So far I've outlined what I believe to be the best seasons in Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins history, so it's time to keep going down the list of NL East teams.
As I've said in each of the previous blog posts, a team's best season doesn't necessarily have to be a year in which they won the World Series. But when you win the World Series and have your best winning percentage of all-time, it's hard not to pick that as the best year in franchise history. The 1986 New York Mets won 108 games for a final record of 108-54. That's a winning percentage of .667. The Mets have only won 100 games two other times in their history - their other World Series season in 1969 and in 1988. The '86 Mets won 12 more games than the next best team, the Houston Astros. They had the best run differential in the league and were in the top 10 in several offensive categories. Their pitching is what really led the team, though, as they led the league in ERA and were second or third in other notable pitching stats. The team had five All-Stars, including pitchers Sid Fernandez and Dwight Gooden, the latter of which started the 1986 All-Star Game. Keith Hernandez, Daryl Strawberry and Gary Carter all started at their respective positions for the National League as well. The Mets won their division by a wide margin before going on to defeat the Astros in the NLCS, setting up a matchup with the Red Sox in the World Series. Boston of course was still trying to break the Curse of the Bambino, but the Mets wouldn't let it happen this year. Most people remember the series for Mookie Wilson's 10th inning at bat in Game 6. The Red sox led the series 3-2 and were winning the game 5-3 going into the bottom of the 10th inning. The Red Sox came within one out of winning the championship, but couldn't close. The Mets got two runs across to tie the game, bringing Wilson to the plate with the winning run on base. Wilson battled in his at bat, and on the 10th pitch he hit it down the first base line. Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner tried to make a play, but the ball rolled through his legs, allowing the winning run to score. The Mets would go on to win the series in Game 7, claiming the franchise's second championship. It's hard to beat a season in which you win 108 games and a World Series. The Mets have had some other good years, most recently in 2015 when they made it back to the World Series, but nothing has topped the 1986 campaign yet. Make sure to check back in tomorrow as we take a look at the best season in Philadelphia Phillies' history.
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AuthorMatthew Atkins, Journalist and Baseball fan. Archives
March 2023
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