Remembering Mets History (1986) Mets Clinch the NL Eastern Title

Wednesday September 17th, 1986: The 1986 Mets had been in first place since April 24th, which was their tenth game of the season. By June 14th they went up ten games ahead of the second place Montreal Expos & thru the summer ran away with the division. The magic number countdown for clinching the NL Eastern Division began back in August.

It seemed kind of strange, but the fans were actually happy that the Mets had just lost six of their last seven games, one of their worst stretches of the season. After getting swept in Philadelphia they moved on to St. Louis then dropped their fourth straight. The previous night the Mets broke the losing streak beating the Cards 4-2.

This meant was that they would have the chance to clinch the divisional title at home in Shea Stadium. By this night Davey Johnson's Mets were 94-50 with a 19-game lead over the second place Phillies. 

Personal notes: Back that afternoon I got my ticket at an A&S Ticketron outlet on my lunch break. centerfieldmaz was on hand with 47,823 other paid crazy, excited Mets fans. Us lifers had been waiting 13 years for the Mets to clinch a title to get to the playoffs.

The Mets hosted Gene Michael's fifth place Chicago Cubs (61-80). Fittingly, Dwight Gooden (14-6) was on the mound going up against Dennis Eckersley (6-9). 

This was one of Eckersley's last starts before becoming one of the games best closers when he was traded to Oakland the next year.

In the top of the 1st, Chico Walker grounded to Rafael Santana at short for the first out & we were under way. Ryne Sandberg doubled but Gooden got two more ground ball outs to end the inning.

In the bottom of the 2nd, with one out & one on, Gooden electrified the crowd striking out Shawon Dunston & Bob Dernier.

In the top of the 3rd, he started the inning fanning Eckersley then ended the inning striking out Ryne Sandberg for his fourth K.

In the bottom of the 2nd, Dennis Eckersley struck out the side getting Mookie Wilson looking, then Ray Knight & Rafaeel Santana swinging.

In the bottom of the 3rd, Dwight Gooden led off by striking out. Next Len Dykstra & Wally Backman both singled. 

Rookie Dave Magadan was making his first career start that night for Keith Hernandez who was suffering from a severe cold. The fans booed Magadan wanting the team leader Hernandez instead. For Dave Magadan it was just his third game overall. In the spotlight he singled to right field bringing in Len Dykstra with the first Mets run of the night. The crowd went wild & Magadan was an instant hero.

Daryl Strawberry followed, with an RBI single of his own making it 2-0 in a very loud, excited Shea Stadium. 

In the bottom of the 5th inning, Lenny Dykstra doubled to right field to lead off the inning. Wally Backman bunted & reached as Dennis Eckersley made the error fielding the ball. Dykstra scooted into third base. Then Dave Magadan collected his second hit with a single into center field bringing home Dykstra making it a 3-0 Mets lead. Dave Magadan was an instant hero in New York.

In the bottom of the 7th, Dave Magadan got his third hit of the night, then gave way to a big ovation as pinch runner Stanley Jefferson came in to run for him. Next Darryl Strawberry collected his second RBI single of the night with a base hit to left field scoring Jefferson giving the Mets the 4-0 lead.

From the 3rd inning thru the 7th inning, Dwight Gooden allowed just two hits, although he walked three batters.

In the top of the 8th inning, Chico Walker waked & stole second. Rafael Palmeiro then hit a two run HR to put the Cubs on the board down by two runs 4-2.

Keith Hernandez, who was out of the lineup due to injury begged Davey Johnson to put him on the field for the final outs of the 9th inning. The Manager agreed to Hernandez's wishes.

In the top of the 9th, Gooden who may have been tiring, walked Jody Davis. The fans were on their feet, anticipating the clinching & were ready to storm the field. The walk to Davis just seemed to prolong things.

Next, Shawon Dunston grounded into a force at short for the first out. The next hitter, Jerry Mumphrey struck out looking for Gooden's eighth strike out of the night. The crowd erupted & was just waiting to explode. The tension on what would happen after the final out was also looming.

Then, Chicago's Chico Walker grounded to Wally Backman at second base, he threw to Keith Hernandez at first base, for the final out. The 1986 New York Mets clinched their third NL Eastern title.

 

Dwight Gooden jumped for joy on the pitcher's mound. He was quickly greeted by his teammates. 

Quotes- Gary Carter: "I can't say enough about it or savor it enough."

But then in a flash the played had to ran for safety, in fear for their lives as the fans stormed the field.

The Shea fans went absolutely wild. It was like a flashback scene to 1969 & 1973 as they took over the playing field. It was a wild scene once again, as they tore up the bases, the outfield grass, the infield dirt & ripped away anything they could.

Quotes- Keith Hernandez: "I could see the wave coming but I ran into the pile. I'm not going to run for my life. Somebody stole my cap, my gamer & they tried to take my glove off my hand but they didn't realize how strong my hand is."

Quotes- Wally Backman: " I just started jumping over people to get off the ground."

from centerfield: centerfieldmaz was seated in the left field upper deck. I had made my way down the Shea Stadium ramps to the infield seats in the bottom of the 9th inning. There was a rather large cop trying to grab fans who were trying to get by him at field level. He was doing a pretty good job too. 

I waited for him to reach after someone to his left & I quickly ran around his right side. At 19 years old I was young, quick & determined fan. I ran down the field level boxes in the mayhem on top of the visitors dug out. I remember the feeling when I jumped off the dugout & onto the field, thinking "This is where THEY play!". 

I ripped up some outfield grass & milled about with all the happy Mets fans gathering in the vision of the celebrations around me. Eventually we were all escorted out through the center field area into the parking lot. On my way out I had my piece of infield grass but didn't feel it was enough to be long lasting. 

I noticed the centerfield wall on my way out. At the time it was made of wood. I looked around & ripped a piece of the original Shea wooden; center field wall & carried it under my arm on the way out. Quite a souvenir, I may not be able to prove its authenticity, but I know what it is!

It was to be the last time in Shea Stadium history that the fans would storm the field. 

As after this game, the NYPD got more heavily involved, using mounted police in the post season making sure no damage would ever occur on the playing field again in New York City during a post season.

The head of the grounds crew Pete Flynn, noted the heavy damage & that the infield was a mess. He employed a team of twenty plus to help get the game in playable condition for the next night.