The best season the New York Mets have ever had happened in 1986, when they won a team record 108 games and went on to beat the Boston Red Sox in one of the most memorable World Series’ ever. Twenty years later, most of the stars from that legendary team will gather at Shea Stadium to celebrate the 20th anniversary of a great season:
FLUSHING, N.Y. — The New York Mets today announced that Darryl Strawberry, Gary Carter, Keith Hernandez, Mookie Wilson, Lenny Dykstra, Howard Johnson, Ron Darling, Jesse Orosco, and other members of the 1986 World Champion Mets are scheduled to participate in an on-field reunion Saturday, August 19 at Shea Stadium to commemorate the 20th anniversary of their World Series title. More than 50,000 tickets already have been sold. Fans are encouraged to take mass transit to arrive early in time for the ceremony, which will begin promptly at 7:00 p.m. before the Mets host the Colorado Rockies.
Other members from the 1986 team confirmed to attend include: Rick Aguilera, Wally Backman, Kevin Elster, Sid Fernandez, Ed Hearn, Danny Heep, Kevin Mitchell, Randy Niemann, Rafael Santana, Doug Sisk, and Tim Teufel. General Manager Frank Cashen and coaches Bill Robinson and Bud Harrelson will also be on hand. The Mets have extended invitations to all of the 1986 World Champion players and coaches for this special celebration.
There’s one name missing from the list of attendees, and its a pretty important one. Dwight Gooden was a star in New York in the mid-1980’s. For a time, it looked as though he could become one of the great pitchers in baseball right alongside contemporaries like Roger Clemens. Gooden went into a downward spiral shortly after the `86 season, though, and its just gotten worse from there.
Troubled former Cy Young Award winner Dwight Gooden, who is incarcerated in Florida, is the most prominent member of the ‘86 Mets who won’t be in attendance.
A sad end to what was a promising career.
On a happy note, though, it is appropriate that the anniversary comes this year, with the Mets back in first place in the NL East and having one of their best seasons since that fabulous year when they went all the way.
Update 8/20/06: Reunion photo below the fold.
