2. Atlanta Braves 1998-2001
Has any divisional foe tortured the New York Mets more than the Atlanta Braves? How many big hits did Chipper Jones have, catches that Andruw Jones unexplainably made, and fans did John Rocker try to fight? The Braves inflicted tons of misery on the Mets, but the boys in blue and orange had their share of counterpunches, too.
The rivalry was never more tense than the late 90s and early 2000s. Turner Field became a house of horrors for the Mets, who won just 8 of 29 games down south in this four year stretch. No three games couldn’t have been more painful than the final three of the ’98 season; the Mets needed one win to clinch a playoff berth, only to be swept away by the Braves.
The ’99 season saw the Mets win just three of twelve from the Braves, but the two teams met for an unforgettable postseason series. Talk about ups and downs; the Braves ultimately emerged victorious but the Mets made them earn it. Down three games to none in the NLCS, a late John Olerud base hit won game 4, and Robin Ventura‘s infamous “Grand Slam Single” won game 5. A dramatic Mike Piazza homerun in game 6 was nullified by the Met bullpen, falling in extra innings on a game ending walk to Andruw Jones. The Braves advanced, but the Mets gave them hell in the process.
The Mets captured the pennant in 2000, finally getting over the Atlanta curse. They didn’t face off in October, but they won’t complain about having a better season than their bitter rivals.
Mike Piazza‘s post 9/11 homerun in 2001 was one of the greatest moments in not just the rivalry, but in New York baseball history. Plain and simple, it was that symbolic. This game deserves a category of its own. The Mets fell well short of catching the Braves in the division, but this single game stood above all else.
Aside from the post 9/11 game, no single night was more berserk than on June 30, 2000. The Mets trailed 8-1 in the bottom of the eighth inning. A plethora of walks followed by an Edgardo Alfonzo single tied the game at eight. Shea Stadium was in raptures as Mike Piazza took his at-bat against Braves lefty Kerry Mulholland. One pitch later, a screaming line drive down the left field line sent the Shea faithful into complete chaos.
The Mets didn’t always get the better of the Braves, but they definitely had their moments.
