In honor of the New York Mets 50th season and the 25th anniversary of the last Mets World Championship team, I bring you the All-50th Anniversary team.
Fifty years have brought many great memories and even more not so great ones for Mets fans like me. There was Ron Swoboda making “the catch” in the 1969 World Series. There was the “black cat” game against the Cubs in ’69. Davey Johnson flying out, touching off the wild celebration after winning the World Series against the Orioles.
There was also beating the powerful Reds in 1973 to win the National League pennant. Bud Harrelson and Pete Rose duking it out at second base.
There was the day Tom Seaver was traded to the Reds in 1977.
Then there was watching a championship team start to take shape in 1984. Watching the rookie phenom Dwight Gooden make NL hitters look silly.
There was the huge disappointment of 1985, losing to St. Louis on the last weekend of the season and missing the playoffs.
Then there was 1986. The 16-inning game against the Astros to clinch the pennant and the miracle rally in Game 6 against the Red Sox. The ball going through Buckner’s legs. The wild celebration at home plate. Another wild celebration two nights later after Jesse Orosco struck out Spike Owen and left Wade Boggs crying in the dugout.
There was Davey Johnson leaving Gooden in one inning too long against the Dodgers in the 1988 NLCS. There was Scioscia’s homer. There was Gibson’s catch.
There was Robin Ventura’s ‘grand slam single” in the 1999 NLCS. There was Pratt’s walk-off HR to beat Arizona in the Division Series. There was the amazing comeback from being down 3-0 to the Braves and nearly forcing a Game 7 after being down 6-0 in Game 6, rallying to take the lead.
There was Beating the hated Cardinals in 2000. There was losing to the hated Yankees in 2000.
There was Mike Piazza hitting a walk off to beat the Braves the game after 9-11.
There was Endy’s catch in Game 7 in 2006. There was Beltran watching strike three with the bases loaded to end Game 7.
These are the greatest players at each position in New York Mets history in this Mets fan’s opinion. Hope you enjoy.