This was the last shutout Gooden ever pitched for the Mets.

Attended this second game of the then new Florida Marlins first ever series against the Mets with my dad, oldest sister, and her then boyfriend. They were giving out pins for the series. The Mets lost this game; they lost every game I attended in 1993. I remember how much of a joke it was that even the expansion Marlins had been ahead of them. I still have my pin.

In the middle innings of this game, Tim Bogar booted then threw away a routine double play grounder, sending Marlins runners rounding the bases and sending the crowd into a chorus of boos. You could even hear the disgust in the voices of McCarver and Kiner on the broadcast at that point. Nothing was working at this point in the season for the Mets, and Torborg would lose his job a little more than a week later

This was the game made famous by This Week in Baseball, when the Marlins grounds crew, could not get the tarp on the field as it was down pouring in Florida. Tim McCarver and Ralph Kiner could not stop laughing and making jokes about it for about 10 minutes. By the time they got the field covered, it had stopped raining. Truly one of the highlights of the 1993 season as even the Mets were laughing in the dugout.

This was the first time the Mets won consecutive games in over two months!

To add to what Jon Victor said in May 2003: the Mets won this game 7-1 behind some good performances from Bret Saberhagen, Vince Coleman, Eddie Murray, and Joe Orsulak.

This was the first Mets two-game winning streak since April 16 and 17!

Consider just how bad things had been: even with this two-game winning streak to end the month, the Mets finished June 6-21! During their two homestands in June they were 2-11. The end of one of the worst months in Mets history.

Watched this one recently....The last homer for Gooden was his furthest. He hit an absolute bomb to left field in this one, almost reaching the upper deck in Florida. Despite the loss, a momentary nice highlight in a season with few of them.

Early in the game, Ryan Thompson made one of the season's best catches, leaping high over the wall to rob a homer. It ended up making the difference in this one, as Jeff Kent's 2nd homer of the night in the 7th won the game for the Mets.

I was at this game when Anthony Young was trying to break his losing streak. He battled hard but a cheap hit in the ninth caused the Mets to fall behind setting up AY for another loss. But the Mets came back and won in the bottom of the ninth to win and end AY's much publicized streak. The crowd went wild for AY when he came out of the dugout and raised his hands in the air to the crowd. The fans appreciated his streak was mostly bad luck and was pumped for him that it was over.

I was at the game, Field level first base line- when I saw AY warming up I knew this was going to be the game he broke the streak. When the Mets won that night and it was over, it felt like we had won the World Series...Definately the highlight of the 93 season.

Another season where I was only able to catch a handful of games at Shea. My friends here in Florida were all trying to force the Marlins on me but I would have none of it. I went to a good number of Marlins games in South Fla this year, inclduing their first ever game (on my 11th birthday), but watching AY break the streak in person was great. I remember sitting third base side, field level with my dad and my uncle and when the Mets won the game, in pretty dramatic fashion, the place went nuts like they had just won the World Series. It was great. Those were dark years but the end of the AY streak is a memory I will always have.

I still have the scorecard from this game stored safely away.

It was myself and my father, and there were 3 men behind us. When AY came into the game in the ninth inning, 2 of the men got up to leave, but the third convinced them to stay. 5 minutes later, AY blows the game yet again and all three men take off.

But even as an 11-year-old kid, I knew... it aint over 'til it's over. I wasn't leaving. My father and I stayed, and watched as (and my memory is fuzzy on this) McKnight led off with a single, Dave Gallagher pushed him to second with a sacrifice, Ryan Thompson tied the game with an RBI single, and after after Orsulak failed to deliver, Eddie Murray hit a SHOT down the right field line that scored Thompson from first.

They carried AY out on their shoulders that day, and I was doing cartwheels for hours.

I got to this game around the 5th inning. AY looked like he would lose another heart-breaker, but the Mets rallied back in the 9th, and the place went nuts. Like the other posts said, it was like they won the World Series. It was a very exciting moment, one of my all-time favorite games to see in person.

This was the night that Anthony Young's record losing streak of 27 games ended. He came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning and surrendered a run that put the Marlins ahead. With Young in danger of losing his 28th straight, Ryan Thompson singled to drive home Jeff McKnight and retie the game. Soon after, Eddie Murray hit a double into the right field corner that scored Thompson for a Mets victory and a long-awaited win for AY. Hot Foot mentioned above that this was the highlight of the Mets' dismal 1993 season. How true that is!

Twelve days later, Young made an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. A video clip of Murray's game-winning hit was shown during Anthony's interview with Jay.

The feel good moment of the 1993 season for sure. Young's first win since April 19, 1992, and, as luck would have it, his last as a member of the Mets, as he was traded to the Cubs over the offseason. You really have to examine the top of the 9th inning in this game to get a sense for just how incredibly unlucky AY was. Benito Santiago led off with a single, the only ball hit out of the infield the whole inning. Trying to lay down a sac bunt, Darrell Whitmore instead reached first as Hundley bobbled the ball attempting to pick it up. Walt Weiss also tried to sac bunt next, and AY sprang on it and was going to throw to third, but Bonilla had left the base when he charged the bunt, and AY thankfully held on to the ball instead of throwing it away. So bases loaded, nobody out. AY gets pinch hitter Rich Renteria (not future Marlin Edgar Renteria, but Rich Renteria) to ground into a huge 5-2-3 double play, and now just needs to get former Met Chuck Carr out to wiggle his way out of the inning. But on the first pitch, Carr lays down a gorgeous drag bunt to score Whitmore from third, giving Florida a 4-3 lead. AY strikes out Bret Barberie -- who homered earlier in the game -- to retire the side.

Bryan Harvey, one of the best relievers of 1993, entered the game for the Fish looking to close it out. But the Mets had hung a blown save on him a month earlier, so they had some history of success against the closer. And as described by previous commenters, McKnight leads off with a pinch-hit single, comes home on a bloop single by Thompson, and then Thompson scores the winning run on Murray's walk-off double. Murray went 4-for-5 in the game and thankfully made up for getting picked off first to end a rally in the 7th inning.

The Mets really needed this feel-good story as the dark clouds of the Coleman firecracker incident and the Saberhagen bleach incident were very heavy at this time. The Sportschannel broadcast booth had assistant GM Gerry Hunsicker on air and he made it sound like the Mets were really going to start cracking down on the pranks and the players who had adversarial relationships with the media. But that message felt hollow considering Saberhagen, who had just squirted bleach on reporters the previous night, was still allowed to start this game. However, he only started one more time in 1993 before he either got suspended or injured again.

Speaking of the broadcast booth, Ralph Kiner made a serious blunder when he confused AY sitting on the bench for Coleman (who wasn't even with the team at the time and was being investigated for criminal charges) during the 9th inning comeback. But thankfully the audio feed wasn't working properly so perhaps many folks watching at home didn't hear it. Luckily, it was fixed in time for Kiner to jubilantly call the final play of the game. And I did get a chuckle in the top of the 7th when Greg Briley was taking forever to get to the plate as a pinch hitter for the Marlins. Kiner took serious umbrage with Briley's slow pace, prompting Rusty Staub to ask, "Doesn't he get a chance to warm up?" To which Kiner replied, "No, I'm not waiting around for a .231 hitter."

The Mets hit 2 home runs in the game (Orsulak off Whitmore's glove and Thompson's first of the season), which ran their streak to 10 straight games with a dinger. That actually tied the franchise record at the time, previously set in 1970 and again in 1975. The Mets ran the streak to 12, which held as the record until 1996 when they compiled a 21-game streak. That still stands as the team record.

As Scoey mentioned, AY appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno on August 9 and endeared himself nicely to the national TV audience. I'm glad he got his 15 minutes of fame, even if it took 27 straight losses to achieve it. Very sad Young died from a brain tumor in 2017 though. We'll always remember the good times, AY!

I went to this game with my uncle. We sat in the upper deck on the third base side. I remember it being really hot and bright. I also felt the game was a letdown after the previous night's game, when AY broke the streak. I also remember it being notable for the age of its starting pitchers. Charlie Hough (45 years old) started against Frank Tanana (39).

That was close to the record, but not quite. On September 26, 1965, a 59 year old Satchel Paige started against a guy named Bill Monbouquette (29), for a combined age of 88 years. Paige pitched 3 shutout innings in his only game of the season.

Though Tanana lost this matchup of aged starters, he did go 2 for 2 at the plate. Both pitched well. Hough went 7 and 1/3 innings and gave up a run, while Tanana pitched 8 innings and gave up 2.

My uncle Dale took me to this game, a blistering hot day game at Shea. The game was notable because of the age of the starting pitchers- I remember it was a big deal in the papers how 45-year old Charlie Hough was taking on 40-year old Frank Tanana. I thought the Mets would get to Hough. I was wrong. The Mets lost. It was a big letdown from the amazing win the night before.

This game was so unmemorable that nobody remembers it was never actually finished! It was called in the bottom of the 9th with none out after Destrade singled. The final score should actually be 3-2, and such hits as Gooden's PH 3B and a HR by Chico Walker, who was given his release before the game, didn't actually count. But this was such an unmemorable game that nobody bothered to erase the Mets 6-run 9th.

Chico Walker's ninth inning solo home run came in the final at bat of his major league career.

The Mets finished the year with a 6 game winning streak and lose 103 games! Don't know much about this game, but Chico Walker was a character on those putrid teams. His facial expressions showed the look of a depressed loser. But I love Chico anyway. I wonder what the look on his face after he hit the home run?

Wish it were easier to access tape of any game, instead of the limited amounts they overprice at MLB.com. Should I call the stations if I wanted this? Eh.. they probably burned it.

Since I was attending college in Miami at the time I was able to go to this game. The Mets played well as they would sweep the series and win six straight to end the season. One of the real few bright spots for the Mets in 1993. Although they swept the first-year Marlins to end the season it was not enough to escape last place.

I had a great time at the game like I always do until the bottom of the 9th with one out the heavy rains suddenly came. I waited around for about an hour hoping to see the finish but the rain never let up and I needed to get back to school to work on some term papers and projects. After another two hours the game was finally called and 1993 was over.

The last game as a Met for guys like Eddie Murray and Pete Schourek. Both were here during terrible seasons, but at least experienced some decent success in NY. The Mets unbelievably finished 1993 on a 6-game winning streak (eerily similar to the terrible 1979 team) and beat the Marlins. Gooden had a rare pinch-hit triple (I'm sure he loved that as he loved to hit). As someone above me said, it would be fantastic to see a tape of this game (I taped a lot back then but missed a good deal as well), just for the novelty of seeing the conclusion of probably the worst season in team history. But we all know that those 1993 tapes were burned quickly.

I was 14 years old and a lifetime Mets fan. Since I lived in south Florida, I was ecstatic over the chance to see the Mets play the Marlins! I went to the first 3 games of the 4 game series. They lost the first and second game but I had fun anyway....even though they lost I was still excited that I had gotten former Met outfielder and (at that time) current Marlin outfielder Chuck Carr's autograph!...

Due to the impending strike later in the year, this was the Mets only visit to Florida in 1994. This was also the first time that Fernando Vina played LF, as the team was trying to keep his bat in the lineup.

As for the game, this very well could be the least watched broadcast in modern Mets history. This was the same night as the OJ car chase, the Knicks playing in the NBA finals and the Rangers parade during the day. All of that during a pretty mundane month for the Mets in which the team was playing poorly. I wish there was a way to find out the ratings for this kind of stuff.

This was Dwight Gooden's final win as a New York Met. He pitched eight innings, allowing one run and three hits. He made one more start for the Mets before his suspension, became a free agent after the season, did not play in the majors in 1995, and then signed with the Yankees (where--- of course---he pitched his only no-hitter) in 1996.

The Mets lost a tough fought game on this night, which was the last Shea night game of the 1994 season. This game was never seen in New York because of the Baseball Night in America broadcast rights stating that only one game could be seen in each market, and that night MLB chose to air the Yankee game in NY (The Baseball Night in America rules were very weird at the time and didn't make any sense). So the only way to see this broadcast with Bob Murphy and Gary Thorne was to live in Florida or possibly have a satellite that gave you out of town games. I must say, it was incredibly sad to see promos for games for the next weekend (Saturday August 13th), knowing those games never happened.

The crowd was incredibly lively all game long, even Murphy and Thorne commented on it multiple times, weird for a Mets team that surprised with their decent play that year, but still not going anywhere. Possibly they knew it was the last series they'd see their Mets at Shea that season, who knows. But it was a raucous feeling for sure.

A well fought game, but the Mets could never get the tying run across in the late innings, despite multiple chances.

It was a lovely Sunday afternoon. The excitement of the 80's had waned. We had suffered through Bobby Bo and Anthony Young's streak. I had been attending up to 100 games annually (including road games). With a couple of notable exceptions, this was the last game that I attended until a trip to Japan in '03. A companion at the game with me asked if I thought that they would really strike the next week. I didn't see how they could be that stupid. Decorum prevents what I have to say to the players and owners in this regard...

This was the home finale for the Mets in the strike-shortened '94 season. It was also the last game I ever attended at Shea Stadium. The only things I remember from it are Greg Colbrunn's homer in the ninth inning and Ryan Bowen shutting down the Mets' not-so-great offensive attack. A rather dull game, but my final visit ever to Shea.

The Mets scored 5 times in the 8th, including a huge homer by Chris Jones, to give Saberhagen what would end up being his last win as a Met.

As Michael mentioned, this was Saberhagen's last win as a Met. He'd get 4 more starts with New York before getting traded to Colorado. But by no means was this win a walk in the park. In fact, Saberhagen struggled mightily over the first 6 innings, giving up 10 hits -- including a 2-run homer by future Met Kurt Abbott -- and several other hard-hit flyballs that were caught deep in the outfield.

The turning point in this game I feel happened in the bottom of the 6th. Leading 3-1, Florida put its first 2 batters on the corners with singles and then pitcher John Burkett -- despite collecting hits in his first 2 ABs -- was instructed to sacrifice the runner on first to second. That brought up a pair of former Met farmhands in Quilvio Veras and Chuck Carr. Veras worked the count to 2-1 before dropping down a suicide squeeze bunt. However, he hit it a little too hard and Sabes pounced on it off the mound and flipped to Todd Hundley, who just barely put the tag on the runner before he reached the plate for the out. On the very next pitch, Carr put down a drag bunt attempt that Rico Brogna picked up and shoveled to Saberhagen, who dashed to first and stepped on the bag just before a diving Carr reached it. Three bunts, three outs, and the Mets got out of danger still down by just 2.

From there, the Mets scored 7 unanswered runs, while the Marlins didn't get another hit. Jeff Kent homered in the 7th and Ryan Thompson followed with an RBI double to tie the score. In the 8th, after two quick outs, the Mets put on their rally caps, as Brogna doubled off the wall and Bobby Bo was intentionally walked to allow Burkett to face the right-hand-hitting Kent. It was a poor move on paper by Marlins manager Rene Lachemann, as Kent had a career average of almost .500 vs. Burkett and had already homered against him. Kent worked a walk to load the bases and, in another poor decision, Lachemann brought in reliever Randy Veres to face Hundley, who hit a game-winning single off Veres the previous night. Hundley came through again here, singling to RF to score 2 and give the Mets the lead. As Michael mentioned, Jones followed with a 3-run dinger, and the Fish were pretty much fried after that.

I give credit to Dallas Green for staying with Saberhagen as long as he did, as I probably would have pinch hit for him with the game tied at 3-3 and Thompson on second base with two outs in the 7th. And even though Bret grounded out, he went on to fire 3 perfect innings after that, allowing him to stick around long enough to earn the win and collect his last of 12 complete games as a Met.

The low water mark for the 1995 season for the Mets. After this loss, in which Pulsipher was left in the game way too long, the Mets were 22 games under .500 and had the worst record in the National League.

From this point on, they'd go 34-18 and play outstanding baseball for the rest of the year, finishing in 2nd place (well behind the Braves but still a great finish).

I went to this game with my mom, dad, and a friend. Mets had a 2-0 lead after Butch Huskey hit a solo shot. But Pete Harnisch let up five runs before all hell broke loose in the seventh inning with Blas Minor, Jerry Dipoto, and Bob MacDonald. This included a grand slam by Devon White. The boos could be heard loudly as the Mets went on to lose 12-2. Then Marlin Al Leiter pitched six solid innings. On the plus side, I got Terry Pendleton to throw me a ball before the game.

I was at Shea that warm Sunday afternoon. It was probably Izzy's highlight as a Met: Complete Game Shutout and 10K's plus a home run by Butch Huskey, a fave of mine between the '90 season and when we got Piazza. Izzy was part of Generation K (with Pulpisher and Paul Wilson) and out of all 3 who thought he would be the best of them by being a pretty good reliever with the A's and Cards.

Carlos Baerga's first homer as a Met, after the big trade to bring him to New York. There wouldn't be too many good moments here for Carlos. He tried and was always generally hustling. But one of those cases where he just lost his talent right in the middle of his prime. On a positive note, Mark Clark continued his underrated good season, pitching into the 9th inning for another win

This was Bobby Bonilla's first time back at Shea Stadium since being traded to Baltimore in 1995. Naturally, he was booed in each of his at-bats, but he wound up getting the last laugh as he scored the go-ahead run in the 6th inning. He finished 1-for-3 with a single, walk, and two strikeouts looking.

After a torrid month of May that saw the Mets go 18-9, the team suddenly looks on the brink of falling into a slump, as they lost to Montreal 2 days earlier 10-0, then won 2-1, barely beating Pedro Martinez with an 8th-inning rally, and now only score twice against Pat Rapp (who lost 16 games the previous year). The offense only managed 5 hits, all singles, and were held hitless for 17 consecutive batters from the 2nd to 7th innings. This very well could have been Bobby V's first true test as Mets manager, making sure this mini-slide doesn't become a season-breaking swoon.

Fireworks night, also the day that NASA landed the rover on Mars. It was also an important night for the wild-card hopeful Mets, who defeated Al Leiter and the Marlins. A birthday present for myself and my friends, we sat in the field level down the first base line. Lousy seats, but we were treated to the debut of a little-known catcher by the name of Todd Pratt (I can remember my friends and I groaning at the absence of Todd Hundley from the lineup, then Pratt comes up and homers to give the Mets the lead). Crisp victory for the Mets, fireworks were great, and my friends and I made a sticky mess of cracker jack, Pepsi and peanut shells on the floor that had hardened by the eighth inning.

What a way to spend the 4th of July, by being at Shea and watching the Mets vs the Marlins. Me and my friend Kathy had traded our opening day rainout tickets for Fireworks Night! Rick Reed was great that night and Bernard Gilkey hits a home run. At the time, who would of thought that the Marlins would be World Series Champions three months later? And Bobby "Earplugs/I'll Show You The Bronx" Bonilla K'd three times!

The Marlins could have clinched the wild card at any point the entire weekend with a win over the Mets, but this loss was their 3rd in a row and kept the Mets on life support for the 3rd straight day. Of course the race was absolutely over, but it was a nice showing of fight for the Mets to not let it happen on their watch. Another nice memory in a fun 1997 season.

Butch Huskey had a unique feat in this game: driving in five runs in a inning with a pair of doubles when the Mets scored nine runs in the sixth inning.

I was at this game back when I was in like fourth grade. Rick Reed had a perfect game going in the seventh when he had two strikes on Edgar Renteria. A questionable call evened up the count and Renteria eventually delivered a single between short and third. While he was later thrown out stealing, the Marlins continued to hit Reed, and Floyd's three run homer put them ahead. John Olerud struck out with men on base to end the game.

It was Father's day! All the dads in attendance recieved white floppy Mets hats!

This won't be remembred as well as any of the final 5 chokes in '98, but I almost knew we lost it on this night, a Friday with a full house at Shea. I sat there in the Mezz above the auxilary scoreboard and watched Franco cough up a 3(?) run lead in a game we absolutely HAD to win... Brant Brown had dropped a flyball sparking a total Cubs giveaway earlier that day in Chicago (we were in a 3-team race for the WC with the Giants and Cubs and every game counted). That long post-game walk down the ramps at Shea that night was the ugliest I've ever seen Shea. That's saying something!

I've been informed this wasn't the same day as the Brant Brown goof... ooops. Everything else was true I swear.

I went to this game and sat behind home plate on the first base side and the Mets were winning 6-4 but in came Franco, Mr. Blow-it-All, and definitely not Mr. Reliable, and he gave up 3 runs and totally blew the game. After this loss, I was really angry because, once the Mets lost this game, I knew that they weren't going to get by the Giants and the Cubs in the playoff race. We came out of the stadium and everyone was chanting "Let's Go Yankees" and I joined in. That's how mad I was.

The forgotten game that really killed our chances in the 98 wild card race.

According to retrosheet.org; 34,862 attended this game and I was there with my 2 nephews who had gotten the tickets through a family friend. A tough loss for the Amazins and if you look at the lineup for this game for the '98 Marlins (who were somewhat depleted after Mr. Blockbuster Huizenga's fire sale) you will see 2 future Mets: Cliff Floyd (who homered) and Luis Castillo.

Franco was booed mercilessly as he came into this game due to blowing the game the night before. And he came very, very close to letting this one get away too. Johnny loaded the bases with 2 outs and a 3-2 count with a one-run lead before finally getting the K to end the game. At that point in his Mets career, that was probably the biggest out he ever got, in a game the Mets absolutely had to win. (obviously before 99 and 2000).

The final pitch Franco threw was also a ball, but he got bailed out when Mike Redmond swung at it anyway. If Redmond takes that pitch, Franco walks in a run, and then who knows. Franco said after the game if Redmond hadn't swung, he would have needed the national guard to get out of Shea alive.

After recording the strikeout, Franco jumped in the air and aggressively high-fived his teammates like he just saved Game 7 of the NLCS. It was certainly a gutsy call by Bobby V to turn to Franco to protect a 1-run lead after his struggles the previous night. John had no one to blame but himself, too, as he loaded the bases on 2 walks and a hit by pitch. He was also bailed out of further trouble when Rey Ordonez, who made sparkling plays all night, charged a grounder that hit off Franco's glove, then picked up the ball and threw to first all in one motion to get the batter out. That play saved the game.

Former Met prospect Jesus Sanchez started for the Fish and had quite the performance, striking out a career high 11 while also walking a season-high 7. The Mets did all their scoring in the first two innings, then mostly fell silent as Masato Yoshii and Turk Wendell held up the lead. Wendell, pitching in his 6th straight game (of a streak that would eventually reach 9) continued to amaze, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings. How this guy's arm didn't fall off in 1998 is beyond me.

Not to be outdone, John Olerud continued his pursuit of the batting crown. He went 3-for-3 with a walk, extending his streak to 10 straight plate appearances reaching base.

I also couldn't help but laugh and shake my head after another classic Kinerism. In the 7th inning, with the cameras clearly showing two pitchers warming up in the Mets bullpen, and after Gary Thorne just got done announcing that very fact, Kiner waited a pitch and commented on the thought of Yoshii perhaps tiring and said, "There's no action in the bullpen for the Mets," then quickly added, "Now a pitcher is starting to warm up." I'm sure it took everything within Thorne not to correct him. At this point in his broadcasting career, why WWOR still thought Kiner could handle a full game in the booth is a true mystery.

I was in attendance for this game, which turned out to be the last win of the season, sadly. John Olerud was as hot as could be, breaking the Mets record for consecutive times on base over a 4 game stretch. Al Leiter was dominant and walking out of the stadium that day, we truly believed that the Mets were going to win the wildcard.

Another note on this game, it was the last WWOR Mets broadcast in team history (Sept 25th was scheduled to be, but a late season schedule change proved it not to be). Truly the end of an era in Mets history, as Channel 9 was with the team since 1962. Generations of Mets fans grew up with the team on WOR Channel 9 (later WWOR), and that ended on this day.

It's so sad this would be the Mets' last win in 1998. The team was riding high at this point, with this win (paired with a Cubs loss on this day) putting them a game up in the wildcard race. But it would be the least time they'd be all alone in the lead, as they'd lose all 5 of their remaining games in the franchise's worst collapse until 2007.

Al Leiter was marvelous, as was often the case in 1998. He won his 17th game, which wound up being his career high. He was the Mets' first to reach 17 wins since Dwight Gooden and Frank Viola both reached it in 1990. It's hard to believe, but in nearly 30 years since, only one other pitcher has eclipsed 17 wins in a season: R.A. Dickey in 2012. Not deGrom, not Johan, not Harvey, not Pedro. Crazy.

Speaking of crazy, Olerud was in the middle of a stretch during which he'd probably get a hit blindfolded with a whiffle ball bat. In going 2-for-2 with 2 walks, he tied Jose Vizcaino's team record with a hit in 9 straight at-bats while reaching base in 14 straight plate appearances. Truly amazing.

Turk Wendell extended another streak, appearing in the Mets' 7th straight game (which tied Jesse Orosco's team record). He recorded the final 3 outs in dominating fashion, with the crowd loudly cheering each time he slammed the rosin bag to the ground and letting loose with a collection "YEAH" each time he threw a strike.

A scary moment came in the 4th inning, however, when Cliff Floyd made a sliding catch. His knee collided with that of SS Alex Gonzalez, and he was down on the ground writhing in pain. He had to be carted off the field with what looked like a devastating injury -- but it turns out he didn't even miss a game. The Marlins weren't playing for anything, so why they didn't just shut him down for the remainder of the year as a precaution is terribly reckless IMO, especially considering he was by far their best player at the time.

I didn't realize until reading Michael's post this was the last time the Mets would play on WWOR. But that also means this was Tim McCarver's final time calling a Met game as one of the team's announcers, as he joined the Yankees' booth in 1999. My feelings on Tim are mixed -- I liked his cadence and candor and his ability to throw in a corny joke or two during a broadcast. But I also feel like he had a big ego and sometimes got on a player's case or criticized an in-game decision unfairly. Like in this very game, he criticized Olerud for not tagging up and moving from 2B to 3B on a flyball to center field. He surely knew Olerud moved like molasses, and I'm also sure he'd probably be the first to criticize Olerud if he tried to tag up and was thrown out. His departure ushered in the Tom Seaver era in the booth, which I have my own feelings about... but that's for another time.

A dubious opening day for one of the most memorable teams in Mets history. Al Leiter was spotty on this day (and would continue to be bad until June) and the offense had a rare off game. The 99 Mets would largely dominate the Marlins, but not today.

I have great memories of the 1999 season, so it's surprising to see they lost in such uninspiring fashion on Opening Day. They left 14 runners on base, loaded the bases and didn't score in an inning twice, and trailed 3-0 after the first inning. Leiter labored through the afternoon, needing 124 pitches to finish 5 innings. Very disappointing.

The Mets were on the brink of having a huge first inning, with Alfonzo getting a single, Piazza hitting a ground-rule double (a pitch after fouling one off his kneecap), and Bonilla walking. That gave Robin Ventura (who hit 3 grand slams during the regular season in 1999) a chance for a grand slammer in his first at-bat as a Met, but he flew out harmlessly to center field instead. The Marlins then played small-ball in their opening inning, collecting 4 singles (though I think Ventura could have been charged with an error on a hot-shot hit to him by Derrek Lee) that led to 3 runs. In comparison, Leiter only gave up 6 first inning runs in total during the previous season.

Alex Fernandez was making his first appearance since 1997 as he missed all of 1998 recovering from a torn labrum in his shoulder. He looked pretty good, too, striking out 5 over 5 innings and only allowing a run on a Ventura sac fly in the 3rd.

Down by 4 in the 8th, the Mets brought the tying run to the plate when they loaded the bases with 1 out. Matt Franco pinch hit and lined a bullet that was caught by 2B Luis Castillo. Then Rickey Henderson tapped one to 3B Kevin Orie, who raced to the base to beat Brian McRae for the third out. The Fish tacked on another run in their half of the 8th off Turk Wendell, and Olerud got a run back with a homer in the 9th. The Mets put 2 more on via walk in the 9th but McRae flew out to end the game.

Bobby Jones homered in this game. The next time a Mets pitcher homered was more than three years later--June 15, 2002--the infamous Shawn Estes off the infamous Roger Clemens.

My friend Tom and I got tickets for this game that morning. He was in the bathroom when Jones hit the home run. He did not believe me when he got back. I was sitting just one level above where the home run landed in left field. You can get a good look at me on the video of that shot.

My brother bought me a bootleg Home Opening Day t-shirt in the parking lot after the game. I still wear it.

Robin Ventura homered in this game but the player who played the important role was John Franco, who became the second man to record 400 saves when he closed out the ninth against the Florida Marlins, finishing the game with a strike out (I think it was Todd Dunwoody).

Indeed, Franco became the second in ML history to reach 400 saves by striking out the side in the 9th (with a bloop double that Edgardo Alfonzo failed to catch off the bat of Kevin Orie mixed in). He joined Lee Smith in the club, a group that has now reached 8, with the additions of Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman, Kenley Jansen, Craig Kimbrel, and two other former Mets, Francisco Rodriguez and Billy Wagner. We're not likely to see a 9th member for quite some time, however. The closest active player is Aroldis Chapman (322 as of this writing), but he's no longer a closer. After him, you have go all the way down to our own Edwin Diaz at 209.

However, Dunwoody was Franco's first strikeout victim of the inning. It was actually former Met catcher Jorge Fabregas who made the final out.

Ventura's homer was his first at Shea. Also, Orel Hershiser, who retired the first 11 batters before allowing a hit, got his first win as a Met. It was his first win at Shea since being a member of the Dodgers in 1993. The number 11 also popped up as the number of times the Mets walked in this game, which tied a season high. But outside of a pair of doubles in the 2nd inning and Ventura's homer in the 7th, the Mets didn't have any other hits, which is why Franco was given the save chance instead of this being a Mets blowout.

Terrence Long also made his ML debut in the game, striking out on 3 pitches as a pinch hitter. I thought home plate umpire Kerwin Danley did him dirty, though, calling strikes on pitches 5 inches outside. Poor T-Long would go 0-for-3 in his career with the Mets, with 2 strikeouts and a double play, before getting traded to Oakland in July.

Ricky Henderson made a huge error in this game which I thought would cost them the game but then they had a 4-run seventh where Roger Cedeno hit a two-run triple to give the Mets the lead. Shea was rocking that night and it didn't stop there- in the eighth, Mike Piazza hit a bomb and the crowd went so crazy that he took a curtain call then Rey got another RBI, Ventura doubled, and the Mets won 8-2.

Even after all these years, I can still picture Piazza's homer in the 8th inning. An absolute bomb to left field. I believe it continued his hitting streak at the time, though that ended on the next night.

This was the game that made an ex-Met out of Rickey Henderson. In the first inning, he hit a long fly ball that hit the top part of the left field wall. Rickey assumed it was a home run and, not running full speed, only got a single out of it. The crowd gave him the loudest booing possible for his lack of hustle and he deserved it. After finishing this game and playing only one inning the next day, Rickey got released. Good riddance!

This was the first Mets I went to. I was 7 years old and excited. I remember that the Marlins took an early lead but the Mets fought back and won the game. I was a little disappointed because Piazza didn't play. Man the 2000 Mets were the best Mets team in my lifetime.

Cammack hits a triple to drive in a run in his only Met at-bat ever! Finished up with a 1.000 batting average and 3.000 slugging percentage.

I went to this game and all the pictchers were horrible. Glendon Rusch only pitched four innings and gave two home runs to former met Preston Wilson. Amazingly Rick White picthed two innings and did not give up a run. The other two pitchers (Donnie Wall and Dennis Cook) sucked because they give up hits to terrible players like former met ryan mcguire and david berg. But the Mets had chances like in the 2nd inning the Mets had bases-loaded none out and desi relaford swung on the first pitch and popped out to shotstop. The rusch struck out and hawiian man flew out. The Mets lost the game to the marlins by the final score of 7-3. The losing pitcher was rusch the winning pitcher was dempster.

What a heartbreaking game this was, I had traveled the 4 1/2 hour drive to miami for this game, in the ninth inning Piazza had fouled out to the firstbaseman with 2 on and 2 out in the 9th. the bottom half of the ninth was torture, the game ended on a ball bouncing of john franco's leg for the winning run, 1-0 a good game, won by the wrong team.

I remember watching this game on a sunny Sunday afternoon as I was being star of the show at my high school graduation party!

Only two things stick out about the game; the first being how dominant AJ Burnett was that day for the Marlins, and the second being the absolute inner strength I needed to restrain myself from choking a couple of my Yankees rooting relatives who giddily clapped as Preston Wilson slapped a ball of Franco's leg, beat out the ball to first, and enabled the winning run to score home. The wounds from the 2000 Subway Series loss were still very, very fresh at that time!

Terrific performance by Bobby Valentine, and one of the reasons he's such a fun manager to have around.

In the fourth inning, a goofy baserunning incident puts Zeile and Ordonez briefly on 3rd base at the same time. A confused third-base ump initially calls out Zeile, then both runners (which would end the inning), before Bobby emerges and, while keeping his team in the dugout, over the next 10 minutes convinces the umps they made a mistake, and they put Zeile back safely at third. This prompts the opposing manager (Tony Perez) to earn himself an ejection and poke his own eyes out when Zeile scores on the next at-bat.

The Mets win in the 11th when Shinjo smokes a double.

It took a strange series of events (described by Jon above in August, 2001) to get Florida manager Tony Perez ejected from this game. It is his first ejection in 31 years and over 3,800 games as a player, coach, and manager.

Great triple from Al Leiter in this one. He faked to bunt and then 'ripped' the ball into the left centre gap. He chugged around the bases as the fielder tracked back to the wall. Looked as though he'd need oxygen as he stood huffing on puffing at 3rd.

Appier smoked a single to drive in the 1st 2 runs of the game. Pitcher Magic!!

Yes, Appier did drive in the first 2 runs in this game, however it was Jay Payton who drove home the last run, with an 11th inning double, scoring Jorge Toca who made a most ungraceful belly flop across home plate.

This was also Benny Agbayani's last game with the Mets. He broke a bone in his hand in the early innings and was lifted in the 4th. He was out for the rest of the season and never played for the Mets again.

I remember Gary Cohen on the WFAN postgame saying at one point, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "And Cliff Floyd took his sweet time getting to the ball...," which led to a burst of laughter from me and my father. Who knew Cliff would be joining us at Shea two years later, and become a fan favorite!

The Marlins won the game 4-2 but this game will sadly be remembered as the last game the Mets played with the World Trade Center still standing. Monday was a off day and they were in Pittsburgh when.....

Worst game of 2002 in my opinion. We were trucking along ok in the season, but this is when the 2002 Mets became a joke. A 7th inning where the wheels came off...Alfonzo, Alomar and Vaughn each made awful defensive plays, and in the 9th Alomar and Vaughn both had a chance to be heroes and had awful at-bats. Vaughn's batting avg dipped down to .229 that game (60 pounds less than his weight that same day!) and it was the second most embarassed in over 100 trips to Shea (Mel Rojas vs. Paul O'Neill 6/98 is the only one worse!)

Rey's first home run of the season (his last as a Met) gives the Mets the win in this wild game.

Well, the great Jeromy Burnitz has done it again. Burnitz came to bat with 2 on and 2 out down by 2 in the 9th inning, and just as I suspected Jeromy proceeded to corkscrew himself into the ground as he blasted a shallow fly ball to center to promptly end the game and it was the beginning of a 5 game losing streak. It did get fun in the 7th inning after Piazza struck out, he came to the plate to catch the inning and after 2 pitches got ejected from the game by an incompetant umpire, then Valentine got hot and got himself thrown out. Was great to see 33,000 fans in Miami for the game. I forgot what it was like to see that place almost halfway full. I'm used to seeing a measly 3,000 fans come to ProPlayer to support their team. A good game, though.

Before this game started I was starting to get a little ticked off at the Mets, all this money they are spending and they are playing like a Little League team. So after the night before when Burnitz failed to come through in the 9th with 2 out, Mo Vaughn came to the plate with 2 out in the 9th and as I suspected and even placed a bet with the guy sitting next to me that he would and he did, the mighty Vaughn had struck out. I drove 4 hours down to Miami for these last 2 games and they play PATHETIC! Mets lose 7-3 in this one, what else is new?

Mike Bascik looked great this game. He threw a complete game, 7-hit shutout. This was probably one of his highlights in his rookie year. Good job Bascik! He gave the Mets a desperate start and went the distance. He gave the bullpen rest. Also, the Mets were wearing the uniforms from 1986.

Now Armando can't even save a meaningless game. I was in my car last night listening to the Mets Marlins game and the Mets were up 2-1 in the 8th. They mention Benitez is warming up for the 9th and then give the list of the Marlins due up. Preston Wilson, Dereck Lee and Juan Encarcion, all home run hitters. So I immediately think the Mets better score at least one run in the 8th (which they don't do) since you know Benitiez can't face three power hitters in a row without giving up a bomb. He may be able to out duel one power hitter, maybe two, but no way can he face three in a row and not groove a fast ball that someone can deposit in the stands. Sure enough Armando gives up a dinger to Wilson, the first batter. That fast ball doesn't always move and good hitters can catch up to it and turn it around. Thanks Armando for prolonging the home losing streak to 16 games. Loser!

This was Pedro Feliciano's debut in the majors as he pitched the last two innings in the Mets victory.

About 9,000 fans in the house in Florida. These fans deserve a World Championship? 64,000 fans for World Series but these slack-jawed yokels can't come out to a regular season game. Who would have thought as the Mets blow the lead on a cold April night of 47 degrees here that Florida would be World Champs?

I'm flying around my room in joy as I watch Robbie Alomar get what was supposed to be the game winning 2 rbi double in the eight inning. And then Armando Scrubenitez rips my heart out again as usual. I want this guy off the damn team. I am so sick and tired of this bum that I would personally pack his bags for him and literally pay for his plane ticket that way he can be gone. How many more saves does Armando have to blow so that Art clueless Howe can use someone else, like Scott Strickland, as the closer?! MY LIFE IS HELL THANKS TO ARMANDO!

My 4th Mets one hitter (Matlack-'74, Seaver-'76 and Cone '88) Clearly, not the class of pitcher(s) featured in those gems, but I did not recall until I looked at the box score here, that this trio of Mets pitchers actually faced the minimum in this game, as the only runner was erased by a caught stealing! So, maybe this game deserves some love in the annals of great Met moments! Does anyone out there have the answer as to how many Mets pitchers have faced 27 batters in a (complete!) game.

Aaron Heilman's Mets and major league debut. He was the starting and losing pitcher and did not pitch great, but was done in by a shoddy Met defense (four errors and five unearned runs).

I saw highlights of this game on ESPN. Marlins centerfielder Juan Pierre caught a flyball of the bat of Roger Cedeño for the final out as the Marlins clinch the NL Wild Card to earn a playoff berth.

Kind of sad, looking at the starting lineup for the first game of the season and then the starting lineup for this one, only Cedeno and Wigginton remain. That should say something.

Mike Glavine got his only MLB hit of his career and it came with 2 outs in the 9th inning.

This was an ugly game to score and an ugly game to witness at Shea Stadium.

Everything that went wrong did. First, my friend Jordan decided not to show up for the game because he thought the weather was going to be bad. It was overcast, but it did not rain.

Second, I had to sit amongst MARLINS fans. That's right... Marlins fans were at the game. There were two little brats behind me who constantly kept clapping and saying "Luis Castillo, yay!" (clap, clap, clap) or "Hee Seop Choi, yay!" (clap, clap, clap). To my left were about six Marlins fans wearing out-of-date teal jerseys and batting helmets screaming their lungs out and berating the Mets.

Normally, I don't give any overzealous fan who roots for the road team the business at the game. However, when the Mets went up 5-2, I flashed dirty looks at those little punks behind me and shook my fist menacingly at the Marlins fans, who were literally shrinking in their seats.

Unfortunately, that didn't last long because of Damien Easley's three-run pinch home run. When they started screaming again, I yelled over, "HEY! YOU DIDN"T GO AHEAD! WHAT"RE YOU CHEERING FOR?" That sort of worked. They shut up until they got the lead again.

In the bottom of the ninth, Piazza led off against Benitez. And if you posters/readers read my comments from the 9 May 2003 game against SD, then you will recall about how I took a piss just before Mike won the game in extra frames. Well, guess what? I had to take a wicked whizz, so after I relieved myself, guess what? Piazza homered to bring the Mets within one. However, Dan #$%@!@ Wheeler gave up a tack-on run in the top of the frame for a tough loss. I never left the ballpark so humiliated.

I did get a measure of revenge the next day, because the Amazin's skinned the fish and I was there at Shea to see it. Happily, there was one Marlins fan amongst a sea of happy Mets fans who went home disappointed.

A breeze of a game for the Mets until the 9th when Braden Looper came in with a 5-0 lead to close it out and almost coughed it up. I remember standing outside the center field gate with my son waiting for the game to end so we could walk in and run the bases after it ended. The wait seemed like an eternity as we heard lots of boos and groans going on inside. No one in line with us had a radio or cell phone to see what was happening, but then we finally heard the final cheer and knew the Mets had escaped with a victory.

Ugh... I was at this game.

Down 6-0 before we get our first at bat, it looked pretty grim. Then to be up 7-6 by the end of 3rd, simply amazin!

Then, of course, the Mets lost anyway.

Thinking back to those days makes me SOOO happy to have Willie Randolph managing the Mets. He makes some bonehead moves here and there, but I still accept it graciously. Why? Because he's not Art Howe!

Piazza got hurt on a play at 1B (ironically one of his worries about moving to the position) and this game was really the beginning of the end for him.

Wow...Heilman was impressive. If only Luis Castillo hadn't gotten that hit in the fourth, Heilman, of all people, may have been the first Met to pitch a no-hitter. Of course, I didn't get to see the game, being forced in the middle of Cablevision and Time Warner Cable's dispute.

It was my first trip to Shea in 2005. And to date probably one of the best pitched games I ever saw. Heilman was the best he ever was that night. A great night at old Shea!

This was a really fun game to attend. I remember I came down from college in Massachusetts with my two buddies as we were a few weeks away from graduating. The pitching matchup going in was tremendous, the Mets newly signed free agent Pedro Martinez going against former long time Met Al Leiter who was facing the Mets for the first time since he left. It was a pretty great pitcher's duel if I recall before the Mets scored a few runs to get the win.

The weather was absolutely perfect and the stadium was pretty packed. The 2005 season was similar to the 1997 season in that it saw the Mets have their first winning season after several down years. It was a lot of fun and a good sign for the following year.

Made the trip down to Florida to see some relatives and Mets' baseball. This was the first of two games that my dad & I attended. We were treated to a nice matchup between Pedro Martinez and Brian Moehler. Mets got the only run on Cliff Floyd's RBI double in the fourth. Martinez went eight innings with 10 strikeouts before Braden Looper surprisingly shut the Marlins down 1-2-3 in the ninth. It was funny seeing this big middle- aged guy who was a Marlins' fan about to go at it with these three young guys who were Mets' fans and loudly jeering the Marlins on the way out.

I am a tranplanted New Yorker having lived here in South Fla. for 14 years. I see the Mets every year vs. the Marlins. Tonight was the 1st time I went with my Father. He took me to my first Met game in 1970, so when I told him I had tickets to see Pedro he couldn't refuse. Pedro was brilliant. Marlin batters were buckling at the knees. Back to back doubles were all the Mets needed. Great game and great memories.

Second consecutive game that I intended with my dad. I came to this game sort of expecting a loss considering Kaz Ishii was facing Dontrelle Willis. Surprisingly, the Mets got more hits against Willis (8 in 6 innings) than any other team in 2005. Ishii went 6.1 innings letting up five hits and one run. Mets handed Willis his first home loss. The best was this obnoxious little pre-teen female Marlins' fans a few rows down from us. She was really getting into it, constantly screaming "Lets go Marlins." I was so tempted to yell 'Lets go Mets" at her. One lady right behind us even said how Mets' fans should go back to NY. I looked right at her with my Mets' hat on and smiled.

This was the game that Jeff Wilpon forced Pedro Martinez to start, despite being injured.

Just another wasted pitching performance from the unluckiest pitcher this month for the Mets. Pedro pitched just like Pedro keeping Mets in a game that just didn't seem that they would win. Just two hits, not going to win too many games with just two hits. Mets have now lost last five games that Pedro has pitched; not a good sign. Then pedro says in newspapers after the game that he did not lose, he kept his team in the game for a chance to win. But you could see he was very ticked off in the dugout when he slammed his glove against the wall. Heart of a true competitor!

Made the trip down to Miami to see the Mets/Marlins game. Dolphins Stadium was unbearably hot for a 1:20 start. Tom Glavine pitched 5 1/3 perfect innings before giving up a double to Reggie Abercrombie. Raul Castro hit a bomb off of Dontrelle Willis and David Wright had a 4 for 4 day.

I purchased a "Pedro Pack" before the season began, and this just happened to be one of the games included. It was basically a random Friday night game, that in mid-June the Mets PR staff made Pedro Martinez Mousepad night. Of course, Pedro Martinez hasn't appeared in any of the "Pedro Pack" games thus far this season. And this evening I held my breath and headed to the ballpark to watch Jose Lima and Dontrelle Willis duke it out.

Little do I know what I'm in for. Lima gives up a freakin' Grand Slam to Dontrelle in a miserable 6-run 4th inning. To top it off, WILLIE LEFT HIM IN FOR ONE MORE BATTER! Finally this debacle was over after Lima allowed yet another hit.

I should have stayed home.

I remember sitting the stands and watching Josh Willingham - being impressed with his home run. The Mets lost a close won but the big story was later that day when they romped in the 2nd game.

The long anticipated debut of Mike Pelfrey and he doesn't disappoint. Little bit shaky though. High pitch count but you can just chalk that up to nerves. Jose Valentin has some day at the plate: a grand slam, 3-run triple and the Mets just roll all over the Marlins 17-3. I am sure Pelfrey and Maine are gonna fight it out for the fifth starting slot. What will happen at the end of this month though if Brian Bannister is finally healthy?

Pelfrey definitely labored through every bit of the 5 innings he threw in this one. Fortunately, Jose Valentin did his best Robin Ventura impression and gave him more than enough run support. A true, World-Class laugher.

What can you say about David Wright? Just clutch baby! Hits 3-run homer in bottom of the 8th to give Mets a 7-5 lead that Billy Wagner preserves for a 7-6 Mets win. David Wright just amazes me every single day. As the season goes on he just becomes more of a seasoned veteran. So far he is my M.V.P. for the first half of the season. Should also be named captain next year! What was up with Miguel Cabrera and pitcher in dugout? Very funny to watch! Too bad wasn't 20 years ago. Ray Knight would have handled it better! I guess when you are losing things like that happen. LOL!

David Wright's three run jack in the bottom of the 8th to give the Mets a 7-5 lead!! Unfortunately this was the last game I went to in 2006 because my car broke down. In 2007 hopefully I can go to at least 8 games.

Actually thought we were going 23 games over .500. Actually thought we were all right with losing Duaner Sanchez to a freak cab accident in Miami. Actually thought the setup situation in tonight's game was dead on! Actually Billy Wagner served up a bomb to Willingham in the bottom of the 9th and the Mets lost a tough one tonight! We will have to see if they rebound tomorrow night with Trachsel taking the hill. I just hope come Cctober I don't see what I saw tonight. I understand that the man throws fastballs at 100mph and sometimes the ball gets crushed out of the park, but I envision this scenario: game 7 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium, 2 outs bottom of the 9th Mets up 1 run and Mr. Hamburger Helper Hands crushes my dreams. Just don't think I can take that again from the evil empire! P.S. I WILL MISS NADY!

here we go again! Or at least I thought that! Wagner again has to make it interesting in the bottom of the 9th. First 2 guys get on and then he dials it up a notch and strikes out the next 3 hitters for a 6-5 Mets win. Mets probably should have lost this game but thanks to 4 Marlin errors the Mets escaped with a close win.

Thanks to a late game rally, the Mets Victory of this game knocked out Atlanta's chance for their 15th straight NL East division title. True fans never lose faith, and you guys never give up. Thanks for a great season, and here's looking at a great post season.

What a culmination to the regular season. It was meant all along to be done at home. Congragulations to all those who stuck along in the good and the bad. For sure the greatest Mets moment in years.

Mets 06 NL EAST CHAMPS!!!!

I was 6 years old when Ronnie shut the Phillies down for our last division title. I had a bootle of bubbly on ice and even though I knew this was going to happen sooner or later I was still genuinly excited when Cliffy caught the last out. I hope this is the first of 4 celebrations for us. Morse so than ever before, after last nights game I look at Beltran, Delgado, and Lo Duca as "our guys". Combined with Cliffy, Jose, David and everyone else I hope this is an October to remember. LETS GO METS!

FINALLY! Let's celebrate! 20 years and 1 day and we have dethroned those chopping Braves! Thought the celebration on the field after the Mets all came out was just sick! You had Paul Lo Duca spraying the fans with the groundskeeper's hose, you had Reyes and Wright slapping hands with all the fans that remained. Did you see David with that big cigar in his mouth? He looked like Triumph the insult dog! Just a great night and hopefully we will do this 3 more times this year! Thank you, New York Mets. It's becoming easier to forget about 2000!

My feelings about last night's division clinching win were pretty blase'. We all knew this was coming since Independence Day. Maybe it's just me getting older, but 1986 was so much sweeter because it was the first time I had seen my team win any title.

And was anyone else a little embarassed by the over-the-top celebration? The Mets knew this was coming, and they still have three more important series to win. I know a lot of these guys have never experienced post-season play, and I'm okay with jumping on the field and spraying Champagne in the clubhouse (this went on even in 1988), but I think they should have saved bringing the bottles onto the field and high-fiving the fans for after they win the World Series.

OH YEAH! Went to this game with my friend Billy. Steve Trachsel looked awesome and Jose Valentin, the surprise of 2006, belted two home runs en route to the Mets clinching their first division title since 1988. Some fans were doing mock tomahawk chants on the way out. There was a bunch of people standing on a sitting area outside the stadium trying to get on TV. I barely found a space on it and when I got down, I accidentally knocked over some drunk guy. Luckily, my friend and I caught him. I felt bad, but the guy did not care. CONGRATS TO THE 2006 NL EAST CHAMPION METS!

Yeah, I was there. Of course I was there. How could I not be?

And after 18 years of waiting, through moments bad and sometimes flat out embarassing, it couldn't be any sweeter.

2006 NL EAST CHAMPS! YEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Everyone knew it was going to happen. Since about May, it was clear the Mets were going to make the playoffs, but I still couldn't believe my eyes as the game wrapped up. I am positive they let the Pirates sweep them on purpose, so that they could win the division at home. When the last out was made, I jumped out of my chair and started dancing around the room. For the first time in 18 years, we were the division champs.

Man talk about Murderer's Row!! Team is hitting in all facets of the game. Just in time to come home in 1st place and pound on the Braves and gain some distance from the rest of the National League East.

The Mets didn't take batting practice today. David Wright continued a May to forget his bad performance in April. Of course, he did make two errors. One of which caused 2 runs and chased Oliver Perez earlier then perhaps he should've left. Billy Wagner grabbed his 5th save, a 3 run margin in which he did let up a hit, didn't strike out anybody and managed to do it without any nail-biting drama. This was my 5th Met game of the season, the last time I saw Perez was his pitiful walk performance and I was glad to see him strike out 10 with great control.

Carlos Delgado looks to have busted out of his season long slump! 2 Home Runs tonight the 2nd one was a BOMB to centerfield. Mets now lead the N.L. East by 3 and a Half games. Looks like they may be pulling away like they did last year. Still need to beat the Braves though.

A friend of mine took me to the game and things looked great once David Wright hit 2 home runs. However, Mota and Heilman gave it up quickly and we left in the bottom of the 8th. It was a great night for baseball weather-wise but sad to see a Met loss.

Sat in Upper Deck Section 22 on a fantastic evening with my sis, her b-f, my nephew and our friend Kathy. Before the game, a young woman sitting behind us got hit in the back of the head by an errant popcorn vendor's tray and the EMT's checked her out but she was A-OKAY. It should've been a Mets win but the "bull"-pen blew it.

I was at this game, in the right field mezzanine at good ol' Shea. This game was very much a microcosm of the 2007 season. Spirits were high at first- Glavine was pitching at Shea for the first time since winning his 300th game, and Wright hit two homers. (I called one of them, which had me really excited.)

Then with a big lead, Glavine had to give it up to the bullpen early, and Guillermo Mota was horrible that night. We booed him relentlessly as the lead collapsed. I haven't checked the box score, but I think all the relievers were bad that night. (I'm sure Heilman must have pitched.) They never gave the offense a chance to come back, and we all left surly and disappointed.

I was with my family across from the UK on holiday that August. We were staying in CT and drove into the game in heavy traffic missing the start. The kids got #5 David Wright bags on entry which they still use at school today! The guys sat in front were really friendly, they explained the nuances of the game and my biggest regret (other than the Mets loss) was missing saying goodbye to them. The Wright homers were thrilling - I caught one on camera and need to get it up on flickr some time - the breaks between innings were enjoyed by the wife and kids and all in all it was a brilliant experience. I've followed the Mets ever since and can't wait to get back to NY and go to Citi Field. Shea has a fond place in my memories.

I remember going and just being so upset. Everybody wanted to get so excited and it was just a complete letdown. I couldn't believe this team allowed the Marlins to outperform them when they needed to win the most. They couldn't score more than 4 runs against an awful Marlins pitching staff, not to mention the fact that they surrendered 7. The Mets really better come back strong in 2008 to make up for this disaster. They are far and away the most talented team in the NL, they better prove it.

I stopped watching this game after the 4th inning. Partly because I was tired and partly because I didn't want to see the Mets relinquish 1st place to the Phils. I barely slept that night.

One key moment on this not-so-memorable night came in the third inning. The Marlins had the bases loaded when David Wright fielded a ground ball and threw to Paul Lo Duca for a force out at home. Lo Duca then threw back to Wright, who tried to tag the runner coming to third base. David, who should have just stepped on the base for a double play, missed the tag. This goof was followed by a pair of hit-by-pitches that forced home two Florida runs, both with two outs. Wright's failure to get the out on that play typified what the last two weeks of that season were like for the Mets. Not David's fault, of course. It was some kind of evil spirit that plagued the entire team.

Funny that, with all that happened this month, I'm more disappointed that Maine did not pitch the no-hitter than anything else. There's only one year left until we move to that awful stadium, we will probably never get the chance to have one at Shea. It was always my great fear that when it does happen, I won't be there.

In any event, this was a nice day. The weather was great, we got up big early, we had the no-no going until late and we all generally believed that the horror had ended just in time.

Funny how it goes, no?

I wasn't able to see this game on TV so I settled for radio. As I listened, I kept thinking that if the division title was going to get away, at least John Maine would give the Mets their first no-hitter as some kind of compensation (minimal as it might have been.) But when Paul Hoover got that infield single in the 8th, that hope was lost, too.

Still, the victory did lift the team into a first place tie with the Phillies, who lost to the Nationals later that day. But it was just a temporary reprieve. We all know what happened the next day.

Oh, well, thanks for the great effort, John. Fate can be so cruel!

I wish that John Maine pitched the no-no this game. Though this was long before my time, I remember reading a library book about the Mets and I learned Tom Seaver came closer to pitching a no-no more than once, including the imperfect game. That is what I thought about while hearing about the game. (I missed it because I was with my dad and he doesn't have cable which is why I try to boycott his house at times like this.)

Probably the best pitched game I ever attended. Thought for sure Maine was going to get a no- hitter, no one could touch him. 14 strikeouts and only a slow 30 foot roller down the 3rd base line could beat him. Went from a great high to the ultimate low point the next day. The Mets have never been the same.

I attended this game, I sat out in the left field bleacher seats. This game was electric, a ton of offense and bad blood, this erupted at 3rd base with Olivo and Reyes. Because of the fight, the game was delayed and Olivo was ejected. His replacement got the only hit off Maine. This excitement made me want to see the next game and final day of the season, I did get those tickets to see Glavine blow it in the first and it has been painful ever since! Let's Go Mets!

Last game I ever went to at Shea. 13 ks, almost a no-hitter and a bench-clearing brawl. I'd trade it all for a win the next game.

Anytime someone writes "Probably the best pitched game I've ever seen" (Pat from 2012), I have to check the game score and then see where it ranks among all-time great Mets pitching performances.

Maine's 7.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, and 14 strikeouts earned him a game score of 89. Therefore, this game ranks as number 23 of all time for the Mets, and no, I did not go through every start in Mets history. Here is my source:

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1218387-new-york-Metstop-pitching-performances-in-Mets-history

By the way, the article was written before Jacob deGrom's April 23, 2021 gem, so everyone takes one step back.

Regarding this game and its place in Mets history, I remember it, but revisiting any game from the 2007 season is like falling off a cliff into a dark abyss with no escape and where no one can hear me scream.

Another way to describe the Mets that year is to amend a classic line from the Wolf of Wall Street:

The 2007 Mets were fairy dust. They didn't exist. They never landed. They were no matter. They were not on the elemental chart. They were not f^#*!ng real. Right?

What a failure. The season was lost for good on the last regular day. Not 1 game in October. Glavine must not be brought back. There must be another .500 pitcher out there that is cheaper, if the owners want one so bad. This season was a bust. Yeah they were in first place one-hundred something days this season, except the only one that counts.

After Saturday's results, I could not wait to watch this could-be historic game. But Glavine's performance and result was a microcosm of this last month of what was to be a great season. DISASTER! 7-0 after 1/2 inning is totally unacceptable, even for a last place team. But, sometimes these thing bring change for the better. Maybe now Omar will realize that we need YOUNG decent pitchers, and players that respect the manager. We have a great young nucleus to still build from, so lets get ready for pitchers/catchers in February and begin making Fla, Wash, and Philly realize that they woke a sleeping giant.

We had season tickets from 1984-1994 and went every day (now it's just the Saturday plan). One late October evening, Mookie Wilson had just hit a grounder that rolled under Buckner's legs and the person who had the other two seats in our box tapped me on the shoulder and said "Now, we can never complain about anything that happens here ever again". I said, "Not yet". The next night, Orosco strikes out Barrett, throws his glove in the air and falls on his knees. On the way down the ramps, I turned to my friend and said "NOW we can never complain about anything that happens here ever again".

Even without that, it is hard to feel bad about the overpaid prima donnas while sitting in a seat that costs what it does and watch them not run out ground balls or pop ups.

Still, my heart goes out to those who were there every day, who invested so much time and emotion in this club to see it end this way. Especially those that weren't there 20 years ago to see the magic. You deserved better. Non-fans or casual ones don't understand that this is like investing in a stock, only to see it crash. The truth of the matter is that we weren't really that good and it caught up to us in the end. Pennant winners do not play .500 ball for the whole last two thirds of the season. I suppose that it will be a return to mediocrity for our last year in a real stadium.

I’m bitter. I’m embarrassed. But…

Should any misfortune befall the Yankees this October…say they get beat by Cleveland 22-1 three games in a row, or they take a 3-0 lead on the Red Sox/Angels and lose the next 4, or they make it to the World Series and Mariano blows four straight ninth-inning leads and A-Rod goes 0-for-the-postseason, I have four words for Mets fans: SHUT THE FREAK UP.

We Mets fans should not be allowed to talk about the Yankees for the next 25 years, or until the Mets win a World Series, whichever comes first.

We were SO pumped up for this game. Yes, we had just lost our ridiculous first-place lead after playing horribly all of September, but there we were: tied for first with one game left to play. Hell, John Maine almost threw a no-hitter the day before! The collapse would just be a footnote in history after the Mets pulled it out and made it to the playoffs.

Whoops.

The always-hateable Tom Glavine gave his boys in Atlanta one last gift in his shortest outing in almost TWO DECADES, surrendering 7 ER and getting...one out. "One out? That's all he could get? One god damn out?" The Mets were almost right back in it after Castro hit a bases- loaded bomb in the bottom of the first...that was caught at the warning track. The Mets were booed off the field at the end of the game, reclaiming their spot as the laughing-stock of baseball, and the Phillies went on to win their game over the Nats. The depressing Mets collapse was finally complete. It's times like these that make me almost want to stop watching baseball. Almost...

See ya in March.

Disaster. The fans were ready to cheer and support the Mets from start, but before we were even settled in our seats in the first inning, we were behind. When LoDuca hit the rolling bunt and was thrown out for the third out with the bases loaded, it felt that all life and hope were sucked out of Shea.

One week after the fact and it still HURTS!!! I was hoping for a 1986/2006 type miracle as I watched on the CW-11 but it NEVER happened and those "wonderful" Yankee fans (especially the PHONY MTV-influenced ones) were giving me the "I'M SO SORRY" b-s. But their condolences were about as "pleasant" as diarrhea in a swimming pool. But someone once said "What doesn't kill you makes you only stronger" and in 2008, the Mets will come out stronger and better than ever!

I had a bad feeling about this team since spring training. No matter how much I wanted to believe that this was the year, deep down I knew something bad was bound to happen. Boy I was right, and this last game proved me right. Besides that damn Brave giving up 7 runs in a third of an inning, leaving a small army on base in the first 3 innings, and not putting up at least a small fight after that, completing the worst collapse since the 64 Phillies made me sick to my stomach. Hopefully next year Omar can right his wrongs and get a bullpen, and hopefully we can find the heart again. Sad. Really sad.

After Willie Randolph's 3rd straight bad September managing, I have three words for Omar.....HIRE...JOE...TORRE!!!

This is by far the worst day in Mets baseball history!!! How this team blew their 1st place lead just boggles my mind!! The Mets will really have to do some wheeling and dealing in the winter to get this team to where it has to be.

Rank this date along with June 15, 1977 as one of the worst in Mets history.

I just recall how defeated the Mets kind of looked after that first inning. Glavine also appeared to be a bit blase when he was removed from the mound. He absolutely had no bulldog in him during the first inning; at times, he looked like he was pitching batting practice.

Had Castro's ball gone yard in the first inning, I don't think it would have made a difference in terms of turning things around. What Met fans saw that afternoon was a team that was beaten and cowardly and gutless.

If I was Omar Minaya, I would have sent every Met player a mirror for Christmas with the following inscription: "Hold it up to your face. Tell me what you see." The Mets had no business to perform the way they did that final month. And contrary to what Classless Tom Glavine said, yes, that loss was devastating!

Willie couldn't make a lineup change? People say it wasn't his fault. There's nothing he could do? If Beltran was so wonderful, how come he was hitting under .280 and batting cleanup? Were it not for his big contract, he shouldn't have hit higher than sixth. Alou when healthy always hit and should have been batting cleanup. That alone, would have helped. Glavine should not take the hit alone. He hit a rough game for himself. The entire team sucked in the last month and it was everybody's fault, plain and simple.

We were just pulling in to Giants stadium to watch the G-Men play the Eagles in a Sunday nighter. Looking forward to watching the Mets on the dish while we started the tailgate. The line to get into the lot backed up due to a security sweep. We flipped on the car radio and heard Glavine taking his warm-up throws. We get to our parking spot not 10 freaking minutes later and we are down 7-0!!! Not to mention that I was traveling with a couple of Eagles/Phillies fans who made the afternoon impossible! Thankfully Osi laid a six-pack on Winston Justice and McNabb and the Giants beat the Birds, but an ugly day in Mets history.

At first I was pumped up for this game. I was wearing my Mets baseball cap and David Wright jersey (cuz he is my favorite player along with Reyes, Santana too, but he was still a Twin back then.) I went to Pleasantville diner. Watched the end of the pregame and whole 1st inning. I was allowed to sit at the counter because the head waitress was a Met fan and noticed my jersey and told me I could sit there.

When I saw the Marlins score seven runs, I was shocked and booed Tom Glavine by saying don't get another contract offer and go back to the Braves where you belong. When the inning ended I went back to my table where my dad and sister were and took a drink. Then a boy who worked at the diner who I assume was the head waitress' son (might've been 20) goes up and tells me "I know how you feel." He's also a met fan and I talk to him when there is a Met game when I'm at that diner.

I choose to watch the rest of the game at mom's house. I remember crying hysterically after the last out. I was still shocked the next morning. But the 2007 collapse doesn't stop me from being a huge die-hard Mets fan. It does stop me from being a fan of Tom Glavine. And sure enough he went back to the Braves months later.

Luckily I moved on to the Jets and got over the collapse.

This game was, as someone said, an ugly day. But in the bottom of the first inning, the Mets scored one run and then had the bases loaded. Ramon Castro hit a fly ball to the warning track in left field that fell a foot or two short of a grand slam. Had the ball sailed over the fence, the Mets would have been down, 7-5 and perhaps could have won.

The worst part, though, was the crowd. As the afternoon wore on, the fans in our mezzanine section were getting drunker and more vile. A lot of parents started taking their kids home because of all the yelling and fighting, which was no longer amusing. I eventually moved to the loge level, but the anger of the fans was just as bad there. I left ashamed to be around Mets fans that day, and was really glad the season was over.

Sadly, Mets management did not overhaul the team in the off-season, and the same train wreck happened in 2008.

This was one of two games that I saw at Shea during the 2007 season and I unfortunately remember this one like it was yesterday. I had recently arrived back from a camping trip with my father and older brother. My aunt from Queens Village, a die-hard Met fan since their days in the Polo Grounds, had some extra tickets to this game. The four of us were off to Shea with high hopes but we were crushed when Glavine allowed those seven runs in the first inning. The entire season for us ended in what should be described as the worst twenty minutes in New York Mets history. We left in the seventh and listened to it on the radio on the way home; we just couldn't take it anymore.

I attended this game after being at the Maine game the day before. Hoping for another win! BUT my hopes were dashed in the form of Tom Glavine. I sat in the right field Loge level, sat near Cowbell Man that day, even seen him cry. Me and my wife just sat stone-faced throughout the whole ordeal, even when the stands emptied we just sat there, it seemed to be like an eternity. I could not believe I just witnessed the greatest collapse in history (up to that point). After the game we were outside the right field player exit and fans stood lined up hoping to catch a glimpse of our favorite players, and who is in one of the cars but Tom Glavine, an old 70-80 year old woman was in the road giving the middle finger telling him he should be ashamed of himself! It was classic!

Great to see Johan come out and pitch 7 spectacular innings on Opening Day. We hit well, fielded well, ran well and you couldn't ask for a better way to start the year. Hopefully Santana and the Mets can keep this rolling all year long.

Made the 3-and-a-half-hour drive to Miami for the game and it was more than worth it to watch Johan pitch! It was a new feeling to have a Met starter be in a jam and not be worried at all, knowing he would find a way out of it! Here's to 7 more years of games like this!

Tough Loss for the Mets. But even tougher is Pedro going down with the hamstring injury. Hopefully Mets take their time with Pedro and not rush him back. I would rather have a fully healthy Pedro for the strech run. Santana, Maine and Perez should be able to hold things together and hopefully Hernandez and Pelfrey can give us some quality starts.

Nice to see that David Wright finally got his first home run at Dolphin Stadium. It was a bomb and the Mets rolled 13-0. Oliver Perez was sharp striking out 8 and walking 1.

Game of the year. Wins like this haven't been coming the Mets way lately so this is huge.

Great game on a beautiful night without any humidity. Bob Murphy's widow Joy changed the number and the very beautiful and talented Linda Eder sang the National Anthem! Also, I got to see Daniel Murphy hit his first Major League home run but the bullpen made us sweat a bit but THE AMAZIN'S PUT IN THE BOOKS for a great night at Shea!

It was great seeing the Mets beat up on Scott Olsen, a punk pitcher on a punk team!

There were 3 Marlins fans (yes ALL 3 of them! They DO exist!) who were getting a little too obnoxious for my liking, but it was good seeing them walk down the exit ramps and out of the stadium disappointed after it was over.

Not a bad night overall. Too bad the season ended on a rotten note!

Jane Jarvis, Shea Stadium organist from the mid- 60's thru late 70's, pulled down the remaining games at Shea number in centerfield before the game. Seeing her, and hearing a tape of her rendition of "Meet the Mets" was the highlight of the afternoon. Sad to say.

I went with my uncle to celebrate his birthday. We started drinking beer when we got to our seats, in the mezzanine section just behind home plate. I remember Jane Jarvis pulling down the countdown in center field before the game, watching Pelfrey take the mound, and not much else about the game. We kept drinking beer and by the seventh inning we were both asleep in our seats. Someone woke us up when the game was over. Not exactly a thriller.

My dad and I went to this game... it was probably the last game we went to at Shea. I have photos from this day (taken from our seats behind the third-base line) and the new stadium--complete with cranes--looms behind left field. Another photo shows David Wright at bat.

Before the game, Dad and I checked out the fenced-off exterior facade of Citi Field, and I have a photo of him raising his hands in front of it. It's a nice photo, especially since he grew up in Brooklyn and was a Dodger fan when they were there, and the facade was designed to look like the one at Ebbets Field.

The fact that the Mets didn't do so hot in the game is probably why I don't remember anything about it. C'est la vie!

Well another AMAZIN' come from behind win, hahaha. I was at a bar watching this game. I left the bar because I was mad that the Mets were losing, so when I got home and turned on the TV I saw the Mets had the bases loaded in the 9th with 2 outs with Beltran coming up. I was like, oh no, this is going to take a while especially the way Beltran has been hitting lately, so I got up to get something to drink in the kitchen. As soon as I opened the fridge to get my water I hear Gary Cohen screaming at the mike "ITS OUTTA HERE, ITS OUTTA HERE!!!" I ran out the kitchen and I see the ball landing in the right field seats of Dolphin Stadium. I was jumping for joy and almost cried my ass off of happiness. I have a good feeling about this Mets team. I think there is something special waiting for the Mets at the finish line when it's all said and done.

All was lost until Beltran came up to bat and really HIT a home run 12 ways to Christmas and then some. Howie Rose's call on WFAN was off the hook; I'm surprised that he didn't start yelling BELTRAN-BELTRAN-BELTRAN like he yelled MATTEAU-MATTEAU-MATTEAU in 1994. Probably one of the most classic dingers in Mets history along with Straw off the Busch Stadium clock in '85; Nails in Game 3 of the '86 NLCS, Pratt vs Arizona in '99 and Piazza's emotional round tripper 10 days after 9-11-2001.

Although they wouldn't make the playoffs, this was one of the greatest pitched games in the history of this team. Johan Santana demanded the ball on three days rest, pitched on a bum knee and had a complete game shutout. The reason why the Mets didn't make the playoffs wasn't Santana's fault. As a matter of fact he helped them get to game 161 more than anyone and should've had 23 wins on the year.

But of course Yankee fans are still happier with Hughes and Kennedy.

This was a great game and a sad game for me. This game would be the last one I would attend at Shea and THEY WON! Santana pitched magnificent. I have a lot of great memories of Shea and this game will always be the number one memory. Goodbye Shea and thanks for the memories.

Went with my friend Bill to game. Sat in usual spot, red seats upper deck. The place was electric. Santana pitched the best game I ever saw. A must-win and he got it! My last time I was ever at the great stadium in Flushing. Citi Field is ok, but Shea Stadium as both a Mets and Jets fan will always be number one. I love you Big Shea and will miss you!

This was the most magnificently pitched games in Mets history. This is why we brought Johan in (even if he has had surgery 3 years in a row). The Marlins played a good game, but the Mets played a better one. I distinctly remember the fact that journeyman second-baseman Ramon Martinez hit an rbi double into right-center to give Johan a 2-run lead. I went to this game and had great seats two rows behind first base. This being the last win at Shea, it was a special one to attend and one of the highlights of the Stadium. But once again, the Marlins ended our playoff hopes for the second year in a row. (Now, they've eliminated us 3 out of the last 4 years).

Maybe I'm wrong, but I think this game and the no-hitter makes the trade for him worth it. We did not give up anything for him except Carlos Gomez and he was traded from Twins to Brewers before he became a star.

I had high hopes that this team could knock around Scott Olsen. I mean, really -- they had the entire season! And guess what....he pitched the best game he ever had against the Mets. Oliver was good but with the offense in such a slump the was nothing that he could do. When Church hit the ball, I thought it was gone at first but when the center fielder stopped in his tracks I just put my head down. As odd as it may sound, this game didn't lose the playoff chances for the Mets. All the previous games we blew when we should have won lost it for us. Today, we were just out pitched.

At least Perez got out of the first inning

PART 1: Just like 2007 at this time, a lot of hope coming into the game due to a strong pitching performance the day before but unfortunately the end result was also the same. Another season ending in disgust. The last game at Shea started 1 hour late due to some lingering rain and even though the rain cloud passed, it seemed like a cloud still hung over the Mets. The crowd was obviously into it but it seemed like everyone was waiting for the point where the game would be blown. Especially with no run support. With each mishap, things quickly got quiet and fans started getting more and more rageful. The Mets put out Oli Perez and he pitched well until the normal inning where the wheels fall off on him. he was replaced with the bullpen we all fear and I don't have to go into detail but there were a couple home runs involved that gave us the loss. Even on Shea's last day, some bad things don't change.

PART 2: The one and only bright spot for the Mets was Carlos Beltran's game tying home run. Carlos seems to always be a bright spot for us no matter what people say about him. Otherwise the Mets offensively did nothing threatening and had absolutely no intensity or heart the whole game even when they were being watched by countless Mets legends.

When it finally ended, the Mets couldn't get off the field quick enough as they got booed. Another season wasted. Another choke-filled stretch run. And something new this year, a massive amount of games blown by the bullpen.

When you look back, this game should have just been about Shea Stadium because the Mets should have had 100+ wins and would have clicked the division a long time ago. I guess the Mets like to fall short of providing a nice day to reflect on the memories of Shea.

PART 3: So the game was over but wait! There was still a big ceremony to be presented. Oh Joy! I'm sure all the fans were excited for that after the blue, orange, and white filth just left the field. A lot of fans left refusing the stay another minute because there was nothing left to get excited about. I was one of them but then I decided to go back. I don't know why but I guess I wanted to see some of the old Mets and take a look one last time. I went back to a random tunnel and stood there as the old players shuffled out.

This ceremony should have been before the game especially since everyone knew what was at stake that day. if the Mets lost, the fans would have been crushed and not that interested. Even though people cheered, that's how it was. It also probably would have included current Mets if it was before the game but after, who the hell wanted to see them? That kinda bothered me because even though they lost and they may have been booed if they came out there, they were still part of the Shea memories. Guys like Wright, Beltran, Delgado, and even now Santana have great memories here. I think they should have been out there and maybe said something to the crowd. I know what they went through that day but it's also kinda selfish and if they are going to get through this choking thing, it should have started then.

PART 4: So back to the ceremony. A lot of good names came out. People were happy Gooden came, Piazza also. Dykstra looked like hell and Hojo looked like someone killed his dog. Majority of players were '80's Mets. Lot of respect for Yogi coming out because he was truly a Yankee. Some surprises for me were Dave Kingman and George Foster that a lot of fans didn't like but welcomed them back anyhow.

After the last guy came in, I left immediately to beat the crowd. As I drove home, I wonder what the hell I was thinking going to the game knowing they would probably blow it. And after seeing all of those 1980's Mets, I knew if they were playing, they wouldn't have blown it. Even if they were down to their last strike. A lot of fight and heart in those teams which is surely missing from this team. Some people say that the 1986 Mets, if they lost game 6 to the Astros in the NLCS, would have found a way to beat Mike Scott in game 7 and the fans would have had faith in them because that's who they were. This team, a lot of fans knew after those 2 bullpen home runs, it was over because how much can the rest of the team take? If they came back that game, the pen would have given it up again.

Goodbye Shea and the 2008 bullpen, thanks for the memories.

Perhaps it was predictable that the Mets would lose again like this, given the fatally weak bullpen; they probably overachieved as it was.

But the whole day was surreal for me... I cried as I walked into Shea, and several times during the game. I actually was OK with the loss after a few minutes as I contemplated the end of Shea and what it represented to me - my youth (I'm 48 and attended my first game in 1968) and a lot of memories, baseball and otherwise. I probably went to at least 250 games in the 41 seasons since '68.

The post-game ceremony was wonderful; I couldn't stop sobbing, seeing guys like Ed Kranepool, Jim McAndrew, Cleon Jones, Yogi Berra, Tom Seaver, Rusty Staub, Darryl Strawberry, Gary Carter, Art Shamsky, Wayne Garrett, Dwight Gooden, Mike Piazza, etc. etc. on the field again in Mets jerseys.

I completely lost it, looking around and realizing that I would never be in there again, watching each guy touch home plate for the last time, and Tom taking the mound and throwing the last pitch to Mike.

Then there was nothing left but to leave, completely in tears walking down the ramp and into the parking lot, and I'm getting choked up all over again as I write this. I realize that I'm truly grieving for a lost loved one.

So long and farewell, old friend.

I wanted to score at least one more Mets game from Shea.

I was asked by my friend Greg Prince if I was going to score the final game at Shea. No, I replied, because I wanted the last game I score at Shea to be a playoff game. Thanks to Mr. Schoeneweis's "talent" to turn popgun hitters like Wes Helms into Ken Griffey, Jr., that opportunity was wrenched from me.

The last game I scored where the Mets played at Shea was on 23 September: Mets 6; Cubs 2.

It was nice. But I wanted more.

So did every other Mets fan.

We deserve better.

Damn...

Thanks, Mets.

It was a BITTERSWEET day in more ways than one.

(1) We were hoping for a Mets win and a Brewers loss and ol' Shea would be alive for at least one more day. Except for the Beltran HR; you could have reported the Mets offense to the missing persons bureau. When the final score came from Miller Park, we were crushed but determined. Surely the Old Shea had one more comeback in it but when Delgado flied out to left in the 8th and Church made the last out in the 9th. Oh so close but yet so far away. (With Apologies to Frankie Valli.)

(2) The Florida Marlins post-game "celebration" was totally uncalled for in my opinion. They acted less like Major Leaguers and acted more like the Alpha Beta high school jock jerks who had pushed a 14-year skinny asthmatic kid down a flight of stairs.

(3) The farewell: What can I say? I was on my feet, cheering each Mets great and there were a few surprises (Willie Mays, Dave Kingman) and then the emotional home plate touching and the last pitch from The Franchise to Metal Mike.

But the clincher was when The Beatles "In My Life" played and both #41 and #31 walked to the outfield to close the door on a wonderful place that I have visited many times since the mid 1970's. Then I took some more pictures and I left with a few tears and a lump in my throat.

I'll finish with this quote: "GOODBYE MY FRIEND; I'M NEVER GONNA SEE YOU AGAIN." Peace!

I never thought I would say this but six years later but I kinda miss this team and the old Shea. As epic as a failure as this day was it was still the last winning season for the Mets and the last game at Shea.

Since opening the new CitiField we haven't had a winning season since. Beautiful ball park but it misses the character that Shea used to have. I don't think it's coincidental how bad we've been since.

I'm still mad at myself for not going. I had the Saturday season plan for a few years and went to about 15 games a year, but for financial reasons I could not do it in 2008, but I remember telling people I don't care how much but I'm going to last game at Shea, but I did not. Looking back I guess ceremony did not mean as much cause of loss but every stadium closing ceremony has been after a game.It made me mad when Francessa complained about Mets doing it, Yankees did the same thing and it was a night game.

The fact that this team was in contention until the final day in 2008 with that bullpen was a miracle.

With all of the recent fielding/base running blunders by Daniel Murphy, it brought back memories of this game, where Johan Santana pitched a gem. The only two runs he gave up were unearned because of Daniel Murphy dropping a routine fly ball in left field. Johan struck out 13 and deserved a better fate. Murphy is nothing but an American League DH with no power and no baseball instincts to run the bases.

Another horrible loss!! So nothing much has changed, the bullpen with the exception of K Rod and Parnell is still a mess. JJ Putz was a putz today. Thanks a lot JJ. Don't let the door hit you on the way out. Another Santana game blown because bullpen is a complete mess. Mets have no business playing like this and I have a bad feeling they will get their butts handed to them this weekend in Philadelphia. This team needs to be broken up and completely revamped with players who have some guts and aren't scared. As a Mets fan I am completely fed up with this group of players who will never give us fans what we deserve. Mets players should follow the example of Santana who has shown nothing but guts and pride in the way he has pitched for the Mets. Santana himself is probably wondering why he even came here to a team filled with losers.

Went to this game and saw Tim Redding get rocked early which took the wind out of the Mets sails and kept the crowd very quiet. Not a lot of energy on the field or in the stands I recall. Except the Mets rallied late, got some men on base in the 9th but it was too little too late.

Nice series win for the Mets as Florida is a tough team and they have given the Mets problems in recent years. Gutty performance by Maine and nice job by Parnell to get out of a jam in the 8th inning. Once again K-Rod was money as usual. As a Mets fan I am exteremly proud of this team for continuing to find ways to get the job done despite all the injuries they have had this year. I have to question the training staff on whether they are doing their job in getting these guys ready to play on a daily basis. One or two injuries is understandable but the amount of injuries the Mets are having this year is ridiculous. Putz needs to get it together because right now he is reminding me way too much of Heilman. If he cant do the job in the 8th inning what value is he to this team. Maybe the Mets should try to trade him to a team that needs a closer and try to get some more pitching. I think Parnell can get the job done in the 8th inning.

What an awesome way to start a season. Johan Santana was just vintage Johan with 6 innings 4 runs and 5 strikeouts. And it looks like he has gotten himself some more run support. I really hope that he keeps it up especially agsinst the Phillies.

Nice to see the team in blue hats and pinstripes for a change. I wish I knew why Charlie Samuels seems so obsessed with the black-and-blue hats they wear about 8 of every 10 games, and why he even has so much influence over what they wear.

It was great to be back at Citi Field. I was up in the left field "nose bleed" but still enjoyed a Mets victory. It was great to see the Cowbell Man as well as all the loyal Mets fans. I even saw a guy wearing a Mets jersey with a Yankee hat!? I also saw a guy wearing a Mets #86 jersey with the name "Buckner" on the back. Besides all that, great to see a Mets victory and hopefully many more in 2010!! Lets Go Mets!!!

I must say that the Mets were lucky to have this game go to extras. When Frenchy (Jeff Francoeur) walked to make the game 6-5 Marlins, one of the balls should've been a called strike 3 but it was ball 2 instead. And Leo Nunez the Marlins pitcher didn't do anything but the Umps thought the opposite. If the Mets won I would have thanked those umps for being morons.

I joined my fellow members of the Stuyvesant High School Alumni Association for our annual visit to Citi Field, and we had the Modell's Clubhouse next to the bullpen. It's quite a unique experience - sitting on the bench behind the chain link fence, you can reach down and touch the warning track.

Last ever Mets at Marlins game at Pro Player-Land Shark-Dolphins-Sunlife etc....SPIN THE WHEEL and that's the name of the stadium for this week as R.A. Dickey pitches a 7-inning masterpiece. Since the Mets began in 1962; they have played regular season games at 55 ballparks (including the Polo Grounds, Shea Stadium and Citi Field) in 5 countries (USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Japan.) In May 2012, make it 56 when the Mets pay their 1st visit to the new Marlins Stadium (that's the name as of this moment) which is on the site of the late, legendary Orange Bowl. They have yet to play at Target Field in Minnesota but I have a feeling when the new inter-league schedule kicks in 2013, the Amazins will be there in the near future as well.

I was so pumped about this game! Mets going for the sweep! Reyes had an awful series! Citi Field was empty, I guess being that there was a threat of rain and it was an afternoon game. I sat in section 413 behind home plate with a friend. The rain held off until later in the game. Mets jumped out to an early lead after Nieuwenhuis tripled and Tejada hit a sacrifice fly to get him home. Neise looked great even though he gave up a homer. Then...the 9th inning! Heath Bell fell apart walking 4 and I just knew the Mets would win this game! Justin Turner was an unsung hero after battling Bell on 12 pitches he walks in the tying run and then...Nieuwenhuis was the hero!! Great game!!

This game was the first in many years that the Mets fielded a starting lineup that was entirely home grown from their farm system.

This was a bad loss. Mets came back against Bell only to have Frank Francisco implode the next inning, literally when he got kicked out of the game. Remember listening to this game in the car on Mothers Day. Howie couldn't believe what he was seeing. Real bad loss on Mothers Day.

For my final visit to Citi in 2012, it was fantastic!! Ran into a couple of A's fans heading to the Bronx to take on the Evil Empire and I gave them some advice: BE CAREFUL. Got off the 7 train and I saw that the New York Lottery was there again and I met Yolanda Vega for the 2nd straight year, Without a doubt, she is a stunningly beautiful woman. WFAN's Joe Beningo has often said that his fantasies DON'T involve sports and since this is a family website I will keep my fantasies about me and Yolanda to myself.

The ballpark had plenty of pre-game stuff from fans walking their dogs to cheerleaders from grade school to the Jets Flight Crew doing their rah-rah stuff. R.A. was great until he got into some trouble in the 9th and Jon Rauch almost blew it but all turned out well as he got the last out. Even the maligned Jason Bay hit a home run right near the Apple. I know 2012 hasn't turned out the way that it should have but I know in my heart and the heart of the millions of loyal Mets fans: Better and brighter days are coming and the New York Mets will return to prominence and glory in the New York baseball (and sports) scene and that crooked, pop a pill and hit a home run outfit in the Bronx will be in the gutter! Let's go Mets!

A sad note from this game, the last appearance of Ralph Kiner in the broadcast booth. By this time, he was obviously only doing a few games a season, and only a few innings in those rare games of being a "guest" to SNY.

All told, Ralph spent 52 different Mets seasons in the broadcast booth, truly special.

Jacob deGrom struck out seven batters in seven shutout innings for his first major league win. He would collect eight more victories during the season and become the National League Rookie of the Year. Jacob's catcher was Taylor Teagarden, who was playing in his ninth and final game as a Met.

A totally perfect day at Citi with sunny skies and not too hot or humid. An exciting game where the much maligned Chris Young hits a game tying HR and then "Soup" Eric Campbell comes up with the game winner because we didn't want any extra frames because of the Huey Lewis and the News post-game concert and at 7:30 PM they hit the stage and put on a one-hour show playing mostly their hits ("I WANT A NEW DRUG", "HEART OF ROCK & ROLL", "POWER OF LOVE" etc...) but the only downside was he played a new song which was OK & he didn't sing my favorite "HIP TO BE SQUARE". As they say at the toilet paper factory: $@#& HAPPENS!!!!!

This game will go down in the history of western civilization as the game in which the Mets decided to give a day off to their regular second baseman so that he'd be fresh for the All-Star game, to be played two days later. In other words, the Mets, substantially under .500 as a team, did not field their best lineup so that one of the team's stars could participate in an exhibition game.

A bunch of wimps and scoundrels. If it was Collins who made the decision, then Collins should be fired. If it was the GM, then the GM should be fired. If it was the batboy, then the batboy should be fired. And if it was the second baseman, then the second baseman should be traded.

As a postscript, it might be remembered that the aforementioned second baseman, the Mets' only All-Star representative of 2014, is making $5,700,000 for the year.

As a post-postscript, it should be noted that the aforementioned second baseman, in his only All-Star game at-bat, struck out on four pitches with a runner in scoring position.

This was my first game working for the Mets in promotions, and when I got out of the game and walked toward the Shea Bridge, I saw the crowd standing for Bartolo Colon in a bases loaded situation (hit a sac fly), then the Mets took the lead the next inning (I think) and Jeurys Familia came on to close it.

My first visit to Citi in 2015 went almost 100% well since it was HAPPY HARVEY DAY despite Matt being less than 100% physically on David Wright Schedule Poster day (I gave mine to my friend Kathy's son Adam since they showed up late). But the day despite being sunny and in the mid 60's wasn't perfect when Blevens and d'Aruaud got hurt and despite the fact that Blue Smoke is NO LONGER SERVING RIBS!!!!! BOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! But the Mets won despite a little drama in the 9th.

This is the game that gave the Mets sole possession of first place in the N. L. East. Michael Conforto got it started with his first major league home run in the second inning. Yoenis Cespedes added a pair of two-run doubles and Bartolo Colon pitched scoreless ball before a run in the eighth. A great victory to put the Mets on top of the division standings for good.

A big come-from-behind win in the Mets drive for the 2nd wild card spot. Cespy’s walk-off homer won it.

This is one of the only games I remember from 2016.

In this one, Dee Strange Gordon hit Bartolo Colon's third pitch of the game to honor his late teammate Jose Fernandez. It was a touching moment. I remember feeling that Jose's playful spirit somehow helped the weak-hitting Strange-Gordon to jack the ball out of the park. Maybe Bartolo helped as well by grooving one.

Even though not a Marlins fan (except when they were playing the Yankees in the World Series), I was affected by Jose's passing more than I thought I would be.

This was the coldest game I was ever at, but I have enough pride for this team that I refused to wear nothing other than a Syndergaard jersey. All the blankets were sold out anyway. I thought more people would have come out to see the return of Zack, who had a promising first inning. Then Grandy singled in a run in the bottom of the first inning, and in the second, the cool energy was taken out of the ballpark when Wheeler let up three runs. Left in the fifth inning.

This was Terry Collins' 1,000th game as Mets manager. The team celebrated the occasion with five runs in the seventh inning for a comeback win over the Marlins. T. J. Rivera homered in the bottom of the first and hit a two-run double that tied the game in the seventh. Wilmer Flores later drew a bases-loaded walk to force home the run that put the Mets ahead to stay.

Steven Matz came through with seven shutout innings in a blanking of the Marlins. On the same date two years earlier, Matz had his outstanding major league debut in which he drove in four runs and singlehandedly led the Mets to victory.

Yesterday was the first time the Mets have ever hit back to back HRs to walkoff the game. In front of a crowd that had approximately 8 people in the stands (Citi was empty) Conforto and Frazier went deep twice off Kyle Barraclough, who seems to lose control every time he faces the Mets. On a side note, this was also one of the worst days in Mets history, as our captain announced his inevitable retirement.

So thankful this turned out to be the game where the the Captain David Wright took his first turn at-bat in over two years. Got the whole thing on video. It may have been a first pitch ground out, but still awesome! THANK YOU CAPTAIN! Sorry about the time I almost hit you with the ball I threw over the parking lot fence in March 2007 at spring training.

This was the specifically designated D-Wright retirement game. If the Wilpons' plan was to sell out the game, it worked. The crowd was, without a doubt, the largest I had ever been a part of. During warmups, David and Jose were running around with each other and the place was going nuts. It was the end of an era for the Mets, this was going to be an emotional night.

David's daughter Olivia Shea threw out the first pitch (it wasn't half bad) and he took one final run, leading the team out the dugout, to his property at third base. He walked in his first at-bat, fielded a grounder showing flashes of vintage Wright, and unfortunately popped out in his last at-bat. Marlins first baseman Peter O'Brien probably could have let it drop, and the crowd let him hear it the whole night. After that, it was over. He walked off the field for one last time, to an ovation that seemed to never end. We can't all have good endings, but I'm sure if you asked David he couldn't have been happier.

The game droned on, Citi still full because he was making a speech afterward. It was a meaningless game against the Marlins, of all teams, but the crowd treated it like a playoff game. It started to get restless, in the 11th or 12th there was actually a fight near my section. If Austin Jackson hadn't doubled to end it, who knows how long the game would've been.

Howie Rose and Wright combined together to make an excellent final sendoff, and his speech to the fans was heartfelt. Everyone was sad to see David go, but we couldn't have asked for anything more from him.

Nice comeback win for the team. The game featured Juan Lagares' 21st home run as a Met to make him their all-time leader among players whose last name begins with the letter L. He had been tied with Johnny Lewis for more than a year. In the ninth, Amed Rosario's RBI single and Pete Alonzo's first major league HR put the Mets ahead to stay. Edwin Diaz then gave his Mitch Williams impression with three consecutive strikeouts after loading the bases.

Pete Alonso's first major league home run was an absolute monster shot. It made Marlins Park look small.

Ironically, SNY is showing this game as a classic today when the Mets just put Lockett on the injured list. But it was a good game with three solo homers in the 7th inning erasing a Marlin 4-2 lead and allowing the Mets to win 5-4 to sweep a doubleheader.

This game was quite a pitching duel. Zack Wheeler and Miami's Jordan Yamamoto each recorded 10 strikeouts and gave up a combined total of three hits through six and one-half innings. In the bottom of the seventh, Wheeler put the Mets ahead with a run-scoring single off reliever Jarlin Garcia. However, three Marlins homers in the eighth and ninth innings ruined the whole thing for Zack and the Mets.

Wheeler's strikeout total is noteworthy here. It marked the 100th time that a Mets pitcher fanned at least ten batters in a regular season game during the 2010s. In no other previous decade did the team ever have so many.

A great comeback win for the Mets, but why is it listed as being played on April 11th? It started that date, but only two Miami batters came up to bat before rain halted it. On August 31st, the game was picked up at that point and completed as the opener of a doubleheader. Since it was resumed as early as the first inning on the latter date, it should be considered officially an August 31st game.

What a game...my first game attended in years. Pete Alonso almost went deep 3 times. Maybe Michael Conforto's last home game as a Met?

Francisco Lindor had four RBIs on this night. His first one came in the first inning on the 8,000 regular season home run in Mets history. He also had a bases-loaded double that scored all three runners. Both of these hits were solid shots to center field.

I sat in expensive section 12 club seats. Had a good look as this team clobbered Marlins pitching.

A weird game: Mets led 1-0 after 8 innings but the Marlins scored 2 runs in the top of the 9th when the game was stopped by rain and suspended after a few hours.

The game was supposed to be resumed on the Monday after the season if it affected the Marlins wild card quest but it did not, and the 9th inning was not resumed. Instead, the result reverted to the 1-0 score for a Mets win after the season was over.

The lucky guy was pitcher Anthony Kay who gave up two runs that are now wiped out of the record book. In the old days, this often happened. But now that most shortened games are suspended and resumed, it is rare.