World Series champs.

I was out that night; when I got home I put the game on, but it was over and I saw Mike Scott on Kiners Korner, so I thought, "wow, the Mets beat the great Fernando!" Then I realized that they lost. Scott pitched great and was likely on the show because Fernando didn't speak English. Oh well.

My schoolmate Amadeo invited me to see what Fernandomania was all about. It was tense and exciting - I kept thinking, "Surely the Mets will score," but it was not to be. Amadeo's dad made us leave in the top of the 9th inning to beat the traffic (can you imagine!?!), and I just saw on YouTube the half inning I missed - 40 years later! So glad I have been a Mets fan for life, as is my eldest child - we love to talk before, during and after the game - he in the Lone Star State and me in the Hoosier State. This is a terrific and much-appreciated website. Thanks!

The Mets defeated the World Champion Dodgers in their first meeting of 1982.

Starters Charlie Puleo and Burt Hooton each gave up three runs in 6.1 innings of work. The Mets banged out seventeen hits--all singles--in this twelve inning game while holding the Dodgers to just seven hits. LA had just one hit after the eighth inning.

The Mets won it thanks to a two-run single by Hubie Brooks that came three batters after a SAC BUNT BY DAVE KINGMAN!! George Foster had led off the inning with a single off Terry Forster, and Kingman bunted him over. Joel Youngblood singled Foster to third and John Stearns was hit by a pitch. Steve Howe came in to replace Forster and gave up the single to Hubie, and the third Mets run of the inning came on an infield out by Ron Gardenhire. Ed Lynch retired all six batters he faced for his first win of the season.

By the way, Kingman was credited with 16 sacrifice bunts in his career...but I do recall Dave trying to drop one down from time to time to try to catch the defense napping. I'm sure several of those sac bunts were credited even though Dave was trying on his own to bunt for a hit.

These were free tickets from Fan Appreciation day in 1981, Mets Won, and I remember a fan ran on the field and John Sterns decked him

I have been trying to find out information about this game for years. It is the one when Hubie Brooks made three consecutive errors in one inning. I think this is the game. I remember because I saw this game on tv in California. My error could have been that the Mets lost the game, but apparently they did not. I forgot the Dodgers were pretty lousy themselves!

Alejandro Pena faced Dave Kingman in the 6th inning with the bases loaded. He balked in a run, then he walked Kingman intentionally. On the subway after the game, I overheard some dimwit who said (seriously), "You know, I think they balked on purpose so that they could walk Kingman intentionally."

I was at this crazy game. The Mets scored 9 runs in one inning while the Dodgers played more like little leaguers in the field with many errors.

Ciesaro, the three consecutive errors by Hubie Brooks came on May 10th of the previous year. Brooks made only one error in this game. Hubie also singled in his first three times at bat and scored a run.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Mets came up with nine runs with six singles and the help of three Dodger errors. Bob Bailor singled twice for three RBIs in the inning. Also in the game, winning pitcher Mike Scott drove home two runs with a single in the fourth and bases-loaded groundout in the sixth.

In other sports news of the day, the Islanders completed a four-game sweep of the Vancouver Canucks to win their third straight Stanley Cup Championship.

I was 15 years old at the time. My favorite Mets player was Dave Kingman; not because he was any good, but, as any Mets fan knows, when he stepped up to the plate and got lucky enough to make contact he could hit the ball farther than anyone else playing (the other times he would strike out, but there was an excitement every time he stepped into the box nevertheless....)

Anyway, in his first at bat, he cranked the longest HR I had ever seen up to that time -- a towering blast deep into the center field flag pole area at Dodger Stadium and the Mets had a 3- run first-inning lead. Later in the game I got another treat as Kong hit a 2nd one out --not as imposing as the first, but it was his 2nd of the night, so you never knew the remaining at bats if he would add to the tally.

Bottom line though was that the Mets stunk in 1982. In the end, Terry Leach couldn't nail the game down for the sub-par starter Brent Gaff, and the gasoline was poured on the fire in the form of Mets closer Neil Allen who proceeded to give the game away -- as the box score shows, the Mets gave up 4 in the 9th to lose 6-5.

I remember staying in the bleachers with my dad for a long time just disgusted by the display and staring into the Mets dugout with my pair of binoculars. Neil Allen was the last Met to leave -- he was flustered and teary-eyed. He should have been--I know I was...

Neil Allen had been converted into a starter because of his struggles as a closer, and had his curve & fastball working. I know because I sat in Section 1 of the Loge, right behind home plate.

A complete game shutout against a pretty good club - probably the best performance of his entire career.

Went to this game with my brother and his future wife. Lied about my age to get a WHITE Mets batting helmet as Seaver is rocked for 5 runs as Bob Welch (forever known for striking out Mr. October in the '78 World Series) gives up only 2 hits.

My wife made me a surprise 30th birthday party at the Diamond Club. Total surprise. The party lasted as long as the game was being played. Unfortunately, this was the shortest game the Mets ever played... I had to say hello and goodbye to my guests at the same time, and had to take the cake home.

Originally this was going to be Seaver vs Fernando Valenzuela, but the previous night's game was rained out so Bob Welch pitched for the Dodgers instead. Disappointing to say the least, because they had a HUGE crowd even with the gloomy, overcast day. Welch was lights-out, pitching a CG and allowing just two hits (Seaver had one of them!) and five walks with 9 Ks. The kind of pitching performance I'd be much more appreciative of today as an adult than the miffed 10-year-old kid I was that day. :)

George Bamberger's last game as Met manager. After this brutal 14-inning loss during a West Coast trip with the Mets holding the worst record in the National League, he gave up and retired. Frank Howard took over the rest of the year.

This was Frank Howard's first game as manager of the Mets. George Bamberger resigned earlier in the day. The Mets were 16-30 (.347) at this point, and under Howard they went 52-64 (.448) the rest of the way.

I was there that day!!!

Ditched visiting my family so my girlfriend at the time and I decided to go and it ended up being the Mookie Wilson Show.

Sat in the bleachers and had the perfect view of (1) Mookie going up and over the wall to rob Pedro Guerrero of a homer in the bottom of the first, (2) drive in Strawberry with a single, steal second base, take third on a bad throw from Steve Yeager and then score a run, all in the top of the eighth and (3) make a diving catch to rob Steve Yeager of a hit in the bottom of the ninth.

You sure one of these games wasn't actually part of a double-header vs. the Dodgers on May 22nd? I went to a double-header vs. L.A. in 1983 and the ticket stub I have says May 22nd.

Jesse Orosco finished an awesome month by saving this game and being named NL Pitcher Of the Month - the only Met reliever ever to get the award. In 12 games during August 1983, he picked up 5 wins and six saves, giving up only 1 earned run in 22.2 innings.

I remember watching this game and feeling like it was a passing of the torch from the last great young gun to the next one. Specifically, there were back to back at bats where the Dodgers loaded the bases with none out and then Gooden struck out the next two and got a (foul?) fly out from Terry Whitfield to escape the jam; then the Mets proceeded to do the same, but Valenzuela couldn't wriggle free. Anyone else recall these almost symmetrical situations?

An unbelievable ending -- perfect relay to nail a Dodger at the plate to end the game! I've been to plenty of Mets games and I don't remember any others that ended with an out at home. Any other out at home endings come to mind?

I was at that game with a close friend of mine. I can't think of any other games that ended with an out at home. What is the news on Pedro Guerrero by the way? Is he dead or alive?

This was the first Met game I attended in five years. I remember I had a friend of mine from high school who was a big Met fan, so he organized a bunch of us to join him at this game. I remember this game as being a really big deal at the time because this was the first game that we went to without any parents. My friend borrowed his mother's station wagon and we drove in from New Jersey. Also, another big thing was my friend had just turned 19, so he was legal to buy beer in New York state. I had a really good time at this game, we drank beer and cheered a young Dwight Gooden as he struck out 14 batters. I remember everbody in the crowd shaking their head saying "this kid is awesome." This was also the first time I remember anybody doing the "Wave".

It was early in '84. I used to go to Shea by myself because my friends were mostly non-sports fans. I was newly married at the time and told my wife that I was going to Shea to see the new kid pitch. She said, "Mind if I tag along?". We paid our $3.20 to sit in our own section in the Upper Deck GA and it was quite an exciting game.

The wife, who previously knew zilch about baseball enjoyed herself. On the way to the lot across Roosevelt Ave., she said that she'd go again with me to a game and asked when the next one was. I looked at her and said, "uh ... tomorrow?". We went and by the end of the '84 season, she was keeping score and yelling at Sid Fernandez "Throw strikes fat boy !!!". Then she asked for and got season tix in '85 and attended almost every home game until the strike in '94. On this night, a great part of my life began.

I remember this game well--14 Ks for Gooden and my first memory of being at a game with the wave (when it was new and still fun) and the crowd rising with every 2-strike count; my thoughts were, hey the Mets are finally good again! And then to top it all off the play at the plate to end it.

I remember this game well, as it ended with a play at the plate, Mookie Wilson, to Kelvin Chapman, who threw a perfect relay home to catcher Mike Fitzgerald, to nail Dave Anderson at the plate. Shea was literally rocking when the umpire made the out call at home! Gooden was fantastic with 14 strikeouts.

One thing I remember about this game was that Mike Scioscia hit a home run off Gooden. I recalled this home run right before he hit that much bigger one in the 1988 playoffs off Gooden, and it occured to me that he would hit the big one then.

I was at this game - Keith Hernandez hit a double in the bottom of the 9th off former Met Pat Zachry to score Heep with the winning run.

Sat 3 rows from the first base line. Won the tickets from the inside of a bottle cap. Once the Mets started being competitive, such offers stopped appearing.

Oh, and some guy about 10 feet from me caught a foul ball. What a lucky dog.

Gooden vs. Valenzuela. This was the only game I ever attended specifically because of the pitching matchup. Gooden didn't pitch badly, but Valenzuela was better.

Between the 1984 and 85 seasons, it always seemed that when the Mets played the Dodgers, there would be a Gooden vs Valenzuela matchup, as it happened multiple times in those seasons.

This was one of the few in which Doc didn't quite live up to his end of the bargain, though he didn't pitch badly on this day, an NBC game of the week.

A Monday night Game of the Week on ABC, Danny Heep homered for the 2nd day in a row but the bullpen couldn't hold a 9th inning lead and the Mets lost a tough one in extras. One of those losses that you look back on in a season that ended up coming down to just a game or two.

Possibly the greatest baseball game I have ever witnessed in person. Gooden vs. Valenzuela, round one. George Foster hit a HR for the Mets early on, but it was 1-1 into the bottom of the eighth. The Dodgers loaded the bases with nobody out, but Doc pitched out of it. In the ninth, the Mets loaded the bases with nobody out, and Fernando almost pitched out of it too. With one out, the Mets broke through, the Gooden himself sealed the deal with a 2-run single.

Gooden vs. Valenzuela, round 2. If the game in May was the greatest ever, this has to be number 2. Tom Paciorek made a miracle catch in right field to keep this one scoreless, and both pitchers dominated. Gooden pitched 9, Fernando went 11 -- and many people think he was never the same after that game. The Mets finally won it in the 13th when Darryl Strawberry poked a 2-run double down the left line.

I remember going to my brother's house to watch this game because my town hadn't gotten cable yet and this game was on Sportschannel. On top of that, I had a vicious stomach virus but I still sat on my brothers couch watching until nearly falling asleep. If I had leprosy, I woulda went there anyway: It was Doc vs Fernando.

Remember the comic strip "Motley's Crew" which was in the New York Daily News in the 1980's? It featured the antics of the beer drinking, blue collar working and sports fan Mike Motley, his family and his friends. Anyhow, the Saturday September 7th, 1985 edition foretold a Mets win from this game. It begins when the Old Man asks Mike what is in the news and Mike replies "Yesterday, the Mets beat the Dodgers, the Blue Jays beat the Twins and the Pirates beat the Astros." In the words of Phil Rizzulto's pal Meatloaf, 2 out of 3 ain't bad: They got the Mets and Blue Jays victory right but the Astros wound up winning in 10 innings over the Pirates. (Comic strips are drawn in advance.) I was a big fan of "Motley's Crew", I read it every day until it ended many years ago.

SportsChannel had this game, so a lot of New Yorkers didn't see it. But Tom Paciorek made one of the best catches of the year for the Mets to end the 8th inning and save the game. Diving with his back turned toward home plate to catch the line drive.

This was the infamous "brawl" game on the NBC Game of the Week. The day after a great Gooden- Valenzuala match up, Ed Lynch piched junkballs for six innings. Mariano Duncan (a rookie) didn't take kindly to Lynch and after failing to bunt for hits twice, struck out in the sixth. Word were exchanged and escalated into a bench clearing fight. Mets lost the game and Lynch was hurt and useless the rest of the season. Some fans said the Mets lost the 1985 pennant because of this game.

The Dodgers won this late night game on a squeeze play by Bill Russell, as he laid down a perfect bunt with the ball hugging the chalk, eventually settling right on the white line for the Dodgers win. One of the rare times that a break did not go the Mets way in 1986.

The one vivid memory I have of this game was the 6th inning, in which George Foster hit a laser over the left field fence for a home run. I believe Tom Niedenfuer gave it up to him. The next batter, I'll never forget, was Ray Knight, who was plunked by Niedenfuer, thus starting an impressive bench-clearing brawl. Was it possible that Foster showed up Niedenfuer in the previous at bat after his blast? I was never sure why it was started in the first place. Maybe someone else can give me the answer. All I know is that it was the last important hit by Foster as a Met. I had forgotten that Ron Darling had gone the distance in this game, as did the rest of the Met starters.

I think this was an NBC game of the week, Vin Scully doing the call.

Not sure about that, since I was 8, but I definitely remember the brawl. After Knight got plunked, he rushed Niedenfuer, gave him a quick punch, then Niedenfuer tackled him and Knight fell flat on his back. Ouch!

Possibly the first Met game I ever saw.

This was the very first Mets game I saw in person. I was 9 and I will never forget the smell of the grass and how green it was. The grand slam followed by the brawl was an amazing way to kick off the hundreds of games I have attended since. I'll never forget Ray Knight's bright red face in the middle of the melee, so bright red I was able to spot it from my mezzanine seat.

Correcting an earlier post, I did some research and this game was on Channel 9. This is the first game I clearly remember watching, only because of the brawl. I was a big WWF fan at the time, and watching Ray Knight run out there and fight Tom Niedenfuer was like watching the Junk Yard Dog take on Tito Santana. I remember being amazed by it, and thinking that it was better than wrestling because it was real.

One of four games I attended that year as a 17 year old, I was a huge Foster fan dating back to his time with Cincy and very happy for him after the grand slam. He was rarely cheered the way he was after that HR. The brawl stands out of course; I can still see Knight running out there from my vantage in the mezzanine behind home plate.

The first of 4 brawls that the Mets were famous for in 1986. Also one of Darling's best games in his Mets career. Amazingly, Ron also threw a complete game win against the Dodgers at Shea exactly one year before this game, on May 27, 1985. One of those weird baseball occurrences.

As a huge Dodger fan I went to this game against my better judgment. LA took an early lead with a Mike Marshall homer off of Sid Fernandez, however George Foster (who always hit LA well) hit a three run HR off of Valenzuela and that was it. I never went to another LA - Mets game since then as I bring bad luck to the Dodgers).

Joel, I was also at this game--but I wasn't rooting for the Dodgers!

It was actually a solo HR by Foster leading off the 2nd that gave the Mets an early 1-0 lead. The Dodgers tied it in the 4th, the Mets went ahead 3- 1 on hits by Knight and Teufel, then Marshall homered off Sid in the 5th to make it 3-2 Mets. It stayed that way until the bottom of the 7th when Keith Hernandez doubled home two runs to make it 5-2. The Dodgers had the tying run up with two outs in the ninth but Jesse Orosco came in to get Mike Scioscia to ground out to end the game.

I remember how bad LA was in 1986 and how great Fernando Valenzuela was that year (he won 21 games and should have won the Cy Young award). Anyway LA finally beats the Mets at home in the rubber game of the series. LA of course makes a few early errors to give the Mets some runs but I remember that Reggie Williams homers for LA and Fernando gets the victory.

Strawberry pounded a homer off the bottom of the Shea scoreboard in this game, off a pretty low pitch as well. One of his more impressive shots over the years.

Jesse Orosco got off to a brutal start in 1987, this game was no different as he gave up 3 runs to lose the game. 87 would be his last year as a Met, and also his worst, sadly. A less than stellar end to a fantastic Mets career.

This was the game where Roger McDowell put his pants on over his head and stood in front of the Mets dugout with his arms swinging around, making a funny highlight that almost all older Mets fans have seen at some point over the years.

As for the game, the Mets were out of this one early, as Darling didn't have it and the Dodgers coasted to an easy win.

Another utterly frustrating game. They had so many chances to get a key hit or even an out to drive in a run. They failed just about every time.

Fernando Valenzuela pitched a complete game and threw 165 pitches!

Easily one of the more frustrating losses from the 1987 season. As good as Valenzuela was on this night, the Mets blew multiple chances to score, especially early on. They even had the bases loaded and none out and still couldn't get a big hit

Does anyone remember this game? This was some game even though the Mets lost. I was 8 years old at the time. I remember it was a Sunday afternoon game in L.A., so a 4pm start. The game went 16 innings and I remember I kept wishing as each extra inning passed that it would go longer and longer. Well, I got my wish because the game must have ended like 9 or 10 pm that night. The score was 2-2 in the bottom of the 16th and I believe there were 2 outs and the Dodgers had a runner on 2nd. A routine groundball gets hit to Howard Johnson and I am like "Yes! we are gonna play more!" And he throws the ball away at first, I was so pissed. Then I had to go to sleep because there was school the next day. Man, this game was one for the ages even though the Mets lost. I will always remember this game.

To follow up on Chris C.'s post from April 2002, the Mets were behind 2-0 in this game, but Barry Lyons drove in a run in the seventh and another in the ninth to tie it up.

David Cone and Bob Welch both pitched well as starters, and the two bullpens were terrific. Both teams wasted based loaded and one out oppotunities in extra innings. Finally with one out in the sixteenth, Danny Heep scored on a Mike Devereau infield single plus an error by Howard Johnson.

Tim Belcher was the winning pitcher in his first major league appearance. It was also the first major league game for Gregg Jefferies, who fouled out as a pinch hitter in the fourteenth inning.

The Cardinals won their game so the Mets fell 3.5 games out of first place.

David Cone gets a 5-0 lead after two innings and coasts to a 5-2 win at Dodger Stadium. Fernando Valenzuela was the Dodger starter but he allowed two walks and six hits (including a two-run homer by Darryl Strawberry) in just 1.2 innings. Cone improved to 5-0 with the win and Roger McDowell pitched the last three innings for the save.

With the Mets up 5-0 and one out in the bottom of the sixth, David Cone hit Pedro Guerrero in the helmet with a curveball. Guerrero threw his bat at Cone, was ejected from the game and was suspended for four games.

Went to the game with my girlfriend, my brother and a friend. Good news and bad news. Good news - The Mets won! Bad news - my girlfriend told me she was dating someone else! At least I got to see the Mets win!

A Mets win that no one in New York saw that night, unless you were at the game. This was an ABC game of the week, but a rain delay early in the game prompted ABC to switch to the backup game that night. Except, when the rain delay was over at Shea, for some reason they never switched back to the Mets game. A shame for sure, as it was a tight contest, with the Mets coming up with a 1 run win.

The 1988 season had A LOT of exciting wins, and this one may have been #1. Gooden let a late lead get away but the Mets came back with 2 in the bottom of the 10th. Then in the 11th Kevin Elster hit the walk-off homer off future Met Alejandro Pena. This was the first of 3 walk-off homers for the Mets in a span of 5 games.

The Mets only loss to the Dodgers in the regular season. A 9th inning comeback fell short, as after scoring 2 runs, Lee Mazzilli hit into a line drive double play to end the game.

The Mets came into this game having lost 4 in a row, and the offense was in an embarrassing slump, scoring only 3 runs in the 4 losses, as the first place lead went down to 4.5 games to Pittsburgh.

They finally broke out in this one, with Keith and McReynolds hitting homers, and Gooden dominating the Dodgers for an easy 7-1 win, starting off a 5 game win streak and a tone of excellent play that finally put the division away for good.

This was the first Mets game I attended. I watched them all the time on Channel 9 while growing up. The Police Athletic League baseball team I played with Ebenezer Baptist Church won the league and tickets for the whole team. Driving to Flushing, Queens in a large van passing chips and soda around -- what a great day. We sat in section 27 in the upper deck. I remember that I told everyone about how well Gooden looked on the mound that day when I got home. I now remember Kevin McReynolds having a three-hit day, but I still do not love him.

I remember watching this game as a young child. It was the NBC game of the week. Kevin McReynolds had a great game and Barry Lyons drove in a run with a blooper down the right field line.

The last time the Mets and Dodgers would play before the playoffs in October (the next game on September 4th was rained out and not made up).

One of the most exciting games of the series. Down 2-0 in the 9th Kevin McReynolds barrels over Mike Scioscia to give the Mets a 3-2 victory over the Dodgers. Orel Hershiser pitches well and this is just a taste of what he will do in the series.

Who would have ever thought we'd lose the series after this game? Scored 3 in the 9th off the unscored upon Hershiser. Fans and players alike I'm sure all thought after this game, more than ever, that LA just couldn't beat us.

All I recall about this game is that it was on late at night. The first pitch wasn't thrown until after 10:00 PM Eastern because ABC (and the other networks) televised the Vice Presidential debate between Lloyd Bentsen and Dan Quayle. It was still a reasonable time for the West Coast, but not for New York.

The game wasn't any more interesting than the debate. The Mets fell behind early and never caught up. Since it was late and David Cone did not have his best stuff, I just shut it off and went to bed. Seeing that no one else has commented on this game yet, I'm guessing that I wasn't alone in doing this. It certainly wasn't worth staying awake to watch.

I was away on a high school camping trip in the wilderness in New Jersey and never got to watch this game live. My school teacher had a radio and kept me informed of everything that happened. Saw it on video two days later. I remember David Cone had called Jay Howell a "high school pitcher" after we won the night before and this seemed to juice the Dodgers up as they hit Cone good and tied the series. Also Tim Belcher pitched real well too. Mets could not hit well against him. Everyone always remembers Orel Hershiser or "Bulldog" as some of us call him (eventually would pitch for the Mets) in 1988 but no one talks about Tim Belcher. If Belcher was not there, Mets win this series in 5 games. He won 2 games in the series and he very well could have been the NLCS MVP. The Reds Chris Sabo had a big year and won NL Rookie of the Year, if not for him Belcher would have run away with that honor.

The main reason I check this website every day is to see the covers of the tabloids from years past where the Mets made the back page. Well, on October 5, 1988, the day of this game, the crappy, low-rent NY Daily News printed the headline: STRAWBERRY SHOCKER: I'D PLAY FOR L.A.

I guess the game was past their bedtime which is why instead of a picture of McReynolds bowling over Mike Scioscia, they had to print this garbage as their lead story. What a bunch of jerks to do their best to stir up dissension in the Mets' clubhouse. 

As if giving Dick Young a job for something like 50 years wasn't bad enough... I can't even blame Dick Young for this because was called to a higher service by God (finally) in 1987. But this hatchet job on the Straw Man was certainly in the spirit of Dick Young. Mind you, I didn't read the article, just saw the picture of the back page today.

As if to double down on their stupidity, the NY Daily News had a picture of DWIGHT GOODEN next to the headline, as if they were like, "They're both black, no one will even notice." I mean... seriously, WTF Daily News? I'm sure they could have found a picture of Darryl somewhere. I mean, if you're going to rip him, at least use his picture. This is what Straw was up against during his years in New York.

Oh, by the way, David Cone was the starting pitcher of this game, and he also did his best Dick Young impression, writing a guest column in (GUESS WHAT), drumroll please... THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS!!! Yeah.

Cone (with the help of Bob Klapish) apparently wrote that Jay Howell's curveball looked like a little-leaguer's, and the story was big news when this game got underway.

Needless to say, Cone got shelled. A few days later the New York Times printed a story with the headline: Cone Winds Up Eating His Words: Met Pitcher Apologizes; Career as a Columnist Is Over

What a mess.

Here's a fun game. 40 degrees and raining all day, the field was an absolute mess. See Keith Hernandez fall down running from 2nd to 3d. See him fall down again on the same trip. See gimpy Kirk Gibson slip in the outfield and still catch a liner. See a comebacker to McDowell in the 8th. McDowell steps...and falls flat on his face. See McReynolds up in the 8th, Mets down 4- 3. Count is 3-0. See Davey Johnson come out of the dugout to talk to the umpire. What's that Davey? You say Jay Howell's got something in his glove? Apparently he's slipped some pine tar in there, and he's outta here! See the Dodgers try to win without their closer, and watch them implode. Watch the Mets string together a walk and four hits, and plate 5 runs. Watch David Cone close it out, and the Mets win a memorable one!

It was a wonderful day. My wife was pregnant. It was her due date. I kept watching the game and looking at her thinking that she was going to birth before the game was over. My son was very considerate; he did not come out until later that day. Here we are nearly 13 years later and he is the biggest Mets fan.

Oh I remember as it was yesterday on October 8th 1988, I was 12 Years old and was in the 7th grade,but man what a game that was it was my first ever playoff game ever because my father got the tickets the day before the game was rained out on friday and was rescheduled on a Saturday afternoon,we sat on the upperdeck behind homeplate there I was with my sweater and my Old school Mets Jacket and umbrella over my damp light blue old school met cap and shivering and shaking thoughout the game, I remember when the crowd went wild when Daryl Strawberry's pop fly turned out to be a base hit when Dodger left fielder (could not remember who it was at the time)dropped the ball and the Sharp tv moniter showed a cartoon video of a Dodger outfielder getting burried by Strawberries. Then during the middle of the game my father and I walked one level down and found two seats unoccupied so we sat on them for the rest of the game, so as my father was standing during every time the Mets had a rally I stood on my chair and highfived the fan who was sitting next to me, soon after the game was over as my father and I were exiting Shea everybody around us were all yelling out (LA CHEATS,LA CHEATS,LA CHEATS.)In reference to Jay Howells pine tar incident.

What a wild one! Game 3 had actually been scheduled for the night before (Friday night) but it was a miserable day and night, and the game was postponed. I think game 3 wound up starting at noon on Saturday. I've been to Shea a couple of hundred times, and that was the coldest I've ever been. I know it was snowing in the upper deck in left field where we were sitting. But we had a great view of Gibson falling and Keith doing the breaststroke into third base. Of course, we had no clue what was going on when Jay Howell was ejected. Luckily someone near us had a radio.

This was one of the worst postseason moments in Mets history. Doc Gooden was sailing along on a cold night at Shea. It looked like the Mets were about to take a 3-1 series lead over the Dodgers, and a return trip to the World Series looked imminent. And then along came Mike Scioscia. His three-run homer tied the game, and I think everyone at Shea felt like they'd been punched in the stomach.

I remember sitting in the cheap seats which, of course, weren't all that cheap, with a full bladder. I was too cold to get up from my seat, and I didn't want to miss a pitch, so I just sat there with the urine freezing inside of me as the game went into extra innings. Eventually, Kirk Gibson would hit a homer, Orel Hershiser would come out of the bullpen to stamp out a Mets rally, and I'd finally get to visit the restroom. It was a horrible turn of events, and you could make an argument that it took the Mets organization 11 years to recover. But at least I didn't sustain any kidney damage.

I was 14 years old sitting in the loge section right behind the "Karate Kid"...yup, the one and only Ralph Macchio, man was he small. I remember it being cold and damp and Hernandez wearing just his short sleeve uniform with no long sleeve shirt underneath. Anyway, when Scoscia hit that home run...I deflated. Oh, what could have been.

As far as I'm concerned this game marked the end of the ride for Mets fans in the '80s. Gooden sailed into the 9th pitching as well as he had in years - it was the old Dr. K back in town. We were going to go up 3 games to 1 and close the series out at home on Monday. I remember that with one out in the 9th, he had John Shelby dead to rights on a couple of hooks and Shelby just managed to foul them off. I think there was a bad call on an inside fastball too, but maybe its just my imagination running wild. Anyway, Shelby walked and then Scoscia followed with his blast.

Anyway, once the ball went out you just knew the Mets were done. Then the next day the Dodgers roughed up El Sid and we were effectively done.

This was the one and only postseason game I've ever been too. I was 15 and so excited about the Mets and it seemed like a perfect game - Gooden was pitching well, Strawberry and McReynolds went back to back, and the Mets were headed to the World Series. Until they blew it in the 9th. I cried myself to sleep that night, knowing that this game was going to turn the series. What if Johnson had brought in Randy Myers? I think it would have been a 1-2-3 ninth. But he went with his heart and left Doc in there. Not saying it was a terrible move, but I just remember how good Myers was that year. The fact that the Mets had the bases loaded with 1 out in their last at bat and couldn't get the tying run home added to the sting. The Mets beat the Dodgers 10 of 11 times in the regular season. This should never have happened.

The significance of this game combined with the fact that I was actually there make this the saddest sports memory of my life. Maybe if the Mets had beaten the Yankees in 2000 it would have exorcised the demons - but alas, the suffering of Mets fans continues.

Without a doubt this game was the most painful loss of my life. I really don't like to think about watching Scioscia's ball go over the wall. It was a swift kick to the groin with a steel-toed boot. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the Mets would have wiped out the A's in the World Series. It still hurts to this day.

Wihtout a doubt, the worst game I've ever experienced at Shea. It was so festive in the top of the ninth. I thought to myself: "We're gonna go up 3-1 and I'll be here tomorrow to see us actually win the pennant." But I also CLEARLY remember asking my dad, before Mike Scioscia came to the plate: "Why doesn't Davey have Randy Myers warmed up to pitch to Scioscia in this situation?" To this day, I still believe if Davey made this move, we would've been back in the World Series.

I'm trying to remember a Gary Carter triple in this game, and drawing a blank.

My recollection is that Gary Carter was on third base with fewer than two outs and did not score, a typical failing for the Mets even in that great year. Had someone found a way to drve him in earlier in the game, the Scioscia home run wouyld have been a ho-hum footnote to a glorious Mets win. But nooooooooooooooo!

As soon as Gooden put a runner on base in the 9th, Johnson should have removed him. Other than Orel, this was not a good Dodger team. Come on... Micky Hatcher, John Shelby. Ham and eggers. But a bad move by Johnson cost the Mets a date in the World Series.

I was sitting in mezzanine reserved, wondering why Randy Myers wasn't warming up in the top of the ninth...Gooden walked John T-Bone Shelby, and up came Mike F. Scioscia, when a guy behind me comments, "If this guy hits a homer, it's tied up!"

Of course, I respond, "Yeah, but he doesn't have much power; he only hit about 4 homers all year!"

Me and my big mouth! Scioscia promptly launches his dinger into the Mets bullpen...DOH!

This was the second worst game in Mets history (the worst being the Pendleton game from Sept. 11 of the previous year.) It was the most obvious move in the world -- frankly, a no- brainer -- to bring in the smoking Randy Myers to finish off the Dodgers. But Johnson had it in his head that Gooden was entitled to finish the game. This bonehead mentality cost the Mets their third World Series victory. What no one has mentioned is that once Gooden walked Shelby, it was even MORE obvious that he bring in Myers. It would have been Myers vs. the aging no-power Rick Dempsey, who was the righty version of the catcher platoon. Just like the Pendelton game, the Mets lacked the character to recover from this. Every honest fan knew they were dead. Strangely, the Mets hold the distinction of having been defeated in the playoffs by the two worst (and untalented) world champions in history, the 1988 Dodgers and 2006 Cardinals.

Was at this game, season ticket holder Field Box 163g, seat 1, this game was deja vu of 9/11/87 of the Terry Pendleton home run. Mike Scioscia had hit only 3 home runs all year and no one thought this would happen and it did. Davey Johnson made his worst decision ever as manger by not removing Gooden after he walked John Shelby on an 0-2 count. That should have a sign he was tired and it was Randy Myers time. Myers would have come in and Tommy Lasorda would have the aging Rick Dempsey pinch hit since he was right handed. Scioscia usually did hit against tough lefties like Myers. The potential dynasty that could have been was over after this and we never saw the playoffs again until 1999. Davey Johnson should have been fired after losing this NLCS for his bad moves.

What a miserable experience. I remember 3 three things clearly: 1. it was raining, I was in the right field upper deck, not too far past first base and I had never seen rain going horizontally before. It was coming at us from the Long Island Sound instead of the clouds. 2. I remember our short-lived ecstasy when the Dodgers pitcher, what was that SOB's name? was ejected when they found pine-tar in his glove and 3. the whole game was summed up by Keith Hernandez getting tagged out reaching for third base, crawling, about 2 feet from the bag: not even close! That's when we knew it was over.

One of my all time favorite Met stories. Before Sid threw in Game 5 of the playoffs in 1988 (The night before was the Scioscia disaster) I got to the ballpark early. The Dodgers were finishing batting practice and Lasorda was holding court with the media in front of the dugout. Some Met fan was at the rail behind homeplate, above the netting, in the Loge. He screamed "Tommy, Tommy" at least 50 times to try to get Lasorda's attention. As Lasorda finished he decides to wave to this obvious fan, as he makes eye contact and waves the guy screams, "Lasorda you fat f**k!" Lasorda looked shocked. I almost peed myself. I figured we were gonna right the ship with that omen, then El Sid goes out and pitches a crappy game and we end up losing the playoffs. Great story, terrible game.

It was the night after the Scoscia disaster and I was sure we would turn it around. I was driving back to college after a weekend home (maybe it was Columbus day) and left early. I remember listening to Gibson take El Sid deep early on and it just went downhill from there. I have this whole series on tape and I've never once watched it. It's too painful.

There had been some debate over if it was better to show this 12PM start live in Hawaii (for Hawaiian pitcher Sid Feznandez) which would have been about 3am, or to show it on tape delay. I remember that after Sid was hammered, the guys on TV said that they didn't know the outcome of the debate but if it would be tape delayed, Sid Fernandez might want to burn the tape.

To Dave, You were commenting about Game 3. Btw, the weather was sunny but cold for October for Game 5 because my friend Gary has photos of Game 5 and shows them to me once in a while. He sat on the third base side for that game and has great shots of Straw, Jefferies, Gibson and Lasorda.

I have chilling memories about this game. We were excited to have tickets to a playoff game, but we did underdress because it was FREEZING and WINDY!! Thank goodness some people brought a blanket to block some of the wind from behind, but after they left early we FROZE!

Someone mentioned this before, but seeing Keith Hernandez trip running third and getting tagged out crawling to third...it was so pathetic, yet appropriate of how the Mets played that day. They just didn't have it then, and the core of the '86 team -Keith, Carter, even Gooden - was past their prime.

One happy note - found a great place in Woodside for some well-earned Irish coffee!

I was at this game sitting in my season seat Field Box 163g. Also I was at game 4 that ended in the wee hours of the morning and was right back at less than 9 hours after that game ended with not much sleep. So it was a quick day game after a real late night game.

It seemed the whole stadium was still in shock that the Mets had game 4 won and let it get away with a lot of questionable moves by Davey Johnson that cost the game. No doubt the Dodgers had the momentum as Kirk Gibson hit another home run and the Dodgers got way ahead early and the Mets showed no desire or inspiration to fight back in the game and lost 7- 4 and were in a 3-2 hole going back to LA for the next 2 games.

Two reasons why the Mets did not win the 1988 NLCS was Davey Johnson making some bad decisions and the team showing no heart or emotion which the Dodgers no doubt did have.

I did a two-sport day/night doubleheader this day. Went to the NLCS game 5 at Shea Stadium during the day and after the game headed right to Madison Square Garden to see the Rangers first home game of the 1988-89 season against the Devils. The Rangers lost that game with the Devils scoring the winning goal late in the game. While at the game I kept an eye on the TV as the Giants were playing on MNF in Philadelphia and they lost late in that game as Randall Cunningham just ran all over the Giants single-handedly. My teams were 0-3 on this day.

Why did we win this game? Cone's pitching had something to do with it. However, Davey Johnson finally put Backman back in the 2 spot of the lineup. The wildboys were back together for the last time but look at how they did in the game!

got a stack of pizzas for this one. delicious. went to my sisters house it was packed. A very long night. The World Series tickets were in my hands. Oh what should have been. To this day I don't wanna talk about. So i'll leave it at that.

I must say this was indeed a great upset. I say that because the Mets should have been in the World Series in 1988 against the A's and not the Dodgers. It also seemed like when the dodgers got the 5 runs in the bottom of the 2nd that made this upset become official. That could have been a great World Series the A's and the Mets but it was not to be here in 1988. It seems like the Mets going 100-60 in the regular season was not official all the way. well what do I mean by that? I mean they did not win the World Series for the icing on the cake. It was that old saying of 100 wins means nothing without the title showed up in this year of 1988 for the Mets.

I remember that my Dad and I used to argue all the time over Ron Darling. I loved him and he hated him. I remember the double kick-in-the-gut that this game became when Ron blew up early. Watching the final seven innings was almost like having a root canal. I was almost relieved when HoJo struck out to end it. What a shame.

I remember this game as a sad lesson in life. I was not quite 13 at the time and to me, the Mets were the best. They had won the series in 1986 and I believed that they only lost in 1987 because of injuries. This game taught me that the Mets (The team that I still love) were human and were capible of losing. Ron Darling (my second favorite Mets pitcher at the time) was in fact not a big game pitcher (remember his start in WS game 7) and I had the accept the fact the Orel was actually just a better pitcher. Sad game. Hard lesson. I held out hope even after falling behind 6-0. The Mets did have some explosive hitters. However, Orel's strike out of HOJO was a symbol of thigs to come. Johnson was a fastball hitter and he struck out on a fastball.

My dorm room at SUNY Buffalo was packed at the start. It was a very festive atmosphere and there was even talk of a World Series Road Trip to Shea.

After the Jeffries error in the bottom of the second, the dorm emptied out. Knowing the Mets and their propensity for crazy memorable games (think Atlanta game 6 in 1999), I stayed alone, in my dorm in Buffalo, watching every painful out as Orel mowed the Mutts down.

I remember thinking that watching this till the end would make it that much sweeter when the Mets came back the next year. Too bad it was going to be a decade before the Mutts would rise again.

Still, on the positive side, without Ron Darling's implosion and this loss, there would be no Gibson gimpy, walk-off, pinch-hit dinger in game 1 of the World Series. That is arguably in the top 5 hits in World Series history!

Davey's managerial decision still sticks in my craw: If Doc Gooden - clearly our best pitcher that year - was OK to come in in relief, then he was healthy enough to start. He should've gotten the ball in this must-win against Hershiser.

That's a manager's curse. Had Gooden been bombed in the game everyone would have said, why didn't they start Darling, a 17 game winner on regular rest? Damned if you do and damned if you don't.

The other comments reflect the absolute destruction of hope this game produced. I was so bummed I went out for a three-mile run after it was over. The next day I looked forward to the second Presidential debate, but my man, Dukakis, screwed himself with a lousy response to the very first question! I was devastated, two 'body blows' in two days.

Watched this game in my dorm during my freshman year at college, deep in the heart of Phillies country. Let's just say that nobody played any violins for me after the game, ha-ha!

This game to me, was the end of Davey Johnson's career with the Mets. Until then, he had kept a loose grip on the team, making sure they disciplined themselves on and off the field.

But this painful game showed that Davey's policy had run its course. Not just the brutal pitching, but the absolute lack of fundamentals in the field, as shown by the Jefferies error.

The Mets basically played as 9 separate individuals rather than 9 player team... and it was going to get worse in the future.

Without question, considering the magnitude of the game, the 2nd inning of this game was by far the worst inning in team history. It included a botched bunt, 2 errors, and 4 hits.

One more note... I just watched this game again (please don't ask why, I really have no idea!) and as painful as 2006 was to us, this game was BY FAR the worst loss in the history of the franchise.

I just remember knowing the Stems were going to lose, seemingly before the game started, but certainly from the 2nd inning on, but for some reason forcing myself to watch the whole game, all the way to the bitter end, my eyes welling up with tears the whole time.

This 1988 NLCS game 7 is one you would like to forget for a Mets fan like me but it's hard to do that.

To me it wasn't that the Mets lost this game but how they lost. Only 24 hours before David Cone pitches a terrific game 6 to force game 7.

It's always said anything can happen in a game 7 no matter who the starters are and the game 6 winner a lot of times has that momentum and mental edge going into the 7th game. Not so on this night as the Mets came out so flat and uninspired that it seemed as the Dodgers won game 6 to force this game even though that was not the case.

I know Orel Hershiser was on the hill for the Dodgers but that was no excuse for the Mets to come out so flat. Even 20+ years later I still can't understand why they played with no emotion or spark with a trip to the World Series on the line. To me if a team should lose a game 7, I prefer it to come down to the final pitch just like in 2006 to St. Louis. This 1988 version was over before the first inning ended.

Another note I want to add about this 1988 NLCS game 7 is that it should have been at Shea Stadium. The Mets would have had this game at home if home field advantage which was not already determined even before spring training camps opened. It was alternated each year which division winner got home field advantage regardless of who had the most wins. It did not make sense.

In 1988 the Mets had way more wins than the Dodgers and were 10-1 against them in the regular season. The Mets for this should have had game 7 at home and maybe the NLCS results might have been a lot different and the Mets might have 3 World Championships right now.

The same thing could have happened in 1986 if the Mets did not win game 6 and had to face Mike Scott in the AstroDome for game 7.

It was not until 10 years later in 1998 that MLB office finally changed the rule that home field advantage goes to the team with the best record in their league, that was 10 years too late for the 1988 Mets.

This game is the only time I've ever cried because of sports. I distinctly remember when Howard Johnson struck out to end the series- I started crying and I couldn't stop. I ran into my room and my dad knocked on my door and said something like "just wait 'till next year."

Well, the next year, in spring training, Darryl Strawberry punched Keith Hernandez on photo day and nothing was ever the same.

Irrationally, for many years, I harbored resentment against Howard Johnson for striking out to end the game. No matter how many home runs he hit or bases he stole, I would always think, "yeah, but he still struck out to end the '88 series." Even after he retired, I still defined him by this moment. He was never HoJo to me after this game, he was the guy who killed my dreams. It was only in the 2000s that I looked at the box score and was reminded that the score was 6-0.

This game is the only time I've ever cried because of sports. I distinctly remember when Howard Johnson struck out to end the series- I started crying and I couldn't stop.

Although he would make his way back later in the 2nd half of the year, this game was the symbolic end of Keith Hernandez's Mets career.

He banged knees with the Dodgers 2nd baseman on a ground ball, and though he stayed in the game at first, it turned out that he broke his knee and would be done for 2 months. When he finally did come back, he was essentially a part time player and it was clear that his days were numbered.

You've heard of games ending on a walk-off? Well, this game ended on a BALK-OFF!!!

Doc fell behind Fernando early, 3-0, with Mike Davis driving in two early runs. But the Mets came back to tie it with one in the fifth on an RBI single by Barry Lyons, and two more scoring in the seventh on a Gregg Jefferies pinch-hit double.

Rick Aguilera and Randy Myers combined for five innings of shutout relief while Dodger relievers Tim Crews, Jay Howell, and former Met Ray Searage did the same.

Roger McDowell came in to pitch the bottom of the twelfth, and he started it off by walking Dave Anderson. Willie Randolph followed with a single and after an error the Dodgers had runners at second and third. While pitching to John Shelby, McDowell balked and the Dodgers scored the winning run.

According to espn.com's Jayson Stark, a game has ended on a balk only three times in the last 30 years.

One of the Mets last NBC game's of the week, and I believe the last ever at Shea (NBC lost the Game of the Week after 1989).

A young John Wetteland actually started for the Dodgers. The Mets beat him up pretty good as he was out by the 4th. Bobby Ojeda pitched well and the team had a fairly routine 4-1 win. Sadly a few days after this, Willie Randolph hit a shocking 9th inning homer, starting the downward spiral of the season.

Don Aase. He gave up a three-run homer to Willie Randolph in the top of the ninth with the Mets ahead 3- 2. It was Randolph's only home run the whole year! The Mets went into a tailspin after that and couldn't catch the Cubs. It was also Ramon Martinez's rookie season (he started the game) and he did a decent job.

One of my top 10 worst regular season losses. Willie Randolph taking Don Aase deep to the opposite field...I still have nightmares about it. Aase will always live in infamy for that home run.

I didn't attend this game, but watched it on TV...Future manager (but for how long?) Willie Randolph came on Kiner's Korner to talk about his 9th-inning homer that won it for the Dodgers, and said, "Sorry, Met fans..."

For some reason, I'll never forget that...

This was the first time ever that the previous season's two Cy Young Award winners faced each other in a game.

This was the "salami" game that gave me my 15 minutes of fame. Abe Lebewohl, the owner of NYC's famous Second Avenue Deli, had announced a promotion offering a free salami to anyone who showed up with a ticket stub from a game won by new Met Frank Viola. Being kind of a wise-ass, I thought it would be fun to see their reaction to a ticket from a road game. I ordered a ticket through the Dodgers, and had it sent via FedEx. I showed up at the restaurant the next morning with my ticket, and the next thing I knew, I was besieged by media and got my picture and a story in all the major city newspapers. Lebewohl gave me a whole box of salamis!

Surprising that no one else has commented on this one. This was Comic Relief Night at Shea as Billy Crystal, Robin Williams and Whoopi Goldberg joined the Channel 9 booth (Crystal and Williams were also in the booth in a game against the Reds in July 1989). In this one, Robin accidently cursed on the air when he was trying to make a joke about Mackey Sasser's baserunning. Funny memory to look back on.

@ Michael: I noticed that too, though I thought it was Billy who made the verbal blunder. In any case, that’s what happens when you try to say “funky chicken” too fast. It was also amusing too see all the concessions workers wearing the Groucho Marx glasses-and-nose masks throughout the game. And sticking with the comedy theme, Tim McCarver had his scorecard blow out of the booth midway through the game and he wouldn’t stop moaning and groaning about until someone actually found it and fetched it for him.

Mike Morgan walked five in his brief outing, odd considering he allowed only 3 walks over his first 5 starts of 1990. Maybe the cold and breezy conditions that night had something to do with it. However, the weather didn’t affect Gooden much, as he struck out a season-high 15. He also hit a 3-run triple in the Mets’ five-run third inning, one of 5 he’d hit in his career. Also of note, it was nice to see future Mets manager Willie Randolph play in this one. Two days later he was traded to Oakland and would go on to play in his last of four World Series.

Frank Viola wins for the seventh time in seven starts at the beginning of the 1990 season. No other Mets pitcher as of today has ever won his first seven starts of the year.

Only one member of the Dodger starting lineup had a hit: Mike Sharperson, who had three of the four Dodger hits that Frank allowed. Pinch-hitter John Shelby had the other Dodger hit.

Here's what happened hours after this game: Mets manager Davey Johnson and Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda went to Radio City Music Hall to appear in the HBO's "Comic Relief" show and both managers tossed soft baseballs to Billy Crystal who proceeded to hit them into the audience and the higher he got into the upper deck of RCMH, the more money they would raise for the homeless. A wonderful gesture and priceless moment in Mets history in my opinion!

As of 2022, Viola's 7 straight wins to begin the season still stands as the Mets record. And somehow he didn't receive a single first-place vote for that year's NL Cy Young Award.

This was Davey Johnson's 1,000th game managing the Mets. He actually only lasted 12 more games before getting replaced with Bud Harrelson. This was also Willie Randolph's last game with the Dodgers as he was traded the next day to the A's for Stan Javier. This was mostly done to allow Juan Samuel, who was overmatched playing CF for LA, to move back to 2B and let Javier and Kirk Gibson platoon in CF with Kal Daniels and Hubie Brooks manning the corner OF spots.

Weird seeing John Wetteland starting a game. He only made two more starts this season before spending the rest of his career as one of baseball's best closers.

Tim McCarver mentioned that, as of 1990, only two pitchers in major league history had the initials FV: Frank Viola and Fernando Valenzuela, who was in the opposing dugout with the Dodgers. Can anyone think of any others? Framber Valdez pitches for the Astros, that's all I can come up with.

The Mets called a 45-minute players only team meeting before this game, looking to create a spark after losing 5 of their first 6 games during their west coast road trip. Evidently, it worked, as the Mets scored their most runs to date in 1990, including an 8-run 3rd inning that went down as their highest-scoring inning of the year. That 3rd inning included a grand slam by Kevin McReynolds, the first of five the Mets would hit during the season. Boston and Strawberry also homered, though no one was in the outfield seats to catch them. Weird seeing that entire area of the stadium empty -- and even weirder considering I watched this on the same night as the 2022 HR Derby in L.A., where the entire OF bleacher area was mobbed!

Gooden was nursing a sore toe during this start and definitely seemed to aggravate it while covering first base in the bottom of the third. He still gutted his way through 5 innings to get the win. Meanwhile, his counterpart, Mike Morgan, gave up 9 runs, tied for the most he'd ever allow in a game. And it came just 10 days after the Mets knocked him around for 7 runs. But he got his revenge later on, beating the Mets twice in August.

A very anticipated matchup between Gooden and young phenom Ramon Martinez turned out to be for not. Both pitchers had nothing and gave up 7 runs each. The Mets did hold on for an exciting 9-8 win in the first game of the doubleheader

With the Dodgers threatening in the 9th, having runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 out. Juan Samuel hit a slow grounder to SS, a ball that was probably hit too slow to get anyone. But the ball hit the runner going to 3rd, giving the Mets a huge break. John Franco got the final out on a harmless fly ball, and the Mets had an important win in the race for the East.

Kevin McReynolds hit the game winning homer in the top of the 9th to win a huge game in the middle of the pennant race, his 2nd of the night.

John Franco gets the save in relief of Doc, who got the first 26 outs.

This game showed that the Mets were back to their old mental errors. In the bottom of the 3rd, when Mike Sharperson stole second, Todd Hundley failed to look Jose Gonzalez back to third base when he threw to second, and he stole home.

In the 7th, with the bases loaded, Kevin McReynolds hits a blooper that is just fair in right field. It looks like 2 runs will score easily. But Gregg Jeffries was tagging from second, and can only get to third. He should have at least played halfway with 1 out. The Mets cannot score again that inning, or for the rest of the game.

They lose 3 out of 4, their worst series in LA since 1981.

This was the greatest regular season game I have ever attended until 1999, when Matt Franco singled off of Mariano Rivera to beat the New York Yankees.

I sat in left field, upper deck box, first row, overlooking the whole stadium. The stadium was rocking that night, as it was Darryl Strawberry's return to Shea, as a Los Angeles Dodger.

The game had everything, including Straw homering off of Frank Viola, Gary Carter getting a big hit against his former mates, and, best of all, John Franco striking out Darryl to end the game.

Absolutely awesome!

I was thisclose to missing the whole game because a distant relative had died in an auto accident 2 days before and there was talk of the wake being held on Tuesday. But blind fortune went my way; the wake was rescheduled for Wed. (I didn't have anything to do with it) and I watched the game on Channel 9. It was weird to see Darryl in a visitors uniform as well as the Kid. I remember Straw hit a home run and then Franco struck out Straw to end the game.

One clarification to the two earlier posts on this game: John Franco did indeed retire Darryl Strawberry for the final out of this game, but it was on a ground ball to third, not a strikeout. The Dodgers had scored twice in the top of the ninth--the first run scoring on a pinch-double by Gary Carter--off Franco to make it 6-5 Mets. The Dodgers then had the tying run on third and the go-ahead run on first when Darryl grounded out.

Strawberry's homer came in the sixth inning off Frank Viola with the Mets up 6-0 at the time. It was only his second home run of the season in his 25th game as a Dodger.

David Cone struck out the side in the first inning.

Mackey Sasser had difficulty in returning pitches to the mound, because of a mental anxiety from which he was suffering.

David Cone started wearing #17 in this game. Keith Hernandez was present.

I was 8 years old, but I remember this Friday game because this was the first time my father was able to convince my mother to let me stay up and watch the late night West Coast game with him.

Viola pitched a complete game gem. My father got a good laugh when Strawberry, during one of his at bats, called a timeout, didn't get the call, and Viola floated one right by him. Darryl was my favorite player, but my father and I both hated him in that white and blue Dodger uniform.

I'm sure there are no comments yet regarding this game because it's so painful for us Mets fans to recollect. Up 2-0 in the 8th thanks to a superb start from Ron Darling, who tied his season-high with 9 Ks, the Mets commit 3 errors in the inning, including two by Jefferies at 3B on back-to-back at-bats, allowing the Dodgers to score 4 runs and steal a win. Nine batters came to the plate in the inning and only 1 hit the ball out of the infield (Murray's RBI double). Jefferies had actually just made a really heady play before his two blunders, fielding a grounder by Scioscia and tagging Murray, who had strayed to far off the 3B bag, out.

Jefferies then had a chance to redeem himself in the 9th when he came up representing the tying run with one out. He rapped a ball down the first base line that should have been a double, but Murray was guarding the line, snared the grounder and stepped on the bag for the second out. Tough all around game for Gregg.

Keith Miller and HoJo also had errors. The bad defense was par for the course in 1991, as the team ranked second in the NL in errors, with only Houston committing more. Also, Darling hit a double in the game and I found that, among pitchers, he has the most two-base hits in Mets history with 20. Tom Seaver is second with 17.

Darryl Strawberry and Gary Carter homered in the first inning to set the tone for this game. It was Strawberry's first game at Shea after signing with LA in the previous offseason.

His first game was on May 7th my friend. A game I attended where Straw homered off Frank Viola. I am surprised no one has corrected you.

This game was "The Revenge of the Ex-Mets!" There was so much hype around Strawberry coming back to Shea for the first time. Mets fans weren't happy with the way he left. There was lots of booing and energy at Shea. Then Darryl and Gary slug big homers in the first inning to shut up the Shea crowd.

Sid's first start of '91 after breaking his arm during spring training. The crowd was hyped for his return and he delivered with six splendid innings and even doubled and scored a run on offense, but he left with the game tied at 1-1. An error by Jefferies in the seventh allowed LA to take the lead, but the Mets bounced back by batting around in the eighth, highlighted by McReynolds' 3-run homer and a Cerone grounder that went through the legs of Lenny Harris at 3B to score a run, as well as a second run when Juan Samuel kicked the ball trying to pick it up on the return throw from the outfield. It truly was a play for the blooper reel.

Speaking of McReynolds, he started in CF in this game, something I have no memory of him doing with the Mets. But with Coleman hurt, Boston slumping and Miller a defensive liability, I guess he was the best option. I also found it interesting the Mets didn't strike out in this game. They and the Yankees led all of baseball in '91 with three games with 0 times struck out.

For the Dodgers, Strawberry hit another homer off his former team. He'd hit four career homers against the Mets, but all of them came in '91. Also, with Ramon Martinez on the mound, ESPN showed highlights of his brother, Pedro, pitching for LA's minor league affiliate in Bakersfield. Little did they know, those highlights also showed him pitching to none other than Mike Piazza! How about that: two future Hall of Famers on the same minor league team in 1991. And they played like Hall of Famers that year too -- Pedro went 8-0 with a 2.05 ERA with Bakersfield, while Piazza hit 29 HRs with 80 RBI. Both would debut for the Dodgers the following year.

This was a very interesting Saturday afternoon game. The Mets picked up 4 runs in the 4th inning, but in the top of the 5th, Tommy Lasorda elected to pinch hit Dave Hansen for Orel Hershiser, and he hit a 3-run homer to make the game 4-3. Later in the inning, Eddie Murray hit a 3-run homer, and the Mets never recovered in the game. Mackey Sasser hit a 2-run homer in the 9th, but the Mets were too far behind at that point to have a chance.

I was at this game back in 1991. I remember distinctly that I was excited that my all-time favorite player Charlie O'Brien was playing. (The 2 days before Sasser and Cerone played.) Some jackass behind me said (when they announced the starting lineup and said his name) great, we lost, this guy can't hit worth a $hit! When he hit a double off the top of the wall at the farthest part of the park I turned around and said, "Some bad hitter, frickin moron." All he could do in response was make nasty comments. I was disappointed because he didn't hit a HR and would have if it was hit ANYWHERE else!

He also hit in 3 runs that day, the most of any of the Mets team. In my book, he was the main reason they won.

Are you kidding? Charlie O'Brien? He was a horid hitter, and his defense was the reason the Mets had him. Even with his defense, he was an overall louse of a player. Terrible! So what, he had one game he did well, this one!

A nice Sunday afternoon win for the Mets, who were hot at the time. Gooden beat former Met Bobby Ojeda.

Sadly, no one knew it at the time,but this game was the highwater mark for the 1991 Mets, and the end of the Mets being a contender for years. After this game, the team would play some of the worst baseball in team history through the end of the year. Finishing 7 games below .500 after being 15 above on this summer day.

Looks like we found Charlie O'Brien's one fan. I, like Michael, am also dreading what follows over the remainder of this season, and the years that are to come. The Mets wouldn't be 15 games over .500 again until July 24, 1997. Ouch.

This was Ojeda's first start against the Mets since being traded over the offseason. He actually never beat the Mets in three career starts, though his final two were much better than this one. On the flipside, Gooden couldn't lose when facing LA. This win improved him to 14-1 lifetime vs. the Dodgers, his only loss coming in 1985. However, he would face them 4 more times over his career and lose each one. Eric Gregg had a terrible strike zone behind the plate here, causing Doc to yell at him in the second inning. Buddy came out to protect his pitcher, but wound up getting ejected.

With runners on second and third and one out in the third, the Dodgers chose to intentionally walk Hubie Brooks to get to Carreon and set up a force at any base. The move backfired, as Carreon doubled in two and the Mets collected four straight hits for six runs. The six-run inning tied their highest-scoring frame of the year. They achieved their highest-scoring inning against the Dodgers the year before too, with 8 runs in the third inning at LA on May 21. The Dodgers were a lot like a Queens-West team in 1991, with six of the nine players in their lineup either former or future Mets, plus Gary Carter and Dennis Cook coming in later. And as you'd figure, Strawberry received plenty of boos each time he came to bat, as well as lots of cheers when he struck out. But he seemed to take it well, flashing a big smile multiple times during the game, despite the final outcome.

Also, it was weird seeing Don Criqui call the game along with McCarver, as Kiner was up in Cooperstown for the HOF inductions. I don't remember Criqui at all and apparently his only ties to the Mets is doing sporadic fill-in work during '91. According to Wikipedia, he holds the record for longest-tenured NFL broadcaster in U.S. TV history, calling NFL football for 47 seasons. Who knew.

Rodney McCray got his only at-bat as a Met in this game and made the most of it with an RBI single.

After a long rain delay, Rodney McCray got his only Met hit, a game winning single, to beat the Dodgers after midnight.

A nice moment too as since the game ended, the Dodgers outfielder left the ball in the field of play and walked off. Howard Johnson, knowing it was a big moment for McCray, went out in the wet soaked grass to the outfield and picked up the ball for him to have.

It's funny, whenever people get really excited about early season victories that are won in exciting fashion, they think it's a sign of great things to come later in the season.. I ALWAYS refer back to the 1992 Mets. They actually had a lot of pretty exciting wins early on, and this one was one of them.

Dave Magadan of all people hits a walk-off homer to win it this Saturday afternoon and the Mets were rolling and looking great.

See why that "exciting victory" thing is a myth?

First major league ball game I had ever been to. I was only 8 at the time and didn't sleep one hour the night before the game because I was so hyped up. I sat a few rows back from third base when the price of those seats were cheaper than anything in the current Citi Field!

For the game itself it was 2-2 going into the ninth inning when Dave Magadan hit a three run homer in the bottom of the ninth. I remember after that being so happy and thinking the Mets are winning the World Series!!

I suppose if I was older I would seen the big picture more and realized that was a bright moment in an otherwise disappointing season. Sadly also as I got older, while I still follow the Mets, I realized I would never have that love toward the sport as so many things since then have clouded my enjoyment.

Completely forgotten now, but after this win, the Mets tied a team record for their 11th home win in a row. I imagine that's a trivia question that would stump a lot of fans considering how the rest of 1992 turned out. At the time, the team hadn't lost at Shea in about a month. On this day, Sid Fernandez pitched great on a very overcast and cloudy Mother's Day afternoon

Bret Saberhagen pitched five innings and struck out eight to defeat former Met Bobby Ojeda.

Saberhagen left the game due to tendinitis in his pitching hand. He did not win another game for the Mets in 1992.

Mets Center Fielder Pat Howell made one of the best catches in team history in this game, running full speed back to the wall and leaping against the back wall to make the catch (all in one motion).

Cone was apparently feeling the effects of days earlier when he pitched 166 (or more) pitches to throw a complete game shutout. But he managed to win this game anyway, even with a substandard performance.

This was the first baseball game to which I ever went. My father took me to this one because it was against the Dodgers, his favorite team growing up before they moved to LA.

I have been a Dodger fan for 15 years now and I have gone to Shea to see many Met and Dodger games, but this one was one I always remember for some reason. It was the first game that Mike Piazza ever played at Shea and he hit a homer of Doc Gooden. Other than that we only had one other hit but Orel Hershiser pitched a complete game that was a gem.

Like I said for some reason I remeber this game well. Maybe because we were only a .500 team that year and nothing really exciting in the standings happened for us, with the exception of Piazza getting the rookie of the year. And by the way I did get Pedro's autograph. That's right as a rookie pitcher for us. I have it on the stub to this day.

But for me it was just a great day to remember as a fan and the good old days before all my friends got married and playing hooky from work. A great personal Dodger Met memory for myself. Plus hey I root for you guys all the time except of course when you play us.

Ramon Martinez started this game for the Dodgers, but the winning pitcher, thanks to a two-run single by Tim Wallach in the bottom of the eighth, was Ramon's brother Pedro.

This was Pedro Martinez' first major league victory. Pedro was a reliever in his time with the Dodgers, appearing in 67 games and starting just three of them. It wasn't until 1994--after being traded to the Expos for Delino DeShields-- that he became a starter.

The Dodger catcher in this game was Mike Piazza. Both Mike and Pedro came up to the Dodgers in September of 1992.

As you all know, 1993 was a very forgetable season. However this game was one of the few and I do mean FEW good things that happened that year. This was the nightcap of a doubleheader during a really nasty heat wave that hit the mertopolitan area. Game time temperature for the opening game was 98 and by the time the nightcap ended, it had cooled to a breezy 92.

Of course the Mets lost the opener to a Dodger team that featured 2 upcoming players named Pedro Martinez and Mike Piazza. ln the night cap (this game) the Mets took an early 3-0 lead and looked like were going to salvage a split. Of course the Mets blew it and the game went into extra innings. Partially because said Pedro Martinez held the Mets scoreless for the last 2 innings of regulation.

They almost blew it in the l0th but were able to keep Brett Butler stranded at 3rd. Then in the bottom of the l0th, the Mets were threatening when Bobby Bonilla stepped up with 2 on. Everyone was cheering for a hit, because it would bring in the winning run. He got a hit alright, the hit resonated throughout Shea and hit the top of the cup of Budweiser on the sign on the big scoreboard in right-centerfield.

To this day, I can still hear the sound of Bobby Bo hitting the ball. It was one of his few, and I do mean FEW highlights as a Met. Suddenly all of us Met fans who braved the heat through both games went home feeling pretty cool.

Entertaining game I went to with my dad. Lots of offense. We scored 5 in the first inning. My dad and I chanted our famous saying "homeboys don't quit"

A well played game on ESPN Sunday night baseball, which was probably a good thing because it was during a heatwave in NYC and the night at Shea was already hot enough it seemed.

Doc pitched wonderfully, minus a homer to Eric Davis, but the Mets offense couldn't get anything going in front of a decent crowd at Shea.

This game marked the end of an era for the Mets, as HoJo played his last game with the team. Sid and Doc are the only two remaining 86 Mets on the team.

Anthony Young loses in relief to fall to 0-13 on the year. It is Young's record 27th straight loss since starting the 1992 season with a 2-0 record.

If things weren't bad enough, it was after this game that Vince Coleman threw a firecracker from his car, injuring three people. Certainly one of the lowest points of a pretty bad era.

I was shocked to see the Mets had a winning record after this game, as the team looked just as bad -- if not worse -- than it did during its 103-loss 1993 season. Not only was this Gooden's last career start against the Dodgers, it was also his last start until June as he was shut down with a toe injury he incurred after kicking the bat rack during a poor performance in Chicago on Opening Day. The story goes he began using cocaine again during this rehab stint, and would be suspended shortly after returning from his injury. He then failed another drug test and was suspended for all of 1995, thus putting a sad end to his 11-year tenure with the Mets.

I was also quite surprised that the Dodgers were under .500 at the time, as their lineup looked quite formidable. They broke out of whatever slump they were in here, as they scored the most runs against the Mets since a 14-1 win back on May 10, 1979. Brett Butler walked all four times he was up, the first player with 4 BBs vs. the Mets since Lenny Dykstra in 1991. After getting no-hit through the first three innings, LA scored in every inning from there on out -- 3 times each in the 4th, 6th, 7th and 8th. Meanwhile, the Mets could have staged some type of rally but grounded into a double play four innings in a row from the 6th-9th, with the guilty parties being Jeff Kent, Jose Vizcaino, Joe Orsulak and Todd Hundley.

Hampered by his injury, Gooden certainly took it on the chin, but reliever Jonathan Hurst was no better. He allowed the final 6 runs and was demoted to AAA Norfolk following the game, never to be summoned back to the bigs again and ending his Mets tenure with a cool 12.60 ERA over 7 appearances.

In an act that would make Philadelphians proud, fans started collectively throwing souvenir baseballs onto the field during the bottom of the fourth inning, prompting the umpires to call the Mets players off the field. The Dodgers had already scored 2 runs in the inning and were up 2-1 at the time, and nothing controversial had happened during the frame, so I have no idea what caused the fans to react in such a way. But when play resumed, Doc gave up an RBI single to Eric Karros on the first pitch he threw, so the delay certainly didn't help matters.

The one silver lining is that Gary Thorne joined Tim McCarver in the booth for the game. The 1994 season was his first calling games on WWOR, and I much preferred his delivery and usually upbeat attitude over McCarver's ego and Kiner's gaffes.

This game was tough to swallow. The Mets built 5- 0 and 10-5 leads, but in the 8th inning, Josias Manzanillo gave up 3 home runs. The first was a 2-run homer to Chris Gwynn. The second was a 3- run homer to Mike Piazza, and then Tim Wallach hit a solo homer to win it.

Stephen, you're right. The most amazing thing was that there were two outs when all those homers were hit. Gwynn's was a pinch home run, the next two batters (Butler and Webster) got on base before Piazza hit one, then Wallach followed.

Piazza had 92 RBI in just 107 games that season!

Bobby Bonilla was 4-for-4 with three singles and a homer.

Mets build a big early lead on homers by Bonilla and Kent. If I recall correctly Bonilla even made a good stop at third. It all falls apart late. Manzanillo gives up three homers none of them cheap. Dodgers score 6 in the 8th and another in the 9 for good meaure. Another grey day at Shea.

I must of been about 8 years old when I went to this game. I remember they went around to the crowd and asked them who the best baseball player of all time was. Me being 8 and knowing nothing, I proudly said Jeremy Burnitz, who hit a home run the very next inning.

My son threw a complete game shutout. He's awesome.

The Mets closed out the first half of the season in Dodger Stadium on a very sunny afternoon. Bret Saberhagen continued his all star season, winning his 10th game. If the year had been completed, he had a real shot at 20. Truly one of the forgotten great seasons in Mets history.

The Mets closed out the 1st half in last place, but compared to the previous season, it wasn't nearly as bad.

Tim Wallach hit both a 3-run homer and a 3-run double to give the Dodgers a 6-3 lead entering the 9th inning, but the Mets managed to tie the game against Todd Worrell. The announcers for this TV game (on the Baseball Network) said during the inning that Worrell just didn't look confident in that inning. He was confident enough, however, to strike out Fernando Vina with the bases loaded to end the inning. Naturally, the very next inning, the Dodgers won the game on a 2-out hit by Eric Karros to drive in DeLino DeShields. Another tough one.

Watched this one recently, a really good game on a Sunday afternoon.

David Segui hit a game tying double in the 8th after a great at bat, fouling off pitch after pitch. Chris Jones was on first base and had to keep running since it was a 3-2 count. McCarver and Kiner at one point were trying to figure out how many feet Jones had run with all of the foul balls in the at bat. A funny moment.

That turned out to be Segui's last RBI as a Met, as he was traded a few days later,unhappy that he was being asked to play Left Field since Rico Brogna had taken over at 1st.

Isn't this the game on 8-18-95 Butler's first as a Dodger? If I recall correctly he was traded during the afternoon to L.A. The fans in the stadium had to be notified that Butler changed uniforms.

The above comment is correct. This was the game in which the Mets traded Brett Butler to the Dodgers just hours before the game. Butler literally just had to switch locker rooms and then play against his former team, getting two hits.

I didn't go to this game, but my cousins did. I remember how excited I was to hear that Izzy beat Nomo, especially when Nomo was having his great year. It seemed at the time to be a preview of great things to come but alas, it was not to be (that expression seems to be a favorite of Met fans on this site, hmm...).

What a coincidence, I didn't go to this game either. I was looking forward to going to this game to see the new phenom Hideo Nomo, however the night before a friend calls me up to come to his party he threw at the last second. I figured I'd go for a couple of hours then leave. I was there 'till 3:30 am so I was too tired to go to Shea the next morning. So I watched on TV, in disgust because I wanted to have been there, my boy Butch Huskey go yard on Nomo and the Mets totally pushed him around.

Well I did get to see Nomo pitch a few years later for the Mets and everyone else pushed him around too. Go figure.

I remember being on vacation at the Jersey Shore with my family but sneaking in the hotel room every few minutes to watch this one. As, at the time, this was a huge matchup between Nomo and Izzy, 2 of the best young pitchers in baseball. Nomo was really good, striking out 13 but he gave up 3 homers and that was enough on this afternoon. One of the high points in a season that's mostly forgotten by most.

Jose Vizcaino and Carl Everett hit back-to-back homers in the 3rd, and Huskey hit the first home run of his ML career in the 7th. Despite striking out a season-high 14 times, the Mets find a way to win, sweeping their first 3-game series vs. L.A. since 1992.

Both Isringhausen and Nomo were rookies in 1995. On this day, at least, Izzy got the upper hand.

The big story before this game was the Dodgers calling up Mike Busch, a former replacement player. Their clubhouse was extremely vocal about not wanting him around, as the strike was still fresh wounds and any "scab" was seen as a complete enemey, right or wrong. WWOR Channel 9 would peel the camera over to Busch at various points during the game and he was alone with no one near him each time.

Great game as well, as Jeff Kent tied it in the 9th and the Mets got another for an exciting victory.

This was the first ever FOX Saturday game. Turned out to be a good one. Mets won a 1 run game and in the 8th inning, Rey Ordonez saved the game with a great play at SS.

I have no memory of watching this game but I probably did when it originally aired considering, as Michael wrote, this was the first ever game broadcast on FOX. I may be in the minority, but I actually like Joe Buck as a broadcaster, and it was nice listening to him when he was younger.

This was Pete Harnisch's first start since serving an 8-game suspension for his part in the brawl between the Mets and Cubs on March 11. He got off to a rocky start, walking three in a row before giving up a double down the LF line to Raul Mondesi that scored two. Those were actually the first walks he allowed in 3 starts. But after that, Harnisch only gave up a solo homer to Mike Blowers, and he left after 7 innings with a 4-3 lead.

The Mets took the lead in the 6th, but it looked like more bad luck was going to doom them in the inning. After Jose Vizcaino led off with a single, Bernard Gilkey drilled a deep flyball to CF that Roger Cedeno somehow caught after the ball hit off the heel of his glove and he trapped it up against his body. Jeff Kent followed by hitting a liner off Tom Candiotti, but 2B Delino DeShields alertly tracked down the ball and threw Kent out. After those tough outs, it was up to Roberto Petagine, making just his second start for the Mets since being promoted from AAA. But he came through, knocking in Vizcaino with a single, and Chris Jones followed with an RBI double to give the Mets the lead.

Doug Henry made things exciting in the 8th but worked around a walk and a single, and then John Franco retired all 3 he faced in the 9th for the save. So in the record books, the Mets won the first ever game on FOX. As mentioned by Michael, Ordonez made a diving play on a grounder by Eric Karros in the 8th, resulting in a game-changing double play. He also made a sparkling catch on a foul popup by Cedeno in the 2nd. Even after all these years, he's still mesmerizing to watch on defense.

I learned watching this back that the Dodgers had gone 485 consecutive games starting a right-hand pitcher. The last lefty that started for them was Bobby Ojeda in 1992, and the next wouldn't be until Dennys Reyes in 1997. Crazy. This was also the only time in 21 appearances against the Mets in which Candiotti didn't record a strikeout.

Finally, the trivia question during the game was: Who are the only players (as of 1996) to hit at least 25 career home runs for both the Mets and Dodgers? The answer was Darryl Strawberry and Eddie Murray (I guessed Hubie Brooks instead of Murray). As luck would have it, two future members of the club played in this very game: Mike Piazza and Jeff Kent. Can anyone think of any others?

Dallas Green’s last game as manager. Thank goodness!

Joe Crawford's MLB debut and the lefty lost the game for the Mets in the 15th inning!

What a great night at Shea! Took my Mom (who grew up a Brooklyn Dodgers fan) to her first game at Shea in over 20 years for Jackie Robinson Night. President Clinton was there. I said "hi" to Spike Lee in the corridor. Mom chatted with comedienne Elaine Boozler. Jerry was the only one missing! And the Mets played well, Reynoso pitched well, and it was a solid shut-out victory.

One of my all-time favorite nights at Shea. Honoring Jackie Robinson's 50th Anniversary of breaking the race barrier in the presence of his wife, Commissioner Selig, President Clinton was a highlight of my life. It was amazing to observe the multigenerational families: the grandparents who remembered Jackie and came to the game with their children and grandchildren who only know the legend. I, too, was there with my mother as well as my two young sons. That the Mets won the game was only a sidelight.

This was a great shutout win for the Mets in which Lance Johnson had a pair of two-run singles. It was during this game that Jackie Robinson was honored on the fiftieth anniversary of his debut. Bud Selig announced that MLB was retiring No. 42, but the ceremony was ill-timed. Instead of holding it before the game like he should have, the non-traditional commissioner had the thing after the fifth inning.

One special feature about baseball as opposed to other sports is that it does not have halftime or any other kind of intermission. Mr. Selig created one here, which was one of many screw-ups h he had during his time in office. I wonder if Jackie himself would have approved of the ceremony interrupting a game in progress instead of it being conducted ahead of time.

I don't know if it was coincidence or planned, but having the Dodgers play in New York on this evening was apropos, considering Jackie Robinson played his entire career with the Dodgers in Brooklyn. I didn't realize that it was actually a secret that Robinson's #42 was being retired across baseball. Looking back, that revelation must have been quite the bombshell. It was also noteworthy that other games in action on this night also paused play while the ceremony was shown on the respective stadium's big screen. ESPN had all the bases covered on the broadcast, too, bringing in Pee Wee Reese over satellite, interviewing Larry Doby and President Clinton, and showing numerous candid interviews featuring Robinson over the years prior to his death.

As for the game itself, Reynoso made his Mets debut pitching 5 shutout innings, Toby Borland went the final 4 to collect his only save as a Met, and Lance Johnson plated 4 of the 5 runs as the Mets won their first home game of 1997.

Making his first start since April 6, Brian Bohanon tosses 5 solid innings, and the combination of Cory Lidle, Greg McMichael and John Franco hold the opposition hitless over the final 4 innings, helping the Mets take down the Mike Piazza-less Dodgers, 2-1.

Manny Alexander, making his second-to-last appearance as a Met, doubled twice and scored both runs. Things got a little hairy in the 9th, as an Edgardo Alfonzo error allowed Raul Mondesi to reach base to lead off. Franco got some help from Eric Karros next, as he swung at ball 4 to strike out. Todd Zeile then hit one to LF that Bernard Gilkey appeared to lose in the lights, but he recovered to make an awkward catch. With Piazza available to pinch hit, LA instead let Wilton Guerrero bat for himself, and after a 9-pitch battle, he grounded out to third to end the game.

Remember games like this in 98 and 99, and even into 2000, when Rick Reed would absolutely pitch his heart out and end up on the short end of the stick?

This shaped up like one of those games. Scoreless in the 8th, Lopez made an error which allowed the Dodgers to take a 1-0 lead.

LA brought in closer Jeff Shaw to pitch the 9th. It was Hispanic night or Asian night, I forget which, but the stadium was absolutely packed for this one.

With 1 out, Matt Franco pinch hit for Ordonez and absolutely blasted one high and deep and into the RF bullpen to tie the game 1-1. Everyone went totally nuts.

Hundley pinch-hit for Reed and walked and was sacrificed to 2nd. Alfonzo ripped a 2B deep into the gap in left center, Hundley scored and the crowd was damn near ready to rush the field.

And, guess who the winning pitcher was...

RICK REED!

Great game, great win. One of the best games I've ever been to.

I grew up in South Florida, and this summer, this was the only game I was able to get to at Shea when we were visiting family in NY. Usually I had gotten to two or three games, but this was my one in '98. And what a game to be at. Mets2Moon describes it perfectly, and I just remember going crazy. It was also nice because I still remember feeling bad for Hundley at the time, with all the Piazza stuff, and it was cool to have him involved in the win. Great game. Fun game. Shea was packed--awesome memory.

Some sloppy Dodgers defense helped the Mets score 5 unearned runs, leading to an easy win. Most of the damage was done in the 3rd inning, when Armando Reynoso led off reaching on an Adrian Beltre error. After Tony Phillips walked, Edgardo Alfonzo hit a deep drive to center that Raul Mondesi had lined up but dropped to load the bases. John Olerud followed with an RBI sac fly, and after Mike Piazza grounded out to move the runners up, Brian McRae hit a 2-run single, and then Butch Huskey slammed a 2-run homer (his second-to-last homer as a Met).

Reynoso was terrific, allowing just 2 hits over 7 innings. But even a game with so many positives had some lowlights. Piazza was actually booed a couple times in the game, first after striking out to lead off the 5th, and then again after grounding out with 2 on to end the 8th. Though his numbers were good to this point as a Met, it kinda seemed like he only got his hits in low-pressure situations, either with no one on base or with a game's outcome already determined. Hence, fans were getting antsy for Mike to get the big hits he was renowned for. Though Piazza would re-sign with the Mets during the offseason, the chances of that happening looked pretty grim at this moment. Also, Huskey pulled his hamstring after trying to leg out an infield single in the 5th and would be out for a month. It was particularly bad timing as the Mets had just traded Bernard Gilkey two days earlier, so a once crowded OF has now become quite thin.

What a topsy-turvy game! I remember watching this game from a cheap hotel in Kingman, AZ(where it was at least 105 degrees at that day) on my way to Los Angeles for the Sunday and Monday games. It was FOX's Saturday Game of the Week. I remember being nervous as Franco put men on base in the 9th inning. I was worried he'd blow. But in Franco fashion, he pulled it together and the Mets won!! I was excited for the Mets playoff hopes on this night.

The Mets keep pace with the Cubs atop the wildcard standings by beating Chan Ho Park and the injury-riddled Dodgers, in doing so taking 3 out of 4 games in the series.

Every Mets starter had a hit. Piazza was ferociously booed every time he came to the plate but he seemed to feed off the negative energy, hitting two singles and a double while driving in two.

Rick Reed got the win, which would be his career-high 16th. However, it would be his last of 1998. Over his final 4 starts he was 0-3 with a 5.04 ERA. He allowed a ton of hard-hit balls against L.A. and it appeared like the magic he found throughout 1997 and the first half of 1998 was all but gone.

Memorable for Todd Hundley's return to Shea in an opposition uniform. Didn't do much, I remember Cedeno singled, stole second and third, and then scored on a sacrifice fly.

This was my first Mets game, I can never forget it. I sat in Mezzanine Box, Section 12, Row 560C, Seat 5. When Hundley came to the plate everybody was cheering for him. At the time my favorite player was Robin Ventura. It seems like yesterday.

My first Mets game, from Milano, ITALY, unforgettable!! GO METS!! I remember Cedeno singled and then scored on a SF by Agbayani.

I was at this game, as a young 12 year old visiting from Seattle; was a great game, and I wanted the Mets to win, and they did. It was a fun time for me. :D

Everyone here knows about Paul LoDuca now right? Well in this Game he smacked his First ever HR

A disgusting game. Reed hurt himself in the 3d, and had to come out of the game. Yoshii came in to relieve him, and his first pitch to opposing pitcher Darren Dreifort was promptly smacked over the center field wall for a 3-run HR. And the rout was on. Matt Franco pitched and Chuck McElroy played LF before this game was through. I didn't see it, though, as I departed midway through the 7th inning. I simply couldn't bear it anymore.

Dan Murray was such a talented young pitcher. The Mets really should have stuck with him. His upper 70s fastball was a great pitch in conjunction with his 12-6 curve. Go Dan Murray.

Ismael Valdes basically gave the game away. I think he loaded the bases with three walks in the first inning. Hundley hit his first home run against his former team and Grudzielanek added a triple but the Mets seemed to be in control from the beginning. Yoshii was ok, definately not great, but good enough against LA's over anxious lineup. Just to many righties on that team. Thank God for Shawn Green!

In response to John's comment, Valdes was certainly far from sharp. He walked 5 and allowed 8 hits, departing when the first 5 batters he faced reached base in the 6th. And though John is right that Valdes walked the bases loaded in the first inning, the Mets still failed to score. They didn't get on the board until the 3rd when Mike Piazza touched up his former team with a 2-run homer. It was his 3rd homer in his last 4 games, and his 4th against L.A. since getting traded the previous year. Mike finished the game 4-for-4 with a walk.

Meanwhile, Yoshii held a formidable Dodger lineup in check, going 7 strong innings for his second-to-last win as a Met. He received some great defensive help in the game, most notably from Darryl Hamilton in the 1st inning. Gary Sheffield pounded a liner to center field that Hamilton caught while leaping into the outfield fence, with his left knee getting the brunt of the collision. He stayed down for a while after the catch but remained in the game, although he was taken out the next inning. Thankfully, he only missed one game and didn't show any signs of lingering injury afterward, as he played in all of the Mets remaining 19 games of the regular season.

Someone can correct me if i'm wrong but to my knowledge, this is the last Mets game not to be televised anywhere in the NY area. This was an 8PM EST start at Dodger Stadium, but since ESPN was not carrying this game, it simply wasn't shown on tv anywhere, as no local NY stations carried it either (due to the late Sunday start, local stations were not allowed to air it). I cannot remember if ESPN was airing another game or they just skipped this week since football had already started. But I do remember vividly that the game was not available anywhere. I was pissed because I don't think I missed a game on TV all year in 1999. A shame it wasn't, as it was a big win.The Mets took 3 of 4 in LA.

Mets won the game despite only 2 damn hits, and one was by Reed. Garbage game. Reed pitched like an All Star.

My dad and I attend the game. It's a sunny if a bit breezy day. Mets have a 5-1 lead in the ninth. Franco starts the inning. Struggles a bit; gives up a few runs. Two outs, one runner is on and Devon White steps to the plate. My father asks me if I leave Franco in. With absolutely unfounded confidence, I tell him. "Of course, leave him in. White has no pop and it's lefty-lefty." White promptly hits a liner out to right. Tie game. Karros hits a no doubt about it bomb to left off Armando to win it for the Dodgers in the 10th.

This game was supposed to be played on April 9th but because of a snowout; the Dodgers came here on the day after Easter which was supposed to be an off-day for both teams. Matt Franco got the walk-off hit in a 1-0 victory where Joe Nunnaly (who?) scored the run. Pat Mahomes started the game. I was in the stands with my friend Mickey for this one because my friend who I normally go to the Mets games with couldn't make it.

I remember the game because it was postponed due to snow showers on the 9th and that it was my nephew's 1st baseball game.

The game wasn't there best but we won which was our 8 Series win in a row. Mike Piazza does it with his defense showing that he in not afraid of anything and he hustles every play. Our Bull Pen does it once again.

In Leiter's first start off the DL, he looked like he never got hurt. Also, Wendell got to bat.

Over the years my father used to take me and my siblings to many Mets-Dodgers games. Ten years ago was the last one we attended together. Dad claimed Kevin Brown left after 4 innings due to injury though I claimed it was because Brown stunk at this point in his career. In the end Dad was right as Brown went on the DL a few days later. Still, I got to see the Mets beat dem Bums one more time with Dad. Plus, I caught a T-shirt shot into the seats that night and to this day I still have the T-shirt and the ticket stub.

Over the years my father used to take me and my siblings to many Mets Dodgers games. Ten years ago this past Wednesday was the last one we attended together. Dad claimed Kevin Brown left after 4 innings due to injury though I claimed it was because Brown stunk at this point in his career. In the end Dad was right as Brown went on the DL a few days later. Still, I got to see the Mets beat dem Bums one more time with Dad. Plus, I caught a T- shirt shot into the seats that night and to this day I still have the T-shirt and the ticket stub.

This will probobly be my last visit ever to Shea Stadium. I haven't lived in NY for over 20 years at this point. Anyway, It was also my last pre 9-11 flight as well. Ok, very hot Saturday afternoon. The game was on FOX and I got a field level seat and sat next to some guy that still acted like the Dodgers were in Brooklyn. Kevin (bad contract) Appier started and kept them close and then the pen let them blow it wide open. Alfonzo went yard and then so did I since I knew it was a lost cause. There was a Met home run in the 9th. Since 2001 , I have been to six Met games at Turner Field in ATL. I will have to go to Citi Field in 2009 to see the Mets defend their World Series win of 2008.

I had just gotten back from a summer camp and was watching this game at my friend's house. Apparently the Mets season had gone from terrible to unbearable while I was gone, and NY was now something like 13 games out of first place.

For some reason I was still into this game and vividly remember Alfonso's homer. Strange that this game started an incredible streak that brought the Mets within 3 games of first place with 3 to play in Atlanta in late September.

It was amazing how I was at this game considering 2 days earlier I've been injured in a nasty fall that almost broke my nose and my right leg was in pain. I sat in the upper deck on the left field side and it rained prior to the game and they were honoring the 40th anniversary team and the fans kept chanting GO ON STRIKE when the Mets started to give up runs to the Dodgers. They lost 10-4 and the strike didn't happen as they struck an agreement just in time.

I went to this game with my father, brother and sister. Astacio got rocked early. If I remember correctly the Dodger pitcher Perez had a perfect game going until the 5th or 6th inning, with the Shea faithful cheering him on until he gave up a hit.

So I go to this game not expecting too much out of the Mets. The sun is blazing, I think it might have been about 95 degrees out there and I say to my friend, this game is gonna be brutal, Trachsel pitches absurdly slow. By the 3rd inning Trachsel would take about a minute or a minute and a half between pitches. It made us all sick. I started shouting THROW THE BALL and cursing him, suddenly the whole stadium started chanting throw--the--ball, throw--the--ball. And we were all laughing. Later that night I saw on sportscenter they put a clock counting off the seconds on how long it took Trachsel to get the ball and pitch it. I really believe I started that and that is my legacy at Shea Stadium.

A forgettably obscure game in a forgettably obscure year. A cold, gray May night with the season already fading fast and hoplessness and futility ahead.

But then somewhere between the fifth and sixth innning, looking down over the field where Seaver pitched, Bud and Pete tussled; Daryl,Dwight, Keith ,Gary starred;and where a soft dribbler up the first base line by Mookie found its way through the gnarled pedal extremities of the near great Bill Buckner; there smiling benevelolently on the Dimondvision was the beautiful face of my seven year old daughter. The camera continued to zoom in until her visage filled the screen, her gaze directed downward as if an angel forgiving these sad sack 2003 Mets their ineptitude. My life as a fan was complete

This was my first Met game. I grew up a Met fan in California, so I never got much of a chance to see them. My now-wife, then-girlfriend, surprised me the night before with tickets and we drove down to LA from Fresno the next morning. We've since moved to Pittsburgh, and got to see a Mets-Yankees game at Shea.

I'm a Met fan from the UK and was over in NY for my best friend's bachelor party - he has family in Jackson Heights. I headed off to Shea that afternoon desperate to see Pedro pitch; I managed to score a Loge Box seat in section 1 right behind home plate - best seat Ive ever had at Shea. It was an exciting time as you could feel the Mets were stirring again, and despite a nightmare first inning in which we gave up 3 runs on 2 errors as I recall, Jose Reyes bunt singled on base on his first pitch and the comeback was on. It was great to see Pedro pitch before his skills began to fade away and it was also good to see a good crowd again and our young nucleus of Reyes, Wright and Beltran taking shape.

I floated back into Manhattan on the 7 train, convinced the whole bachelor party (12 of us) to go back to Shea the next day to see Kris Benson pitch a beauty in another win. My other memory of the Saturday game was that despite being 34 years old I was asked for ID at the concession stand!

I saw this game with my dad. Don't remember too much about it, outside of getting to see "Pete" in a Mets uniform. I do remember the 8th inning rally and how much fun it was to watch!

Nice sunny day. We got seat cushions (a fave promotion). It was me, my sister, her b-f, my niece and nephew and our friend Kathy. Kris Benson was outstanding in destroying Milton "Next Stop the WWE" Bradley, Jeff "Git-R-Done" Kent and the once-great Dodgers. Piazza hits a big time shot into the wild blue yonder; I think it landed in Astoria. I've been going to Shea since 1975 and this was a terrific day for this LIFE LONG METS FAN!

Sad finish to a Pedro no-hit bid as he gives up a triple and homer in the 8th to lose the game 2- 1.

I was at this game. Drove out from Las Vegas to see a Vegas buddy who went out to UCLA for a heart transplant. Saw "my" Mets were in town and grabbed the Pedro game. 6 outs to go and I thought I was about to bear witness to NY Mets history! 1st batter in the 8th - K. I was getting giddy with 5 outs to go but with a Mets cloud of reality hanging over me... and for good reason.

2nd batter? Tripled. Next? Homer. Mets lose 2-1 on a 2 hitter. 7 1/3 no hit innings by Pedro was a joy to see tho' right up until that triple. Then you knew. You could hear the 'L' coming.

Such is what being a Met fan is/was all about...

I have been attending major league baseball games since 1953, and only remember seeing one inside the park HR (by Maury Wills at the Polo Grounds on 5/30/62); what I witnessed this night was performed by the most exciting player in the game, our own Jose Reyes. Unlike Wills, Jose may not be the great base stealer, but has shown he is worth his weight in gold. Jeter eat your heart out!

I was fortunate to witness 2 Mets inside the park homers in person, Timo Perez was fast against the Phillies in 2000, but Reyes topped it here. He was across home plate before the ball even hit the cutoff man. You knew that he was going to have it when the ball took the big bounce off the wall.

It was also a great outing from Glavine against the Dodgers which would be matched a month later in the playoffs.

Friend of mine handed me tickets (he couldn't go); Sat in the "Uecker Seats" in Section 24 Uppers! It was Taiwan Night and the Dodger P (can't remember his name) from Taiwan gives the Mets batters fits. Nomar hits a HR; I kept imitating Jimmy Fallon's drunk Beantown teenager Sully from SNL when Nomar came up to bat (NOMAH!) I kept 4 fans sitting behind me in stitches. Boring game except when Beltran makes a leaping catch and they only played 45 seconds of the "Curly Shuffle" BOO!!!! After the game, Waited for the crowd to disperse and struck up a conversation with a nice woman named Wanda (a fellow Mets fan) and I let her read my FOR METS FANS ONLY book until she got off the 7 train at her stop and we waited for the players to come out of the Diamond Club entrance, got a glimpse of Ron Darling. Even though it was a shutout loss, it was a nice night at Shea.

I attended this game, only to watch Hong-Chih Kuo demoralize the Mets. No doubt he will be a good pitcher in the future, but he picked the wrong team to beat.

This was a very bad loss. However it was still a thrill for my 7 year old son. It was his first ever big league game. My first game was with my father at Shea in 1974. Tom Seaver pitched and got shelled by the Pirates. Maybe I will have better luck with my first grandson.

The Kenny Lofton triple was the most painful moment. I was in the bathroom during the Jose Reyes HR.

Hopefully today's game is a sign of things to come for this post season. Good enough starting pitching, solid pen and big bats. I did not understand Willie letting Mota bat with the bases drunk in the 7th but we ended up winning so who am I to complain.

It is going to be tough to do this without Pedro and El Duque, however, like every other Mets fan I am hoping 50 years down the line people are going to be talking about the 2006 New York Mets who gutted their way through the playoffs and won a World Series title despite not having anything that resembled a solid starting rotation. Hell, let's win it dancing on the Yankee Stadium infield.

So far so good! Unbelievable game. Two Dodgers thrown out at the plate on one play in the 2nd inning, then 2 bombs by Delgado and Floyd. Decent starting pitching. Excellent bullpen work from 5 different relievers. Add it all together and you have a very exciting 6-5 Mets win in game 1. Just loved Carlos Delgado's reaction at first base after he put the Mets ahead again to stay! Seems like he is trying to knock someone out with his fist pump!

A great victory for the Mets. With everyone reeling from finding out that El Duque wasn't pitching in the Division Series, and might join Pedro in not playing at all in the playoffs, there was a lot of anxiety brewing in New York that day. But we were all able to forget about all that for a few hours. John Maine pitched a solid 4.1 innings, and an incredible play at the plate saved two runs. For some reason that I still don't understand, the Dodgers third base coach decided to send Jeff Kent and J.D. Drew around third, even though the throw was coming in from Shawn Green to Jose Valentin. Valentin threw it down to Lo Duca, who tagged Kent, looked over at the umpire, suddenly realized Drew was coming, and he tagged him too. Possibly one of the craziest moments in Mets history. Delgado had a great game, driving in a few runs and hitting a bomb, and Floyd hit a bomb that we all knew right off the bat was gone. Nomar tied it up, but Delgado got the lead right back, and Wagner made it interesting, as he always does, but we came out with the victory and that's all that matters. 1 down, 10 to go.

An exciting game that Willie tried everything in his power to give away. Maine was pitching well-- so take him out. Mota and Wagner had nothing, but Willie sticks with them.

This game is a perfect example why scoring rules have to change. Mota gets the win for giving up 3 runs and blowing the lead. Wagner gets a save for being ineffective.

This was the first playoff game that I remember because 1999 and 2000 were when I was too young to remember so I was waiting for this day to come for a while. Unfortunately for me I had a cross country race that day and was forced to listen to the game on the radio before the race. When the race started the Mets were down 1-0 and I ran my fastest race of the season to get the score from my dad. I found out that the Mets had gone ahead after 2 home runs and I was just thinking about how loud it must be. the Dodgers tied the game on my way home but I got home just in time to see the Mets take the lead and win the game.

I remember most fans and media giving the Mets little chance without Pedro and El Duque. Obviously they weren't paying attention as Maine was one of our best pitchers all year and pitched in big games for us going into the playoffs. Willie almost gave this game away with this horrid pitching decisions. In the end he did end up costing us by leaving Heilman in too long in game 7 of the NLCS.

My dad and I were sitting in Upper Deck section 12 with a clear view of the unusual play of two players being thrown out at home. I think we were surprised as much as Paul LoDuca when he turned around and saw the second runner. My first playoff game ever and a play that true Met fans like me will never forget.

Attended this game with my parents, two of my cousins, and aunt & uncle. And let me tell you that I was not too confident coming in with Pedro and El Duque out. Although I relaxed a lot after their Game One win. What a clutch performance by Tom Glavine. And special thanks to the speed of Endy Chavez and the hustle of Julio Franco to beat that throw to first to prevent the double play in the sixth, which allowed a run to score. An awesome win and a nice time with the family. GO METS!

The Fox announcers made fun of a Mets fan who was wearing some strange looking goggles in the crowd, turned out he was legally blind and it was the only way he could watch the game, being a huge Mets fan.

Another moronic move by the boys at Fox. But a great win for the Mets.

What a day! The Mets sweep the Dodgers, and the Yankees, along with their 200 million dollar payroll, lose to the Tigers and their 100 dollar payroll, in their series. The memory of Mike Scioscia, Tommy Lasorda, Orel Hershiser, and those unbelievably lucky '88 Dodgers put to rest! Get out those brooms!

An incredible day, because not only did the Mets sweep the Dodgers, but the Yankee fans were silenced by the Tigers. Next stop, NLCS!

Eight victories away from our ultimate goal! Not only are the Mets on their way to the NLCS, but the Yankees are on their way to the golf course. I LOVE THIS GAME! The Mets swept the Dodgers right out of the playoffs with a convincing 9-5 win at Chavez Ravine! Shawn Green had a hell of a night against his former club. It was nice to see him catch the final out! I am so glad I can now forget about the '88 collapse! LET'S GO METS!

A guy in a Mr. Met head was in the upper deck at Chavez Ravine. At the end of the game angry Dodger fans were burning the head in the parking lot. It was great seeing the Mets celebrate on the field after the last out, avenging 1988.

I have zero tolerance for opponents and visitng team's fans who employ cheap, "in your face" theatrics to zing the Mets and their fans. Kuo needs to take a course in baseball etiquette, because there are other ways to properly celebrate hitting your first-ever home run than flinging your bat towards the opposing player's dugout. You run the bases with your head down, then once you reach home plate you can smile and high-five and revel with your teammates. I know he apologized for doing it after the game, but that matter will not be forgotten among Mets players.

Hopefully, there will be a day when the Mets pummel this paper pitcher to the tune of nine runs on 14 hits in three and one-third innings (or equivalent thereof).

Oliver Perez just keeps proving that he is stepping up as the ACE of this staff!! A great pitching performance from Ollie tonight. Mets also picked up another game in the standings on the Braves and now lead them by 3 and 1/2 games.

Little bit of a shaky performance from El Dugue but great clutch hitting by the Mets and they come home with a 3 and 1/2 game lead on the Braves. Team might be turning it around offensively.

A friend of mine gave me 2 tickets (he couldn't go). They were in the Field Box 232 and it was a warm, sunny day as El Duque got the win and did some trash talking with the Dodgers Russell Martin because he thought Martin was purposely trying to get hit by a pitch. It was Irish day and I felt sorry for the poor young dancers who had to wear long sleeved shirts in the hot August sun!!!!

Whatever momentum the Mets got from the series in Arizona has been lost. This team has absolutely no consistency offensively. Its frustrating because they should have a better offensive output on a regular basis. Mets led in this game but Nelson F. could not hold the lead. In 2006 the Mets would get ahead in a game and put their opponent away. It seems as if now if they get a lead they are content on depending on the starters and the bullpen to hold that lead. Where is that killer instinct from 2 years ago? I hate to say this but the Mets are mediocre at best right now.

I've seen two inside-the-parkers. Blake DeWitt's in this game was the first.

Nice win today. The bats finally came alive with RISP and John Maine was outstanding, almost going the distance. Mets need to be more consistent with RISP and with 2 outs. Just seems this year so far they are lacking the big clutch hit. Finished the road trip at 3-3 but could have easily been 4-2. Now we come home to play the Reds and the Nationals, two of the worst teams in the National League. Time to start a nice big winning streak now!

My first time in Dodger Stadium. Luckily the Mets were in town when I was. Great lopsided game, no worries. Still can't get over the $17 beers. I was there with 3 buddies and we each bought a $68 round. But I was very happy the Mets looked great and John Maine was still a decent pitcher

Horrible loss for the Mets. So many mistakes that they probably did not deserve to win. You make 5 errors in 1 game, chances are you are going to lose. Obviously the biggest mistake was Church missing third base. This changed the whole ball game as the Mets were deprived from bringing in K-Rod in the bottom of the inning.

I am really angry with Manuel's comments after the game. He seemed to magnify Church's mistake like he killed someone. Manuel needs to grow up as he acted in a selfish and childish way after the game. It is a manager's job to support his players unless they are not going all out and showing hustle. The fact is that regardless of whether Manuel likes Church or not, he needs to support him. Church is here and he needs to feel like he is a part of the team. He should not be outcasted by a manager who is clearly over-rated.

What a way to escape to the west coast and see the Mets in Hollywood star in "A Comedy 0f Errors." 0nce again the Mets play their classic role of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory by committing 5, yes, FlVE errors.

Not to mention the base running error by Ryan Church who failed to touch 3rd base and score the potential game winning run. Then to commit 2 errors in the bottom of the 12th inning including Jeremy Reed (playing his 4th game ever at first) throwing away the winning run.

A Hollywood ending as the home team rides off into the sunset with the win.

I'd rather this game end up on the cutting room floor.

Ok, first, this is the behind-the-back play by Daniel Murphy. Mark Loretta hits a shot down the first base line that hits the bag and bounces high in the air. Murph runs over to it, picks it up and no-looks a flip behind the back to Bobby Parnell covering first to nab Loretta! OH WHAT A PLAY!

However, for my sons and I, the most memorable moment is when Troncoso of The Dodgers flipped a ball up to us in the first row in left field, which my 7-year-old son caught in his glove. PRICELESS! At first, my son had a Manny Ramirez BP homer just hit off his glove thanks to another ADULT interfering...OH SO CLOSE. But, all in all, having Troncoso flip one to him after seeing this happen is a moment we'll most likely NEVER forget!

Nice win for the Amazin's on our nation's 235th birthday. FYI, the Mets all-time record on July 4th is now 29-32 and they have played every year on this date except 1981 (the strike year).

The Mets turned a triple play in the sixth inning of this game. Eric Campbell fielded a grounder and threw to Daniel Murphy, who then threw to Lucas Duda to double up the hitter, Matt Kemp. For some reason, Yasiel Puig tried to score from second and was out on Duda's throw to Travis d'Arnaud to complete the tri-killing. A headline the next day described Puig's running decision as "aggressive", but it should have said "stupid".

The TP happened on Bartolo Colon's last pitch before coming out of the game. Colon's name was mentioned in trade rumors at the time, which means his tenure as a Met could have ended with a special touch. It didn't turn out to be the case, though.

As for the offense, the Mets hit four homers. Duda slugged twice while d'Arnaud and Ruben Tejada also went deep.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Mets turned a triple play made possible by Yasiel Puig's attempt to score from second base on an infield ground ball. This was something that Mookie Wilson had twice pulled off successfully within four days to give the Mets a pair of victories back in 1983. Still, Keith Hernandez stated on television that no player should ever try to do this no matter how fast a runner he may be. It's hard to figure out what Puig was thinking at that moment, but he made it very clear that he was not Mookie Wilson.

It was my birthday. It was the most runs and hits I have ever seen at a ball game. Wow, it was awesome.

Was at this game on a hot and sunny afternoon as they gave out the Curtis Grandeson FATHEAD. I was hoping that they would save some runs the night after their offensive explosion as Juan Uribe saves the day with a walk-off hit in the bottom of the 10th inning.

I was at this game with my wife and daughter and it happened to be one of the few games Jenrry Meija appeared in all season. He wound up getting the win in relief (his only win in 2015) as the Mets came back in the 10th after Familia blew the save opportunity by giving up 2 runs in the top of the 9th.

As it would turn out, this game had the same matchup of starting pitchers (Greinke vs deGrom) and the same final score (3-2) as the Mets series clinching win in the final game of the five-game Division series versus the Dodgers on October 15th of 2015.

I was fortunate to see this first Mets playoff game in Citi Field. I was literally in the last row in foul territory down the LF line. Mets won the game easily and Harvey only went 5 innings for the victory. The place was rocking!

First of all, I watched this great game at a local watering hole due to the fact that I HAVEN'T had my cable since late July (money problems) and with a few exceptions I've had to rely on 710 WOR-AM with Howie, Josh and Wayne. Watched it with a few Mets supporters and when Familia struck out Howie Kendrick, I was tired as heck but it was a happy tired and the 2 bartenders that worked that night are Mets fans in a place that supports the Bronx Satanic Occult!!!! Btw, the Mets are STILL PLAYING OCTOBER BASEBALL and the Yankees are playing OCTOBER GOLF, TENNIS, HUNTING AND FISHING AND A-ROID IS VISITING A NEVADA BROTHEL!! Anyhow, TBS is doing a pretty decent job of the NL playoffs but with one exception: Cal Ripken Jr's DULL commentary!!!! Don't get me wrong, Cal's an all time great but he takes away from Ernie Johnson and Ron Darling's good vibes!!!! LETS GO METS GO!!!! Beat the CUBBIES and then some!!!!

Daniel Murphy stole this game from the Dodgers, literally. After a walk to Lucas Duda forced him to second base, Murphy snuck to third as the L.A. players who had shifted for Duda did not get back fast enough. What a way to make a team pay for putting on the shift! Daniel came home on Travis d'Arnaud's sacrifice fly and the game was tied. Murphy later homered to put the Mets in front to stay and it was on to the NLCS. The Mets won by outthinking the Dodgers.

There are a few interesting connections in regard to Syndergaard’s slugging in this game. One of them in that Noah – just as his namesake from the Bible did with each of the animals – provided two of them. Another is that the round-trippers came right on the birthday of Walt Terrell, who was the only previous Mets pitcher to hit two home runs in a game. Furthermore, both Terrell’s and Syndergaard’s homers drove in all four runs the Mets scored in a victory on the road. History played a key role in several ways on this night.

This was the night Howie Rose legitimately complained on the air about the unnecessary delayed start of the game, which was supposed to be 1:00 in the afternoon. Game time got pushed back seven hours because of the “network stooge” that believes a national TV audience is more important than the locals on hand who actually pay money for tickets. Inconveniencing the real fans in this manner is not good for baseball or any other sport. Howie was right when he gave some hell to that Evil Source of Pathetic Nonsense that believes a national TV audience is more important than the locals on hand who actually pay money for tickets.

This was a very exciting game. Midst of a playoff race, two teams from the two biggest cities in baseball, and my God, the matchup. deGrom in the middle of a ridiculous second half and Ryu, the ERA leader, in for LA. I went to this one, ton of Dodgers and Mets fans alike.

The pitching was incredible. Jake and Ryu were going neck and neck, neither lineup had any advantage. deGrom only got into trouble right before he finished seven strong, and Ryu was just as dominant. This one was a lock for extra innings, it seemed.

Except no, who else but ultra-clutch man Rajai Davis with the two strike, two out 3 RBI double in the eighth. Citi's going bananas. Wilson holds the fort. What a game, what a moment.

In the hazy, golden twilight of Dodger Stadium, Brandon Nimmo led off this game with a hit to deep right-center field that Jason Hayward misplayed into a three base error. Facing a man on third and no outs, Kershaw struck out Marte, Lindor and Alonso (all swinging) to end the inning.

In the bottom of the third inning, the Mets learned that J.D. Martinez absolutely owns Tylor Megill after Martinez hit his second home run of the game against him. Pham also made two errors on one play by muffing a base hit, then making a sloppy throw back to no one in particular. I'm not sure about that guy.

As night set in, the Mets bats went to bed early. Kershaw struck out nine in seven innings of scoreless baseball for his 200th career win.

Incidentally, Kershaw has the highest wins above replacement of any player in Dodgers history, including the Brooklyn era.

In his career against the Mets (17 starts not counting the 2015 NLDS), he's 11-0 with 123 strikeouts in 110 IP and a 2.03 ERA.

The Mets' title dreams ended in this sixth and final game of the NLCS. The defeat came one-half hour after the Liberty won Game 5 of the WNBA finals for their first ever league championship. It was a night of the highest and the lowest of emotions for New York sports fans.

Mark Vientos slugged a two-run homer in the fourth inning. This was the 100th postseason home run in Mets history.