In 1962, a franchise muddled in both glory and heartbreak was born: the New York Metropolitans. Let’s remember the best moments in 55 years of Amazin’ opening days.
By Jeremy Fialkow
That’s right, tonight the Bigs’ 2016 season will kick-off with a Fall Classic rematch between the New York Mets and Kansas City Royals.
Aside from last year’s World Series appearance and 2006’s NLCS letdown, the past couple decades for the Mets have been quite disappointing.
Yet, as the Mets embark upon their 55th season in Major League Baseball, we’d be remised not to mention them as a successful franchise.
In fact, there’s a tendency for this unit to play better on Opening Day, as a matter of coincidence.
Aside from losing eight in a row from starting in their first year of existence, 1962, New York has only lost consecutive Opening Day games just once, in 1999 and 2000.
Since their founding, the Metropolitans have a record of 35-19 on the season debut in their entire history. So, it appears as though they have about a 65% chance of defeating the Royals tonight…but, I’m no Nate Silver.
Here are the top Opening Day and Home-Opener moments in Mets history:
Honorable Mentions:
April 11th, 1962
This was the beginning of a long journey consisting of glory and heartbreak. It was the first home opener of the New York Metropolitan franchise.
Sure, New York lost to Pittsburgh Pirates by a score of 4-3.
Sure, the Friday the 13th date of the game may have had something to do with that. Who knows?
April 1, 2013
Honestly, no one really cares about the 2013 Mets. They finished 74-88 and in 3rd place of the NL East.
Still, Opening Day saw a historic moment occur when the Mets took a 11-2 victory over the San Diego Padres, including a grand slam from Colin Cowgill.
The grand salami marked the first time in franchise history for a player to do so in his debut with the ball club.
5. April 9th, 1985
The arrival of the late Gary Carter was considered to be the final piece put in place for the Amazin’s to have a true championship-caliber team.
So, “The Kid” comes over to the Mets in a trade with the Montreal Expos in the winter of 1985.
Fast-forward to opening day that year, and the Mets are tied with the Cardinals, 5-5, heading into extra innings.
The game was exciting and excruciating, that is, until the bottom of the 10th inning when Carter stepped up to the plate.
What did he do next?
Oh, nothing much, really.
The Kid simply demolished the stitches off of the baseball, hitting a walk-off home run and securing a New York Mets victory in his very own debut.
4. April 11, 2005
While this game was a home-opener for the Mets, it marked what was supposed to be the inception of something quite noteworthy.
This day was the first home game for New York of the Carlos Beltran and Pedro Martinez Era in Queens.
The Mets scored five runs in the 8th inning to win the game by a score of 8-4. Former beloved Met closer turned Houston Astro, John Franco, made his return to Shea, and conceded a two-run single to Cliff Floyd in that fateful eighth frame.
That offseason, while the Yankees were heavy favorites to sign Beltran, Mets General Manager Omar Minaya made a power move and put pen to paper with the slugger to the tune of 7-years, $119 million, the largest in franchise history at the time.
Yet, Minaya wasn’t done just yet.
Coming off of a season that concluded with a Boston Red Sox World Series Championship, Martinez, the Hall of Fame pitcher, signed a 4-year, $53 million contract, bringing him to the big city.
This day was expected to be that which revived the New York Mets.
Oh, what could have been.
They should have commanded the National League for years to come. What began with a dominating 2006 season, ended with a heartbreaking loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 7 of the NLCS.
Everyone knows what happens next: The Mets look halfway decent in 2007 and 2008, but both end with miserable late-season collapses, keeping New York from another playoff appearance.
This era ended with more questions left than answers.
3. April 17, 1968
Did you Know? The Mets lost on Opening Day in each of the first eight seasons of existence?
Yup, from 1962 to 1969, the Mets never one on baseball’s initial day.
Nevertheless, the Home Opener in 1968 appeared to be the beginning of something special for New York.
This day was the Metropolitans first home-opening win in franchise history. That’s seven years after the club’s formation.
Two Met greats had incredible days on the diamond.
For starters, Jerry Koosman was on the hill, pitching for the Mets. He put on a show, much like Met pitchers do these days, as he struck out 10 Giants on the way to a 3-0 win.
Secondly, Cleon Jones powered the Mets to victory offensively that day, sending a deep shot out the park in the game’s second inning.
Jones, of course, famously caught the final out against the Baltimore Orioles the very next year to hand the Miracle Mets their first World Series title ever.
2. April 5, 1983
Tom Seaver, the man they call “The Franchise” holds a special place in the heart of all Mets fans.
Heck, my dog is named after him. No kidding.
During one particular stretch from 1975 to 1983, the Mets won on Opening day in nine consecutive seasons. Of those wins, three were credited to legend that is Tom Terrific.
For his career, he finished with 311 wins, 3,640 strikeouts, 61 shutouts, and a 2.86 ERA. He was certainly terrific, which explains his 1992 record-breaking induction into the Hall of Fame with his name 98.84% of ballots. That was, until Ken Griffey Jr. broke the mark last year.
Still, Seaver will be remembered in folklore for the championship he helped bring in 1969, but also a more infamous reason.
This date marked his return to the Big Apple after being unceremoniously traded to the Reds in 1977. It was the return of a symbol: A symbol of New York’s greatest successes back in orange and blue.
On the hill, Tom Terrific tossed six shutout innings on his way to beating fellow Hall of Famer Steve Carlton and the Philadelphia Phillies 2-0.
The first batter of the day was a legend himself, Pete Rose. After slinging a strike on the first pitch, Seaver wound up and fired another, leaving Rose to remark:
“I didn’t know he could throw that hard anymore”
Per ESPN, 10 years prior in 1973, Seaver and Carlton met on Opening Day for both the Mets and Phillies, making this the second time it’s occurred.
1. April 7, 1987
This day was both glorious and infamous at the same time.
This date in 1987, was Ring Day.
The Mets were due to be given the championship rings after an Amazin’ run in 1986 had the team winning its first title in 17 years, and second title in franchise history (which remains the same to this day).
With the Mets due to be provided they’re diamond-studded bling in a epic Shea Stadium ceremony, their young phenom Dwight “Dr. K” Gooden was no where to be found.
In fact, Doc, the 1984 Rookie of the Year and 1985 Cy Young Award winner, was a no-show after he had tested positive for using cocaine.
Per ESPN, in order to honor his fellow superstar and the man who was a major reason the team garnered new jewelry, Darryl Strawberry wore Gooden’s own pants from his uniform in tribute.
Maybe Doc’s ‘will’ gave Straw a little boost as well, because Strawberry demolished a 3-run bomb as the Mets defeated Barry Bonds and the Pirates 3-2.
Clearly, Straw’s offense was just enough to win the day, and a couple of flashy rings to go with it.