August 1st 2026:
Twenty members of the 1986 Mets gathered at Citi Field in a ceremony honoring the fortieth Anniversary of the World Championship team. Family members of the late Gary Carter, manager Davey Johnson, coaches Bud Harrelson & Bill Robinson as well as former GM Frank Cashen.The players were introduced in pairs with a brief summary of their contributions, as a video was played in the background. A film of quick highlights began the ceremony & the "Lets Go Mets Go" music video followed the introductions.
Quotes- Darryl Strawberry: "We were like rock stars, it was like a rock band coming into town. Everybody wanted to see the Mets, the bad boys. You'll never see a team that good that played the game the way we played. We played the game well, we played it hard & we would put our knuckles on you too. We just didn't play around, you just didn't want to play around with us."Quotes: Roger McDowell: When we started the year, our ultimate goal was to win the world championship & when you're the last one standing, that's the best feeling in the world."
Quotes- Mookie Wilson: "I don't think any of us could have ever predicted or imagined that one instance in time in baseball history would bring that much joy to people & create a lasting memory. There's no one story can tellQuotes- Ron Darling: "You get amongst all these friends & people that you threw down with & you get very emotional. It's a very strange thing. Dwight & I stood on the top steps of the dugout here & literally we were half way to '86."
Tim Teufel, Wally Backman
Randy Nieman, Danny Heep
Doug Sisk, Ed Hearn
Kevin Mitchell, Lee Mazzilli,
Rafael Santana, Kevin Elster
Bobby Ojeda, Sid Fernandez
Ray Knight, Howard Johnson
Jesse Orosco, Roger McDowell
Darryl Strawberry, Lenny Dykstra
Ron Darling, Dwight Gooden
Keith Hernandez, Mookie Wilson
The ceremony was not the celebration it should have been due to the terrible state the current team is in. Many long times fans like myself, cant stand the misery the current owner, the GM, management & the disappointing over priced players have put us through.
I was there at Shea in 1986, at many games, the clincher, two NLCS games & Game Six & Game Seven of the World Series. How embarrassing it is to say it's been forty years since the organization has one a championship.
With many empty seats at Citi Field, it showed how upset the fans are. Some of the former Mets
spoke of the frustrations they have with the current team.
Quotes- Wally Backman: "It really bothers the heck out of us. We've been talking about it. How
can it be this long? How can it be this bad?"
Quotes- Darryl Strawberry: "I takes a fight to win here in New York. We had a team that didn't always get along, we butted heads at times but we also fought for each other because deep down, we loved each other. It's different now as far as fighting on the field but you still need that attitude. Who's going to lead? Somebody's got to take responsibility."
Quotes Bobby Ojeda: "I try not to even think about it because it's so frustrating. I really think it's on Stearns. He built this thing & I don't thing he believes in intangibles, which I believe is so important to a winning ball club. I don't feel like he's taking enough accountability either."
Quotes- Ray Knight: "I started early this year following them intending to follow them & when they were playing so badly that I just quit watching."
Twenty members of the 1986 Mets gathered at Citi Field in a ceremony honoring the fortieth Anniversary of the World Championship team. Family members of the late Gary Carter, manager Davey Johnson, coaches Bud Harrelson & Bill Robinson as well as former GM Frank Cashen.
