The Mets Win the Pennant! (a short history)

In 45 seasons (can the Mets really be that old?), New York's best team, the team that belongs to Casey Stengel, Marvelous Marv, Joan Payton, Tom Terrific, Jerry Koosman, Tommie and Cleon, Ed Kranepool, George "The Stork" Theodore, Duffy Dyer, Jerry Grote, John Milner, Jon Matlack, Tug McGraw, Bud Harrelson, Ken Boswell, Ron Darling, Keith Hernandez, Dwight Gooden, David Cone, Mookie Wilson, Gary Carter, Mike Piazza, Howard Johnson, Gil Hodges, Davey Johnson, Bobby Valentine, and Lindsey Nelson, Bob Murphy, and Ralph Kiner, and so many others, have won their division only five times. (The 2000 Mets made it all the way to the Subway Series, but made the playoffs by taking the wild card.)

1969 -- from way behind the Cubs in August. 1973 -- from last place in August to first in October. 1986 -- by a landslide. 1988 -- the end of the dynasty that never was.  And now -- Sept. 18, 2006.