Remembering Mets History (1986) Mets Are the World Champions

Monday October 27th, 1986: World Series Game Seven- Shea Stadium, New York: After an unbelievable Game Six comeback, the Mets & their fans couldn't wait to get going to play the final Game Seven. The feeling was there was no way this team could lose as confidence was at an all time high. But Mother Nature had different plans as it seems she wanted to bask in the Game Six glory for another day as rain postponed Game Seven on Sunday to Monday Night.

from centerfield: I just had to be at this game, with no  tickets available to me, I took my Game Six stub erased the 6 & artistically painted a #7 on it- but that didn't work. After a multiple attempts to bribe ticket takers, two innings into the game I got lucky. I wrapped a ten dollar bill around a bunch of singles & found my man. He looked at my hand & I said "there a lot of money here" he nodded saying "I guess I could let one more in". I did it!! I ran up the escalator to the Upper Deck in left field, somehow finding an empty eat that no one came to claim all night.

New York came into the game with 115 victories behind them thru the regular & post seasons,
with it all coming down to one final game.

Mets manager Davey Johnson sent Ron Darling (1-1) to the mound for his third World Series start. Darling had been outstanding in his first two games, not allowing an earned run in 14 innings of work. He had struck out twelve, allowed just seven hits but did issue nine walks.

For Boston, manager John McNamara decided to pass up on his scheduled starter Oil Can Boyd, going with Bruce Hurst getting an extra day rest because of the rain out. Hurst would be also be making his third start of the Series having pitched well in his first two games. Hurst gave up just two runs in 17 innings, allowing 14 hits. striking out 14 & walking six.

Trivia: Bruce Hurst was trying to become the 13th pitcher since 1900 to win three games in a World Series & just the fourth pitcher to do so in the past forty years.

Quotes- Keith Hernandez: "Someone's going to come out on top, it's a shame one team has to lose. It's a series where we've come from behind, the win the other night was very uplifting for us obviously. The two best pitchers of the Series are going, it's going to be a great seventh game."

The Ceremonial first pitch was done a bit differently for the seventh game, as two were thrown out at the same time. The Mets had the team's owner & chairman Nelson Doubleday toss a pitch to opposing catcher Rich Gedman with Red Sox President, Mrs. Jean Yawkey tossing a ball to Gary Carter.

On a damp 53 degree October night, 55,032 paid fans came into Shea Stadium for what was to be a historical night for the Mets franchise & their fans. From the very start the fans were excited & loud as some of us had been waiting our whole lifetimes for this night, a baseball dream, about to come true.

Quotes- Broadcaster Vin Scully: "The last game of the year & they're determined to be heard."

MNF Trivia: That same night 17 miles away at the Meadowlands in New Jersey, the New York Giants were taking on the Washington Redskins in a big NFC East game. The World Series ratings beat out the NFL's Monday Night Football by a huge margin, as it suffered it's lowest number of viewers since 1970.

In the top of the 1st inning, the Red Sox Bill Buckner came to bat getting a huge reception & in some sections a standing ovation, thanking him for the previous games 10th inning error that aided the Mets win. Buckner singled for the only hit of the inning.

In the top of the 2nd, Darling served up back-to-back HRs to Dwight Evans & Rich Gedman to start the inning. Right fielder Darryl Strawberry almost robbed Gedman of the HR as the ball went into his glove but bounced out when the glove hit the top of the fence going over for the HR. For Dwight Evans it was second HR & seventh RBI of the Series.

HR Trivia: Up to that point all ten HRs in the World Series had been hit on the road by the visiting team.

The runs ended Ron Darling's stretch of 15 innings without giving up an earned run in the World Series. Darling then walked Dave Henderson, as he now had ten walks in the Series. Spike Owen popped up & the pitcher Bruce Hurst sacrificed, moving Hendu over into scoring position. Next an RBI single from Wade Boggs quickly made it 3-0 Red Sox.

World Series Hit Record: Marty Barrett then collected his 13th hit of the Series, tying an MLB
World Series record matching Lou Brock (1967) & Bobby Richardson (1964). Barrett had his safely in all seven games & expanded his new MLB post season record to 24 hits.

In the bottom of the 2nd, Ray Knight collected a two out single, extending his hit streak to five straight World Series games.

In the top of the 3rd, Jim Rice led off with a hit off the left field wall, his ninth hit of the series but Kevin Mitchell threw him out at second as he tried to stretch in into a double.

In the top of the 4th, Ron Darling hit Dave Henderson on the thigh with a pitch to start the inning. After recording the next two outs, Davey Johnson came to the mound, seeing that Darling was struggling & having thrown 61 pitches already he removed his starting pitcher. 

On the night Ronnie gave up three runs on six hits, walked one, hit a batter & did not record any strike outs. In 17 innings pitched in the Series, he gave up three earned runs good for a 1.53 ERA. He gave up 13 hits with 12 strike outs & ten walks.

In a move that turned the game & the momentum around, Davey brought in 16 game winner, Sid Fernandez. Johnson had removed Sid from the post season pitching rotation, placed him in the bullpen for long relief & exactly for a situation like this.

After walking his first batter, Wade Boggs, El Sid retired Marty Barrett for the third out.

In the top of the 5th, Sid retired Bill Buckner then struck out Jim Rice & Dwight Evans, revving up the crowd getting them back into the game. 

Sid would shut the Sox out thru the 6th inning, retiring seven batters in a row while striking out four of the eight men he faced in an outstanding relief effort.

After getting Spike Owen looking at a third strike on an off speed curve ball to end the inning, Sid Fernandez walked off the mound to a standing ovation from the Shea crowd.

The Red Sox, Bruce Hurst had been tough on the Mets once again thru the first five innings & was no on a 15 scoreless innings streak. On the night Hurst had only given up one hit, the 2nd inning single to Ray Knight.

In the bottom of the 6th, after Rafael Santana grounded out, Lee Mazzilli came to pinch hit. As he had done on Saturday night, Mazzilli singled starting up another come back rally.

Mookie Wilson then singled to left field putting two men on & getting the crowd revved up. Bruce Hurst was tiring, he then walked Tim Teufel to load the bases.

The Mets best hitter, "Mr. Clutch- Keith Hernandez, who at that time was the Mets all time hitter, with the franchise's best career average (.309) came to bat. Up to that point in the Series, Keith had gone 1-7 against Hurst in the Series.

By now the Shea crowd were excited with everyone on their feet making lots of noise. Boston manager came out to try to settle down his pitcher & had Steve Crawford warming in the bullpen.

On an 0-1 pitch, Keith came through once again in another big situation, driving a two run single up the middle scoring Lee Mazzilli & Mookie Wilson bringing the Mets to within a run in a 3-2 game.

Keith World Series Trivia: In a similar situation in the 6th inning of Game Seven of the 1982 World Series while playing for the St. Louis Cardinals, Hernandez tied up the game with a bases loaded single off the Brewers Bob McClure. In that World Series sixth game Keith had homered & drove in four runs as well.

Quotes- Keith Hernandez: "I was like you've got to be kidding me. It was the same situation basically which I thought was kind of ironic."

Wally Backman had come in to pinch run for Tim Teufel. Gary Carter then hit a short fly ball to right field, Dwight Evans dove for the ball but could not come up with it as Backman crossed the plate with the games tying run.

On the play, umpire Dale Ford made a delayed call that was eventually ruled a hit, the delay kept Keith Hernandez from advancing to second base where he was thrown out by Dwight Evans. Keith was livid on the field shouting at the umpire that he should have made a call. Ray Knight stepped in & led Keith off the field.

Now, Shea Stadium was a different place that it had been an inning before as the crowd became a huge factor.

Bruce Hurst night was over, he had gone six innings allowing three runs on four hits, striking out three & walking one. Overall in his three Series appearances, Hurst posted a 2.13 ERA.

Quotes- Roger McDowell: "I have no idea how we kept rallying in the playoffs & in the last two games here."

In the top of the 7th inning, Roger McDowell came on, striking out Tony Armas first, then getting Wade Boggs on a grounder to Ray Knight. But Knight's throw bounced in front of Keith Hernandez who caught the ball off his leg on a bounce for the out.

Then Marty Barrett hit a chopper that Rafael Santana charged over the middle & threw out Marty Barrett to end the inning.

In between innings Gary Carter & Keith Hernandez had a moment in the dug out & embraced each other encouraging the team.

After a wild 7th inning stretch, former Met Calvin Schiraldi came on to pitch again for Boston. Calvin was the losing pitcher in Game Six giving up four runs (three earned) on four hits.

Quotes- Vin Scully: Oh, is it wild here!"

Quotes- Joe Garagiola: "That's the way it should be, everyone on their feet!"

The Shea fans begam taunting Schiraldi with a "Caaaalvin" chant in response to the "Daaaarrryl" chants at Fenway Park. 

Ray Knight led off the inning with a HR over the left center field wall. It was probably his biggest hit in his Mets career, sealing him as the World Series MVP. 

After being greeted by his teammates in the dugout, he came out for a curtain call & blew a kiss to his wife, pro-golfer Nancy Lopez.

Lenny Dykstra pinch hit for Kevin Mitchell, driving a base hit to right field.

Sports Stadium Trivia: It was during this Series that the Queen's “We Will Rock You” was played over the P.A. system. The classic drum beat to the song, which is similar to the 'Lets go Mets" chant had the Shea fans chanting "We Will Rock You" certainly rattling reliever Calvin Schiraldi. The song has become a staple at Sporting events around the world since.

Schiraldi then threw a wild pitch advancing Len Dykstra to second base. Next, short stop Rafael Santana singled to right field scoring "Nails" from second base to make it a 5-3 Mets lead. 

Calvin's Tough Series: Calvin exited the game, giving up three runs on three hits taking the eventual loss. It was a rough two games for Calvin as he had taken the loss in the final two World Series games, giving up seven runs (six earned) on seven hits in three innings.

Former Met (1985) & Italian American Long Island native Joe Sambito came in to pitch.

Multi Three RBI Game: Keith Hernandez followed with an RBI sac fly to centerfield for his third RBI of the night with a sac fly to centerfield. In the Series, Hernandez collected six hits (6-26) hitting .231 with five walks & four RBIs.

It was now a 6-3 Mets lead & it seemed only a matter of time with just six outs remaining to
celebrate the long awaited championship. But the Red Sox were not going to go quietly.

In the top of the 8th, the Sox got three straight hits off Roger McDowell to start the inning. First Bill Buckner & Jim Rice both singled, then Dwight Evans doubled to right field scoring both runners making it a one run 6-5 game. 

Nothing was coming easy in this amazing World Series.

Mets manager Davey Johnson came out & removed Roger McDowell, giving the ball to Jesse Orosco. McDowell gave up two runs on three hits in one inning of work. After having pitched eleven scoreless innings in the post season, he had given up runs in three straight Series games.

Overall he would go 1-0 (taking the Game Seven Win) allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits with two K's & two walks in 7.1 innings in five appearances.

Jesse for Relief:  Once again it was time for Jesse Orosco to close out the big game. Jesse had 21 saves on the regular season with three wins & a save in the post season.

Quotes- Jesse Orosco: "I wasn't thinking about baseball, I was looking for the bathroom. I just told myself, stay within yourself, this is no time to fold".

In the top of the 8th, Orosco got Rich Gedman to line out to Wally Backman at second for the first out. He then struck out Dave Henderson & got pinch hitter Don Baylor to ground out to short to end the inning. The Mets were three outs away.

In the bottom of the 8th, with Al Nipper was now pitching for the Red Sox, Daryl Strawberry who

was hitless in his last 12 at bats at Shea Stadium, still disgruntled about being taken out of Game Six & still thinking about being taunted at Fenway Park, stepped in. 

Straw led off the inning with a monstrous HR to right field. Darryl slowly trotted around the bases, basking in the glory showing the Boston fans what they could do with their "Daaarrrryl" chants as The Shea crowd roared & went into an absolute frenzy. 

Straw was greeted by Ray Knight at the plate giving him some words of encourage him. 

Quotes- Darryl Strawberry: "Ray has a lot more experience than I do. He said to me, ok you've just shown what you can do again. Now be a man & don't rub it in, don't say anything more. Go shake hands with Davey, put it behind you."

After getting congratulated in the dugout he came for a classic Shea curtain call acknowledging the fans with two arms in the air. 

Play was delayed as the grounds crew cleaned up the rolled up paper & debris that had been thrown on the field.

Next Ray Knight got his ninth hit of the Series, a single to center field. 

Knight's World Series Trivia: In the Series Knight batted .391 with team best nine hits (9-23) a HR, a double, two walks, four runs scored & five RBIs. It was Rays third hit of the game & third multi-hit game of the seven game Series.

Rafael Santana was intentionally walked in order to get to the pitcher's spot.  

In a rare plate appearance, Jesse Orosco came up to bat. With everyone expecting Orosco to bunt, he squared then surprised everyone swinging away & chopping a single into to center field scoring Ray Knight with the what was the final run of the World Series making it 8-5 New York. 

Orosco Hitting Trivia: In four career post season appearances & 24 games, this was Jesse Orosco's only post season at bat. In the 1986 regular season he had collected an RBI in just three at bats.

John McNamara brought in Steve Crawford to pitch & he hit Mookie Wilson with a pitch on the knee sending him to the dirt loading the bases. 

Quotes- Mookie Wilson: "I know what it's like to be in the cellar, to be home during this time of year watching the World Series with a pizza & a beer".

Wally Backman broke his bat with a chopper to second, Marty Barrett got the lead runner at the plate. Keith Hernandez were retired for the third out. 

In the top of the 9th, the Mets needed three outs to win the Championship. The crowd were on their feet throwing confetti, rolls of toilet paper & anything else in early celebration.  

First Jesse Orosco got Ed Romero to pop out in foul territory to Keith Hernandez. Wade Boggs then grounded out to Wally Backman at second for the second out. 

Jesse Orosco then struck out Marty Barrett for the final out. He threw his glove in the air falling to his knees with his arms raised in the air, in a lasting image for the ages. 

Gary Carter ran to the mound as his Mets teammates came running from their positions & out of the dugout to celebrate, creating a big pile of Champion Mets on the mound. 

The dream had come true again, the Mets were now World Champions for the first time since 1969. 

After the fans had celebrated on the field for the NL East clinching game destroying the turf the City made preparations. 

This time around, there were no fans able to run on the field to celebrate, as the NYPD had mounted police officers surrounding the entire playing field. The field was safe for the players to have their own festivities.

Boston World Series Trivia: For The Red Sox it was the fourth World Series they had lost in a seventh game. 1975 to the Reds, 1967 & 1946 to the Cardinals.

Quotes- Manager Davey Johnson: "This is what it's all about, what we were set out to accomplish. It doesn't get any better than this, we deserve it. We had the best record in baseball, we deserve to be World Champions."

Quotes- Keith Hernandez: "We've been a comeback team all year. Winning Game Six was the key, it's tough to come back from a loss like that."

Quotes- Gary Carter: "We had our backs against the wall against Houston & we came back in that ball game. Here we were down two games to nothing, we did the inevitable we went into Boston won two games out of three there & now we're here, we're the World Champions. We're enjoying it, we're celebrating it & that's what it's all about."

Quotes- Lee Mazzilli: "I might have started that rally but 23 other guys finished it, we did it as a team, that's it. Any time you can contribute to a team that's going to be the champions of the world  it's so gratifying & it's unbelievable.  For me it's like a Cinderella story, I got the glass slipper right now, that's it it cant be any better".

*from centerfield- On a personal note- I found strength I didn’t know I had, as I ripped my actual seat right off its support. I still don’t know how I did, it but I still do have that seat.