New York Mets Stats

New York Mets History 

Following the Dodgers and Giants’ move to California in 1957 from New York, baseball realized that another New York-based team was needed to join the Yankees. 

With the American League already laying claim to the Yankees, it was decided that this new team would join the National League. The team was ultimately called the Mets and based in Queens right in New York City. 

In 1959, a New York attorney by the name of William Shea formed a third league entitled the Continental League to join the American and National Leagues. The Mets were initially expected to be a part of this newly founded league. 

However, by 1960 this league was erased, and the Mets ended up in the National League. The “Mets” name comes from the organization’s professional title, “Metropolitan Baseball Club.” There were several other names considered, including the Jets and Islanders, which would end up being utilized in the NFL and NHL down the road. 

Once they were established as a legitimate MLB organization, the Mets drafted a team and started playing games in 1962. From 1962-1963, they played their games at the historic Polo Grounds stadium, but they transitioned to a new ballpark called Shea Stadium in 1964. 

The Mets remained at Shea Stadium through the 2008 campaign before getting a new stadium called Citi Field, where they play their games now. 

2022 Key Stats

The Mets entered 2021 with high expectations. They had their ace, and arguably the best pitcher in baseball in Jacob deGrom returning. New York had struck a deal during the offseason with the Cleveland Indians to land star shortstop Francisco Lindor and starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco. 

However, Lindor struggled offensively for most of the season, and Carrasco was injured for the first portion of 2021. On the other hand, deGrom was phenomenal through the first half of the season. 

The Mets also found themselves leading the National League East through the first part of the campaign. But then deGrom, who had a league-leading 1.08 ERA, got injured and was forced to miss a significant amount of time. The Mets began to fall off and ended up missing the postseason altogether. 

But the Mets are expected to rebound in 2022. They signed veteran starting pitcher Max Scherzer to a three-year contract in December and also added a couple of quality bats in outfielders Starling Marte and Mark Canha.

According to the majority of sportsbooks, the Mets are the second favorite to win the National League behind the Dodgers. Many sportsbooks are calling for New York to dethrone the Braves in the NL East as well in 2022.  

Championships Won by the Mets

The Mets have had two World Series championships during their existence. 

Their first came in 1969, just seven years after their initial season in Major League Baseball. Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver led the underdog Mets to their first World Series championship in 1969. The team was given the nickname “Miracle Mets” for their odds-breaking World Series victory over a talented Baltimore Orioles team. 

However, the franchise would need to wait almost 20 years to celebrate another World Series championship. The 1986 World Series is most remembered in MLB history for the Bill Buckner play. 

The Boston Red Sox were defeating the Mets in Game 6 of the World Series when a ground ball got through the legs of Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner, allowing the Mets to mount a comeback and steal Game 6, and they went on to take Game 7 as well. 

The Mets last won a National League pennant in 2015 but fell short in the World Series against the Kansas City Royals. 

Important Team Events

The “Miracle Mets” gave New York their first-ever World Series championship. The 1969 team also drastically grew the fanbase. The championship helped the people of New York who had been fans of the Dodgers and Giants move on from those teams. 

From 1982-1984, the Mets spent their time building a championship-caliber ballclub. They drafted starting pitcher Dwight Gooden fifth in the 1982 draft. They acquired Keith Hernandez in 1983 and Gary Carter in 1984. 

Darryl Strawberry also won the Rookie of the Year Award in 1983. These players would all play a role in helping the Mets win the ‘86 World Series. 

The Mets retired Tom Seaver’s number 41 in 1988. Seaver is remembered as one of the best pitchers in baseball history. 

On September 21st, 2001, the Mets played a role in helping the USA heal following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The Braves and Mets played in the first major sporting event since 9/11. Mike Piazza clubbed a clutch home run and led the Mets to a victory in a very emotional night. 

The Best Mets Players

Tom Seaver is the greatest player ever to wear a Mets uniform. He pitched to the tune of a 2.57 ERA with over 2,500 strikeouts. 

David Wright was a third baseman for New York who was a fan favorite during his time with the team. Wright finished with a .296/.376/.490 slash line and could have had a legitimate Hall of Fame case had injuries not slowed him down. Fans of the team will also remember Wright’s terrific over-the-shoulder bare hand catch. 

Jacob deGrom is already a living legend, and he is still pitching on the team. deGrom has spent his entire eight-year career in New York. Despite being a relatively late bloomer, as deGrom did not debut in the big leagues until age 26, he has been terrific in each season for the Mets. He is currently the owner of a 2.50 career ERA and has over 1,500 strikeouts. 

Top Coaches 

During their first few years of existence, the Mets struggled from 1962-1968. However, 1969 finally saw a different outcome for the team. Manager Gil Hodges led them to their first-ever World Series championship that season. Hodges spent 1968-1971 as the coach of the Mets and finished with a .523 winning percentage to go along with the World Series championship. 

Davey Johnson was the most successful head coach in Mets history. Johnson managed the team from 1984–1990 and had a franchise-best .588 winning percentage. Additionally, Johnson led the Mets to the postseason twice and was the manager during their 1986 World Series run. 

Bobby Valentine managed the team from 1996-2002. During his time in Queens, the Mets made the playoffs twice and won one National League pennant. Valentine left New York with a .534 winning percentage.