This was supposed to be a 3-game opening series but because of the freak April blizzard that hit the Northeast and Midwest; it became a one-game series and the temperature that Holy Thursday Afternoon at the Vet was more fitting for Christmas Caroling than playing the Summer Game. The game was on Ch. 9 and I stayed home from school to watch the game. Because Mother Nature threw a curveball at us, we had to make up the games in late June henceforth the lost weekend when the Phillies swept a 5-game series from us and turned a promising season into a train wreck.

I remember watching this game before I went to a Rangers/Flyers playoff game at the Garden. I remember one of the ushers there was excited that the Mets won.

This was the famous game where Tom Veryzer wore a jersey that spelled his name "B-E-R-Y-Z-E-R" on the back. I remember watching the game on WOR and being astounded by this. By the way, the Mets wore their Blue alternate jerseys this day.

The home opener. George Foster's debut in NYC. Joining forces with Kong and Rusty. There was real excitement in the stadium. It drizzled the whole day. The game wasn't very memorable. I'm shocked to see that Randy Jones actually WON a game while with the Mets!

This was a memorable sports day. Not only was it my first time attending a home opener. The same night, I am glued to the radio (no cable) as my 2-time Stanley Cup Champions narrowly avoid first round elimination to the Penguins, thanks to the heroics of John Tonneli.

After the Mets scored in the eighth to tie the game at 3-3, Charlie Puleo gave up the go-ahead run in the twelfth. But a John Stearns double, an infield out, and a Sid Monge wild pitch gave the Mets new life in the bottom of the twelfth.

Unfortunately, Puleo ran out of gas in the thirteenth and loaded the bases with one out. A force play got the lead run home and then Luis Aguayo put the game out of reach with a three-run homer.

As a 7th birthday present, my dad treated me and my family to the Mez and freezing cold Shea. Young as I was, my favorite Met was obviously the team's big HR hitter. In this one, my favorite player hit me 2 HR's. Thank you, Dave Kingman.

The only reason I remember this game is that John Stearns hit a home run off Greg "Moon Man" Minton. It was the first homer Minton had allowed in something like three years and 250 innings. The next weekend, Rusty Staub pinch-hit another one off him to win a game.

The Mets defeated the World Champion Dodgers in their first meeting of 1982.

Starters Charlie Puleo and Burt Hooton each gave up three runs in 6.1 innings of work. The Mets banged out seventeen hits--all singles--in this twelve inning game while holding the Dodgers to just seven hits. LA had just one hit after the eighth inning.

The Mets won it thanks to a two-run single by Hubie Brooks that came three batters after a SAC BUNT BY DAVE KINGMAN!! George Foster had led off the inning with a single off Terry Forster, and Kingman bunted him over. Joel Youngblood singled Foster to third and John Stearns was hit by a pitch. Steve Howe came in to replace Forster and gave up the single to Hubie, and the third Mets run of the inning came on an infield out by Ron Gardenhire. Ed Lynch retired all six batters he faced for his first win of the season.

By the way, Kingman was credited with 16 sacrifice bunts in his career...but I do recall Dave trying to drop one down from time to time to try to catch the defense napping. I'm sure several of those sac bunts were credited even though Dave was trying on his own to bunt for a hit.

The first Mets game I ever watched! Hooked me to become a Met fan for the rest of my life. I was 9 years old at the time. Tom Veryzer made a terrific catch into a double play in the 9th inning. It was an exciting ending to an uneventful game but this game and the game two days later began my journey as a Mets fan.

Didn't remember if they won or lost the game but I was there as a 12 year old. Giveaway day was a miniature Mets bat and a Mets batting helmet.

How could I forget this game! Rusty wins the game in the bottom of the ninth with a pinch hit homer on a beautiful sunny and mild May afternoon at Shea!(I think it was Mothers Day.) The stadium crowd was on their feet screaming! I remember my buddy and I snuck down to the field level boxes on the third base side and saw none other than David Letterman standing in a concession line. (I guess he was at Shea as a spectator.) My buddy walks over to Dave and shakes his hand. Dave smiles back at my buddy. I didn't see anyone else go up to Dave but the Letterman show was kind of new in 1982 so no one really cared. Just another of the many magical memories I have of Shea Stadium.

This game was on my 19th birthday. It was the end of my freshman year of college upstate and my roommate (another big Met fan) and I went to one of the dorms that had washers to do our laundry. Once we got there, we commandeered the TV in the lounge near the laundry room and took turns guarding the TV set against poachers who wanted to watch the Islanders in the playoffs or something.

I vaguely remember being pretty excited about the Mets' surprisingly respectable start, and Rusty's homer (his first since rejoining the Mets) sent us into spasms of joy. A great memory.

I remember this game because I got my picture in the Daily News. Kingman hit a homer and as he is about to shake hands with Stearns at home plate. CLICK! There is me in the stands. Also met Joe Pignatano that day also.

These were free tickets from Fan Appreciation day in 1981, Mets Won, and I remember a fan ran on the field and John Sterns decked him

I have been trying to find out information about this game for years. It is the one when Hubie Brooks made three consecutive errors in one inning. I think this is the game. I remember because I saw this game on tv in California. My error could have been that the Mets lost the game, but apparently they did not. I forgot the Dodgers were pretty lousy themselves!

Alejandro Pena faced Dave Kingman in the 6th inning with the bases loaded. He balked in a run, then he walked Kingman intentionally. On the subway after the game, I overheard some dimwit who said (seriously), "You know, I think they balked on purpose so that they could walk Kingman intentionally."

I was at this crazy game. The Mets scored 9 runs in one inning while the Dodgers played more like little leaguers in the field with many errors.

Ciesaro, the three consecutive errors by Hubie Brooks came on May 10th of the previous year. Brooks made only one error in this game. Hubie also singled in his first three times at bat and scored a run.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Mets came up with nine runs with six singles and the help of three Dodger errors. Bob Bailor singled twice for three RBIs in the inning. Also in the game, winning pitcher Mike Scott drove home two runs with a single in the fourth and bases-loaded groundout in the sixth.

In other sports news of the day, the Islanders completed a four-game sweep of the Vancouver Canucks to win their third straight Stanley Cup Championship.

I believe that this is the game in which Gary Rajsich made a circus catch off the bat of Alex Trevino in the top of the fifth then came up with two outs and runners at the corners in the bottom of the fifth to crush a three-run homer. Gary Rajsich's finest game in the MLB!

I can't believe that anyone else has commented on this game! This was the infamous 9th Inning Seat Cushion Toss when Kingman hit a home run and the Mets were down 5-1 at the time and all of a sudden promotional seat cushions were flung from all sections of Shea and onto the field. I remember watching this on Ch. 9 and to this day, I still am amazed of what happened on that Saturday night.

I was at this game! I just got my driver's license and went to the game with my brother and two kids from our neighborhood. My brother is an Astros fan. The game was a typical 1982 Mets game, no pitching and no offense. People are banging their seat cushions hoping Dave Kingman is going to crank one out of the park. Sure enough in the 9th he hits one into the Houston bullpen and seat cushions go flying everywhere, all over the field. I remeber the Astros 1st baseman didn't even move while the cushions landed all around him.

I was also at this game with my friend Murray and also our H.S. Algebra teacher, Mr. Finch. And I do definitely remember everyone tossing the seat cushions onto the field. I held onto mine though, definitely did not want to let go of that freebie. LOL

It was Memorial Day and school was closed so some people I knew had an extra ticket but they decided to take someone else instead of me. I was NOT a happy camper whatsoever; Btw, had to listen to the game on WMCA 570 because my area would NOT be wired for cable for at least 5 years! Even though it was a cool, cloudy holiday, I was mad as heck I wasn't included on going to Shea!

This was my first ever baseball game. I was six years old, and I was actually a Cardinals fan at the time, because that was the name of my first Little League team.

I don't remember much of anything about the game, except for getting an autograph from a random Cardinals player (I think it may have been backup catcher Orlando Sanchez, although sadly, that autograph is lost to the ages)... that, and that the Mets actually won that day. Shea was rocking that night, because the Mets didn't win too many games that year, especially not against the best team in the NL. But I was miserable, on the verge of tears, because my Cardinals lost. Ah, youth. (A few seasons later, I was on the Twins, but couldn't bring myself to root for a team in the American League. And so a Mets fan was born.)

Chris D'Orso, I hope you're still checking this website!

You said you don't remember much about the game. Here's what happened:

In the bottom of the third, the Mets scored five runs off RHP Steve Mura. Mura was probably best known as the guy who accompanied Ozzie Smith from San Diego to St. Louis in exchange for Garry Templeton and Sixto Lezcano.

George Foster and Dave Kingman had RBI singles and then Mike Jorgensen hit a 3-run homer.

Ron Hodges homered in the bottom of the 4th to make it 6-0, and the Cards got RBI singles by Lonnie Smith and Dane Iorg as the game went on for their two runs. Craig Swan improved to 5-1 with the win, and the Mets were 30-28 after the victory.

After taking 3 out of 4 from the Cards the next weekend in St. Louis, the Mets were 34-30 and just 3 games out of first place.But thanks to five- and seven- game losing streaks, the Mets were 40-47 at the all star break and they went just 25-50 after the break to finish last, 27 games behind the World Champion Cards.

One of the most memorable pitching performances I've ever witnessed in person. Mets starter Randy Jones walked the bases loaded, then walked in a run. I don't know if any other Mets pitcher in the team's history has ever started a game this way, walking the first four hitters. This game was the lowest point in Jones's demise, which actually began after he got off to a brilliant 6-2 start. After that, if you check the box scores, this game was the third in four consecutive starts that he didn't get out of the FIRST inning! Maybe here in San Diego, at Petco Park at his barbecue stand, I can ask him and unravel the mystery. Was he pitching hurt?

I was at this game! Oddly I don't remember those walks or Randy Jones pitching. It's funny on how the years will let you selectively forget bad memories like that. At the time, as a 15 year old kid trying to find baseball heroes to emulate, I was in awe of the Expos and their hitters (Cromartie, Oliver, Carter). Sadly the Mets were so disappointing compared to teams like the Expos. I remember #0 Al Oliver's HR, man he was such a great hitter.

The start of a series the Phillies were calling "Challenge Weekend", featuring 2 doubleheaders, 5 games in all. Pete Falcone pitches great but walks Bill Robinson with the bases loaded in the Phillies' final turn at bat in the first game to lose 1-0, and the overmatched Mets go on to lose all 5 games of the series. Veterans Stadium was always a house of horrors for the Mets, and this weekend may have been right at the top of the list.

It was my first date with my future wife, I’m so happy she said yes when I asked her to go... still together 37 years later and still big Phillies fans.

This was awful. I remember being completely sick with a virus, in misery on the couch watching the equally ill Mets lose five games in 48 hours to the Phillies, which effectively wrecked our season. Closer Neil Allen hurt himself afterwards and it was all downhill from here.

Buddy of mine (and I) show up with our S.F. Giants caps on. Yes, I'm a dual fan. Brent Gaff makes his debut and hurls 7 plus solid innings before Reggie Smith's home run which gave the Jints a 3-2 win. The only thing worse than the Mutts of '82 was the inept throws all night made by Giant backstop Milt May. One throw resulted in a catchy chant of NICE THROW, MILT. AT LEAST YOU CAN HIT!

I was 15 years old at the time. My favorite Mets player was Dave Kingman; not because he was any good, but, as any Mets fan knows, when he stepped up to the plate and got lucky enough to make contact he could hit the ball farther than anyone else playing (the other times he would strike out, but there was an excitement every time he stepped into the box nevertheless....)

Anyway, in his first at bat, he cranked the longest HR I had ever seen up to that time -- a towering blast deep into the center field flag pole area at Dodger Stadium and the Mets had a 3- run first-inning lead. Later in the game I got another treat as Kong hit a 2nd one out --not as imposing as the first, but it was his 2nd of the night, so you never knew the remaining at bats if he would add to the tally.

Bottom line though was that the Mets stunk in 1982. In the end, Terry Leach couldn't nail the game down for the sub-par starter Brent Gaff, and the gasoline was poured on the fire in the form of Mets closer Neil Allen who proceeded to give the game away -- as the box score shows, the Mets gave up 4 in the 9th to lose 6-5.

I remember staying in the bleachers with my dad for a long time just disgusted by the display and staring into the Mets dugout with my pair of binoculars. Neil Allen was the last Met to leave -- he was flustered and teary-eyed. He should have been--I know I was...

Wally Backman's inside-the-park homer (the first ever by a Met lefty at Shea) helped win this game.

This was a big night at Shea back in the day. It was sports bag night! Over 48,000 there for the game. Mets probably thought they were in the wrong stadium when they saw a crowd that big. I remember the next year they put a picture of that night in the 83 yearbook with the 1983 promotion schedule. I remember a big crowd, Mets winning and going home with a cool blue and orange (no black back then - good old days) bag that I toted to school that fall.

One memorable note from this game: Larry Bowa hit into a triple play in the 8th inning against the Mets. He hit a pop fly to Bob Bailor at SS who flipped to Wally Backman to double Jay Johnstone off of 2B and Backman flipped to Dave Kingman to catch Gary Woods off 1B. Mets lost anyway 5-0.

Mets also pulled off another triple play against the Cubs at Shea later in the year on September 29th.

In late innings, Dave Kingman foul-tipped one into the lower seating area behind home, just to the First Base side of the protective net. The ball loudly smacked a woman - who was carrying two beers down the aisle - right square in the chops. First, she spun around, beer splashing all over. Then she went down, like a sack of potatoes. With Kingman looking on, the Andy Frains swarmed her. After about 2 minutes with a hushed crowd watching in anticipation on this very hot afternoon, the lady thankfully revived and got to her feet, to much applause and the relief of all.

I sat in the bleachers at Wrigley for this game, which was not noteworthy other than being the first of two games in two different cities played that day by Joel Youngblood. He was traded during the game to Montreal and played later the same evening for the Expos in Philadelphia. He got hits in both games!

Amazing he was able to get out of O'Hare that quickly.

I recall listening to this game on radio, hearing that Joel Youngblood was removed during the middle of the afternoon game at Wrigley Field because he was traded to the Montréal Expos. Later that night, I was watching sports highlights on TV when I saw a reply of Youngblood's first hit with the Expos in their night game against the Phillies at Veterans Stadium.

The Joel Youngblood, two-team two-hit day is what everybody remembers about that day. For me, one other thing as well... My daughter was born that day!! Around my house that trumps Youngblood!

This was the Chicago half of Joel Youngblood’s experience of getting hits in two different cities in one day. In the third inning, Youngblood delivered a two-run single with the bases loaded that put the Mets ahead to stay. Scoring the first run on the play was Craig Swan, who launched the only homer of his career in the top of the fourth. Joel was then traded to the Expos, with whom he singled in a game at Philadelphia that night.

I am the only one in the world that remembers this game. Terry Leach could not throw a strike for the life of him. The worst game probably of his career. His 10 inning 1-hitter later in the year redeemed him.

I can't say I do remember the game, but thanks to retrosheet, I see that the Mets scored 4 in the 6th to take a 5-3 lead then the wheels fell off.

Here is the top of the seventh:

Scott pitching. Sandberg singled, Bowa popped to short, Buckner walked, Orosco replaced Scott. Durham singled to drive in a run, runners moved up on error by Foster. Morales intentionally walked. Leach replaced Orosco. Davis walked to force in a run. Steve Henderson (yes, that Steve Henderson)singled to drive in two more, Kennedy flied out to right. Wills walked, Sandberg singled to drive in two more, Bowa walked. Falcone replaced Leach, Buckner singled to drive in two and then was caught stealing or the Cubs might still be batting now.

So Leach faced 6 batters: walk, single, out, walk, single, walk.

After the game the Mets had a one game lead over the Cubs in the battle for fifth place.

I was at this doubleheader and it was Banner Day! It was the first time that I was ever on the field at Shea as me and my cousin Nancy Ann paraded around the field with our banner: THE METS ARE GROWING A PENNANT ON THE FARM! (Btw, we didn't win anything). I can't remember what I had for lunch last Friday but I can remember the day we made that banner, how do I remember this? It was the day that both Oscar winner Henry Fonda and boxing champ Salvador Sanchez both died. (Thursday August 12th)

Looking at the boxscore is always quite tantalizing, Bump Wills played 2B for the Cubs and he's the reason that Lenny Randle became a Met because Randle threw a few haymakers at Rangers manager Frank Luchessi because Randle had lost his job to Maury's son in 1977. Also of note, 2 players for the Cubs who let ground balls go through their legs in post-season play were in the lineup that day: Bill Buckner (NATCH) and Leon Durham.

Leading off the top of the eighth inning, Leon Durham hit an inside-the-park home run to give the Cubs the win and a doubleheader split. It marked the beginning of a fifteen-game losing streak for the Mets that wouldn't be stopped until September.

Mario Soto pitches a complete game for the Reds, striking out 15 and walking none. Soto finishes the year with 274 strikeouts, second to Steve Carlton.

Cesar Cedeno steals his 500th base, making him the tenth player in history with 500 steals.

This was a heartbreaking loss for the Mets. The kind of loss that used to make me swear I'd never watch another Mets game again. Ed Lynch pitched nine shutout innings, but he was matched by Pascual Perez. The Mets finally scored a run off Perez in the top of the 10th on a home run by Brian Giles (no, not that Brian Giles). Pat Zachry comes in to try to finish the game off in the bottom of the 10th. I don't remember the exact sequence of events, but I do know that Zachry got the first 2 outs and the Braves got 2 or 3 runners on base. The next batter hits a routine grounder to Hubie Brooks...who picks it up and throws it past the first baseman, allowing the tying run to score. Then Zachry proceeds to walk in the winning run. Mets give it away, 2-1. I still remember Hubie's quote in the next day's paper: "I just threw it away. I just threw the ball away." He felt terrible about it.

This was the fifth loss in a losing streak that would eventually reach 15 games.

One of the first games that I ever went to, were tickets given for the Cub Scouts. The seats were at the top of the Upper Deck and it was freezing. Mets were losing 8-0, came back to tie only to lose in the 8th. I remember Dave Kingman bunting for a hit to try and get the average above .200. No one was at the game and the Mets were in the middle of losing 15 in a row.

This was the first game I ever went to. I was six years old and sat in the loge section near the Braves' bullpen. My brother and sister got Rick Mahler's autograph before the game.

I don't remember much detail of the game except that I believe Mookie was called out for running out of the baseline rounding first on his way in for what would have been a double.

The Rangers also played the Islanders is a softball game in a pregame promotion. Much like on the ice during that era, the Rangers had their butts handed to them.

It was a Sunday afternoon when the Mets were in the throes of that 15-game losing streak. It was a sunny and unusual chilly August afternoon; it felt more like November than August and the Mets were making mistakes on the field and a fan near me yelled out sarcastically "Look What I Found" whenever the Mets made a routine play in the infield. To this day, I still yell that saying when the Mets defense messes up in the infield.

The Mets lose their fifteenth in a row as Nolan Ryan two-hits them and strikes out nine. At this point the Mets are 50-80 and have gone 16-50 since June 20.

Ryan had a no-hitter for 7 innings until Ron Hodges singled with no one out in the eighth after Hubie Brooks reached on an error. The other Met hit was by Bob Bailor leading off the ninth.

I was at this game as a kid. Nolan Ryan dominated with a 2-hitter K'ing Mookie 3 times. Mets looked hopeless in a forgettable season. Not many fans at this game but they sure gave it to Kingman and George Foster all night!

I was at this game with the other seemingly couple hundred fans even with Nolan Ryan pitching. Nolie threw a 2-hitter I believe. Mets were horrible during these times. Fans were booing George Foster all game with Dave Kingman a close second. I remember the US Open across the parking lot had small matches going on during this game and saw a little of Wilander vs. Lendl which was more memorable than this Met team.

Ah, the night the Mets snapped a 15-game losing streak. I'll never forget seeing a TV crew's story afterwards. The reporter says: "The mood in the clubhouse could hardly be called a wild celebration..." At which point, Mets reliever Tom Hausman leaped from out of nowhere into the picture, clutching a bottle of champagne and screamed, "Who the (bleep) said this isn't a wild celebration!" Classic moment in an absolutely horrible year. One in which George Foster was brought in and hailed as the savior and ended up being booed at home by June and having fans outside Shea pelt his limo with batteries by July.

I remember this game because of Brad "The Animal" Lesley who came into the game full of fire and vinegar and after each out he acted like a raging lunatic and after the game, he was going around screaming like John Belushi in "Animal House". If his career had lasted longer, he woulda been on my Mets enemies list along with Rose, Rocker, Charlie Kerfeld (NOT the sharpest knife in the kitchen) and Rotten Roger Clemens. It was a pure lowlight in a 2nd half of a season that showed much promise until late June when the Phillies swept us out of the Vet in a 5-game disaster.

This is the first-ever Major League Baseball game that I attended. I was 9 years old. There is not much that I remember about the game itself -- other than I almost caught a foul ball except for the fact that the man behind me was taller and reached over me to catch it. What I do remember is the day-long excitement I felt in anticipation of going to the game. The hours couldn't pass by quick enough until my Dad and I left for the game. I vividly remember the smell of the pretzels on the grills (they warmed them slightly when they sold them to you) outside of Shea Stadium. I also remember what to this day is one of the most awesome feelings I've ever felt in my life. Walking up the ramp from the corridor and getting my first glimpse of the field. All that grass! It was awesome and I still get goosebumps when I walk up a ramp and see a big-league baseball field. I have been regularly attending Major League Baseball games for 25 years now -- and it all started with this one. Living in Florida now, I will be celebrating the 25th Anniversary of my first game with my family at Tropicana Field on September 4, 2007. I am both a Mets and Devil Rays fan now and I will always remember the game of September 4, 1982 very fondly.

I remember this game well. It was a beautiful bright sunny day, and I wanted to see the great Johnny Bench one last time. He would retire after the the 1983 season. I also wanted to see my beloved Mets. My seat was behind the Cincinnati Reds dugout, about four rows back. Johnny bench hit a home run in his first at bat, and the Mets fans at Shea stadium gave him a standing ovation. It was beautiful to see, knowing this great player would soon retire. I also wanted to see one of my favorite Mets players of all-time, Dave kingman. He didn't disappoint, as he hit a towering home run to left field. I took out my Kodak camera and took a picture of Dave as he rounded third base heading for home. It was a fun time to be a Mets fan when the seats were easy to get and the Mets would give you an occasional win. My day was perfect when the two players I wanted to see both hit home runs.

Labor Day night in Pittsburgh...it was Willie Stargell night. Pops was retiring at the end of the 1982 season and there was a ceremony this night to retire his number.

Stargell came off the bench to pinch-hit a single in the eighth inning. It was Stargell's final hit against the Mets and it was also the first major league hit allowed by Doug Sisk.

Jason Thompson homered in the first inning off Mike Scott, giving him 30 for the year, and making him just the eighth player in history to hit 30 homers in a season in each league. He had hit 31 for the 1977 Tigers.

There were a few of significant things that came out of this game. Rick Ownbey pitched all nine innings for his first major league win. Ownbey also had a single in the eighth inning to add to his memorable night. In the ninth, Ron Hodges hit the only grand slam of his twelve seasons with the Mets. The slam came off Grant Jackson, who was pitching in the last game of his 18-year major league career.

Dave Kingman hit a home run in this game, but it wasn't a typical Kingman blast. This one was the inside-the-park kind. It was quite a thing to watch!

In the eighth inning, Dave lifted a very high shallow fly down the right field line. George Hendrick ran slowly for it, not appearing to give it much effort (perhaps he couldn't find it.) The ball landed just inside the line, bounced very high on the artificial turf and went to the right field corner. As Hendrick ran after it, Dave ran around the bases. By the time the ball got to the infield, he had circled the diamond - without a play being made on him.

This hit provided the margin of victory over a team that was headed for a division title and eventual World Championship. It also helped Dave to become the first Met ever to win a National League home run title, though this was not the usual way he hit them.

Ironic that Orosco was pitching to Bruce Bochy this game. Now Orosco is pitching for Bochy on the Padres. Orosco is a marvel.

I must have pestered my dad to go to this game, and bless him, we drove from Rockland County to see the Mets lose - but at least I got to see my first triple play in person! Keith Moreland liner to Brian Giles, who stepped on second and threw to Staub. I'm not sure if he had a chance at an unassisted TP.

I am stunned that no one commented on this game. This is Terry Leach's finest moment. He pitched subpar all year that year but showed us how good he can pitch by pitching a 10 inning 1 hitter. This may never be done again the way baseball is currently. Pete Rose called Terry Leach one of the toughest pitchers he has ever faced and we gave him away twice.