The Mets’ trip to the National League Championship Series, which will begin Sunday night in California, is the ninth time the team has made it this far in a season. Not surprisingly, like so much about the Mets in times of prosperity, those NLCS trips have produced loop after loop of unique snapshots, some good, some not so much.
In honor of Dwight Gooden, who had his number retired earlier this season, here’s a look at 16 especially memorable moments from those eight prior trips.
Oct. 6, 1969, Game 3, Shea Stadium
The Mets won a couple of slugfests in Atlanta to take a 2-0 series lead in what was then a best-of-five, but the Braves come out slugging against Gary Gentry in the first postseason game in Queens. Hank Aaron hits a blast off the flag pole in dead center for a 2-0 lead in the second, and in the third, with none out and men on second and third, Rico Carty rips an 0-and-2 pitch about 450 feet that barely hooks left of the foul pole.
Gil Hodges yanks Gentry right there, summons Nolan Ryan, and in the first star turn of his career, Ryan promptly fans Carty, fans Clete Boyer, finishes the game with nine strikeouts in seven innings, and the Mets win their first pennant, 7-4.
Oct. 6, 1973, Game 1, Riverfront Stadium
Tom Seaver has what may have been a top-five career outing for him, striking out 13 of the Big Red Machine and keeping the Cincinnati crowd quiet for 7 ¹/₃ innings — and he even drives in the Mets’ lone run with a second-inning double. But Pete Rose homers with one out in the eighth and Johnny Bench does the same with one out in the ninth, and all he gets is a hard-luck 2-1 loss for his troubles.
Oct. 7, 1973, Game 2, Riverfront Stadium
As happens often in those pitching-rich days, Jon Matlack sees Seaver’s gem and raises him, allowing only two singles to Reds right fielder Andy Kosco. Matlack is also asked to protect a skinny 1-0 lead until the Mets rally for four in the ninth.
Oct. 8, 1973, Game 3, Shea Stadium
The Mets gash the Reds for nine runs in the first four innings, but the game becomes an instant classic in the bottom of the fifth when Joe Morgan rolls into a 3-6-3 double play and Rose barrels into Buddy Harrelson at second, setting off one of the most celebrated on-field brouhahas ever. The Mets have to plead with fans tossing bottles at Rose to stop, lest they be forced to forfeit a game they lead 9-2, but peace is soon restored.
Oct. 9, 1973, Game 4, Shea Stadium
Proving that the best revenge isn’t always served cold, Rose slams a one-out home run off Harry Parker in the top of the 11th inning the very next day and tours the bases with his right arm defiantly poking the air. He is booed, but he is redeemed in a 2-1 Reds win.
Oct. 11, 1986, Game 3, Shea Stadium
Down 5-4 heading into the bottom of the ninth, Wally Backman leads off with a drag bunt in which he barely avoids Glenn Davis’ tag and barely stays in the baseline. He advances to second on a passed ball, and after Danny Heep fails to advance him to third, Lenny Dykstra makes it a moot point by going deep off Dave Smith for a 6-5 win.
Oct. 14, 1986, Game 5, Shea Stadium
Seventeen years and eight days after rescuing the Mets, Ryan nearly topples their dream season, throwing nine innings, striking out 12, allowing only two hits, one of which is a Darryl Strawberry tracer to right that ties the game at one. The Mets are helped by a shaky call by first base ump Fred Brocklander that costs the Astros a run, then Gary Carter, 1-for-21 in the series, drives home Backman in the bottom of the 12th for a 2-1 win.
Oct. 15, 1986, Game 6, Astrodome
Until the last two weeks, this stood alone as the greatest game in Mets history. Down 3-0 in the ninth with the prospect of facing Mike Scott a third time the next day, they rally for three to tie, then take a 4-3 lead in the top of the 14th that lasts two batters deep in the bottom before Billy Hatcher hits one off the foul pole to tie.
The Mets score three in the top of the 16th, but Jesse Orosco, working on fumes, allows two back in the bottom and the Astros have the tying and winning runs on base when Keith Hernandez famously tells Gary Carter: “If you call another fastball, we’re fighting.” Orosco fans Kevin Bass on a full count — with a slider — to end it.
Oct. 4, 1988, Game 1, Dodger Stadium
Orel Hershiser hadn’t allowed a run in 67 innings going back to the regular season until the Mets get to him in the ninth, trailing 2-0, the key hit Carter’s two-out sinking line drive that scored Strawberry and Kevin McReynolds. Mets win, 3-2.
Oct. 8, 1988, Game 3, Shea Stadium
The Mets trail the Dodgers in the rain, 4-3 in the bottom of the eighth, but after six pitches to McReynolds, they ask the umpires to check Dodgers closer Jay Howell’s glove, and the umpires discover pine tar. Emergency reliever Alejandro Pena walks McReynolds, and five runs later, the Mets grab a 2-1 series lead.
Oct. 9, 1988, Game 4, Shea Stadium
Three outs from taking a commanding 3-1 series lead, Gooden issues a leadoff walk to John Shelby, then a two-run homer to Mike Scioscia — who’d hit only three all year — and the Dodgers win when Kirk Gibson takes Roger McDowell deep in the 12th. In the bottom, Tommy Lasorda summons Hershiser on zero days rest to get McReynolds for the final out with the bases loaded. Dodgers 5, Mets 4.
Oct. 17, 1999, Game 5, Shea Stadium
The Mets and Braves slog through a steady rain before Keith Lockhart triples in Walt Weiss in the top of the 15th. In the bottom, the Mets tie the game with the help of a single, a bunt and three walks, then walk it off when Robin Ventura blasts one over the right field wall off Kevin McGlinchy — a grand slam that becomes a two-run single when Todd Pratt interrupts Ventura before he could hit second base. Mets 4, Braves 3.
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Oct. 19, 1999, Game 6, Turner Field
Bidding to become the first team to lose the first three games of a best-of-seven and force a Game 7, the Mets overcome an early 5-0 hole, then another 7-5 deficit, and take an 8-7 lead in the seventh on a Melvin Mora RBI single; John Franco blows the save in the bottom half. In the 10th, the Mets take a 9-8 lead on a Pratt sac fly; Armando Benitez blows the save in the bottom half. Then Kenny Rogers walks Andruw Jones with the bases loaded. Mets lose the game and their season, 10-9.
Oct. 16, 2000, Game 5, Shea Stadium
Mike Hampton throws a complete-game three-hit shutout, and when he coaxes Rick Wilkins to fly to center and Timo Perez squeezes it, the Mets earn their half of what will become the first Subway Series in 43 years.
Oct. 19, 2006, Game 7, Shea Stadium
Endy Chavez makes a catch for the ages, taking a two-run homer away from Scott Rolen in the sixth and doubling up Jim Edmonds. But the Mets can’t cash bases loaded, one out in the bottom of the inning, so when Yadier Molina takes Aaron Heilman deep in the ninth, the Mets look doomed. But they load the bases with two outs, Carlos Beltran walks to the plate and … well, you know.
Oct. 17, 2015, Game 1, Citi Field
Matt Harvey’s last unspoiled moment as a Met: 7 ²/₃ dominant innings in front of a frenzied crowd, nine whiffs. Daniel Murphy hits a home run to give the Mets the lead, the fourth of the seven he’ll hit that postseason, and the Mets jump the Cubs (who’d gone 7-0 against them that year) to win 4-2. The Cubs never lead for even one second of a four-game sweep.
