1. Piazza's HR after 9/11
Everyone knows the entire country wanted the Yankees to play the first New York home game after the tragedy of 9/11. But they were on the road. Instead, the country's eyes were on the Mets as they took the field against the Braves on September 21, 2001. While it actually means little in the grand scheme of things, Piazza's 8th inning homerun lifted the spirits of at least a few New Yorkers who desperately needed it at the time.
2. Mets trade for Johan Santana
Other than March Madness, I think the days leading up to the trading deadline are the least productive for corporate America. I must have refreshed MLBtraderumors.com 1000x this day, hoping, praying... that the RED SOX would get Johan Santana. You see, I didn't think the Mets had even a glimmer of a chance at getting the games best pitcher. I was just hoping the Sox would get him and not the Yankees. On the 1,001st resfresh I saw "Mets acquire Johan Santana" and my response was as follows:
hafsdkjfnrau;njucasn.nefsxa!!!jskjw!!!
Couple that with the fact that they basically gave up two ball boys and a hot dog vendor to get him, and it equals a good days for the Mets.
3.Luis Gonzalez beats Mariano Rivera
Such is the life of a Mets fan/Yankee hater. The Yankees had made my life miserable for the last 5 years. Mariano Rivera does NOT blow World Series games. 5 in a row and 5 out of 6 was basically guaranteed. I cheered for the D'backs that night like I was born and raised in Arizona. Thank you, Luis Gonzalez!
4. Robin Ventura's Grand Slam Single
I was at this game... and I left. It was pouring rain. It was late. And my mom was freezing. What was I supposed to do, stay? YES! YES I WAS SUPPOSED TO STAY GODDAMMIT!!! Biggest regret in my life.
5. Benny Agbayani's HR against the Giants
Worcester, Massachusetts. The armpit of America. I was visiting a high school buddy at Worcester Polytech with a couple of friends. Several 30 packs later we came tearing out of the dorms and proceeded to scream "AGBAYANI" at every super-nerd that was on campus.
6. Todd Pratt's HR against the D'Backs
The biggest moment of Pratt's career came when he was with the Mets. In Game 4 of the 1999 NLDS, he hit a tenth-inning walk-off home run off Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Matt Mantei, winning the Mets the series, 3 games to 1.
LOL Steve Finley, nice try bro.
7. Mets trade for Mike Piazza
At the time, I wasn't sure if Piazza had anything left. All I knew was the storybook situation about how Tommy Lasorda struck gold when he did a buddy of his a favor and game his son, Mike Piazza a shot with the Dodgers. He was obviously a fantastic player but I thought if the Dodgers were willing to move him he must be declining. Ummm... wrong. As my grandma used to say "THE PIZZA MAN!"
8. Mets clinch 2000 NLCS
Timo Perez hopping up and down as that fly ball headed out to centerfield... next stop: obliteration by the Yankees. It was nice while it lasted.
9. Endy Chavez Catch
This is as close as it gets for anyone who was too young in '86 to remember what being on top of the world is. I was never more sure that a team was going to score the next inning and go on to win after this miracle catch and double play. I still can't comprehend how Y_dier Mol_na crushed my dreams a few innings later. It completely baffles my mind. October 19, 2006. I was in a Murry Hill bar with my girlfriend because it was her first birthday since we had been dating. My family was furious that I wasn't at home watching game 7 with them. The things we do for love...
When Willie Randolph left Oliver Perez in to pitch to Scott Rolen, I'm not gonna lie, I was genuinely terrified. Then again, Ollie only sucked a little back then. Off the bat I thought he crushed it. The last thing on my mind was that anyone could catch the ball. Fortunately, Endy Chavez put on his superman cape and did the impossible. I still think it is one of the greatest catches of all time. The bar erupted and I jumped in the air for 10 straight minutes.
Top of the world... if only for a few minutes.
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