47 Years Of Amazin': Mets Look To Add New Chapter

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

April 12 marked the 47 year anniversary of the first game the Mets ever played when the team was established back in 1962. Back then, they were a work in progress, losing more games than ever before. It looked like the team would be a cellar-dweller for years and years to come, but in their eighth season as a franchise, the club pulled off a miracle that nobody will soon forget. Led by the likes of Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman, the miracle Mets won their first world championship in franchise history.

Now, we all know that the Mets’ history isn’t as storied as the Yankees.  Yankee fans love to throw that in our faces, but the Mets have had some memorable moments in their history, many of which I have had the pleasure of witnessing. My father could talk about being at the 1986 World Series, and ripping a piece of sod out of the field and keeping it after they won. But, unfortunately, I wasn’t alive yet.  I was born in December of that year, so I was forced to watch the games from the womb.

For me, the best experiences came when Mike Piazza was brought aboard to be the heart and soul of the team, and he did exactly that. There was a certain fireworks night where the Mets had a monster comeback against the Braves in the eighth inning, and they scored ten runs in that inning alone. Piazza was the man who capped it off with a three run homer, and the building shook as Piazza pumped his fists while he was rounding the bases.

Another great game was the first that followed the tragedy of September 11. Piazza was the hero there too, as his two-run homer gave the Mets the win. Liza Minelli, Diana Ross, Rudi Guiliani and many more were in attendance on what was a spectacular night.

Robin Ventura’s grand slam single and Todd Pratt’s home run against the Diamondbacks are other moments I will cherish in the future. I will never forget David Wright’s barehanded catch, nor will I forget the catch Endy Chavez made during the NLCS in 2006.

We have had plenty of excellent moments, and the only thing we have to do now is win a championship, which is easier said than done.