New York Mets

Quick Facts

  • Founded: 1962

  • Original Name/City: New York Mets

  • Current Ballpark: Citi Field

  • World Series Titles: 2 (1969, 1986)

  • Franchise Nicknames: The Amazin's, The Metropolitans

A History of the New York Mets

The New York Mets were founded in 1962, bringing National League baseball back to New York after the departure of the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants. The team's colours—blue from the Dodgers and orange from the Giants—paid homage to their predecessors.

Their first seasons were historically bad; the '62 Mets finished with a record of 40-120, the most losses by any MLB team in the 20th century. For years, they were known as the "Lovable Losers," playing their early home games at the Polo Grounds before moving to Shea Stadium in 1964.

Everything changed in 1969. In one of the greatest underdog stories in sports history, the "Miracle Mets," led by ace pitcher and franchise icon Tom Seaver, surged past the Chicago Cubs to win the division. They went on to defeat the heavily-favoured Baltimore Orioles in the World Series, capturing the hearts of the city and the nation.

Another, very different, era of dominance came in the mid-1980s. The 1986 Mets were a brash, swaggering powerhouse, winning 108 games with a roster of stars like Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden, and Keith Hernandez. They won a dramatic, unforgettable World Series against the Boston Red Sox.

After the glory of 1986, the franchise has been marked by periods of hope and frustrating near-misses, including World Series losses in 2000 and 2015.

In 2009, the team moved from the beloved Shea Stadium to their new home, Citi Field. Supported by a famously passionate and vocal fanbase, the Mets maintain a fierce rivalry with their crosstown counterparts, the Yankees, and are one of the most talked-about teams in baseball.

Franchise Timeline

  • 1962: Founded as an expansion team.

  • 1964: Moved into Shea Stadium.

  • 1969: The "Miracle Mets" win their first World Series.

  • 1986: Won their second World Series.

  • 2000: Won the NL Pennant but lost the World Series to the New York Yankees.

  • 2009: Moved into their current home, Citi Field.

Legendary Players

Tom Seaver (1967-1977, 1983)

  • Known simply as "The Franchise," Seaver is the greatest player in Mets history. The Hall of Fame right-hander transformed the team from a lovable joke into a world champion. He won three Cy Young Awards with the Mets and was the unquestioned leader of the 1969 "Miracle" team.

Mike Piazza (1998-2005)

  • Widely considered the best-hitting catcher of all time, Piazza's acquisition made the Mets instant contenders. His emotional home run in the first game in New York City after the 9/11 attacks is one of the most powerful and iconic moments in baseball history.

Darryl Strawberry (1983-1990)

  • With his long, looping swing and towering home runs, Strawberry was the superstar slugger of the 1980s Mets. The 1983 NL Rookie of the Year is the franchise's all-time leader in home runs and was a key member of the 1986 championship team.

Dwight Gooden (1984-1994)

  • "Dr. K" exploded onto the scene in 1984 with one of the most dominant rookie seasons ever. In 1985, he produced one of the greatest pitching seasons of all time, winning the Cy Young award with a 24-4 record and a microscopic 1.53 ERA. He was the electric, intimidating ace of the 1986 champions.