The $66 Million Dollar Mystery
This is what the New York Mets were expecting: a middle-of-the-lineup right-handed power hitter who’d hit 30+ home runs and drive in 100+ runs; an above-average defensive left fielder with a...
Mets Rewind
1971 Vault
Like Snowflakes
The Mets left New York just in time. As snow pounded the northeast, players, personnel and media settled into their respective villas in sunny Florida. Then, without warning, on Day One,...
Sidd Finch: The Backstory
“There’s no single sport that has the hold on our dreams and fantasies the way baseball does. Sidd has become a symbol, like the cornfield in Iowa.” — Myra Gelband, former Sports Illustrated editor
Mets Draft History
The New York Mets June draft has produced some of the most popular players in franchise history including Jon Matlack (1967), Lee Mazzilli (1973), Wally Bakcman (1977), Hubie Brooks (1978), Draryl...
Behind the Mask: Jerry Grote
In 1976, Bob Myrick found out the hard way how Jerry Grote felt about losing when the Mets rookie pitcher beat his catcher in a game of Backgammon, causing Grote to explode and sending the board...
The Subtle Danger of Talent
January 18, 1985 Tim Leary was quietly traded by the New York Mets to the Kansas City Royals. Leary was selected out of UCLA in the first-round (second overall) by the Mets in the June 1979 Draft....
Lasting(s) Impression
Potential. That’s the word that eventually haunts Lastings Milledge most. Potential has two definitions in sports: one, for a prospect, rookie or young professional like Milledge, potential is a...
It’s All Good-en
Dwight Gooden arrived at the Houston Astrodome long before his scheduled start — so early that he had to jump a fence to get into the ballpark. That’s what happens when you’re a teenager (19) on...
The Worst Trade in Baseball History
Every year since 1977, New York Mets fans have viewed the Major League Baseball trade deadline as the darkest day in team history. The trade deadline – June 15, 1977 – was the day the Mets traded...
Strawberry Season
“I think some of the pressure comes from the expectations of other people; they expect you to be the big lifesaver or something when you play a sport.” – Barry Bonds For years, New York Mets fans...
The Magic is Back, If Only for a Night
“ Home runs are over-rated. You don’t have to hit home runs to win. If I don’t get a home run all year, and the team wins, I’ll be more than satisfied.” – Steve Henderson The Reccoppa...
The Education of Daniel Murphy
With one-half of a major league season experience in his back pocket, Daniel Murphy is still learning. His education includes a new vocabulary. In May, Murphy was introduced to a word he’d never...