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2008 New York Mets Schedule

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New York Mets History

An expansion franchise, the club was founded in Manhattan in 1962. Then based in the historic Polo Grounds, the Mets shared the venue with the New York Jets for two years, until Shea was completed. From 1964 to the present, the Mets have played in Shea Stadium. In 2009, they will move into their new home, Citi Field.

The Mets began their on-field play in 1962, losing their first nine games en route to a 40-120 record. Their .250 winning percentage was the third worst by any major league team since the beginning of the 20th Century, and the fourth-worst in baseball history. Throughout major league history only the 1899 Cleveland Spiders (20-134) lost more games in a single season than the 1962 Mets. It wasn't until 2003 that the record would be threatened by the Detroit Tigers, who finished the season at 43-119. The ineptitude of the Mets during their first year is chronicled in colorful fashion in the 1963 book Can't Anybody Here Play This Game?, written by New York columnist Jimmy Breslin.

Beloved by New York fans despite their losing ways - or perhaps because of them - the Mets of the early 1960s became famous for their ineptitude. Journeyman players like the ironically nicknamed "Marvelous Marv" Throneberry became icons of athletic incompetence. Ex-Dodger and Giant pitcher Billy Loes, who was selected by the Mets in the 1961 expansion draft, was credited with this ungrammatical quotation: "The Mets is a good thing. They give everybody jobs. Just like the WPA." Even the Mets proved to have standards, however. In 1962, Cleveland Indians catcher Harry Chiti was purchased by the Mets for a player to be named later in the season. That "player to be named later" ended up being Harry Chiti. Chiti was the first player ever to be sent back to his original team in a trade in Major League history.

The Mets' image as lovable losers was wearing a little thin as the decade progressed, but things began to change slowly in the late '60s, including a spot in the 1969 World Series. As the 1970's began, however, the magic of the "Miracle Mets" wore off. The team finished in last place yet again in 1978. In 1985 the Mets acquired future Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter from the Montreal Expos and won 98 games, but lost the division title to the St. Louis Cardinals in the final days of the season in a memorable series. (The Mets began the series three games behind St. Louis and won the first two, but faltered in the third game, allowing St. Louis to remain in first place). The 1990's and early 2000's were filled with more ups and downs for the team.

After their success in 2006, there were high expectations for the Mets in 2007, and they started the season strong, compiling a 34-18 record through May 31. And although they played basically .500 ball through the summer, the Mets still had a seven game lead in September, with 17 games to go. The Mets, however, would lose 11 of their next 16, allowing the Philadelphia Phillies to tie them with three games left. The Mets lost to the Marlins 8-1 in the final game of the season, while the Phillies went on to win their final game 6-1 against the Nationals and clinch the NL East by one game. The Mets became first team in MLB history to blow a lead of seven or more games with only 17 games to play, and, by one analysis, it was the 2nd worst collapse overall in MLB regular season history. Despite the season ending debacle, Minaya announced that Randolph would remain as manager for the 2008 season.

On January 29, 2008, the Mets agreed to trade four minor league prospects to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for two time Cy Young Award winning pitcher Johan Santana. He agreed on a contract extension on February 1 worth $150.75 million, the highest amount ever for a pitcher on a long term contract. The trade was finalized on February 2 when Santana passed his physical.

Information excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Mets. All Rights Reserved.

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