1986 New York Mets season
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The 1986 New York Mets was the Mets 25th season in the National League. They began the season looking to equal or improve upon their 98-64 record from 1985 and to try and win the National League East Division. They would finish the season with a 108-54 record, cruising to the division title. They went on to defeat the Houston Astros in six games in the NLCS and the American League champion Boston Red Sox in seven games in the World Series.
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[edit] Background
After Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden made their debuts, the Mets hired Davey Johnson as manager in 1984. The Mets would finish 2nd for two years in a row. In the 1985-86 offseason, general manager Frank Cashen would bring in Tim Teufel, a right-handed hitting infielder from the Minnesota Twins. One weakness the Mets had in 1984-85 was the additional pitching. So they brought in southpaw Bob Ojeda from the Red Sox. The Mets added them along with former MVP's George Foster and Keith Hernandez, speedy youngsters Lenny Dykstra, Wally Backman, and Mookie Wilson, and catcher Gary Carter.
In Spring Training, Davey Johnson said to his players that they were not going to win, they would dominate. That meant winning the division by double-digits. But during practice, Mookie Wilson would get injured in a freak accident when he was hit in the eye during a rundown drill.
[edit] April
The Mets would have a rocky start with a 2-3 record (including two extra-inning losses to the St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies respectively). But when the Mets hosted the Phils in Shea Stadium, they would embark on an 11-game winning streak. Their toughest test in this stretch happened in St. Louis. On April 24, Howard Johnson hit a game-tying homer. A few games later, Wally Backman would make a series-saving double-play. The Mets would finish the month 20-4.
[edit] May
The Mets would continue dominating in May. The turning point came on May 27 when third baseman Ray Knight brawled with Dodgers' pitcher Tom Niedenfuer. This gave the Mets a reputation for playing hard and fighting. Many other teams hated their curtain calls.
[edit] June
This month, the shining light came on June 10 against the Phillies when Tim Teufel hit a pinch-hit, game-winning grand slam.
[edit] July
On July 3 against Houston, Darryl Strawberry would hit a game-tying home run. But it would be Ray Knight who won the game with a homer of his own. Dwight Gooden's first half performance was good enough for him to earn the honor of being named starting pitcher for the National League in the All-Star Game in the Astrodome. But the Astrodome would fear the Mets as they got swept by the Astros (including two losses at the final at-bat). In this series, four Mets would get arrested in a popular nightclub in Houston. Their fortunes improved in a bizarre game in Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium on July 22. In the top of the ninth, Dave Parker dropped the ball that could've been the final out for the Reds, allowing the Mets to tie the game. In the bottom of the tenth, Eric Davis got to third and brawled with Ray Knight. Both men, along with Kevin Mitchell and Mario Soto, got ejected. Johnson was forced to put Roger McDowell in the outfield. In the bottom of the twelfth, Carl Willis bunted into a double-play. In the top of the fourteenth, Howard Johnson hit a home run to put the Mets on top.
[edit] August
Former MVP George Foster was released. Former Mets favorite Lee Mazzilli would return. Gary Carter would be injured. While he was gone, the Mets would win 8 of 11 games. The highlight came on August 27 in Jack Murphy Stadium against the Padres when Tim Flannery would hit one into the outfield. However, it was thrown to get the runner out and eventually Flannery.
[edit] September-October
In an exhibition game against the Red Sox, Gary Carter would hit a double to test out the Green Monster. When they got to Philadelphia, droves of Mets fans were there to see if they would clinch the NL East. However, they wouldn't win a game until September 17. That day, they faced Dennis Eckersley and the Chicago Cubs. With a flu-ridden Keith Hernandez, Dave Magadan would be the offensive source of the day. Hernandez would return in the 9th to get the final out. The champagne would be popped immediately while the fans invaded the field quickly. The Mets would win a team-record 108 games after defeating the Pirates.
