As we officially begin our bracket challenge today, we start off with an interesting match-up of old vs. new. To see the bracket, please return here.
To look back at these two great events, I have pulled from other articles to get a sense of the general impact of both.
Suddenly the Mets, who for so long seemed to have losing in their lifeblood, couldn’t lose if they tried. They won both ends of a doubleheader over the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 12 when their two starting pitchers—Koosman and Don Cardwell—knocked in the only runs in a pair of 1-0 victories. Three days later, St. Louis pitcher Steve Carlton set an all-time major league record against the Mets with 19 strikeouts—and the Mets still beat him, 4-3. New York clinched the NL East at its final home game before a week-long, season-ending road trip; Shea Stadium groundskeepers would need that week to repair the turf, ripped apart by 50,000 rabid fans.— 1969 The Amazin’ Mets
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The New York Mets ended nearly two decades of disappointment in their division and days of delay, clinching the NL East for the first time since 1988 with a 4-0 victory over the Florida Marlins on Monday night.
Jose Valentin, one of their unexpected stars, homered twice and Steve Trachsel, their longest-tenured player, combined with three relievers on a four-hitter.
Fireworks shot off from behind the center-field wall when Cliff Floyd caught Josh Willingham’s fly ball to left for the final out. The Mets rushed to the center of the diamond to celebrate, hugging near shortstop.
New York’s “other team,” often obscured by the crosstown Yankees, had hoped to clinch last week during a trip to Florida and Pittsburgh. But the 280 or so bottles of Freixenet Cordon Negro Extra Dry sparkling wine that had been flown from city to city were neatly arrayed in four trays outside the clubhouse before the game, as if to tantalize passing players.
Just two years removed from a 71-91 finish that led to the hiring of Omar Minaya as general manager and Willie Randolph as manager, the Mets ended the reign of the Atlanta Braves, who had won 14 straight division titles, including 11 in a row since their move to the NL East.—The New York Times
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Leave your votes below. This is a single elimination bracket, so one of these great moments will lose today without your vote!
36 comments
Stick
3/18/2013-12:01pm at 12:01 pm (UTC -4)
at least the first bracket is apples to apples!
TRS86
3/18/2013-12:02pm at 12:02 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed. I thought it was kinda entertaining how the bracket broke down to have a few similarities in there.
Sylow59
3/18/2013-12:08pm at 12:08 pm (UTC -4)
Hands down 1969. I was in 5th grade at the time and there was a magic in the air that summer and fall. My dad took me to the game on 9/20 against the Pirates (Bob Moose’s no hitter). Shea was packed and nobody seemed to care we lost because everyone knew it was our year.
kingman 26
3/18/2013-12:16pm at 12:16 pm (UTC -4)
Great series Chief!
And hello Sylow!
I was just 3 in 1969 so I have no memory of that….my earliest Met memory was going to my first game in Sept 1970 at Shea, and I just have memories of there being more people than anywhere I had ever seen, that everyone was really tall and big, and all of the men were wearing hats.
Still, of these two, I have to still pick 1969–I know from my Dad and my uncle how incredibly special that year was.
And really, that team is without question among the most memorable of ALL teams in baseball over the last 50 years. As is the 1986 team.
So, while we just have two titles, they are pretty damn good ones.
srt
3/18/2013-12:21pm at 12:21 pm (UTC -4)
‘Great series Chief!’
I second this.
Something fun to debate instead of the reality lately with who will be ready for opening day, who will not….
Sylow59
3/18/2013-12:47pm at 12:47 pm (UTC -4)
My first Met game was 8/17/67. My friends father got 3 tickets to the game (3rd bas box, 3 rows from the field) and we went to the game. My dad had to drive because my friends dad didn’t have a liscense (we lived in NJ). My dad was going to get a ticket at tge game as close to us as possible. So we went around go the different ticket boxes and found the a ticket right next to my seat.
Well I believed that until I became a father and basically pulled tge same thing on my daughter on the Halloween Tweetsie Railroad near Boone, NC (lived in Charlotte then). He still denied it though, but we both knew.
Sylow59
3/18/2013-12:48pm at 12:48 pm (UTC -4)
And, btw, they lost 1-0 on a Jimmy Wynn HR.
TRS86
3/18/2013-12:49pm at 12:49 pm (UTC -4)
AH the good ole Tweetsie Railroad. Only about an hour or so away for me. Many a vacations when I was a child was centered around this not so fantastic theme park. I took my daughter there and it just didn’t seem the same.
Sylow59
3/18/2013-12:59pm at 12:59 pm (UTC -4)
Small world. I lived in lincolnton. I’ve lived in 3 places since and still can’t find BBQ slaw.
TRS86
3/18/2013-1:03pm at 1:03 pm (UTC -4)
Even smaller world. I am there now.
kingman 26
3/18/2013-1:10pm at 1:10 pm (UTC -4)
I lived in Charlotte from 1973-1975, and have vacationed in the Carolinas since then, and I ALSO have been to the not-so-fantastic Tweetsie Railroad, probably around 1980.
And I love BBQ AND cole slaw, and the slaw can be southern style or NY deli style.
TRS86
3/18/2013-1:14pm at 1:14 pm (UTC -4)
Hey uh… did you leave in 1975 because of a specific event? I mean I am pretty sure I know who my father is but….
Stick
3/18/2013-1:20pm at 1:20 pm (UTC -4)
I will be down there in 2 weeks (but north a bit, in Burlington). But I guarantee my daughter will not want to go to the tweetsie railroad.
If we did, I might never convince my wife to move down there!
TRS86
3/18/2013-1:21pm at 1:21 pm (UTC -4)
Hey Burlington, not too bad of an area.
Stick
3/18/2013-1:24pm at 1:24 pm (UTC -4)
that is where the hotel is. We are touring Elon next week on my daughter’s “I’m a junior so I am supposed to go look at colleges on spring break” tour.
kingman 26
3/18/2013-1:29pm at 1:29 pm (UTC -4)
LOL TRS!
My Dad was transferred by his company to Charlotte from NJ in the fall of 1973, and transferred back to NJ in the spring of 1975 and we moved back to the same house, as we had rented it, as he was pretty sure it was a temporary move…he had just made partner and they wanted his help down there on a temporary basis.
Love that area.
TRS86
3/18/2013-1:43pm at 1:43 pm (UTC -4)
Elon is a very nice school.
Hey Sylow, how long ago did you move from Lincolnton?
Sylow59
3/18/2013-1:59pm at 1:59 pm (UTC -4)
Trs: I’m on my iPhone and can’t figure out how to directly respond. Lived there 2000-04. I live in StL now, which is my dad’s ancestral homeland. I love it, but will likely retire to Lincoln County.
In lincolnton It was Kings BbQ if I remember. And Tequilas Mexican restaurant was killer. And the country ham. There was a breakfast place by the best western that allowed me to gain 15 pounds. Damn, I’m hungry. Oh , and bojangles.
Sylow59
3/18/2013-2:02pm at 2:02 pm (UTC -4)
Kingman: NC has BBQ slaw. It’s like a vinegar slaw, but with BBQ sauce. Its really good on hot dogs with chili.
TRS86
3/18/2013-2:13pm at 2:13 pm (UTC -4)
Again, small world Sy. I am the basketball coach at a high school near by that was formed around the time you left.
TRS86
3/18/2013-2:13pm at 2:13 pm (UTC -4)
Oh and BBQ King is most likely the restraunt you are refering to. Incredible food.
Sylow59
3/18/2013-2:22pm at 2:22 pm (UTC -4)
I remember them building that school. It was the place everyone wanted to send their kid. Is The It still there?
Trs86
3/18/2013-8:41pm at 8:41 pm (UTC -4)
That is indeed the school. I spend about 14 hours a day there during basketball season. Lol.
As for your other question not sure I got it?
Trs86
3/18/2013-8:44pm at 8:44 pm (UTC -4)
He’ll who am I kidding, game nights I start the day at around 7:30 there and finish up around 11:00 pm. Joys of a coach. We just ended about 3 weeks ago and workouts for the next year started today.
srt
3/18/2013-12:17pm at 12:17 pm (UTC -4)
As much as I loved the 2006 season, the clinching of the division, that immortal moment on the field with Wright and Reyes and the unlit cigars celebrating….I had to go with the clinching of the NL east in ’69.
I saw them both. What makes ’69 the better one is two reasons, IMO:
1. First division win for the NY Mets franchise.
2. The fact that they were more or less predicted to finish last – again – even with the new east/west divisions.
greggofboken
3/18/2013-1:09pm at 1:09 pm (UTC -4)
While both were impressive, while given the choice of what captures my heart — I will salute the rumbling locomotive…..but I will stand on my seat and cheer to the heavens for The LIttle Engine That Could.
Bravo, Gil!
Prismo
3/18/2013-1:37pm at 1:37 pm (UTC -4)
All I have to say in this thread is that you’re all a bunch of old farts!
TRS86
3/18/2013-1:43pm at 1:43 pm (UTC -4)
Prismo, also known as the one vote.
Prismo
3/18/2013-1:45pm at 1:45 pm (UTC -4)
It was a protest vote. lol
Stick
3/18/2013-1:50pm at 1:50 pm (UTC -4)
Old farts run the world.
Get used to it.
Sylow59
3/18/2013-2:23pm at 2:23 pm (UTC -4)
Why I have a Gastrointestinologist.
Sylow59
3/18/2013-2:25pm at 2:25 pm (UTC -4)
That’s why …
darknova306
3/18/2013-1:51pm at 1:51 pm (UTC -4)
I’m not nearly old enough to have any emotional ties to ’69.
TRS86
3/18/2013-1:52pm at 1:52 pm (UTC -4)
Known as #2.
Stick
3/18/2013-3:50pm at 3:50 pm (UTC -4)
Hey, the Mets won another game, and Harvey seems to be pretty much ready. Nice. And a Duda HR, can’t go wrong there.
and in the NFC, the Falcons beat the Eagles 17-10.
TX
3/18/2013-4:23pm at 4:23 pm (UTC -4)
So Niese and Harvey look ready. Gee looks like he could go good or he could go horrid. Coinflip there. And then there is Marcum and Hefner and my oh my its not going to be pretty.