You know what? We all just saw something we never thought could happen, so why shouldn’t we all believe that anything can occur? Ask yourself this: in all the recent years you have been watching the Mets, has the team gotten you this excited to tune in at 7:10? After 2006 (2007 really) we were always waiting for the “shoe to drop,” as they say. Even in 2008 when the Mets were playing well, the mantra was, “Don’t do it again.” “Don’t have another Met Meltdown.” Even while they were playing fun baseball, it wasn’t as free and easy a fun time as this 2012 team has made it be.

A lot of this is still the high from the No-Han, but I don’t know if that’s going to go away any time soon. That game was a cathartic release for every single human being involved.  Fifty-one seasons of frustration, 7 tumultuous years of utter heartbreak and heavy disappointment, completely lifted off the collective back. We all feel lighter. We all feel freer. And we all feel it’s truly the start of a whole new era in Mets Baseball. We all should be confident. This team can play ball.

Now, confidence does not include cockiness. Let’s keep the trash talk out. We still have a lot to accomplish and these 7 years should keep us humble. The last time I trash-talked somebody, it was July 2008. I was crossing 8th Avenue on 42nd Street and passed by some guy in a Phillies cap. I said to him as he passed me,

“Mets two games ahead now. Howdya like that?!”

“That’s alright. They’ll just end up blowin’ it anyway.”

I haven’t trash-talked since.

Out in Denver, CO, on the Sunday of that series this year, the Mets took the lead, 5-4, in the 10th. Some Met fan stood up in my section and started trash-talking the Rocky crowd around him. They tied the game again in the bottom half.

Take. It. Easy.

Walk quietly but carry a big stick. You know and I know the Mets of 2012 can play with the best of them. They are out there proving they ARE the best of them. Let’s keep it to ourselves and let the League and their fans discover it one by one.

Who knows what is unfolding in front of us. Just sit back  and enjoy the ride.

No-Hitter was just step 1 of 5.

The 2012 New York Mets.

Believe It.

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Matt Kaufman, Senior Staff Writer:

As the game progressed, there were two trains of thought running through my mind: 1) this could finally be the day and 2) Terry Collins is never going to let him finish this game.  But there was Johan, retiring batter after batter.  When he took his turn batting in the seventh, I was a little surprised, and even more so when he came to the plate in the eighth.  There were a number of close calls-obviously the Mike Baxter catch, but David Wright had a few hot smashes hit his way which he fielded cleanly, plus Murphy’s nice catch to end the eighth.  I was so nervous the first two batters in the ninth had reached on bloop hits, but once they were both out, I began to let my guard down and truly believe.  When Freese struck out swinging, I leaped to my feet, screamed and jumped into the nearest person’s arms.  All the heartache, close-calls and near-misses, Jimmy Qualls, Paul Hoovers and Kit Pellows were in the past and didn’t matter anymore.

Ben Berkon, Senior Staff Writer:

The Mets first no-hitter will always be bittersweet for me. As enthralled as I was for it to have happened, I was driving to New Hampshire at the time, and was completely unaware of the historic event until too late. By the time I found out it was happening, my attempts to turn on the radio proved to be too tardy. Alas, the first no-hitter in Mets history occurred without me watching, stressing, and hoping. Regardless, it is a magnificent achievement, and I will, of course, always remember where I was when it happened.

Mike Lecolant, Staff Writer:

Of the 8,020 games the Mets waited for a no-hitter, I myself waited for about 6,200 of those.  I think that qualifies as a long time.  When it finally did happen, I won’t lie, I developed a tear in my eye.  Almost four full decades of Mets’ baseball flashed through my mind.  And

June 1, 2012; Flushing, NY, USA; New York Mets teammates douse starting pitcher Johan Santana (57) with champagne after throwing the first no-hitter in Mets history against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field. Mets won 8-0. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-US PRESSWIRE

if anyone, I’m glad it was Johan and not some tertiary name that gets recorded into the history books.  Because recent Mets milestones have rung hallow in Flushing these last few years.  Gary Sheffield‘s 500th home run, Tom Glavine‘s 300th win, or even Carlos Delgado‘s 400th career home run, were moments celebrated at Shea Stadium, but only half heartedly.  Those accomplishments didn’t really belong to us.  Even Jose Reyes stole some magic away from being the organization’s first batting champ because of the way he walked off the field and because of the way his time here ended.  So in a sense, Johan Santana’s no-hitter was a throwback.  It was a throwback to the mound accomplishments of Tom Seaver, or Dwight Gooden and their Cy Young seasons.  Or even watching John Franco accumulate saves numbers 300 and 400 of his career.  Johan Santana’s no-hitter was, is, an undeniable Met moment.  Even though Johan comes from places elsewhere, he became a life long Met Friday night.

Will DeBoer, Staff Writer:

By the 3rd inning, it was on my mind. I knew the history; I am a frequent visitor to NoNoHitters.com. I gave my dad a face; himself being a Mets fan since 1965, he also knew the history and the face all too well. So many times the idea had been implanted in our minds: is today the day? Every time before eventually that idea would be squelched; “Not today, boss,” was the refrain. Only this time, Johan Santana kept us from uttering that infamous three word phrase. He kept it up through 6 innings, and then through 7, and through 8. Now he was three outs away. Matt Holiday’s liner to center (Torres almost overran that!). Alan Craig’s flyout to left (unintelligible vocal spasms from me). Then the first strike to David Freese. Then second. Then the changeup heard ’round the world. We couldn’t even hear Gary Cohen’s call from our computer because we were so loud, the loudest we’ve been since Drew Brees to Seth Morales in October 2000. After soaking in the initial euphoria and making note of how Amazin’ it was that I could share this moment with my father, I went to check NoNoHitters for their reaction. It was down. It doesn’t get much more poetic.

Sam Maxwell, Staff Writer:

So much more has to be written to tell my very own story of the night of the No-han, but on this Saturday morning, after the greatest pitched game in New York Metropolitan history, the only thing I can say is thanks. Thanks to all those players out there on this unbelievable squad for making it possible to see for myself the First No-Hitter in Mets History. I have been to many games in my lifetime. World Series games, playoff games, heavy-handed regular season games, but this tops all of them. Never had I seen a no-hitter, or really gotten one that far passed the 7th inning, I think (LET ALONE THE 1ST NO-HITTER IN METS HISTORY!!!) This is easily, up to this point, the greatest single game I have ever been to. And I have nobody else to thank other than the people I shared it with and the 2012 New York Mets. I can believe in anything now. Ya Gotta Believe has never been more on.

Kevin Baez, Staff Writer:

Just wow. That performance left me speechless. I never thought I would see a Mets pitcher throw a no-hitter. History has never been on our side. I actually thought Santana wouldn’t go the distance, even if he had the no-hitter in place, because of his high pitch count. The moment the game ended I just was numb. Shocked! Did this really just happen?! Not only did the Mets no-hit the NL’s best offense, but this accomplishment couldn’t have happened to a more deserving person. Johan Santana, an accomplished All-Star who’s career was in jeopardy after going under major surgery proved to everyone that anything is possible if you are determined. This was clearly a all-around team effort. The chemistry this team has makes me excited and proud to be a die-hard Mets fan. I am a believer!

Matt Musico, Editor:

I truly can’t believe we saw this happen. Every day since it happened on Friday, I thought about it and asked myself, “That really happened, right?” It’s amazing how sports can help people forget about anything going on in their life at that particular time. I didn’t exactly have the best week, having to head home to upstate New York to be with my family over the weekend, and my mother and I sat down to watch Johan take on the cards. Once he got through six innings, I still didn’t believe Friday was the day. Then, we saw Carlos Beltran‘s “foul ball,” followed by the improbable catch by Mike Baxter. I just sat there, with my leg shaking, hoping that our drought was over. Once David Freese walked to the plate with two outs, my mother turned to me and said, “Today IS the day.” I just sat there, quietly, waiting, hoping, and wishing. When Freese swung through that change-up, we both jumped up and screamed our rejoice. Once again, baseball helped me forget about all of the frustrations of my week. Even though it was only for a few minutes, a smile was put on my face. Thank you, Johan, for giving me exactly what I needed at a time that I needed it most.

Please feel free to share your story of this historic night with us below…we’d love it hear it! Let’s go Mets!

In front of 22,600 patrons, the southpaw, Jerry Koosman, toes the rubber for the Metropolitans. The Dodgers stand in at 28-18, just a 1/2 game behind the Atlanta Braves in the West. The right fielder, Bill Russell, walks up to the plate to lead the game off against Koos, but is quickly put down as Jerry gets him to strike out looking with his wicked fastball. Mets fans in attendance will have to wait another 43 years to see the first no-hitter in team history, as the center fielder, Willie Davis, singled up the middle. Koosman walks the 1st baseman, Wes Parker, to put 2 on with 1 out. He gets the left fielder, Andy Kosco, to strikeout looking, however, and the 3rd baseman, Bill Sudakis, to fly out to right, removing himself from the 1st unscathed.

The Dodgers have their own southpaw going in Claude Osteen, who has a 7-3 record with an ERA just 3.00. While he gives up a 2-out single to Center Fielder Tommy Agee, he gets through the 1st unscathed as well.

The game stays scoreless in the early innings, the southpaws exchanging zero after zero. Brisk winds whip around the top of Shea Stadium, and it becomes a factor in the bottom of the 4th. Tommy Agee leads off with a single but is forced out at 2nd on a ground ball by Right Fielder Cleon Jones. Left Fielder Ron Swoboda flies out to right field. It looks as if Agee’s hit will be squandered, but Osteen walks 3rd Baseman Ed Charles, pushing Agee over to 2nd. The next batter, Catcher Jerry Grote, hits a very high pop fly to the 3rd base side, not quite to the outfield grass. Sudakis, the 3rd baseman, goes back but soon shows he is having trouble with the catch. The shortstop, Ted Sizemore, is alongside the 3rd baseman and could take charge to catch the ball. He has only recently been converted to the position, however, and is a little shy about giving way to the more experienced infielder in Sudakis. He fights the ball, twisting and turning, but as it comes down into his glove Sudakis cannot handle it and it drops for what is ruled a single. Agee scores and the Mets have a 1-0 lead. On the very next pitch, the 2nd baseman, Al Weis, drives a double to right field, plating Charles and sending Grote to 3rd. Jerry Koosman then strikes out looking to end the windy inning, carrying a 2-0 lead back out to the mound.

Koos just keeps on dealing. If a runner gets on, a double play erases him. Meanwhile, Claude Osteen keeps shutting the Mets lineup down as well. He ends up going 7 innings, 7 hits, 3 BB, 3 SO and 2 ER.

The top of the 8th arrives with Jerry still on the mound. He makes quick work of the catcher, Jeff Torborg, and get Ken Boyer, pinch-hitting for Osteen, to fly out to left field. Bill Russell arrives at the plate with visions in the Shea Faithful’s eyes of a 1-2-3 inning. It is not meant to be, as Bill Russell homers to ruin the shutout and cut the lead to 1. Willie Davis puts a charge into a pitch, but ends up flying out to left to end the inning.

Quick work is made of the Mets in the bottom half by relief pitcher Pete Mikkelsen, so Jerry Koosman walks out to the mound vying for a complete-game 1-run victory. Wes Parker leads off by drilling one to right field for a double, advancing to 3rd on the errant throw. With the tying run 90 feet away, it is time for the Mets to buckle down and show their true colors. Andy Kosco walks up to the plate as Jerry stares in. He checks the runner at 3rd, sets and pitches. Kosco pops the ball up to the 2nd baseman. Much as it was in the 4th inning, the wind still spins over the top of Shea, whistling a taunting hum to the young Mets fielders. In the past, these were the situations where the Mets would lose baseball games. This was where their pitchers would get frazzled with an error behind them and the game would become lost. On this day, in this year, however, Weis settles under it and makes the catch for out number 1. Up walks Bill Sudakis, the tying run only a flyball away. Koosman once again checks on Parker at 3rd. He sets, pitches…and Sudakis pops it up to the 3rd baseman, Ed Charles. Charles looks as if he is going to settle under it, but the wind keeps bringing the ball back to the plate. Charles stays with it, however, as Grote stays aside to let the 3rd baseman make the catch near home. 2 out.

Up walks the Dodgers’ 2nd baseman,  Jim Lefebvre. The 22,600 people who have made their way to Shea stand on their feet, wanting their adolescent franchise to grow a couple inches taller. Koosman once again checks the runner on 3rd. Sets…and pitches a fastball that is hit high to left field. The flyball needed is a batter too late, as Ron Swoboda settles under it to make the catch and preserve the 2-1 Mets victory.

This is their 5th straight win in what turns out to be an 11-game winning streak. The Mets are never under .500 the rest of the year. They settle into winning baseball for most of the summer but never come within 4 games of 1st place, bottoming out at 10 games out on August 13. From there, however, they play the best baseball the Metsies have ever played, going on to win the division by 8 and…well…you know the rest.

And on Monday, June 2, 1969,  a brick in the championship foundation is laid with this 2-1 win over those Dodgers from Los Angeles.

“This is collective maturity, nothing less, and it’s the reason the Mets and their followers have real hope of making the over-.500 neighborhood a permanent home before long.”                       

–Leonard Koppett, New York Times, 6/3/1969

Thanks for reading! You can follow Rising Apple on Twitter at @RisingAppleBlog and like us here on Facebook. Read Sam Maxwell’s personal Mets Blog here.