hit in five years.
Why not let him play with that
kind of managerial strategy.
Johnson will be buying lottery
tickets after the game Saturday
night Saturday night the pitch
that didn't hit him thrown by
Stanley that went to the back
stop.
So the Mets have loaded the
bases the infield has to play
up the Mets leading a five
to one round ball and a broken
bat Barrett to the plate for the
force to get man and Santana is
erased and everybody moves up 90
feet so back and is at first
Wilson is at second Arasco has
reached third and Santana watch
how sure Marty Barrett makes the
play.
He looks finds his man and
strikes two out.
They're picking up the pieces of
that shattered bat and here's
Keith Hernandez now nipper
remains motionless in his grief
in the Boston dugout for
Hernandez.
It's his third at bat with the
bases loaded tonight.
He's single to drive in to in
the sixth his scoring fly ball
picked up a run in the seventh
and here he is with a full plate
in the eighth one ball and no
strike.
Eight five New York bottom of
the eight Joe Brinkman the third
base on fire but John Kibler had
already called it a strike
anyway.
Steve Crawford the sixth Boston
pitcher Chiraldi is still a
pitcher of record and there's one
hit and short hot keeps it in
front of him and throws to
Buckner and the inning is over
but the Mets get two more and at
the end of the campaign gets
colder.
The Mets eight Red Sox five and
three out from pulling the
court.
Look I'm only 35 and the last
thing on my mind is cancer.
So when the National Cancer
Institute said they believe a
high fiber low fat diet may
reduce the risk of some kinds of
cancer.
Well I didn't exactly jump but
then I found Kellogg's all
brand with fruit and almonds and
I started thinking if I can
make changes like getting more
fiber now and get apples raisins
and almonds in the bargain why
put it off another year.
Look for new all brand fruit and
almonds next to original Kellogg's
all brand making everyday
kitchen chores go smoothly is no
short order but with the handy
mixer cordless meter from black
and decker you can beat make
stir and blend quickly and
easily and be sure that
everything will come out
perfectly.
What's a quicker easier way to
chop slice and shred the compact
black and decker shortcut food
processor that does everyday
jobs without a big mess.
The shortcut food processor
black and decker ideas at work
new new confidence new
confidence sure curved curved
comfort curved comfortable sure
why why solid new wide solid
sure.
Curved dry confident sure you
sure wide solid one more solid
way to feel sure.
Why are you watching time stamp
still wondering why you have a
cold and the leaves are still
falling struggling to breathe
because your head and nose
don't want to coffee instead of
rest knowing a cold this early
in the season means there'll be
more.
Why.
When there's night well the
nighttime sniffling sneezing
coughing aching stuffy and fever
so you can rest medicine from
Vicks of course the culmination
of the impossible dream in 1969
a fly ball the left field for
the last out and the Mets are
the world's champion.
What made it interesting the
batter who made that last out is
right there.
The manager of the Mets Davey
Johnson he was also the last
player to get a base hit off
Sandy Colbert in the nineteen
sixty six World Series.
But now let's see if the Sox
have anything left.
They rally game in the eighth
when they were down by three.
They had two singles and a
double to get within one and
they left the tying run at
second.
Now in the ninth Ed Romero
Wade Boggs and Marty Barrett
against Jesse Arasco.
With the
catchers Ellis a trial on Sax
Belt's spot and pay for his
match to Brush May in the
eight.
Still no their first contest
outside the
bulls and into the
Information Center that September
August 9 a much larger
game in only three years and
having for
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Who was the
They're still not really ready and there is no breeze to help, but it is dissipating.
Bill Butler is on deck and it will be up to Marty Barrett to keep the Sox very faint hopes
alive.
Barrett two fly balls to right, a bunt single and grounded out.
Strike.
And there is his honor, the mayor, standing in the back of that line of Mets.
One ball, one strike.
They have planned a ticker tape parade for the Mets tomorrow if they win tonight.
They're going to check it first, no swings, says Jim Evans.
One ball, now two and one strike.
Half swing, that's going to cost a strike.
Out of the way.
This crowd will tell us what's happening.
Friends, tonight's NBC Miller Lite player, the game we feel, is left-handed Sid Fernandez.
Miller Lite is happy to present a check for $1000 in the name of Sid Fernandez for the
National Multiple Sclerosis Society, two of the third hitler's innings with four strike
hits.
Got it.
And there is his honor, the mayor, standing in the back of that line of Mets.
And there is his honor, the mayor, standing in the back of that line of Mets.
Friends, the World Series locker room is brought to you by Ford Division, who congratulates
the 1986 World Champion New York Mets on an exciting World Series, and of course our thanks
to the World Series
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I thank you.
presentation of the trophy to Mr. Yuberon.
Very quickly, I'm pleased to tell you that there's a wire from the President of the United States.
Congratulations, he's watched all the games.
He's very happy to congratulate you and he's invited the entire team,
everyone from the organization to the White House.
Well, that's very nice and we certainly will go and we appreciate that.
Let me tell you, it's very special, very special for baseball and I'd like to present you right now
and this great big guy by can his trophy.
Fred Wilpont, Fred Wilpont is going to be...
Looking for Fred Wilpont, one of the owners of the ball club.
Maybe you take it. Maybe it's a heavy one.
I think I can hold it.
Seven games, he did it all the way. Congratulations.
It doesn't get any better than this, Peter. This is what it's all about.
Frank, we'll start with you. You were the architect of bringing this ball club along
in a few years time from a last place team to a team that won 108 during the regular season
and now reigns as world champions. Your thoughts?
Well, my thoughts are that we had great ownership.
Mr. Wilpont, Mr. Doubleday give us the time to really rebuild this ball club
and people like Al Harrison and Joe McElvain and Steve Shriver and Harry Minor,
plus Davey and some great ball players, we were able to do it.
So always be appreciative of the ownership and it's great to be a winner, as you know.
And I thank the fans of New York and the people everywhere that supported us.
Let's get a word here from Davey.
Strange and unfair as it might seem, if one thing or another broke a different way Saturday night,
you come up short and some people, unfair as it would have been, would have said failure.
Well, that's what this game is all about. You can never take anything for granted.
Strange things happen. You just keep plugging away.
And it happened for us. We deserve it. We are the best record baseball.
We should be the world champs.
Your thoughts about the Boston Red Sox?
They're a great ball club. You know, it was very touch and go.
Both, you know, break here, break there, and they could have been world champs.
But they're good guys, got it.
Is there any way to describe the roller coaster?
Two out, bottom of the 10th Saturday, and you're standing here now.
Well, that's baseball. That's what makes it so beautiful.
You know, it's never over till it's over. I think somebody said that.
And this is what it's all about. This is what it's all worth sweating for.
Davey, congratulations.
Thank you, baby.
A quick word from Fred Wilpon, one of the owners of the ball club.
I'm very thrilled. I'm thrilled for New York. I'm thrilled for New York bats.
Boston Red Sox has nothing to be ashamed of.
They played great baseball, great character from both sides.
Frank Cashin and his organization here is, I think, the best baseball, and I love them.
I love them for New York.
We're going to try and get Ray Knight up here.
Before we speak with Ray Knight, the most valuable player,
we're going to go to the other side, to the Boston Clubhouse, and Marv Albert. Marv?
All right, Bob, and this man to my right, Bruce Hurst of the Red Sox,
who had a splendid World Series, winning two games, not able to do it tonight,
but on Saturday night, at one point, you were actually voted most valuable player of the series
before the game was over. I know this has to be a difficult moment for you.
Well, you know, I'd rather trade all that stuff for the World Championship.
We battled hard all year long, and we came back, and today we tried,
but we just didn't have enough, and you have to tip your hat to the Mets.
They came back, we beat them the first two, and they showed a lot of class,
a lot of guts, and they have a lot of great players on their team,
and you just have to give them credit.
Bruce, of course, this is 1986, but all players are very superstitious,
and you look back to the Red Sox of 67, of 46, of 75, and people say they are snake-bitten.
What is your reaction to that? Did that have any effect on this ball club?
None whatsoever. What happened in the past doesn't have any bearing on what happened today.
We had every opportunity to win. We had a chance to win on game six,
and we didn't put it away, and we were in the game today, and then we just slipped away.
What happened in 46, and 75, and all those other years, it doesn't make any difference.
It's a totally different ball club, different players, whole different cast of characters,
and this team can win, and we'll be back.
All right, and we'll tell that Ray Knight won most valuable player award in the series
and the last two games. He's the man who did most of the damage.
He's a very good player, I felt like, all along, for me to win.
He was one of the guys that I had to get out. He's a great, great hitter.
He's a great two-strike hitter. He doesn't strike out a lot, and he's an outstanding player,
and I have to tip my hat to Ray. He did a great job for them and beat us.
All right, Bruce, thank you very much, and Ray Knight, the series MVP, is alongside Bob Costas.
Let's get back to the Met locker room.
Mark, thank you, and just a moment ago, Ray Davey Johnson was saying,
it's just baseball. It's the way it is. You can go from goat to hero, from the bottom to the top,
and it happened for you, certainly, in such graphic fashion.
It surely did, man. I tell you, I was slowed down the other night after the error,
but this is a game of redeeming features, and thank the good Lord.
I had a chance to come back, and we won that ballgame tonight.
Just goes to show you, if you keep fighting, then things can happen,
and that's the way it's been for me all year, and just a great bunch of guys,
and golly, I don't really know what to say. I'm just so excited and happy, and this is unbelievable.
The home run that snapped the tie.
Well, it was a fastball two-and-one. I was looking for a fastball-tie ballgame,
and I'm a fastball hitter, and I just looked up and kind of in, and strikes on.
He threw it right there, and I had a good swing at it. I don't hit too many of them,
but I knew that was gone if he was up enough.
What did they say to you? Can you remember it all, when you hit home plate and then the dugout?
Boy, the last two nights, everything's been pretty numb for me.
My concentration level's been so high. They just hugged me and gave me high fives and all that,
and I don't really know what they said. I was just emotionally spent again,
and I've been exhausted the whole last couple of nights.
Boy, that's trouble! Woohoo!
And just the feeling of when they touch your hand and all that stuff,
it's such a feeling of togetherness and closeness.
They really said a lot, but I don't remember what they said.
Congratulations on being named MVP.
Thank you very much. Unbelievable.
Let's get Keith Hernandez in here.
You deserve it.
I was thinking as you came to bat in the sixth inning with the score 3-0 and the bases loaded,
in 82 in the other World Series in which you played for the Cardinals,
bottom of the sixth at Bush Stadium trailing 3-1 bases loaded,
left-handed pitcher on the mound, an almost unbelievably identical situation,
and you also got a base hit there.
Well, I remember that well. I tied the game and it was 2-0 at the time.
I felt, Bob, I swung the bat great the whole series,
and everybody was saying, well, you're not hitting the ball,
and I said, well, you can't look at the box scorers.
I've been hitting the ball good the whole series and right at people,
and I woke up this morning, I told my brother,
he was with me from California, Gary,
I said, if I get a chance with men on base today, I'm going to be the man,
and it just worked out great that way.
I was at it bad, I was so confident and relaxed.
I was just up for that at bat.
It was a situation you thrive on, but I didn't have any butterflies.
I was really having my great concentration.
On Saturday night, after you made the second out
and you're down by two runs in the bottom of the tenth,
you went into Davy Johnson's office, and tell us what happened then.
Well, I went into Davy's office,
and I figured it was the last of bat of my season, and our season.
I grabbed a Budweiser, Augie Busch will love that,
and drank a Bud, sat in Davy's director's chair,
and we got two hits, and then a third hit,
and got a run in, and all of a sudden the tying runs on base.
I ran my locker and got my glove,
and then I said I was going halfway out the door going to field,
and I said, no, that chair's got hits in it,
and I stayed right there, and that was a remarkable comeback.
Congratulations for being part of the world champion.
I promised my three daughters I would say hello,
Jessie, Melissa, and Mary Lee,
and my sister-in-law Mary Horne.
They're behind us all the way, and I love them.
I'll see them in a week.
And from the Champagne Shampoo, we go back upstairs to Vin Scully.
And meanwhile, down on the mound with Kevin Elster on his feet
and other members of the Mets,
it has evidently been a ritual when the Mets clinched the division,
clinched the pennant, while they sat on the mound, several of them,
and tonight there are those who remembered Rick Aguilera,
and then of course we can see Howard Johnson and Kevin Elster is there,
and there is Ron Darling,
and they walked out with large bottles of champagne,
and of course it's not for drinking.
I think they spill much more than they ever thought of drinking.
And now the crowd salutes them as they can say, truly, we are number one.
Let's go back now to an outstanding young player in the series,
Marty Barrett and Damar Valverde.
Thank you, Vin, and Marty Barrett personally had a sensational series,
but Marty, as you take a look at what is taking place in the Met Lock Room
and down on the field as we just saw, what goes through your mind?
Well, I know how they're feeling.
We were there when we came back on the Angels,
the same way they came back on us Saturday, and we came back and won it.
And what can I say, they got the hits when they had to.
Tonight they were down 3-0, they didn't give up,
and they're a great ball club, and it's just a great finish to a great year for them.
Red Sox, one strike away from winning it all Saturday night.
How much does that hurt?
Well, it hurts. It hurts a lot,
and I'm sure two weeks from now we're really going to be hurting
and really think about how unbelievable that was.
But, you know, it's funny.
What goes around comes around, and I just didn't think it'd come around this quick.
But we did the same thing against the Angels, but what can we say?
If you fellas could do one thing differently, if you could do it over,
what would that be?
Probably get that last out Saturday night. I don't know.
We played awful good ball. We played, you know, we were supposed to probably,
people thought we were going to lose this in four or five games.
They picked us fifth at the start of the season.
We got a great ball club, and we can all go back home for two weeks and relax,
and then we've got to start hitting the weights and start working out and go hard for next year.
Okay, Marty, congratulations on a superb World Series.
Thanks, Marv.
Alright, Marty Barrett of the Red Sox and for these 1986 Boston Red Sox,
it was a season of many memories, but the memories fell short.
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Thank you, Gary Carter. Thank you, Jim Rice.
Thank you, Keith Hernandez. Thank you, Roger Clemens.
Thank you, Dwight Gooden. Thank you, Boston Red Sox.
Thank you, New York Mets.
And thank you for watching NBC Sports this year.
MUSIC
Back in the Met Clubhouse, and we're joined by Darrell Strawberry.
Darrell, it has not been a good series for you, but then you touched one off in the eighth.
Well, yeah, Bobby, it has really not been a good series for me.
Things have been going real tough on me. I was struggling during the whole series,
but it was the important batting situation in the bottom of the eighth.
We needed a big run to give us a lip and a good gesture, a comfortable lead,
and I was just very thankful that I got a good swing on the slider,
and the ball was down and in right where I like it, and I got a good swing,
and I got a chance to get the extensions that I wanted to get,
and I felt good getting the hole in the way.
What about the Gedman homer early in the game that was in and out of your glove?
Well, I was kind of disappointed that I didn't catch that ball.
I felt that I had a good chance of catching the ball,
and I got back to the wall just enough to jump,
but as soon as I hit the wall, the ball went right out of my glove,
and it's just one of those things that happens.
And I'm just glad that everything turned out well, and we're all champs now,
and I want to say hello to my mom and sisters and brothers,
and my father's back in Southern California that was watching the game.
I love them all.
I assume you and Davy Johnson are back on speaking terms now.
Well, I think, you know, it was just a matter of me calming down.
I was kind of disappointed that he took me out of a big game like that World Series,
and nobody wants to get taken out of a game like that
when you've been around all year and contributing to the ball club,
and it's just something that happened, and it's overlooked now.
We're world champs now, and I'm very pleased.
Darrell, thank you. Let's turn to Gary Carter.
Gary, on Saturday, you were the last guy, two outs, nobody on base.
You got it started.
Well, I'll tell you, Bob, that's the way this ball club played all season.
We just never died.
We've had the kind of character that has led us through this championship,
and I just want to thank Jesus Christ for this, because I tell you, you know,
I've dreamed of this. I've dreamed of playing in this World Series,
and it's finally happened, and these guys, we are down 2-0.
We did the inevitable. We went into Boston, won two out of three there.
We came back home, and we won the two here.
And, Bob, it's the greatest feeling in the world.
These guys just never stopped, and I'm just so happy that I was able to help contribute.
The point about toughness and character is well taken,
because you made a shambles of the Eastern Division race,
and everybody said they haven't been tested.
They need a crucible to prove themselves, and you did against the Astros in Red Sox.
There's no question. I give a lot of credit to that Astro ball club.
They were very, very tough against us.
And then this Boston ball club, both of them are champions as far as I'm concerned,
and I guess once you get to the playoffs and you've won your division,
you've got to be considered champions.
And we're just so thankful that we're involved in this playoff situation,
and, Bob, the dream has come true.
I know there's exhilaration here, but is there any moment when you look into the eyes
of the guys wearing the other uniforms and empathize as hard as they fought and as close as they came?
Well, there's got to be some empathy to a losing team.
I mean, I've been on the losing end a lot of times,
but when I saw the excitement that they had standing on top of the steps
when we had those two outs in yesterday's ball game and we were able to come back and win it,
I could see the drawn faces.
But more importantly, we just never died as well.
I give them a lot of credit and all, but it just wasn't meant to be for us, Bob, and I'm just so thankful.
Congratulations, Gary. Thank you very much.
A moment ago, we paid tribute to the Boston Red Sox in their gallant fight.
Now it's time to pay tribute to the world champions for 1986, the New York Mets.
I can see the glow
Of a distant sun
I can feel it inside
Maybe this day could be the one
I can hear the roar
Of a distant crowd
They are waiting for me
Calling my name
Shouting out loud
Holding on
Isn't always easy
I ain't gonna change my mind
Dying in light
You were all I ever wanted since it all began
Dying in light
Shining on me
Telling the world who I am
Dying in light
Don't let me slip right through your fingers
There's a long
Way to fall
Maybe the road's not easy
Maybe the prize is small
After all the years of waiting
I'm gonna show them off
And so it turned out to be the best of times for New York
And the worst of times for Boston
And maybe Keith Hernandez said it so well at the very start when he said
It's a shame that somebody has to lose
It is, it's a game of emotions, we felt the Red Sox, we felt the Mets
But when you look back it's been a great baseball season Vin
And you have to think about the Houston Astros, you have to think about Gene Mark, the California Angels
And now everybody's making plans for next year and that's the way it has to be
And of course for the New York Mets it took 116 victories
For Keith and Wally and Gary and Darryl and the rest of the world champions
To be the tops, not only of the National League
But in the World Championship of 1986
We'll be right back and capture more in a moment
And so it turned out to be the best of times for New York
And the worst of times for Boston
And maybe Keith Hernandez said it so well at the very start when he said
It's a shame that somebody has to lose
It is, it's a game of emotions, we felt the Red Sox, we felt the Mets
But when you look back it's been a great baseball season Vin
And you have to think about the Houston Astros, you have to think about Gary and Darryl and the rest of the world champions
To be the tops, not only of the National League
But in the World Championship of 1986
We really want to be in the national league
To be the best at enlarging tomorrow's game
And maybe I got in on the passport
Or the
Receiving
A
Little
I'm
I'm
I'm
I'm
I'm
I'm
I'm
I'm
I'm
I'm
I'm
I'm
I'm
So that's what they are.
They're now singing the kids
Metsy, Metsy, Metsy, see when
they want food and everything.
So the babies are even started.
We got them from four years on.
We got them from ten years on,
15 years on, 18 years old.
And we got them in a group.
They have their own groups that
come out here.
It'd be just like you're giving
a banquet at our ball games.
Each group comes out with their
own group and it's been
spellbound.
And of course we've drawn over
a million people who could do
that.
Oh and God rest his soul how
Casey Stengel would have loved
it.
A reminder, stay tuned following
local news for The Tonight Show
starring Johnny Carson and late
night with David Letterman
except on the West Coast.
Most mountain times zone stations
where it will be seen at its
regular time.
It's heartbreak time in one
dugout Joe and laughter and
kicks in the air.
Been on both sides losing hurts
worse than winning feels good.
One thing about the series they
thought there wouldn't be any
drama that it was all left in
the league championship series
and maybe it was slow getting
underway.
But what a whale of a last two
games.
Somehow baseball always manages
to come up with that great sixth
and seventh game and somehow the
youngsters like all can board
will learn to persevere and
bounce back.
And Gary Carter and his team now
having climbed the mountain
should certainly enjoy the views
from Shea Stadium in New York.
For New York, Arizona, this is
Vince Gulley wishing you a very
pleasant good evening.
A promotional fee has been paid
to NBC by United Airlines
serving 13 cities in Asia and
the Pacific.
United a fresh breeze across the
Pacific.
This has been a presentation of
NBC Sports proud to be the
network of the 1988 Summer
Olympic Games.
16th inning win in Houston and
Saturday night at Shea down two
runs and two outs and two strikes
in the bottom of the tenth.
One swing of the bat away from
extinction and that squeezed out
three desperation runs to win.
And tonight, tonight in game
seven at Shea the series tied
three three down three runs into
the sixth.
The Mets once again reached into
their bag of miracles and they
are the 1986 world champion.
Len Berman begins our team
coverage.
Len.
Thank you, Chuck.
They call them the amazing Mets
in 1969 when they last won the
World Series.
So what do you call these
champions?
They were dead and gone Saturday
and came back.
They looked dead in the sixth
tonight down three nothing.
They came back to tie again.
Call them doubly amazing.
Tied three three in the seventh.
MVP Ray Knight with the big
blow.
He homered to left off Calvin
Chiraldi.
It broke the tie and before the
inning was out the Mets led six
three and then Darrell
Strawberry delivered his first
home run and first RBI of the
series.
Shea went nuts.
It was seven five Mets and when
Arasco got Barrett that was it.
Eight to five the final.
The New York Mets proved there
is life after death.
And tonight they are world
champions.
And please be kind to any Red
Sox fan you encounter.
They've been in four World
Series since they last won with
Babe Ruth in nineteen eighteen.
All four series went seven games.
They lost all four double
doubly amazing and I'll have a
lot more later on.
They may have lost but they gave
us an awful lot of money.
Exciting baseball too.
That's off to the red.
I don't think I'm going to
forget Wade Boggs tears.
That was heartbreaking.
It all came down to this.
So just one more win for the Mets
gave them and New York City a
world championship.
Something to brag about.
News for Mike Taibbi and John
Miller are standing by a shape.
First let's go to Mike Mike.
Yeah.
So you're looking now at the
lights over the infield and
Chase Stadium the last bank of
light that's on.
They will go off soon for the
last time in this glorious
nineteen eighty six baseball
season.
But the heat that those lights
will generate and the tenets of
this ballpark will be
generated will warm the hearts
of Mets fans all winter long.
And that's not chauvinism.
It's a statement of fact.
This team was installed as the
favorite last year when they
were coming in second last year
in the Eastern Division and
spring training in the early
part of this year when they
broke out way in front.
They were the favorites.
They were unbeatable.
But they learned as they got
into the playoffs that it
wasn't that easy.
There was as Bob Costas put it
before a crucible of a series
against Houston and then a game
Red Sox team which was battling
not only the Mets but destiny a
tragic destiny for Red Sox fans
certainly because as you know
we just heard from Len Berman
had played four World Series
gone seven games each time and
lost each time.
A word now about the Red Sox.
Anybody who knows anything about
Boston knows that the fans in
that town are suffering
intensely right now.
Not as though they haven't been
prepared for it.
They've been hearing the
doomsayers say for days and days
and days that ultimately they
would find a way to lose Saturday
it seemed predestined that they
might.
And tonight they did earlier
this evening when the Red Sox
were up three nothing one of the
Boston writers came by and said
there's the bait.
They're giving the Mets a
chance to get the ball.
They're giving the bait out.
They're giving the bait out for
the Mets and that's certainly
what happened as the Mets came
roaring back and later on that
same writer came by and said
this isn't over yet with the
Mets winning 6 3.
There's still going to be
something that will happen
that will make the Red Sox
think that they can get ever so
close they will get that close
and they will again fall short
of Boston writer with about 25
years of experience an
extraordinary World Series as
it turned out.
Game six and seven were
sensational baseball games in
terms of tension and the ability
of the Mets to come back from
adversity and that's coming on
to win this.
There will be celebration
tonight and for many nights to
come in New York City and in
Boston there'll be pain.
But as Red Smith once said in
answer to a writer who was
complaining about a loss by the
home team a child has not died
and that's the message that
Bostonians will have to get used
to listening to for one more
winter.
I might tell you be in a
darkening shade stadium.
Let's go now to John Miller
who's outside the ball yard.
John.
Well Mike the action has
shifted out here and indeed
there will be celebration if
there are any Boston Red Sox
fans.
We certainly can't find them in
this parking lot tonight.
What they've been saying is
it's like 1969 all over again.
This is the moment they've been
waiting for.
As you can see it's a
rambunctious crowd and from the
outset police were worried about
this crowd.
So a lot of manpower and
horsepower were brought into
this game.
The usual compliment for a
baseball game is about 70 New
York City police officers.
But on this game because of
what you saw in the clincher
where the fans took the field
and tore it up they brought in
some seven hundred and fifty
police officers helmeted and
with nightsticks.
And the idea was not to ring
the field this time so that the
fans couldn't spill onto it.
The idea was to ring the
outside of the field actually
putting cops in the stands.
Jokingly the chief said we're
going to fight them high.
Of course they didn't really
have to fight them at all.
Ultimately there were I think
only one arrest for disorderly
conduct.
The arrests of the arrests of
the arrests that were made
tonight which is about five
generally had to do with people
in the parking lot.
And near the end of the game
someone threw a smoke bomb on
the field that halted the game
briefly.
No one was arrested for that
act but it was something less
spectacular than the recent
power shooting we saw.
So finally when the game did
end the police department
brought on some 80 cops on
horseback 80 cops on horseback
and while a couple of stragglers
managed to get on the field
those cops on horseback by the
way the cab for that has been
picked up by the Mets did manage
to ring the field and cause
enough of a visual deterrent
along with the cops who were in
the stands so that they were
able to keep the field not to
the plight just that the fans
didn't take the field but to the
point that the Mets actually
came back to the field after the
fans started to leave and were
able to drink champagne on the
mound.
So they had their own private
celebration but to talk about
this crowd here they're pretty
excited and they're happy.
What do you guys think?
All right the Mets are fantastic!
Well there you go.
Seeing the Chase Stadium an
obviously very happy crowd for
their miracle makers.
Back to you.
Of course we have more tomorrow
News 4 will have live team
coverage of the huge ticker tape
parade for the world champion
Mets beginning at noon.
More after this.
The way it was all year for us
we just never died as a team.
We had our backs up against the
wall if you remember against
Houston and we came back in that
ballgame.
Here we were down two games to
nothing we did the inevitable
went into Boston won two out of
three there and now and now
we're here and we're the world
champions we're enjoying it
we're celebrating and that's
really what it's all about.
We may not get Ray Knight on the
air here but I understand he's
been named most valuable player
and that is an incredible story
unto itself.
Yes it is and the comeback
player of the year as well Ray
had a fantastic year for us a
great series and everybody
played such a large part of
this this series and and as far
as I'm concerned we're all MVP
because we just did it all
together and that's what it's
all about.
We're we're we're the world
champions and that's really all
that matters.
Congratulations to you at the
parade tomorrow.
With me is Roger McDowell gets
the win in relief even though
you watch the game on the bench.
Yeah I'll take it anywhere I can
get it you know.
Just comes in does a fantastic
job and the shoot I screwed up
with the win but we'll take it
because we just won in the end
that's all matters.
OK thanks very much.
Congratulations.
OK we'll have more from the
clubhouse.
One more Lee Mazzoli another
great story.
Lee Mazzoli picked up by the
Mets in early August went down
to the minors so he could stay
in the organization was brought
up in the World Series in Game
Six.
He comes through with a pinch
hit single tonight he started
the big rally with a pinch hit
single in the sixth inning.
I might have started it at
Sal but I'll tell you what.
Twenty three other guys finished
that rally for us and we're
going to finish that rally for
us and we did it as a team.
That's it.
I think Brooklyn exploded when
you got your pinch single
tonight.
I think fifty five thousand
people in stadium exploded.
But anytime you can contribute
to a team that's going to be
the champions of the world is so
gratifying and is unbelievable.
For me it's just like a
Cinderella story and I got the
glass slipper right now.
That's it.
It can't be any better.
And drink that champagne from
the glass.
OK.
All right.
We'll have more from the Mets
Clubhouse.
Let's get back to the studio.
Thank you Sal.
Sal in the Mets locker room and
within one strike of being
eliminated Saturday night they
are champions of the baseball
world tonight somewhere in
baseball heaven.
Casey Stengel just whispered the
word amazing.
The roof nearly caved in on the
Mets in Game 7 today.
It's a back to back homers for
Boston in the second off
darling Evans then Gedman.
Gedman's went off
strawberries glove and over the
wall but down three nothing in
the sixth.
Keith Hernandez with the big
hit off Bruce Hurst a two run
single Carter followed with a
single and it was tied three to
three and the bottom of the
seventh inning series MVP Ray
Knight very nearly the goat.
Saturday night hit the big home
run off Calvin Chiraldi four to
three men then six to three
through seven and then it was
time to call in the cavalry as
Boston scored two runs but in
the eighth inning Darrell
Strawberry broke out of his
Shea Stadium funk.
He crushed the powering Homer to
make it seven to five final of
eight five.
Arosco got Barrett and the
celebration was on.
Let's go to Sal Marciano
standing by in the Mets locker
room.
Sal OK we're in the Mets locker
room and Ray Knight getting a
champagne bath and so is Keith
Hernandez first Ray Knight the
MVP.
You came back from the depths of
a key error and you end up being
the most valuable player.
Well Sal I you know this game is
up and down the game of
redeeming features as I said so
many times just glad to get that
opportunity to be up there.
You have your own personal
hairdresser here.
My buddy my best buddy.
But the whole thing is you know
in this game you're going to
make you're going to fail you
just want to call your team your
teammates and everything.
I'm just elated.
I don't want to hear anything
about that error though.
I've heard enough.
Keith maybe he doesn't want to
talk about himself but tell me
what the Mets think of Ray Knight.
Hey let me tell you Ray is a lot
of guys have gotten a lot of
publicity about being leaders in
this team.
I think from the heart.
OK Ray and I got so close this
year and we didn't last year
because Ray has a difficult
season and you know when you're
having a bad season and you're
wondering whether it was because
of Ray's injuries.
Ray can always hit I play against
Ray and Triple A Ray Long John
for years and 74 and have Ray get
the MVP and really Ray is the
deserving MVP.
He got the gutty hits for us and
deep in the count behind by
getting back with leadership.
I can get most of the press for
leadership but Ray is the young
son hero this club raise a very
giving person and I honestly feel
that Ray is more this team than
I do.
I give myself the same array
gives himself more than anybody
this team help on the young young
kids with advice and it couldn't
happen to a finer man.
He's my Paul Bearer when I die.
I he's an outlive man.
I know that happy note.
We leave the Mets clubhouse.
Congratulations.
Now back to the studio.
People getting sleep tonight.
Oh by the way the football game
in the Meadowlands the Giants
lead Washington hoping to tie
for first twenty seven twenty
late very late in the game and
finally we have all been through
an emotional roller coaster the
last 10 days a review game one
it's a Tim Tuffle error and
Boston one game one one to
nothing game two reliable Keith
Hernandez with the error the
Mets threw away two games.
But in Boston for game three
Lenny Dykstra got them going.
The Red Sox defense faltered
this time and the Mets were
alive.
The Boston bubble also burst in
game four the agony of another
loss for straight home losses in
this World Series.
It was all even two games apiece.
The shaky defense continued in
game five.
Another Red Sox win.
And if you happen to drop in for
game six you saw classic as the
Mets were given a second life
and the series was tied tonight.
The picture tells the story.
Wade Boggs while the Mets
celebrated on the mound turned
out to be quite a World Series
after all of course we'll have a
lot more tonight and tomorrow
and on we go.
All right.
That was nice.
Yeah.
Up next Al Roker tells us that
the sun's going to shine over
that ticket paper.
World champion.
I'm the world champion and where
the whole team is we're all very
excited about it.
We're having the first games all
behind us.
OK.
Bobby Ojeda.
It's Bobby Ojeda.
Bobby how does it feel.
It feels incredible.
It's like you're swimming.
It feels like I'm swimming but I
don't feel it.
I don't feel a thing.
Sal is off the air by the way.
I'm not gonna lie about it.
This is Shadaproof.
This is a what you could drink in
my beard.
Do you always act like this
Kevin Mitchell.
I don't feel a thing.
But as a local supermarket this
interview is now over.
Rayproof.
Shadaproof.
Indeed they are what a finish.
An outpouring of emotion and
Chase Stadium 55000 fans
exploded into thunderous applause
when the Mets just wouldn't give
up and did their best to run the
Red Sox out of town.
The final score New York City
1-1.
The Mets won the first game
of the season.
The Mets are the best.
The Mets are the best.
The Mets are the best.
The Mets are the best.
The Mets are the best.
Red Sox out of town the final
score New York 8-Boston 5.
Police had their hands full
trying to tame the fired up crowd
and Cory McFerrin is a chae
live right now in the locker room
with the Mets amazing win.
Cory.
Hey Kitey we're just outside
the Mets locker room.
The champagne celebration
continues.
This is a madhouse down here.
The Mets win their first world
title since 1969 and they do it
again in typical dramatic fashion
down three nothing through five
innings.
They come from behind to win it
8-5.
This place is going crazy.
That's a big game.
And that couldn't have been
better.
is going crazy. If you didn't see the final out of the game,
we're going to show it to you one more time. Jesse Orozco on the hill.
You got Marty Barrett at the plate. Two strikes on the pitch.
Swing and a miss, that's it. Look at Orozco, the mid-up of the air.
And the Mets have won the world title.
We had our backs to the wall on the LCS.
We had our backs major to the wall here.
We had to win four out of five against Boston.
And that's take two out of three there. That's not an easy thing to do.
We did it all year. This is the greatest.
This is the greatest team I ever played for.
I got to believe it's the greatest Mets team of all time.
These guys have battled back. Doesn't matter who the pitcher is out there.
And they did it again tonight.
And, God, 24-guy effort all year long. We did it again tonight.
You can describe what that was like when you guys run out there on the mound,
jumping on each other, what was going through your mind,
what you guys were saying.
Well, I don't know exactly. I jumped up and ended up on the ground.
I didn't know what was going on.
But I do know that this team is the most fun I've ever had over summer.
And these guys are great guys.
Cliche, you know, they say we have great chemistry and all that.
But these guys are just great guys. And they deserve to win it.
You always want to hit a home run in the World Series.
That was my dream.
And I finally got a hole to one and I feel really good about it.
You want to miss it, Mr. D'Oro?
You don't want to make it all up like this?
Well, I think so. It was good for the ball cup.
The way things turned out for us, we were down.
And we battled back all the way throughout the whole World Series.
And we have to be very pleased the way things turned out for us.
What about you personally?
For me personally, I'm just glad to be a part of this ball club.
That's the most important thing.
When you're part of a ball club that's winning,
you don't worry about the negative things.
You go out there and you try to be your best helping club winner.
Do you feel like you've finished your complex now?
The feeling when a round of the instance right guy's in the game,
you're running out towards the pitchers.
Now, what's going through your mind?
The feeling was great because for one thing, the fans were known to feel it.
And you got a chance to celebrate with your teammates.
So that's something we didn't get a chance to do
during the National League Championship.
But maybe when we pitch for the National League...
I see New York sports fans will remember for all time,
certainly one of the great World Series in history,
the Mets winning four games to three, eight to five
here at Shea Stadium.
An incredible evening back with the MVP of the 1986 World Series,
Ray Knight, in just a minute.
Right now though, outside the park is Larry Mendte,
and it's crazy out there too. Larry?
Cory, how sweet it is out here.
I can't believe these people still have voices.
They have been yelling and chanting and singing since the game ended.
They will be celebrating, I'm sure, throughout the night.
As well they should because these fans
played a big part in this World Championship.
That might be a factor too.
From the beginning, they taunted the opposing players with nagging chants.
He is getting in some areas a standing ovation.
But you can understand the reason...
For Bill Buckner, whose error gave the Mets game six
a sarcastic standing ovation,
the 55,000 Mets faithful were deafening at times,
almost all the time they were on their feet.
It's difficult to measure the effect the crowd had on this game.
It was easy to see they had an effect.
Got it!
The New York Calvary would keep the fans off the field,
but no one could keep them from celebrating.
It feels great. It feels great.
I've been at every single game this year,
and I was here to find me number one.
World Series MVP Ray Knight.
Ray Knight, the MVP.
I'm glad I was here. I love New York.
Well, I got a feeling that these people
are going to be celebrating right through the night.
I doubt any of them are going to sleep. They're so keyed up.
There have been people in this crowd crying,
trying to see the Mets win the World Championship.
They're going to be celebrating right through to tomorrow's parade.
And now, for more celebration, not only an outpouring of emotion,
but an outpouring of champagne,
we go to Eli Zaret in the Mets locker room.
Actually, Larry, we're outside the locker room,
here with Ray Knight, four years ago.
Ray, this is the worst team in baseball,
the next of the World Champions.
I know in spring training you even felt you might be released.
Now you're the MVP of the World Series Nationally comeback.
Player of the Year, what do you got to say about that?
I just thank the good Lord for my good fortune
and then for my wife's support and David Johnson
for giving me the opportunity to play
and really the fans of New York for finally coming over
and being a Ray Knight fan.
Ray, let's take a look at some of the highlights with me.
As Ray would tell you, the Red Sox second inning tonight,
for much of the game, looked like the inning
that would win them the World Championship.
Dwight Evans let it off with a home run
and then Rich Gedman sent the shot to the right via wall.
The ball would go off the webbing of Darrell Strawberry's glove.
The Mets were down 2-0, very depressed at that moment.
After a walk and a sacrifice,
Wade Bond's a nice piece of hitting, slaps a single pass Santana.
Henderson scored, made it 3-0.
And with Bruce Hurst pitching jointly again,
it looked a little bleak, but in the sixth with one out,
pinch hitter Lee Mazzilli, who also sparked the first comeback
in game six, came through again with a single.
Mookie Wilson also singled.
The Mets had finally started something against Hurst.
Yes, you had to believe, and Keith Hernandez came through.
Twice he had hit the ball hard earlier,
not got hit, this two-run single to left center.
The Mets, who had been one hit for five innings,
now were back in the game.
A Carter-Bloop single made it 3-3, then one inning later.
Here it was off Shirali, Ray Knight,
with a line drive that didn't get too high off the ground,
blew out over to 371 sign.
Ray Knight, who had become the MVP of the World Series,
happily circled the bases.
Then Darrell Strawberry with a score of 6-5 Mets
after Evans had a two-run single,
and the Mets got a couple of more,
hit a home run after being 0-4-12 at Shea Stadium
in the World Series.
That made it 7-5 for the Roscoe Cade.
Marty Barrett, and that was it.
The Mets had won the World Series.
Now back with me, Ray Knight is talking to some of the Red Sox players.
They come back, Ray, what have you been saying to Calvin Shirali,
Bruce Hurst, they walk by you in the hallway?
Those guys have a great ball club, as the Houston Astros do,
and they battle tooth and nail.
You just have great respect for those guys,
and Calvin had a tremendous year,
and it's hard as a professional to see guys lose like that,
because you know how badly they wanted to win.
You sit here and you feel so good about yourself,
but you realize there's guys that want it just as badly as you,
and didn't quite get there and came up a little short,
and I just didn't want them to feel bad.
They had a great series. I'm glad we won, though.
Congratulations, Ray, you had a great series.
Best of luck to you.
Ray Knight, MVP of the 1986 World Series.
We'll be back with more from Shea Stadium.
Now back to you, Ernie and Kitey.
All right, Eli.
My heart can't take it.
Great to see those highlights.
What emotion. They are the champs.
Incredible.
And we'll keep on fighting till the end
Oh, no!
Oh, no!
Well, for some of those fans tonight,
brought back those thrills of 1969,
the last time the Mets became World Champs.
And when it comes to a high-powered night like this one,
New York stands still, those who couldn't be at Shea,
watching at home or at work and other places,
as we're here now from Garrett Glazer.
You didn't even have to buy a drink to watch the game
on a big-screen TV at the local electronics store.
Even New York's finest stole a glance this way.
They were watching as well at the nearby firehouse,
although the captain on duty here did not let our camera inside.
They were two and three deep at many bars during the evening,
and every hit was roundly cheered.
Oh!
Of course, you'd expect to see people in a bar or a restaurant
looking at the game, but everywhere you went tonight,
all over New York, people were watching and listening
to the game wherever they were.
In the kitchen at the neighborhood Italian restaurant,
it was the Mets, not the Lugini, that got the attention.
Didn't matter, the cashier said business was off anyway.
I guess they're home watching the game.
It's usually very busy in here.
Very, but tonight, nothing.
At the typically busy off-track bedding parlor,
at least two of the TV monitors, normally fixed on the tracks,
were tuned to a different turf this time.
Many thoroughfares seemed deserted.
Hey, when's the last time you could stand on Broadway
10 o'clock on a weeknight and not get run over?
The fact is, here in Times Square, things are pretty quiet.
Those who were here could follow the good news
on the news ticker running around the old Times Tower.
There were more than a few taxi drivers tuned in,
and for this doorman, well, a headset radio
was a discreet solution.
Of course, for many folks, this was just another manic Monday,
Mets victory or no.
Monday, that must mean wash night.
In Manhattan, Garrett Glaser, Channel 7 Eyewitness News.
All right, we have some tape just in,
part of the spectacular celebration going on
all throughout the New York City area tonight.
Take a look at this, we're at 72nd and Columbus Avenue.
This, of course, spontaneous celebration
of the Mets victory tonight.
Hundreds and hundreds of people all over the place
just letting you know how they feel,
how we all feel that the Mets pulled it off,
a big victory tonight, and we'll have more on that
during this broadcast, and of course, big doings tomorrow.
Yes, indeed, they are happy tonight,
and tomorrow, New York City will give them
a spectacular ticker tape parade,
just like the one right after the 1969 series victory.
They brought down the Baltimore Orioles that time,
four games to one.
Well, tomorrow's parade route will begin at the battery
that is going to head up Broadway to City Hall,
and you can watch that parade live right here on Channel 7
that's beginning at 1230 tomorrow.
And by the way, a couple of added notes on this parade,
a blue and orange striped line
will be painted along Broadway.
That's from the battery all the way to Chamber Street.
That's a parade route, and the Transportation Department
is warning commuters to avoid lower Manhattan
south of Canal Street tomorrow.
You can be sure it is going to be jammed.
That is for sure, and we have a lot of...
Following their great victory in the World Series.
Get in there, now!
We're going in now!
We're in now!
We're in now!
We're in now!
We're in now!
We're in now!
Nice off here.
Get in there!
Get in there!
Get in there!
Get in there!
Get in there!
Get in there!
We were destined to win.
I think the Mets were destined to win.
We suffered through two years, finished in second place.
And tonight, we did what we had to do,
and we won somehow, someway,
and these guys are just awesome to play with.
Ron Darling on tape, the Ron Darling live.
Fabulous how you made it exciting by falling behind there.
Really, it hasn't been all right.
Well, you know, they told me,
just let them get a few runs early,
then we'll make it real suspenseful.
I mean, it's been crazy all year long.
You know, even when I haven't pitched well,
it's been a 24-man effort,
and those guys just came back and picked me up today.
Certainly, you guys did not make it easy.
Fabulous comebacks in game six and game seven.
Well, I'll tell you, I never thought we'd win game six.
That was the most impossible dream, if there ever was one,
to use a Boston Red Sox cliche.
But tonight, we wanted it,
and I didn't think it didn't matter how many runs they scored.
We were gonna score one more.
Ron, congratulations.
Thanks for coming out here in this wild hallway to talk to us.
Ron Darling, now quickly, as you saw tonight in ABC,
or most of you did, in case you tuned in late,
the Giants scored a fabulous victory
over the Washington Redskins.
Joe Morris touched down here,
and with less than two minutes to go,
he skirts in and goes into the end zone.
The Giants win 27-20,
ending an incredible night.
These days, to get a job,
you have to be bright, attractive,
educated, articulate,
hardworking, ambitious,
and...
do you know what?
In a cup.
Will it be your turn next to take a drug test?
Watch a special report by David Diaz,
The Drug Testing Dilemma,
starting Wednesday at 5 and 6 on Channel 4.
Does drug testing belong in your workplace?
Starts Wednesday at 5 and 6.
CHEERING
We've got the best
We've got the best
We've got it all
We've got it all
And we're having fun
And we're having fun
We've got the best
We've got the best
Especially in the morning, the night before
We won't be left
We won't be left
We won't be left
We're here for heaven
We've got to let go
We're here for heaven
We've got to let go
We've got to let go
We've got to let go
We've got to let go
We've got to let go
News 4 New York presents a big-appled salute
the New York Mets, 1986 World Champions.
Here are Chuck Scarborough and Pat Harper.
Good afternoon. Well, the Mets are the champs and the party is just beginning.
Yeah, the Mets and all of their fans are still soaring from the thrill of last night's seventh game victory over Boston.
The 8-5 win at Shea was the crowning jewel in an absolutely sparkling season that began in the chill of April and then ended a few days before Halloween.
Trick or treat, Sox.
After trying to get a few hours of sleep and showering off the champagne that soaked them from head to toe,
the Mets will be saluted in a parade through lower Manhattan that's about to get underway right now.
A caravan of cars will roll on Broadway at Battery Park near Bowling Green.
It then heads north on Broadway to Chambers Street to a ceremony on the steps of City Hall.
And of course, you'll see all of that right here on Channel 4 in just a few minutes.
Right now, Len Berman is here and Len, the fans just have to be dazzled right now,
thinking not ahead of the parade, especially to thinking back about all of the spectacular moments about those come-from-behind wins.
I mean, last night when the Sox jumped to a three-round lead, everybody had to figure,
well, the Mets have got to run where they want them.
It's like routine come-from-behind victory.
I know. If you'd lived through the Houston experience as I had down in the Astrodome,
then of course one strike away from elimination Saturday night, it was just a...
You know, in fact, when you look at it, five of their last seven wins either came from behind or won it in their last at bat.
Now, last night was no different. They trailed Boston's best World Series pitcher, Bruce Hurst, three-nothing,
but they had come back from being one strike away from elimination Saturday night,
so what was a little three-run deficit in the sixth inning last night?
But the Roof nearly caved in on the Mets in Game 7.
Back-to-back homers for Boston in the second inning off Garland.
Evans and then Gedman here went off with Strawberry's glove and over for the homer, but down three-nothing in the sixth.
Keith Hernandez with the big hit off Bruce Hurst, two-run single.
Carter followed that with an RBI single to right, and it was tied 3-3.
In the bottom of the seventh, series MVP Ray Knight, very nearly the GOAT Saturday night,
hit the big home run off Calvin Sheraldi for three-mets.
Then 6-3 through seven. Then it was time to call in the Cavalry because Boston scored two to make it close,
but in the eighth inning, Darrell Strawberry broke out of his Shea Stadium funk.
He crushed a towering homer to make it 7-5.
Final of 8-5, Orozco got Barrett, and the celebration was on.
It sure is.
And the locker room, a couple of comments from the MVP and the near-MVP, Carter and Knight.
We just had tremendous heart and willingness to win, and I'll just reflect on that.
Just my involvement with these guys and just the camaraderie and the closeness, genuine closeness, this ball club has.
We were just not to be denied. That's the way this ball club kept being all season,
and we just felt that once we got to Boston and won two out of three there,
and we were going to come bring it back home, that we had a great chance of being in front of our hometown fans,
and I think our fans supported us outstandingly, and hey, we're the world champs.
The final score of the game was 8-5.
Years from now, people will not remember. In fact, most people today don't really care.
The baseball world championship, once a New York fixture with the Yankees and once with the Mets,
has now returned to the city after an eight-year absence.
And I think that's why just about everybody you run into has a smile today.
Thank you.
Well, the sun finally came out to shine down on the champs,
though it may be blocked out temporarily by tons of paper, which would be flittering down from the windows of offices,
where work is at a standstill.
We have a team of News 4 reporters along that route.
First, let's go to Jane Hanson. Jane?
Jane?
People aren't at all excited here. They've only been lining up since 9 a.m.
And perhaps some of the more excited people happen to be right here.
Maybe you know the guy with the Mets cap on.
Did you celebrate last night, Mayor?
Well, I was at the stadium, and I must say that I've rarely been as excited as I was last night.
It's very special. New York City, international capital.
Today it's a small town brought together by the Mets.
The mayor said a few moments ago that if champagne could grow hairy, it'd have a full head.
See?
Also with us, Fred Wilpon, who is, of course, one of the owners of the Mets, who today must feel absolutely ecstatic.
I sure do. I feel ecstatic for the Mets. I also feel ecstatic for New York City, because I think this pulls everybody together.
I'd like to just tell you that Ben Ward, who is over to my left here, who is in charge of security for the city, did one heck of a job.
We had our fans and our people shown as real, fine people New Yorkers, and the world should see that.
You know that there are already more tons of ticker tape and other things on the ground right now than there were for the Mets parade back in 1969, totally.
Over 568 tons, and the parade hasn't even started.
Well, I don't really know that, but I know that inflation does that to you.
Governor Cuomo, you look like you've been celebrating as well.
What do you mean I look like I'm going to say? Yes, I haven't stopped.
It was a magnificent moment for the city and for the state, because the whole state was behind the Mets.
And all that ticker tape, you know what it says? Every piece of it has the same message on it, because this is New York.
It was wonderful, but we expect you to do it again next year.
Ben Ward is the guy who made sure that New York City on television last night was celebrated as a friendly host city.
How much security do you have out here today to make sure that things go smoothly today as well?
About 2,100 people, police officers, out here now, but we can double that in a moment's notice, so we'll have enough.
And it looks like everything so far seems to be going well. When's the parade going to start?
Well, it's probably about 10 minutes from starting.
This, as you know, is probably the fifth ticker tape parade that we've had since I became mayor.
And it rivals, in my judgment, the one that we had for the Pope, which is very special.
The love, the warmth, the affection, the goodwill. That's what the Mets are doing for the city of New York today.
Is the flag flying in Boston today?
Well, you know, we don't want to tread on them. They fought a good fight.
Somebody's got to win. Somebody's got to lose. It's better to win, Ray.
Well, congratulations again, Mr. Opponent. Thank you all.
And now we're going to go down to David Diaz, who is on Wall Street, and perhaps he's in the middle of the blizzard and the people. David?
Thank you, Jane. If you see the picture, you're looking at the spires of Trinity Church with a garland of ticker tape.
And how many times haven't we seen that in New York City?
The crowd, full of anticipation. They're waiting for their Mets, and they can't seem to wait any longer.
They've been cheering, already drowned in ticker tape, pieces of paper littering the street.
A little while back there, there was a sign that said, Mets for Mayor.
Except, of course, you know, the Mets are already occupying an important position in the world, and that is World Champions of Baseball.
Some of the people have been here since 2 o'clock in the morning, overnight, wandering around the Wall Street area as it was deserted, just to be here.
An awful lot of young people who have obviously cut classes. There's been a lot of talk about the World Series this year, all the games being at night,
and people saying that young people didn't get a chance to see them because it was past their bedtime.
Well, a lot of young people are making up for it. If this year they didn't have to cut classes in order to see the game,
they certainly took it, this opportunity, cut class and come here to be here today.
One woman from Staten Island authorizes. She brought her son here. She said this was one thing she could definitely feel good about having her son and her daughter cut class for this event.
Everybody's amazing Mets. People are in love. They're waiting to see when the parade will start, and it'll be interesting to see just how this canyon of champions
and the canyon of moneyball players and moneymakers reacts when the Mets finally get here.
This is David Diaz on Wall Street. Ellen Fleischer is just a little bit north ahead. Ellen, up at Maiden Lane.
David, here at Maiden Lane, the Confetti of Choice appears to be ripped up yellow pages, computer printout, and of course the old standby toilet paper.
And right now standing by with me are a group of gentlemen of quartet from Manhattan East 3 Garage.
These men are going to be responsible for the big cleanup that comes later on.
Now, you've been a sanitation man for years. All of you, have you ever done a Ticket Tape parade before?
No, we're Ticket Tape virgins.
This must be a real challenge for you today.
Very challenge. We're up for it. We're ready. The Mets weren't able to win it in a clean sweep, but we're going to today.
You've got your lines down today, too.
Pretty much, yeah.
When you got up this morning, did you do any special push-ups, sit-ups, to get ready for today's work?
No, we do this every day. We clean up New York. This is nothing new. We're going to take this with no problem at all. The Mets did it, so can we.
Is it going to be an overtime day today?
If the way it looks, yes, the way it's coming down, we're not going to be able to do this in eight hours. We're going to be here for quite a while.
So the city payroll should be warned. Any special challenges for you today in facing this?
No special challenges, no.
You're confident you can do the job?
We'll do the job.
Oh, of course we can do the job. We always do the job. We'll get it clean.
New York's strongest. We're ready.
There you have it from a quartet of obviously unbiased sources. I'm Ellen Pleasure at Maiden Lane and Broadway. Let's now join Tony Guida a little further uptown.
All right, Ellen, I'm on a platform of a looking City Hall and if as Mets pitcher Ron Darling complained the other day in the paper that there were too many suits at Shea Stadium, too many people who had been given tickets who weren't really Mets fans.
Well, the real Mets fans are here, crowding City Hall Plaza, City Hall Park, Park Row. There are literally thousands of young people, high school people, college students.
I don't think there's a there are too many kids in school today in New York City because this crowd is full of the real Mets fans. They have been here since eight o'clock this morning.
Some of them are waiting for a look at their heroes, which they're going to get later on this afternoon when they appear at ceremonies here on City Hall steps.
You can see this crowd. It spills out over all the way from Broadway to Park Row through the park.
These are the people who have come to the Mets games religiously over the years and have followed this team.
These are the real fans Ron Darling wanted to see and I hope he gets a chance to see them here today.
The program, as we understand it, at this point, we'll have Mayor Koch introducing a number of celebrities, of course, including the governor, the bar president of Queens, the city council president.
We will be hearing from some of the Mets as it stands at this point. You'll be hearing from Ray Knight, who of course, was the MVP of the series, Gary Carter, Keith Hernandez and Mookie Wilson, who is the Mets with the longest service on the club, the oldest Mets in a sense.
He's not oldest in age, but the oldest of the Mets has been there the longest, longest continuous service.
Mookie Wilson, all expected to speak here, but that's quite a bit away yet.
What we're what we're doing now is watching a frenzied crowd being stirred up even more by the songs that they're playing on the speakers out here.
Most frequently, the music from the Mets video, Let's Go Mets Go, which you've heard ad nauseam by now, I'm sure.
But nobody in this crowd is sick of it. Everybody is delighted to be here today to have a day off from school or a day off from their job.
And just to follow up on a point that Ellen Kleischer was making, the Sanitation Department has already distributed its list of top 10 trash generating events.
That's what they call it on the list. They gave that out earlier today.
The first one on the list, let me see what it was here.
The first one on the list, I believe, was World War World War II, sure, 1945, August 14th, the 50th victory in Japan Day, five thousand four hundred and thirty eight tons.
Anyway, they've given out a list of the top 10 trash generating events that they call it.
And we're all going to be waiting to see how much trash this thing generates.
Of course, there isn't as much ticker tape as there used to be, but there's quite a lively crowd here along Broadway, through the canyons of steel, and everybody is anticipating and waiting for the Mets to show up here at City Hall.
And I don't give this building's chances of surviving this. I don't rate them too highly, but we're going to see a little bit later on.
So this is Tony Guida at City Hall. Back to the studio.
This is a trash generating event. God bless every single shovel full.
New Yorkers are resourceful. I'm not worried about not having enough ticker tape anymore. Let me trust you.
You know, when the Sox took the first two games and they went up to Boston to continue the World Series, there was a headline in the Boston Herald that said, sweet dreams.
How soon they turn. Now we know what the sweet dreams are. The sanitation guys out there with their brooms.
We'll have more for you in a minute.
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Just taking a look a second ago at our camera shot of the parade route, and the ticker tape is really beginning to rain down right now.
Can we take a look at that before we switch to Jane, just to give the camera shot of that?
It is, look at this, it's really beginning to rain.
Jane Hanson is standing by in Battery Park, and if you think the metro amazing, I think Jane is just as amazing because she already has the tonnage of ticker tape on the ground.
Jane, what did you say it was?
I said it is more than 578 tons. That's what the sanitation department is saying at this point.
In fact, a few minutes ago they had to take, they said the tonnage was so deep and it was knee high, further down the canyon.
Which means that they had to send a plow through because they were afraid they weren't going to be able to get the cars, the metal be riding, and down the street.
That only shows you how eager New Yorkers are to celebrate.
Funny thing, coming out of the skies though, right now we happen to have all kinds of things.
In fact there have been some untreaded telephone books and a few other things.
We have, I don't know if you can flip over there and see that there's a dummy coming out of one of the windows.
And I think that dummy might have on a MetTap, but I'm not sure.
It doesn't look like it has on much else.
At any rate, the parade should be getting very shortly.
The Met will be loading up in 25 different cars.
They are all donated, many of them are antique cars, and of course they're all convertibles.
The entire Met's organization will be riding, many of them will have their families with them.
They arrived by bus here just a few minutes ago.
The parade, they said, would start at about 12, 15, were a few minutes late, but it should get going at any time.
You can see that back over here, and this is where it will begin.
The mounted police units are aboard their horses.
They are ready to go.
So are we.
We're just waiting now for the Met to come parading down or up Broadway.
Let's go back to Chuck in the studio.
Okay, Jane, thanks.
Well, the playoffs in the World Series were certainly heart-stopping for the Met's fans,
but the entire Met season was one of excitement.
Mark Albert is here now to take a look back at the Met's summer.
Right, Pat.
For the Met's, this was indeed a magical run.
This was a team that was supposed to win it all season long, and they certainly did.
The Met's in domination from opening day on.
They excelled in every category, tying their team record of 55 home wins,
setting a new mark with 53 road victories.
At every level, the Met's performed at least 20 games over 500,
except on Astroturf, where they played at a clip of only 646 baseball.
Everyone knows the Met's were baseball's world beaters in 86,
but the Met's led baseball in other noteworthy categories, such as most music videos...
Most GQ covers, most unique haircuts, and most television commercials.
Got the best stuff I've ever seen.
Sorry, Dwight.
But this 1986 Met season began with a frightening scene captured by our cameras this spring.
Watch it! God, dog it!
Are you alright? Just stay where you are.
Did it break the glass?
Did it break the glass? Oh, God, it did.
Mookie fully recovered, but as the season got underway, some were asking for a Met's recovery.
What's wrong with the two and three Met's?
This team is out of sync right now, isn't it?
Yeah. We're not playing very well at all as a team.
And the Met's runaway train started to roll against the Giants.
This charitable contribution by Jose Uribe helped the Met's to a six-game lead through May.
I think by far we're the best club in this division,
and I'll say it right now that I believe if anybody can run away with it,
the New York Met's can run away with it.
In June, the Met's played ten games over 500.
Despite almost being swept by the Expos, they were a confident bunch.
Even if they did sweep us, they needed a lot of help from somebody else,
and they're just not going to get it. We're that good.
In July, Met's old-timers watched their 1986 counterparts
build the largest lead at the all-star break since divisional play was unveiled in 1969.
Which team is better, the 69 Met's or the 86 version?
This team probably would beat the 69 Met's or the 73 Met's by 73 by 10 games,
69 by a game and a half.
But this team's definitely better because of their offense.
If you put these two teams on the same field to compete against one another,
no doubt Clion Jones would say the 69 Met's are the best.
One of the memorable games of the season after Dave Parker dropped the last down of the ninth inning,
the Met's ran out of players, forcing relief pitchers Roger McDowell and Jesse Orozco
to alternate in the outfield, and the Met's won in 14.
A mini-crisis in August when Gary Carter injured his thumb,
but the Met's set a club record winning 8 of 9 on the West Coast trip,
doing it without him, capped off by this.
Keflin's coming around to score, Flannery to second, the throw, out at home!
He's out at home! The throw to third, out at third, the Met's win it 6 to 5!
What a double play!
The Met's made an exhibition stop in Boston, a World Series preview.
They eventually increased their lead to 21 games, another record for divisional play,
and 10 days later finally clinched the division on their sixth attempt.
Backman to Hernandez! The unbelievable season is not over.
This club has come so far in so few years that it's just a great feeling to be a part of it.
It's real sweet. Glad to do it at home. We let them down on the road, but I think I enjoy it more here.
And it should be pointed out, Sal Marciano continuing his string,
most consecutive postgame locker room celebration. Sal was there back in 1969.
Do both of you see the one he had on last night? I know you must have.
Yes, I do. I definitely do.
Things really got loony in the locker room. Could you see it? You were in the Red Sox locker room.
I waited around and I think that Keith Hernandez in particular was feeling no pain.
Some of the champagne did not go directly on his head.
He smiled a great deal. I would use a switch.
If we can digress for just a second here, what was the mood?
You spent the evening with the Red Sox. They must have been really down,
especially after they almost won it in game six.
I think that people who saw the World Series will come away with one picture in mind, and that is Wade Boggs with the tears spooking down the cheek.
Just amazing shots he's sitting on the bench, and several of the Red Sox players did remain on the bench.
But they wanted to make the point, you know, people talk about the fact that this club is snake-bitten,
and they point to the Red Sox blowing in 1946, and then again in 1967 and 75, and now in 86, that this is not a club that choked.
And I agree with that. That's a word that's turned around quite frequently.
They came back last night, and they came back almost. Right, right.
They had a solid year. Not many people expected them to be in the World Series, and they were beaten by a better team.
I didn't think it would go seven games, but they were beaten by a superior club.
All I can say is it's just a good thing the Red Sox won in charge of the American Revolution, or we'd all still be British sub.
We'll have more for you in just a minute.
We've got success, we've got the crowd, we've got the money, we've got the power, we've got the power.
Thank you.
duhh
mmm
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took
I did it, mirrors, magic wand, whatever, but all that counts is that we won the ball game.
He was telling me he was going to throw one at the third one at each time.
As I get to third base I make sure I get the bag and look back and say I get buying.
I have one theory in hitting and that is that I should not pass without offering and that's what I did.
That's the moment of all games. They win.
For the 1986 New York Mets, spring training began with thoughts of a championship.
After two seasons of near misses, the Mets and manager Davy Johnson were well aware of what they had to do to change their fortunes.
And looking at the weaknesses of the ball club, one of them was some of our starting pitching last year.
We came down to that seizure and we only had four starters for about the last six weeks because of injuries.
So we felt we needed to go pick up another pitcher.
So our first conscious effort was made to get a left-handed pitcher.
We made a list of them, went to Boston, we secured Babo Hayden.
The other thing I felt, we needed a right-handed hitting infielder to be able to match with Wally Bachman.
We made a list of those people, made the rounds and came up with Tim Tupfel.
Together with their returning stars, the Mets off-season acquisitions gave St. Petersburg an air of optimism.
But the spring wasn't without its setbacks.
Oh, shit! God, God!
Man, Mookie, are you alright? Just stay where you are. Did it break the glass? Did it break the glass? Oh, God, it did.
Mookie Wilson's eye injury would keep him out of action for the first month of the season,
but the Mets were still confident that they would be the team to beat in the National League.
On April 14th, the Mets opened the season at home after going 2-2 on the road.
Teams with championship aspirations aren't supposed to get off to rocky starts,
and when the Mets played sloppily and lost the opener, some people began to question the team's chances.
I think a lot of the guys are pretty upset that we were 2-3 to start,
and all of a sudden, what's wrong with us, we'll never make it, and we're going to finish second again.
And they responded to us, and they just wanted to go out there and win a few games, and luckily we went on a winning streak.
The winning streak began with as sweet as the Phillies at home,
as the Mets began to show the rest of the National League just what they were capable of doing.
Line drive, face hit, right side of field, Mitchell scores, Pets on top 3-2. 10 strikeouts for goodness, he wins the second game of the year.
The Mets were on a roll, and their winning ways continued.
On April 21st, they trailed the Pirates by two runs in the eighth when Ray Knight came up with something to prove.
That is the most crucial bat of my career. I've never been higher for a bat, I've never wanted to do better or more and win a bat.
Davy had pinch hit for me the first night here against the card, and I was like, when the right-handed pitcher came in,
I said, well, this is the way it's going to be, I'm going to be on platoon roll, you better accept it.
So I looked back over my shoulder when I was in their own deck circle, and I halfway expected him to pinch hit for me with a runner on the first base,
and he winked at me and told me I was hitting, and it was the most critical bat of my career.
I know that Davy wanted to see what I was going to do in that situation, and I looked to hit a home run, I was swinging home run,
and it was the first time in my career that I've ever wanted to hit a home run or tried to hit a home run and did.
Well hit and deep to left, this ball game is tied, home run Ray Knight.
I've had some great thrills, but nothing had ever compared to that singularly in a ball game.
Looking back, Davy Johnson later called Knights at bat one of the most critical of the regular season.
Not only did it help the Mets win a ball game, but it reinforced Knight's confidence as well.
Then a few days later in St. Louis, the Mets prepared to battle their arch rivals the Cardinals,
and hopefully avenge last season's bitter pennant race.
In the series' first game, Howard Johnson batted with the Mets down two runs in the ninth,
and turned in a performance just as critical as Knight's.
2-2 to Howard Johnson, the Mets need a long ball.
They might have it, this ball is out of here and this game is tied.
Oh my goodness, so much for faith.
It just kind of showed the Cardinals that we were going to be tough to beat.
You know, in the previous year they'd handle us pretty good early in the season,
and we were showing them this year that we were going to handle them.
We ended up winning the ball game and sweeping them four straight in St. Louis,
that was just a tremendous thing that we accomplished that no other team has really done,
and kind of burst their bubble a little bit, got us going on the right foot.
Not running, and the curve ball, throw to Furs, out at first base.
We had to establish with them that we could play with them and beat them.
We'd be in the next three games fairly handily, and their season went down the hill after that.
I think they had so much emotion in that series that after we beat them four straight,
that just eliminated them from any kind of contention.
That's not to say that sweeping the Cardinals was easy.
In fact, if not for Wally Backman, it might never have happened.
And the ground ball hit hard, great play by Backman, the second for one, first double play, the game is over.
The Mets have won the ball game, a magnificent play by Wally Backman.
In the series final game, the newly acquired Bob Ojeda turned in his first National League complete game,
as the Mets beat the Cards 5-3.
From there, they went on to finish the month with 13 wins and a five-game lead over the X-Files.
By now, it was obvious that the Mets were loaded.
Not only were Johnson's established regulars doing the job, but other new additions like Kevin Mitchell were contributing too.
Pass ball hit the center field, Mitchell back to the fence, he jumps and makes the play.
Fly ball left field and deep, Mitchell back, and he makes the catch.
Mitchell with a tough play, he won't get him, I don't believe, but throwing the dirt, he got him.
He can play center, right, left, third, short. Boy, that kid is something. He is everywhere.
While Mitchell gave the Mets added flexibility, two other players gave the team its identity.
Lenny Dijkstra and his fellow partner in grime, Wally Backman, led the team in dirty uniforms,
playing the game with a fierce determination that became contagious.
I think all good teams grind it out, and I think it's a tribute to the character of a ball club or to the heart of a ball club.
Certainly guys like Dijkstra and Backman kind of typify that kind of all-out effort and whatever it takes to win.
They lead off the top of the order and they're both scruffy, dirty, hard-nosed, Pete Rose type players, and I think that sets the tone.
There was nothing the Mets dynamic duo wouldn't do for the good of the team,
and while their work ethic might have been puritan, their style was wild.
Fire Boys! Fire Boys! Fire Boys!
Wild boys are calling on their way back from the fire
In a gush moon surrender to wind up loud on the rise
They tried to tame you, but you're slightly a cry again
Wild boy never listen
Wild boy never chose this way
Wild boy never close your eyes
Wild boy always shine
Wild boy never close your eyes
Wild boy never close your eyes
Wild boy never close your eyes
Wild boy never close your eyes
And a man swam home run as a pitch hitter
Met wins were coming from everywhere and everyone
But undoubtedly the most consistent part of the team in 86 was its pitching
The Mets had four amazing starters
Two of whom threw the ball as hard as anyone in the league
And two others who specialized in a pitch that was hard to hit
Good fastball blows Sandberg right out of it
Oh, that rising fastball got him
Got him with the split finger fastball
And again, Ohita took something off
The surprise of the group was Ohita
Whose 18 wins topped what came to be known as the best staff in the league
He was very consistent through the whole season
I mean, he never really had two bad games in a row
I can't hardly remember a bad game from him
Maybe he had two all year
But he has been as dominating a pitcher as a Dwight Gooden or Ron Darling or a Su Fernandez
And another strikeout for Ohita who has struck out four of his first five batters
Dwight Gooden in my mind has had an outstanding year
Some people have been disappointed in Dwight's performances
But I certainly haven't
I felt like he's given us a very solid performance this year
Dwight has downplayed the strikeouts
But as long as I know that he's trying to get the hitter out
I haven't been disappointed in him at all
Round ball to Gooden
To home
To first
Dwight Gooden with a 1-2-3 double play to end the ballgame
Sid was I think our toughest pitcher
He won 12 games I think by all-star break
And really worked real hard to get to where he was to win the 12 games
For Sid Fernandez, number one
The first complete game shutout of his brilliant young career
Look out world
Here comes a kid from Hawaii
Ron has pitched outstanding baseball all year
And his ERA has continually gone down I think from start to start in the second half
As long as we win the game and we've won a great deal of his ballgames
He feels real good I think the fact that the club wins the games that he starts
And I think that's an outstanding stat that he has
Darling is coming to the wire like a thoroughbred
He's stuck out the side
And the Mets have shut out the cup
Then there was the bullpen with its 1-2 punch of right-hander Roger McDowell and lefty Jesse Orozco
We feel very fortunate that we have two strong people like a Jesse Orozco and a Roger McDowell in the pen to go to in the clutch
Jesse's thrown the ball very well, much better I think than what people anticipated that he would throw it for us
And Roger's had a great deal of success as far as coming in with the tie game and picking up a lot of victories
They've really worked together as a great tandem there
If one isn't hot, the other one is and I think that's been the key to our success all year
Another key to the Mets success was McDowell's personality, which was, well, let's say different
The ultimate practical joker I've played with in my 12 years
Roger's got a different mask
The second half of the year he comes to the park around five different masks
Rubber spiders, that sort of thing
He's loose but he also dresses like he's from, he went to Dartmouth or Harvard
And he's always this meticulous dresser and he's out in the mountains chewing bubble gum and blowing bubbles
It's kind of like he's got two separate personalities
If McDowell did have two separate personalities, he sure wasn't alone, not on the Mets
Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends
We're so glad you could attend
Come inside, come inside
They gave everybody the hot foot when they wad up a big roll of match books on gum
And put on someone's shoe and light the match book
And around two minutes later, guy's shoe catches on fire
So those things keep you loose
Hello, this is Roger McDowell, this is my assistant Howard Johnson
Hi
And on this episode we'll introduce you to the wonderful world of hot foot
We also want to say one thing
This is not for you kids out there to try
This is done by experienced professionals
Come inside, the show's about to start
Guaranteed to build your air park
We don't talk a lot while we're preparing a serious business
It's kind of like surgery
It happened alright, you gotta see the show
It's about to roll, you gotta see the show
It's rock and roll
Surprise is the...
Perpetrator, yes, or the perpetrator
The perpetrator
And we have gum in our mouth, it's already being prepared
Move quickly
Move quickly
Sometimes you, we have to go underneath the bench
St. Louis is particularly good for that because the bench is up high
And it's like crawling in the rice fields, the patties
Come inside, the show's about to start
Guaranteed to build your air park
You gotta see the show
It's a dynamo
That's amazing
How does he do it? How does he do it?
Mirrors
Mirrors
Now you got it, very good hot foot
A boy on a stool, he likes to make you glue
So much is out of you
Let me show you my way
I take the gum right out of my mouth
It's a little gross and a little wet and sticky
But if it's your own gum, it's no big deal
I think they'll give us a raise for this
As a team, the Mets were so hot that by the end of June
Cardinal Manager Wiley Herzog had already conceded them the division title
And although it was just the beginning of the summer
A magic number watch was already posted
When the July 4th Statue of Liberty celebration lit up New York
The Mets kept in tune with the festivities
On the night of July 3rd, the Mets staged a remarkable comeback against the Houston Astros
Trailing by two runs in the bottom of the 10th
Daryl Strawberry came up with one runner on
Well hit way back deep to the field
Daryl Strawberry has done it again
A tremendous home run to center field
It's tied by five
But the Mets didn't stop there as Ray Knight rebounded from an awful four strikeout night
To win the game with one swing
This ball is out of here and this ball game is over and I don't believe it
Ray Knight hits a game winning home run and the Mets have won seven in a row
They're spreading the news that they are right now the dominant team in this game in either league
Unfortunately there was a downside to being so dominant
Other teams and fans seemed to think that the Mets were arrogant
And their enthusiastic curtain calls offensive
Every good team that has a lot of success, it's always in a pennant race
They are cocky
A lot of things have been talked about that were arrogant
That were hot dogs and a lot of things
But the fans demand the curtain calls and the players respond in kind to it
The curtain calls and the standing ovations and things like that
That's an emotional thing from the hometown fans of New York
That's the only place I've played and I would love to finish my career here
Playing and winning in New York also had its advantages off the field
Suddenly the Mets were all over the place appearing in national commercials
And even making the rounds on MTV with their top of the charts music video
But despite their national celebrity, the Mets really belonged to New York
You belong to the city
You belong to the night
Living in a river of darkness
Beneath the neon light
You were born in the city
With your heart beat under your feet
In your blood, in your moves
For a man on the streets
You can feel it
While I end the ball game on a shot, he gets the shutout
You can taste it
Face it inside the line and it wins
You can see it
A brilliant kick by Lynn Dykstra
You can face it
Marble! The Mets will win in a couple scores
You can hear it
This has been a miracle year for this ball club
You can hear it
A great effort by O.C. Wilson
You wanna make it
Oh look at that, highway robbery in New York
Because you can take it
Gary Carter on a strong throw by Daryl Strawberry
You belong to the city
You belong to the night
You belong to the city
You belong to the night
You belong
You belong
While the Mets loved playing for the hometown fans at Shea, one place they didn't care for was Houston
Especially in the second week of July when the Mets went into the Dome and left town with three straight losses
The Mets had entered the All-Star break with a 13 game lead, the largest since divisional play began in 1969
But after the break, the Mets experienced frustration for the first time all season
The situation then took a turn for the worse when four Mets were involved in an unfortunate incident with off-duty police at a popular Houston night spot
The Mets couldn't get out of Houston soon enough, and their fortunes improved in a bizarre game in Cincinnati thanks to a two-out gift in the top of the ninth
Parker going back, make doing once more! Both runs four!
Hernandez to second and the game is tied!
From then on, the evening took an even stranger twist, especially when Reynite engaged in his second altercation of the year and really caused some problems
Both benches ebbing as we see fights breaking out around
I kind of protested the ballgame because I didn't think it was fair for a guy to come off their bench and get in a fight with one of my regular players
I'd already made a number of moves to get it back in the ballgame, so I now only had seven everyday players
So I had to put a pitcher in the outfield, and so I used my two short men
Both of them are good athletes, and I also wanted to do it too, because I'd seen Whitey Herzog do it earlier in the year with a left-hander in Morell, and I thought it would be interesting to try
Interesting to try and interesting to watch, as both McDowell and Orozco proved that they could do more than just pitch
Meanwhile, there were other Mets playing out of position too, like the 83rd baseman in Mets history, Gary Carter, who played a part in the passing of Keith Hernandez's play, which helped save the game
Those plays, there's a runner down first and second, I don't have to hold a runner on
And that particular play was a pitcher that was just called up, probably nervous to go
I just more or less took it for granted. I didn't take it for granted, I knew that he was going to bunt
There was no doubt in my mind that he was going to do anything but bunt, and he did, and I went right there on top of the play, he didn't get down a third baseline enough
To get it by me, they had to hit it hard down the third baseline, and I'd take that away, and it's an easy two
After Keith's easy two, Howard Johnson's three-run homer in the top of the 14th inning put the Mets ahead to stay
And when McDowell came in from right field to get the game's final out, the Mets had a routine 6-3 win
The comeback in Cincinnati was the type of win which typified the Mets' year, and it helped to reduce their magic number even further by the end of July
By August 6th, the Mets' lead had grown to 18 games, but they still didn't stand still
Left fielder George Foster, who had contributed early, was released, and former Mets Lee Mazzilli returned home and promptly got into the swing of things
Mazzilli's return to New York was just as heartwarming as the return of Lukey Wilson to everyday play, especially after he had temporarily lost his job to Lenny Dijkstra
The good thing about the whole situation was that the Mets did find a new dimension in myself, being a little more versatile than they probably thought I was
Overall, my play, I think I've been very satisfied with it. I've learned a lot, I've learned a little bit about what I am capable of doing, you know, if I wanted to
And some things that I really have to work on that I find that I'm not capable of doing, but that's what this year has been for me, it's a year of learning and progress
The Mets' progress might have taken a turn for the worse when Gary Carter injured his thumb, but thanks to Ed Hearn, the Mets never broke stride
Hearn started 11 games during Carter's time on the disabled list, and the Mets won 8 of them, actually increasing their lead over their closest rivals
One ironic aspect of Carter's injury was that it focused more attention on Keith Hernandez
After slumping through much of the summer, Hernandez knew he'd be called on to pick up the slack after Carter was hurt, and true to form, he did
Not only with his play on the field, but with his guidance and leadership off it as well
Keith is a tremendous leader on the ball club, he still plays hard, he tries hard, and he's always pumping up other players
He's very much the blue on the infield, you can call him the inspirational leader or whatever you want to call him, but he is a presence that has to be reckoned with
And he's still a clutch hitter even when he's going bad, you always feel that Keith is going to get the job done when you need it done
And under the most trying circumstances he's going to be the guy that comes through, and he's been that kind of player for me really all year
Cruz with the ground ball, it's a fair ball, and Hernandez has got it, woo! The crawl is in time, what a play
Look at Hernandez, a golden glove, first baseman makes a golden glove play
Of course Hernandez wasn't alone when it came to providing the Mets with leadership and character
Both Keith and Gary Carter were players the others could look up to
They both have a lot of pride, intense pride, and that drives them a long way, they both really enjoy playing the game
Gary is a little more effervescent than Keith is, but they're both tremendous professionals and they're both probably going to be Hall of Fame players
It's a joy to have them both on the club at the same time
My hands were steady, my eyes were clear and bright
My walk had purpose, my steps were quick and light
And I held firm to what I felt was right
Like a rock, like a rock
I was strong as I could be, like a rock
Nothing ever got to me, like a rock
I was strong as I could be, like a rock
One thing leadership can help provide is stability on the road
And in 86 the Mets played well there, winning 53 games, sometimes in especially memorable ways
Like a game in late August against the Padres
Templeton's coming around to score, Flannery to second, the throw, out at home, he's out at home
The throw to third, out at third, the Mets win it 6-5, what a double play, just your routine double play
So as August drew to a close, the Mets had a 19 game lead over the Phils and their magic number was down to 14
September then was a time to count the days to the inevitable, or maybe to have some fun, as the Mets did in an exhibition game with the Red Sox
With Harry Carter, the meeting provided an opportunity to test out the Green Monster, just in case he would be making the trip north to Boston again later on in the year
After their short break from the daily grind, the Mets traveled to Philadelphia with the Eastern Division title finally within their grasp
And knowing that it was just a matter of time, Mets fans were ready
Crazy, but disappointed, at least that's the way Mets fans felt in Philadelphia as they saw their team lose all three games to the Phillies when just one win would have given the Mets the division title
Actually, the Mets might have been doing their fans a favor, because losing in Philadelphia meant that the clinching would have to come in New York
With the champagne on ice, the Mets put the ball in the capable hands of Dwight Gooden, and the doc quickly let people know that September 17 would indeed be a night to remember
While Gooden shut down the Cubs, the Mets found some hidden offense from a new source. Rookie Dave Maggotton filled in for a flu-ridden Keith Hernandez and drove in two runs with three hits
The Mets took a 4-2 lead into the top of the ninth, and as Shea Stadium rocked with anticipation, the time to celebrate finally arrived
Brown ball to the right side of the infield, Backman has it to Hernandez, that's the win, it's over, Keith Hernandez took the throw and oh my goodness
Music
I've been waiting 13 years now that it's happened. It's been a great year all the way. This is the biggest thrill right here. Oh boy, he did an outstanding job. This is the most excitement in my life
I'm really enjoying it. And you deserve some champagne. I think I do too, and why?
Although they were anxious to get on with the playoffs, the Mets first needed to finish the regular season, and that came on October 5 when they won their record 108th game
It was a fitting way to complete the celebration of the team's 25th anniversary, a year in which Mets fans were given the opportunity to remember the lovable team of 1962, and the amazing one of 1969
1986 was also a year that the Mets honored Rusty Stal and set a New York City sports attendance record of 2.76 million fans, all of whom were ready to root the Mets on in the playoffs
Music
On October 8, the Mets began their second season in Houston against the Astros. To a man, the team was confident yet cautious, considering they were facing an Astro pitching staff that had been nearly unbeatable the last month of the season
The Mets though had been waiting for this night for a long time, and with the Astros and their fans equally as excited, the series was set to begin
Mike Scott was on the mound for the Astros, and the ace of Houston staff quickly showed the Mets just why he led the league in strikeouts during the year
Scott's split-fingered fastball was almost unhittable, and he took the sting out of the Mets' vaunted attack by striking out 14 in a tense 1-0 win over Dwight Gooden
Down a game, the Mets were keenly aware of just how disastrous a loss would be in Game 2, especially pitcher Bob Ohita
I was thinking a win's pretty important right about now. I think on days like that, on days when we were heading against the wall, we weren't against it yet, every one of us reached back for maybe a little bit extra
Ohita's play kept the Astros from scoring first, and the way Nolan Ryan was pitching that was important
The first three innings, he shut it down again, and he was looking tough, and then the guys just a little chip in the armor, and the guys came through
And then the guys came in this side, like, there, there, now, now we're okay. We broke the ice, and then went out and we got three the next inning as well, with two outs
The Mets' bats had exploded for five runs in two innings, and with Ohita keeping the Astros off balance all night long, Game 2 belonged to the Mets, 5-1, and the series was even at one apiece
By winning a game in the Dome, the Mets had accomplished what they'd set out to do, and as they made their way back to New York, they were extremely confident that the series would end a change
But the excitement and euphoria of the Mets' first postseason home game in 13 years wore off quickly, as Ron Darling was roughed up early
Led by Bill Doran's two-run homer in the second inning, the Astros jumped out to a 4-0 lead, but the Mets fought back, scoring once in the sixth, and leaving two on for Darrell Strawberry
Then he was telling me on the bench that I was going to have to hit a home run to get us back in this ball game
He was struggling a little bit that inning, and he wanted to get ahead in the count. He was going to get ahead in the count, and he was going to throw me breaking balls after that, so I was looking for fastball
High fly ball, hits deep to right field, way back maybe, going, on, home run!
With one sudden swing, the Mets had drawn even, but just as suddenly, they again fell behind in the next inning
The score remained 5-4 Astros until the bottom of the ninth, when Wally Backman led off with a drag bunt
The Astros contended that Backman ran out of the base pack, but the umpires disagreed, and after Houston manager Hal Lanier lost his argument, Backman went to second on a wild pitch
Knowing full well that the Mets needed a hit to tie, General Manager Frank Cashin and the rest of the Shea Stadium crowd waited uneasily as Lenny Dykstra stepped to the plate to face the Astros Dave Smith with one out and a tying run at second
Lenny Dykstra, the man they call Neil, saw the Mets ball club was waiting, now the pitch, and a high fly ball hits the right field, it is fairly deep, it's way back by the wall, he did it, it's a home run, a home run!
The Mets win the ball game, Dykstra hits the home run! Len Dykstra hit a home run, the ball game is over!
Len Dykstra being mobbed by his teammates, I was very happy, I had my rally hat on and my dad, I jumped up and I gave a high five to my brother, it was great
Let's go Mets! Let's go Mets!
Unfortunately for the Mets, the happiness of the previous afternoon was wiped out quickly by Mike Scott in game four. As he did in the first game, Scott continued his mastery over the Mets, who by now seemed more concerned about the possibility that Scott threw a scuffed ball than they did about hitting the pitch.
But when you looked at it, Scott was simply too tough and the series was tied at two games each after the Astros 3-1 win.
The Astros win in game four had guaranteed them a trip back home to Houston, and after rain postponed game five for a day, the Mets took the field knowing that a win was an absolute necessity.
The only one left in the mound for the Mets was their ace, Dwight Gooden, who pitched brilliantly for ten innings, giving up just one run.
But Gooden's effort was matched by the ageless Nolan Ryan, who pitched brilliantly himself.
He has retired every batter to face him and we're down in the fifth innings. Thirteen consecutive hitters have been set down.
Drive it hard, down the right field line it may go foul, watching, and it's a fair ball. Home run! Home run!
From that point on, the tension at Shea was nearly unbearable. As the two teams staged an epic battle, no one could break through. No one could deliver the one clutch hit that would turn the series in their favor.
In the eleventh, the Mets took Gooden out and brought in Jesse Orozco. And as he did in his game three win, Orozco shut down the Astros with little trouble, this time in the eleventh and twelfth.
Finally, in the bottom of the twelfth, the Mets broke through. But it took a mistake by reliever Charlie Kerfeld to get them going. With Wally Backman on first, Kerfeld threw away a pickoff attempt and Backman scrambled to second.
The next batter was to be Keith Hernandez, but there was little chance he would get to hit, especially with Gary Carter mired in a horrendous postseason slump.
The intentional walk and the misaneness of the ideal situation to break him out.
Kid is definitely a funny player. I wanted him, Keith, or Gary to be up there in that situation with somebody that's in scoring position.
The most important thing is to keep your head up and try and maintain the confidence. And one for twenty-one, I'm not getting an old fifty hitter.
Backman around third, Backman coming home, the throw, he scores, the Mets win, the Mets win.
So the Mets went back to Houston for game six and brought a few fans with them.
Meanwhile, back in New York, it seemed like the whole city was watching the game, although no one rooting for the Mets could have been very encouraged after the Astros exploded for three runs in the bottom of the first.
Once again, the Mets were having trouble scoring runs, and this time Bob Nepper was the reason why.
Right from the start, Nepper frustrated the Mets, and as each inning passed and the Astros held on to their lead, the Mets were left to wonder whether or not they might ever get another hit.
By the time the ninth inning rolled around, there was little reason to believe that the Mets would solve the mystery of Nepper.
The Astros have had only two hits. Game seven would beat them out eight. The pitchers would be Ron Darling and Mike Scott.
But suddenly, with the Rally Caps back in New York working their magic, the Mets erupted.
And a high fly hit the right center field. On the run, on the run, on the run, Hatcher, Deister around second, racing for third, he's in standing with a triple.
In field back, the Astros have a free run lead. And a soft line drive to second, Bay Smith, Deister in to score, is three to one.
The tying run will be coming to bat. The pitch. And a fly ball well hit the right center. Billy Hatcher on the run, on the run, way back, can't get it.
Bay Smith over his head, Wilson around third, Mookie will score. Three to two and a tying run on second. A pitching change will be made. Dave Smith is coming on in relief.
The pitch. Fly ball well hit the right center field. The game will be tied up. Hernandez will score. Tie ball game. Ray Knight has tied it up.
As game six moved into extra innings, Roger McDowell pitched five scoreless innings to keep the game tied until the Mets finally went ahead in the 14th.
Mets looking for the biggest hit of the year right here. And a line drive, Bay Smith going into right field, Strawberry will try to score. Here's the throw coming to the plate. He scores. The Mets have taken the lead.
The pennant was just three outs away, but the Astros' Billy Hatcher wouldn't cooperate. Four to three New York, bottom half of the 14th inning. Now the pitch on the way. And a high fly deep to left, down the line.
It may go foul waiting. It hits the screen. Tie ball game. Home run.
I said to myself, it's a home run. There's nothing I can do about it. The game's not over and we haven't lost, so I'm still in it. I still have two more guys to get out that inning.
Orozco got those two guys. And then in the 16th with no out and Darrell Strawberry on second, Ray Knight came to the plate.
I asked him, I said, do you want me to bunny mower or do you want me to drive him in or what? And he said, I want you to hit the ball to right field and drive him in. So I never thought of anything but hitting it to right field.
Line drive. Face hits to right field. Strawberry may have trouble scoring. The throw is coming in. Won't get him. The run is in. Knight to second base. The Mets are in front. Five to four.
The Mets scored twice more in the top of the 16th to lead seven to four, but the Astros rallied once again, scoring two runs off a tired Jesse Orozco to cut the Mets lead to one.
Then with two out and a tying and winning runs on base, Orozco had to face the dangerous Kevin Bass.
I said to myself, if I walk him, I still have a left handed batter up next. That could be to my advantage. I wasn't going to give in or anything. I said to myself, I have a chance. I'll try to get him, but I'm going to throw breaking balls.
This is heart stopping baseball. Call setting baseball. Nobody has sat down in the last four or five innings. Incredible. Now the stretch. The pitcher on the way. Swing and a miss. Swing and a miss.
Struck him out. Struck him out. The Mets win it. The Mets have won it. They're in the World Series. Oh, they are mobbing Jesse Orozco.
So it was on to the World Series, which kicked off with a star studded gala party the night before the first game. The next day began the more serious business of crowning a world champion.
Shea Stadium, of course, was peppered with celebrities, along with everyone else, anticipated a classic matchup between the Mets and the Boston Red Sox, the two teams that most experts considered the best in baseball.
Like the Mets, the Sox, too, had just completed a dramatic and exhausting playoff series. But when the game got underway, it was the Mets who seemed the worst for wear. Part of the reason was Bruce Hurst, who very neatly tied the Mets up in knots all night long.
Fortunately for the Mets, they were getting good pitching, too. Ron Darling rebounded from his shaky playoff performance of a week earlier and kept the score even by shutting out the Sox through six innings. But in the seventh, with Jim Rice on second, the Sox got a break.
Edmund steps in with one down, the pitch, Brown ball to second. Pupple has it go between his legs. Strawberry picks it up, here comes Rice. Throw coming to the plate to Carter, not in time. Throw to second, not in time. Red Sox lead.
That lone run was the difference, as the Sox won the series opener.
The next night, the stars were really out at Shea. First Billy Joel sang the national anthem, and then Dwight Gooden faced off against Roger Clemens in a classic duel between two of the hardest throwers in baseball.
But the anticipated matchup between Gooden's smoke and Clemens' fire turned out to be a false alarm as the Sox pounded out 18 hits in a 9-3 drubbing of the Mets to go up two games to none.
Only once before had a team come back to win a series after losing the first two games at home. So as the series shifted to Boston, the Mets had their backs to the wall in more ways than one.
But the 86 Mets were a team of character, and one could almost sense that things were about to change as Lenny Dykstra let off the game.
Well hit fly ball down the right field line will it stay fair? If it does, it's gone. There it goes! Home run! Home run for Lenny Dykstra!
Line drive towards the gap, left center field, base hit rolling all the way back to the wall. Backspin is coming home. Hernandez is going to third, harder to second. Four consecutive hits. Two to nothing, New York.
Now the stretch by Oyl Gann the fifth. Ground ball hit down to third. The play will be at the plate. Into a run down goes Keith Hernandez. They throw, two people are on third.
Carter's trying to get back to second, and Hernandez was staying at third. The slide! Hey! He got back! Oh, Carter got back! Oh, did they blow that one.
Before they were through, the Mets would go on to score four runs in the first, a lead that Bobby Ojeda protected by pitching masterfully against his former teammates.
When the game was over, the reborn Mets had a 7-1 win, but were still down a game with two more to go in Boston.
The Mets lopsided win had lifted much of the pressure off a team that had been struggling, and the Smiles were out again the next night.
When Boston pitcher Al Nipper began to unravel against Gary Carter in a scoreless game in the top of the fourth.
Nipper comes to the belt, the pitch. Swung on, hit high in the air, deep to left field, way back at the wall, goodbye home run! Gary Carter, a two-run homer.
With Ron Darling shutting down the Sox again, Lenny Dykstra helped the Mets put the game out of reach in the seventh.
Delivery, swung on, hit in the air to right field, barely deep. Evans going back, way back near the wall, jumping up, it's hit, get it! A home run! Lenny Dykstra!
Delivery, Carter hits it high and deep, say goodbye home run!
Carter's second homer capped off the Mets' series-tying 6-2 win and shifted the pressure back to the Red Sox, who had to win game five at home against Dwight Gooden.
But Gooden was pitching on only three days' rest, and for the second time in the series, his best stuff deserted him.
The Sox scored a run each in the second and third innings, and then broke the game open in the fifth.
First, Jim Rice tripled, and soon after, he was driven in by Don Baylor, as Boston knocked Gooden out of the game, and went on to win 4-2 behind Bruce Hurst to take a three-games-to-two lead in the series.
The Mets, though, had done what they had to do, by winning twice in Boston, and now were confident about the prospects of playing the last two games before their vocal home crown.
Even though one fan tried a unique way of rallying the Mets, the Sox still jumped out to an early two-to-nothing lead, and had their ace Roger Clemens on the mound, who had the Mets on the ropes until the fifth inning.
The pitch, and a ground ball hits toward the middle, face hit to center field, Strawberry around third, coming home to score, it's 2-1.
A few batters later, the Mets had tied the score, but it didn't stay that way for too long.
...top of the seventh, 1-1 count. They delivered to Rice, swung on to a ground ball to third, Knight will hold the runner, throws the high to first, Fernandez can't get it.
Out of his gloves, and moving up the third base is Barrett, an error on Ray Knight.
But the Mets rallied once more in the eighth, with runners on second and third, and won out. The Sox walked Keith Fernandez intentionally.
Fernandez giving Prider the clenched fist as he walks down to first base, saying, come and get it baby. Fans on their feet, here it's shade.
Base is loaded, one down, Red Sox lead 3-2. Swung on, hit in the air to left field, it'll be caught, runner tags. Here comes Mazzulli, here comes a throw to the plate, not in time, the game is tied at 3-3.
So it was on to extra innings, where the tension was unreal.
...people have sit still the way this game is going. By far, the way the most intense game of the World Series.
Now the wind up, the pitch to Henderson, well hit, deep to left field, way back, way back going, gone, a home run. The Red Sox are in front, 4-3.
Boston scored once more to take a two run lead into the bottom of the tenth, and with the Sox champagne about to be popped, a silent shade crowd watched in disbelief.
Now the pitcher on the way, hit in the air, right, it's there, and has it to the off. And the Red Sox are two outs away from a championship.
And a fly ball to center, Henderson going back under it now, he has it to Mendon.
Everybody sitting very quietly at that New York Mets dugout, hoping, I guess, hope that something will start to happen.
Line drive, it'll be a base hit to left field. And a line drive base hit into center field. Now the tying runs are on base.
A soft line drive, it'll be a base hit in the center field. Harder to score, Mitchell will go to third. A base hit by Ray Knight.
The pitch gets away, gets away, here comes Mitchell, here comes Mitchell. And the pitch by Stanley, and a ground ball, quick lean, it is a fair ball.
A pitch by Buckner, now the third night, the Mets will win the ball game. The Mets win.
Incredibly, almost implausibly, the Mets were still alive, and their entire season had now come down to a single game.
After shutting down the Red Sox twice, Ron Darling was called on to pitch, but the Sox got to him early.
The payoff pitch, well hit fly ball, deep to left center, way back, going and gone.
The pitch on the way, high fly, deep to right center, way back, strawberry to the wall, jumping, and he caught it. No, couldn't get it, it's a home run.
The Sox scored once more in the second, and then put the ball on the capable left hand of Bruce Hurst, who had already beaten the Mets twice in the series, and was on his way towards doing it again.
But before the Sox could put the game away, Davy Johnson went to his bullpen and replaced Darling with Sid Fernandez, whose four strikeout effort in just two and one third innings got the Mets and the Shea Stadium crowd going.
Finally in the sixth, the Mets got a rally going. With one out, Lee Mazzilli pinch hit a single, and Mookie Wilson followed with one of his own.
Then, after a walk to Tim Tuffle, Keith Hernandez came up with the bases loaded, and the Mets in desperate need of a hit.
And a line drive base hit going in the gap in left center, Mazzilli will score, down the third is Mookie, Mookie will score, three to two, three to two.
One batter later, the Mets tied the game, and when Red Sox manager John McNamara decided to change pitchers in the bottom of the seventh, his choice was his number one reliever.
And as a haunting chant filled the stadium, Calvin Ciarraldi faced Ray Knight.
Now the wind up in the delivery, swung on hit in the air, fairly deep to left field, going back near the wall, looking up, goodbye, over and Ray Knight, the Mets lead four to three.
The Mets scored twice more in the inning to go up by three runs, but with Roger McDowell now pitching in relief of Fernandez, the Sox came right back.
Delivery, swung on hit in the air, that's going to be a base hit in the right center field, all the way back to the wall, it is a six to five ballgame.
Jesse Orozco came in to pitch the Mets out of the jam, and in the bottom of the eighth, Darrell Strawberry put the series away.
Swung on hit in the air to right field, fairly deep, going back at the wall, goodbye, home run, Darrell Strawberry, two to five, New York.
The Mets had exploded for eight runs in just three innings, and the crowd let the Red Sox know what that was all about.
The time had come, the Mets were now just one hour away from winning a memorable World Series. Just two days before, the Red Sox had been in the very same position, but the Mets weren't about to let the same thing happen to them.
Peace, crank it out, crank it out, the Mets have won the World Series, and they're jamming and crowding all over Jesse Orozco, the dream has come true. The Mets have won the World Series, coming from behind to win the seventh ballgame.
And so it was over. The Mets were World Champions. They had turned their silver anniversary into a series of golden moments. As it had all season, the Mets' character came through in the end and took them to the top in a year to remember.
I remember you, when I forgot an old career. You to me were true, you to me were the best.
I remember you, at the end of the trail. There's some people that you don't forget, even though you've only seen them one time or two.
When the roads are paved, and I'm in the shade. I remember you, in the end, my dear sweet man. I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
I remember you.
You know, I was considering lying down under this thing and that would have killed me, wouldn't
it?
You think things have been awkward up to now.
I mean, if I'd have been knocked cold and bloodied by this thing, we would have had
to stop tape and they'd get a couple of goons in here to drag me out, but oh, see, it would
have killed me.
Look at that.
It would have, look right here, see this green thing?
We were talking in rehearsal, Dave, take a look at the green thing.
Can you see it on this thing?
See that green square?
Oh, no, what the heck.
Anyway, there it is right there.
I was supposed to lie down right there and look what would have happened.
I would have just, boom, I would have been dead.
You got a figure like six, seven inches from my face there.
Now look at that.
It would have just, boom, that would have been it right there.
And the thing is like going.
We don't have time now, do we, for viewer mail?
Huh?
Oh, let's don't do it.
These aren't real letters anyway.
Why do we care?
These are, these are actually, this is the only honest thing about the show.
These are real letters from real viewers and we got to, we got to mow right through them,
don't we?
What's the matter?
What's the discussion on the floor now?
That I would have been killed?
Good.
Well, good.
I'm glad now.
Now, now we have the discussion.
Why couldn't we have it at 2.30?
I'd have been dead now.
I'd have been dead.
There'd been an ad in broadcasting magazine looking for a new guy.
I'd have been dead.
There'd be a big suit from OSHA.
There'd be a huge investigation, but I'd be dead right there.
Why weren't you lying there anyway?
Because I had the good sense not to go down there.
You mean it was going to be a joke?
You would be lying there?
Yeah.
It would be like a stunt, a daredevil kind of thing.
I would just about miss you.
Yeah, but it wouldn't.
It wouldn't have missed you.
Yeah.
I'd have been dead and bloody.
All right, we got to go.
I know we got to go.
I know we're all, we're all late.
Number one, letter number one.
Dear Dave, what's your idea of a great show?
Joan in Albuquerque, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Joan, if I knew that, I wouldn't be on at 1230.
Late night, Super Friday.
Dear Dave, I don't know anything about you, absolutely nothing.
You never say anything about yourself.
If your guests ask you anything personal, you always seem to avoid a response.
If I promise to tell you something personal and juicy about myself, can I get some answers
out of you, Dave?
I need to know.
Linda Hack, Natchez, Mississippi.
Well, Linda, I guess it's just not my style to talk that much about my personal life and
I don't think I could ever be as open about myself as apparently you are if this morning's
paper is any indication.
Boy, look at this.
I don't know.
I mean, I find that kind of embarrassing.
I never would want to see.
Oh, there we go.
Linda Hack says you want to...
Did Hal go home?
Dear Dave, I colored this picture just for you on my birthday, August 2nd.
I am 18 years old.
Your friend, James T. Curran, Brooklyn, New York.
Let's see the picture.
Oh, there it is.
Oh, that's very nice of you, James.
And you know, your little picture inspired me to do something for you.
Here it is right there.
Okay, letter number four.
Huh?
We're doing all right?
Oh yeah, we're doing great.
Why is Paul always feeling his left breast?
I want an answer.
Nels Peterson, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The answer is simple because the guy who usually does it for him is on strike.
Late night, Super Friday.
Letter number five.
You mean we're actually going to be early after all this mess?
Right on time.
There you go, Paul.
Right on time, buddy.
What the hell is wrong with you?
That was the reaction shot that I should have gotten to do after that little dig.
No.
You know, I had to wait.
It was a delayed reaction.
You shouldn't...
I'm taking off my pants.
Fine, fine.
Now we find something you're interested in.
Fine.
Well, forget it.
You take off your pants.
Ha ha, see?
Letter number five.
Dear Dave, on the night of August 14th, I was watching your show while enjoying a can of
cola.
I heard you tell a joke that was so funny that I choked and spilled the cola all over
a nice shirt of mine.
I believe you should repay me by sending me one of your late night t-shirts.
What are your feelings on this and has it ever happened to you?
Your fan, your number one loyal fan, Chad Gorski, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Gee, Chad, I'm sorry I was indirectly responsible for you ruining your shirt.
I know how you feel because a similar thing happened to me on the show one time.
Hal, can we show that to videotape and pretend it actually happened?
Here it comes.
Okay, great.
Take a look at this, Chad.
I got eight houses to hit on this block, lady.
I got eggs, water balloons to throw.
I'm trying to get off my feet by 11.
So I give you that paper bag, twist it on the top.
You know, that's going to be some crap candy.
I mean, they don't even want you to see it as they're putting it in the bag, you know,
just...
What is that?
Candy corn?
Do me a favor, you keep it.
I got a silo of candy corn in my house.
I'm going to put it in the bag.
I'm going to put it in the bag.
I'm going to put it in the bag.
I'm going to put it in the bag.
I'm going to put it in the bag.
I'm going to put it in the bag.
The best things are the real things.
Draft beer is the real deal.
Cold filtered Miller Genuine Draft.
Oh yeah, yeah, it's a real estate.
Cruising down the fully bar, heading for the schoolyard.
Head back to school in style.
All bugle boys, 20% off at the JCPenney Back to School set.
Heading for the schoolyard.
A look that sets you apart.
Plain pocket jeans, just 9.99.
Cruising down the fully bar.
You know where you're going in special sets and special
effects, so get it all together and head out to the schoolyard.
Can you see, Betty?
Peanuts, get your fresh roasted peanuts.
Come on, get them all.
Harry, wait for your sister.
You won't miss them.
Remember getting Planters nuts fresh from the roaster.
Oh, the ones with Mr. Peanut.
You knew how good they taste.
Told ya.
Well today that goodness lives on in Planters honey roasted nuts.
The honey roasted nuts that taste like they're fresh from the roaster.
Planters honey roasted nuts.
Mr. Peanut does it again.
We heard the crowd earlier talking to the man and where they were from and a group from
Murray Bergstrom High School, which is just about a long single up the road here on Grove
Street from City Hall, told me they had gone to school, but then had walked out about 10
o'clock this morning in a mass walkout and left the teacher standing there.
One of the young ladies reported to me, she said the teachers wish they could be here
today too.
She said this is a New York City holiday and it's been unofficially declared that by all
these kids who have taken off from school.
But getting back to your point, these are not voters.
A lot of these, a lot of people in this crowd are too young to be voters, but perhaps they'll
remember this when they are in a couple of years.
The metaphor, Tony, of come from behind team kind of suits politicians and ball players
too.
Santana, Gary Carter, two of the ball players I talked to, I only talked about three along
the line of March.
And of course the mayor and the governor, especially the governor, talked about the
symbolism of this team and how it was the spirit, the resurrection of New York, the
resurrection of the Mets, the come from behind nature of the Mets, and he likened it to the
story of New York.
Of course the theme of resurrection of this city has been the theme of the Koch administration
ever since Ed Koch has come to office.
Well, not from the first day he came to office, but the theme that has pervaded the Koch years
has been, this is the man who brought the city back from fiscal ruin.
There are those who would argue with that broad claim by the mayor that would make the
point that there were others responsible even earlier than Ed Koch.
But anyway, that theme of rejuvenation and rebirth has been all over this administration
and self-induced until this year, of course, the preeminent issue being the scandal.
And as you recall, when the mayor stood on these steps back in January 1st, he painted
a picture for a third term that he wanted to have attain historic proportions.
I mean, he has long...
War on poverty.
War on poverty.
He has long said that he wanted his third term to eclipse the third term of Fiorello
LaGuardia.
He wanted to be the greatest mayor in this city.
There are many people who think he is, but...
You're looking at the greatest moment of the third term so far, right out there.
It's taken almost a year for it to happen, and I bet Ed Koch is out of breath.
They were playing some music here before.
I guess you heard the band in the background, which we used to in radio call Music Phil.
Still, the crowd waits.
Still, a few people guzzle some beer.
Now, I see the ball boys coming out of Shea Stadium.
Signs of life.
This is not Shea Stadium.
This is City Hall.
Yeah, there are signs of life coming out of the City Hall version of the dugout, which
is the rotunda leading out from the mayor's office.
Some of the kids are coming out.
I hope there's no discrimination today.
I hope the ball girls are here, too.
They've done a great job all year down the right field and left field lines.
Yeah, there's one of them.
There are both of them.
Well, with them coming out, I believe that we're about to see what this crowd came here
so long ago to do.
The crowd is beginning to stand up on its...
Some of them have been sitting down on the ground.
Now they're standing on chairs and on each other, and they're waiting expectantly for
something to happen.
I see a couple of women there, wives, I guess.
They appear to be wives of the Mets players.
I think from this distance it's hard to tell, but I think that's Tony Darling, Ron Darling's
wife, but don't hold me to that at this distance, and my farsightedness isn't helping me.
There are more women and children coming out of City Hall, who are obviously families of
the Mets players.
Right, there's a baby there, I see.
I think that's Daryl Strawberry's wife and young son.
A few moments ago at the window, I think, before.
Right, a few moments ago at the window when the crowd was yelling, Daryl, Daryl, as sort
of to parody the Boston crowd which was getting on, Daryl, he did come to the window with
his son and had the son wave to the crowd.
It certainly looks like the Mets are fruitful and they are multiplying.
Maybe there's some future Mets teams in there, in the arms of their mothers right now.
Some future players, I mean.
Well, if they know it's good for them, they'll learn how to play this game, which these days,
if you're very good at it, and you really have to be very good at it when you think
of all the athletes there are in this country, you'd like to be Major League Baseball players,
and there are only 600 and, what is it, multiply 24 times 26, and that's how many Major League
Baseball players there are.
It's 600, so it's a very, very minuscule percentage of the high school and college kids who aspire
to this profession, who make it.
But when you make it and you make it big, like a Daryl Strawberry, and you get a contract
for a million a year, or a Carter for 1.8, or a Keith Hernandez for 1.7, there's reason
to be fruitful and multiply and have more come into the game.
Sounds like you're talking about appropriations for various budget items at City Hall.
I think something's about to happen.
They've certainly cleared the entrance, and I assume that the governor and the mayor and
Davey Johnson and the Mets are about to come out, along with the sorted politicians and
the ball players, the heroes of this crowd, the people that are really waiting to see.
Here they come.
I see Senator Al DeMando.
I see Manhattan Senator Roy Goodman coming out now.
Who is that carrying the big bat?
I can't tell.
Some other aides now coming out, and when DeMando comes out, can the action be far behind?
And that's Gary Louie, who is his man of action, his point man, the press agent for Senator
DeMando.
He just came out.
The senators out here obey his lonesome.
I don't see the rest of the political galaxy of New York.
Another man, of course, seeking re-election, who at least the polls say has no problem.
Polls have been wrong before, as we know, but this is obviously a good day for Al DeMando.
I wonder if Mark Green, the Democrat who's running against Al DeMando, has been invited
to this procession.
Here comes Ralph Keiner, the voice of the Mets.
Right behind him, Julie La Rosa, Lee Mazzilli, and I guess that's Lee's wife.
Someone in sunglasses carrying a child.
Here comes Andy Stein, who's the city council president.
You know, I wonder what time some of these Mets got to bed, or if they got to bed at
all.
I remember Keith Hernandez saying in the papers on Sunday, after Saturday night's game, that
had the Mets lost that Saturday night game, which turned into an unbelievable victory,
but had they lost that game, he was going out all night and get drunk.
Now, if he's going to do that for a loss, I wonder what he's going to do for a victory.
There's Harrison J. Golden, and that reminds me that just before the parade started, about
ten minutes before it started, a couple of police cars with sirens wailing and a couple
of cops suddenly arrived, going the wrong way, going down to the head of the parade,
and they were escorting Ron Darling, and I guess it was his brother.
He might have been celebrating pretty late.
Yeah, there was word that Ron arrived very late at the parade.
I think it was Jane Hanson or Ellen Fleischer who reported that earlier, and when he strolled
a road down Broadway, it created something of a panic, but apparently they had to hold
up the parade for a while for him.
Now, the parade that was coming out of the city hall rotunda has stopped momentarily,
as everybody gathers about and tries to figure out what's happening next.
This is one of the, I have to say, I've been to a lot of these ceremonies, and this is
one of the most poorly organized I've ever seen at City Hall in an administration that
is known for running things pretty much like clockwork.
Ed Koch runs things usually on time, and usually efficiently.
This is more like a Jewish wedding.
It's a little late.
Okay, we're going to go back to the studio.
I'm taking one more look into the rotunda.
I can see through the crowd here.
Let's go back to the studio for just a couple of minutes, and we'll come back here as soon
as something happens.
More like a Jewish wedding.
That was Gabe, wasn't it?
Yeah, yeah.
Gabe's always in there with just the right analogy.
You have some more you want to talk about on the specific players here as we wait for
them to come out for the ceremony.
Sure, well, let's say, you know, Davey Johnson, the manager, who told us during the offseason,
yes, the Mets will win the pennant.
He came right out.
He was a very honest, straight-shooting guy, and then he was second guest after some critical
plays during the World Series, and he comes up a winner.
It all worked out for him.
Let's listen to what Davey Johnson had to say.
At any time during the seventh game tonight, did you doubt your team at any time?
I really didn't.
Tonight was kind of an insane game.
You know, things were happening that I thought were programmed to happen, and, you know,
the MVP really was set for then.
He was kind of shutting the door and kind of changing the momentum of that, I thought.
What is the meaning of Ray Knight to your club?
He's kind of been like Keith on the other side.
He's been kind of the heart and soul.
He's been a great game winner.
He creates a lot of emotion.
Okay, you're on the top now, Davey.
What are your personal feelings?
Listen, it's been a long fight.
The bad guys won.
I'm ready to relax.
I'm going to Japan for 10 days with the best team in baseball.
I'm going to take it easy.
I'm going to enjoy life, and hopefully when it's over, I can play a little golf and fish.
You're going to give that computer of yours a rest.
I'll let it, you know, work all win and I'm going to take off.
I'm going to clear up some loose ends.
He says the bad guys won.
That's in reference to the fights they were in and the Cooters incident.
The Japanese tour, some of the Mets and some other major league players are going over
and being compensated very well to give a tour.
This happened several years back with the Dodgers would go over.
What's that exhibition game?
Yeah, they play with the Japanese team and against the Japanese teams,
and baseball is just a very huge sport.
How do they do against the Japanese teams?
Well, the American players are better players.
The stadiums are smaller over there, and yes, the United States players beat the Japanese players.
And they're smaller players in Japan, which leads very nicely into our next Met.
We'd like to highlight Lenny Dykstra, a little guy, wears number four.
Duke Snyder played center field with the Dodgers and wore number four.
He doesn't have Snyder's credentials yet, but what a big part Lenny Dykstra played in this World Series.
It was his home run, really.
The leading off game three was the third pitch of the game that really got the Mets going.
The teammates said, hey, they were down two games to love, and that really got them going.
And of course, Dykstra, then in the next game, remember Dwight Evans going back and hit off his glove
in the picture of frustration, which really, that shot on Wade Boggs sums things up with the Red Sox.
But let's hear from Dykstra.
I know you don't like to talk about yourself, but look where you came from this year.
You earned your start in the starting lineup, and you became a hero in the playoffs in the World Series.
Well, I'll say, I was just glad to be here, and I knew when I got a chance to play I could do the things I've done all my life.
And I was just looking forward to it, and I'm so happy to be a part of the club and to help the club win.
And I'm so happy for New York.
We brought it home for them, and they've been supportive all year.
And what a great team, and so this will be remembered for them.
Sure will by Mets fans, and remember the home run that Dykstra hit in game three of the playoffs
when they were trailing by a run.
That was the first of a string of last-at-bat victories.
Remember in the playoffs, their last three wins came in the ninth, twelfth, and sixteenth innings,
and then this last win in game six was in the tenth inning.
And as we said before, five out of their last seven wins in the playoffs in the World Series from behind
or in their last-at-bat.
And Lenny Dykstra really was not the starting center fielder to start the year.
Well, the Red Sox were very suspicious of this little guy with these huge hits.
Remember the cork in the bat call they were making?
After that home run that Evans couldn't catch, Dwight Evans said perhaps we should check his bat,
and maybe it's cork the way the Mets had accused Mike Scott of using sandpaper,
was beginning to look like the hardware postseason play,
the handyman special from the different accusations.
Dykstra did play very well for a little guy.
A little man who plays a big game.
You talk about the second-guessing. There were people who were second-guessing the decision last night
not to start Dykstra in back line.
Right. Well, but you noticed that all the games they did not start, they were definitely there at the end,
and more often than not made key contributions.
There's the old line in Red Hourback from Boston uses it in basketball.
It's not the guys who start, it's the guys who finish,
and those guys did supply the finishing touches when they needed it.
I guess we can apply this to City Hall right now, too, to see,
we're going to go down there to see if this Jewish wedding is ever going to be consummated.
Let's go to Tony Guy to Gabe Pressman and City Hall.
What are they chanting now? Boring. Boring. Boring. Boring.
Coach fans have it nailed. They're good at that.
I wonder what the hang-up is.
As Tony did say, usually Ed Conch is pretty good at organizing these things,
and we've gone on and on and on here waiting for the Mets to come out.
And we just lost our camera. There we go, we're back in the overcoup.
Dwight Gooden had a couple of outings in the World Series,
and he is certainly one of the best young baseball players in the game today,
but he didn't do terribly well.
Right. This year didn't stack up to his previous year or two,
and those who said, well, what do you expect of a 21-year-old?
But in the World Series, he did lose two games,
and we'd like to hear his comments now as he spoke with Sal Marciano afterwards
about what happened to him.
So much has happened here. Rookie of the Year, Cy Young.
Now you're part of a World Championship team. A lot has happened here.
That's true. A lot has happened here very early in my career,
and it's tough, but you just got to keep working hard,
and hopefully have a better year and make sure that I get this year.
What do you say to Mets fans who perhaps doubt you now because of your pitching in postseason?
Well, Bob, you know, I fear that that was going to happen,
especially I didn't have the strikeouts I had the first two years,
I didn't have the wins I had last year, the year before, you know,
I had to sing them out, but they kind of, you know,
I heard a couple of boos, a couple of starts I came out,
but let's tell them they'll get up on me yet,
and they'll be pacing me, and this year, we ought to doubt I'll bounce back.
I don't think anybody's giving up on you.
No, Bob, I hope not. Congratulations.
You're probably asking yourselves why I'm here with a football helmet.
I'm wearing a football helmet of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He was a high school star at Hillsboro High School in Tampa,
and we were clever, they supered his name, Mets quarterback.
In the postseason play, he was not the best Mets pitcher in the World Series.
Ron Darling maybe got that mantle.
Just as in Boston, it was not Roger Clemens, it was Bruce Hurst,
but the World Series does that. It's not, you know, for Detroit.
You think back to 1968, the last time a pitcher won three games in the World Series.
During that regular season, Denny McLean had won 30 games,
and here comes the World Series, and Mickey Lowlitch is the one who wins the three games.
So strange things happen.
We shall return in just a minute with more of the coverage of the great celebration of the Mets' great victory.
We've got the power, one, two, three, four, let's...
This afternoon, I'm reminiscing with Sal Marciano about one of the great victories of all time, as far as I'm concerned.
Sal?
Okay, Jack. Keith, have you been able to gather your thoughts since last night, or is it just one big blur?
I've got my thoughts together.
It was the greatest moment of my career, obviously, to win here in New York,
to see the team turn around so rapidly and be a part of it.
But I'm aware of what happened.
I think maybe more will soak in as the days pass, but I haven't seen any footage of anything.
I saw something briefly in the dressing room there, and I haven't seen any footage of the game.
Talk about unique experiences.
What's it like to be in a caravan coming down Broadway with all those papers coming in?
Well, that was great.
I mean, it got to the point where I got scared at one point, because they really got close.
And one girl literally jumped over the hood of the car and was climbing up from the front of the car
and was halfway up the windshield, and the police pulled her off.
It was scary for a while, but they were all great fans. They were all down there. They love us.
Let's talk a little bit baseball.
Last night you had three RBIs all against left-handers, Hurst and San Vito.
The big one, the single to left center field in the sixth inning.
Once again, the Mets' ability to come back, it's something that you can't draw from a bottle.
It's something you can't take from a pill. It's something that just generates itself.
Well, you know, it's character of the ball club.
We've come back all year. It was the LCS, too. We had a tough time.
And that was a difficult series.
But we've always done it. The good teams can come back.
And, granted, I mean, game six was the straw that brought the camels back, as far as I'm concerned.
And we saw our advantage to play Sunday night, and the rain was way to their advantage,
because they kind of gave them 24 hours off to collect themselves from that loss,
because that was the greatest comeback, and that's got to be the greatest comeback in well-series history.
In several of your interviews, including the ones that we have done,
you keep mentioning the fact how great it is to do it in New York.
You're from the Bay Area in San Francisco. You came here from St. Louis.
I get the feeling that you feel more like a New Yorker now.
Well, I love it here. It was the best thing that ever happened to me, and my career was coming to New York.
Everything that happened, everything involved, the city, being part of the Met resurgence,
the fans coming back, it'll be things that are the greatest moment of my career, you know,
was coming here, the greatest thing that ever happened, and I'll never forget it.
I would imagine that you're relishing the fact that you can withdraw now into the winter,
and maybe relax and go into a little bit more privacy.
I will definitely do that. I'm ready for four and a half months off.
I will do some traveling, and most important, try to stay alive until opening day so I can put that ring on.
Yes, very good. Actually, in making reference to the fact that the sixth game was,
as Keith said, one of the great comebacks of all time,
we were just talking about the fact that prior to game six and seven,
this was not a very stimulating World Series.
Lots of mistakes.
I know. Even the classic so-called game six had five errors in it,
unlike the classic game six of the 75 World Series with the Red Sox and Reds,
which was exquisitely played. This was, you know, the Buckner error. It ended on a boot.
I know both you fellows were there back in 1941 when Mick Rowan committed the pass ball that opened the gates.
I remember hearing your call on that. You said yes. No, you said no.
It was a no. I shook my rattle.
But that I would have to compare to what took place on Saturday night in game six.
Let's take a look. As it turns out, this was a series of mishaps,
and here are the highlights of those mishaps which made it so interesting.
Game one at J, the ground ball right through the legs of Tim Tuffell.
Rice scores only run of the game. Game two, remember the sacrifice punt?
Keith Hernandez, one of the finest fielding first baseman of the game,
messed it up, led to a big inning for Boston. Red Sox won it.
Weirdest play of the season at Fenway. Red Sox put on a clinic as to how not to execute the rundown.
Somehow the Mets escaping this comedy. Sox got no one, and the Mets won game three by the score of 7-1.
And the classic Saturday night at J, the wild pitch by Bob Stanley in the tenth, Mitchell scored tie of the game.
And the killer for Boston, Mookie Wilson off the terrific at bat,
and the ground right through the legs of George Buckner. Knight scored the winning run, and the Mets won it 6-5.
I had an opportunity to chat with George Buckner after the game there.
Lock room that was just a ball of laughs, as you could expect,
and it's interesting how players get philosophical and say, hey, it's only baseball.
I asked him about the idea, you know, these things happen, there are things more important in life, but that's a way of rationalizing.
Glenn, you lived in Boston for a while, they must be weeping.
I think the Boston mentality with baseball is they just expect the worst. They just expect to lose.
I mean, we mentioned before how they've been in four World Series since 1918, lost all four in the seventh game, lost two playoff games, blown big leads, Bucky Denhomer.
They just expect to lose. This is just another one, but this was crushing.
One strike away Saturday night, and the bottom fell out. Crushing for those people.
There are some vignettes that didn't reach the newspapers, weren't seen on television.
Game six Saturday night, ninth inning outside the Red Sox door, they were wheeling the champagne in,
and a Met, Shea Stadium usher number 102 said, get that champagne out of here, and the cops hooted at him.
And sure enough, he was prophetic just 10 minutes later.
Yesterday, driving to Shea Stadium, the Whitestone Bridge, they refused to take my money.
They said, this will be for good luck tonight.
Whoa, that's the first.
Yes, and at 315 this morning, standing on the corner of 69th Street and Columbus Avenue with Keith talking baseball.
Only in New York.
So I'll go to sleep.
Yes, I need some sleep.
It's been a long one. Incidentally, we're going to have Len Dykstra joins us.
A busy day for Len. The parade earlier, an appearance tonight on Late Night with Dave Lederman,
but Len said somehow, please get me on Live at Five.
So we have come through. It was his way of getting into the building to see Mr. Lederman later on.
Have you gotten any sleep as of late?
I'll tell you, not really. I'm pretty much on the go. I'm glad I haven't, though, because that means we won.
So great feeling, and I'm just proud to be here.
Your heroics began in the playoffs against the Houston Astros.
The home run that won game number three, a come from behind victory on a two-run home run in the ninth inning.
This helped turn the series.
Len, does that home run seem like it happened last season?
It seems so long ago. It was just a couple weeks back.
I'll tell you what it does. It's such a, so much pressure on each ballgame, and it's been such a dramatic series.
And it seems like it was a long time ago, but we've just kept coming from behind and pulling things out,
and I think it was in the cards for us. We were meant to win this thing, and we proved that.
A couple of Houston players were upset. They, in fact, they said you hit the home run with one hand.
They said a guy your size can't possibly have that kind of power.
The Red Sox players also made that point, and they say you cork your bat, which, first of all, explain what does that mean when you cork your bat?
Not that you'd be experienced at it.
Well, what baseball people call that is loading up and cheating, really.
Cheating.
And I've been known to cheat, but I don't.
Wait a second, Len.
No, I don't, I'm not going to say I corked my bat, so I know how to do it. I read about it, but I don't cork my bat.
You know, things were going too good to do that if we were to lose on my damn end.
Because some guys, in other words, borderline cheating here, some guys do do it.
In fact, remember Amos Otis of the Royals?
They sure do.
He came out and admitted it several years ago.
Guys have been known to cork their bats, and guys have been known.
Doug DeSenses with the California Angels puts super balls in his.
Super balls?
Super balls. It makes the ball really jump.
And, you know, me being not really a power hitter, it doesn't really make sense to cork my bat, because I try and hit line drives over the infielder's head to land right before the outfielder's.
So if I cork my bat, I might hit just good enough to land right in the outfielder's glove, so it don't make sense for me to cork my bat.
How does DeSensei get away with that? People know this?
He's been caught. He's been caught. He's been caught.
And, I tell you, he's, it happens. There's more going on out there than people know of it.
Yes, I'm getting that idea. Perhaps even more than I thought.
Now, I thought you turned the series around at Fenway. People don't talk about that right now because they're involved with game six and seven.
Game number three against Oil Canboy. You let off the game with a very strong message. Hit one out. Mets were down two games to nothing going in.
I recall you saying that you made your mind up about the first at bat while taking the cab ride to the ballpark.
Sure did. I'll tell you what. We were down 2-0, backs to the wall.
You know, everyone picked us to win in four or five, the odds makers and everything.
But before we knew it, we were down 2-0 and going to the opposing team's park. And that's no easy task.
And I said to myself, I got to get going. We need to get something going.
And I knew we needed a spark. And I really put myself to do that. I made myself do that.
And fortunately, I was able to do that. And we won a couple games there. And that's all we wanted to do.
There was one, two out of three and just get a chance to come back to New York.
Let hockey fans in this area will remember a fellow by the name of Tony Leswick, played in the National Hockey League, played for the Rangers in fact.
He is your uncle and had some clutch games. He scored the Stanley Cup winning goal for Detroit back in 1954.
So there are clutch genes in the Leswick Dykstra family. You play any hockey at all?
No, I don't. I grew up. See, when they played hockey here, they're from Canada.
They settled here in the States. And their son, which was my father, grew up in Southern California, that's where I was born.
So I was accustomed just to the warmer sports.
Glenn, congratulations on a sensational season and of course a terrific finish in the playoffs.
Thank you, Mar. I'll tell you, it's a dream come true. And I'm just happy as I can be and ready for next year.
I'm thrilled to be here at L.A.
To HN, to the big place.
Boogie Wilson still hoping to win it for New York. 3-2 the count.
And the pitch by Stanley. And a ground ball. Crickling. It is a fair ball.
Pitch by Buckner. Rounding third night. The Mets will win the ball game. The Mets win. They win.
Now the wind up in the delivery. Swung on, hit in the air. Fairly deep to left field. Going back near the wall. Looking up.
Goodbye! Humbert and Ray Knight. The Mets lead 4-3.
Now the pitch on the way. He's struck him out! Struck him out! The Mets have won the World Series!
And they're jamming and frowning all over Jesse Arasco. He's somewhere on the bottom of that pile.
He's struck out Marty Barrett. The dream with love and affection.
Governor Cuomo also sensed possible political suicide in the situation.
Cuomo, the former baseball player, spoke of courage.
The whole state of New York is very, very proud of this team for teaching us lessons about courage and coming from behind.
For doing it the way New York has always done it.
The Mets have always appeared still dazzled by their victory or their...