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Remembering Mets History (1984) Dwight Gooden Sets Rookie Record For Most Strikeouts In a Season

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Wednesday September 12th, 1984: On this night Dwight Gooden set the single season strike out record for Rookies, in what was one of his most dazzling performances of the year as well as his career.  centerfieldmaz was one of 12,876 at Shea Stadium that night to witness, in person Doctor K at his best. Davey Johnson's Mets (81-65) had had an exciting year, which was the first winning season for the franchise since 1976. Among the highlights was Rookie phenom, Dwight Gooden. Although the Mets would finish second to the Cubs that year, they were not mathematically out of the pennant race just yet. They were seven games out with sixteen left to play , hence the small crowd. Personally, after being on hand for so many of Gooden's games that season, I had to be at this one to see another record broken. Dwight Gooden went up against John Tudor for Chuck Tanner's sixth place Pittsburgh Pirates (63-83). Tudor would move on the St, Louis Cardinals the next year & b...

Remembering Mets History (1974) Mets Play In Second Longest Innings Game In MLB History

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Wednesday September 11th, 1974: Tonight 13,460 fans came out to Shea Stadium to see Yogi Berra’s fourth place Mets (65-75) take on manager Red Schoendienst’s second place St. Louis Cardinals (75-68). The Mets were still the reigning N.L. Champions at the time, but their days were numbered, as they were eleven games behind the first place Pittsburgh Pirates.  The St. Louis Cardinals were in heavy pursuit of the Pirates just 2 ½ games back, alive & well in the pennant race. Eventually the Pirates would win the NL East in 1974 but lose to the L.A. Dodgers in the NLCS. Jerry Koosman (13-9) was the clubs top pitcher that year, as Tom Seaver was struggling through the season with back issues which effected his mechanics. Koosman took the mound for the Mets at 7:05 PM, going up against the Cardinals rookie, Bob Forsch (4-4). The Cardinals Hall of Famer, Lou Brock had just set a modern-day single season record for stolen bases (105) the night before in St. Louis, breakin...

Remembering Mets History (2024) Mets Six Run 9th Inning Comeback Spoils No Hitter in Toronto

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  Wednesday September 11th, 2024:   On the 23rd Anniversary of the 911 attacks, the New York Mets donned FDNY- NYPD logos on their caps in honor of the fallen . Francsico Lindor had a specially painted glove to commemorate the tragic events as well.  The Mets entered tonight's game tied with the Atlanta Braves for the third wild card spot in an exciting four team wild card fight. After a nine-game win streak the Mets lost two of three & had just been beaten by former teammate Chris Bassitt in Toronto.  Tonight was the rubber game of the series with John Schneider's disappointing Blue Jays who found themselves nine games under .500 (69-78). Mets manager Carlos Mendoza sent Sean Manea to the mound to face the Blue Jays Bowden Francis. Since July 30th Manea was 5-1 with a 2.81 in eight starts. Bowden Francis ad won four of his last five starts. A good crowd of 29,399 came to the Rogers Center with many Mets fans in attendance. After three scoreless innings, the Jays...

Remembering Mets History (1999) Mike Piazza Goes 4-4 In Mets Wild Card Pennant Hunt

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Saturday September 11th, 1999: Bobby Valentine's New York Mets (87-56) were three games behind the rival first place Atlanta Braves in the NL East but  were leading the charge for the NL Wild Card spot with a 2.5 game lead over the Cincinnati Reds. On this Saturday the Mets were in Los Angeles facing Davey Johnson's fourth place Dodgers (66-76).  Davey Johnson had been the last Mets Manager to get the team to the post season eleven years earlier. Mets skipper Bobby Valentine sent Masato Yoshii (10-8) to the mound against L.A.'s Ismael Valdez (9-13).  In the top of the 1st inning, Ismael Valdez walked Rickey Henderson, who went on to steal second & third base. With two outs Mike Piazza & Robin Ventura both walked to load the bases.  But Darryl Hamilton grounded out to end the inning. In the top of the 3rd inning, John Olerud singled with two outs. Mike Piazza then lined a two run HR over the Dodger Stadium fence, making it 2-0 M...

Remembering Mets History (1985) Benches Clear with Rival Cardinals as Mets Take Over First Place

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Tuesday September 10th, 1985: In the mid 80's heated rivalry between the Mets & Cardinals, this game certainly fueled the fire & was a classic.  Davey Johnson's Mets (82-53) were red-hot having won six of their last seven games, five straight wins entering tonight's game a half game behind the Whitey Herzog's  first place  Cardinals (82-53) in the NL East. An excited Shea Stadium crowd of 50,195 came to see a great match up of 15 game winners, as Ron Darling (14-5) took on Danny Cox (15-8).   In the top of the 1st, with two outs Cardinal second baseman Tommy Herr hit a solo HR off Ron Darling to make it 1-0 St. Louis. In the bottom frame, the Mets fought right back as Mookie Wilson led off with a single to center field. With one out, Keith Hernandez came to bat.  Keith Testifies at MLB Drug Trials: Hernandez received a two-minute standing ovation from the Shea crowd, as this was his first game back after testifying at the Pittsburg...