Even though I’ve been a lifelong Yankee fan, I’ve also pulled for the Mets from time to time. The only time I don’t like the Mets is when they play my Yankees. Anyway, I really liked the Mets teams from the mid-80s. They had an amazing team that only managed to win one world series but what an unforgettable way they won it in 1986! I can’t believe it’s the 25th anniversary of that incredible World Series!
The Mets victory was extra sweet because of the team they beat, the dreaded Boston Red Sox! Yankee fans do not like Boston at all so I did not want to see them win so watching them lose in such a painful manner made it all the more enjoyable. They came within one strike of ending the curse but fate stepped in. Ahead 5-3 in the 10th inning with 2 outs and nobody on base, the Mets rallied to score 3 runs and win game six and went on to win game seven to clinch it.
I know it might sound harsh but Boston fans feel the same way about the Yankees and their fans. Anyway, I do have a heart and actually felt bad for Bill Buckner who was a great ballplayer who deserved a better fate than what happened to him. People should not forget his superb career because of one bad moment.
Here’s a fantastic special about the 1986 World Series with plenty of behind the scenes stuff. It is so well done that it actually made me feel sympathy for the Sox and their fans. But then I remembered what happened in 2004 when the curse ended as my Yankees blew a 3 game to none lead and Boston went on to win the World Series and again in 2007 and I hate them all over again. 2009 soothed the pain a little as the same Yankee team that choked in 2004 redeemed themselves and won it all thanks to Alex Rodriquez, World Series MVP Matsui and former Red Sox Johnny Damon. How ironic.
