It is hard to believe that 26 years ago tonight the dream had come true for the ’86 Mets as well as their long suffering fan base. I was a 14 freshman at Vernon Township High School in Vernon N.J. as well as a die hard Mets fan. Along with my Anthrax t-shirt and faded jeans (along with my pack of Marlboros tucked inside my denim jacket), – I also had my weather beaten time faded Mets cap. I was one of the very few Mets fans (and metal heads) embedded in a enclave of Yankee blue and white.
I had moved to Vernon from Brooklyn 3 years prior and needless to say for a city kid the transition was tough. I immersed myself in Mets baseball and music. Yes I had rooted for the Mets since birth, and yes I remember being at Shea during the dark times of the late ’70′s, but seeing my favorite team dominating the competition helped to ease my growing pains as well as the feelings of isolation that I had battled on a daily basis.
I remember watching game 7 . It was a school night, but my father let me stay up to watch the game. When Jesse Orosco secured the third out I started cheering wildly . It was a cathartic experience. I could finally hold my head up and know that the team that I rooted for religiously (and teased mercelessly for it) finally was on top of the baseball world.
I still get chills when I watch this clip today .
Click here to view
And with that said… HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!
Mets alumni celebrating a birthday includes:
One of the most iconic voices in Mets history, Ralph Kiner is 90 (1922). Although Ralph never played a single game as a Met, his D.N.A is woven into the fabric of this franchises’ history.
Back up third baseman from the ’63 season, Pumpsie Green is 79 (1933).
Reserve outfielder from ’78-’79, Gil Flores turns 60 today (1952).
Mets catching instructor and first base coach from ’05-’08, Tom Nieto is 52 (1960).
One of the Mets better home grown pitching talents, Jon Niese is 26 (1986).
Middle reliever from ’11-’12, Queens own Pedro Beato is 26 (1986).
Current Mets infielder, Ruben Tejada is 23 (1989).
The New York Mets released middle reliever, Bob McClure on October 27, 1988. McClure appeared in 14 games for the Mets that season and finished with a record of 1-0, 1 save and a E.R.A of 4.09.
Back in ’86 Mo Vaughn was a young Red Sox fan. He vowed that he would someday avenge the defeat of his favorite team. Needless he became a Met in ’02 and the rest is INFAMY !!!
13 comments
Stickguy
10/27/2012-12:31pm at 12:31 pm (UTC -4)
A rusty sighting. there is hope after all!
I can’t believe it was that long ago. damned I am old.
TX
10/27/2012-4:09pm at 4:09 pm (UTC -4)
From Brooklyn to Vernon? dang dude. I lived in West Milford and for however hillbilly we all thought West Milly was, we snubbed our noses at Vernon. Too funny.
26 years… It’s like our one good snowtire to rely on. We need another title or 3. Preferably with Wright at 3B!
kingman 26
10/27/2012-4:13pm at 4:13 pm (UTC -4)
YES!
When we beat Detroit or Anaheim in the WS in a few years, Wright will very possibly be playing third base for THEM!!
TX
10/27/2012-9:30pm at 9:30 pm (UTC -4)
Mets vs. Toronto… Dickey pitching on short rest, Wright jacks 2 hrs. off RA to cap off a 4-0 Sweep in 2014 WS. Bitter sweet…
kingman 26
10/27/2012-4:14pm at 4:14 pm (UTC -4)
Wow, Ralph is 90 today.
You are so right Rusty—to me Ralph is as much of a Met as Seaver or Keith.
Or Kingman.
srt
10/27/2012-5:01pm at 5:01 pm (UTC -4)
‘HE struck him out!!’
I remember being a bit bummed b/c game 7 was postponed due to rain. But I was back on my living room couch that night Game 7 started – same place I was for Game 6 – and even when Boston scored first, I just knew we were going to win that game.
Being about a decade or so older than you, Rusty – I didn’t need permission to stay up late. I went to work the next morning though feeling hung over, even though I wasn’t. Stayed up watching all post game celebrations, news and anything else I could find on TV. Something tells me if home internet was around back in ’86, I would have been calling out sick the next day. Would have stayed up all night online.
Thanks for the memories.
Here’s hoping we have another championship sooner rather than later.
kingman 26
10/27/2012-6:03pm at 6:03 pm (UTC -4)
I was a junior at the U of Vermont, watched Games 6 and 7 with about 20+ people, maybe 90% of whom were Sox fans.
I WAS hung over as hell, had a 7 AM makeup exam the morning after Game 7, it was raining, and I vividly remember groggily walking up the hill to the Green, eager to see the newspaper machines outside the library—the Burlington Free Press, Boston Globe, and USA Today machines all lined up with their “Mets Win World Series” editions.
An unforgettable morning which gives me goosebumps writing about even today.
PS–Re-signing Dickey and trading Wright are steps 1 and 2 towards title # 3…trust me…
srt
10/27/2012-8:33pm at 8:33 pm (UTC -4)
I’m firmly in the re-sign Wright and Dickey camp as well.
I remember getting the Star Ledger, Post and I think Daily News the next day. Dang…wish I had kept those back pages.
TX
10/27/2012-9:06pm at 9:06 pm (UTC -4)
I think to much Mud Honey gave ou dyslexia. Trade Dickey, sign Wright, sign Garza for 2014 (or a comparable)…
Stick
10/27/2012-11:17pm at 11:17 pm (UTC -4)
trade them both.
darknova306
10/27/2012-11:48pm at 11:48 pm (UTC -4)
“trade them both”
You pretty much have to, unless no one is offering anything close to reasonable for them, which is unlikely.
TX
10/27/2012-9:21pm at 9:21 pm (UTC -4)
How much do you all think Madsen will command?
Stick
10/27/2012-11:19pm at 11:19 pm (UTC -4)
so hard to tell, coming off TJ and having no idea how effective he will be, when he can be used (and used normally) and how long he could go.
I assume he will just want a 1 year deal to rebuild his value on. But, if you could get him for a multi year deal with some sort of options/incentives, it could be a good acquisition.