(Memoir)

It is the end of August 2023 as I write this story. A week ago, I read in the Washington Post that the New York Mets have decided to retire Jersey #18 for Darrel Strawberry and Jersey # 16 for Dwight Gooden in separate pregame ceremonies during the 2024 season. This news brought back my memories of the New York Mets of the 1980s. We had moved to Long Island and liked watching the home team play. We did not like the New York Yankees. We thought they flaunted money and were able to recruit good players.

Our love for the Mets grew after the unforgettable 1986 World Series between the Mets and the Boston Red Sox. I asked ChatGPT to describe the series because, in my opinion, they would do a better job than me.

Here is what I got.

“The 1986 World Series between the New York Mets and the Boston Red Sox is widely regarded as one of the most memorable and unique in baseball history, with Game 6 of the series being particularly legendary. Here is why:

1. Game 6 Drama: Game 6 of the 1986 World Series is often considered one of the most dramatic and intense games in baseball history. It went into extra innings, and the lead changed hands multiple times throughout the game, creating a roller-coaster of emotions for fans.
2. Bill Buckner’s Error: One of the most iconic moments of the series occurred in the bottom of the 10th inning of Game 6. With the Red Sox leading by a run and just one out away from winning the World Series, a routine ground ball hit by Mookie Wilson of the Mets rolled through the legs of Boston’s first baseman, Bill Buckner. This error allowed the tying run to score, prolonging the game and setting up the Mets for a stunning comeback.
3. Mets’ Comeback: The Mets were down two runs in the bottom of the 10th inning when the Buckner error occurred. After the error, Ray Knight scored the winning run on a base hit, securing the victory for the Mets and forcing a Game 7. This comeback from the brink of defeat contributed to the legacy of the series.
4. Emotional Rollercoaster: The back-and-forth nature of Game 6, coupled with the high stakes of the World Series, created an emotional rollercoaster for both players and fans. The swings in momentum and the intensity of the game made it incredibly memorable.
5. Series Outcome: The Mets ultimately won the 1986 World Series by defeating the Red Sox in Game 7. The series victory was the Mets’ second championship in franchise history and solidified their place in baseball lore.
6. Historical Significance: The 1986 World Series had a significant impact on the legacies of both the Mets and the Red Sox. For the Mets, it marked a triumphant moment for a franchise that had previously struggled. For the Red Sox, it added to the team’s long history of championship heartbreak, with the “Curse of the Bambino” narrative still looming at that time (the Red Sox wouldn’t win a World Series until 2004).

Overall, the 1986 World Series is remembered for its dramatic moments, the Game 6 comeback, and the emotional intensity of the matchups between two storied franchises. The Buckner error and the Mets’ subsequent victory in Game 6 have become enduring symbols of the series.”

Out of the whole roster, we came to like the following players.

Manager: 5 Davey Johnson

C: 8 Gary Carter,1B: 17 Keith Hernandez, 2B: 6 Wally Backman, 3B: 22 Ray Knight, SS: 3 Rafael Santana, LF: 15 George Foster, CF: 4 Lenny Dykstra, RF: 18 Darryl Strawberry, CF: 1 Mookie Wilson, SB: 11 Tim Teufel, 3B: 20 Howard Johnson

Starting Pitchers:

16 Dwight Gooden, 12 Ron Darling, 19 Bob Ojeda, 50 Sid Fernandez

38 Rick Aguilera

Relief Pitchers: 42 Roger McDowell

We would read every news about the team in Long Island Newsday. Gary Carter’s knee problems were a recurring concern. We liked watching Strawberry come to bat and admired his stylish hit, especially when it was a home run. We watched in admiration Gooden strike out another batter. I remember during one of our trips to India we were waiting for our ride at the New Delhi airport. It might have been a Mets cap I wore but a stranger next to me asked if I was from New York. He added he knows about a young pitcher called Gooden

What can I say about Tim Teufel? His batting stance, the “Teufel shuffle”, in which he wiggled his buttocks back and forth before the pitcher’s delivery was a favorite topic of discussion among our friends.

Later in the year 1992 Keith Hernandez and Roger McDowell appeared in the Seinfeld episode “The Boyfriend.”

When the Mets 1987 season was to start, we decided that we MUST attend a game and see our beloved players in action. There were not that many options like the current time to buy the tickets. One either called the box office or went to Shea Stadium in person. We decided to go in person because perhaps we would get a chance to select the seats.

One Saturday, Myself, Sachin, and my brother Shrirang set off in my car to the stadium. It was an hour’s drive. Unfortunately, it started to rain heavily. Our enthusiasm to attend a game did not deter us from continuing. We waited our turn to get to the ticket window in the rain. We returned home happy that we had the tickets.

When we were on the way to attend the game, I remember eleven-year-old Sachin carrying a baseball mitt hoping to catch a foul ball if it came our way. We had fun.

We attended several games later. Our neighbor Larry Jacobson had season tickets to the Mets games. One weekend he gave us two tickets because he could not make it that day. These seats were almost at ground level. Another time when we were visiting my cousin Hemant in San Diego, we were excited to learn that the Mets were in town and playing against the Padres. We bought the tickets for the game and were lucky to get our seats just above the visitor’s dugout. We got to see our beloved players up close.

After we moved to Fairfax, Virginia at the end of 1992, our allegiance shifted to the Wahington Nationals. We were happy that in the year 2011, Davey Johnson was hired as the manager for the Nationals. He only lasted two seasons. There were some players like Bryce Hyper, Juan Soto, Ryan Zimmerman, Trea Turner, and pitchers Stephen Strasburg, and Max Scherzer who created some excitement for the Nationals. But that does not compare to the magic we felt for the Mets in the 1980’s.

Times change. We do not know or recognize the current Mets players. We must keep the old Mets etched in our memory.