METS FANS SHARE THEIR MEMORIES OF GAMES FROM THE 2000 SEASON
March 29, 2000 Tokyo Dome
Chicago Cubs 5, Mets 3
Pete J.
July 11, 2000
It was Mike Hampton's first start for the Mets, in Tokyo against the Cubs. We figured he'd just blow the Cubs away, but he ended up walking 9 guys. The game wasn't as close as the score makes it seem. It was a bad start for the Mets new ace, but he got better as the season went on.
Lee
September 27, 2004
After last season, the Mets promised to be great this year and I was so excited for the first game of the season that I woke up at 5 in the morning to watch it and Mike Hampton was pitching and I was excited to see him because he had gotten 22 wins with the Astros the year before. However, the game was disappointing as Hampton sucked and the Mets lost to the Cubs in Tokyo and we later found out that Hampton was too good to be true because he couldn't pitch in cold weather.
Tommy
May 1, 2005
I coudn't sleep the night of this game; asked a couple of friends over for bagels and baseball. It was unreal watching that game but it was enjoyable watching Bobby V take Don Baylor to manager's instructional school. After all, he did invent baseball. (Just ask him!)
March 30, 2000 Tokyo Dome
Mets 5, Chicago Cubs 1
Hank
July 10, 2000
This was the Mets second of two games in Tokyo to open the 2000 season. Benny Agbayani, who was slated to go to Norfolk, was the hero, hitting a game-winning pinch grand slam!
Lee
July 4, 2004
To me, if the Mets didn't take one of the games in Tokyo, their season was over and the game was close but Benny Agbayani pinch hit and hit a game- winning grand slam!
Shickhaus Franks
January 1, 2008
I remember waking up at 5:00 am to watch this game and instead of hot dogs and soft drinks, I had Cheerios and Orange Juice. By the way, SNY showed a replay of this game on Sunday December 30, 2007 at 6:00 am, a nice respite from the constant football and Christmas/New Year's stuff and for the record: Armando Benitez struck out new Bronx Evil manager Joe Gerardi to end the game.
LIam
September 2, 2008
I yelled so loud after that grand slam I woke up my whole block. It was worth waking up early for.
Steve L
February 2, 2010
I remember when Benny Agbayani hit his game-winning grand slam and was presented with a samurai helmet after the game. At the time, I thought it was the coolest thing ever.
April 3, 2000 Shea Stadium
Mets 2, San Diego Padres 1
NYB Buff
June 6, 2024
This was the Mets' real Opening Day after starting the season with two games against the Cubs in Japan. Al Leiter pitched eight solid innings and Derek Bell hit a tie-breaking home run for the win over the Padres. The Mets had lost the first of their two games in Tokyo and wound up with seven victories and three defeats in season openers during the 2000s. If they didn't have to begin the year on the other side of the world, the win here would've given the team an 8-2 Opening Day record for the decade.
April 7, 2000 Shea Stadium
Mets 2, Los Angeles Dodgers 1
murphy
July 17, 2000
Mets won the game despite only 2 damn hits, and one was by Reed. Garbage game. Reed pitched like an All Star.
April 8, 2000 Shea Stadium
Los Angeles Dodgers 6, Mets 5
John K
April 15, 2004
My dad and I attend the game. It's a sunny if a bit breezy day. Mets have a 5-1 lead in the ninth. Franco starts the inning. Struggles a bit; gives up a few runs. Two outs, one runner is on and Devon White steps to the plate. My father asks me if I leave Franco in. With absolutely unfounded confidence, I tell him. "Of course, leave him in. White has no pop and it's lefty-lefty." White promptly hits a liner out to right. Tie game. Karros hits a no doubt about it bomb to left off Armando to win it for the Dodgers in the 10th.
April 10, 2000 Veterans Stadium
Philadelphia Phillies 9, Mets 7
TS
April 20, 2005
I got the crap kicked out of me at this game (in the 700 level). It was the Phillies home opener and when Mickey Morandini got a standing ovation, I proceeded to start SCREAMING about how much he sucked. (I was way too drunk.) Nevertheless (and even due to all the food being thrown at me) nothing deterred me from talking junk about Mickey the whole game.
Finally, I said really loudly, "You know, it just figures that Philly fans love this guy so much. They are losers just like him. The guy gets one lousy hit in the NLCS and..."
BAMN, I got hit with a nice right hook to my jaw. GAME OVER.
April 20, 2000 Shea Stadium
Mets 5, Milwaukee Brewers 4
Mets2Moon
May 3, 2005
This was a fun game. I was sitting in the Mezzanine behind home plate, with a group of fans who had all come together. I bought my ticket from one of them outside the stadium as they had an extra.
In the 7th inning, they all left, except for one of them, who stuck it out. The Mets were down 4-1 to Milwaukee at the time. I turned to them and said, "Oh, ye of little faith." The one remaining fan laughed his ass off.
Sure enough, Derek Bell blasted a HR to lead off the last of the 7th, a couple of hits and a Jeromy Burnitz throwing error later the game was tied.
Melvin Mora came into the game late and ended up nailing a 10th inning HR off Curt Leskanic to win the game. I remember him hitting it off the camera bay in deep CF and getting pounded by Derek Bell once he reached home plate. It was Mora's first Regular Season ML Home Run.
Walking out, fans in the ramps were chanting "MEL-VIN MO-RA!!!!!" over and over.
Great, early season comeback win. You had a feeling at this game that this year was going to be special.
Ed K
March 1, 2006
Everyone seems to remember Melvin as a SS, but he came into to play CF in this game before hitting the walk-off homer. As noted in the prior post, it was his first regular season MLB homer ever. He had, however hit a homer in the 1999 NLCS in Game 2 after he came into that game to play LF.
April 23, 2000 Shea Stadium
Mets 15, Chicago Cubs 8
LP
April 22, 2004
Except for the time I payed $2 for a North Babylon football game and watched Jason Gwaltney rush for 7 touchdowns, this was the most money's worth I had ever gotten for a game. $125 a ticket to sit behind home plate and I got to see the Mets score 15 runs including 7 in the 4th inning, 3 Mets home runs, and Sammy Sosa go deep, which is part of what I paid to see, so I couldn't have asked for much for for the dollar.
Lee
June 23, 2004
I was at this game in my regular seats on the third base side right behind home plate and I watched the Mets kill the Cubs, and I was there with my brother and this would become a thing that would happen because this was my first Cubs game and his Cubs game too and he had to go to the bathroom and, while he was in the bathroom, Sammy Sosa hit a home run and my brother missed it and this would happen two more times.
April 24, 2000 Shea Stadium
Mets 1, Los Angeles Dodgers 0
Joe From Jersey
January 4, 2006
This game was supposed to be played on April 9th but because of a snowout; the Dodgers came here on the day after Easter which was supposed to be an off-day for both teams. Matt Franco got the walk-off hit in a 1-0 victory where Joe Nunnaly (who?) scored the run. Pat Mahomes started the game. I was in the stands with my friend Mickey for this one because my friend who I normally go to the Mets games with couldn't make it.
Karaoke Joe
April 19, 2010
I remember the game because it was postponed due to snow showers on the 9th and that it was my nephew's 1st baseball game.
April 25, 2000 Shea Stadium
Mets 6, Cincinnati Reds 5
Mike Dolitsky
June 14, 2004
This was the first game in which Ken Griffey Jr. faced the Mets, following his off-season trade from Seattle to Cincinnati, and before all of the injuries that sidelined him for much of the following 3 seasons. The kids wanted to see Jr., so we got hold of mezzanine boxes down the 1st base line. In a tension-filled at-bat, Armando Benitez managed to strike out Griffey to end the game, helping to set the tone for what turned out to be one of the more memorable seasons in Mets history.
Dave C
May 11, 2021
Early in the game Griffey Jr robbed Derek Bell of a HR. Bell would come up later and this time put one right over Jr and into the bullpen. I’m sure he probably said ‘Try and get that one’ it proved to be the game winner!
April 27, 2000 Shea Stadium
Cincinnati Reds 2, Mets 1
Jared K
October 4, 2005
Ah man, not such a great game to be at for your first ever visit to Shea. It was the tail end of my junior year of high school, and my good buddy and I had a bit of Spring Fever and decided to cut that day and go to this series-ending day game.
It was ridiculously cold that day for a late April afternoon. Glendon Rusch pitched a great game, only to have Mr. Clutch (Armando Benitez) give up the go-ahead run in the 12th to some scrub named Gookie Dawkins. The Mets offense was its usual anemic self that day.
The only other memories of this game I have was Rickey Henderson dogging it down to second in a lame attempt to steal, the crowd calling for Scott Williamson's death when he kept tossing the ball to Sean Casey at 1st 58 times every time a runner got on base during a 12-inning game on a 40 degree day, and letting Griffey have it for not signing with us. (We all saw what a big loss that was!)
April 29, 2000 Coors Field
Mets 13, Colorado Rockies 6
Ed K
April 22, 2005
The Mets tied their club record for most hits in a game with 23 in Coors Field on this day. They had previously done it on May 26, 1964 when they beat the Cubs 19-1 at Wrigley Field.
May 4, 2000 Pacific Bell Park
San Francisco Giants 7, Mets 2
a mets fan
March 23, 2002
I remember watching this game and somewhere around the 7th inning Dennis Cook had thrown a beanball at Giants center fielder marvin Bernard. Now the weird thing about this beanball was that this time it was not so much about if Cook did it on purpouse or not it was more about who said what first. Now I believe Cook had called Bernard a midget then Bernard came running at him. I remember both teams collabarating on the field and no punches were thrown. It was funny to see Piazza restrain Benard and Bonds restrain Cook. Unfortunately it was a sour ending to a horrible series. I remember wearing my Mets cap in San Francisco and a guy in a Giants cap said are you the team we keep beating? I said no actually we have a better record and have a decent center fielder unlike you who has that midget. And the truth is what I said to that Giants fan is right. We kicked their ass in 3 games.
May 11, 2000 Three Rivers Stadium
Mets 3, Pittsburgh Pirates 2
Ed K
February 11, 2014
This was the last Mets game at Three Rivers Stadium.
May 12, 2000 Shea Stadium
Florida Marlins 6, Mets 4
Scoey
August 24, 2020
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!
May 20, 2000 Shea Stadium
Mets 8, Arizona Diamondbacks 7
murphy
June 3, 2005
This game still sticks in my head as the worst performance by the god-awful Rich Rodriguez. Trusted with a 6 run lead in the 9th, Rodriguez and Franco began to serve up batting practice, allowing hit after hit after hit. What had been a laugher became a nail biter. It was at this point every Mets fan realized no lead was safe with RichRod on the mound.
Matt
March 31, 2007
Still remember this game vividly. There was first a 3-hour rain delay and they rewarded the fans with free tickets to another game. Mets are in control of this game and Hampton pitched a good game.
Then came Rich Rodriguez, who almost blew a 6-run lead until Benitez had to come in with the bases loaded and strike out Durazo.
Oh yes, I almost caught a foul ball in the 8th inning of this game.
May 21, 2000 Shea Stadium
Mets 7, Arizona Diamondbacks 6
Mets2Moon
September 24, 2001
Not very often will a team hit 3 HRs off Randy Johnson. And Joe McEwing won the hearts of all Mets fans with his play in this game.
Lee
July 13, 2004
No one beats Randy Johnson... except the Mets. I was at this game and I watched the Mets hit three homers off the Big Unit but the biggest story was Joe McEwing. He almost hit for the cycle just 9 days after making his Mets debut including his first homer of the year off Johnson and the game was close anyway because Reed wasn't incredible either and it was a one run game in favor of the D-Backs in the ninth, I believe, but the Mets come back and then Derek Bell hits one into the right field corner and Erubiel Durazo dives and misses and Joe McEwing comes home with the winning run.
June 2, 2000 Shea Stadium
Mets 5, Tampa Bay Devil Rays 3
Bob P
September 9, 2004
Fred McGriff homers in the sixth off Glendon Rusch to give the Devil Rays a 3-2 lead. It is McGriff's 400th career homer..he is the 31st player in history to hit 400.
But Todd Zeile smacks a three-run shot in the bottom of the sixth off Rick White (who the Mets will trade for eight weeks later) to give the Mets the lead back, and they win it, 5-3. Pat Mahomes, John Franco, and Armando Benitez each pitch a scoreless inning of relief.
Also on this day the Mets trade Bill Pulsipher to Arizona for Lenny Harris.
June 4, 2000 Shea Stadium
Tampa Bay Devil Rays 15, Mets 5
Bob P
October 13, 2003
Tampa Bay pitcher Esteban Yan hit a home run in the top of the second inning and then allowed a home run to Jay Payton in the bottom of the same inning...a rare daily double!
Phil Thiegou
November 16, 2003
Go figure, the Devil Rays are 2-4 at Shea Stadium and guess which 2 games I went to? Yes I went to Hideo Nomo's Mets debut in which he stunk and the lousy bullpen blew a valiant comeback in extra innings in '98 and there was this game. I went because the Mets were giving out those stylish and very practical mini-duffle bags. Plus the Mets had whupped the Rays in the 2 previous games, so I figured the Mets would sweep. Instead the Mets made dubious history as the opposing pitcher ESTEBAN YAN hit a home run in his first major league at bat on his first pitch. His name sounded funny, in fact on ESPN when they showed the highlights of ESTEBAN YAN hitting that homer and they showed Bobby Jones with a look of disgust on his face for giving up a home run to an American League pitcher, and the announcer said that Jones feels like an ESTEBAN YAN. And since that day, not only have I felt like an ESTEBAN YAN, but that we all have an ESTEBAN YAN in all of us.
Bob P
September 9, 2004
Not only did Tampa Bay pitcher Esteban Yan hit a home run in this game, he hit it on the first pitch of his first major league at bat! He became the first AL pitcher to homer in his first at bat since Don Rose of the California Angels did it in 1972.
The Devil Rays batter before Yan, SS Felix Martinez, had just hit HIS first major league home run one pitch earlier.
Zach
October 15, 2004
Went to this one expecting to see a rout, but not like this. I still don't know who Esteban Yan is.
Shickhaus Franks
February 4, 2007
A beautiful warm sunny day at Shea and the Mets get beat by the D-Rays big time!!! Sat in the field box (3rd base side) and stayed through the whole game. I always stay until the last out (or walk-off hit) but as things got ugly on the Shea field, at least I decided to check out the wonderful eye candy in the stands. Esteban Yan's home run was a classic (probably his only highlight of his career) and many Simpsons fans will recall that Millhouse pretended to be him in an episode of that classic show.
June 5, 2000 Shea Stadium
Baltimore Orioles 4, Mets 2
Joel
September 4, 2003
My friend Richard got corporate seats from Merrill Lynch for this game. It was windy and I remember that Mike Piazza hit a couple of balls that normally would have been HR's if the wind wasn't blowing. Edgardo Alfonzo hit a foul ball one seat behind us but as we were holding expensive cameras and binoculars, we ducked. That was the closet I ever game to being hit by a foul ball in a game. Anyway, the O's won the game.
June 7, 2000 Shea Stadium
Mets 11, Baltimore Orioles 3
Thomas Field
April 19, 2022
I believe this is the game where the Orioles went back to Baltimore after a rain out the day before and came back to New York. Cal Ripken hit a home run into the empty bleachers and the ball bounced back onto the field, Jason Tyner threw it to the ball boy who then handed it to our younger son! We still have the ball but are unsure of the date the game was played.
June 9, 2000 Yankee Stadium II
Mets 12, New York Yankees 2
Lee
September 27, 2004
I was at my beach club and I knew the history between Piazza and Clemens and the whole cleanup thing came into effect for the only time I can remember: Tyner got on, Bell got on, Alfonzo got on, and Piazza stepped up and hit a grand slam off Roger Clemens and at this point I knew Clemens was mad. The Mets would go on to murder the Yankees and I was as happy as ever.
Vinny
May 19, 2005
I was at Yankee Stadium for this one. When Piazza hit the grand slam, the Mets fans took over. The funniest thing was the level anguish the Yankees fans were in. It was like they were losing Game 7 of the World Series! Idiots...
There was a big brawl where I was sitting. There was this guy with a Mets banner the size of a bedspread and waving it. Some Yankees fan tried to rip it and a big fight broke out. The guy with the flag started jabbing a Yankee fan with the flagpole!
At that point the game was all but over. It was a good time to leave.
June 21, 2000 Shea Stadium
Philadelphia Phillies 10, Mets 5
BRIAN
November 14, 2001
Jesus Benitez sucks!!!!!!He blew the game Ventura hit a two run single in the bottom of the 8th inning.Piazza hit a two home run in the 1st inning. I can't believe it.
P Gola
October 29, 2010
I have a ticket stub from this game, so I went but don't remember anything.
But from looking at the box score the lethal combination of Franco, Benitez and RichRod giving up 5 runs in the ninth means I've blocked it out of my subconscious.
June 25, 2000 Shea Stadium
Mets 9, Pittsburgh Pirates 0
Jared K
September 11, 2005
Went to this game with my father on Father's Day. It was quite a pitcher's duel until about the 7th inning. Mike Hampton was on cruise control the whole game. A young pup named Kris Benson was mowing the Mets down for six solid innings, then completely unraveled as the Mets got 6 in the 7th. But I didn't feel too bad for him, not when he has Anna to go home to. Melvin Mora had a nice homer that smacked off the Dunkin Donuts sign in left field. In a little more than a month's time, he'd be ancient history, traded to Baltimore for the uber-useless Mike Bordick.
June 27, 2000 Shea Stadium
Mets 5, Florida Marlins 2
Nick
July 6, 2012
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.
June 29, 2000 Shea Stadium
Atlanta Braves 6, Mets 4
j victor
May 22, 2004
Rocker got booed constantly when he pitched this game.
kevin murray
January 10, 2015
Police were rollin deep in this series because of comments made by Rocker. Mets fans got arrested for throwing golf balls at him while he was warming up in the bullpen. Prelude to one of the best games in our history. Thanks for the memories John. I still hate you!
June 30, 2000 Shea Stadium
Mets 11, Atlanta Braves 8
Buck
July 12, 2000
What an amazing comeback !!! Now they better make it a memorable game that led to something big
whoLETdaMETSout
April 6, 2001
I was at this game. The fans cheering after the Piazza homer was the loudest noise I've ever heard in my life. That was the best game I ever attended. I was also at Johnny's 400th save game, but this one passes that by a mile.
Mike
June 17, 2002
I watched the game for about 5 or 6 innings, and then I went on the Internet for a while, but then I just wanted to check the score on AOL, and I saw the were up 8-2, then I saw for each batter, walk, walk, walk, single, then I woke up my dad, and as I soon as I turned it on, there was Piazza drilling a three run homer right down the left field line off Terry Mullholland.
Keith Mandra
August 19, 2002
I went to this game with 10 friends of mine from a fantasy baseball league we all belonged to. We sat about 3/4 of the way down the left field line, back in the lodge reserve. With the Mets down by 7 in the ninth, one of my friends; (Austin Fiore), left the game and went back to our cars to serve up some grub for when we got back. Little did he or anyone else know what was going to happen next. Watching the Mets chisel away that lead was great. At first you think, oh well a little too late for a comeback, down by 7 in the bottom of the 8th. But as they got closer and closer Shea really began to rock, and when Piazza hit that home run the place went wild! It was awesome! Especially against the dreaded Braves! I lost my voice after that game! My friend Austin tried to get back in when he heard the hysteria but was not allowed back in. He never lived that night down!
DerangedHermit
December 26, 2002
This game was on my birthday. I remember this as quite possibly one of the best games I've ever seen. Even my brother (who's a Yankees fan) was in awe when Piazza smacked that three run HR.
The "Top Wop"
March 23, 2003
The worst loss ever suffered by the Braves in a regular season game. But I tip my hats to the Mets, they did a fantastic job. And I'm a Braves fan, no less! I remember this game CLEARLY. I was at home, watching the game with my entire family. We cheered as Brian Jordan homered to make it 8-1 and we were thinking the Mets still hadn't figured us out. Not so. Our bullpen wasn't too great in 2000, and they took advantage of it. Don Wengert didn't do his job, so Kerry Ligtenberg tried to help. Man, I felt so sorry for him. I though he should've suffered the loss, not Terry Mulholland. Anyway, this game was so frustrating for me, but I can't help but feel good for the Mets because what they did was not easy. But I believe the Braves gave the game away rather than be overwhelmed by the Mets. After all, the Braves are always better!
Lee
September 8, 2004
The Mets were really a comeback team in 1999 and 2000. In this game, it was 8-1 in the bottom of the 8th but never count the Mets out. They started coming back with singles and walks because the Braves bullpen was horrible and then Terry Mulholland, who has had some great games in his life including a no-hitter, goes onto the mound and then the game is tied for Mike Piazza and he drills one down the line and starts hopping and then pumps his fist when it hits the wall where all the championship things are to complete the comeback and a ten run inning and the Mets held on and won 11-8.
Chris
April 29, 2005
Can't believe it's been nearly four years since this game. The six things I will always remember about this day:
- First game my son and I attended together alone.
- Piazza unable to hang on to several foul tips (strike 3) that will have certainly made it easier on Hampton that night.
- All those walks in the eighth.
- Alfonzo's 52 hopper, with 2 strikes, in the hole to tie the game.
- The upper deck shaking like it did after Piazza broke the tie.
- Watching the Braves' bus speed through the parking lot after the game. The 35 thousand or so of us let out a collective laugh, it was like a scene out of a silent movie.
Rich
January 3, 2006
The always clutch Fonzie ties it up. And Mike provides the big blow. Not the best game I've ever seen, but certainly the best inning! Man, this was awesome!
DP30
October 4, 2006
Ahh, Fireworks Night, without question the most thrilling game I've ever attended.
With the score 8-1 in Atlanta's favor, going to the bottom of the 8th with Kevin Millwood comfortably in control, my best friend Bobby boldly stated, "I'm not clapping for anything until this game is tied." Then came the most unbelievable 2-out rally we've ever seen in our lives. Piazza's line-drive home run off Terry Mulholland made the entire upper deck shake. A 10-run 8th, an 11-8 win, and a story that will last forever.
To top it off, my friends and I were sitting in the upper box in left field, the section closest to the Atlanta bullpen. There were NYPD officers at virtually every other row, to ensure no one did anything to John Rocker, since it was the Braves' 1st trip to Shea since Rocker's comments in Sports Illustrated about New York. A week later, I get my next issue of SI in the mail (David Wells on the cover, pitching for Toronto), and on the table of contents page, I can clearly see myself and the two friends I attended the game with, and the cops totally engulfing our section. Not a bad night.
jesse
March 31, 2010
I remember watching this game with my mom in the living room. For whatever reason, in the middle of the 8th, I switched from the sofa to the floor, with my knees uncomfortably jammed up against the coffee table. Suffice it to say, I didn't budge an INCH (nor say a word) until Mike jacked the home run to put them in the lead, at which point I jumped up and screamed like a maniac.
My dad was in Israel at the time, and I called him to tell him what had happened. (Must have been about 5 a.m. there.) Extra special because it was against the Braves.
Sha-Le
February 6, 2011
I will never forget this game. I had idolized Piazza at the time, and seeing that home run was awesome. By far one of the most exciting games I have ever seen.
Kathryn
July 5, 2011
Still my all time favorite game. I was visiting my family in Southern Cal, staying at a hotel. My niece (3) and nephew (1) were playing in the hotel pool, I was in the room watching the game by myself. The entire family came into the hotel room as Fonzie came up in the 8th. I was freaking out. When Mikey hit the HR, the kids got so scared they scampered into the hotel closet. (My brother took a picture.) Ever since that day my niece has called me "Aunt Kathryn Mets". Love it :)
Kevin Murray
January 10, 2015
I flew in from California about an hour before game time at JFK. This game was sold out but I got lucky when all the good folks from Chase Manhattan Bank came in off the 7 late. Got a ticket from a sloshed Puerto Rican lady, grabbed a beer, and by the time I sat down Brian Jordan just hit a 3-run homer to put the braves up 8-1. Then the greatest thing in my life happened. When Mikey hit that ball... was a laser. Never saw a ball get out that fast before and I've been to a lot of ballgames. Was the greatest night of my life. Then the fireworks... I was the last one to leave Shea that night. They had to kick me out. It was my first experience at Shea and it couldn't have been better. I didn't even have a chance to book a hotel from the time I left JFK until game time. So a whole other adventure was in the midst. I didn't care. I love this team. Been die hard since the summer of 83 when I was just 7 years old. Mikey was clutch that night. Like he always was. I still remember the look on Cox's face. We didn't have many good games against the Braves back then, and against any other team it wouldn't have mattered that much. Thank you Mets for that night. Jumping in the air with a complete stranger (who actually looked just like my Uncle Doug, from Lindenhurst) clutching him with a friendly headlock, screaming at the top of my lungs, with that feeling of falling on to the field from that steep third deck and not caring. Still remember that song playing from the late "Aliya": If you dont succeed...dust yourself off and try again. To you young fans that song was a big thing then. I can write a book about this night so I'll shut up now. LEEEEEETTTTTTSSSSS GGGGGGOOOOOO MMMMMMEEEEEETTTTTTSSSSSS!!!!!!
Raymond Malcuit Jr.
September 2, 2016
One of the greatest comebacks in Mets history.
July 1, 2000 Shea Stadium
Mets 9, Atlanta Braves 1
Lee
July 4, 2004
This was the second Maddux-Leiter game I had ever been to and the same thing happened as the first. Leiter outpitched Maddux and struck out 12 and the Mets won.
Will Moo
August 23, 2006
I got engaged right after watching this game on the TV at a bar near the Holiday Inn in Memphis.
Ryan James Dwyer
October 22, 2014
This was my first "Serious Mets Fan" game. John Rocker home made dummies were paraded through the stands. Benny Agbayani gotta love him. Maddux was so respected and the Mets just couldn't get past the Braves the year before. It was heaven, dream-like where the success on the field mingled with the mania in the stands, I was elated.
July 5, 2000 Dolphin Stadium
Mets 11, Florida Marlins 2
Ed K
January 9, 2011
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.
July 8, 2000 Shea Stadium
New York Yankees 4, Mets 2
Doug Rowan
June 12, 2002
The game that changed NY baseball. Clemens nailed Piazza in the head and starts a feud that seems will never be ended.
David Hanover
May 25, 2005
I was at this game, in the upper deck. Zeile was called for interference on Jeter after Mazilli complained to the umpire. That was the biggest load of bullsh*t call I've ever seen. My best memory of this game (and there weren't many) was my dad saying to me as we were exiting Shea, "We'll get Clemens in the second game." In a way, we did.
July 8, 2000 Yankee Stadium II
New York Yankees 4, Mets 2
Hank
July 10, 2000
This is the game where that coward, Roger Clemens, threw a beanball at Mike Piazza that gave him a concussion and caused him to miss the All-Star game.
It was at Yankee Stadium, which means that the game was played with a DH. I wonder if Clemens would have dared throw at Piazza if he knew he would be coming up to the plate.
Glendon Rusch later drilled Tino Martinez in the butt, but it didn't come close to evening the score.
Buck
July 12, 2000
Dirt bag Clemens threw at Mike on purpose the more I see the replay the more I'm convinced.He would not have done it if he had to bat
Kalyan
October 22, 2003
This is the game that truly defines Roger Clemens' career. For all the strikeouts, and all the wins, this one characterizes Roger Clemens as a man, and how he handled adversity. He has always been hit hard in his career by Mike Piazza, and in the first at bat he drilled Mike Piazza in the head. Piazza was forced to miss the game because of the concussion he recieved from being hit in the head by the heater.
Mets fans will never forget the cowardly act that happened this day. That's how Clemens handles his problems, he doesn't challenge them, he just gets them out of the way. Hitting people in the head isn't the answer, especially when you can hide behind being a DH.
Phil Thiegou
April 22, 2004
I went to both games thinking it was going to be historical. The first day-night different stadium double header in over 100 years. Well, it was historical for the wrong reason as that sh*t-kicking redneck Clemens hit Piazza in the head and completely washed away his Hall of Fame credentials.
I was sitting in the left centerfield bleachers and l heard the ball hit the helmet clearly, and when Piazza went down and stayed down for a while, I was thinking of Tony Conigliaro and I hoped that it wouldn't be "deja vu all over again." 0f course the a**hole Bleacher Creatures started chanting Ro-ger Cle- mens, Ro-ger Cle-mens. It also showed how dumb the creatures are.
Of course the Mets went about retaliating in the wrong way. Glendon Rusch hit Tino Martinez in the butt, when he should've hit Jeter or Bernie in the head. It's a shame that a historical day ended up having an ugly scar on it.
Lee
October 7, 2004
This was a huge game in history because it was the first time in almost a century since there was a day-night different stadium double header and I was hoping the Mets could retaliate from Doc Gooden killing them in Game 1 and I was also excited because Roger Clemens was pitching and I wanted to see Piazza go yard on him AGAIN. However, I watched as Clemens hit Piazza in the head, giving him a concussion and I was hopping mad and then I knew the Mets had to retaliate but of course Glendon Rusch went and hit Tino Martinez in the butt and Clemens ran away with the game.
Joe From Jersey
November 29, 2005
Until this game, the 2 players on the top of my list to hate were Pete Rose and John Rocker. The minute Piazza hit the ground, Rotten Redneck Roger Clemens became Public Enemy #1. I can still hear the sickening sound of the ball hitting Metal Mike's helmet. I have over 100 reasons for HATING THE BRONX EVIL EMPIRE. This is #1.
murphy
February 23, 2011
I went to both games of the day-night double header, and it was pure torture. Losing the first game to Gooden was bad, but the night game was even worse. Arrived at my seats just as Clemens beaned Piazza. What I remember about the rest of the game was that Glendon Rusch outpitched Clemens that day, and if Valentine had started a real left fielder instead of Lenny Harris, Knoblauch's game-winning home run gets caught.
July 9, 2000 Shea Stadium
Mets 2, New York Yankees 0
Mets2Moon
September 24, 2001
On a steamy night at Shea, Hampton and Benitez combined to provide marginal revenge for the Piazza fiasco the previous evening. This game was long...very long and was, at times, difficult to sit through, between the weather and the intensity. Zeile homered in the 4th, and the Mets were on their way to a win.
Lee
September 8, 2004
I have a history of going to the game right after something big happens and it happened again and it was Hampton vs. Petitte and Hampton took revenge on the Yankees as the Mets won 2-0.
July 13, 2000 Fenway Park
Boston Red Sox 4, Mets 3
sox fan in Mass
July 16, 2006
Melvin Mora made crucial 9th inning error with two outs leading to 2 unearned runs in 9th for a Sox comeback win. Pedro Martinez started and went 7 left in a 2-2 tie.
Glenn
September 6, 2006
This was the game that got Melvin Mora traded. In the bottom of the ninth inning with the Mets leading 3-2, Mora made a critical error that eventually lead to Benitez giving up two unearned runs. The Mets felt at the time that they could not compete with Mora's inadequate defense that was clearly exposed in this game and eventually would deal for the reliable, but unspectacular, Mike Bordick.
July 14, 2000 Fenway Park
Mets 6, Boston Red Sox 4
BRIAN
October 7, 2000
What a freakin' game!!! After waiting for the power to be turned on at old but beautiful Fenway Park for several hours, a bunch of friends and I that made the trek to Boston got what we came for...a Mets win!!! We sat two rows in front of the wall in the outfield bleachers which meant that we saw Rich Rodriguez warming up (OH NOOOOOO!!!) and we also had a perfect view of Mike Piazza's two shots that cleared the Green Monster and Melvin Mora's shot as well. Over all, the game was an experience that will never be forgotten by the ten of us that traveled for hours to watch our team, the New York Mets.
July 18, 2000 Skydome
Mets 11, Toronto Blue Jays 7
Bob P
August 20, 2004
Mike Piazza hit a grand slam in this slugfest, his third grand slam of the 2000 season. It came in the fifth inning with nobody out and broke a 3- 3 tie.
Blue Jays LF Shannon Stewart hit four doubles in the game to tie a major league record. The Jays had thirteen hits in the game, and only two of them were singles! Bobby Jones went six innings, allowing five runs and ten hits. Of the ten hits, seven were doubles and two were homers.
Mets2Moon
October 25, 2004
I remember vividly watching this game with a friend. Piazza hit his Grand Slam in the 4th or 5th inning as the Jays' starter slowly imploded, and he hit it over an advertisement at the Skydome that read "PIZZA PIZZA." So, being that Fran Healy was the announcer this evening, we were treated to hearing "Piazza hit a Ga-Rand Sa- Lam, OVER THE PIZZA SIGN!" about, say, 44 times over the course of the rest over the game.
NYB Buff
November 28, 2023
A solid game for the Mets with hits from eight of the nine players in their starting lineup. Only Joe McEwing was hitless among them, but he did drive in a run with a force play ground ball. Three of the New York hits were home runs. They were Lenny Harris's leadoff blast in the first inning, Mike Piazza's grand slam in the fifth, and Derek Bell's two-run clout in the eighth.
David Lamb, who singled to begin in the top of the sixth, rounded first base too much and was caught by shortstop Craig Grebeck's relay throw to first baseman Carlos Delgado for an out. Two innings later, he drew a walk and then came home on a double by Harris. These would be Lamb's only hit and run scored as a Met.
July 23, 2000 Turner Field
Atlanta Braves 1, Mets 0
Mets2Moon
October 10, 2001
This was one of those games that made me so frustrated to be a Mets fan. I don't even remember how Atlanta scored their run, either on a HR leading off the 7th, or on a couple of scratch hits, but I remember very well being disgusted and storming around my house afterwards.
July 28, 2000 Shea Stadium
Mets 3, St. Louis Cardinals 2
Sanchi
December 29, 2001
While visiting in New Jersey, I went to this game. It was a great one and a classic one. Al Leiter had a no hitter going through 6 and the Mets scored 3 early. Then later in the game the bullpen did everything they could to blow the game but Benitez held his ground and recorded the save. It was a great ball game, a beautiful night at Shea, and I not only enjoyed the game but the quietness of my Yankee fan Aunt and the chasing of some dork with a Yankees jersey on out of the stadium by a small convoy of Mets fans. It was Great.
July 29, 2000 Shea Stadium
Mets 4, St. Louis Cardinals 3
Jon
January 11, 2002
Mike Bordick's first (and best) game as a Met as he hits a HR in his first Met at-bat. Rick White also made his Met debut in this game and earned the win in relief thanks to a bases-loaded walk for Lenny Harris which broke a tie in the 8th. Exciting game!
Uncle Peanut
January 11, 2002
Went to this game. Turned out to be the first game that Mike Bordick played for the Mets, and he hit a HR his first at-bat that was about 4 or 5 sections over from us (we sat on the 3rd base side of the field). Also Piazza hit a moon shot, Jim Edmonds made a great catch, Lenny Harris had a pinch hit single to win the game for the Mets. Good stuff.
The Piazza HR was amazing, it just went up and up and up and up. There were like 3 or 4 HRs that day but Big Mike's was just unbelievable.
Brian from Shawnee
April 9, 2004
This was the first game I took my wife and kids to. My oldest son was 5 and the little guy was 2. Shea was filled with electricity that day, with 55,000 people chanting M-V-P whenever Piazza came up. He sure looked like an MVP that day, with a solo HR and a bases-loaded single. Mike Bordick not only homered in his 1st AB for the Mets, it was on the First Pitch of the AB!
steve
August 2, 2006
Mike Piazza hit a monster home run one of the farthest ever hit at Shea! Mike Bordick "his first pitch as a Met and gone", "Mike Bordick welcome to New York" The words of the Fox announcers. This was a great. It was also the 1st major league game I ever went to. I was 7 then and just becoming a Met fan.
July 30, 2000 Shea Stadium
Mets 4, St. Louis Cardinals 2
Won Doney
October 18, 2004
This was the game where they had the 10 greatest moments in Mets history pregame ceremony.
Brian Crigger
December 27, 2004
Yes, this was the game with the 10 Greatest Moments in Mets history up to that time. Took the family, had a helluva good time (even though my girlfriends' son was, and still is a St. Louis fan). This was the game that Bubba Trammell whacked that three-run jack in the second inning, and my girlfriends' son tried to get me to stop yelling "I gotta go find Bubba"! BUBBA, BUBBA, BUBBA!!!!!!!!!!! Hell, everyone was looking at me kinda funny. But, I'm too old to care what people think anymore. LET'S GO METS!!!!!!!!!!!! Nuff said!
Menachem G. Jerenberg
October 15, 2008
This was the VERY FIRST baseball game I ever went to! Although we arrived too late to catch the pregame unveiling of the Top 10 Moments in Mets History, we (my family--I was 11) did manage to score a few posters of said Moments they were giving away. They were playing the Cardinals. Benny Agbayani led off the bottom of the 1st with a home run; then, next inning Bubba Trammell pounded another homer with two men on--in his first at-bat as a Met! What was odd about this was that Mike Bordick had performed the EXACT SAME FEAT the previous day. I remember reading about it in the papers that morning, and how the NY Times noted that Bordick had been the first Met to do so since Todd Pratt. That ended the Mets' scoring for the day; Bobby Jones pitched and gave up only 2 runs. After the second one scored on a home run by Ray Lankford, "Bobby J" bore down and got the last out, thus nailing his first (and only) complete game of the year. This also cemented a 3-game sweep of St. Louis. One last thing: I remember being almost unbearably excited at the entry of the Cards' fourth and final reliever, Dave Veres, due to the fact that his baseball card was among the [then] limited number of cards I had in my budding collection.
Dan Hanson
August 11, 2015
I was four years old at the time and it was the first game I ever went to. Benny steps up to the plate and leads off with a homer, thus becoming my all-time favorite Met as well as creating my first ever memory from Shea Stadium. Benny hooked me on baseball and made me a Mets fan for life. LGM!
July 31, 2000 Shea Stadium
Cincinnati Reds 6, Mets 0
Jon
January 9, 2011
I was reading about how Mickey Mantle would overcome his hangovers by walking from his apartment at Central Park South to Yankee Stadium and became oddly inspired. I took the day off from work and hiked from my apt in Hell's Kitchen to Shea, going through what then was unknown outer-borough territory. Within months I'd be living in Queens and walking to and from Shea often, but then it was a complete mystery to me.
The whole thing was a bit of a disappointment. I left way too early and arrived way too early, then waited around to see the Mets lose an uninspired 6-0 game to a lousy Reds team. Oh well. Queens is a wonderful boro.
August 9, 2000 Astros Field
Mets 12, Houston Astros 5
Jon
February 14, 2002
I'm an old acquaintance of Wayne Franklin, who pitched in relief for the Astros in this game. Bad day for him. He served up a gigantic 3-run homer to Piazza then hit the next batter, Ventura with a pitch. I caught up to him at Shea a few weeks later and he told me yes, he indeed threw at Ventura on purpose! He said he and catcher Tony Eusubio were frustrated over having walked Alfonzo on a borderline ball 4 before Piazza took him deep.
Earlier in that game Jose Lima threw a hissy fit in the dugout when he got yanked in the top of the 4th inning having given up 7 runs. Overall, this was an old-fashioned woodshed beating.
August 12, 2000 Shea Stadium
Mets 3, San Francisco Giants 2
Jon
September 16, 2000
Irish Night at Shea. 50,000 fans, 40,000 of whom are drunk, and all of us know how many outs there are. Poor Benny gakks in leftfield and hands a caught fly ball to a fan with two outs and two on. He thought it was the 3rd out! Both runners score on the play!
It was a wonderful feeling to be there and support Agbayani in spite of his error. Even when he struck out with guys on base, which he did twice that night, it wasn't BOOOO! but AWWWW! Zeile finally bailed him out with a clutch 2-run double in the 8th and everyone went home happy. What a great game!
Won Doney
October 25, 2004
I remember seeing the look on Benny Agbayani's face after he realized that that wasn't the third out. I seriously thought that he was going to cry.
Mets2Moon
April 28, 2005
Yeah, Benny blew it in the 4th. We all forgave him a few months later. Zeile's 2 run 2B in the 7th was the key blow. An old man sitting a few rows up from me in the Mezz got so cranked up, he jumped up when the ball was hit, and went spilling down a few rows until he landed right on my back. Scared the daylights out of me because I thought he was dead. Nope. Just excited. Wasn't even hurt either, although I'm sure he felt it the next day.
Michael SanPietro
August 23, 2006
I was one of the drunk 40,000 and was sitting Field level not too far from where Benny handed the ball to a fan with 2 out. I sat on the Barry Bonds side of the field. I think Mike Bordick went yard to left field as well. I was driving a rental car and drove back to motel after Mets went ahead in 7th to avoid a traffic mess and and got home in time to see Armando get the last out.
RB Samla
April 12, 2013
I remember sitting in Left Field for this game. We lost sight of Benny catching the ball, and all we could see were Giants running the bases and wondering why Benny didn't throw the ball back to the infield. It wasn't til we got home and saw the replays that we found out what happened.
August 13, 2000 Shea Stadium
Mets 2, San Francisco Giants 0
tessa
October 20, 2000
Wow. I wish I could say this was an exciting game but it wasnt too exciting, it just meant a lot. It was a battle of the pitchers, and it was all about who was the best. Therfor, nobody really hit much. But I did have a lovely sunny sunday afternoon in park when it was supposed to be raining.
JOSE OTERO
September 15, 2004
I went to the game with my brother that day. It was Jewish Day that day. The starting lineups were announced in Hebrew. This was one of the best games I've seen Leiter pitch. He went 8 innings of 2-hit ball with 12 strikeouts. He mowed down that Giant lineup one by one.
Kiwiwriter
October 18, 2004
I went to this game with the New York Giants Historical Society. It was our excursion and we put the picture in the newsletter. A bunch of guys wearing New York Giants orange-and-black.
I was the only one rooting for the Giants. All the older guys shifted allegiances to the Mets when Willie Mays left town.
Al Leiter was tremendous, but I was rooting for the visitors. TO make matters worse, when they welcomed our group on the Instant Replay screen, they put up my name in 80-billion-point type....
....and misspelled it.
That was very upsetting. I've had that done to me all my life...on letters, certificates, even award plaques.
Never forgot that day.
Jared K
December 28, 2005
A great game that I went to with my best buddy from high school. Leiter was totally dominate, shutting down Kent and Bonds and the rest of the Giants for 8 innings. The funniest thing was when Leiter told Mad Dog Russo after the game to "Kiss his butt!" Way to stick it to Fatso and Fruit Loops, Al!
August 14, 2000 Shea Stadium
San Francisco Giants 11, Mets 1
Eliyahu Barninka
August 23, 2006
My first game. My brother and I went with my uncle and his wife, BIG Giants fans. We came in plenty of time to watch the Asian Night festivities. Rick Reed sailed through the first five innings, then blew up to the tune of a five run sixth. Dennis Cook followed during the seventh, and gave up six runs in a third of an inning! Russ Ortiz shut the Met bats down, despite walking six. Basically, the only bright spot was an eigth inning Jay Payton home run that barely cleared the fence. An embarrassment for the eventually NL Champions, but a great time nonetheless.
Ghari
August 17, 2021
Attended this game with my best friend. Game was moving along nicely, then BOOM...the Giants sleeping bats awakened lol. At least my friend and I got to move down to field level.
August 17, 2000 Shea Stadium
Mets 13, Colorado Rockies 2
Zach
October 27, 2004
Whoooooooo, what a game! Bordick, Zeile, Ventura, and someone else, I forget who, launched homers against the Rox. I was excited to see Hampton but he got hurt and Wendell came in and threw I think 5 innings of long relief for the win.
Mets2Moon
May 3, 2005
Zeile, Agbayani, Ventura and Bordick went deep for the Mets this afternoon. The Mets just lit up Masato Yoshii this game. Hampton left with an injury after 3, but Wendell came in and pitched great. Even nailed a single in the 5th in a rare AB, but then he got greedy and tried to stretch it into a double. He was promptly and easily thrown out at second. He took a faceful of dirt with his slide as well. The Mets allowed the Rockies 2 runs to score when they let a Hollandsworth double kick all the way around the infield. Didn't matter. The game was out of reach by then.
August 20, 2000 Dodger Stadium
Mets 9, Los Angeles Dodgers 6
August 21, 2000
The game wasn't there best but we won which was our 8 Series win in a row. Mike Piazza does it with his defense showing that he in not afraid of anything and he hustles every play. Our Bull Pen does it once again.
August 22, 2000 Jack Murphy Stadium
San Diego Padres 16, Mets 1
a mets fan
February 2, 2004
Who could forget this lopsided game? Derek Bell pitches and the crowd is laughing hysterically. It was comical because they came back and won the next game so who cares?
Rob Hudson
April 17, 2005
Derek Bell was sweet, he threw gas! There were about 100 people left in Qualcomm who actually witnessed Bell's mastery on the hill. This was before he went into "operation shutdown" with the Pirates.
Ed K
July 19, 2006
The ironic thing about Bell pitching this night is that meanwhile in Colorado, former Met Brent Mayne, a catcher, ended up pitching and beating the Braves in extra-innings when the Rockies ran out of pitchers. As a result, the Mets did not lose any ground on the Braves. And Mayne starting his inning on the mound by getting future Met Tom Glavine to ground out - and Glavine was pinch-hitting because the Braves had run out of non-pitchers to pinch hit.
August 25, 2000 Shea Stadium
Mets 13, Arizona Diamondbacks 3
Rob
October 11, 2003
I remember going to this game and just being able to tell the Mets were going to own Randy Johnson when I glanced at the scoreboard and saw that his pitches were reaching about 90-92mph. I thought maybe he hadn't completely loosened up or something. Turns out the Mets never gave him the chance as they knocked him out after 2 innings. Can't remember anything else about the game though.
August 26, 2000 Shea Stadium
Arizona Diamondbacks 5, Mets 1
Jon
January 9, 2011
Disappointing evening. Rick White gives up 4 runs in the 10th inning.
August 27, 2000 Shea Stadium
Mets 2, Arizona Diamondbacks 1
Rich
June 3, 2001
I attended this game for my bachelor party. Hampton was terrific, not only did he throw a gutsy game, he also made a couple of outstanding defensive plays. After the Mets took a 2-1 lead late, it was vintage Benitez in the ninth, striking out Greg Colbrunn to end the game. Afterwards we got to celebrate at the Diamond Club. All around, it was a great day.
August 29, 2000 Shea Stadium
Houston Astros 11, Mets 1
Ed K
February 29, 2008
One of the few times (if not only time) a Met pitcher came into a game as a pinch hitter and stayed in the game to pitch relief. But Pat Mahomes was probably the best hitter ever to be a member of the Met bullpen.
August 30, 2000 Shea Stadium
Mets 1, Houston Astros 0
Won Doney
October 18, 2004
I remember being convinced that the Mets were going to hold onto first place after this. I was 15 that summer and thought that there was nothing better in the world than to see the Mets put an end to the Braves' streak. That still would be a dream-come-true, but at this point, I'd settle for anything better than what we've seen in recent years.
September 6, 2000 Riverfront Stadium
Cincinnati Reds 11, Mets 8
Happy Recap
September 7, 2000
UGH! What a miserable game. After a hot August, the Mets suddenly couldn't win at all in September. It looked like they would win this one, though. Bobby J. Jones didn't make it out of the third inning, but Bobby M. Jones relieved him, and pitched four strong innings. The bullpen was handed an 8-5 lead, but it all came apart in the 8th. Turk Wendell and John Franco gave up two runs, and, with the bases loaded, Armando Benitez came into the game and on the first pitch gave up a demoralizing grand slam to Benito Santiago. The Mets had "September swoons" in 1998 and 1999, and it looks like they're doing it again.
Won Doney
August 13, 2001
This game was horrible. I remember the Mets were up 8-5 after the 7th or 8th inning and they blew it.
September 13, 2000 Shea Stadium
Mets 4, Milwaukee Brewers 1
Jon
January 28, 2002
If Jeff D'Amico pitches as well for the Mets as he did in this game for the Brewers, we made a nice pickup. D'Amico went 9 strong innings, only to see his pen blow it in the 10th, when Payton hit a game-winning 3-run bomb off Leskanic.
Kelly Giblin
February 22, 2002
Actually, Payton hit his home run off former Met Juan Acevado... They had tied the score 1-1 in the 9th off Leskanic... And D'Amico only pitched 8 strong innings, but he struck out 10...
flushing flash
October 25, 2004
I was following this game at work on the Internet and chatting with folks on a Mets forum. When he hit the game-winning three-run homer, I posted "thank God the bases weren't loaded!" (remember how Payton couldn't hit with the bases full to save his life?)
Jim Rowland
January 13, 2020
Was there with a friend celebrating his birthday.
Loved the old school pitchers duel.
Loved the fantastic finish even more!
September 19, 2000 Turner Field
Atlanta Braves 12, Mets 4
Ed K
October 27, 2007
In this game, the Mets tied a club record by using 25 players. They previously did it on 9-14-98 in an extra-inning game in Houston that they won.
September 23, 2000 Veterans Stadium
Mets 7, Philadelphia Phillies 3
Jared K
September 3, 2005
This was a great day. We went down to Philly after my father's 25th high school reunion. He, his best friend from high school, and I met my uncle down at the Vet. He's probably one of the most rabid Phillie fans there is. He got us tickets directly behind home plate for my birthday, four rows back. He was yelling like crazy at the Mets players.
My best memory was when he was calling out Edgardo Alfonzo for not hurrying to the plate fast enough and taking too much time out of the batter's box between pitches. Alfonzo slams this massive upper deck homer, and as he's circling the bases, coming around third, he's staring down my uncle the whole way down the line until he reaches the dugout. My uncle shut up the rest of the game.
Hampton had his good stuff that night, and his performance kept the winning momentum going.
September 24, 2000 Veterans Stadium
Mets 3, Philadelphia Phillies 2
Phil Theigou
September 25, 2003
Two things stick out in my mind for this game, 1) Timo hits his first major league home run as an inside the parker, and 2) the first time I noticed that Armando Benitez was not a reliable closer. Not to mention the stupid Phillies fans kept doing that stupider cheer for the Eagles. Still an exciting game and a prelude of what was to come in 0ctober.
Kevin Gillespie
November 18, 2009
What I remember about this game was the Perez inside the park home run when the centerfielder fell and all of us Met fans chanting Tuesday night because the Braves were coming to town and we still had a chance at the division at that point. This chant got the Philly fans chanting about the Eagles.
September 27, 2000 Shea Stadium
Mets 6, Atlanta Braves 2
Eric
April 13, 2004
This was the game that with the victory we clinched the wild card. The one play that stands out in my memory is the home run Derek Bell jumped over the wall and robbed. He got injured on the play but the game was all Mets after that play. I can remember that was the loudest Mets game I've been to. None of the fans wanted to leave their seats once the game was over, but once we did start to leave, we were still chanting "Let's Go Mets" as we walked down the ramps.
Lee
July 4, 2004
A shot by Alfonzo. A near-homer that Derek Bell caught over the wall. I was at this game and that's what I remember and then the last pitch was fired, a swing and a miss, and the Mets were the wild card champs. Everyone jumping up and down, we walked out of the stadium and everyone was chanting "Let's Go Mets!" and I was so happy!
September 28, 2000 Shea Stadium
Mets 8, Atlanta Braves 2
Tessa
October 20, 2000
i went to this game certain the Mets were gonna lose. I mean, we had our worst pitcher against the braves best, greg maddux, who coincidently is one of the best in the major leauge. I didnt expect the game to be exciting because the braves already cllinched the Western divison, so there was nothing to play for excpet to try and break maddux's streak. And they did! it ended up being a lot more exciting than I though, and it just goes to show that no game can be predetermined. thats why im sure the Mets have just as good a chance at the World Series.
Uncle Peanut
May 24, 2002
My brother and I went to this game, I had bought the tickets that summer thinking that NY-Atl in late September would be a meaningful game. So what happened? The Mutts clinched the Wild Card the night before and rested Piazza, Ventura and most of their other regulars.
Still an entertaining game, the Mets pounded Greg Maddux and kept him from winning his 20th game of the season. Also someone on the Braves dropped an easy pop-up and Kurt Abbott hit a HR so we got to see the Apple.
rich
February 24, 2003
Me, my dad and sister went to this game we sat in my sister's boss's seats above the scoreboard on the 3rd base line. When I saw the Mets starting lineup and they were sitting their regulars and knew Greg Maddux was pitching I was certain the Braves were going to walk away with the win. But it turned out the Mets walked over the Braves. I remember when Bonilla was playing in left field the fans were yelling to him, "Hey, Bobby! Let's play some cards!"
rich
April 15, 2003
Me, my dad and sister went to this game. We sat in my sister's boss's seats above the scoreboard on the 3rd base line. When I saw the Mets starting lineup and they were sitting their regulars with Greg Maddux pitching I was certain the Braves were going to walk away with the win. But it turned out the Mets walked over the Braves. I remember when Bonilla was playing in left field the fans were yelling to him, "Hey Bobby, let's play some cards."
Michael
April 17, 2016
Fun fact about this game: it was the first game in 3 years that the Mets played that was completely meaningless to them. This is because the Braves clinched the east in the first game of this series, and the Mets clinching the wild card the night before this....and both 1998 and 1999 came down to the final day).
October 4, 2000 Pacific Bell Park
2000 National League Division Series Game 1
San Francisco Giants 5, Mets 1
Doug the Fan
October 5, 2000
In the third inning, Mike Hampton threw a pitch to Barry Bonds that passed over the outside edge of the plate. Hampton thought it was an inning-ending third strike, and began to walk towards the dugout. He didn't get the call. I don't know that it
should have been called a strike, but it certainly
could have been called a strike. Bonds stayed alive though, and hit an RBI triple. Jeff Kent then walked, and Ellis Burks hit a three-run homer that gave the Giants a 5-1 lead. If only that umpire had made a different call, four runs wouldn't have scored, and the game might have had a very different outcome.
Of course, the Giants hit in the clutch and the Mets didn't, so I guess the deserving team won after all.
Randy
February 16, 2001
This game was typical Hampton: He got a bad call, and pouted just long enough to lose the game.
DannyBoy
July 21, 2002
Sure the ptich to Bonds should have been called for an inning ending 3rd strike. Sure Bonds should have never been granted the opportunity to get another swing and become the catalyst of a game deciding big inning. And sure the Mets might have won that game might that inning have not occurred. But I believe that Bonds triple was the best thing that happened for the Mets in the 2000 post season. Please recall, Derek Bell hurt his ankle on fielding that play and was replaced by the over-achieving Timo Perez for the remainder of the post season. My opinion, but No Timo......no National League Championship.
Lee
October 20, 2004
One pitch meant the whole game in Game 1 of the NLDS between the Mets and the Giants. It was a pitch to Barry Bonds that should have been called strike 3 but it wasn't and Hampton got mad and when Hampton gets mad, he gets bad. So what resulted? Barry Bonds lines a pitch into right and it goes off a wall and Derek Bell makes a bad turn and gets injured and hops over to the ball and throws it in and it's an RBI triple for Bonds and Bell's season and career with the Mets is over. Then Ellis Burks steps up against Hampton and hits a three-run shot down the line and the Mets lose.
Professor G
June 17, 2005
I never like to see anyone get hurt - well, maybe except Roger Clemens - but let's face it, folks. The Mets got their biggest break of the year when Derek Bell pulled up with an injury. It was a blessing in disguise, as Bell completely disappeared the second half of the year and it opened the door for Timo Perez's great run. If only he hadn't been the flash in the pan he turned out to be...
Nick Pauly
November 15, 2005
I remember feeling so excited before the game started--it was postseason baseball and it was a day game, so I could see the whole thing (I was 12 years old at the time). For some reason a moment that sticks in my mind about that game was when Jay Payton lined a shot that tore a hole in Bill Mueller's glove at third, but that he was able to hang onto it. Mostly for me, I was just so animated to see the Mets in the postseason again that it didn't matter that it was probably the second least memorable game the whole postseason.
October 5, 2000 Pacific Bell Park
2000 National League Division Series Game 2
Mets 5, San Francisco Giants 4
Jon
April 4, 2001
This has to go down as one of the biggest wins and most memorable games in Met history. After having been embarrassed in Game 1, on the road, against an excellent team, we give up a 3-run lead on a dreamatic HR by Snow off Benitez, but we hold them there, then we score on em, then we hold em again, as Franco catches Bonds looking. This game gave the Mets the confidence to take the series -- and the next.
RobfromRocklin
July 19, 2001
I'm a life-long Giant fan and was actually at this game, but I can assure you my feelings and emotions about game 2 aren't the same ones you guys have. When Snow hit the home run off of Benetiz I pretty much thought the series was over. Snow was probobaly the last guy on the planet I would ever expect to get a hit of that magnitude. Granted, it was a 310 foot fly ball, but when the ball left the year, I was sure that the Giants were finally going to get that elusive WS title. Only the Giants could find a way to lose that game. As hard fought and brutal of a loss as game 3 was in NY, I knew that the Giants wouldn't be back at PacBell as I left after Game 2. That was the back-breaker. Gotta give you guys credit because 99 out of 100 teams would fold tent after an emotional let down like that, the Mets didn't. I've seen a lot of bad loses in my years as a Giant fan, but that night at PacBell is at the top of the list.
TVDUDE
January 12, 2002
Typical Armando, thank you Johnny Franco. The changeup on the inside corner that we've seen for years was used at the best time ever.
straightjacketk
August 18, 2002
For Johnny Franco, my all-time favorite Met player of all time, this was the moment of a surefire Hall-Of-Fame career. I'm not married, don't have kids, so that may have been the happiest moment of my life (may live on past the kids as well). Of course, it's targeted for elimination when the final out of the New York Mets fantasy World Series championship is made.
Matt
January 23, 2004
As a Mets fan who came of age in fandom in the mid 1990s, there aren't that many games to pick from in terms of all-time favoirtes, but I think this one takes it for me. It just sent you through the wringer, and really, starting early on. Al pitching so well, then Fonz "clinching" the game in the 9th with that home run.
But of course, Benitez had his say before the night was through, and then the game's over for the second time that night with JT Snow, and there goes the season. Then, comes I think Bobby V's finest managerial moment or two.
First, he went out as soon as the ball was gone, settled Armando, and he got the side out. And next was the most unexpeceted thing, showing such heart, they had to win it there with the momentum that was swinging, with Hamilton and Payton. Finally, Bobby V did his thing again, the great change, and then that other great change, that back-up by Franco. It was from game won, to season lost, to series won in the span of one hour. Incredible theater.
Lee
September 30, 2004
Game 2: 5-2 Mets, bottom of the ninth, 2 runners on, Benitez on the mound, 2 outs, J.T. Snow. He hits it down the right field line, it's gone and the game is tied. Benitez settles down, gets the final out of the inning, game tied at 5, the Mets score and then Fracno comes in and the last pitch to Bonds, he doesn't swing, his knees lock, called strike 3, and the Mets tie the series at 1.
LenDog
July 13, 2004
I attended this game in my Met colors.
At the many games I attended at Candlestick over the years, there were TONS of orange and blue hats, shirts, etc. Lots of Met fans at the 'Stick.
Wow, was it a different scene at Pac Bell, especially for the playoffs. I waited outside for a friend and saw ONE Met hat during half an hour. Inside I saw scattered Met fans but none nearby.
So, I didn't make any friends at all with my Mets cheering, which was, as usual, passionate, loud, constant, and clean.
God, when Fonzie's HR cleared the wall did I go nuts. That's when people started getting nasty.
I knew when Jeff Kent beat out that cheap-ass infield hit that doom was imminent. I left my seat and watched from the wings and said to myself, if Benitez gives up an HR, I am outta here.
And damn if that punk JT Snow didn't hit a whiffle ball HR into the RF cage. Have never seen or heard a stadium so loud. I was in a taxi before Snow touched home plate.
So, I watched the end of the game at home. We had a small place then - a little studio while we shopped for a house. My wife was asleep about 10 feet from where I was sitting with the TV on quietly. I was trying to be considerate.
When Franco caught Bonds looking, I opened the window and yelled as loud as I could 'sit down, Barry', 'take that, San Francisco' etc. etc. Lots of things a 39 yr old man should not be doing, but it was the Mets in the playoffs!! My wife tried to be happy for me while telling me to shut up...
Thanks to Fonzie (who else?) the Snow HR did not sink us that night.
Joe Lanzisera
February 23, 2009
Bonds knees buckling and looking at a called strike three from an over-the-hill Johnny Franco is a top-10 all-time Met moment. The Snow home run is an all-time bottom-10. What a swing of emotions in just a few minutes. It's not Game 6 of '86 but it was a wild ride.
October 7, 2000 Shea Stadium
2000 National League Division Series Game 3
Mets 3, San Francisco Giants 2
Happy Recap
October 8, 2000
When some teams go into the playoffs, they either win easily or lose easily. That never seems to be the case with the Mets. Their postseason series tend to be one nailbiter after another. This game was no exception. It went over five hours, and the last three hours or so were unbelievably tense. The Mets' bullpen, Wendell, Cook, Franco, Benitez, and White all did great jobs holding the tough Giants offense scoreless for seven innings. With one out in the bottom of the 13th, Benny Agbayani ended the game suddenly with a long home run to left field. I jumped so high off my La-Z-Boy that I shook the whole house. I continued jumping up and down until I twisted my ankle. Then I hopped on one foot for a while. And of course Shea went absolutely wild. They played that silly "Who Let the Dogs Out" song, which I'll now forever associate with Benny Agbayani's homer. WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!
BRIAN
October 8, 2000
BENNY! BENNY! What another freakin amazing game! I can't believe last night's game. Shea is a magical place and something told me not to worry...somehow the Mets would squeeze out a victory. Who let the dogs out!?! On this night Benny Agbayani did! LETS GO METS! LETS GO METS! LETS GO METS!
Jack
October 11, 2000
I was at the game — in Row T of the upper deck, three rows from the top of the stadium! Assuming that since baseball was being played it must still be summertime and 75 degrees out, I wore shorts and a short-sleeved Mets jersey to the game. As one can imagine, I nearly froze to death, but once Benny hit that one out it was all worth it.
flushing flash
October 17, 2000
Being Jewish and Orthodox, I have never been to a Saturday game. But I had tickets for this one, and damned if I wasn't going to make every effort to be there. So I walked to the ballpark from my apartment and carried nothing with me. And what can I say? God himself must have given his nod of approval because he rewarded me with the most nailbiting, pulsating, mindblowing game I have ever attended in my 25 years of following this team! From the tomahawk chop sendoff to the Braves in the top of the first, to Benny's memorable game-winning blast five and a half hours later, it was a game for the ages. And it was crisp and well-played: no errors, no wild pitches, lots of clutch pitching from both teams. And Benny Agbayani, already one of the most popular players on the Mets, elevated his status to that of all-time Met legend.
Sue
October 20, 2000
I scored tickets last minute and gathered some people to go. We hit traffic on the bridge and didnt get there till the 6th inning. we were quite disapointed for coming so far for a few measly innings. But boy were we mistaken! this was the most exciting ending to a game ive ever been to! I'd never understood why Mets fans have such a liking for Benny Agbayani, but after this night, I knew why! that makes up for his blunder on aug. 12, and then some.
Dave
May 30, 2001
I was at the game, upper deck, behind 3rd. By the time Benny came up, my voice was finished, but with the last of my vocal cords I yelled, "Benny if you hit a homer, I will wear a shirt with your name on it!" I know he heard me. I looked for the shirt for months! Someone at Modell's told me there are no Agbayani jerseys because Benny was a scab, which might be true. There are some fakes for sale on eBay, and I do owe Benny still. I've gotten several balls signed by Benny, and I have a photo which he signed, with "GWHR". Benny, I'll get that jersey and to hell with the Players Association!
kinerskorner
June 24, 2001
the 1-0 to agbayani...and a high fly ball deep left field, back goes bonds, looking up at the wall, that ball is..outta here!
Mets2Moon
October 10, 2001
I watched this game on TV with a couple of friends of mine. One was a Yankee fan, but we'll forgive him for that. The other was a Mets fan who had only recently started watching baseball. He was not fully aware of the Mets postseason history, particularly the Robin Ventura grand slam single game of 1999. By the 11th or 12th inning, he began to have trouble watching the game. I responded by reminding him of all the long and wacky postseason games in Mets history. That didn't help him much. He left the room a few times because he couldn't take it. Finally, Agbayani hit the HR to win it, but none of us really saw it, because we were all jumping around and screaming as if we ourselves were Mets. And that would be his baptism to Mets postseason baseball.
TVDUDE
January 12, 2002
Best game ive ever gone to in my life. It was back when timo was good (for those 2 weeks)and showed fonzie at his most clutch. It was soo cold that nite and the guy we were sitting in back of got mad because my friend kicked his seat by accident. But when that ball went over bonds' head, we all joined as met fans and jumped and went crazy. The giants fan who was laughing as the giants didnt fall behind for 13 innings, went home unhappy, haha. "agbayani Hits one into deep left center, 13th inning, Mets win game 3"- fox broadcaster joe buck.
Andrew
April 26, 2002
I went to the game with a couple friends and had a great time. I am avid Mets fan and was delighted to watch such an exciting and close game. I can remember following the action closely for all 13 innings. It was a defining moment when Agbayani hit the homer in the bottom of the 13th to win the game. Everyone was yelling and screaming to celbrate the Mets unbelievable victory. It was one of the best and most exciting baseball games I have ever been to.
SCOTTR
June 15, 2003
I was at this game, for some reason I went to Shea with no ticket. It was sold out but they told me to stand in line because there might be some cancellations or something. So a bunch of people including me stayed in line for about an hour and we got tickets. I paid $100 for a seat a few rows behind home plate, it was worth it. Getting to the game about 3 hours early, waiting in line, and paying 100 bucks to see one the greatest games ever. Thank you Benny.
Patrick
October 1, 2003
This was the greatest baseball game I've ever been to. It was freezing cold that night. Russ Ortiz pitched well for the Giants. The Mets were down, and then Robb Nen comes in to face Fonzie with the trying run on, and I believe on the first pitch Fonzie hit a double right down the right field line, and then went into extra innings when Benny ended things with his homer. Everyone was hugging each other all around. It was a great moment that I remember like it was yesterday.
Lee
November 18, 2004
I was at a Who concert on this night and I had tickets to Game 4 and I had been to some great games: the Todd Pratt homer to send the Mets to the NLCS in '99, the "grand single" game in the NLCS, and the game where the Mets clinched the wild card that year so I really wanted the Mets to win on this night.
The Who concert was at Madison Square Garden and the Met game was on one of the TV's right next to the pizza stand and I got there early and the game was in the 10th already and I watched and, by the 11th, everyone had surrounded me as we watched the TV screen.
We just wanted Robb Nen or Felix Rodriguez to just blow it already so we could go to our seats but they didn't and neither did the Mets and, in the 12th, the Who concert started but none of us went in and, in the 13th, Benny Agbayani stepped up and hit one into the seats and the Mets won! Plus the Who concert was great.
Shad Stanleigh
January 13, 2009
How many other people can say that their first regular season AND post-season game they attended each ended with walk-off homers in extra innings?? (See my comments on the 9/20/75 game).
Personally I think this is one of the most underrated games in Met history, albeit I'm probably biased. Sure, the Pratt homer the year before won the series, but it was the NLDS no less than this was. And the Ventura grand slam single? Um...we lost that series. Perhaps the fact that Jones' closed the Giants out with that improbable 1-hitter the next day also robs this game of the notoriety it deserves.
The thing that I remember most about this (aside from feeling the stadium shake under me, which until now I'd only experienced once, for Seaver's return game in '83) was, sitting in Section 1 of the Upper Deck - right behind home plate, how the wind seemed to be blowing straight in and my buddy and I remarking to one another that NO BALL was getting out of Shea this night. When Benny hit the ball I thought some great invisible Met in the sky caught it and pushed it and pushed it into the left field bullpen. In our section we had a perfect view of the luv scrum at home plate and even from our perch we could see that ear-to-ear smile on Benny's face.
Another fun thing about that game was way back in the 1st inning, the Braves score went final and they had been swept by the Cardinals. And you had 50,000 plus in Shea Stadium doing the tomahawk chop. Priceless.
October 8, 2000 Shea Stadium
2000 National League Division Series Game 4
Mets 4, San Francisco Giants 0
BRIAN
October 9, 2000
Thank you Bobby Jones! What an amazing game! The Mets win the most exciting games I have ever seen in the post-season. Last night, Benny wins the game witha an extra inning walk off home run, today Bobby Jones wins the game with a one-hitter (if only Robin were 6 inches taller). Anyway, I am extremely proud to be a Mets fan (just as I was in 1994 when I went to 22 games as a teenager) and am extremely grateful to my fiance for getting us tickets for the two division series games at Shea.
transcend
May 22, 2001
Great performance.
We miss you Fresno!
DB
June 20, 2001
Arguably the greatest game ever pitched by a Mets pitcher!
Mets2Moon
September 24, 2001
A magnificent game, which I had travelled down from Binghamton that morning to see. Fresno left the Giants flailing away at pitch after pitch, and by the 5th, the game was out of reach. By the end, the chants of "BOBBY JONES!! BOBBY JONES!!" echoed throughout the stadium. And in the parking lot, I saw five young men circled around a cell phone screaming "Who let the dogs out!!" More fitting should have been Who let Bobby Jones out?
Jose Otero
August 8, 2004
I was 17 years old at the time, I worked at a Burger King in Astoria. During work my girlfriend at the time came to my job and surprised me with tickets to the game that afternoon. I was hyped to go, but the game started at 4 and I got out of work at 5. So I did what any 17 year old would do. Fake a sickness. I did, and my supervisor actually bought it. I grabbed some food, and went to the game. Oh boy was it worth it. To see Bobby Jones mow down the Giants 1 by 1 was sweet. When the crowd started chanting Bobby Jones I knew I was watching one of the best Met games in my life. The icing on the cake was when that jackass Balco Bonds ended the game by flying out to Payton. I went bonkers after that.
Lee
September 15, 2004
I was at this game and I was happy with Bobby V's decision to start Bobby Jones instead of Glendon Rusch and it turned out to be an incredible decision because Bobby Jones almost pitched a no- hitter and I thought he would before Jeff Kent hit a double in the fifth and in the ninth, it was a fitting end: Barry Bonds comes up and hits a line drive and Jay Payton is right there and the Mets win and "Who Let the Dogs Out" comes on and, for the second year in a row, I was at the game that sent the Mets to the NLCS.
JOSE OTERO
November 18, 2004
Sorry mom I played hooky from work to attend this game. I'll be damned if I was going to miss one of the biggest games in the history of this great franchise to flip burgers at Burger King. (Even though I needed the money for my senior trip to Florida.) Anyway Fresno Jones pitched one of the greatest games I've ever seen anybody pitch. Man he was mowing the Giants down one by one. When he got Barry Bonds to fly out to end the series I knew it was a matter of time.
Joe P.
September 25, 2004
Great playoff game to be at. Beautiful weather, and a 1 hitter- by Bobby Jones, of all people. It hurt a little that Kent got the only hit.
Charlie
October 28, 2006
Great game. Little talked about fact in my opinion is this would have/could have been a perfect game. Kent led off the 5th with a screamer off Ventura's glove for a double. The score was 2-0 at the time. He got real careful with the runner on 2d and walked the bases loaded with 2 outs (Baker also got blasted for letting the pitcher hit here). These were the only baserunners SF had in the game, I always felt if Ventura would have caught Kent's smash, Jones sets them down in order as he did the whole game. One of the best I ever saw...Bobby Jones???
Jon
January 9, 2011
Charlie's right -- it was very close to a no-hitter, but it was also very close to one of those games that suddenly unravels. Sitting in the Upper Deck behind home plate, high enough for the winds to freeze my neck, I was absolutely convinced it was all about to come apart there in the 5th. Dusty must have been as well or he'd have pinch-hit for his pitcher there. Was a good explanation ever offered?
Pete
September 26, 2013
Will never forget this game, beautifully pitched and all of us standing on our seats singing, "Who let the dogs out"!
Ed K
June 28, 2020
This was the greatest pitched game that I have ever seen in person. I have seen all sorts of great Mets pitchers over the years.but Bobby Jones pitched the game of his life on this day.
Even though I was keeping a scorecard, I did not realize that Bobby had a one-hitter going until I asked the person next to me whether he thought Bobby V would leave Bobby Jones in for the 9th. The person mentioned the one-hitter and I checked the scorecard and sure enough.
This game was also the only time I saw the Mets clinch anything. In 1981, I saw the Expos (with Gary Carter) clinch the second half-season of the NL East at Shea on the next-to-last-day of the season.
October 11, 2000 Busch Stadium
2000 National League Championship Series Game 1
Mets 6, St. Louis Cardinals 2
Mets2Moon
July 12, 2006
When you're a catcher, you have a tendency to wear down at the end of a long season. Mike Piazza had fallen victim to this over his career, and his Postseason numbers had reflected this. The Mets were a great team in 2000, but if they were going to beat the Cardinals and go to the World Series, Piazza needed to regroup and step it up. Before the game, Mets coach John Stearns spoke of "The Monster needing to get out of the cage."
The Monster, of course, was Mike Piazza.
After the Mets roared out of the gate with a Timo Perez double, followed by an Alfonzo walk, Piazza ripped a double down the LF line, scoring Perez and giving the Mets an early lead.
And, for those watching on FOX, we found out how big of a hit it was at the top of the following inning, thanks to their "Sounds of the Game" microphone, being worn by Stearns.
"HE'S OUT OF THE CAGE! THE MONSTER IS OUT OF THE CAGE! THE MONSTER IS OUT OF THE CAGE! LET'S GO! THE MONSTER IS OUT OF THE CAGE! LET'S GO!"
The Monster was indeed out of the cage for the NLCS, and the Mets advanced to the World Series.
October 12, 2000 Busch Stadium
2000 National League Championship Series Game 2
Mets 6, St. Louis Cardinals 5
Brian
March 9, 2003
Jay Payton did it again! He came through with a base hit in the 9th to win the game. He did it in Game 2 in the NLDS and now in game 2 in the NLCS! Thanx Jay!
October 14, 2000 Shea Stadium
2000 National League Championship Series Game 3
St. Louis Cardinals 8, Mets 2
Jon
January 7, 2002
Whenever they think about the risks of using pitchers on 3 days rest in the postseason, they'll think of Darryl Kile.
The home first went like this: Double for Timo, double for Alfonzo, double for Piazza, double for Ventura. One out later, double for Agbayani. My brother & I had great seats and the place was going crazy.
Still, we needed five innings of scoreless relief from Rusch, Franco and Bentiez, and a boneheaded error from Fernando Tatis, to finish them off.
Jonathan Stern
May 16, 2003
The only Mets post-season game I've ever attended (so far) and they got reamed! Oh well, at least they won the series. I do not remember much about the game itself - it was over before it was over (sorry, Yogi). I do remember the LOUD music constantly blasting from the loudspeakers (Mrs. Jarvis, WHERE ARE YOU?), the unseasonably hot weather, the sight of Chris "Mad Dog" Russo putting on a Mets cap and shirt in the press box to applause from the fans underneath, and the fact that I felt deadened and numb as I left Shea. When my friends and I got to the car, I then realized, less-than-wonderful though the experience may have been on some levels (we lost, after all), I had nonetheless seen my first Mets post-season game. And then I was grateful. Thanks, friends (you know who you are) and I sincerely pray that there will be many many more nights like this in the future!
Lee
September 8, 2004
I was at this game and the Mets were killed 8-2 by Andy Benes (who would've thought) but I was ok with that because I still had tickets to Game 5, which now I knew I would get to go to.
Drew9
June 18, 2009
I remember an old dude in the mezzanine screaming at Bobby Valentine for leaving Rick Reed in too long. He was pretty awful in this one, and I remember Timo getting a huge ovation after his heroics in St. Louis.
October 15, 2000 Shea Stadium
2000 National League Championship Series Game 4
Mets 10, St. Louis Cardinals 6
Jon
January 7, 2002
Whenever they think about the risks of using pitchers on 3 days rest in the postseason, they'll think of Darryl Kile.
The home first went like this: Double for Timo, double for Alfonzo, double for Piazza, double for Ventura. One out later, double for Agbayani. My brother & I had great seats and the place was going crazy.
Still, we needed five innings of scoreless relief from Rusch, Franco and Bentiez, and a boneheaded error from Fernando Tatis, to finish them off.
Lee
September 9, 2004
Darryl Kile died in 2002 but before that he had a history of beating the Mets. He had even pitched a no-hitter against them when he was with Houston. BUT YOU DON'T PITCH SOMEONE ON THREE DAYS REST, NO MATTER WHO IT IS! Had Tony LaRussa decided to pitch Darryl Kile in Game 5, a game that I was at, the Cardinals might have gone to the World Series against the Yankees instead of the Mets. But this didn't happen and, as a result, the Mets hit 5 doubles off him in the first inning and the Mets won and, once again, I was going to a game where the Mets could clinch something.
Professor G
June 17, 2005
I flew back to town from San Diego for three games of this series with my dad. May Darryl Kile rest in peace, (died in '02) but man, was Shea ROCKIN' that night! Timo Perez was still playing like a man possessed. That first inning was hella exciting with four straight doubles. It was like batting practice!
October 16, 2000 Shea Stadium
2000 National League Championship Series Game 5
Mets 7, St. Louis Cardinals 0
Happy Recap
October 18, 2000
For much of the 2000 postseason, I've been pacing around in front of my television like a panther in a cage. But, thankfully, this game wasn't very stressful at all. After Zeile's three-run double made the score 6-0, with Hampton in complete control, I was able to sit back on the couch and relax. But after the second out of the 9th inning, I stood up, raised my arms in the air, and let the goosebumps flow all over me.
It's not a common thing to see the Mets clinch a spot in the World Series, and these moments are all the more special because of their scarcity. And the fans at Shea clearly felt the same way. I don't know if I've ever seen the fans there more joyous. It was a fun night. And hopefully it won't be another 14 years before it happens again!
BRIAN
October 25, 2000
Let's Go Mets! Have your metro cards ready, buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks and you are now ready for the first ever Subway Series between the New York Mets and New York Yankees (Booooooo!!!). I can't believe that I got to go to this game. Boy did the cops look foolish in their riot gear. Nothing happened but I guess the city had to be prepared for the worst. Hampton was incredible (please resign him). I hope I get tix to the World Series but if I don't, I can be grateful that the last game I went to this season was a clincher. I am too young to clearly remember the 86 team so I really hope the Amazins pull it off this year. Let's Go Mets!!!
Alex
March 29, 2001
Wow, I sat in the Mezz box for this one. I had classes the next day and I was hesitant to go but was I sure glad that I did. Right from the start you could feel the electricity running through Shea. It was a muggy, cold, rainy night but that didn't stop us. After the 7th inning stretch and with a comfortable lead, you could see fans starting to make their own confetti. Then after Timo took a leap, then made the final out, it was almost surreal. We made it to the Fall Classic. Walking down Roosevelt Ave. to our car was fun in itself as fans drove by honking horns and shouting Let's Go Mets.
Jose Otero
May 22, 2001
My mother mannaged to score tickets right 3 hours before the game. We had box seats right down the 1st base line. Boy I was never so exitcted in my life. Mike Hampton mannaged to contain the much hyped Dead- Bird line up. As soon as the ball landed in Timo Perez's glove. I never went so crazy in my life.
Brian
March 9, 2003
This was possibly the best moment of my life! Rick Wilkins flying out to Timo Perez (who I thought should have been the NLCS MVP). I went to this game -- it was awesome. My first playoff game at Shea!
Derek Pope
April 9, 2003
I was fortunate enough to be at this game. The one thing I remember and always will remember is after Todd Zeile's three-run double made the score 6-0 how with the fans cheering wildly actually had Shea Stadium rocking, I mean really rocking. You could feel the stadium swaying, and sitting in the upper deck as I was it was a scary feeling.
Lee
August 13, 2004
I was at this game and I watched as the Mets beat up on Pat Hentgen and Hampton went the distance to pitch a shutout and the Mets were going to the World Series.
But there were two other things that happened this game, one that was hilarious, and one that was scary. Let me tell you about Rick Ankiel. He was incredible in the 2000 regular season, almost winning Rookie of the Year, but during the playoffs he was so nervous that he threw too many wild pitches to count and, in this game, he did it again, throwing one onto the screen at Shea.
The other moment was when Jay Payton took a pitch to the head, with blood coming out of it and the scary thing is, they let you take cameras into the stadium then because it was before 9/11 and I caught this scary moment on film. I also saw Mark McGwire pinch hit and he popped out and then a flyball was caught by Timo and the Mets won and I can still picture John Franco waving his NL Pennant shirt in the air. It was an incredible feeling, the Mets were going to the World Series.
Joe P.
October 4, 2004
We were sitting pretty high up, but it didn't matter at all. I will never forget watching Timo catch the last out, and the place going nuts. We were hugging and high-fiving strangers all around us. Watching Johnny Franco run around waving the white shirt as "Who Let The Mets Out" was blaring from the speakers - one of the best moments in my life!
Professor G
June 17, 2005
Of hundreds of Mets games I've attended in person, this one ranks as my number two all-time favorite (Favorite is still 1986 NLCS Game 3, Lenny Dykstra's walk-off two-run homer). What a moment to see the Mets all bolt from the dugout and the bullpen after that magic moment when Timo caught Rick Wilkins's fly ball. Even thought we were all euphoric at Shea, we wanted to choke that punk Dave Veres for hitting Jay Payton in the head. Nevertheless, I flew in from San Diego to join my dad for this series. We heard horns blaring all the way back into his Manhattan apartment, in celebration. I stayed up all night, watching TV clips of the clinching. The next morning, I didn't need the American Airlines 757 to fly home to San Diego - I happily floated there!
Joe Lanzisera
March 3, 2009
I was in Arizona on business and had a hotel suite filled with about 20 people watching this one. The game wasn't overly dramatic (Zeile's double about sealed it) and getting back to the Series after such a long drought was very sweet.
Michael
June 30, 2009
Fianlly our first pennant since 1986! And the first half of the Subway Series as we had to wait until the Yankees won the next day to make this a reality. Beating the Cardinals in this series was a nice way of payback from the heartbreaks they gave the Mets in 1985 and 1987. This is what the Mets could have done against the Cardinals in those years had there been wild cards. This also would be the last time the Mets clinched a postseason series in Shea Stadium. 2006 NLDS was won in Dodger Stadium. Lost 2000 WS and 2006 NLCS in Shea. Now Shea is gone.
Jon
January 9, 2011
Bought a single Upper Deck ticket and experienced this by myself, one of the best things I ever did for myself. The whole building shook when Zeile doubled the bases clear and it became clear we'd put them away.
October 21, 2000 Yankee Stadium II
2000 World Series Game 1
New York Yankees 4, Mets 3
jay
July 18, 2001
benitez cost us the game and the Mets have yet to recover
John
January 12, 2003
This is the funniest site I have ever seen. I'm glad to know that the loss is still causing Mets fans agony.
If you'd had some professionals on your team, you would have won the series (what the hell was Timo Perez thinking walking around the bases on Zeile's fly ball off the wall? and why, for that matter, was Zeile jogging?)
The Yankees played that series with controlled desperation. The Mets just looked happy not to embarass themselves.
Mike Piazza is one of the few professional ballplayers you've got, but screwups like Agbayani, Payton and Wendell remind us that baseball is a team effort, and that one man alone can't compensate for the shortcomings of his teammates
Mike
February 14, 2003
The at bat by Paul O'Niell was the best sequence of pitches I can remember watching as a Mets fan. I'm am supremely confident that if he makes an out there we win the series...
Lee
July 2, 2004
The Mets had the game but Armando Benitez blew it. This was really the first time that Benitez blew a big game for the Mets but it certainly would not be the last. It went into extras and then a villain for the ages, Jose Viscaino, stepped up and lined one into left and the game was over and, in my mind, the Yankees won the World Series right there.
Joe Lanzisera
February 25, 2009
So many nightmares from this game. I was in Arizona for business/pleasure watching it in the early evening while my wife and mother-in-law went shopping. Obviously the O'Neill at bat was gut-wrenching as Mike mentioned, but for me the Zeile hit was the key play. I will never forgive Timo for not scoring on that play - no excuse for it at all. The series was decided in that O'Neill-Benitez matchup I believe. That was the turning point. I guess it just wasn't meant to be.
Nick
January 23, 2013
This was the first full World Series game I ever saw. I was excited through the whole game. I remember when Justice gave the Yankees a lead with a double. When Zeile hit what should have been a home run I was excited jumping up and down. Then Trammell's 2rbi single got me excited and the Alfonzo hit gave us the lead. Al pitched such a great game and in the 9th it looked like the Mets were going to win. Then Benitez blew the game and I was shocked. I stayed up all night just to get disappointed. If we would have won that game we would have won the World Series.
October 22, 2000 Yankee Stadium II
2000 World Series Game 2
New York Yankees 6, Mets 5
Lee
July 2, 2004
What Clemens did was unspeakable. You hit a guy in the head just because he's hit well off you in the past and then the World Series comes, a nationally televised game, where millions of people of watching. Clemens pitches to Piazza and Piazza hits a foul ball and breaks the bat and a piece of it comes back to Clemens and he precedes to chuck it right back at Piazza as he's running down the first base line and Clemens ran away with the game but then the Mets came back in the ninth with a home run by Payton and a homer by Piazza but the Mets lost 6-5 as Rivera got them out of the jam.
October 24, 2000 Shea Stadium
2000 World Series Game 3
Mets 4, New York Yankees 2
Jose Otero
June 8, 2001
Every body fails to point out the only postive that came out of the 2000 world Series for us. The game we won. We disrupted two streaks. #1 The Skanks 14 game World Series winning streak, and El Sucke' Postseason winning streak.
Bob Saunders
August 13, 2001
I've been a Met fan since the Polo Grounds in 1963 I Jimmy Piersall hit his 100th HR and run the base backwards. The Mets won a doubleheader that day too. I live in LA since 1976 and never miss the Mets here or San Diego. I flew back for the Series VS the Skanks. I was able to get tickets for game #3. Robin hit a HR, but the evil ones scored 2 runs to lead 2-1. We tied it and then in the 8th Zielle singled and Benny hit a gapper to the wall in left- center for a 3-2 Met lead. We added another and Mando held on for a 4-2 win.I was elated as we left Shea yelling Lets go Mets! This was well worth the $$ to go back and will live forever as the best Met game I've been to in almost 40 years.
Lee
July 2, 2004
At this point, I had just found out that I had tickets to Games 5 and 6 of the World Series so the Mets needed to win if I wanted to see one of them. Then Benny Agbayani hit a ball into left- center and I knew the Mets had the game unless Benitez came in and blew and Benitez came in but he didn't blow it and instead got David Justice to pop up and I knew I was going to get to see the Mets play one more time!
Nick
January 23, 2013
This was the greatest moment in Mets history in my life time. Beating the Yankees and ending their streak was GREAT!!!!
October 25, 2000 Shea Stadium
2000 World Series Game 4
New York Yankees 3, Mets 2
Mike
December 14, 2000
One of the most tense games I've been to, up there with Game 5 of the 1999 NLCS. When Bobby Jones's first pitch came, I was in disbelief when Derek Jeter blasted it into the left-centerfield bleachers. I was devastated, but I still had faith. When Mike Piazza's drive landed near where Jeter's did, Shea Stadium exploded! I was sitting in the upper level, and I thought the place was going to crumble! Even though the Mets lost, it was a great ballgame and a nailbiter (just like most of the Mets postseason games!).
Anthony
July 30, 2003
This was one of the five playoff games I attended in 1999 & 2000 combined. I went with my dad, and we took the two upper deck tickets that came with the package. I will never forget Bobby Jones saying he threw the first pitch of the game right over the plate to Derek Jeter because he did not think he would hit it. That was majorly stupid. He pitched worse than his line for this game shows. Even a lot of the outs were hard hits off of him. It was still an awesome time, even with the result. I was a senior in high school, and will never forget it because of my bet with these Yankee fans (see my post under Game Five of this series). I also remember this Yankee fan near us who made a comment to my dad and I about how the Mets can still get Alex Rodriguez. It was a good-natured, wise guy remark.
Drew9
August 14, 2009
My dad and brother were at this game... apparently when Jeter hit that home run, the Baha Men (who had done a pregame concert performing "Who Let the Dogs Out") were still taking some of their equipment off the field.
October 26, 2000 Shea Stadium
2000 World Series Game 5
New York Yankees 4, Mets 2
Jack
October 27, 2000
I was at the game (first World Series game of my life) and I can't imagine I'll ever see a more sickening sight then the Yankees celebrating on our field. It sounds far too much like the cry of a Brooklyn Dodger fan, but wait 'til next ye
Bob Mercier
November 1, 2000
I was watching this game on fox as part of fox sports coverage of the 2000 World Series and when those damn yankees took the 4-2 lead in the top of the ninth I was becoming very nervous about the possiblity of those yankees celebrating baseball's top prize on the Mets home field. So, when the bottom of the 9th began I did my best to prepare myself where I wouldn't have to look if the Mets lost this game and when the yankees got the last three outs I couldn't watch the site of them partying on the Mets home field so I did my best to not look at the tv until the yankees were finished partying on the Mets field. So, the yankees partying on the Mets home field made me pretty upset, boy, i'm sure all of you can understand that. So, as Mets fans we should show an emotion where hopefully they'll be a day where the Mets celebrate the World Series title on the yankees home field!!! get what I am saying?
flushing flash
November 20, 2000
Bob: you should have done what I did. As soon as that shot by Piazza (which at first looked like a sure home run) landed in Bernie Williams' glove, the television set went off and I went to sleep.
True Blue in NJ
December 27, 2000
Like watching a traffic accident. The last inning occurred in slow motion. I was in total denial for days. Still trying to get over it......
Jose Otero
May 30, 2001
All I know is when I get sick and I cant throw up, all I got to do is look at the very immage of mariano Rivera and the rest of the Skanks cellebrating on our home field and it will come out.
aingl
June 22, 2001
Been a Mets fan from the cradle and I always took pride in the fact that NOONE had ever celebrated at Shea, until now. I just sat there with my head down, unable to look up at the screen when the last out was made. I was listening to the radio broadcast of the game and recording the T.V. broadcast. I distincly remember hearing Bob Murphy's voice crack when he said "...and they will celebrate at Shea." I turned off the T.V and went to bed. My wife said that I looked as if I had seen a ghost. Now I know what my dad, formally a Brooklyn Dodger fan (now a Mets fan), felt like all those years. I will never get over this.
Easy Ed
August 23, 2001
Living in Maryland, I always root for the NY team, so I cheered for the Yanks in the 90's. But sorry, when it's Yanks vs Mets, I'm going to go with the Mets. Born in Brooklyn to ex-Dodger fans, there was no other way to be.
Anyway, when Petitte mishandled Leiter's bunt, I figured it was that Ol' Met Magic at work and the Metsies were destined to win. You gotta tip your hat to the Yanks, they just sucked it up and didn't fold like Boston did in 1986. I had a lump in my throat watching them lose that game. I felt especially bad for Leiter. The guy pitched his heart out and he STILL has no post season wins.
Keep the faith. The Mets will be back in the post season soon!
Travis Tastrom
November 2, 2001
For all of my 18 years, I have bled orange and blue. I remember a glimpse of 86, a little more of 88, but when the Mets won that game 7-0 against the Cards, I went crazy. I watched the Mets fight tooth and nail for the first four games. Reed pitched a great game in game three, and all I could think about was that "1986 Year to Remember" tape that I have watched probably over 250 times. All I could think about was that comeback, and thoguht for sure that it was happening again. I was wrong. Probably the lowest moment of my life was in game 5 when Piazza hit that drive. Off the bat I just knew it was gone I held my breath, then jumped up off the couch, and let out a yell. While I was in mid-air, I saw the ball settle into Williams's glove, and it was like I had hit an invisible ceiling. I fell straight down bounced once off the couch, and laid on the floor, sobbing like a little infant. I am not ashamed to say that. That contact of horsehide and leather broke my heart. I had seen this team come from behind to many times. Going into that game, there was not a doubt in my mind that they were going to rattle off three straight.
Rich
November 25, 2001
Let me just say this.... I was watching the game from Cityside Bar and Grill in the Cleveland Circle area of Boston with some of my friends from grad school.
And when Piazza hit the ball, I swear I thought it was a home run. When Williams caught the ball, I left the bar and have REFUSED to watch or listen to a replay of that out ever since. God forbid I might get stuck having to hear that stinking idiot Sterling do his Yankees win thing....I think I'd hurl....
Charlie
December 10, 2001
The key to the whole Series came down to 2 walks:
Benitez's walk to O'Neil in game 1, and Leiter's walk to Posada in game 5.
Dave Marr
December 27, 2001
My worst pro sports nightmare come true. One of these days I'll get over it -- maybe after some intense therapy and a Game 7 win over the Yankees in the Bronx. Hope it happens in my lifetime!
Mike D
February 27, 2002
I remember this game all too well. I was a senior in high school and I had a hockey game that night as well as something for homecoming week. I kept checking the score of the game in one of the classrooms downstairs. My heart sank when the Yanks went up 1-0, but when we went up 2- 1 I was on cloud 9 and convinced that Shea Magic was alive and well, I guess we all know how that turned out. Some of my friends that were Yankees Fans at school, although can I really consider them friends, were telling me to quit dreaming but my reply was, "ya gotta believe!" I got home to see the Yanks tie the game and take the lead and I decided to go to bed hoping that my non- watching strategy, which paid off before, would work again. Needless to say, it didn't work, but the playoff run of 2000 sure was memorable. The next day at school I wore my black Mets jersey and proclaimed I was still proud of my team, and I took my lumps. But the Yanks will go down eventually to us. And a heartfelt thanks goes out to the Diamondbacks for knocking out the Yankees in the 2001 World Series, you made a group of 8 Rutgers University Students very happy on a November night.
leiterfluid1227
March 30, 2002
I was in disbelief when this one was over. A moment that will always stand out in my emotions was when Sojo grounded that single up the middle. It was the microcosm of this series: three different fielders barely missed the ball, and the throw barely missed beating Posada. When Posada walked that inning I had an erie feeling he would find a way to score with two outs and he did.
Jeffrey
December 16, 2002
I'm a former New Yorker now living in Israel. I still follow the Mets and I got up every night at 2:00 AM Israel time to watch the games. All in all, it was a fabulous Series, very tense. As soon as Piazza's fly ball was caught, I turned off the TV and made a long distance call to my friend in New York, who is a Yankee fan. They were celebrating, of course, so I congratulated him, then went to sleep for a couple of hours before going to work.
Justin Hester
April 23, 2003
I have been a Mets fan since 1986, I was 7 years old, even though the Mets lost this game and the series, I will always consider Al Leiter to be one of my all time favorite players. He pitched his heart out that night.
Anthony
June 8, 2003
Hey there. The way this series turned out pissed me off. My family has a share in season tickets and I got to go to three playoff games in 2000, including the fourth game of the World Series. I was a senior in high school that year. I remember they had designated a school day for showing off your favorite team's colors in honor of the Subway Series. I made a bet with these Yankee fans that the Mets would win it. Here is the part where you will think I am stupid, the Mets were already down 2-0 when we made the bet. If the Mets lost, I would have to pay five dollars and stand up on my desk in class and dance like a monkey. Of course, we all know the result. But, I was prepared for the possible humiliation. Immediately when I got to economics (the class I had with those guys), I walked into the classroom dancing like a monkey with the monkey noises and all. I had to do it a total of like three times over the near 45 minutes we were in the class and pay the five dollars. Anyway, I am not shot on the 2003 season yet. LETS GO METS!!!!!
MetsGirl
June 19, 2003
I was born in 84, so I have no recollection of the 86 series other than the highlight reels. This was my first experience with a World Series that actually had meaning. My dad happens to be a die hard Yankee fan...so it wasn't fun living in my house that week. I remember just getting up from my couch in the bottom of the ninth and leaving the house. I could not watch the rest of the game and listen to my dad's "You should root for the real champs" anymore. Because I never give up, I watched the rest of the game from the porch looking into the window, but when the third out fell I took a walk and didn't come back inside for an hour. In hindsight this was a pretty dumb move because it was midnight, chilly, and I wasn't wearing any shoes. I just remember walking up and down my street in complete denial and damn close to tears. I then gathered up the strength to slink back inside and go to sleep. To this day I refuse to discuss the series with my dad! One day we will get our revenge!
Lee
October 21, 2004
I got to the game at 3:30, knowing that if the Mets won, I could see Roger Clemens and Mike Hampton in Game 6, which promised to be a great game. I watched batting practice and caught a foul ball from Al Leiter and then watched him hit a BP home run.
The pitching matchup was Al Leiter and Andy Petitte and the game was good from the beginning. Derek Jeter and Bernie Williams each hit solo shots but the Mets made it 2-1 before Bernie's homer and it was fun to watch Al Leiter get his first hit in a year on an infield hit.
But in the ninth, Luis Sojo hit a ball up the middle and everyone blames the Mets losing on Bobby V leaving Al Leiter in for a 141st pitch but that wasn't why they lost. Jorge Posada was on second and someone else was on first when Sojo got the hit and Jay Payton made an incredible throw home that should've nailed Posada and ended the inning but Piazza wasn't covering the plate right. Instead of playing in front of home plate so he could catch it and tag Posada he was playing behind home plate, allowing the ball to hit Posada in the knee instead of going into Piazza's glove, the ball gets away, and another run scores and then Piazza hits one in the bottom of the inning deep but not deep enough at exactly midnight and my heart sunk and everyone was cheering as the Yankees ran out on the field and were mobbed by the media and it was horrible. Shea Stadium had been abducted by Yankee fans.
Kiwiwriter
October 18, 2004
Being a Yankee fan before a Met fan, I was happy with the World Series' outcome.
But I remain annoyed to this day that New York could not hold a joint parade for both teams. The Yankees and Mets gave New York two great pennant runs and a great World Series. They were both champions.
They should have been honored together in a joint ceremony.
Tom M
February 10, 2005
My wife and I were at the Met playoff clincher vs. the SF Giants and the NL clincher vs. the Cards as well as this game. Left the game before the bottom of the ninth and have never seen (and never will) the final out or the Yankee celebration. Worst Met loss I have ever attended in my 37 years going out to Shea. I still haven't gotten over it. (Maybe the Mets haven't either.)
Jose Otero
March 9, 2005
I think the ghosts of Shea past cursed the Yankees when they started celebrating at Shea. The spirits of Gil Hodges, and Casey (Even though he used to mannage the Yanks) cast a spell on them when they started to jump around the field like jackasses, carring Joe Torre on their shoulders like he was god or something, and parading the trophy long after the game while thier degenerates, I mean fans was still at Shea like it was the Bronx. Now the Yankees have not won a title since then, and not to mention they had the biggest collapse in sports history. Next time they win anything at Shea they should do it old school. Run off the field, celebrate in the locker room, and stay in the locker room.
Professor G
July 13, 2005
Worst night for me at Shea EVER. Even the 1988 NLCS Game 4 wasn't as bad. I still haven't gotten over this game and this Series. Why the Yankees? Why, of all teams to lose a Series to, why did it have to be the Yankees? Lee, you called it EXACTLY right. Payton nailed Posada and Piazza was on the wrong side of the plate. And just as everyone else thought, I just knew Piazza's drive was going to tie the game - just as I thought Todd Zeile's ball in Game 1 at Yankee Stadium surely had cleared the fence. We absolutely should've won Game 1, Game 2 was a complete humiliation at the expense of that jackass, Roger Clemens, Game 4 was complete frustration not being able to score a measly run to tie that 3-2 loss and losing Game 5 on Luis Sojo's 97-hopper up the middle...I remember being monumentally depressed the next year, too, when the Diamondbacks beat the Yankees in the Series, wishing it could've been us who dethroned them.
Mike C
August 2, 2006
My dad got tickets for this game and I went with him, my sister and my uncle.
I was in college in Maryland at the time, and even though the game was on a Thursday and I had an exam the next morning, I couldn't turn down the chance to go to a historic game like this one.
I drove from Baltimore to New York after classes on Thursday and made it just in time for the first pitch.
What a great game. Our seats were in the mezzanine, way down the third base line. Leiter was tremendous, fans from both teams yelling back and forth at each other.
I remember the sight of awful Sojo's dribbler up the middle and I remember leaping out of my seat when Piazza hit the ball that became the last out. The ball made a great sound off the bat. I yelled out, "He did it!" but then saw Bernie settling under it near the warning track in center.
I slumped in my chair and just sat there for about 5 minutes.
When we got back to my parents' house, I was so wired from the game, I decided to drive straight home to Baltimore at 1 a.m.
The next day, I took the exam and got an A. Go figure.
Jimmy
October 21, 2007
I was home for this game. I am a Yankee hater as well as a Met lover but honestly as horrible as the sight of the Yankees winning on our field, it does not rank as my worst moments as a Mets fan. I rank losing to the Dodgers in 1988 and the Cardinals last year. Perhaps a reason for this is that we lost in 5 games and the pain would have been deeper if we had lost in 6 or 7. Nonetheless this was a nightmare. I will not make excuses for us, we lost and that's it. We made too many mistakes and bungles in this series and you cannot do that against an experienced World Series team like the Yankees and I hated people coming up to me and saying well you guys played well. I don't care how well we played or how close the games are we lost 4 games to 1. I am and will always be proud of my Mets and someday retribution will come and when we play those Bums in the series, As my mom used to say, Payback's a bitch.
Shickhaus Franks
December 17, 2007
All I want for Christmas is PEACE ON EARTH, TO WIN THE MEGA-MILLIONS AND SPEND NEW YEARS EVE IN CANCUN WITH A BEAUTIFUL FOX NEWS ANCHORWOMAN. I know, I know that those things may NOT happen but I want one thing for the holidays is for Bud Selig to put a big fat (*) on the 2000 World Series because of the Evil Yankees and their Better Living Through Chemicals program.
Joe Lanzisera
February 25, 2009
I still can't watch the final out without thinking that Piazza's drive is going out. We saw him hit a hundred balls out on swings just like that. I literally jumped to my feet just in time to see the ball fall into Bernie's glove. I still think about how that felt.
sportsfan8690
June 18, 2009
I remember this game as well as any game. I was watching the game at my house in South Florida as I was preparing to fly to Tampa, FL the next morning for my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary. They also were watching the game, my grandfather was always a big Mets fan and loved the Dodgers before they fled from Brooklyn. My grandparents always remembered those Yankees-Dodgers Subway Series, so this was special for them too. Only fitting this Subway Series took place on their 60th anniversary. Yes, the Mets did lose and the Yankees celebrated at Shea and it's hard to forget it but was a great year. As this turns out, this game was the last World Series game ever at Shea Stadium. When my aunt picked me up in Tampa the next day we had to drive by the Yankees spring training complex and we saw a worker literally painting over the Yankees World Championships board changing from 25 to 26 titles.
NICK
July 7, 2012
When Piazza hit that fly ball was a quick glimmer of hope until it fell in Williams glove. The second darkest day in Mets history next to the 2007 fall.
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