Based on their presence, popularity and reputation alone, the New York Mets would be considered one of MLB's founding members. However, the team was formed quite a bit later. All the more impressive is the fame the team achieved. The New York Mets were formed in 1962 and have been in the National League ever since. The name Mets is an abbreviation of Metropolitan. The team is also registered under this name. Officially, it is called New York Metropolitan Baseball Club Inc. The team took the name Metropolitan from an earlier New York team.
Amazin Mets
It didn't take long for the Mets to leave their first footprints in league history. In their eighth season (1969), the Mets qualified for the playoffs. Led by Mets legend Tom Seaver, who had been named Rookie of the Year two years earlier, they reached 100 wins in the Regular Season. That was followed by a sweep in the NLCS against the Atlanta Braves. That secured a spot in the World Series.
There, they faced arguably one of the best lineups in baseball, the Baltimore Orioles. As expected, the Mets lost the first game. But that only caused them to rally their forces. They won four straight games and went straight to the World Series in their first postseason. This success earned them the nicknames Amazin Mets and Miracle Mets.
Just four years later, the Mets were back in the World Series with Tom Seaver. This time, however, they lost 3-4 to the Oakland Athletics.
New York vs. New York
Over the years, the Mets have been to the World Series three more times, most recently in 2015. After winning their current last title against the Red Sox in 1986, arguably their most painful World Series loss came in 2000. It was a clash between the Mets and arguably their biggest rivals, the New York Yankees. This duel is also known as the Subway Series. Despite playing Mike Piazza, Edgar Alfonzo and Al Leiter, the New York Mets suffered a bitter 1-4 defeat and watched their great local rivals celebrate. This was also to be the last World Series at the legendary Shea Stadium.
Strong Symbols
Even though Shea Stadium is legendary in baseball, it was not built as a ballpark only. In 2009, the Mets moved to Citi Field in Flushing Meadows. It seats about 41,000 spectators. The stadium's arched brick façade immediately catches the eye. It is strongly reminiscent of Ebbet Field, a former venue in New York.
Another special feature is the Shea Bridge, which connects two stands in the outfield area. Spectators who want to enter the ball park via the home plate entrance will see something new since 2022: On the one hand, the legendary home run apple in bright red with Mets logo. On the other, the statue of "Terrific Tom Seaver" unveiled in April.
The Mets logo features a baseball and the New York skyline. It is popular and has now achieved cult status. It is worn by fans as caps or can be found as a side patch on jerseys. Even better known is probably the interlocking NY logo, which is clearly different from that of the city rival. It can be seen on the players' on-field caps.
In Tom Seaver, the Mets drafted a player who brought them the World Series and burned his way into the hearts of Mets fans. Finding such a player again, developing him and keeping him, is the big goal of the minor league teams in this franchise. These include:
- Syracuse Mets
- Binghamton Rumple Pontes
- Brooklyn Cyclones
- St. Lucie Mets