The New York Mets are the most iconic franchises in Major League Baseball history. They have been around since 1962, and over the years, they have had some incredible moments on the field. One of the most exciting things that is possible to happen in baseball is a walk-off win.
There’s nothing quite like the pleasent feeling of watching your team come from behind and score the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning. In this article, we’ll take a trip down memory lane to the most memorable Mets walk-off wins in history.
The Catch, The Throw, The Slide: Game 6 of the 1986 World Series
If you’re a Mets fan, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of “The Catch, The Throw, The Slide.” It’s one of the most iconic moments in Mets history and one of the greatest comebacks in World Series history. In Game 6 of the 1986 World Series against the Boston Red Sox, the Mets were down to their last out and trailing 5-3. With runners on first and second, Mookie Wilson stepped up to the plate. On a 2-1 pitch, Wilson hit a ground ball up the first base line.
Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner went to field the ball but it went under his glove and rolled into right field. Ray Knight scored from second base to tie the game, and then Wilson raced to third base as the ball trickled away from Red Sox outfielder Bob Stanley. Wilson scored the winning run on a wild pitch, and the Mets won the game 6-5 to force a Game 7. The rest, as they say, is history.
Piazza’s Home Run: September 21, 2001
On September 11-th, 2001, the world changed forever – the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, New York City affected everyone, and the city was in mourning. Baseball took a backseat to the tragedy, and the Mets’ season was put on hold. When they returned to the field 10 days later, it was a moment of healing for the city. On September 21, 2001, the Mets played the first game in New York City since the attacks.
“Should we be here? Is it too soon? We had a lot of trepidation, we had a lot of anxiety. Terrorism was still prevalent in our minds, was still on our thoughts. A lot of the fear of the unknown. We didn’t know what was gonna happen, we didn’t know what the feeling would be.”
– Mets’ catcher Mike Piazza
The game was tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the eighth inning when Mike Piazza stepped up to the plate. On the first pitch he saw from Braves reliever Steve Karsay, Piazza crushed a home run deep into the left-center field bleachers. The crowd erupted in cheers, and Piazza’s home run is remembered as one of the most emotional moments in Mets history.
The Grand Slam Single: Game 5 of the 1999 NLDS
In Game 5 at the 1999 National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Mets found themselves down 3-1 in the bottom of the 15th inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, Todd Pratt hit a deep fly ball to center field. Diamondbacks outfielder Steve Finley made a leaping catch at the wall, but the ball bounced out of his glove and back onto the field.
Robin Ventura, who was on first base, thought the ball had been caught and went back to tag up. When he saw the ball bounce away, he raced around the bases and scored the winning run. The play was officially scored as a “grand slam single,” and it’s one of the most bizarre and memorable moments in Mets history.
The Captain’s Walk-Off: July 9, 2011
Derek Jeter may be known as the “Captain” in New York, but Mets fans have their own captain in David Wright. On July 9, 2011, the Mets were playing the San Francisco Giants in a back-and-forth game that saw multiple lead changes.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, with the game tied at 3-3, Wright stepped up to the plate with two outs and a runner on second base. On a 3-1 pitch, Wright hit a line drive to center field that dropped in for a game-winning RBI single. Wright’s walk-off hit was a great moment for him personally and for the Mets, as they went on to win the game 4-3.
Conforto’s Controversial Call: April 9, 2021
Baseball is a game of inches. Sometimes those inches can be the difference between a win and a loss. On April 9, 2021, the Mets were playing the Miami Marlins in a game that was tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Mets outfielder Michael Conforto stepped up to the plate. On a 1-2 pitch, Conforto leaned into a pitch that was inside and appeared to be a strike.
The ball grazed his elbow, and home plate umpire Ron Kulpa called it a hit-by-pitch, which forced in the winning run. The call was controversial, as it appeared that Conforto intentionally leaned into the pitch. Regardless, the Mets won the game 3-2 and it will go down as one of the most memorable walk-off wins in recent history.
In conclusion, the New York Mets have had some incredible walk-off wins over the years. From “The Catch, The Throw, The Slide” in the 1986 World Series to David Wright’s walk-off single in 2011, these moments are etched into Mets history. While there have been some controversial calls along the way, the excitement of a walk-off win never gets old for Mets fans. Who knows what will happen, but one thing is for sure: when the Mets win in walk-off fashion, it’s a moment that will be remembered for years to come.