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1973 New York Mets

Ya Gotta Believe! The story of the 1973 New York Mets Season with Len Ferman
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Podcast on the 1973 New York Mets

They had one of the most remarkable turnarounds in professional sports history. The 1973 Mets defied the odds and went from worst to first in a matter of two months. Len Ferman the Sports Time Traveler visits the Pigpen to remember the 1973 New York Mets and their remarkable season.

Introduction

The 1973 New York Mets season was among the most memorable in franchise history. They appeared down and out in early August and only had victories in 82 games during the season, however they made the playoffs with the fewest season wins since 1961, when the MLB transitioned to a 162 game schedule and with the exception  the strike-shortened 1981 season and the 2020 season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, had the fewest W's of any team since 1885. The season was well known for pitcher Tug McGraw's catchphrase "Ya Gotta Believe!!!"

There was a certain 9-year old in New Jersey that waited patiently for the dream season to come true, and now 50-years later Len Ferman helps us all relive the passion of the Mets-Mania in his special series on the team on The Sports Time Traveler.

The 1973 Mets

The Mets, managed by Yogi Berra, who had previously led them to a World Series victory in 1969, was a team in 1973 that many considered still on the cusp of being elite. The Mets were offensively charged by the bat of Rusty Staub, who led the league in RBIs. The pitching staff was also solid, led by Tom Seaver, who won the National League Cy Young Award, Jerry Koosman, Jon Matlack, and ace closer Tug McGraw.

The Mets won the National League East title with a record of 82-79, after being in last place and 12 games behind the division leader, and then defeated the Cincinnati Reds in the National League Championship Series. They faced the Oakland Athletics in the World Series and lost in seven games. However, the Mets' 1973 season is still remembered as one of baseball's most improbable and exciting.

The Core Roster of the 1973 New York NL Team

Here are some of the key players and moments from the 1973 Mets season:

  • Rusty Staub led the National League with 109 RBIs. He also hit 26 home runs and batted .340.
  • For 1973, John Milner was moved to first base. He was leading his team with a .328 batting average, five home runs and thirteen runs batted in when he suffered a leg injury in April. He came back about 6-weeks later but went into a hitting slump that saw his batting average fall to .216. He returned to form by the end of the season to lead his team with 72 runs batted in and a career high 23 home runs.
  • Jerry Koosman went 18-10 with a 2.56 ERA. He was also a key member of the Mets' bullpen in the World Series.
  • Jon Matlack went 17-10 with a 2.44 ERA. He was one of the Mets' most consistent pitchers all season.
  • Tug McGraw's catchphrase "Ya Gotta Believe!!!" became a rallying cry for the Mets during their improbable run to the World Series. He went 8-7 with a 2.77 ERA in 1973.

Oh and let us not forget about these guys...

Willie Mays

May 6, 1931, in Westfield, Alabama, was Baseball Hall of Fame Center Fielder, Willie Mays. Mays had an amazing and productive MLB career playing for the New York/San Francisco Giants and the New York Mets. The legend was a 24-time All Star; a 12-time Gold Glove Award winner. He hit 660 career homeruns, over 1900 RBIs, a .301 batting average, and was an NL MVP in 1954 and 1965. MLB Jersey 24. MLB Jersey 14.

Tom Seaver

Born November 17, 1944, in Fresno, California, was Baseball Hall of Fame Pitcher, Tom Seaver. Tom Terrific, played 20 seasons in Major League Baseball with starts for the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox, and Boston Red Sox from 1967 to 1986. Seaver won the National League's (NL) Rookie of the Year Award in 1967, and won three NL Cy Young Awards during his career. He compiled 311 wins, 3,640 strikeouts, 61 shutouts, and a 2.86 earned run average, and he threw a no-hitter in 1978.

Forever Remembered

The 1973 Mets season is one of the most memorable in franchise history. It was a season of improbable comebacks, clutch performances, and unforgettable moments. The Mets may not have won the World Series, but they won over the hearts of fans everywhere with their never-say-die attitude.

Special Thanks

The image in the banner is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons of New York Mets championship banners in left field, taken  by and placed in the Public Domain by D. Benjamin Miller, in 2022.

The information above was gathered from the work of len Ferman, Mewspapers.com and the Baseball_Reference.com website.

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