I was only five years old on October 27, 1986. My only two memories of that World Series were asking my middle brother, a Yankees fan, why he was rooting for the Mets, "Because I hate the Red Sox more than the Mets," he replied, and a Mets pitcher flailing his arms in celebration, (Jesse Orosco). That's it.
In the years following that World Series, I've watched my 1986 World Series Highlights video (a 1987 Christmas present), as well as documentaries, interviews and classic sports reruns so many times, people would think I was at every game of the World Series.
1986 shaped my professional sports following: the Mets won the World Series and the Giants won the Super Bowl the following January, my first real sports memory. The 1986 World Series Highlights video became my pick-me-up for years, and still is to this day. For the past 15 years or so, I would say whenever I was down, even at 10 years old, I would pop in that tape, and magically, as Darryl's homerun sailed over the right field wall, I was back.
When I REALLY needed a pick-me-up, it was Game 6. Game 6 reminds us all that no matter how bad we're down, no matter how terrible it seems, we are just a little positive thinking and a break or two away from turning it all around. Game 6 came in handy a lot during breakups. This is what the '86 Mets meant to me. There is always hope that things will get better.
And so, for one night, I was in the presence of the men who made it all possible. Sure I was in the Upper Deck, a good 10 rows up, but I was there, along with Mike, my older brother, Frank, (die hard Mets fan) and my cousin Eddie, (whatever the next step above die hard is).
We pulled into the parking lot at about 6:15 and after mauling sandwiches and sodas, we promptly headed into the ballpark at around 6:30 anxiously awaiting the start of the ceremony. Eddie kept us entertained from the time we left our house to the time we got home with stories of Mets' past, including the stories of his college years, particularly the 1986 season. There is not a better person to talk to about the 86 post season than my cousin Ed.
This was Mike's first experience with Ed, which made for an even more interesting evening. Considering that Ed is probably the 80's version of Mike, I'd say they got along quite nicely. From the moment we entered the stadium, the comments did not stop from the 86 team, to the 06 team, to Jeter sucks (Ed likes Jeter as much as Iranians like America), to stories of the mid-90's attrocities that were the New York Mets, high comedy all night long.
Finally at around 7 PM, after the grounds crew wrestled with the tarp and set up placards instantly blown over by the wind, Howie Rose strolled out to the area around second base to his podium and '86 Reunion Night began....
1) We all agreed the Anniversary banner on the field needed to be hanging from the roof of one of our houses.
2) I didn't even know Frank Cashen was still alive. (And still sporting the bowtie.)
3) A lot of the younger fans don't remember him, but Bud Harrelson has to be one of the all time most beloved Mets. (From taking a body slam from Pete Rose to skipping like a little school girl behind Ray Knight, there a lot to love about old Buddy).
4) Major props to the event planners for having the players walk through the crowd to get to the field. (Well done, but could you imagine something like this happening in say, Detroit?)
5) Tim Teufel has found the fountain of youth. That's the only explaination I got. (I swear, I think I look older than him, his former mates must hate that).
6) Glad to see HoJo and the Mets kissed and made up. (If he wasn't there, there may have been rioting).
7) Seriously, if you had to place a bet as to who would be heavier between Sid Fernandez and Rod Darling 20 years later, who would you have chosen? (Sid looks like the next spokesman for Subway).
8) KEVIN MITCHELL ALERT!!!! (Speaking of people who got HUUUUGE).
9) Over/Under on how many beers Lenny and Mex went through in the hour before this thing started, I say 11.5. (A text from my girlfriend during the game: "Who is #4 on the 86 Mets? He is drunk." Yep, this was/is our team).
10) Considering the talent on that team, it's hard to believe 20 years later that Gary Carter is the lone Hall of Famer. (Thank you Mr. Cocaine.)
11) Great to see Darryl back in the REAL uniform he belongs in. (I mean really, does anybody even really think he's a Y....., you know what? I'm just gonna move on before I bludgeon myself with a pushpin.)
12) Biggest let down of the night, no message from Doc via satellite from Florida. (I so wanted to hear him say, "See, I still wear the orange and blue!")
13) Did we expect anything else from Mex during his speech? (I really thought he was going to fall over. "I'd like to thank this podium, for holding me up.")
14) What do you think the conversation was between Mookie and Mex before they went out there? ("Mook....MOOK!!! Ya gotta hhhelp me. They want me to speak after the interdushions. Mook, I'm f$^&ed up, I....I...I ccccan't do it. You gotta fill in for me. I can't see straight. Don't tell Gary, he'll get all pi$$y.")
15) And as I nice final touch, they brought back parachute guy. (This was awesome. You can't even describe the magnitude of what this guy did. Hey Sox fans, you wanna send out a cluster of 5 balloons with a Go Sox sign on it? Screw you, take the balloons and shove em up your hole, I'm gonna skydive into Shea with a Go Mets sign. Beat that.)
Once the new Mets took the field, there was something in the air. No matter what happened, they couldn't lose. Wearing those racing stripe uniforms gave us fans so much nostalgia and confidence, nothing could knock us down, not even a start by Dave Williams. Dave Williams???? Yes, Dave Williams pitched 5.2 solid innings and despite the Mets trailing 4-0, you just knew they would come back.
Even Lastings Milledge, Eddie's pick in the homerun game, was feeling a little extra something from the stripes. Lastings, despite all the criticism, despite the innapropriate boos, (seriously people, he's a rookie, learn the game and leave the kid alone), LM showed us why there is a Lastings Milledge fact page, hopefully he can keep it up.
That bottom of the 6th had '86 Mets written all over it. Single, Double, Error, Single, Passed ball-Intentional Walk, Single-Error, Intentional Walk (You DON'T walk Julio Franco to get to Michael Tucker), Walk, Walk. Final totals: 6 Runs, 4 Hits, 4 Walks, 2 Errors...Oh the Colorado Rockies.
Then the 7th, where Aaron Heilman seems to have returned from his vacation and allowed a single and a walk before recording a double play then returning for the 8th to retire the side in order. Welcome back, Aaron.
Lastings then came up in the 8th and promptly hit a bomb to left, predicted by Eddie, resulting in a nice $11 pot. (I had to put up 5 for that one).
Then entered the Sandman. The best part about the Sandman's performance, a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 30th save of the year. Funny, I was reading old emails yesterday and found one from Rupp last season that said, "We need a first baseman and we need Billy Wagner in the off season and we'll be fine." Wow, Mike, you were actually right for once.
In the end, it was an amazing night. Four diehards in the Upper Deck celebrating one of the greatest teams in New York sports history, two recalling their experiences as college students, while the other two marvelled in the greatness that was the '86 Mets. Outsiders just don't understand. It really is a shame when your team spoils you so much with all their money, greed and overpaid players, that you can't appreciate the pure history of the sport. This wasn't just any World Champion, this was an icon that brought a whole city together with one common goal, beat Boston. They stole the show more than any other team in the modern era. That's why they had their own night. The uniforms, the music, the players, the magic was back.
Correction, the magic IS back.
Tune in next time as the Mets take on the Central leading Cardinals, Wednesday, August 23, the return of the 6-packers and my second game in a stretch of 3 games in 8 days. I don't know if my liver can handle it.
Until then, have a great week and May Mookie Be With You.
