Top 20 Mets Seasons
Here’s my list of the top 20 Mets seasons, ranked according to how much fun they were. I don’t include seasons I myself enjoyed for some particular oddball reason. All of these seasons were fun for reasons that everyone can relate to (we won a lot of games, or did something unexpected, etc.). Does this list make sense to you? This is a way of beginning to understand where 2006 will end up in our sense of Mets history.
1969, 1986, 1973, 1999, 2006, 1988, 1984, 2000, 1985, 1997, 1998, 2005, 1987, 1989, 1970, 1972, 1976, 1971, 1975, 1990
October 31st, 2006 at 5:32 am
I agree with the order, makes a lot of sense. I assume 1976 was included because it was the last full season with Seaver and the last season they finished above .500 until 1984.
October 31st, 2006 at 1:12 pm
Yeah, 70-76 were all fairly close, with the obvious exception of ‘73 being better and ‘74 being worse. The team was fun to root for, was disappointing, but was normally close enough that a ‘73 style run could have put them over the top.
October 31st, 2006 at 4:09 pm
I am shocked and dismayed that you did not put 1993 on that list. Watching Anthony Young break the MLB record for consecutive losses (that had been standing since 1910-11) was a majestic experience - - only sitting through “HOWARD THE DUCK” or watching Michael Dukakis ride a tank with his “Snoopy” helmet compared. I attended the 7/28/93 game where he broke the record. People at Shea were cheering like mad. I believe Dallas Green got tossed out of the game after he starting throwing chairs, helmets, and bats onto the field because he thought the ump was squeezing Young on the strike zone. Plus, I was there at a summer associate event on my law firm’s nickel, and semi-sparse crowds at Shea equalled no wait for the gallons of beer consumed by we future barristers.
Good times.
October 31st, 2006 at 4:35 pm
You know, JD, I think that 1992 and 1993 were the absolute bottom. The team was as bad as this in 1962-67 and in 1977-82, but I loved the guys on the team in those years. Really. I’ll always have an affection for the likes of Ron Hunt, Joe Christopher, Joel Youngblood, and Steve Henderson. But I couldn’t stand the 1992 and 1993 teams. That was the closest I ever came to just ignoring the Mets. I couldn’t see why I was expected to root for those guys, after having just had the privilege to root for the great ’80s team.
October 31st, 2006 at 5:13 pm
Dana:
I agree entirely (I was born in 1969 so can’t comment, but did attend many games (courtesy of the free tix you got from clipping Delwood milk carton coupons) between 1977-1982. (When Lee Mazilli was seen as next in the legacy.) The 1992 Mets did have a certain “Ishtar” quality, but that was about it. I did, however, really like Eddie Murray (naturally, as an Orioles fan), and if memory serves me correctly, Joe Orsulak was on the team, who I also liked a lot.
Incidentally, I discovered that in 2005 they re-issued Klapish & Harper’s “Worst Team Money Could Buy” (on the 1992 Mets). The really harsh part about it is that the then-new afterword by the authors was written before Omar and Willie worked their magic, so pretty much recounts how other than decent years in 1998-2000, the Mets returned to their old, abysmal ways after the 2000 WS. Funny in a “clown is crying” sort of way. Here’s the link to the book.
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?WRD=worst+team+money+could+buy&z=y&cds2Pid=9481
October 31st, 2006 at 8:15 pm
The extent of all of your memories really astonishes me. I take anti seizure medication and it is when I realize how everyone else has all there facts and dates together that I realize just what the medication does to my brain. Even though I do function at a high level job my memory truly sucks. But, in response to JD’s comment about the fun in 1993, I wanted to add that being at the game the Mets played against the Marlins when they broke the record for most consecutive home loses was the highlight of the year. What year was that anyway? I’m thinking 2002 but it could have been 2003. I was at the game and the Mets fans around me were actually cheering for the Marlins so they could be a part of history.
October 31st, 2006 at 11:57 pm
where is 2001??? I had more fun watching the 2001 team than most on your list my man. Definetly over those mid 90s teams
November 1st, 2006 at 1:36 am
Andrew has a point. Though 2001 was a disappointing season overall, certainly a major disappointment after 2000, that last run in September was incredibly exciting. I’d put it roughly equal with 2005, I guess.