Mike asks:
hey shannon..just a thought. why is there almost never any mention of the great 1973 season the mets had?? heck, they were one game away from beating big bad oakland..this was my era as i grew up in the late ’60s, early ’70s and basically lived at shea during this time. we had some great players on the team and of course the best pitching rotation in baseball. we beat the big red machine who were many times better then us (on paper).
i mean the mets honor nl east championship teams more then they do the 1973 mets. any thoughts from you would be great. thanks for listening.
Two words: wild cards.
I got into this team in the late 1970’s. Â All we had was 1969 and 1973. Â ’73 was almost on par with ’69. Â It was almost as if the Mets won in 1973. Â You often heard the names of Tug McGraw, Willie Mays and Yogi Berra.
Even after 1986 came along, ’73 stuck around. Â As fans we celebrated our three great teams. Â The details of the ’73 World Series loss got fuzzy and the focus became Tug. Â I know I would be hard-pressed to press a quiz on that series.
Time went on. Â 1988 happened – the Mets were surely on their way to another World Series until Mike Scoiscia and the Dodgers ruined that. Â The 1988 Mets have largely been forgotten, and after a half century of baseball they are just another division winner.
Another decade – and some wild cards. Â The ’73 team sort of got folded into the ’69 team. Â If you were going to honor Seaver, Koosman, or Harrelson – why not pick ’69.
If you’re over 45 you have ’69. Â If you are 40ish like me you have ’86 and the youngsters have ’00 to be their ’73 and 2006 as a recent semi-success.
That’s my guess…73 is now a subset of 69, and ’00 has taken it’s place.
In the past this is where I would have gone on and on about the lack of Mets history, but the Mets have made great strides by adding the historical bricks, and opening the Hall of Fame museum (although there is no news on that which makes me wonder if it is ready yet.)
What does everyone else think about Mike’s question?
Well, specifically as regards to the Amazin’ Moments bricks, there really was not one stand out moment from that ’73 season or post-season.
What are the stand outs from that year?
– An awful NL East (remember the Mets won the division with just 82 wins
– “Ya Gotta Believe” was great, but it wasn’t a specific moment but a half-season rallying cry
– Bud Harrelson-Pete Rose fight?
– Willie Mays falling down?
– Lee Mazzilli was the Mets first round draft choice
It was a special year (and the first playoffs I remember), but really, there were no outstanding moments
i think the achievments of this team should have been recongnized as one of the citi brick’s that the mets put down this week. i mean even a picture of mays last at bat in a METS uniform would have been worthy. but in my mind there are many others to highlight. i don’t think being so close to the ’69 win is an excuss not to do something.
Looking at the 12 bricks, it looks like they are celebrate moments. I think a case could be made that one of the 1999’s could be a 1973 (pick which one you want to downplay) – but perhaps it has something to do with long-term marketing. Ventura and Pratt will be around longer to play the role of Mets heroes than some of the 1973 team (for example, Yogi has gone back to the Bronx and Tug is no longer with us). If you were 10 in 1999 you’re about to enter your disposable income years. Maybe I am being cyncial, maybe practical, it might even make sense. Just thinking out loud.
Yes, it is up there in Metsies history, but like 2000 it was a loss. So you won’t see that much … at the ballpark, on the Mets network, etc. Even though it gave the world two great phrases …
Tug’s “You Gotta Believe” and Yogi’s “It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over” … hatred for Pete Rose that was vindicated when he got caught up in the betting scandal … and the legendary Willie Howard Mays, Jr.’s return to New York.
One name and Mets would of have a 1973 World Series Championship in my opinion. George Stone. He should of started game 6.
2 games up heading back to Oakland.
I was born but not old enough to be aware of the ’73 season. However, I’ve heard the George Stone argument many times, and don’t debate whether you are right or not (I lean towards yes, you are right). I hope this gets some traction from people who saw the series here on MetsPolice, I’d like to hear different sides of this debate from fans.
Adam I don’t want to be right!
Ah 1973…I was six-years-old and I remember I was playing outside with my buddy John and my mother was calling to me like a wild banshee to come inside to watch the Buddy Harrelson/Pete Rose melee on EyeWitness News…man we hated Rose back then…who can forget The Hammer…Wayne Garrett was my favorite player and I was crushed when he made the last out to Campaneris…ah 1973.
Eric – a few years ago I met Pete Rose in Vegas (of course where else would he be) and told him that I hated him for jumping all over Bud in ’73. He looked at me and said “Maybe so, but you won the damn series” I have to admit he made me laugh at that.
1973 should be marked with a brink because it was great NL series. Ya Gotta Believe with 82 wins and then beating the overly favored Reds. That is a great Mets moment.
I agree with Jesse. To this day I’m still mad at Yogi for going with a three man rotation in the ’73 series and starting Seaver on short rest in game six. George Stone won 8 straight starts after the all-star break, and, was arguably the Mets best pitcher that year after Seaver. The injury to Rusty put way too much weight on Mays’ old shoulders (and knees), but that was a very underrated team with great starting pitching. I know Yogi is a beloved character in New York baseball lore and all, but the man was a medicore manager at best. If Gil hadn’t passed away, that team could of broken up the string of Oakland titles in the 70’s.
The 1973 team is my all-time favorite, and certainly deserves much more recognition. Outside of 69, no team embodied the “Magical” mystique of the franchise better. They overcame all odds to win the division and beat a much better Reds team, and took a dynasty franchise all the way to Game Seven. Players like John Milner and Felix Millan deserve more recognition as well. This is the team that our most famous battle cry came from, and there were a lot of other terrific storylines surrounding it.
Dan – Awesome Pete Rose story!
Yes, I agree ’73 does get lost sometimes. But it was fun. There comeback in Sept. of that year was great. They were 18-8. There were under .500 until the 21st when Seaver beat Pitt. 10-2. I was so upset thet Seaver did’nt win 20 that year. He was 19-10 with an ERA of 2.08! Just no run support. But the crusher was being up 3-2 agaist the A’s and losing games 6,& 7 with Seaver, and Matlack pitching.
1973 was a great season! It seems like they pay more tribute to Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers than the ’73 team. And I’m sorry, but you’re not a Met fan if you keep criticizing Yogi Berra. Even Tom Seaver to this day, said it was the right decision. Reggie Jackson was the reason the Mets lost. And about their 82-79 record? People don’t seem to remember the injuries they had all season. Cleon Jones(knee), Bud Harrelson(fractured wrist), Jerry Grote(fractured wrist), Jon Matlack(fractured skull),Willie Mays(fractured rib), and Rusty Staub never healed when he fractured his hand from the previous year! Even their backup players got hurt! I think they would have won at least 90 games if they were healthy! But they were healthy playing the Reds, and look who won! Rusty Staub was the MVP in that series, offensively and defensively. He made a fantastic catch, crashing into the wall in right field. But separated his shoulder in the process. If he was healthy for game six of the WS, maybe he wouldn’t have struck out. I don’t blame him. He had a lot of heart. God bless the 1973 Mets. You guys are in my heart forever!