Catch the Rising Stars: A New York Mets Retro Podcast

Did you know that prior to meeting in the World Series, the Mets and Red Sox played an exhibition game for charity at Fenway in the middle of the 1986 season?  Hear how this game came to be after George Steinbrenner refused to continue the annual tradition of a Mets/Yankees exhibition, and hear about how the Mets’ bus broke down on the way to Fenway, leading the Mets players to hitch rides with Boston locals!  Meanwhile, Gary Carter comes off the DL and contributes in a huge way, while the magic number for clinching continues to shrink. 

“We’ve got the teamwork to make the dream work.”  Hear all the amazing behind the scenes stories about the making of LET’S GO METS - THE MUSIC VIDEO on the 40th anniversary of its debut on the Diamond Vision.  Then, on the field, the Mets win 11 of their last 12, and Rafael Santana hits his one home run a year.  This is one episode you don’t want to miss!

The Mets head on west to LA and San Francisco to play the Dodgers and Giants, and beat up on them pretty good, as the magic number to clinch the NL East gets smaller and smaller.  And by notching their 82nd win of the year, they are guaranteed a winning record!  This episode also pays tribute to the recently departed Butch Husky and Tommy John.

It’s the dog days of August, even for the 1986 Mets, as they go through a difficult week - losing 6 out of 9 ballgames, dealing with the fallout of the George Foster release, and losing Gary Carter to a thumb injury for a couple of weeks.  This week the podcast also begins a new feature, highlighting other stories in baseball and the world of sports on this week 40 years ago.  Listen on in!

Hello, Lee Mazzilli.  Goodbye, George Foster.  As the Mets reacquire fan favorite Mazzilli, struggling George Foster - already disgruntled with his lack of playing time - lashes out in an interview where he blames his benching on racism.  George says his words were taken out of context but it’s the last straw and he gets released.  Hear all about this story and more in our newest episode.

As the 86 Mets celebrate their 40th anniversary at Citi Field, hear about what the team was up to on this week 40 years ago.  Kevin ‘The Barber’ Mitchell shaves Darryl Strawberry’s head.  Bob Ojeda flirts with a no-hitter.  And the manager of the 2nd place Expos publicly concedes the division to the Mets.  Tune on in!

The 86 Mets played some wild games but one in Cincinnati takes the cake. Dave Parker drops an easy fly ball, allowing the tying runs to score and taking the game to extras. THEN the Mets and Reds get into an insane on-field brawl with Ray Knight landing such an impressive punch on Eric Davis that Mike Tyson was impressed.  THEN with a glut of ejections, the Mets run out of players and resort to having Jesse Orosco and Roger McDowell trade places from pitching to the outfield.  Hear all about this nutty game and everything else happening in late July of 1986 on our newest episode!

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!

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!

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!