National League Standings, October 3, 1985
METS FANS SHARE THEIR MEMORIES OF THE OCTOBER 3, 1985 GAME:
Marcus
November 24, 2000
As I remember it, if the Mets had won this game they would have tied the Cardinals for first place with three games to go in Montreal (please note that the Expos played so exceptionally well during the last three games that winning the East would have been tough anyway). After winning the first two games,the Cardinals came back and finally won one, leaving the Mets two games behind.
Cardinals manager out-managed Davey Johnson. One fine move by The Rat was placing injured, but active, Jack Clark on the on-deck circle forcing Johson to make a pre-mature pitching change.
It gets by Buckner
July 8, 2002
I had the strange, but exciting privilege of "watching" this game (and series) from Paris, through the boxscores in the International Herald Tribune, which were printed on the second day after the game. Everyone stateside knew the result by the time I rushed down to the newstand, still hoping that the Mets had swept and tied for first place. To hell with the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. Did the Mets win? It was not to be.
Joe Lanzisera
July 22, 2002
The Mets came in on a roll after winning the first two of the series to move within a game of first place. It had been an uphill battle all the way and now first place was just a win away. I remember the Mets loaded the bases in the 1st inning with two outs. George Foster grounded out and the Cardinals dodged a bullet and the Mets just could not get anything going the rest of the night against Cox. The final series against Montreal was very anti-climatic.
A.J. Antezana
May 5, 2005
I was keeping score of this game at home and was so upbeat. Disappointed with the finish in 1984, I felt this was the year!! This was also pre-ESPN media info days and you had to wait until the lineup was shown by Channel 9 for any info or news.
All I can remember is cursing Davey Johnson for putting in George Foster instead of LH Danny Heap against RH Danny Cox in the lineup-why!?!? Sure enough, George did what he did best for us- grounded into a fielder's choice when a hit would have sealed a sweep and who knows, maybe the division.
It made me realize that Johnson was not a bright manager, but rather one that had a good team for a couple of years and wasn't able to ride it to the finish line in 85, 87 and the NLCS in 88. Its a shame because we should have been in the WS more than that one time and this game was proof of his inadequacy as a manager. Thank goodness for Buckner, otherwise we may not have won at all!!
bill
July 7, 2005
Bitter end to a memorable series. Gary Carter popped out to end game; he swung at Lahti's 1st and only pitch of the game. If Mets hadn't won it all in '86, I probably still wouldn't have forgiven this poor AB in a hall of fame career.
Mark Heaney
June 1, 2008
A.J. give me a break, The game was tied when Buckner made his error. As for this game - two words - George Foster. What a disaster. How about my man Keith going 5 for 5 when it mattered - as always! We should have swept this series and gone on. But it wasn't to be.
Shickhaus Franks
January 14, 2011
I turned down a chance to go see the then WWF (now WWE) have their Saturday Night's Main Event taping at the then-Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford, NJ (now Izod Center) to watch this pivotal game. After the Mets lost, I cried for days and cursing the rotten Cardinals (which I would wind up doing again in 2006). But I watched the Main Event that Saturday on CH. 4 at 11:30 watching Uncle Elmer get married and an all-out brawl featuring Paul Orndorff and Rowdy Roddy Piper. AT LEAST THE AMAZINS WON IT ALL THE NEXT YEAR!!!!
Ed K
September 28, 2012
Mark, your man Keith may have gone 5 for 5 in this game but 1985 was not his finest moment. His slump in late August plus his mediocre September helped give the Cards the lead in the standings that made this game a must and the Mets did not get it.
Gary Carter practically carried the 1985 Mets on his back to even keep them in contention during the 1985 pennant race. Keith is remembered much more for 1984 and 1986 than for 1985.
Steven K
July 5, 2023
Remember this game well. A big disappointment after winning the first two and potentially being tied for the lead with three left to play. It wasn’t meant to be. Keith Hernandez had his third 5 hit game within a 2 month span, which confuses me as to why Ed K mentions a “late August slump and mediocre September.” On August 15 he was hitting .294 and finished the year at .309. Seems more like he was peaking at just the right time. He will always be the Mets General.
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