Catch the Rising Stars: A New York Mets Retro Podcast

July 14 - 20, 1986

Houston Police 4, New York Mets 0.  At least that’s what the t-shirts sold by Cooter’s Bar in Houston said after four Mets got into a confrontation there with a couple of off-duty police officers, got arrested, and spent a night in a Houston prison.  We’ve got the full breakdown of everything that happened on the worst night of the year for Tim Teufel, Ron Darling, Bob Ojeda and Rick Aguilera.  Plus, we talk about the 1986 All-Star Game and the beginning of the 1986 second half.  You don’t want to miss this one!

July 7 - 13, 1986

The first half of the 1986 baseball season wraps up.  Find out which Mets are selected for the All-Star Game.  Hear about their third on-field brawl of the year.  And join the 86 Mets in wearing a bright red wig to honor former teammate and new Mets Hall of Famer, Rusty Staub!

June 30 - July 6, 1986

On the Third of July in 1986, the Mets played what many consider their most exciting regular season game of the year.  Down 5-3 in the tenth inning, home runs by Darryl Strawberry and Ray Knight give them a walk-off win on Fireworks Night at Shea.  Also this week, the Mets once again sweep the Cardinals, burying their 1985 rival.  And the team says goodbye to the second-longest tenured Met, Ed Lynch.  Listen on in as we near the conclusion of the season’s first half!

June 23 - 29, 1986

What is wrong with Dwight Gooden? That is the question that everyone is asking in June of 1986 as the Mets ace continues to struggle.  And elsewhere in the starting rotation, Bruce Berenyi is given one last chance to prove himself as the fifth starter, with Rick Aguilera waiting in the wings.  Listen on in!

June 16 - 22, 1986

With a 10 and a half game lead in the NL East, the Mets face off with the second place Montreal Expos in an opportunity to blow the division wide open.  One game features Doc Gooden going up against childhood friend and high school baseball teammate, Floyd Youmans.  But this is not the Gooden of 1984 and 1985.  And in movie theaters, “The Karate Kid, Part II” opens.  Tune on in!

June 9 - 15, 1986

This week’s episode highlights some major moments from some lesser-known ‘86 Mets.  Rick Anderson finally makes his major league debut, after SEVEN seasons at Tidewater.  Ed Hearn hits his first major league home run… in front of his father, on Father’s Day.  And Tim Teufel has his finest career moment yet by hitting a walk-off, extra-inning, pinch-hit grand slam.  Tune in for all this and more!

June 2 - 8, 1986

The Mets get into their second fight in two weeks!  This time it’s Mets first base coach Bill Robinson in one corner and Pirates pitcher Rick Rhoden in the other corner.  But plenty of others get involved too!  And in this episode, the Mets get their first look at a new, young rookie by the name of Barry Bonds.

May 26 - June 1, 1986

FIGHT!  Fighting out of one corner, for the Mets, Ray Knight.  And fighting out of the other corner, for the Dodgers, Tom Niedenfuer.  Hear about the first of several bench-clearing brawls the Mets got into in 1986, and a whole lot more in our newest episode!

May 19 - 25, 1986

This week, the Mets continue their West Coast swing against San Francisco and San Diego.  Among this week’s storylines: Dwight Gooden has his worst outing yet, Davey Johnson rips into Ron Darling, Doug Sisk is recalled from the minors, Jesse Orosco has a redemptive weekend, and Darryl Strawberry’s thumb starts to hurt again.  Happy Memorial Day weekend!

May 12 - 18, 1986

This week, a battle begins to brew in left field as George Foster, Danny Heep and Mookie Wilson vie for playing time.  After Rick Aguilera gets demoted to the bullpen, Bruce Berenyi makes his case as the team’s fifth starter.  And in a tougher week than usual, the Mets lose more games than they win, and the Expos narrow the gap in the NL East.  Check it out!